When Jesus first made this promise known, He was at the tail end of His earthly ministry. He made a declaration of giving the promise of the Father to us. Now, you may not even know to what or whom we refer here. Jesus said of Him that you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.
So, the promise of the Father to us is none other than the Holy Spirit. He is the helper, the counselor, and the comforter. God knew that we would need wise counsel every step of the way on our Christian journey. He did not want us to take counsel from human beings.
Even with the best of intentions, human counsel is faulty. What counsel can a human give you but that which has been filtered through his experiences? At best, the human perspective is fraught with corruption because we don’t have all the facts. Only the Holy Spirit has all the facts because He searches the deep things of God.
He alone can counsel you on how to pray, for instance. The bible says “Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us. With groanings which cannot be uttered.” Without the promise of the Father to us, our prayers are like boxing the air.
Don’t you just love the Lord? He promised us His Holy Spirit because He knows we get into trouble betimes. “But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand. Do not premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”
We Need The Holy Spirit Like We Need Oxygen
If the fact of the Holy Spirit being your great counselor does not convince you that you need him, try helper. In addition to being our counselor, the promise of the Father to us is our helper. I hear some Christians saying they want to help others to live right.
Ha! Are they sure they are living right according to God’s books? Have they finished running their own race? Nobody can help you to live right apart from the Holy Spirit. He alone knows the mind of Christ. Evidently, without his help, you do not have the strength or power for the Christian journey. We need the promise of God to us as we need oxygen.
How many Christians can claim that they do not feel sad, even depressed from time to time? I am willing to wager that not many of us can make that boast. Even Elijah suffered from depression. Therefore, the promise of God to us is that of a comforter. Naturally, when we get to heaven, God Himself will wipe away our tears.
But meantime, the Holy Spirit takes away our sorrows so they don’t descend into clinical depression. With this promise of the father to us, only God knows how we could cope with the challenges of this world. And they seem to be increasing. Going by news reports of murders and such, more and more people seem to be going crazy.
However, the Holy Spirit helps true believers not to be too many among that group. If you do not know the Holy Spirit, please ask God for Him. If nothing else, He will help you to keep your mind sane. Not to mention ensuring that you make it all the way to heaven when Jesus aka the bridegroom returns.
The Wise Virgins Anticipated The Promise Of The Father To Us
That is what He helped the five wise virgins accomplish. Ten virgins were saved to enter in with the bridegroom but only five had the Holy Spirit. In that parable, the extra oil represents the Holy Spirit. When the time came for the Bridegroom to enter in with His followers, that extra oil made the difference.
Those five virgins were wise enough to seek the promise of the Father to us. They had extra oil and entered in with Jesus. What about me? How about you? Are we wise enough to crave the Holy spirit? Fortunately, God will never deny anyone who asks Him for the Holy Spirit? He says in Luke 11.13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Be wise like the virgins so that you can enter in with Jesus
The Promise Of The Father To Us Is A Gift Of Jesus
God made us a promise but it was left to Jesus to give Him to us. And you may wonder why it is important to make the differentiation. God did not give us His Holy Spirit. Jesus did and does. This means that unless you are friends with Jesus, you will not know the Holy Spirit.
Do you recall how we said the Holy Spirit will tell you what to say in times of trouble? And how that means you can live a relaxed life at all times? Well, that is because the giver of the Holy Spirit is the Prince of Peace, aka Jesus. In John 16:7, Jesus said “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 depart, I will send Him to you.”
Make friends with Jesus today and the Holy Spirit comes as part of the package.
Maranatha!
I can personally attest to this message. I went through it all. I was a man’s pleaser, but when it came to the point when my ignorance was demolished, I saw clearly my human goodness was hopeless. He talked me personally in all shapes or forms. My friends dropped off one by one, without my effort, thus relieved of burden to be at peace with the Creator of all things, visible and invisible! Storms of life are a wake up call. To Him be the glory! No more rivers to cross; hallelujah.