The Promise of a Helper – March 20

Read John 14:15-17a, 26

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth…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 that I have said to you.”

Reflect

What is the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives? How does He help us?

Have you ever felt like living the Christian life is harder than you thought it would be? For example, in today’s verses, Jesus said that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments. Now, I love Jesus and I want to please Him, but I’ve messed up and broken His commandments. It can be so discouraging sometimes because I buy into the lie that I have to be perfect for God all by myself.

But I don’t have to do it all on my own! In fact, I can’t live the life that God is calling me to live all on my own. If I could have, Jesus wouldn’t have needed to die on my behalf! I do need a Savior. More than that, I need a Helper!

Thankfully, we read in today’s verses that Jesus promised to send the disciples a Helper. He promised that this Helper would be with them forever and that He’d teach them all things! Jesus identified the Helper as the “Holy Spirit” and the “Spirit of truth.”

For context, Jesus was preparing to leave His disciples. He had just washed their feet and was now giving them His final teachings. They didn’t fully understand that Jesus was about to be betrayed, crucified, and resurrected on the third day or that He’d eventually ascend into heaven. The thought of Jesus leaving them was distressing.

Later, Jesus clarified that it was for the benefit of the disciples that Jesus was leaving, even though it saddened them: “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7).

Of course, Jesus kept this promise! You can read about the apostles receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Acts 2. The Spirit is what empowered them to fulfill the Great Commission (Mathew 28:18-20) and go into all the world to preach the Gospel. It’s the Spirit that inspired Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

But the Holy Spirit isn’t just a promise for the apostles. It’s a promise for all believers for all time! In Ephesians 1:13-14, the apostle Paul explained how Christians receive the Holy Spirit: “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

God has promised that the moment we place our faith in Christ, His own Spirit will dwell within us forever! In fact, the presence of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is evidence that we are truly saved because EVERYONE who is a true believer is indwelt with the Holy Spirit. This is the Spirit that we are born of when we are “born again” at the moment of salvation (John 3:5-8). The Spirit regenerates and renews us. In the Spirit, we are given new life! And, what’s more, a guide and helper.

He guides and teaches us in the truth (John 16:13). He helps us to pray and prays for us (Romans 8:26-27). He gives us spiritual gifts that empower and equip us to serve the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:4). He sanctifies us and makes us holy, so that we will bear righteous fruit (Galatians 5:16-26). Our job is to submit to the Holy Spirit and let Him lead us through life (Romans 8:14, Galatians 5:25).

Theologian Dr. Warren Wiersbe wrote in his New Testament Commentary: “We aren’t alone, abandoned, helpless, and hopeless! Wherever we go, the Spirit is with us, so why should we feel like orphans? There is no need to have a troubled heart when you have the very Spirit of God dwelling within you!”

Yes, this Christian life is hard. We can’t accomplish anything that God has commanded us to do in our own strength. Thankfully, we don’t have to go it alone. We have a Helper, the Holy Spirit. God Himself living in us! Rest in that promise.

Respond

Lord, thank You for sending the promised Holy Spirit. I want to show You my love through my obedience to You, but I need a Helper. May I always yield and submit to Your Spirit working in my life. Sanctify me with Your truth (John 17:17). Amen.

Reveal

As you yield to the Holy Spirit, your life will change. This will be a powerful testimony of your salvation and the Spirit’s work in your life. Always be ready to reveal the source of your transformation with others—the Helper, the Holy Spirit.