I’m not always great at asking for help. I like to think that I am competent and that my talents and skills are sufficient to help me manage any task or challenge. Sometimes I’m right. Often, I’m wrong! And if that’s true with every day tasks, it’s most certainly true for living as a disciple and growing more like Christ.
The Baptism service describes the life of a disciple as a battle against sin, the world and the devil, who prowls about like a lion looking for believers to devour. In such a battle, against such enemies, without help and strength from above we are destined to fail and falter. In a few weeks’ time we’ll think about the necessity of meeting together as God’s people, because the life of a disciple is one we cannot walk alone. But today our focus is on the work of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit (a He, not an it) is the 3rd person of the Trinity. But whilst the Holy Spirit was active in the Old Testament from creation through to the prophets, on the Day of Pentecost, the Spirit was poured out on all believers, just as Jesus had promised. So for this week’s Lent reflections, our 4 passages help us meditate on the Spirit, and his work in us to help us follow and grow more like Jesus.
John 14: 15-21. The Spirit, a gift from Jesus to us, is God’s presence in us. He’s described here as a helper and comforter. How does he help and comfort us?
John 15v26-16:15. God is a Holy and Righteous God, and we are far from that. How does Jesus say that the Holy Spirit will teach us and challenge us?
Acts 2: 1-47. 10 days after Jesus’ ascension to Heaven, Acts 2 describes the coming of the Spirit. How does the Spirit’s power affect the disciples and listening crowd?
Galatians 5:13-26. We come to faith through the work of the Spirit. We leave our sin and grow more like Jesus through his work too. Where do you need his help?