Lesson Two:   The Helper is Promised

"Much of my material is adapted from:  The Promise by Tony Evans"

1.                  Jesus promises Him at the Last Supper

John 14:16-17

      Jesus must go so the helper will come

2.                  You need help

The Christian life cannot be lived on your own.

      Judas is going to betray Jesus

      Peter is going to deny Jesus

      The disciples are going to run and hide.

      The Jews and Romans are going to kill Jesus.

Without the Holy Spirit, you are following morality alone.

Spiritual truth will sometimes work without the Holy Spirit, but it will lack power

“Without the assistance of this third member of the Trinity, trying to solve problems is like rubbing Ben-Gay on a broken leg.  It may feel good, but it doesn’t help the problem at all.  Many believers go to church Sunday after Sunday for a Ben-Gary rub.  Going to church by itself can only make a wound feel good.  It can’t fix the bone, the broken spirit.”  P. 25 Tony Evans

3.                  The Holy Spirit enables you

John 15:5  Apart from Christ you can do nothing

John 14:16  He is the one who comes alongside

He is the helper who is just like Jesus

      Greek allos, same kind

      The same nature, character

      He is the Spirit of Christ

“Your pastor is not the Holy Spirit.  Your Christian counselor or therapist is not the Holy Spirit, and if you are more dependent on these people than you are on the Holy Spirit, you are settling for second-class help.”  P. 24 Tony Evans 

4.                  His help is continuous

He does not come and go

He cannot be taken away

This is different from the experience of Old Testament believers

5.                  His purpose is to bring about the significance of Christ

John 16:13-14

This is the primary goal of the Holy Spirit

When the emphasis is off Christ, this is not of the Holy Spirit

“His goal is to advertise Christ.”  Tony Evans, p. 28 

His purpose is to make sure you are advertising Christ.

The presence of this priority shows how much you have allowed the Spirit to control you.

6.                  He guides in the truth.

John 16:13

  He knows exactly what your situation is.

He reminds you of what you have learned, John 14:26

7.                  He gives you peace 

John 14:27, Peace is friendship with God. 

This week:

…In whose strength do you live for Christ?

…Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to be your strength.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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