Why The Holy Spirit Of God Is Your Ultimate Helper

Today’s podcast focuses on a person — the Holy Spirit of God — , on a Helper — the third member of the Trinity — on a constant companion who has been with you since the day you said ‘yes’ to Jesus. A.W. Tozer in his book on the Holy Spirit said, ‘There is an unseen Deity present, a knowing, feeling Personality, and He is indivisible from the Father and the Son, so that if you were to be suddenly transferred to heaven itself you wouldn’t be any closer to God than you are now, for God is already here. Changing your geographical location would not bring you any nearer to God nor God any nearer to you, because the indivisible Trinity is present, and all that the Son is the Holy Ghost is, and all that the Father is the Holy Ghost is, and the Holy Ghost is in His Church.’¹ The Holy Spirit is your Helper. What does that mean and what does that look like for the child of God living in today’s world? We are taking a closer look at Him so that we can learn to be a worker together with Him. “Why the Holy Spirit of God is Your Ultimate Helper” — all on this week’s Light on Life.

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe to PlayerFM

How Your Faith In God Is Remembered Forever

The Holy Spirit intercedes for you according to the will of God. He mediates — He encourages — He consoles — He strengthens. Click To Tweet

Read the Notes

You can view a basic transcript of this podcast at the bottom of this section.

Accept the Challenge

Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put it into operation.
This week’s call is:

The word ‘Helper’ means advocate, intercessor, mediator, encourager, strengthener, and consoler. Look for all of these operations of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Join the Conversation

Testimony is vital to a believer’s life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11). Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony.
This week’s question is:

Question: Do you have a God story where the Holy Spirit from heaven helped you? Please share your story in the comments section below.

Episode Resources:

If you would like to know more about growing in faith, see the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

We are currently teaching in the Gospel of John. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 47 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. He and his wife Sharon of 42 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

Subscribe to the Podcast

If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe.

Note: Pocket Casts is available on the App Store or Google Play.

Pocket Casts

iTunes PlayerFM

Share the Love

If you enjoyed the podcast, please rate it on Stitcher Radio and leave a review. If you have a suggestion for a Bible topic, you would like to see taught, or if you have a question, please e-mail me at emery@emeryhorvath.com

Podcast Notes

Prayer

Well again, welcome.
Let’s pray.

Father God, thank you so much for sending the Mighty Holy Spirit to be our Helper — to be our leader and our guide. Help us to understand His workings so that your great plan through our lives can be maximized in the earth. We give you the praise and glory for it in Jesus Name, Amen.

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: What Jesus Said

John 14:15–18 (ESV) — 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Jesus is about to let the disciples in on God’s amazing plan.
He has been endeavoring to tell the disciples that God’s plan for Him included the cross.
So far those words of Jesus were not received with understanding.
They didn’t really get what He was saying.

John 13:1 (ESV) — 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he [ loved them to the end].

John 13:36 (ESV) — 36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.”

Jesus is trying to tell them that He’s going.
“Lord where are you going?” — basically they said, ‘We want to go where you go.’
Jesus told them you can’t go where I go — later you can but not now.

John 13:37–38 (ESV) — 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

Peter was stuck in the now.
Now is the big point — ‘You can’t follow me now — you have my works to do — preaching and teaching my Word — healing Jewish men and women by the use of the Name as we saw in last week’s podcast.
Doing the works of Jesus.
You have lot of road ahead of you.

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: Obedience As the Test of Love

The Father is going to make provision for His kids — He knows that they have spent the last three years of their lives following His Son.
He’s not just going to snatch Jesus out of their midst and leave them orphaned.
The Father is a good Father — He is a good God.
And so Jesus says the following.

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Loving God and obedience to God’s Word are eternally linked.
If you say you love God, do what He says.
Obedience is a test or the indicator of genuine love.
Love is not a feeling — it’s never been a feeling.
Real love is a commitment to words.
It is a dedication to action.

Luke 6:46 (ESV) — 46 “Why do you call me ‘ Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

‘Do not what I tell you.’
These words must ring out in your heart.
‘Do what I tell you — do what I tell you — do what I tell you!
Luke says it — and John says the same as well.

1 John 5:2–3 (ESV) — 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

This is the love of God.
Love operates in the doing.
Love is doing — love is obeying.
The Hebrew concept of hearing and doing comes into play here.
In Hebrew, there is no distinction between hearing and doing.
They are interchangeable.
If you say you heard, it’s automatic that you did what you heard.
In the Western world, hearing is an auditory function.
In the Eastern world hearing means a response.

1 John 2:3–5 (ESV) — 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: Why Do You Need Help?

Now knowing these things, go back and look at the connection between John fourteen verses 15 and sixteen.
What is it?
Look at the link between ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments AND I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper’?
Do you think that the link might be, that you need the help that the Holy Spirit provides to be a doer of the Word?
Would it be fair for all of us to admit that we need all the help that we can get?
I believe you define that mindset as reality.
You remember Peter’s interaction with Jesus over his impending denial of the Son of God?
Peter was vehemently against Jesus statement.
Jesus said yes — Peter said no, I will never deny you?
No way — no how.
Here is the account.

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: Peter Had a Helper

Luke 22:31–34 (ESV) — 31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

You know how the story turned out, right.

Luke 22:54–62 (ESV) – 54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”

Peter failed but he didn’t go down the tubes.
There was a recovery.
Peter had help from the Helper.

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: Another Helper

Remember to catch this point from the passage we are studying.

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

Jesus said, ‘I am going to give you another Helper.’
So Jesus was the first Helper and the Holy Spirit was the second or ‘another’ helper.
This word ‘another,’ in the Greek, means different in kind or class.
How is the Holy Spirit different as a Helper than Jesus was?
Well, Jesus had a physical body while on Planet Earth — that is different than the Holy Spirit.
He lives inside of you.
Jesus spoke and was understood through the physical ear-gate.
The Holy Spirit speaks in your spirit and uses your conscience mainly to communicate with you.
They both communicate but use different methods.
Getting back to Peter.
Listen to the following passage and tell me let me know what you think.

Matthew 26:20–25 (ESV) — When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

The Tragic Case of Judas

You know what happened in the case of Judas, right?

Matthew 27:1–5 (ESV) — 27:1 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor. 3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.

Judas failed and he went down the tubes — he never recovered from his failure.
How come that didn’t happen to Peter?
What’s the difference between the two men?
The Helper is the difference
Jesus prayed for Peter, that His faith would not fail.
He needed that extra help.
You need that extra help in the things that you face.
You need a Helper.
So now comes the big question and, with that thought, here is the Question of the Day.

Here’s the question: ‘How come Jesus didn’t pray for Judas that his faith fail not?’

Because it wouldn’t have done any good.
Look at the following well known passage.
There’s a phrase here I want you to take note of.

2 Thessalonians 2:1–4 (ESV) — 2:1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

Did you hear the descriptor in verse three — the son of destruction?
Who does that refer to?
It refers to the AntiChrist.
Now go to John seventeen and look at verse twelve.

John 17:12 (ESV) — 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

While I was with them, I kept them — Jesus is talking about His disciples.
He is praying to God the Father and letting Him know — I guarded all of them except one man — the son of destruction.
The son of destruction Jesus refers to is Judas.
AntiChrist is referred to by the same name — the son of destruction.
Could it be that Judas was also antichrist?
There’s more to Judas than we understand.

Luke 22:1–4 (ESV) — 22:1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. 3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them.

Satan entered into Judas.
The Prince of Darkness made Judas spirit his home.
I don’t know about you but that’s creepy to me.
You see — Judas is a different kind of cat than other men.
He is in a totally different class of bad person.
‘I have prayed for you Peter,’ Jesus said, ‘that your faith fail not.’
Jesus couldn’t pray that for Judas.
It wouldn’t have made any difference.
There was something sinfully and deeply wrong with Judas.
Remember, we know very little about his life.
We do know Jesus said this.

Matthew 15:18–20 (ESV) — 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

There was something really bad wrong with Judas.
Peter made it because He had help — you need a helper.

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: An Answer to Prayer

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, [Jesus said].

So can you just thank God for Jesus right now?
The reason why the Holy Spirit is in your life at this exact moment in time is because of answered prayer.
Jesus prayed to the Father — God said Yes — and the rest is history.
Think of the long reaching impact of just one answered prayer from heaven.
This answer to prayer has affected whole nations.
Think of how dependent you have become on the Holy Spirit for direction, for utterances, for wisdom, for answers to questions, to help you find your keys.
I mean you would never have found your keys if Jesus hadn’t prayed to the Father — and the Father hadn’t answered.
Now, you have a relationship with the Father — think what kind of impact answered prayer that sprouts forth out of your life can have.
The possibilities are just astounding and amazing.

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: What Is a Helper?

Now, we have already defined the word ‘another.’
Jesus wanted us to have the Holy Spirit as ‘another helper.’
But, there is a the obvious word we need to define.
The Greek word Helper is super distinctive and so it’s one we want to look at and with that thought here is the Definition of the Day.
The word Helper means advocate, intercessor, mediator, encourager, strengthener, and consoler.
One of the dictionaries I frequent had this to say about the word ‘Helper.’

The principal difficulty encountered in rendering is the fact that this term covers potentially such a wide area of meaning.

The word literally means ‘one who comes to (our) side when called on’.
And when He comes to our side, what does He do?
Just stand there with His hands in His pocket?
No, He advocates, that is, He acts as your attorney.
The Holy Spirit intercedes for you according to the will of God. — that’s Romans 8.
What else does the Holy Spirit do when He comes along side of you?
He mediates — He encourages — He consoles — He strengthens.
With that thought, here is the Quote of the Day.

You might as well try to hear without ears, or breathe without lungs, as try to live a Christian life without the Spirit of God in your heart.²

If Jesus prayed for you to have a Helper — that means you need one.
You need the Holy Spirit active and energized in your life.
You need His mediator ability.
His advocating ministry in your life is a must.
You need His strengthening ability.
The Spirits’ consolation and encouragement are a definite must in the day in which we live.
And, above all, thank God He interceds for you and me.
Don’t we need it?
You bet we do.

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: The Blessing of Forever

Refreshing our thought one more time.
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
Now look at the word ‘forever.’
Forever is a hugely encouraging word here.
Your Helper will never leave you.
Jesus, the first Helper had to leave, so that you might have the blessing of a second Helper — one who will never leave your side.
Since the day He flooded the earth with His Presence, until this very hour, He has been with God’s kids every step of the way to glory.
Forever means just that — forever.
He will never leave you.
He is your constant companion — always in you — always looking to communicate to you.

Hebrews 13:5 (ESV) — 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Never forsake you.
Thank God for ‘forever.’
Forever is comforting.
Forever means stability.
Why do we need stability — why is the Spirit in our life forever so vital?
And with that question, here is the Illustration of the Day.

An example from the animal world shows how God makes provision for stability in the most difficult circumstances. In bold defiance of gravity, the mountain goats that live from the Northwest United States through Canada into Alaska demonstrate incredible stability in the most difficult of terrains. They leap surefootedly from ledge to ledge and scamper around steep, rugged mountainsides with the utmost confidence. Unusually flexible, the two toes of the goat’s hoof can spread apart wider than the hoof is long to distribute the animal’s grip. Or they can draw together to grasp a knob of rock. The goat also has a rough, pliable traction pad on the bottom of each toe which makes them skid-resistant on ice. Dewclaws projecting from the rear of the ankles provide additional traction on steep, downhill routes. Just as God makes provision in the animal world for creatures to stand with stability in the most difficult terrain, He will surely make provision for His redeemed children to stand in the most difficult spiritual circumstances. He can and will stabilize you in the midst of insuperable difficulty.

The Lord did exactly that when He recreated your spirit.
The Holy Spirit moved in — not as a hitchhiker just passing through, not as a judge and a condemner but as a comforting and stabilizing companion and friend.

Now Father God thank you so much — we cannot thank you enough for the precious gift of the Holy Spirit. How we love Him. How we value Him. Thank you so much!!! Where would we be without the help of the Holy Spirit. Why, we would be an eternal mess. Thank you again — Praise you again — glorify you again in Jesus Name, Amen.

Why The Holy Spirit Of God Is Your Ultimate x Helper
You guys have a great God week and we will see you next time for another edition of Light on Life.

#045: Why is the Throne of God a Merciful Place? [Podcast]

__________
References:

A.W. Tozer, How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit, page 13. ↩
—D. L. Moody ↩

emeryhorvath.com

Equipping people to pursue God's glory

Why The Holy Spirit Of God Is Your Ultimate Helper

Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Twenty-Five

by Emery Horvath

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe to PlayerFM

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

If you would like to know more about growing in faith, see the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

We are currently teaching in the Gospel of John. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Podcast Notes

Prayer

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: What Jesus Said

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: Obedience As the Test of Love

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: Why Do You Need Help?

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: Peter Had a Helper

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: Another Helper

The Tragic Case of Judas

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: An Answer to Prayer

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: What Is a Helper?

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: The Blessing of Forever

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe to PlayerFM

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

If you would like to know more about growing in faith, see the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

We are currently teaching in the Gospel of John. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Podcast Notes

Prayer

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: What Jesus Said

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: Obedience As the Test of Love

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: Why Do You Need Help?

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: Peter Had a Helper

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: Another Helper

The Tragic Case of Judas

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: An Answer to Prayer

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: What Is a Helper?

The Holy Spirit As Your Helper: The Blessing of Forever

Related posts: