The pastors have built a great foundation for us the last two weeks explaining who the Holy Spirit is, as well as why He was sent to dwell within God’s people. So often we jump the gun beginning first with what the Spirit does before understanding the basics of who He is and why He is.
Of all the different “nicknames” for the Holy Spirit, I most easily relate with “The Counselor.” Whether you’ve benefited from the counsel of a trained professional, a spiritual mentor, or simply a wise friend, I’m sure you’ve learned a thing or two about what makes for good counsel.
First, they encourage you to look back into the past, knowing it shapes who you are and how you live today. The Spirit helps us to remember who Christ is and what He’s done on our behalf, and He also helps us as we move forward, empowering us to live in light of that truth. The Spirit can bring to our minds specific and applicable scripture we’ve memorized or read to assist us in the moments of life when we need it most. For example, when you face temptation perhaps the Holy Spirit will remind you of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness in Matthew 4 and specifically verse 10 “You must worship the LORD your God and serve Him only.”
Secondly, good counsel helps you articulate and voice the things you aren’t able to by yourself. In Matthew 10:19-20 we read about Jesus sending the twelve out reminding them, “Do not be anxious about how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Maybe you’ll suddenly find yourself in a gospel-sharing opportunity and you don’t feel equipped or you’re worrying about saying the wrong thing. In our feelings of inadequacy and anxiety, we can trust the Holy Spirit to speak through us and to help us to be articulate. Romans 8:26 also says that “the Sprit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Sprit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Things happen in life that are messy and confusing, and we don’t always know what outcome to pray for. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit does and He intercedes for us!
Thirdly, good counsel helps bring into the light the offenses we’ve caused and the areas in which we need to grow. Cara Kidd will be talking more about this in next week’s blog so I won’t steal her thunder.
Fourthly, wise counsel helps us make sense of difficult things. The Bible at times can be tough to read, understand, and retain, but the Holy Spirit assists us with these three things. Without Him, we are completely ignorant, possessing no wisdom or understanding of our own. But as we dive into the Bible, either individually or collectively, He teaches us, He grows our interpretation and comprehension of God’s Word, and He opens up our eyes to see new things that we’ve missed before.
These are just a few of the things the Spirit accomplishes in our daily lives. Human counsel will always fail us, but what comfort it brings knowing we have the Perfect Counselor dwelling within us who never will!
In Him,
Stacey