You Need the Spirit
In my experience, self-hatred is the dominant malaise crippling Christians and stifling their growth in the Holy Spirit. – Brennan Manning
Sometimes…Jethro’s fail
Sometimes…Yoda’s are no shows
Sometimes…Jonathan’s turn to Judas’
Sometimes…your Barnabas leaves
Sometimes…your Jerusalem gets paved and they put in a parking lot
Sometimes all of your ‘Withnesses’ will fail you and that is why we have another promise…
God will work the late shift. God will watch your back.
In sports it’s common to refer to the crowd at a football game as the 12th man on the field.
Disciples of Jesus, similarly, have a 12th Withness, known as the Paraclete. The word
paraclete is most often used for the Holy Spirit. But it is also the same word Jesus
sometimes uses to describe himself. We translate ‘Paraclete’ as ‘comforter.’ But the
Holy Spirit as ‘The Comforter’ doesn’t mean a cuddly blanket or a hot-water bottle but a
“The Invisible 12th” is a relationship you can’t be without! A bracing friend who helps us bear every burden, lift every load, climb every mountain, fjord every stream.
Our greatest asset is invisible and intangible. The Paraclete goes out into life’s conflicts
with us and protects not only our backs, but our sides, our fronts, our insides, the whole
being! In the Harper’s Bible Dictionary the word Paraclete means ‘one called to the side
of.
This is the job description of the Holy Spirit: to stand at the side of all those who
follow Jesus.
Under no circumstances and in no condition do we not have the Withnessing presence of
the Holy Spirit. We are never without what we need for life’s missions, the guards and
guides, the goads or gifts. We are never alone.
Journal Questions:
Read Ephesians 6. What part of the armor is missing? Why do you think that is? Does it say anything about God and the Holy Spirit?
What word for paraclete…or the Spirit most resonates with you?
Comforter, Teacher, Companion, Challenger, Coverer
Why?