The Terms of The New Covenant Part 9 - The Holy Spirit

If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26

When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father - the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. John 15:26

The promise of the Holy Spirit to those who are included in the New Covenant is so precious. The Greek term translated advocate above is parakletos meaning he who comes alongside. It can also be translated comforter or helper. Without the Holy Spirit we could not live the Christian life or fulfil our side of the Covenant.

The Ministry Of The Holy Spirit
These verses tell us a lot about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian. Simply meditating on these will bring us great comfort and joy.

1. Jesus asks the Father to send the Holy Spirit to us. Here is a beautiful example of the Trinity working together for our benefit.
2. He will help us. Sometimes it may feel that the whole world is against us. But the Holy Spirit is always on our side.
3. He will be with us forever. He is not some fair-weather friend who only hangs around when we are doing well. Despite our weaknesses and failings He is always there closer even than our own breath.
4. He is not a stranger to us but a familiar companion.
5. As the Spirit of truth He will not lie to us or deceive us.
6. He will be our teacher. We need not worry about being led astray as long as we look to the Holy Spirit to open up the Bible to us and do not rely too heavily on human teachers for He will always speak of Jesus.
7. He will bring to our minds the words of Jesus as we need them.

The Gift Of The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is given to us as a gift. He is the present who is always present.

In an era where much emphasis has been placed on the other gifts which may accompany the Holy Spirit it is important that we do not make the mistake of valuing those gifts above the giver.

Signs and wonders, or even fruit, which are byproducts of His ministry should not distract us from the wonders of this precious friend in our lives. They are baubles on a Christmas tree compared with Emmanuel, God with us in the person of the Holy Spirit of Jesus.