Alone? Grunge rock group Green Day - this year's most nominated rock act at the Grammy Awards - won six awards, including Best Rock Album , for their album "American Idiot.*" Grunce is a revival of the pink-rock genre, which arose in the mid 1970s when the Sex Pistols sang, "I am an antichrist, I am anarchist./ I know what I want and I know how to get it./ I want to destroy." One music writer descibes pink as the "glorification of souless, powerless despaid and nihilstic perversit."**
Green Day's singer Billie Joe Armstrong: "I walk a lonely road,/ The only one that I have ever know,/ Don't know where it goes,/ On the boulevard of broken dreams,/ Where the city sleeps,/ And I'm the only one and I walk along."
Which is sad, because we don't have to feel alone. Jesus promised to be with us always—“to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). This promise is fulfilled through the Holy Spirit, whom He called “Counsellor,” meaning, “one alongside to help” (John 14:15-18).
A Helping Hand
1. How does the Holy Spirit help us express ourselves?
Romans 8:26 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes [speaks] for us with groans [deep feelings] that words cannot express.”
2. What did Jesus say is the primary work of the Holy Spirit?
John 15:26 “When the Counsellor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.”
It is as if we're all sinking in quicksand and if someone doesn't help us we're going to go under. The Holy Spirit points us to Jesus, who is reaching down with His hand to pull us out.
On the other hand, the devil tries to deceive people into thinking that God is against us, and not to accept Jesus' help. It's the work of the Holy Spirit to convince us to accept—then it's your choice.
3. In what way does the Holy Spirit guide us?
John 16:13 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth ...and he will tell you what is yet to come.”
It is said that an ancient guide living in the deserts of Arabia never lost his way. He carried with him a homing pigeon with a fine cord attached to its leg. When in doubt as to which path to take home, he threw the bird into the air. The pigeon quickly strained at the cord to fly in the direction of home and thus led the guide accurately to his destination. Because of this unique practice, he was known as “the dove man.”
Just so, the Holy Spirit—the dove—will guide us to find fulfilment and meaning in life when we are willing to follow Jesus. He won't let us down!
4. Of whose words does the Holy Spirit remind us?
John 14:26 “But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I [Jesus] have said to you.”
The Bible is called “the Word of God,” and so is Jesus (see 1 Thessalonians 2:13; John 1:1, 2, 14). The Holy Spirit usually works through the words of the Bible—as people read and believe them. They work together in helping people find meaning in life.
5. What is the “fruit of the Spirit”?
Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Receiving the Holy Spirit
6. How does one receive the promised Holy Spirit?
Ephesians 1:13, 14 “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.”
When we accept Jesus as our Saviour and receive the gift of forgiveness and eternal life, we, at the same moment, receive the Holy Spirit into our lives.
7. While describing the Spirit-directed life, what prayer does Paul offer for followers of Jesus?
Ephesians 3:16, 17 “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”
A Life With Perfect Leadership
Billie Joe Armstrong continues: “My shadow's the only one that walks beside me,/ My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating,/ Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me,/ 'Til then I walk alone . . .”
The Holy Spirit is the “someone out there” who can find us and bring us to Jesus—if we let Him! Then we won't walk alone.
