Ever thought to yourself, This Christian life is not all it’s cracked up to be? If you feel disappointed with your spiritual life, it may be because you’re not relying on the Holy Spirit. In this message, Dr. Stanley explores the essential role that the third person of the Trinity plays in each believer’s life. Don’t miss out on the greatest Helper God gave us-Himself as the Holy Spirit.
[Music]
next on InTouch god the holy spirit our
culprit when you trust in the Lord Jesus
Christ as your Savior you probably
thought things were gonna be rather easy
for you it just may be that things got
tougher for you and as a result you
begin to question God where he was and
why didn’t he answer your prayers and
why didn’t he keep his word
well the answer kept his word God always
keeps his word he knows that all of us
will face situations and circumstances
in life that it’s difficult for us we
don’t know which way to turn this is why
he said to his disciples before he left
he was going to send them someone that
he called the helper and this helper
would be with them throughout their life
this helper is called the Holy Spirit
because you see God has made an awesome
deposit for everyone who is willing to
believe him will then to trust him the
Bible talks about God being God the
Father God the Son God the Holy Spirit
the three persons of the Trinity
sometimes people confuse with that so I
want to show you a brief diagram just to
give you an idea that really they’re all
one and if you’ll notice there is God as
God the Father who’s the creator and the
sovereign ruler of the universe God the
Son Savior and our Lord God the Holy
Spirit our helper and our empower all
three persons of the Trinity make up the
Godhead so in this message I want us to
see what God has done for you what is at
your fingertips
what is deposited in your heavenly
account if you are willing to yield
yourself to him and draw from these
awesome reserves that God has place it’s
your account what do you do when you go
through difficult times
when you find yourself maybe your backs
to the wall you don’t know what to do
how do you go to do you crowd to God
probably do at some point well what I
want you to see is this that God has
very specifically said I have sent you a
help art a helper is someone who’s going
to be there for you when you need him in
fact this help is going to always be
there so I want you to turn to the 14th
chapter John because Jesus right before
he was crucified the night before he
told them some of the most awesome
things and he was preparing them because
he was going to be crucified listen the
next day he was going to the cross the
next day he was going to the tomb he was
going to be resurrected and then another
point out there he would meet them but
at this point it looked very dismal he
made all these promises and now he’s
getting ready to die and in spite of all
the things he said he’s going to die
that overshadowed everything else so if
you look in the fifteenth verse of the
14th chapter of John if you love me you
will keep my Commandments and then he
said knowing he’s getting ready to leave
them I will ask the Father now watch
this here’s the whole Trinity in one
verse I will ask the Father that’s Jesus
speaking and he will give you another
and capital H the helper who is the Holy
Spirit that he may be with you for how
long forever not a short period of time
but forever
he says I’m leaving you but I’m gonna
give you a helper capital that is a
person of the Trinity the Holy Spirit
he’s gonna be with you forever that is
the Spirit of Truth whom the world
cannot receive because it does not see
him and no one but you know him because
he abides with you and will be in you I
will not leave you as orphans I will
come to you at no point since the moment
you trusted Christ as your personal
Savior had
you ever been alone at no point have you
ever been helpless you may have felt
helpless but when you trusted Jesus as
your Savior
God’s seal upon you his absolute
assurance to you is the indwelling
presence of the Holy Spirit God the
Father God the Son God the Holy Spirit
three persons of the Trinity your
guarantee that you go into heaven when
you die so I wonder in your personal
life what part does the Holy Spirit and
what part has the Holy Spirit had in
your life you probably got saved like I
did and they tell me at 12 years of age
child you be a good boy in one of these
days you’ve done your to heaven Oh being
a good boy was a little tough at trebius
beige but anyway that’s all they told me
that’s it
be good well I oftentimes I wasn’t
always good that’s all that they never
told me that I had this awesome Holy
Spirit within me to help me to grow up
help me to be what God wanted me to be
help me to do what God wanted didn’t
tell me any other things like that the
same God who saved you saved me the same
holy spirit who indwells me in dwells
you and when I think about people who go
to church 20 30 40 50 years and that
person lived their whole life and never
knew the treasure of their life living
within them and they never were told
about him and I think about whoever you
are wherever you go to church if you
never hear about the Holy Spirit you
need to change churches because somebody
isn’t telling you the whole story the
whole story is God the Father God the
Son and God our helper the Holy Spirit
so he said to them I’m going away and
I’m gonna send you another that is the
Holy Spirit will be your comforter now
watch this carefully what is the work of
the Holy Spirit what does he do in the
president’s life what I want you to
realize is this I’m simply gonna tell
you what’s true I’m gonna tell you
what’s true about you
I’m gonna tell you about this awesome
asset that God has deposited within you
to help you every single moment of your
life as much as you willing to call upon
him trust and rely upon it believe in
what he’ll do for your life I’m simply
saying you have God the Holy Spirit
living within you and notice what he
calls Jesus called the Holy Spirit
helper how many of you have everything
that help every one of us needed help
and we have the great infinite awesome
all-powerful helpful living with inside
of us willing to give us direction and
guidance and other help when that help
is needed so let’s look at it for a
moment so what is one of the first works
of the Holy Spirit when you were saved
how are you saved the work of the Holy
Spirit and when the Holy Spirit comes he
will convict the world concerning sin
righteousness and judgment that is one
of his first works in our life is the
convicted of sin to make us realize that
we’re sinning against God and that we
need a Savior and he lives within us
therefore when you and I daily in our
life when we have a bad thought I say
something we shouldn’t treat some other
way we shouldn’t treat them fail to do
what we need to do that feeling we get
is not just a feeling that is the work
of the Holy Spirit reminding us of who
we are followers of Jesus and that
shouldn’t be in our life this should be
in our life that’s what should be in our
life that’s who you should love in other
words he’s at work in our life whoever
you are whether you recognize it or not
he’s at work in your life you may think
it’s just you’re feeling the Spirit of
God is at work in your life a second
thing he does are very important is
in Ephesians 1:13 which says this in him
that is in Jesus you also after
listening to the message of truth the
gospel of your salvation also believed
he said you having also believed you
were sealed in him with the Holy Spirit
of promise now what does that tell you
watch this carefully a seal in those
days meant something was authentic
something was authentic it also spoke of
ownership and also spoke of protection
we have within us an awesome protector
and so he says the Holy Spirit of God
has sealed us now what does that mean to
you for example who had been taught that
you can be saved and lose your salvation
that’s not true listen God doesn’t break
his own seals he sealed you which means
just what we said you owned by God God
is living within you you’re under his
divine protection and everything we need
he has provided and so when we think in
terms of the Holy Spirit we’re not
talking about some spirit we’re talking
about the person of the Godhead living
within you has sealed you now what does
that say about people who think and be
saved and be lost watch this who can
break a divine seal the devil can’t you
can’t you wouldn’t want to and so here’s
what God say when you trusted him as
your personal Savior he sealed you as
one of his children you offer ever a
child of God now I know what some people
are thinking well that means well I can
just send like the devil and I’ll be say
try the Holy Spirit within you first of
all will convict you and make you
miserable he’s going to make you
miserable for years if it’s necessary
keeping reminding you that you’re living
an ungodly life you’re living a holy
life God isn’t pleased for that you’re
gonna miss blessing after blessing after
blessing and then people wonder what’s
wrong with my life what’s wrong with
your life is sin in your life he’s
ignoring the Holy Spirit who’s trying to
say Lord look
look what you’re doing that’s not
necessary that is God’s awesome love the
Holy Spirit has sealed you with a divine
heavenly seal you are his he’s your
helper then a third thing he does and
this simple way of saying what we have
saying in Romans 8:11 he indwells us
that isn’t something that the Holy
Spirit’s up in heaven and we are down
here and it’s a long ways I’m not sure
and then we go listen to this but at the
spirit of him who raised Jesus from the
dead dwells in you he who raised Jesus
from the dead will also give life to
your mortal bodies through his holy
spirit who indwells you that is we have
a gift that is an eternal gift and
that’s the Holy Spirit marked by his
ownership so when I saw this one you and
I sinned against God we are violating
his principles violating the very person
he sent to seal us to make us one of his
own to be our helper we are his children
we are under his divine leadership he
says he indwells us I wonder how people
would live if they thought every day I
meant well by holy God if you thought in
your life every single day when you wake
up in the morning that your indwelt by
holy God because you are the Holy Spirit
he’s there to Enduro us to enable us to
do anything and everything that he was
required of us a full thing he does is
he teaches us listen the 14th chapter of
John the 26th earth but the helper the
Holy Spirit whom the father will send in
my name he will teach you all things and
bring all things to your remembrance now
think about this the moment you now
received we have the teacher the teacher
above all teachers within us he’s the
one who helps us understand the truth
he’s the one who helps us can they truth
the other people he’s the teacher for
example when you find yourself in a
difficult situation and you’re looking
for a passage of Scripture Lord what
should I read he
the one who would show you how to go
he’s the one who will interpret the Word
of God he’s the one who will encourage
you he says he’s a helper he encourages
us bringing us to the right passage
helping us to see what God thinks about
our situation what the circumstances are
we have this awesome
asset that many people ignore in their
life and they’ll say a lot of read the
Bible much because I don’t I don’t
understand it
how do you learn to understand the Word
of God about reading it and by trusting
the Holy Spirit thank how many times you
face the difficult situation in your
life and what did you know you turn to a
passage of Scripture or you would just
flipping through the Bible and this
particular first hit you you think God
you know I needed that yes he does
that’s why he led you there watch what
he says he says I’m sending you another
capital H helper we have a divine
supernatural godly helper within us to
help us in every circumstance of our
life and then of course he will guide us
when he the spirit of truth comes he
will guide you into all truth so
somebody says well you know I’m trying
to make a decision in my life and I’ve
evaluated this and that the other and
I’ll talk to this and so have you talked
to God
the Holy Spirit who lives within you is
willing to give you guidance in every
single decision you face when you’re
making a decision in your business
making a decision your personal life
relationship to others financial
whatever it might be then you ask him to
give you direction he will give us he
will show us the truth when when he
comes he will guide us into all truth
that is you can’t think of a question
about your life that in which you need
something that he won’t show you what to
do he’s there to show you to give you
divine guidance and direction what about
your children for example you want your
children when they get into a situation
they don’t know what to do they want you
to come to them as parents and ask and
trust you to help them and so we get
into situations in circumstances and we
don’t know what to do what do we do we
run ask some
what else it’s okay to ask somebody else
but you should ask God first if you will
ask the Lord first lord give me wisdom
and direction he says he will guide us
into all truth whatever I need in
direction he’s more than willing to show
us if we’re willing to take the time to
ask him and believe what he says and
sometimes if you ask him about something
what he tells you is not going to be as
easy as what your friends tell you but
first of all they don’t know anything
about it anyway they just know partly
but the Holy Spirit of God is willing to
teach you and to show you exactly what
to do in every single situation then I
think about what he says that he does in
and through us and Galatians chapter 5
22 here’s what he says he says the fruit
of the Spirit that is this is what he
produces in us see if it’s in you the
fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace
patience kindness goodness faithfulness
gentleness self-control you see any of
those you need I need them all and the
truth is we all need them all well look
at look at this someone’s giving you a
hard time and you feel very impatient
but you can really afford to do that you
can’t be impatient you have the Holy
Spirit to give you his patience
sometimes for example somebody that you
just don’t love they do in fact you
they’re just obnoxious and you think you
sit in church and listen to sermons and
you stand up and sing and you pray but
deep down in your heart you can’t stand
them so what so what happens you ask
though let’s really let me tell you
something it it will be amazing and how
God to change your attitude so it’s
somebody that you don’t want anything to
do with now you don’t tell him how to do
it you just say Lord you know I don’t
love them I bet this is the reason I
don’t and I need I need just what you
said God you just got to love them
through me you will be amazed what God
will do
your life have changed your attitude
your thinking oh Lord I didn’t know I
wasn’t that obnoxious myself and so what
everything begins to change what and
listen patience joy peace goodness
faithfulness gentleness self-control
all of us need self-control where do we
get it we trust the Holy Spirit to
exercise self-control through us that’s
what you’re telling Holy Spirit I want
you to exercise self-control what I see
what I do what I hear
I want your control in my life not mine
he will exercise that through us and so
as you and I yield to the Holy Spirit
here’s what happens all non gifts of the
Spirit the Spirit of God begins to work
them into our life and so what happens
their life changes and then he also has
as one of his responsibilities to remind
us look in John 14 the 26th verse for
all it and he says to them but the
helper capital H the Holy Spirit 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 said to you now think about
this these twelve disciples had walked
with Jesus for three years they had seen
a lot they had heard a lot from walking
on water to feeding 5,000 to healing
bartemaeus to raising Lazarus they’d
seen a lot now watch this so their life
was consumed with this miraculous life
but all of a sudden he’s gone and
they’re over here watch this
they had no notes they didn’t have a
notepad they didn’t have a computer they
didn’t have a Bible they think about
what where that left them all they had
is what they remembered how much did
they remember imagine walking with him
three years and seeing this and that and
never knowing what was going to happen –
doubting him here and there and so
and all of a sudden he’s gone this is
the reason he said to them sit down in
the city of Jerusalem until you be
filled in dude with the Holy Spirit who
will bring all things to your
remembrance think about how much you
remember when you have read the Word of
God we are gifted with a treasure called
the Bible and the Holy Spirit a teacher
our guide the one who helps us to
interpret it you can read it you can
hear it but most of all you apply it God
didn’t leave us empty so when you trust
Jesus as you save you you receive this
awesome treasure of the Holy Spirit so
when you think about that think about
how sufficient is and then of course he
says he will equip us with spiritual
gifts in the twelfth chapter first
Corinthians one of spiritual gifts well
for example they’re probably seven major
spiritual gifts does the gift of
prophecy of teaching of mercy
encouragement of service of giving have
administration all gifts probably fall
into those seven and so the truth is
watch this you have a spiritual gift and
so he gives us the gifts and exercises
those gifts in our life according to
what he wants us to do what he’s called
us to do somebody says oh I don’t have
any gifts yes you do you do have gifts
it’s a question of asking God to show
you and thinking about what you do what
you need to do what you need help in and
he’ll show you what that is then of
course he empowers us in that first
chapter of Acts verse eight he said you
will receive power after that the Holy
Spirit comes upon you and you shall be
my witness that is he will release
within us the energy and the strength
and the authority to do whatever he
wants us to do that’s the promise of
Almighty God
when you think you just can’t go another
step what do you do you ask the Holy
Spirit to help you to give you guidance
to give you strength and energy you can
watch this the Holy Spirit is practical
the Holy Spirit does for us what we
cannot do for ourselves
he has equipped us in every single area
of our life then I just mentioned one
other and that as he says in Ephesians
chapter 5 18 be filled with the spirit
which simply means this continually
allow the Holy Spirit to live in your
life give you guidance give you
direction fill those needs whatever
those needs may be to be filled with the
Holy Spirit means we’re to live in the
conscious presence of the Holy Spirit
living with us in order to help us and
enable us so that no believer has a
legitimate excuse for not obey God
he has equipped you to do whatever he
wants you to do
he has equipped you to have enough of
what he wants you to have to understand
what he wants you to understand to be
the person he wants you to be you have
not honored the promise but when he
seals you as a child of God you are
equipped to do and to become whatever
God had in mind when he brought you into
this world now think about the people
who’ve never heard that they’re just
living out their life the best they can
haven’t you heard people say well how
you doing
just doing the best I can that’s no way
to live the best I can is not very good
the best he can is awesome absolutely
awesome the best he can do
so the Holy Spirit is our helper our
friend our sustainer provider
he’s everything Jesus said I’m going
away but I’ll send you the helper and
when he comes here’s what he’ll do so
let’s go back for a second to this
chapter 14 chapter I will ask the Father
and He will give you another helper
capital H that he may be with you
forever
not fortunately that is the Spirit of
Truth whom the world can’t receive they
don’t understand it because it doesn’t
because the world doesn’t seem unknowing
but you know him because he abides with
you and will be in you I will not leave
you as orphans I will come to you now
where do you get it more encouraging
than that amen you should be praising
the Lord thanking God but who he is in
you that he hasn’t left you to do it
yourself whatever you do in life it’s
not you to just do it yourself you have
four times he called the Holy Spirit the
helper to enable us and to help us do
his will Amen father had grateful we are
we could never thank you enough we
praise you for for giving us the Holy
Spirit in our life every single day to
enable us to do and to be what you’ve
called of us I pray the Holy Spirit has
spoken to every person here today that
every personal walk away encouraged in
their heart reminded in their heart
challenged in their heart or convicted
in their heart and you have something
for them to do that this year will for
their life and I pray that they’ll
surrender to that we love you and we
praise you and we bless your Holy Name
and we pray this in your wonderful
blessed name Jesus amen if you’ve been
blessed by today’s program please visit
us at intouch.org e
[Music]
in touch leading people worldwide into a
growing relationship with Jesus Christ
and strengthening the local church this
program is sponsored by in touch
ministries and is made possible by the
grace of God and your faithful prayers
and gifts