Becoming Like Christ: Filled with the Holy Spirit
The last supper between Jesus and His disciple occurred during the Jewish celebration of Passover. In a matter of hours He would face death on a cross. The conversation that evening was filled with heaviness and hope. Yes, He was leaving them. But, they would experience a divine relationship even closer than the physical companionship with Jesus. He had dwelt with them but the "Helper" would dwell in them.
"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you" (John 14:16-17).
The Holy Spirit is the divine presences of God in the world. A person has the filling of the Helper at the moment of faith and repentance in Jesus. The Spirit makes our bodies, thought they are mortal and sinful, a holy and pure place for God to abide. He also guides us to spiritual growth in holiness and love.
The word Helper (NASB) can be translated in different ways – Comforter (KJV), Counselor (RSV), or Advocate (NRSV). The core meaning is to have another person standing by you. Theses different translations come from the variety of ways the original Greek word is used. The verb express an idea to call in, send for, exhort, encourage, comfort, strength, console, connect, and convince. The Helper takes residence in our spirits and changes us into the people of God. We submissively allow Him to empty our souls of sin and fill us with godly power.
How can you know if you are Spirit-filled? The Helper shines a spotlight on Christ. The passion of the Spirit of God is to make the Son of God the center of our lives. What is in the center of your heart and mind? Is it placed there by the Holy Spirit or the unholy world?
Pray that God would guide you to empty yourself of the world and be filled with His glory. Evaluate Who is in the center of your life. Let the Helper help you make Jesus the main thing.
Matt Emerson
Taken from Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden
"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you" (John 14:16-17).
The Holy Spirit is the divine presences of God in the world. A person has the filling of the Helper at the moment of faith and repentance in Jesus. The Spirit makes our bodies, thought they are mortal and sinful, a holy and pure place for God to abide. He also guides us to spiritual growth in holiness and love.
The word Helper (NASB) can be translated in different ways – Comforter (KJV), Counselor (RSV), or Advocate (NRSV). The core meaning is to have another person standing by you. Theses different translations come from the variety of ways the original Greek word is used. The verb express an idea to call in, send for, exhort, encourage, comfort, strength, console, connect, and convince. The Helper takes residence in our spirits and changes us into the people of God. We submissively allow Him to empty our souls of sin and fill us with godly power.
How can you know if you are Spirit-filled? The Helper shines a spotlight on Christ. The passion of the Spirit of God is to make the Son of God the center of our lives. What is in the center of your heart and mind? Is it placed there by the Holy Spirit or the unholy world?
Pray that God would guide you to empty yourself of the world and be filled with His glory. Evaluate Who is in the center of your life. Let the Helper help you make Jesus the main thing.
Matt Emerson
Taken from Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden