By Christopher Dryden
I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit who leads into all truth.
I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
John 14:16-17, 25-26 NLT
On the day of Pentecost, all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.
Acts 2:1-3; Acts 4:31; John 14:16-17 ESV
After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then, they preached the word of God with boldness.
Acts 4:31; NLT
We need help on the inside. We need God’s Holy Spirit.
Jesus knew that for all He was telling His disciples, they would only truly understand and receive it with help on the inside. He had just what was needed for the situation.
God’s story with humanity establishes how He expected them to look after the world by His example in governing the universe. Created in His image, humanity was given the task of governing the earth and would do so successfully as long as they remained connected to their Creator. Rebellion from that plan led to efforts to restore the right relationship.
There were hints of what God was looking for in His relationship with His people, Israel. Their ongoing inability to remain faithful to Him indicated that what they needed was more than an occasional episode of a man with the Spirit on him. They needed something fundamental – the Spirit of God in them governing them. This was the promise that the Messiah left with His disciples as He ascended.
When people experienced the Holy Spirit, it fulfilled what God had hinted at through His prophets and, finally, His Son. Here was the Promise. Here was the Advocate. He not only came alongside to help, but He came inside to guide. The same Spirit that led Jesus in the wilderness, to the Cross and victory over death was now available to those who believed. It is no surprise that the mouths of those at Pentecost were full of praise for the marvellous works of God.
It is also not surprising that when faced with opposition from the religious rulers of the day, the early church sought help from the Ruler, who responded with an infilling of the Holy Spirit that helped them carry out the mission of the Kingdom.
Today, it is not enough for us to just be excited about the good news. It is not enough for us to put our heads together and construct ideas and activities in the hope of maintaining initial excitement at the gospel. God knows this. God knows that what we need is help on the inside. This is why it’s good to know that not only does He save us in Jesus, but He makes us alive by His Spirit that He pours into us and who lives inside us to lead, guide, instruct and point us back to the King and His rule. We need His Spirit to proclaim this good news boldly. We need His Spirit to live out the wonderful rule. We need His Spirit.
Ask: Why did Jesus promise to send His Holy Spirit to His disciples?
Seek: What is your experience with the Holy Spirit? How has He helped you understand who Jesus is and what it is to live in God’s Kingdom?
Knock: Father, thank you for your Son who accomplished the mission through the Holy Spirit. Thank you for your Holy Spirit who leads us to the truth – your Son. Help us to depend on your Spirit in all things and particularly in presenting and proclaiming the good news of your Kingdom.
