New Beginnings: The Work Of The Holy SpiritSample

The Holy Spirit, My Helper

John 14:16(NLT), “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.” This promise from Jesus has so much meaning and depth that we can easily miss what Jesus is actually saying here! To help us understand who the Holy Spirit really is to us, right now, we will utilise some of the notes from The Passion Translation:

John 14:16-17 The Passion Translation (TPT)

16–17 And I will ask the Father and he will give you another[a] Saviour,[b] the Holy Spirit of Truth, who will be to you a friend just like me—and he will never leave you. The world won’t receive him because they can’t see him or know him. But you will know him intimately, because he will make his home in you and will live inside you.[c]

Footnotes:

1. John 14:16 The Greek word allos means “another of the same kind.” As Jesus is the Saviour from the guilt of sin, the Holy Spirit is the Saviour who saves us from the power of sin by living through us in fullness.


2. John 14:16 The Greek word used here is paráklētos, a technical word that could be translated “defence attorney.” It means “one called to stand next to you as a helper.” Various translations have rendered this “Counsellor,” “Comforter,” “Advocate,” “Encourager,” “Intercessor,” or “Helper.” However none of these words alone are adequate and fall short in explaining the full meaning. The translator has chosen the word Saviour, for it depicts the role of the Holy Spirit to protect, defend, and save us from our self and our enemies and keep us whole and healed. He is the One who guides and defends, comforts and consoles. Keep in mind that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, our Saviour. The Aramaic word is paraqleta, which is taken from two root words: (1) praq, “to end, finish, or to save,” and (2) lyta, which means “the curse.” What a beautiful word picture, the Holy Spirit comes to end the work of the curse (of sin) in our lives and to save us from its every effect! Paraqleta means “a redeemer who ends the curse.” (See Strong’s Concordance, Gr. 6561 and 6562; A Compendious Syriac Dictionary, p. 237; and Oraham’s Dictionary, p. 250.)


3. John 14:16 Jesus is prophesying about the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, who will indwell every believer. See Acts 2.

The Father sends us another, the same as Jesus, to us! He is the one who comes alongside us, in step with us, in every moment of our day as our helper! Have you ever needed to carry something heavy and awkward? It’s difficult to try carry it alone. But when someone comes alongside and helps you carry, it makes a huge difference. The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to us to come alongside!

Application: Take a few moments today to acknowledge the presence of our Helper who is with you right now. Consider the different words that describe Him to you: Counsellor, Comforter, Advocate, Encourager, Intercessor, Helper, Saviour. What do you need Him to be to you in these moments and in this day? Take an attitude reading. How can the Holy Spirit help you today with your mood? Ask of Him, express to Him the burden in your heart and what is on your mind. Trust Him to help you today.