Paraclete (Gr. παράκλητος, Lat. paracletus) means advocate or helper.
So many have issues or misunderstandings of the Holy Spirit due to denominational & doctrinal conflicts. We don’t know if He’s coming or going. I hope some of these things will clear it up for you as they did for me.
1. He Draws us to Christ – He draws us to salvation to Christ but also draws us to a close relationship with Him as well.
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44
“Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
James 4:7-8 NASB2020
2. He Convicts Us – He convicts the world of their sin. I find He draws us BACK to God & our senses as believers. It is convicting but man is it amazing.
The ONLY THING defending your change is the flesh (Romans 8:7) or a demon. He doesn’t condemn us but directs us back to Christ through repentance. So let’s not argue with His presence!
And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: John 16:8
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” is a verse from the Bible” 2 Corinthians 7:10
3. The Holy Spirit is to us as Jesus was to the disciples
He’s now Jesus to us in Spirit. He’s not different than when He was on Jesus. He anoints us for God’s service, not our promotion. He places in us God’s ability to carry out His commission ‘ His assignment for our lives.
Jesus taught that “when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me” (John 15:26)
4. He Is The Mantle of Jesus
As much as Elijah’s mantle defended when He ascended so did Jesus mantle descend when He ascended! We have the mantle of Jesus!
“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.””
Mark 16:15-18 NKJV
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””
Acts 1:8 NKJV
“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.””
Luke 24:49 NKJV
““Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”
John 14:12 NKJV
5. He is the Google of Heaven
He literally shows us the revelation of the Word, the character, nature, & heart of the Father, the will of God, & things to come! He’s simply amazing!
“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.”
John 16:13 NKJV
“the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,”
Ephesians 1:18 NKJV
“But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”
I Corinthians 2:9-12 NKJV
6. The Helper Helps
The Holy Spirit is like our divine assistant TO DOING THE WILL OF God, not just serving us. He assists us with power as a helper assists a journeyman. He is assigned to help us get Gods job done! So let Him help!
“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 groanings which cannot be uttered.”
Romans 8:26 NKJV
John 14:16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever”
7. To Follow Christ Through You
So many are waiting for miracles to lead them but the Holy Spirit will follow you as you obey Christ. Preach the Gospel to every creature! There are so many who need to hear the Gospel it’s not like we need to spend all our time on waiting for the perfect pitch or person.
I would rather be an obedient son with 1000s or millions of miracles or salvations than a sovereign one who felt only led to minister to a few.
Jesus already sent His Word & told His disciples to teach us the exact same! (Matthew 28:20) It’s open season for His gifts to minister to the lost, broken, & to believers!
Mark 16:15-18 “ And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
8. He’s the Spirit of Truth – He will bring the Word of God alive & cause understanding to your Spirit!
“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,”
Ephesians 1:17 NKJV
John 16:13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come”
9. He Will Comfort You – we are in a war! As we obey Christ it’s normal that we need comfort! Whew! You aren’t going crazy! He will comfort you! Get in the secret place, worship, pray in tongues, welcome His in, Fellowship with Him (2 Corinthians 13:14), etc & watch your worries, anxieties, stresses, etc go away!
John 14:26 “But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you”
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV
10. He’s All In – this is His dispensation! The Father was with Israel, Jesus with disciples & died on the cross, & now the Holy Spirit is on the earth to save the lost through us believers!
This is His idea. His power isn’t our desire but His Will & He knows the need of the hour! He’s more in this than we are. We can have a firm expectation in our lives when we follow Christ’s Ways because He invented them! It was the Acts of the Apostles but it was the Acts of the Holy Spirit. Even with Jesus, it was the power of the Holy Spirit doing the work & not Jesus. Jesus didn’t do any miracles until the Holy Spirit came on Him!
11. To Give Witness to Jesus
He makes us full of supernatural character, power, love, & purity so the world can see Jesus & the jury of their heart can be convinced He is the Way!
He wants to give witness by;
– His power in healing, deliverance, & gifts
– His Supernatural love in our hearts to one another (Romans 5:5)
– character & integrity to those who know us. We should be the most stable & dependable people for our bosses & ministries.
– the fruit of the Spirit in us that allows the Holy Spirit to draw people & THOSE CLOSEST to us to Jesus ( Galatians 5:22)
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””
Acts 1:8 NKJV
Mark 16:15 “These SIGNS…”
Acts 1:8 “He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
12. He is a Gift – we don’t work for Him to come, He comes to empower us to do work for Him.
He was sent to the body to mantle us for His work & to win this war, not as a trophy for our own righteousness, higher calling, or some reward.
He’s not a reward but a free gift to help us move with Heaven for people & know God!
This is even how those who go wrong still function in the gifts. God doesn’t take it away even if we leave Him. It’s scary.
But!!!!! If a person who has left the Lord can function in power how much more should an every day believer be able to do miracles right?
Let’s change the narrative!
Acts 2:38b “And you shall receive the gift the Holy Spirt”
Romans 11:29 “or the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable”
“This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—”
Galatians 3:2, 5 NKJV
Matthew 7:22 “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
13. He was The Promise – some of us think He’s extra, a denomination, or an experience but He was promised!
He was so looked forward to because there was coming a day when EVERY BELIEVER would be as powerful as the greats – Zechariah 12:8.
It’s a new day. It’s not just a select few that are anointed but every believer to be as powerful as David, Samson, Elijah, Jeremiah, Daniel, etc…we saw this in the New Testament. Normal people were all mantled to do powerful things!
Let’s surrender!!!
Joel 2:28 “It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions”
Ephesians 1:13 “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation– having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of Promise”
Galatians 3:14 “in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the Promise of the Spirit through faith”
14. He’s a Person – He’s not a thing, a feeling, an “it”, He’s a person.
– He thinks – Acts 15:28
– He speaks – Acts 1:16
– He grieves – Ephesians 4:30
– He decides – 1 Corinthians 12:11
– He communes – 2 Corinthians 13:14
Let’s expect encounters & empowerment from the Holy Spirit. He wants to come upon you more!
