WHY WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT TODAY

By Pastor Robert Summers

No one chapter alone is a book when reading the Bible. You need to read the whole volume, especially the Gospels. When reading the Gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John, remember that the Book of Acts is an essential continuum of the Jesus story. When Jesus went away to His Father, and our Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to work through His church. The Book of Acts thus would have no formal ending, for the Lord’s work through us today has not ended.

The first mentioning of the Spirit of God is way back in the first couple of verses of Genesis. From that time to now, the Holy Spirit never left. Jesus breathed on His struggling disciples (John 20:22) and said,

“Receive the Holy Spirit. ”

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Here’s why we all need to receive the Holy Spirit: Jesus called Him our Helper. (John 15:26) This word Helper is a translation of the Greek word parakletos, a word which has several rich meanings. It is a compound of para, alongside, and kletos, called. Hence “called alongside. ” Here in John 15 parakletos is rendered “Helper. ”

We all need a Helper. We cannot do our life’s work nor God’s work alone. We need help. Most every high ranking and important Greek leader depended on a parakletos, a helper. Today we Christians who struggle against an enemy, a demonic adversary, need a Helper every moment of every day.

Another meaning to parakletos is comforter. Moffet and other translators use this thought; “When the Comforter has come” (John 15:26). We all need comforting. We all have moments when the candle of our spirit is a barely, smoldering wick. Only one more attack will snuff out our flame. We will likely give up. But wait! Jesus sends the Holy Spirit. He breathes the breath of God on that smoldering flax and suddenly the flame reappears. How many times we have needed the comfort of the Spirit!

CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE ISSUE 60 | PAGE 19 The parakletos is also our intercessor who stands in the gap for us. He works to cover us. He makes appeals on our behalf. We all need someone to take our side, our part in the struggle.

A similar meaning for parakletos is advocate. This is a legal term that implies someone who has power of attorney to speak on our behalf, to defend our cause, to handle our case. How often we have been hauled into court but are saved by a powerful advocate. Perhaps the most common use of the word parakletos is counselor. We need someone wiser and more discerning than we are to give us advice. If ever the church needed divine guidance it is today. Committees can never be savvy enough to figure out what should we do! What comes next? We must have the divine counsel of the Spirit provide answers for today.

The church that God wants, the Christian witness that Jesus is looking for, is one who is led by the Spirit. If we will receive Him, the Spirit Himself will help, comfort, intercede, advocate, and counsel us on to a victorious life. So shouldn’t we pray daily to be filled with the Spirit? We need the Counselor desperately at this crucial time. Every congregation should be intentional in welcoming the Holy Spirit’s presence, power, and ministry.