The Helper
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26
Back in the late 1980's, I read a little book about the Holy Spirit called The Helper by Catherine Marshall. I had never heard the Holy Spirit called the Helper before. The NIV & new Living translations say the Advocate, the new CEB says the Companion, the old KJV says the Comforter, and the new KJV as well as the ASV, NASB, and ESV say the Helper; and The Message says the Friend.
In our Christian culture, teaching and being taught is a big deal. The most common form of Christian radio is teaching. Most Christian books are written to teach you. One of the main reasons people say they go to church is to receive teaching. We go to a second church meeting mid-week to get taught some more. The most common thing you'll see on Christian television is teaching. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
But, how is it that Jesus told his disciples that the Holy Spirit would teach them, but we seem to have lost this today? The Holy Spirit uses people and all the other means and ways to teach us, but what about being taught directly, as Jesus said in the verse above? What about being taught directly by the Holy Spirit?
What if you've been reading an author's books and others who know the author's material are teaching you his stuff. That's good and fine. But what if the author is available to you, but you ignore him while reading his books and seeking out others who have delved into his material, that you want to learn from? Wouldn't that be odd? Perhaps that's the way we are with the Holy Spirit. He is the smartest person on the earth today. No one knows Jesus better than he does. Why not ask him to teach you and since his name means helper, why not ask him for help?
Back in the late 1980's, I read a little book about the Holy Spirit called The Helper by Catherine Marshall. I had never heard the Holy Spirit called the Helper before. The NIV & new Living translations say the Advocate, the new CEB says the Companion, the old KJV says the Comforter, and the new KJV as well as the ASV, NASB, and ESV say the Helper; and The Message says the Friend.
In our Christian culture, teaching and being taught is a big deal. The most common form of Christian radio is teaching. Most Christian books are written to teach you. One of the main reasons people say they go to church is to receive teaching. We go to a second church meeting mid-week to get taught some more. The most common thing you'll see on Christian television is teaching. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
But, how is it that Jesus told his disciples that the Holy Spirit would teach them, but we seem to have lost this today? The Holy Spirit uses people and all the other means and ways to teach us, but what about being taught directly, as Jesus said in the verse above? What about being taught directly by the Holy Spirit?
What if you've been reading an author's books and others who know the author's material are teaching you his stuff. That's good and fine. But what if the author is available to you, but you ignore him while reading his books and seeking out others who have delved into his material, that you want to learn from? Wouldn't that be odd? Perhaps that's the way we are with the Holy Spirit. He is the smartest person on the earth today. No one knows Jesus better than he does. Why not ask him to teach you and since his name means helper, why not ask him for help?
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