For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14)
Christians are not led by external circumstances or situations. We are led by the Spirit of God. People will make mistakes and may or may not give us good advice but the Holy Spirit will always lead us in the right direction. Over the years I’ve looked to ministers, friends, family, and other people for advice. Sometimes the advice received was good and sometimes it was bad. I have learned the need to check in with the Holy Spirit in every situation regardless of what advice I’m given by people.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16-17)
The Holy Spirit is a diving person that we can have fellowship with (2 Corinthians 13:14). It is inappropriate to refer to Him as “it”. We will go into this in more detail as we continue in our series of posts on the Holy Spirit. For now I will just say that He is a divine person with a mind, will, and feelings. He is not just power like electricity and He is not an impersonal force that operates mysteriously in our midst.
I have heard people refer to the Holy Spirit as “it”. They talk about Him moving in a service and say things like “it moved mightily today”. How would we feel if someone talked about us and we heard them saying “it did a good job”? “It” is an inappropriate reference to a person and “it” is an inappropriate way to reference the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said that He would pray for the Father to send “another Comforter” (John 14:16). The word “comforter” is translated from the Greek word “paraklétos” which means “one called called to one’s aid”. Jesus was the disciple’s “paraklétos”. He was telling them that He would send “another” “paraklétos”. The word “another” is translated from the Greek word “állos” which means “another of the same kind”. Jesus was their original “Helper” (capitol “H”).
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:7)
We can only imagine the disciple’s reaction to Jesus telling them that He was going away. They had traveled with Him for three to three and a half years and were expecting Him to overthrow the Roman empire and establish His kingdom on earth but that was not the plan. He was leaving but going to send “another Comforter” to be with them just as He had been.
Jesus said that it was “expedient” for them that He leave. “Expedient” is translated from the Greek word “sumphero” which could also be translated “profitable”. What could be better than being with Jesus? Jesus ministered as a man anointed by the Holy Spirit when He was on the earth. It would be better for the Holy Spirit to come because He would dwell inside of the followers of Jesus and be available twenty-four hours a day. Jesus was limited to His physical body. If John was speaking to Him and another disciple wanted to ask a question, they would have to either interrupt John or wait their turn. Today I can speak to the Holy Spirit at the same time you or any other believer is speaking to Him. Each one of us has unlimited access to Him! This is why Jesus said that it would be better for Him to depart.
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