Help Is Always On The Way!

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper.” (John 14:15)

With only a few hours left to complete His earthly ministry before going to the cross, Jesus made an amazing promise to His disciples, both then and now: “Help is on the way.” But wait; Jesus was about to leave His disciples and return to His Father in heaven, so how in the world could this promise be true?

The Help that Jesus promised is none other than the third person of the Holy Trinity. Jesus assured all His followers that when He returned to His throne in heaven we would not be left alone, because He would send His Holy Spirit to dwell within us (John 16:7). He repeated this promise immediately before His Ascension: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you” (Acts 1:8).

We must never forget that this power that has been promised to us is a Person who will comfort and counsel us, guide and govern us, love us and lead us, protect us and provide for us; rebuke and restore us. For all those who place their trust in Christ alone for salvation, Help is always on the way. In some English translations, the Greek word parakletos is rendered as “Counselor,” rather than “Helper.” Both words should be a source of great encouragement to you and me. Our Helper-Counselor is the very presence of God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, who has promised to go before us, go behind us, go beside us, and most importantly, go within us. We are able to appropriate this all-powerful Helper by faith to cause us to live a life that is pleasing to God and beneficial to all those with whom we come in contact.

Here is an important biblical point to remember about our Helper: Beginning at Pentecost (Acts 2), the Holy Spirit has been poured out on all believers in the exact same amount. It is unbiblical to believe that some believers are endowed with a greater measure of the Holy Spirit after having reached some supposed higher level of spirituality. This simply is not true, and such thinking sets up a dividing wall within the body of Christ. There are no “super-spiritual saints” in the body of Christ; the ground is level at the foot of the cross. “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13), and we are all equally endowed with the same gift of the Holy Spirit.

To be sure, the Holy Spirit has been active from before the beginning of time; Genesis 1:2 tells us that the Spirit hovered over the waters that covered the earth prior to creation. Throughout the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was on the move in the lives of many. But after Pentecost, the full measure of the Holy Spirit has been poured out on every Christian believer . . . and that includes you.

Have you been living in the power of your promised Helper? Remember, the best way to get to know someone is to spend time with him. Spend time with your Helper by staying in the Word and on your knees. Whatever help you are in need of today, you will receive it from the Helper who is with you and had promised to never leave nor forsake you.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!