“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:16-18 NKJV).

The Greek word for “Helper” used in this scripture is Paraklētos; also meaning intercessor, comforter, counselor, and advocate.  Jesus told His disciples that it was better for Him to go away so that the Helper could come (John 16:7 NKJV).  I’m sure the disciples couldn’t imagine what might possibly be better than having Jesus there with them, there in the flesh.  But Jesus said it was better for them to have the Holy Spirit than to have Him.  Why is that?  One reason he states in the above passage, verse 18: “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”  Romans 8:15 says that we have received the Spirit of adoption (or sonship) by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”  Instead of Jesus just living on the earth at a certain time in history, He lives in each one of us who receive His Spirit.  Jesus the Son of God dwells in us by the Holy Spirit making us sons and daughters of God.  “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor or the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13 NKJV).

Holy Spirit is named as “Helper”.  “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:26 NKJV).  When I was about elementary school age, I always had a memory verse that I had to memorize for my Sunday School class.  I’m amazed at how many of them have come back to me at certain times as an adult.  The more I read, the more I understand.  And the more I understand, the more I remember.  As I continue to explore God’s Word, He continues to open up more revelation to me and I find that throughout my day what I’ve read will come back to me.  As I take in the Word of God, Holy Spirit is so faithful to bring it to my remembrance; in every circumstance He knows exactly what I need to focus on, what I need to put my mind on, and what I need to keep thinking about.  Sometimes I get intimidated by the size of my Bible and can’t imagine ever knowing, much less, quoting it.  But what I have found is that Holy Spirit takes those scriptures that He knows I will need for a later time and seals them up in my heart.  And somehow, when I need them, there they are.  Oh, thank you my faithful Helper, always there in my times of need with exactly what will help me to succeed.

“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of me.” (John 15:26 NKJV).  Holy Spirit is also the Spirit of truth.  We have an ever-increasing need for the Spirit of truth these days.  More and more I am understanding that truth according to man is always going to be mixed with man’s opinion and experience.  The only source for pure truth is the Holy Spirit.  Because He doesn’t speak on His own behalf but speaks what He hears from the Father, and He speaks to glorify the Son.  “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.  He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:13-14 NKJV).  He does this by way of conviction, “And when He has come He will convict the world sin, of righteousness, and of judgement” (John 16:8 NKJV).  Sometimes we hear the word “convict” and we think it is the same as “condemn”.  In the Amplified translation it says, “And He, when He comes will convict the world about [the guilt of] sin [and the need for a Savior], and about righteousness, and about judgement: about sin [and the true nature of it], because they do not believe in Me [and my message]; about righteousness [personal integrity and godly character], because I am going to My Father and you will no longer see Me; about judgement [the certainty of it], because the ruler of this world (Satan) has been judged and condemned.” (John 16:8-11 AMP).  So, the Spirit of truth brings conviction to show us our sin, the true nature of sin, and our need for a Savior; to show us righteousness, what integrity and godly character looks like; and to make us aware that judgement is certain.  He sheds light on our ways of darkness and leads us out and onto the path of righteousness and guides us in the ways of God.  Without Holy Spirit these things are not revealed to us and therefore we would not be able to accept or receive Jesus.  Oh, thank you Spirit of truth, I would not know my Redeemer were it not for you!

The Word calls Holy Spirit our Counselor, or Teacher.  This is so important for us to remember.  We can get so wrapped up in all of the preaching and the teaching and the books out there that we become dependent on what other people say and experience.  It isn’t that listening to preaching and teaching are not good, in fact they are essential for the body of Christ as Jesus Himself appoints some to be preachers and teachers.  But they are essential for training the body, and Holy Spirit is essential for training the individual.   No one can teach Christy how to be Christy better than Holy Spirit, and no one can teach you how to be you better than Holy Spirit.  Psalm 139 tells us of God’s intimate knowledge of us: “Lord, you know everything there is to know about me.  You perceive every movement of my heart and soul, and you understand my every thought before it even enters my mind.  You are so intimately aware of me, Lord.  You read my heart like an open book and you know all the words I’m about to speak before I even start a sentence!  You know every step I will take before my journey even begins.  You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past.  You have laid your hand on me!” (vs. 1-5 TPT).  No one knows better how to speak to us and teach us in ways we will understand than Holy Spirit.  He is the one who knows our tomorrow and our next year.  He knows our weaknesses and our strengths and what our hearts are open to receive.  He knows the destiny God has planned for us and every good work that God has prepared for us to walk in.  “But the wonderful anointing you have received from God is so much greater than their deception and now lives in you.  There’s no need for anyone to keep teaching you.  His anointing teaches you all that you need to know, for it will lead you into truth, not a counterfeit.  So just as the anointing has taught you, remain in him.” (1 John 2:27 TPT).  Oh, thank you Spirit of Counsel for teaching and training me to be all God has planned for me to be! 

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.  For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.  Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27 NKJV).  How many times do we come to prayer thinking, “I don’t even know how to pray about this”?  I lost count.  But thank God for Holy Spirit.  He doesn’t expect us to know what we don’t know.  He just expects us to be willing.  If we feel led to pray for someone or something we can just begin and trust that Holy Spirit will either reveal more to us as we go, or He will take hold with us and fill in the gaps for us.  We just let Him lead the way.  He stands before God on our behalf as our advocate, and He will take what we offer up and He will tweak it as needed so that it goes to God as a perfect prayer.  Isn’t that amazing?  This gives me more confidence when I go to pray for people because I know that I don’t have to be anything more than a willing vessel.  Holy Spirit knows the will of God in every situation and so we can trust that He will guide our prayers according to the will of God.  Oh, thank you, our great Intercessor, for without you our prayers would be restrained by our own narrow view.

We get the best of everything in the person of the Holy Spirit, including Jesus!  Whatever we face in life, whatever questions or concerns come up, we can know that God has made us His children.  He has given us a Comforter, and Counselor, an Advocate, and Intercessor, a Helper, and a Truth Guide (and more!).  We will never have to rely on anything that this world has to offer (unstable as it is) but we can have all confidence in God who has provided for us our own personal “Tour Guide” to walk us through this life, our great Companion, Holy Spirit.

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor – Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.  I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, bereaved, and helpless]; I will come [back] to you.” (John 14:16-18 AMP).