Yesterday we looked at Holy Spirit’s involvement in our lives. Jesus said it was actually advantageous for Him to leave earth, in order that Holy Spirit could be sent to us. Whereas Jesus, in His human body, could be in only one place at a time; Holy Spirit can be everywhere at once, and is IN us, not just with us. I ended the post by saying that the single greatest key to biblically-defined success in any Christian endeavor is allowing the full work of Holy Spirit in and through us. This is most certainly true with prayer.
If we are to become skilled watchmen, we must become increasingly led and instructed by Holy Spirit. He was Christ’s helper, and He must be ours as well. Jesus was filled with, led, empowered, and anointed by Holy Spirit (see Luke 4). Acts 10:38 again says Christ derived His power from Holy Spirit, and our power must flow from the same source – the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1:8).
In a seminary missions class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push and popping the clutch.
After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave his car running. He used this procedure for two years.
Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, “Why Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable.” He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson’s astonishment, the engine roared to life.
For two years, needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting the power to work.
J.B. Phillips paraphrases Ephesians 1:19-20,
“How tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God.” When we make firm our connection with Holy Spirit, His life and power flow through us. (1)
There are two references in Scripture to Holy Spirit being our Helper. One is John 16:7:
“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”
Here, the word is parakletos, which literally means “called to another’s side to aid, help or support.”(2) While often used to describe a legal advocate or attorney, it is not limited to this but includes any and every means of helping.
I’ve often marveled at Holy Spirit’s humility. He could demand from us, assert His dominance, or force Himself on us. However, He postures Himself as an aide, a helper, waiting for the invitation to be all that He is. And oh, how we waste His availability and offer of help!
One of the areas in which Holy Spirit wants to help us is spiritual warfare. This was another interesting use of the term parakletos. “Greek soldiers went into battle in pairs so that when an enemy attacked, they could draw together, back-to-back, covering each other’s blind side. One’s battle partner was his paraclete.”(3)
Yes, our greatest partner in battle is Holy Spirit! As Samson of old, we become more than conquerors when He is our strength. The same anointing of Holy Spirit that gave Samson physical power gives us spiritual power. Don’t waste it! Acts 1:8 says we receive power (the Amplified Bible says “power and ability”) when Holy Spirit indwells us. He wants to release His power from us into situations to heal, transform, bind demonic powers, dethrone principalities, and more.
The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition, uses no less than seven terms to describe/translate the concept of Holy Spirit as our paraclete:
“Comforter,
Counselor,
Helper,
Advocate,
Intercessor,
Strengthener,
Standby.”
Incredible! That’s a lot to meditate on. Holy Spirit has been sent to help us in EVERY aspect of our life and ministry. He is the key to success! As watchmen, we must lean heavily on Him.
The second passage that refers to Holy Spirit “helping” us is Romans 8:26:
“And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (emphasis mine).
The Greek word is sunantilambanomai. It is a compound word made up of three words. Sunmeans “together with”; anti, “against”; and lambano, “to take hold of.”(4) Putting them together, a very literal meaning of the word is, “take hold of, together with, against.”
How’s that for help?!
In situations where we’re experiencing difficulty in obtaining results, Holy Spirit wants to take hold of the situation with us, adding His strength to ours. One of the ways in which he takes hold with us is by directing us on how to pray,
“for we know not what we should pray for as we ought”
His strength is made complete in our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9). When we realize our weaknesses and inability to produce results, this causes us to look to Him for help. If we allow Him to pray through us, He will take hold together with us. We must believe that when Holy Spirit takes hold, something is going to move!
Please notice that both the word “helps” and its literal definition “takes hold together with against” imply – not that Holy Spirit is doing it for us – but with us. In other words, this isn’t something Holy Spirit is simply doing in us, with or without our participation. No, we involve Him by praying as He leads, which is actually allowing Him to pray through us. His power is released through the prayers, and mountains are moved.
This reminds me of the mouse and elephant who were best friends. They hung out together all the time, the mouse riding on the elephant’s back. One day they crossed a wooden bridge, causing it to bow, creak, and sway under their combined weight. After they were across, the mouse, impressed with their ability to make such an impact, said to the elephant, “We sure shook that bridge, didn’t we?”
Yes, Holy Spirit is the source of power, the weighty One, but He allows us to participate and share in the victories. In fact, He won’t cross the bridge without us.