Holy Spirit, The True Companion

“…There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24b)

The Holy Spirit is that Person of Love mutually and eternally shared by the Father and the Son, revealing a God of Three-in-One. In the gospel of John, the Lord Jesus names their Spirit “Paraclete.” which means “called to come alongside of.” Depending on the context in John, the rich and complex Greek word paraclete can mean many different things, and points to the diverse functions, the personal ministries, that the Spirit accomplishes as He comes alongside each of us. Here is yet another picture of God taking us under His wing, the wings of the Dove, the Holy Spirit. Coming alongside each of us, the Spirit invites and empowers us to become little paracletes, to come alongside others as helpers, in the spirit of burden-bearing, a ministry of presence, a lifestyle of love, a true companion.

The Big Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, and the little paraclete, each Christian, is called alongside in order to:

Point to Jesus and glorify Him. (John 16:13-14)

Advise and counsel. (John 14:26)

Remind in order to promote understanding. (John 14:26)

Advocate for and defend. (1 John 2:1)

Comfort and bring peace. (John 14:27)

Listen and communicate. (John 16:13)

Exhort and cheerlead. (Romans 12:8)

Teach and guide into truth. (John 14:26 and 16:13)

Encourage and inspire. (Romans 1:12, Acts 4:36, Col. 2:2-4)

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens… And so loving others as He has loved us, let us carry each other’s burdens. In that way we will fulfill the law of Christ.”  (Psalm 68:19, John 13:34, Galatians 6:2)