We hear much today about having a life coach, whether in a person’s life or a business. We have coaches in music, sports, and other events. A life coach is very popular today. We also have personal trainers who help us get physically fit. A coach can see things that we can’t see at times. He knows our strengths and weaknesses. They know how to challenge and motivate us! They can push us beyond what we think we cant do. A coach knows how to encourage and speak the right words to us. Sometimes it is what we don’t want to hear, but it will benefit us in the long run. God is so good to His children! He has sent a heavenly coach to every believer who receives Christ. He is the person of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was a life coach, a mentor to His disciples during His three years of ministry. They walked with Him, they watched Him, and ate with Him. They wrote down what He did. He sent them out to do the same things he showed them( John 14:12). He met personally with them to talk about life and ministry. He shared his Father’s vision and encouraged them in their callings. He spoke the truth in love to them and never criticised or condemned them. He loved them unconditionally. On the night of passover before His death, Jesus shared with them some wonderful news. John 16:7 (NKJV)-7 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( John 7:39). This “Helper” is the Holy Spirit. He is your personal trainer and your life coach! John 14:16-17 (NKJV)-16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever–17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. He is called the Comforter, ( Amplified Bible: helper, Stand-by, Strenghtener, Intercessor, and Advocate!) I like the word advocate- Webster Dict. “one who supports or promotes the interests of a cause or group, who defends or maintains a cause or proposal, to support or argue for (a cause, policy, etc.) and to plead in favor of”.The Holy Spirit supports, promotes, defends, and argues on our behalf that we may walk in all of the fullness of God ( John 10:10, 1 Cor 2:12, Rom. 8:32, 2 Peter 1:1-4).
The Greek word for Comforter or Helper is parakletos, a compound of the Greek words para and kaleo. This is someone who is called alongside. The Father in heaven has given the Holy Spirit an assignment in the Church and the believer’s life. Coming alongside them and eventually abiding in them( 1 Cor 6:19). The good news is that He is free! We hear about God the Father and Jesus, but not much about the Holy Spirit. Jesus said it would be to our advantage to have the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would be a representation of Jesus in our lives. He would be another, one of the same kind. It would be wonderful if we could walk with Jesus like His disciples did. The truth is, we have the Holy Spirit that will coach us like Jesus would if He were personally with us in the flesh. The Holy Spirit assignment is what Apostle John reveals to us. John 16:13-14 (NKJV)-13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. The truth of God and His Word is essential and greatly needed today. Only the Truth of God’s Word can overcome the lies of the devil (John 8:44).
The coaching of the Holy Spirit will never lie to us, mislead us, or withhold from us! He will never leave us, regardless of our performance. John 14:17-18 (NKJV)-17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. Notice, He will not leave us as orphans. We are not parentless; we will be cared for, nurtured, provided for, and protected. The Holy Spirit will abide in us( 1 John 2:20, 1 John 2:27). The thing about a coach he will never do for us what we need to do ourselves. In training for an Olympic event, we practice, we discipline ourselves, we eat and sleep right, we envision, we mentally see ourselves winning. We prioritize our lives with what is important. Likewise, the Holy Spirit won’t do our praying, witnessing, or proclaiming the good news of the gospel. That is our responsibility, and he empowers us. He is training us for life! He is the invisible trainer, the invisible coach in our lives. He is available twenty-four seven. We can idolize great sports athletes, but fail to realize the coaches behind them, who led them to greatness. We often fail to recognize the Holy Spirit in our lives and why He was sent to live in us. Romans 8:14 (NKJV)-14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
One of the blessings of Sonship is being led or guided by the Holy Spirit. This involves a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. How often do we recognize and acknowledge His presence and His leading in our lives? How often do we thank Him? The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are working effortlessly on our behalf to bring us into the abundant life that Jesus promised( John 10:10, 2 Peter 1:1-4). God can use people in our lives to be coaches, trainers, and mentors, but we also have and need the Holy Spirit. They can be limited, but the Holy Spirit is never limited. He has an absolute understanding of us and knows exactly what we need in everyday life. He is acquainted with us in every area. This is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. Are we listening to Him, following His promptings, and obeying Him? Jesus relied totally on the leading and empowering of the Holy Spirit ( Luke 4:14, John 5:19, John 5:30). If He did, how much more should we!
Here is a list describing the Holy Spirit and what He does:
- He hovered over the waters in creation (Genesis 1:2).
- He gives wisdom, understanding, and knowledge (Exodus 31:3; Exodus 35:31,).
- He makes us and gives us life (Job 33:4).
- He is good (Psalm 143:10).
- He counsels (Isaiah 11:2;).
- He gives his people rest (Isaiah 63:14, Isaiah 28:11-12)
- He miraculously enabled Mary to conceive Jesus (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:35).
- He drives out demons (Matthew 12:28).
- He can be blasphemed (Matthew 12:31-32).
- He anointed Jesus and believers for ministry (Mark 1:10; Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38, 2 Cor. 1:21).
- He speaks through believers (Mark 13:11).
- He is given by the Father to those who ask for Him (Luke 11:13).
- He is promised by the Father (Luke 24:49; Acts 2:38-39; Ephesians 1:13).
- He is the agent in the new birth (John 3:5).
- He makes us new creatures in Christ Jesus (John 3:6; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
- He gives eternal life (John 6:63).
- He is given (John 7:39; Acts 15:8; 2 Corinthians 5:5).
- He is our comforter, helper, advocate, stand-by (John 14:16).
- He abides with us forever (John 14:16).
- He teaches and guides the believer into the truth (John 14:26).
- He testifies of Jesus (John 15:26).
- He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:7-11).
- He shows us things to come (John 16:13; Acts 11:28; 1 Timothy 4:1).
- He glorifies Jesus (John 16:14).
- He reveals to us whatever he receives from Jesus (John 16:14).
- He is received (John 20:22; Acts 10:47; Acts 19:2).
- He empowers believers to witness (Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:4).
- He fills believers (Acts 2:4, Eph. 5:18).
- He enables people to pray and speak in other tongues (Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 14:15; Jude 20).
- He can be lied to and tested (Acts 5:1-4).
- He can be resisted (Acts 7:51).
- He speaks (Acts 8:29; Acts 10:19; Acts 13:2).
- He falls upon and is poured out upon believers (Acts 10:44-45).
- He calls people into the ministry and sends them out (Acts 13:2; Acts 13:4).
- He makes decisions (Acts 15:28).
- He directs the work of his ministers (Acts 16:6-7).
- He can be imparted through the laying on of hands (Acts 8:17; Acts 9:17; Acts 19:6).
- He appoints church leaders (Acts 20:28).
- He inspired the writing of Scripture (Acts 28:25; 2 Peter 1:21, 2 Tim.3:16).
- He raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 1:4; Romans 8:11).
- He fills our hearts with the love of God (Romans 5:5; Romans 15:30).
- He dwells in the believer (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Timothy 1:14).
- He gives life to our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11).
- He leads believers (Romans 8:14).
- He bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God (Romans 8:16).
- He helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26).
- He makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered and makes intercession for the saints (Romans 8:26-27).
- He is the author of righteousness, peace, and joy in our lives (Romans 14:17).
- He enables us to abound in hope (Romans 15:13).
- He performs healings and miracles to confirm the Gospel (Romans 15:19; Hebrews 2:4).
- He reveals the things of God to us (1 Corinthians 2:10).
- He distributes spiritual gifts within the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:4, 1 Cor 12:8-11).
- He baptizes us into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).
- He seals the believer and is a guarantee in our hearts (2 Corinthians 1:22).
- He has a glorious ministry (2 Corinthians 3:8).
- He grants liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17).
- He transforms the believer from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).
- He inspires fellowship (2 Corinthians 13:14; Philippians 2:1).
- He motivates us to cry out “Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6).
- He enables us to overcome the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
- He gives us access to God (Ephesians 2:18).
- He strengthens the believer in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16).
- He promotes unity (Ephesians 4:3).
- He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30).
- He produces spiritual fruit in the lives of believers (Galatians 5:22-23).
- He confirms the preaching of the Gospel with demonstrations of power and assurance (1 Thessalonians 1:5).
- He can be quenched (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
- He sanctifies us — makes us holy (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2).
- He is eternal (Hebrews 9:14).
- He can be insulted (Hebrews 10:29).
- He is gracious (Hebrews 10:29).
- He is sent from Heaven (1 Peter 1:12).
- He gave utterance to the prophets of old (2 Peter 1:11).
- He is to be listened to (Revelation 2:7).
- He invites men to God (Revelation 22:17).
That is quite a list of activities of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and the believer in Christ. What a resume! Your hired! God knew what He was doing when He sent the Holy Spirit to live in us. Jesus said that rivers of living water would flow out of our innermost being ( John 7:37-39). He spoke regarding the Holy Spirit. We can never minimize the work of the Holy Spirit. How do we release the Spirit, this river? Through personal fellowship with God, praying in the Holy Spirit, in tongues, through ministry to others, and developing intimacy with the Holy Spirit. Thanking the Holy Spirit always and acknowledging His presence in our lives. Let us not grieve, quench, or resist Him in all that He wants to do in and through our lives. I want a closer walk with the Holy Spirit, and I hope you do as well. He is our “Helper.” Spend time going over the above scriptures and acquaint yourself afresh with the best coach on earth, the ministry of the Holy Spirit! Let’s receive His coaching daily! He will lead us to victory and cross every finish line!
In Christ’s love;
Brent and Linda Bushen
If this has blessed you in some way, please let us know and share it with a friend!