Doing the work of the Holy Spirit

 

Can two walk together without agreeing where to go?  --Amos 3:3 (Berean Standard Bible)

Last month my sister was watching her two grandsons, while visiting with the boys' other grandmother.  The conversation drifted to preparations for the upcoming Thanksgiving celebrations.  "What are you having for Thanksgiving?" the woman asked innocently.  

"Well," my sister sighed.  "This past year my brother and his wife moved to Wisconsin.  My niece and nephew moved to Colorado.  Both of my children got divorced.  I'm not sure that Thanksgiving dinner will be anything like I wanted it to be."

The other woman smiled meekly.  "I meant what will you be serving?"

The past year may have been a trial for you, as well.  Maybe you lost a loved one, or lost a job, or had problems with health or finances or had any number of other issues.  in John 16:33, Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."

This morning I attended a men's prayer breakfast, and the young pastor read 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ out comfort overflows. (Berean Standard Bible).  

 There are two themes in these three verses: suffering, and comfort.  We all know about suffering.  The Greek words used for "troubles" and "sufferings" can mean tribulation, affliction, trouble, anguish, persecution, and burdens.  In short, sin's curse leaves us in a world of hurt.

Praise be to God, those of us who know Him also know His comfort.  The Greek word translated "comfort" comes from the root word parakaleō, "to comfort", or the noun form paraklēsis, meaning consolation, exhortation, or comfort.  It brings with it the idea of coming alongside.  

In fact, the same root word is used for the Holy Spirit.  Jesus called Him "the Comforter" or paraklētos. The idea of a "paraclete" is one that comes alongside to be a helper.  It also carries with it the idea of an advocate, pleading our case before a judge or higher authority.

Read our text again.  "Blessed be God...the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort."  When we have trouble, when we need comfort, our souls reach out to God, who is our source of consolation.  Jesus said to His disciples, "My yoke is easy."  Animals in a double yoke are forced to walk the same directions, so they can pull the load together.  If we are yoked together with Christ, He will help us bear the burden, provided we do not try to go our own way.

If we submit our wills to Him and walk with Him daily, He will bear our burdens.  Similarly, we are called to walk alongside others, to encourage them and give them hope and comfort.  This does not mean we should be led astray by them--rather, we should show them the Way.  We can do the work of the Holy Spirit best when we help bear one another's burdens, submitting to the will of God and agreeing to walk in His ways.

We can also do the work of the Holy Spirit if we pray for one another.  Romans 8:26 says, "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  For we do not know what what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."  As we intercede for other people, we are helping them in their weakness by advocating to the Father on their behalf.

Paul's advice to a young pastor in 1 Timothy 2:1 includes praying for others.  "First of all, then," he says, "I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people."  Isn't that what the Holy Spirit does for us?  We can be a comfort to other people in their suffering by praying for them.  There is no better way to exhort one another than to truthfully tell someone that you are praying for them.

James 5:16 says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail."  That power comes from the Holy Spirit as we do His work with Him.  We cannot prevail over sin, suffering or strife without His help, and the help of other people.  Lift up one another, therefore, so that in so doing we can walk in the way of God the Father, in the grace of Jesus the Son, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.