WORD TREASURES 7/30/23

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (comforter, advocate, counselor), to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth…” (Jn.14:15-17a ESV)
Before the Spirit came to live in the Christian, humans simply had not the moral strength or power to obey the Lord. All of us are miserable failures – everyone! But one of the great wonders of Christianity is that the Holy Spirit now lives in all believers to bring them the moral strength to obey the Lord’s commands. Because we are His address, He will HELP US OBEY! Jesus makes it plain that loving God and following what He says are forever connected. We cannot claim to be Christians & not care about righteousness. Holiness MATTERS! Yet, our trouble is that, alone we cannot obey! So, in the same breath that Jesus speaks of obeying, He also promises the Spirit within. Note His reference to another helper (comforter or companion that comes alongside). And remember our definition of the word ‘Helper’ in previous articles. Helper = one who takes time off to come and help you live (taking on your responsibilities) when you are sick or incapacitated in some way. Or ‘Counselor’ = one who comes to your trial to speak in your defense. Or ‘Comforter’ = one who showed up the night before a major battle to encourage the soldiers before the dangerous fight. Think of it! The God who made the universe, who has no beginning or ending, the ONE who knows and sees all, the One who can do anything, lives in every Christian to help them!!!
The challenging, pride-killing truth is that, unless Jesus helps us, we will never possess the moral courage to do what is right and obey the Lord in life’s trials, temptations, and situations. We must have His actual strength in order to follow Him – even for 5 minutes. So God makes every believer His address – His home, so that we have access into this grace (moral strength) to follow Him. Note 3 references from Romans depicting the strength of God now available to believers (Rom.5:2, 8:1-4, 9-11). We are called to obey and Christ lives inside each and every believer to grant grace to follow Him and His commands. This action God takes on our behalf to cause us to think/live right is described by a biblically technical term – ‘sanctification’. This is a lifelong process where the same grace that saved and forgave each Christian now works in them to teach and strengthen their character/behavior so that they
become more like Jesus every day. This is the purpose of God and the destiny of every Christian (Rom.8:28-29).
The process of sanctification can be rough. It does not happen all at once. As little children grow into adulthood, so every Christian must grow into maturity! We don’t start perfect, but God will see to it that we end that way in eternity (Php.1:6). It is also true that we cannot blame God for our failures. We can never say, “If God would help me, I wouldn’t sin as I do." Sin is always my fault – never God’s! But as we walk with the Lord in this life and as we learn thoroughly that we Christians are His address, we become more adept at trusting the indwelling Christ, allowing Him His way and loving Him by following His commands. Our love for God is revealed in our
obedience to Him to live the life He has given to us – to live it His way! Paul proclaims we are debtors to live for Jesus (Rom.8:12-17). Jesus is the One that has always paid our debt – which we could never pay! Knowing we are
debtors to live life in His Spirit will never be enough to change/sanctify us. But knowing that brings motivation to seek His help and promised strength! Yet, He must take it one step further by living within to strengthen us to obey Him.
My friends, we are His address! Because He lives within, He will strengthen/empower us to live in obedience to His ways. He will bring it to pass – believe Him! Acknowledge and respond to the desire He planted within to obey. Pray about your sins and failures! Confess to the Lord and each other. Pray for each other. Seek His freedom to follow Him and you will discover His life power changing you, helping you, moving in your heart and your life. He will see to it that you will become more like Jesus every day!
Pastor Mike