Life is stuffed with challenges and hardships, and individuals are at all times searching for methods to navigate it higher. Many individuals search steering in making powerful choices, necessary plans and executing them. Individuals lengthy for a serving to hand in setbacks, conflicts, crises, misfortunes, and unfavorable circumstances, however on the planet that we stay in, most individuals are so busy with their very own struggles and worries that they slightly not partake in one other particular person’s struggles. Nonetheless, Jesus tells us that He has overcome the world and has promised to be with us and assist us in occasions of want. On this Weblog, I wish to focus on a present Jesus promised us: an advocate who will assist us and can at all times be with us.
Within the Gospel of John, Jesus promised to provide us a present, an advocate: the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, the third particular person of the Trinity, isn’t just a distant idea. He’s the residing, lively presence of God inside us, guiding, serving to and empowering us to stay righteously. Let’s summarize a number of factors on how the Holy Spirit needs to assist.
1. He’s current
Jesus promised that His Spirit will at all times be with His disciples:
“And I’ll pray the Father, and He offers you one other Helper, that He might abide with you perpetually.” (John 14:16 NKJ)
In case you have been attending our providers, you would possibly know that our theme for this 12 months is Abide. The that means of abide is to stay, keep or proceed. On this verse, we learn that Jesus guarantees to ship a helper that may abide with them. In different phrases, a helper that may at all times stay with them. Up till now, the Spirit of God has labored by the prophets, and as soon as He had accomplished His activity, He would go away, however now, the identical Spirit that has additionally been working with Jesus is promised to stick with them perpetually. God is just not someplace far-off the place His presence can’t be encountered, His voice can’t be heard, or His love can’t be felt. He’s so shut that He gently whispers into your ear, “I’m close to.” God needs to reside in you, and He needs to be current in your whole disappointment, hardship, brokenness, setbacks and the struggles you’ve got confronted up to now and those you’re presently going by. He needs to partake in your highs and lows He cares and desires to be out there for you.
2. He needs to assist
Jesus stated I’ll ship you a helper.
“So don’t worry, for I’m with you don’t be dismayed, for I’m your God. I’ll strengthen you and assist you; I’ll uphold you with my righteous proper hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)
On this verse, we are able to sense God’s want and readiness to assist. God is prophesying by the Prophet Isaiah to His individuals, the Israelites, providing reassurance and luxury that they needn’t fear as a result of God will shield and ship them from their enemies. God is and desires that can assist you in any means that you simply would possibly need assistance. Nothing is simply too small or too massive for him. We constantly search companions who stand by us throughout good occasions and dangerous. Individuals say that if you end up going by a tough interval, you notice who your actual pals are. God is that buddy who, by His Holy Spirit, is prepared that can assist you in any means, revealing His love and energy to you. After I was finding out at Bible college, my trainer stated one thing quite simple however profound: “The Holy Spirit is extra curious about what He can do for you than by you.” This small sentence modified how I view the Holy Spirit and my relationship with Him. You might be known as to be His vessel, permit your self for use by Him to evangelise the gospel, maybe to be a missionary or evangelist who shares the excellent news and take care of the weak. However that’s not an important factor He needs from you; He needs you to know that you’re cherished, He’s at all times out there, He cares, He’s close to, He sees your coronary heart, struggles, worries and troubles, and that’s why He stated, “Come to me all you who’re weary and burdened” as a result of He needs that can assist you. However we can not go to Him and make this trade on our personal energy; we’d like Him.
3. He’s the supply
God is the supply of all the pieces.
“Each good and ideal reward is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who doesn’t change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17 NIV)
God is the supply of our constructive considering, energy, knowledge, braveness and He produces in us the fruits of the spirit. We are able to solely love, care, and provides unconditionally after we abide in Him. The one approach to break the chain of habit to pornography, playing, mendacity, stealing, lust, and sexual immorality is to go to the supply to trade your weak point with His energy. When you’ll be able to’t forgive the one who has betrayed you or cheated you and also you trade the damage with the love of God that surpasses all information, He can take away the basis of bitterness. God crops a seed of that love that you simply by no means thought potential. God not solely holds our palms and takes us to the vacation spot however equips us for the journey. I walked away from church in 2004 due to some damage however principally as a result of I used to be hooked on pornography from the age of 5 years outdated, and I wished to exit on the planet to expertise the so-called fantasy that porn had created in my thoughts.
I instructed myself I used to be simply going to attempt intercourse, and as soon as I had really examined and fulfilled this want of mine, I might come again to the church. One factor led to a different, and I discovered myself removed from God and my household. I began partying loads, consuming, smoking and doing medicine and hanging out with the improper crowd, which led to extra critical issues. Quick ahead to 2016, once I was fed up with my life and by the grace and mercy of God, He returned me to Himself. Again to Him however nonetheless coping with a porn habit, marijuana and smoking. At first, I attempted to be a superb particular person to return to Him, and that didn’t work. I stored going again to my outdated life. I attempted quitting all the pieces by myself, however that didn’t work. I stored on going again to the habits that I used to be so sick of. It wasn’t till I realized to acknowledge my want for the Holy Spirit in my life and that I used to be not designed to perform and fulfil something aside from Him. It’s when the Holy Spirit started His work in me, breaking the chains of habit. I’ve been free from these addictions for practically eight years.
Think about being caught in a stormy ocean, overwhelmed by the waves. You battle to remain afloat, feeling powerless. All of the sudden, you see an individual on the shore, extending a lifeline towards you. His hand is close to, prepared to drag you out of the water. As you seize the lifeline, you’re lifted up and delivered to security. The storm doesn’t instantly calm, however now you’re at peace as a result of the supply of your energy is correct beside you. The lifeline, robust and unbreakable, is just not solely serving to you survive but in addition supplying you with the facility to endure.
This lifeline symbolizes how God, being near you, is able to assist in each second of want. He’s the supply of your energy, consolation, and life; by holding onto Him, you’ll be able to navigate by the storms of life.
Life is stuffed with surprises and challenges. From my experiences, I’ve realized that I used to be not created to face the goliath of the world with my knowledge and energy. As an alternative, I ought to belief in God and know that He’s at all times close to. He sees my struggles, hurts, and the concerns in my ideas. He needs to assist and is the answer to all that’s happening in my life.
We are able to solely win after we acknowledge our want for the divine God and trade our restricted energy for His limitless energy.
