The Helper Within
Have you ever felt like you're trying to navigate life on your own, carrying burdens too heavy to bear? What if I told you that as a believer, you were never meant to carry those things alone - you were not meant to walk alone—you have a Helper, a Counselor, an Advocate living within you? The Christian life isn't meant to be lived out - in our own strength. In fact, it's impossible to truly live it without tapping into the supernatural resources that have been placed within us. These resources come through the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who dwells within every believer and equips us with specific gifts for specific purposes.
The Trinity - Three in One
Before we delve into these spiritual gifts, we need to understand who the Holy Spirit is. Scripture reveals God as three distinct persons, yet one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We see this beautifully displayed at Jesus' baptism in Luke 3:21-22, where Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, and the Father's voice spoke from heaven saying, "You are my beloved Son; in You I am well pleased." God the Father is the Maker. Jesus the Son is the Savior. And the Holy Spirit? He's our Helper—dwelling not just with us, but in us.
Three Essential Truths About the Holy Spirit
1. He Is Our Helper Jesus promised in John 14:16-18, "I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth... He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." -
The word "helper" in Greek is 'parakletos', meaning one called to your side, an advocate who pleads your cause. The Amplified Bible expands this to include: comforter, counselor, helper, advocate, intercessor, and strengthener. When Jesus walked the earth, He was God with us. Now, through the Holy Spirit, God is in us. We have constant access to divine help, wisdom, and power.
2. He Is a Person, Not a Force The Holy Spirit isn't merely a power or energy—He's a person with intellect, emotions, and will. He knows things: "The Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10). He has feelings: "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God" (Ephesians 4:30). You can't grieve a force; only a person can be grieved. He has a will: "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills" (1 Corinthians 12:11). Understanding that the Holy Spirit is a person is critical to our walk with the Lord.
3. He Is Our Guarantee of Eternal Life The Holy Spirit seals believers until the day of redemption. He's the down payment, the guarantee that what God has promised, He will complete.
The Body of Christ- Diverse Yet United
1st Corinthians Chapter 12 paints a beautiful picture of the church as a body with many different parts. The eye can't say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "You're unnecessary." Every part has a unique function, and all are essential. This means your spiritual gift isn't just for you—it's for the common good. It's for building up the body of Christ. It's for demonstrating God's presence to a world desperately searching for truth. Many Christians have settled for far less than what God planned for their lives simply because they've never discovered or developed their spiritual gifts. There are spiritual resources within you that could transform not only your life but your entire church community.
Nine Manifestation Gifts - In 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, we find nine gifts that manifest God's presence on earth - and often work together.:
1. Word of Wisdom – Supernatural insight on how to handle a situation.
2. Word of Knowledge – Supernatural knowing of information you couldn't naturally know.
3. Faith – Supernatural confidence beyond normal belief.
4. Gifts of Healings – Supernatural ability to be a channel for physical or emotional healing.
5. Working of Miracles – Supernatural intervention that defies natural laws.
6. Prophecy – Supernatural ability to speak God's message.
7. Discerning of spirits – Supernatural ability to distinguish between spiritual influences.
8. Speaking in Tongues – Supernatural ability to speak in unknown languages.
9. Interpretation of Tongues – Supernatural ability to interpret those languages.
Recognizing Your Gifts The Holy Spirit distributes gifts "to each one individually as He wills." That means you have at least one spiritual gift. The question isn't whether you have gifts, but whether you're using them. Ask yourself: Have I ever had a sudden insight that proved accurate? Do I sense things about people or situations that I couldn't naturally know? Do I find myself believing God for impossible things? Am I drawn to pray for the sick or hurting? Do I speak encouragement that deeply impacts others? These could be indicators of your spiritual gifts in operation.
The More Excellent Way You can have all the spiritual gifts in the universe, but without love, they're nothing—just empty noise clanging in the wind (1 Corinthians 13). Gifts without love are powerless. They may impress, but they won't transform. Every gift must be exercised in love—love for God and love for others. That's the "more excellent way" Paul speaks of.
It's Time to Step Into Your Gifts The church stands at a crossroads. The world is changing rapidly, and people are desperate for authentic encounters with God. It's time for believers to step into the ministries they were born for—not embarrassedly, not hesitantly, not pridefully, but honestly, purposefully, and lovingly. Your gifts aren't meant to sit on a shelf somewhere collecting dust. They're meant to be used daily as you stay in communion with the Holy Spirit, listening for His voice, following His lead, and trusting His wisdom.
Challenge: "Pre-Pray" ... ask the Holy Spirit, "What do You want to do today?" "What Can I do?" How can I collaborate with You today? Before you know it - your heart is always leaning in to Him ... asking - He will lead you into "all truth" - Remember you have a Helper. He is a person - He knows things - feels things and has a will about things - He's ready, willing, and able. The question is: Are you?
Blessings,
Pastor Bob
Have you ever felt like you're trying to navigate life on your own, carrying burdens too heavy to bear? What if I told you that as a believer, you were never meant to carry those things alone - you were not meant to walk alone—you have a Helper, a Counselor, an Advocate living within you? The Christian life isn't meant to be lived out - in our own strength. In fact, it's impossible to truly live it without tapping into the supernatural resources that have been placed within us. These resources come through the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who dwells within every believer and equips us with specific gifts for specific purposes.
The Trinity - Three in One
Before we delve into these spiritual gifts, we need to understand who the Holy Spirit is. Scripture reveals God as three distinct persons, yet one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We see this beautifully displayed at Jesus' baptism in Luke 3:21-22, where Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, and the Father's voice spoke from heaven saying, "You are my beloved Son; in You I am well pleased." God the Father is the Maker. Jesus the Son is the Savior. And the Holy Spirit? He's our Helper—dwelling not just with us, but in us.
Three Essential Truths About the Holy Spirit
1. He Is Our Helper Jesus promised in John 14:16-18, "I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth... He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." -
The word "helper" in Greek is 'parakletos', meaning one called to your side, an advocate who pleads your cause. The Amplified Bible expands this to include: comforter, counselor, helper, advocate, intercessor, and strengthener. When Jesus walked the earth, He was God with us. Now, through the Holy Spirit, God is in us. We have constant access to divine help, wisdom, and power.
2. He Is a Person, Not a Force The Holy Spirit isn't merely a power or energy—He's a person with intellect, emotions, and will. He knows things: "The Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10). He has feelings: "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God" (Ephesians 4:30). You can't grieve a force; only a person can be grieved. He has a will: "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills" (1 Corinthians 12:11). Understanding that the Holy Spirit is a person is critical to our walk with the Lord.
3. He Is Our Guarantee of Eternal Life The Holy Spirit seals believers until the day of redemption. He's the down payment, the guarantee that what God has promised, He will complete.
The Body of Christ- Diverse Yet United
1st Corinthians Chapter 12 paints a beautiful picture of the church as a body with many different parts. The eye can't say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "You're unnecessary." Every part has a unique function, and all are essential. This means your spiritual gift isn't just for you—it's for the common good. It's for building up the body of Christ. It's for demonstrating God's presence to a world desperately searching for truth. Many Christians have settled for far less than what God planned for their lives simply because they've never discovered or developed their spiritual gifts. There are spiritual resources within you that could transform not only your life but your entire church community.
Nine Manifestation Gifts - In 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, we find nine gifts that manifest God's presence on earth - and often work together.:
1. Word of Wisdom – Supernatural insight on how to handle a situation.
2. Word of Knowledge – Supernatural knowing of information you couldn't naturally know.
3. Faith – Supernatural confidence beyond normal belief.
4. Gifts of Healings – Supernatural ability to be a channel for physical or emotional healing.
5. Working of Miracles – Supernatural intervention that defies natural laws.
6. Prophecy – Supernatural ability to speak God's message.
7. Discerning of spirits – Supernatural ability to distinguish between spiritual influences.
8. Speaking in Tongues – Supernatural ability to speak in unknown languages.
9. Interpretation of Tongues – Supernatural ability to interpret those languages.
Recognizing Your Gifts The Holy Spirit distributes gifts "to each one individually as He wills." That means you have at least one spiritual gift. The question isn't whether you have gifts, but whether you're using them. Ask yourself: Have I ever had a sudden insight that proved accurate? Do I sense things about people or situations that I couldn't naturally know? Do I find myself believing God for impossible things? Am I drawn to pray for the sick or hurting? Do I speak encouragement that deeply impacts others? These could be indicators of your spiritual gifts in operation.
The More Excellent Way You can have all the spiritual gifts in the universe, but without love, they're nothing—just empty noise clanging in the wind (1 Corinthians 13). Gifts without love are powerless. They may impress, but they won't transform. Every gift must be exercised in love—love for God and love for others. That's the "more excellent way" Paul speaks of.
It's Time to Step Into Your Gifts The church stands at a crossroads. The world is changing rapidly, and people are desperate for authentic encounters with God. It's time for believers to step into the ministries they were born for—not embarrassedly, not hesitantly, not pridefully, but honestly, purposefully, and lovingly. Your gifts aren't meant to sit on a shelf somewhere collecting dust. They're meant to be used daily as you stay in communion with the Holy Spirit, listening for His voice, following His lead, and trusting His wisdom.
Challenge: "Pre-Pray" ... ask the Holy Spirit, "What do You want to do today?" "What Can I do?" How can I collaborate with You today? Before you know it - your heart is always leaning in to Him ... asking - He will lead you into "all truth" - Remember you have a Helper. He is a person - He knows things - feels things and has a will about things - He's ready, willing, and able. The question is: Are you?
Blessings,
Pastor Bob
HOPE Blog ... Pastor Bob DeFelice
Sometimes random - sometimes not - some things I think - measured against scripture.
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
~ 2 Timothy 2:15
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
~ 2 Timothy 2:15
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