The Holy Spirit Is Your Helper—Never Underestimate His Help
Today, as I was about to take my bath, I began having an internal conversation about the Holy Spirit as the Helper.
The thought came strongly to me that one of the greatest mistakes a believer can make is to underestimate the help of the Holy Spirit or underplay what His help can accomplish in our lives.
Jesus did not save us and then leave us to struggle through life by ourselves.
He gave us Another Comforter. Another Helper.
John 14:16-17 (KJV)
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
Think about that carefully.
“That he may abide with you for ever.”
The Holy Spirit is not an occasional visitor.
He is not available only during church services, prayer meetings, conferences, retreats, or moments of crisis.
He is the abiding Helper of the believer.
And if He is our Helper, then we must learn to take advantage of His help.
THERE IS MORE HELP AVAILABLE TO US THAN WE HAVE USED
Many believers believe in the Holy Spirit but do not truly live conscious of His help.
We know He is there.
We sing about Him.
We preach about Him.
We pray in the Holy Ghost.
Yet when real-life situations arise, we often behave as though everything depends entirely upon our intelligence, strength, experience, connections and resources.
But Scripture says:
Romans 8:26 (KJV)
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
Notice the expression:
“The Spirit also helpeth…”
Helping is part of His ministry to the believer.
There are situations in which we do not know what to pray.
There are circumstances we do not fully understand.
There are decisions beyond our natural wisdom.
There are pressures beyond our emotional strength.
There are assignments bigger than our natural ability.
And yet we have a Helper.
If the Holy Spirit can help us in our infirmities when we do not even know what to pray for as we ought, then surely we must learn to involve Him much more deliberately in the affairs of our lives.
BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL NEVER HELP YOU TO DO EVIL
There is something we must establish very clearly.
The help of the Holy Spirit is enormous, but His help will always operate within the will, nature and Word of God.
The Holy Spirit will not help you to lie successfully.
He will not help you to deceive people.
He will not help you to cheat.
He will not help you to sin.
He will not help you to rebel against God.
He will not help you to violate Scripture.
He will not help you to disobey Jesus Christ.
He will not help you to overturn genuine divine instructions because obedience has become inconvenient.
He will not assist you against a structure or order that God Himself has established.
Why?
Because He is the Spirit of Truth.
John 16:13 (KJV)
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…”
He guides into truth.
He does not empower falsehood.
He empowers us to obey God, not to escape obedience.
He strengthens us to fulfil divine instructions, not to circumvent them.
He gives us wisdom to walk in God’s will, not cleverness to violate it.
1 John 5:14 (KJV)
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:”
The great boundary of divine help is the will of God.
Within that boundary, however, we should never underestimate how much help is available to us.
THE HUMAN PROBLEM IS THAT WE OFTEN DO NOT KNOW WHEN TO ASK FOR HELP
This, to me, is one of the great weaknesses of human beings.
Sometimes we simply do not know when to ask for help.
At other times we know—but pride prevents us.
We want to prove that we can handle it.
We want to expend our human effort first.
We want to try our intelligence.
We want to use our connections.
We want to manipulate circumstances.
We want to lean on money.
We want to exhaust every natural possibility before turning to God.
And tragically, some people will even seek ungodly or demonic assistance before they will genuinely surrender themselves to divine help.
Then, after everything has failed, they finally say:
“God, help me.”
But why should God become the last option when He should have been the first?
Psalm 121:1-2 (KJV)
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”
There is nothing admirable about exhausting yourself before coming to God.
There is nothing spiritual about struggling unnecessarily.
There is nothing noble about refusing help that Heaven has made available.
Sometimes what we call independence is simply pride refusing dependence upon God.
PETER WAITED UNTIL HE WAS SINKING
Consider Peter walking on the water.
Matthew 14:28-31 (KJV)
“And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”
Peter was already doing the naturally impossible.
He was walking on water because Jesus had said:
“Come.”
As long as he remained focused upon Jesus and the word he had received, he was walking in a dimension beyond human ability.
But then he saw the wind.
Fear entered.
And he began to sink.
Here is the point:
Peter eventually asked for help—but he waited until he was already sinking.
The moment he cried:
“Lord, save me,”
the Bible says:
“Immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him.”
Help was available.
Jesus was there.
Peter only needed to cry out.
But imagine if Peter had asked for help the moment fear entered his heart.
Imagine if, as soon as he noticed himself becoming distracted by the wind, he had cried:
“Lord, help me!”
He might never have reached the point of sinking.
That is the point.
And for us today, who have the indwelling Holy Spirit, the lesson becomes even more powerful.
Why wait until you are sinking before asking for help?
When fear first appears:
Holy Spirit, help me.
When confusion first comes:
Holy Spirit, help me.
When temptation approaches:
Holy Spirit, help me.
When your emotions begin to overwhelm you:
Holy Spirit, help me.
When you are about to make a major decision:
Holy Spirit, help me.
When an assignment looks greater than your ability:
Holy Spirit, help me.
When you are struggling to obey something God has instructed you to do:
Holy Spirit, help me.
Why wait until you are drowning?
SOME PEOPLE WAIT TOO LONG
One of the saddest realities of life is that some people keep walking in their own way until they have inflicted terrible damage upon themselves.
They expend their strength.
They waste resources.
They enter wrong relationships.
They form dangerous alliances.
They make costly decisions.
They compromise.
They fight battles God never asked them to fight.
They travel roads God never asked them to enter.
And all the while, divine help was available.
Proverbs 14:12 (KJV)
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Some people go so far in their own folly that by the time they finally decide to return to God, they have weakened themselves greatly.
Some have almost destroyed their health.
Some have destroyed relationships.
Some have lost years.
Some have lost opportunities.
Some have damaged their conscience.
Some have become so entangled in wrong decisions that returning to the pathway of divine help becomes a difficult journey.
And for some, tragically, they never make it back.
This is why it is dangerous to delay dependence upon God.
Do not wait until you have exhausted yourself.
Do not wait until your own way has nearly destroyed you.
Ask for help early.
GOD DID NOT SAY, “USE YOUR STRENGTH FIRST, THEN USE MINE”
There is a mindset among many believers that says:
“Let me first do everything I can, and when I cannot do any more, then I will pray.”
But that is not the biblical pattern.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Notice the phrase:
“In all thy ways acknowledge him.”
Not after everything has failed.
Not only when you are confused.
Not only when the money is finished.
Not only when the doctor has no answer.
Not only when the relationship has broken down.
Not only when every human alternative has collapsed.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him.
Before you make the decision.
Before you send the message.
Before you enter the meeting.
Before you accept the offer.
Before you confront the person.
Before you travel.
Before you invest.
Before you answer.
Before you preach.
Before you counsel.
Before you embark upon that new venture.
Holy Spirit, help me.
Divine help should not be your emergency exit.
It should be your lifestyle.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS INTERESTED IN YOUR WHOLE LIFE
Sometimes we unconsciously restrict the Holy Spirit to church activities.
We think of Him in relation to prayer, preaching, prophecy and spiritual gifts.
But the Holy Spirit is interested in the whole life of the believer.
Jesus said:
John 14:26 (KJV)
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
He is a Teacher.
He can help you understand.
He can bring things to your remembrance.
He can alert you.
He can restrain you.
He can give you wisdom.
He can show you a better way.
He can give you an idea.
He can help you communicate.
He can guide you in your work.
He can help you as a parent.
He can help you as a spouse.
He can help you as a minister.
He can help you as a professional.
He can help you as a student.
He can help you in leadership.
He can help you in business.
He can help you in relationships.
He can help you in your everyday decisions.
The issue is whether we have developed the consciousness to ask.
A BORN-AGAIN, HOLY GHOST-BAPTISED CHILD OF GOD IS NOT MEANT TO LIVE AT A PERMANENT DISADVANTAGE
This does not mean that believers will never face difficulties.
Jesus never promised us a trouble-free world.
John 16:33 (KJV)
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
There will be tribulation.
There will be opposition.
There will be pressures.
There will be circumstances that test faith.
But there is a difference between facing adversity and living at a disadvantage.
A child of God who has the Holy Spirit dwelling within him has access to something the natural man does not have.
1 John 4:4 (KJV)
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
Think about that.
Greater is He that is in you.
You have access to divine wisdom.
You have access to divine strength.
You have access to divine counsel.
You have access to divine guidance.
You have access to divine comfort.
You have access to divine empowerment.
You have access to divine insight.
You have access to divine help.
You are not meant to approach life as though you are alone.
WE ARE NOT CALLED MERELY TO SURVIVE
Many believers have reduced Christianity to survival.
“Lord, just help me survive today.”
“Let me just get through this week.”
“Let me manage until things improve.”
But Jesus did not come merely to help us survive.
John 10:10 (KJV)
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
There is an abundant life available in Christ.
There is a fruitful life.
There is a victorious life.
There is a Spirit-led life.
There is a Spirit-empowered life.
There is a life in which your natural ability is not the final limit.
There is a life in which you can receive strength beyond yourself.
We are not meant merely to move from crisis to crisis, barely surviving each day.
We are meant to thrive, mounted upon the wings of the Holy Ghost.
Isaiah 40:29-31 (KJV)
“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
There is strength beyond natural strength.
The youths can faint.
Young men can utterly fall.
Human strength has limits.
Intelligence has limits.
Experience has limits.
Money has limits.
Connections have limits.
But God can give power to the faint.
He can increase strength to those who have no might.
STOP TRYING TO LIVE A SUPERNATURAL LIFE WITH NATURAL STRENGTH
Christianity is supernatural.
The new birth is supernatural.
Prayer is supernatural.
Faith is supernatural.
Divine guidance is supernatural.
Living holy in a corrupt world requires supernatural empowerment.
Fulfilling divine purpose requires supernatural assistance.
So why would we attempt to live the Christian life using only natural strength?
Zechariah 4:6 (KJV)
“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”
Some things will never happen because you became stronger.
Some mountains will not move because you tried harder.
Some assignments require more than human determination.
There comes a point where you must understand:
Not by might.
Not by power.
But by My Spirit.
THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN STRENGTHEN YOU FROM WITHIN
Paul prayed:
Ephesians 3:16 (KJV)
“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”
That is one of the dimensions of divine help.
Strength from within.
There are circumstances where your natural emotions say:
“I cannot continue.”
But strength comes into your inner man.
There are moments where circumstances should overwhelm you, but something rises within you.
There are situations that should have broken you, but you discover that you are still standing.
Not because the situation became easy.
Not because you suddenly became naturally stronger.
But because you were strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.
MAKE “HOLY SPIRIT, HELP ME” PART OF YOUR DAILY CHRISTIAN LIFE
Perhaps this is one habit every believer should consciously develop.
Not merely speaking about the Holy Spirit.
Not merely studying Him.
Not merely singing about Him.
Not merely acknowledging His gifts.
But deliberately depending upon Him.
Wake up in the morning:
Holy Spirit, help me today.
When you feel weak:
Holy Spirit, strengthen me.
When you do not know what to say:
Holy Spirit, help me.
When you are facing temptation:
Holy Spirit, help me.
When you have an important decision to make:
Holy Spirit, guide me.
When you are about to respond emotionally:
Holy Spirit, help me.
When you have reached the limit of your knowledge:
Holy Spirit, teach me.
When you feel yourself drifting from divine instruction:
Holy Spirit, help me to obey God.
When you feel fear rising:
Holy Spirit, strengthen me.
Do not underestimate those simple prayers.
ASK FOR HELP EARLY
This is perhaps the strongest thing that stayed with me.
Ask for help early.
Do not wait until you are sinking.
Do not wait until the marriage is nearly destroyed.
Do not wait until the business collapses.
Do not wait until temptation has almost conquered you.
Do not wait until your health has broken down from stress.
Do not wait until your resources are exhausted.
Do not wait until you have created consequences that will take years to repair.
Do not wait until every human alternative has disappointed you.
Hebrews 4:16 (KJV)
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
There is grace to help.
There is help available.
But we must come.
Sometimes the difference between a believer who suffers unnecessary defeat and one who walks in victory is not that one has a greater Holy Spirit.
It is that one has learned to depend upon Him sooner.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT YOUR LAST RESORT
This thought needs to become deeply settled in us:
The Holy Spirit is not your last resort.
He is not the Person you remember after everybody else has failed.
He is not the One you call after your strength has finished.
He is not merely Heaven’s emergency service.
He is your Helper.
Your Counsellor.
Your Teacher.
Your Strengthener.
Your Guide.
Your Comforter.
Your divine Standby.
Your advantage in life.
So involve Him.
Consult Him.
Listen to Him.
Obey Him.
Depend upon Him.
Ask for His help.
And when He gives you instruction, follow it.
Because sometimes the help of the Holy Spirit will not look like a miracle.
Sometimes His help will be an instruction.
Sometimes His help will be a restraint.
Sometimes His help will be a correction.
Sometimes His help will be wisdom.
Sometimes His help will be telling you:
“Do not go there.”
Sometimes:
“Apologise.”
Sometimes:
“Wait.”
Sometimes:
“Speak.”
Sometimes:
“Keep quiet.”
Sometimes:
“Leave that relationship.”
Sometimes:
“Stay and obey.”
Sometimes:
“Do it this way.”
Do not ask for help and then reject the form in which the help comes.
FINAL THOUGHT
One of the greatest discoveries any believer can make is this:
I do not have to do life alone.
The Father has not abandoned me.
Jesus has not abandoned me.
The Holy Spirit lives in me.
I have a Helper.
Therefore, I refuse to live as though everything depends upon me.
I refuse to exalt my intelligence above His wisdom.
I refuse to exhaust my strength before seeking His strength.
I refuse to make human beings my first resort and God my last resort.
I refuse to seek ungodly assistance for something Heaven is willing to help me with.
I refuse to wander so far in my own way that I almost destroy myself before remembering God.
I will ask for help early.
I will follow His leading.
I will stay within the boundaries of Scripture.
I will obey divine instruction.
I will cooperate with divine structures.
I will remain humble enough to depend upon Him.
And I will refuse merely to survive when God has given me His Spirit so that I can live fruitfully, effectively and victoriously.
Child of God, never underestimate the help of the Holy Spirit.
Never underplay it.
Never behave as though you have been left alone.
Never wait until you are sinking before you ask for help.
2 Corinthians 13:14 (KJV)
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”
May we not merely know about the Holy Ghost.
May we learn to commune with Him.
May we learn to listen to Him.
May we learn to obey Him.
May we learn to lean upon Him.
May we learn to receive His help early.
And may we come into the consciousness that a born-again, Holy Ghost-filled child of God was never designed to live at a permanent disadvantage.
We were not meant merely to survive from day to day.
We were meant to thrive—mounted upon the wings of the Holy Ghost!
Holy Spirit, help me.
May that become more than an emergency prayer.
May it become a way of life.
The Message Bearer, Cornelius Bella
