WHY YOU NEED JESUS IN YOUR LIFE (PART 6)
TEXT:
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, ... ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" (John 14 verse 16 to 17, King James Version).
What actively differentiates the Old Testament from the New Testament is the ministry of the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, we have more of the Spirit's activities than we had in the Old Testament. From time, the Holy Spirit had been promised (see Joel 2 verses 28 to 29). When the Lord Jesus came, and following God's Word in Joel 2 verses 28 to 29, He variously referred to the Holy Spirit as the Promise of the Father.
"And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: ... " (Luke 24 verse 49, See also Acts 1 verse 4)
The ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian is highly indispensable. Truth is, God never thought of His child under the NT dispensation apart from the Holy Spirit. We are born of the Spirit (John 3 verse 6) We are baptized into the body of Christ by the Spirit (1st Corinthians 12 verse 13). We are anointed with the Spirit (2nd Corinthians 1 verse 21). We are led by the Spirit (Romans 8 verse 14). He bears witness with our spirits that we are God's children (Romans 8 verse 16). By Him, we are sealed unto the day of redemption (2nd Corinthians 1 verse 21, Ephesians 1 verse 13). God did deposit Him in us as the Earnest of our inheritance (Ephesians 1 verse 14, 2nd Corinthians 1 verse 22, 5 verse 5). We are taught of the Spirit (Luke 12 verse 12, John 14 verse 26). By Him God gives us revelation knowledge (John 16 verse 14, Ephesians 1 verse 17) and He's our Guide (John 16 verse 13). Besides, He is our Counselor, Advocate, Strengthener, Intercessor, Comforter, Helper and Standby (John 14 verse 17, Amplified Version). Time will fail me to explain the import and the significance of Who He is to the child of God. I repeat, God never contemplated His child apart from the Holy Spirit. It's wonderful to know besides that the Holy Spirit abides with us forever (John 14 verse 16).
Notwithstanding, let me emphasize that the Holy Spirit's ministry listed above, beside others that are not mentioned here, are attainable only in the life of one who has received Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus said that the world cannot receive Him (John 14 verse 17). While Jesus is God's Gift to the World (John 3 verse 16), the Holy Spirit is God's Gift to His Children (Luke 11 verse 13). No one has access to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, except such a one who has surrendered his life to Jesus. This is so because the Spirit was sent to us by the Father in Jesus' name (John 14 verse 26).
As a Lawyer, permit me to highlight the beautiful function of the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus as our Advocates. According to Derek Prince, "Scripture unfolds the beautiful truth that we have two Advocates. On earth the Holy Spirit pleads our cause. The things we cannot say right, He says for us; the things we do not understand, He interprets for us. In heaven, Jesus is our Advocate with the Father; He pleads our cause. Just think, we have the two greatest Advocates in the universe. We have Jesus Christ, the Son, at the Father's right hand, and we have the Holy Spirit on earth. With two such Great Advocates or Attorneys, how could we ever lose the case?"
PRAYER:
Dearest Heavenly Father, I thank You for sending me the Holy Spirit to abide with me to comfort and help me in my walk with You. With Him in my life, I cannot fail.