Holy Spirit

Are you familiar with Jesus’ teaching, “Ask, and it will be given to you,” Matthew 7:7? Ask means to call for, to request of someone. Jesus teaches us to request of the Father what we need. But Jesus not only teaches us to ask God for desired needs, but He also asks God for things. In John 14:16, Jesus told His disciples, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Paraclete), that He may be with you forever…” Who is the Paraclete? He’s the Holy Spirit (Helper) who is with us forever.

Studying the Greek definition of the word “Helper” or “Paraclete”…ummm…helps. Consider the following definition of Paraclete: 

• Someone summoned, called to one’s side, especially called to one’s aid.
• One who pleads another’s cause before a judge, counsel for defense, an advocate.
• Of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after His ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom.¹ 

It’s staggering when we think of the magnitude of God’s provisions for us. Our Heavenly Father not only took it upon Himself to send His Son to save us but also sent the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, to be an abiding divine presence within us. We never walk alone.

Heavenly Father, Son, and PARACLETE, the blessing of Your Presence is something I will only fully realize when I am in Heaven. Thank You, Lord!

Want to learn more about the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, and how to discern His voice? Listen HERE.

¹  “Strong’s G3875 – paraklētos,” Blue Letter Bible, accessed July 26, 2023, https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3875/kjv/tr/0-1/.

Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the Nations” (Revelation 15:3).

Have you ever received a call from a loved one or friend and been told, “I just prayed to receive Christ”? I recall one particular time when someone called me and said those words. Tears of joy rolled down my cheeks. Why? 

Just like a lifeless bulb appears to be dead, when we die we appear to be dead. Nothing is further from the truth, however. Just as there is life in a bulb as is evidenced when the stalk and flower emerge, there is life in each person even though their body dies. God created us as living souls and we each emerge to live forever with God or apart from Him eternally.

God, the Heavenly Father, is the God of all people. As Revelation 15:3 states, He is King of the nations. The Bible consistently warns that there are not many ways to heaven. There is only one God we are to worship. 

God’s gift of eternal life in heaven comes to us through the forgiveness of our sins by Jesus’ death on the cross. John 3:16 could not be more true. “For God so loved the world…” Yes, God is King of the Nations. Jesus is Savior of the world. If you have never responded to God’s gift of salvation, please pray the following prayer. 

Lord God, KING OF THE NATIONS, I call on You to save me. I know I’ve sinned and fall short of Your glory. I ask You to forgive me through Jesus’ death on the cross. Please cleanse me and give me Your Holy Spirit. Seal me for eternity with You in heaven. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.  

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“I’m thirsty!” How many times have we said that? Our bodies need water. But, what about our spirits? According to Jesus, they need spiritual water, Living Water, the Holy Spirit.

Listen to Jesus’ words. “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:38-39).

In these verses, Jesus tells us an important truth. Just as our body needs water, so does our spirit. Unhappy? Grumpy? Dry as a prune? If so, you could be spiritually thirsty. Go to your Heavenly Father. Tell Him, “I thirst. I feel spiritually dry.” Ask Him to refresh you. Open your heart and ask Him to fill you to overflowing with His glorious, refreshing, life-giving Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18 reinforces Jesus’ words with the command that believers be filled continually with the Spirit. So yes, when your body is dry, reach for a glass of water. When your spirit is dry, reach for the Lord’s filling.

Jesus, thank You for giving me the LIVING WATER of Your Spirit who cleanses and refreshes me; who fills and energizes me to serve You. I love You, Lord. 

Click HERE to watch all of Debbie’s teaching on John 7, where Jesus says that whoever believes in Him will have rivers of living water flowing from within them, referring to the Holy Spirit. You can also listen to the podcast teaching by clicking HERE. 

Are you familiar with Jesus’ teaching, “Ask, and it will be given to you,” Matthew 7:7? Ask means to call for, to request of someone. Jesus teaches us to request of the Father what we need. But Jesus not only teaches us to ask God for desired needs, but He also asks God for things. In John 14:16, Jesus told His disciples, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Paraclete), that He may be with you forever…”  Who is the Paraclete?  He’s the Holy Spirit (Helper) who is with us forever.

Studying the Greek definition of the word “Helper, Paraclete,” ummm – helps.  Consider the following definition of Paraclete:*

• Someone summoned, called to one’s side, especially called to one’s aid.
• One who pleads another’s cause before a judge, counsel for defense, an advocate.
• Of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after His ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom.

It’s staggering when we think of the magnitude of God’s provisions for us. Our Heavenly Father not only took it upon Himself to send His Son to save us but also sent the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, to be an abiding divine presence within us. We never walk alone.

Heavenly Father, Son, and PARACLETE, the blessing of Your Presence is something we will only fully realize when we are in Heaven. Thank You, Lord!

Want to learn more about the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, and how to discern His voice? Listen HERE.

*https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G3875&t=NASB

Jesus told His disciples He was going to die and ascend to His Father in heaven but that He would not leave them as orphans. (John 14:16-18) Jesus explained that He would send a Helper to them and that the Helper would not only be with them, but also in them. You can’t get more near to someone than to be in them. That is God’s gift to believers.  Christ’s Holy Spirit is in you. Near. Not far away. Near. Not inaccessible. Still not convinced? Listen to what Psalm 145:18 says,

“The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”

Call on God in sincerity and truth. He’s near.

LORD, You are NEAR, not far removed. Thank You that we can call on You in sincerity and truth. 

In Debbie’s teaching on John 14, she discussed Jesus’ promise of sending a Helper (the Holy Spirit) to not only be with His disciples, but also in them. To watch a clip from Debbie’s teaching on this subject, click HERE. 

Following the Israelites exodus from Egypt, Moses recounted their conquests and urged the people to obey God’s Law. In his discourse, he spoke the poignant words in Deuteronomy 4:7. “For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him?”

Have you ever thought about his words in relation to our nation? The LORD our God is our God and whenever we call on Him, He’s near?

You may think that God has not heard our prayers for our nation. But, we have no idea the amount of evil that might have occurred had God not been answering our prayers.

Therefore, keep praying. Keep calling on God to raise godly leaders and to protect all who are standing for truth. What we see on earth is a reflection of the unseen spiritual warfare being played out in the heavenliness; so pray like never before, assured there is power in your prayers. And, remember to have a grateful heart for daily victories. Is there any good in your life? Is a family member standing strong for their beliefs rather than compromising them? Are you mindfully thanking God? If not, begin. It is important that our thanks reach God’s ears.

LORD OUR GOD, we shudder to think what our nation and world would be like if You removed Your restraining hand. Thank You for being near and hearing our prayers. We give You praise and glory. 

The Lord is always present and wants us to talk to Him through prayer. Learn to pray more purposefully through Debbie’s book, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion.