Help Is HereSample

Wouldn’t it be great to have an expert to teach us the story of Jesus? Someone who knows Christ intimately. Someone who can reveal him and remind us about him. Someone whose assignment is to stir in us a thrill about our Savior.

Look at the unity of the Trinity. The Son will ask the Father, and the Father will send the Spirit. There is a happy cooperation at work here as if to say all of heaven sends help in the direction of the disciples of Jesus.

Jesus doesn’t want us to think of the Holy Spirit as an it or a thing. The Spirit is a person. And, like a person, the Spirit has intellect, emotions, and will. The Spirit speaks to the churches (Rev. 2:7), intercedes for the believer (Rom. 8:26), and leads and commands the disciples (Acts 8:29; 16:6–7). The Spirit appoints elders (Acts 20:28), searches all things (1 Cor. 2:10), knows the mind of God (1 Cor. 2:11), and teaches the content of the gospel to us (1 Cor. 2:13). The Spirit dwells among and within believers (1 Cor. 3:16; Rom. 8:11; 2 Tim. 1:14), distributes spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:11), and gives life to those who believe (2 Cor. 3:6). He cries out from within our hearts (Gal. 4:6) and leads us in the ways of God (Gal. 5:18). He helps us in our weaknesses (Rom. 8:26), works all things together for our ultimate good (Rom. 8:28 THE MESSAGE), and strengthens believers (Eph. 3:16). He can be lied to (Acts 5:3–4), grieved (Eph. 4:30), insulted (Heb. 10:29), and blasphemed (Matt. 12:31–32).

Is the Holy Spirit simply a divine companion who keeps us company? If so, that would be enough. Yet the Spirit has a specific, overarching mission. His task is to teach us about Jesus.

I recall an afternoon early in my ministry when the invitation of Jesus to the weary became the invitation of Jesus to Max. I was supposed to be studying, but I could not concentrate. I was in the throes of weariness battling insomnia, a dozen insecurities, and deadlines. I was under the impression I had to fix everyone’s problems, shoulder everyone’s burdens, and never grow weary in doing so. After some moments, I moved from my office chair into the chair I used for guests. I bowed my head and sighed. When I did, this scripture came to mind: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28 NASB).

Why did that verse come to mind? Simple. The Holy Spirit, my teacher, reminded me. The Spirit of Christ will do this for you, my friend. In his book, Keep in Step with the Spirit: Finding Fullness in Our Walk with God, J. I. Packer tells us:

When the Spirit whispers in our ear and makes us aware that Jesus is for real and his invitation is for real also, then he is fulfilling a further ministry, a matchmaker ministry, whereby he urges us, draws us, inclines us, moves us, to embrace the Lord Jesus, to say yes to his invitation, to go to him and make him, by faith, our own Savior, our own Lord, our own friend, our own king.

Is this not great news? The Spirit, the Person present at creation, the one active in the incarnation, the moving force in the resurrection, the mighty hand at the final revelation—he is your tutor. He will reveal new and wondrous things to you.

Invite him into your world. Let your day begin with these words: “Welcome, Holy Spirit!” Make it your aim to walk in the Spirit by inviting him into the details of each day. “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25 NIV). Let this prayer be quick to come to your mind: “In this moment, what are you teaching me?” Or, “How am I to respond to this challenge, Lord?” Or, “Direct me, please. Which way should I go?” Pause and listen. Keep an ear inclined toward the Spirit.

I once participated in a golf outing that included caddies. It was amazing. My caddy not only carried my bag, but he also offered to tell me how to play. As we walked down the first fairway, he said, “I’ll show you where to hit the ball and which club to use.”

“How do you know?” I asked.

“I’ve been caddying here for twenty years.”

I stopped, turned, and looked at him. “Twenty years? How many rounds of golf is that?”

He looked up at the sky as if he was calculating. “Around ten thousand.”

Ten thousand! He knew each blade of grass by name. Every turn of the green and roll of the hill—he had experienced them. I asked, “Is there anything about this course you do not know?”

“Nope. I could play it in the dark.”

So I peppered him with questions. How far should I hit this shot? He told me. Will this putt roll very fast? He told me. Should I quit golf and take up bowling? He told me. He told me because I asked him. For me not to consult him would have been foolish.

For us not to consult the Spirit of God would be the same. He is here to teach us. Our privilege is to stay in mindful communion with him. Day by day. Moment by moment.

Listen as the divine instructor whispers wonders in your ear. Be assured that, as you smile, the Spirit smiles with you. After all, he is your teacher.

Respond

What is your relationship with the Holy Spirit?

Describe a specific experience with him.

Prayer

Precious Jesus, thank you for the Holy Spirit and his daily presence.