Today marks Pentecost on the Christian calendar
On the Christian calendar, today marks the day of Pentecost. After Jesus died and resurrected and ascended to heaven came the coming of the Holy Spirit. On this day we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Ghost which occurred many years ago. I want to discuss what I have titled, “The Parakletos.”
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16.7 ESV)
But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16.7 NIV)
Jesus comforted the disciples with news of the coming of the Holy Spirit
The disciples were saddened by the imminent departure of Jesus. This is a man who had fed them and defended them. But Jesus told them it was for their good that he leave. Jesus then gave a reason he had to leave. He said if he did not leave the helper wouldn’t come.
The promise of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2.1-4)
On that day the Holy Ghost descended in power. There came a sound as of a rushing mighty wind and divided tongues as of fire came and rested on each of them and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in tongues as he gave them utterance.
Suddenly!
I want you to take note of some things. The first thing is that the Bible says “suddenly…” Sometimes the Holy Ghost steps in at a time you don’t expect. By the time you are aware he has done what he wants to do. I pray that as we celebrate Pentecost today, may he suddenly come through for you. May he suddenly do something.
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. May we all be filled with the Holy Ghost. I pray that the Spirit of God will fall upon each one of us so we will be full of the Holy Ghost. He is everywhere at all times so just as they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, may you be filled with the Holy Ghost. I pray that as you listen to me may you begin to speak with the heavenly tongue. It is a life-changing experience. Once you experience it you see the power of God. May the Holy Ghost touch you wherever you are and give you utterance.
The Holy Ghost changed the lives of the disciples forever
After this experience, the lives of the 120 disciples who had gathered in the Upper Room began to change. There was physical evidence of the transformation in their lives. May we be transformed as we encounter the Holy Ghost. May we be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. This transformation led them to take over their worlds. They turned the world upside down. They were no longer ordinary people. They were no longer mere and natural men. They became supernatural men who were doing extraordinary things. May we be transformed from ordinariness to extraordinariness—that we would begin to do things that are extraordinary and supernatural that by our hands the sick shall be healed and the brokenhearted shall be healed. We long for Pentecost one more time—we long for that experience one more time.
We are not alone
Jesus said it was to their advantage that he went away. When you look at the Biblical language, the Holy Spirit is referred to as the Parakletos. The Parakletos literally means one who is standing by another’s side, especially to help. We are also talking about an intercessor, an assistant, or one who pleads the cause of another before a judge.
In our Christian journey, I want to announce to you that we have a Parakletos. He stands by us as our help and advocate. In our journey we are not alone. We have someone standing by us and with us. He is to help us and to be our advocate. We can therefore establish that one major reason for which the Holy Ghost is around is to bring help to God’s chosen people and to be an advocate for same. He is still in the ministry of helping and the ministry of advocacy.
The Spirit helps us in many things
The Apostle Paul under the unction of the Holy Ghost makes it clear in Romans 8.26-27 that,
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers[l] in harmony with God’s own will. (NLT)
As human beings we have limited capacity but the Holy Ghost helps us in our weakness. He is our Parakletos. He stands by us to help us. This weakness may include physical, emotional, and spiritual handicap but despite this I came to bring the word of God to you that the Holy Ghost brings us help and he keeps on bringing us help. I speak into the life of anyone hearing me—may the Holy Ghost continue to bring you help. Receive help this morning. I speak life into any kind of life that is dying. The Holy Ghost gives us help because we are limited.
One evidence of the weakness of humanity is that believers don’t even know what to pray for or how to pray. We don’t know what to pray for. Both the content and manner of proper prayer elude us but the Spirit himself brings us up. He intercedes for us; he comes in to rescue and help us by interceding for us. The Holy Ghost is to bring you help even when you are weak and limited in prayer.
I have come to realize that the Holy Ghost does not only help us in prayer but also helps us lead the Christian life. He lives the Christ life through us. Because of his help we are able to behave like Christ. It is he that helps us in ministry. It is he that gives you help to do it. May the Lord help your ministry this morning. In all aspects of your life he is there to help you—in your academic life; in your marriage; in everything, he is your help. May he bring you help in times of need. He is the present help in times of need.
He is still our advocate. We have said earlier that Parakletos literally means one standing by another’s side to help. But it also means an intercessor, an assistant, and the one who pleads the cause of another before a judge. So, he is our advocate. The Apostle Paul explains this by saying that the Holy Spirit prays with us with groanings that cannot be uttered. When he is praying for us he prays with groans that words cannot express. It means we cannot even find words to describe the kind of work he does for us. We are privileged to be believers and children of God. we are privileged to have an intercessor in heaven and one living within us.
Jesus intercedes for us and the Holy Ghost also intercedes for us
Paul describes Jesus as our intercessor. Romans 8.34 says Jesus is at the right hand of God—the place of authority—interceding for us. But it doesn’t end there. In our hearts, the Holy Spirit also intercedes for us. In the same chapter (Romans 8.26-27) we read that the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings that are too deep for words. There are two things: he intercedes with groanings that are too deep for words; and then, he intercedes according to the will of God.
Rely on him
I pray in the name of Jesus that we would rely on this Holy Ghost. What he desires is a closer fellowship with him. As we celebrate Pentecost today, may you find help with him and may he continue to intercede for you. He is in this ministry until Jesus comes for us. He is in this ministry until heaven and earth pass away. May you receive this ministry of intercession. May you receive this help that comes from him. That is why I want you to make up your mind to live and walk with him all the days of your life. He is here to be your help and advocate.
Main references
John 16.7, Acts 2.1-4, Romans 8.26-27
