The Helper
“God Is Not Far”
Acts 2:38-39

God had a plan
“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” – Genesis 1:26

Triune God
God the Father – who brings all things into existence
God the Son – who arranges all things for our existence 
God the Spirit – who perfects all things in our lives as we yield

God’s plan has always been to live with His people 
 
Acts 2

The Holy Spirit is God’s gift of life, power, and presence—promised by Jesus for every believer.

“…I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” – Jesus, John 14:16-17

The Helper 
1. The promise, power, and His presence 
2. Inspired God’s Word, and helps us to understand it
3. Changes who we are 
4. Changes how we live every day
5. Fights our battles with us
6. Gives us unquenchable joy
7. Gives us purpose and power  

The Promise:  The Holy Spirit is God’s plan and promise kept

“The Holy Spirit is the experiential agent of the Trinitarian God, narrowing the gap between biblical promise and everyday experience.” – Tyler Staton, The Familiar Stranger 
	
• Promised in the Old Testament  

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” – Ezekiel 36:26-27

• Fulfilled in Jesus Christ 

“And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” – Jesus, Luke 24:49

• Available for every believer – Acts 2:38-39

Not limited to prophets, kings, priests, or pastors, but for all believers	

The Power:  The Holy Spirit changes everything 

“Without the Holy Spirit, people operate in their own strength and only accomplish human-size results. But when believers live in the Spirit’s power, the evidence in their lives is supernatural.” – Francis Chan, Forgotten God

• He gives us a new life

“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” – Romans 8:9

• He is the seal of ownership

“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” – Ephesians 1:13-14

• He redefines our identity

The Holy Spirit doesn’t just improve you – He remakes you.

“…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation [person]. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

• He shapes our hearts

“If we’re not being intentionally formed by Jesus himself, then it’s highly likely we are being unintentionally formed by someone or something else.” – John Mark Comer, Practicing the Way

The Presence:  The Holy Spirit empowers our daily lives 

The Spirit is not a starter kit – He is your daily companion.
• He teaches and reminds us

“…He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” – John 14:26

• He convicts and corrects us

 “But in fact… If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.” – John 16:7-8

• He grows godly character in us

 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” – Galatians 5:22-23, NLT

• He sustains and guides us
Comforts – Acts 9:31
Transforms us – 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Empowers everyday life – Romans 14:17; 15:13; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Jude 20
Confirms God’s word – Hebrews 2:4
Sanctifies our actions – Romans 15:16
Infuses joy – Acts 13:52; Romans 14:17-19
Keeps us to the end – Ephesians 1:13-14
Fills us with praise – Acts 2:4
Communicates the Father’s love – Romans 5:5; Ephesians 3:14-19
Confirms our gifts – Acts 1:8; 4:8, 31; 6:5; 7:55; 9:17; 11:24; 13:9, 52

If you are not aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life, it may mean you haven’t fully surrendered your life to Jesus.