BREATH OF LIFE

I will ask the Father, and He will give you

another Helper, that He may be with you
forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the
world cannot receive, because it does not
see Him or know Him, but you know Him
because He abides with you and will be in
you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom
the Father will send in My name, He will
teach you all things, and bring to your
remembrance all that I said to
you. John 14:16-17 & 26
The Holy Spirit has been given to us by the
Father at the request of Jesus. He is with
us continually. He is our connection with
God. Everything that happens in our
Spiritual life happens by the Holy Spirit’s
active work on our behalf.

So what is available to us from the Holy

Spirit?
Jesus identified the primary activity of the
Holy Spirit as being our Paraclete. This is
the word translated in the NASB as Helper.
Paraclete means "counselor", "helper",
“encourager”, “advocate”, and "comforter".

And the Holy Spirit does all these things

for us.
COUNSELOR – He gives us wisdom,
knowledge and insight. He guides us in
God’s counselor. As such he reminds us
moment by moment of the words of Jesus,
those written in the Bible and those Jesus
wants to speak to us in each moment.
HELPER – He gives us help in every
circumstance of our lives.
ENCOURAGER – Every moment of our walk
with God the Holy Spirit is encouraging us. He
speaks words of life to us. He reminds us how
much we are loved. He reminds of who we really
are. He warns us of the attacks of the enemy
and encourages us to fight a good fight against
that enemy. He gives us a heart to let Him
encourage others through us which in turn
deeply encourages us. He speaks the words of
the Bible to us to give us hope and help us to
continue following Jesus in dark times. He
shows the heart of God to cheer us on our way.
ADVOCATE – An advocate is like a
lawyer. It is a person who represents you
in a court of law.

The Holy Spirit acts as the one who

speaks on our behalf the truth of our
identity to God, us and the devil. He also
takes our concerns to the Father through
Jesus.
COMFORTER – This is such an intimate aspect
of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. When we
are spent, exhausted, burnt out or deeply
discouraged the Holy Spirit comes to comfort us.
He gives us what no substance, material pursuit
or person can. He reaches into our soul and
touches our innermost being with God’s life. He
refills the emptiness with Himself. The God
Shaped Hole inside of us that we seek to fill in a
myriad of ways can only be filled with God and
God fills it with His Breath of Life, the Holy Spirit.
A DEEPER LOOK
Let’s look in a deeper way at these different
aspects of the Holy Spirit’s work in and through
us. As we do, focus on what He provides and
what is required of us to obtain it. As we are
going through this course let’s specifically seek
what He wants to bring us in this season. Let’s
learn to rely on Holy Spirit at all times to
counsel, help, encourage and comfort us in what
we most need during the Breath of Life process.
COUNSELOR – The Holy Spirit as Comforter
Breathes New Life into us by establishing our
communication with God. He is the
communication link. We hear from God through
the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit brings what Jesus has said
to us in the past .

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom

the Father will send in My name, He will
teach you all things, and bring to your
remembrance all that I said to you.
John 14:26
The Holy Spirit brings what Jesus is saying to
us in the present.
“I have many more things to say to you,
but you cannot bear them now. 13 But
when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will
guide you into all the truth; for He will not
speak on His own initiative, but whatever
He hears, He will speak; and He will
disclose to you what is to come.
John 16:12-13
Imagine this, we have full
access to the Father and
Jesus’s counsel through the
Holy Spirit. We can know
what they have said, what
they are saying and what
they will say.
As Counselor, the Holy Spirit is also our guide
as we go through the process of maturing in our
walk with God. In the day to day living out of His
plan for our lives each day He shows us the
direction to take and not take. This is not just a
theoretical guidance. It can be as specific as
telling us what our next footstep is to be.

“Direct my footsteps according to your

word; let no sin rule over me.” Psalm
119:133
So what is our part in receiving the counsel of
the Holy Spirit?

It is as simple as hearing from any other person.

We have to listen. We need to set aside time,
like Jesus did, to listen for God’s voice. We need
to continually ask, “Holy Spirit what do you want
to say to me about this…….” And when we hear
what He says, we must be ready to follow the
counsel and guidance He brings us from Jesus
and the Father.
HELPER – The Holy Spirit
as Helper Breathes New Life
into us by bringing God’s
grace to us in the practical
circumstances of our lives.
Many have a mistake notion of grace.
They confuse it with Mercy.

Mercy is not getting what you deserve. It is

God’s gift of forgiveness. It is Him loving
us in spite of our behavior. .
Grace is God’s
power given to us
to live the life of
Jesus.
Grace is the ability to
transform our behavior,
changing things in our lives
that we could never change
on our own.
But by the grace of God I am what I
am, and His grace toward me did not
prove vain; but I labored even more
than all of them, yet not I, but the grace
of God with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10

The one who transmits this grace to

us is the Holy Spirit as our Helper.
So what is our part in receiving the help of the Holy
Spirit? Before anything else we need to ask for help.

I cannot emphasize this more strongly. God does not

help those who help themselves. He helps those who
are helpless.

The person who is fully dependent on the Holy Spirit

to accomplish anything in their lives is the person
who will see God through the power of the Holy Spirit
help him or her in every circumstance in life.
So often when we face a great crisis we
cry out to God and express our
helplessness to Him. He always answers
those cries.

But if we do not wait for a crisis to admit

our helplessness but cry out in every
moment of every day for His help the Holy
Spirit will help us continually.
The first help He gives us is
making our spirit alive resulting
in salvation. – The new birth
Jesus spoke about to
Nicodemus in John 3:3-5.
Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly,
truly, I say to you, unless one is born again
he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a

man be born when he is old? He cannot

enter a second time into his mother’s
womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus
answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless
one is born of water and the Spirit he
cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:3-5
The Holy Spirit helps us by
enabling us to live Jesus’ life
here on earth. Without His
help we could never live a
godly life.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus has set you free from the law of sin
and of death. 3 For what the Law could not
do, weak as it was through the flesh,
God did: sending His own Son in the likeness
of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He
condemned sin in the flesh,4 so that
the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled
in us, who do not walk according to the
flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:2-4
He further helps us by Jesus baptizing us
in Him. The primary work of the Holy Spirit
in this baptism gives us the power to
witness – tell the world – about Jesus. The
word witness (martyrion – from which we
get our word martyr) means more than
sharing the gospel. It means we are given
the power to face persecution and even
death for the sake of honoring the name of
Jesus.
but you will receive
power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you shall
be My witnesses both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and even to the
remotest part of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
That same baptism fill us with divine power
(greek Dunamis – the word for dynamite) that
produces miracles in and through us.

in the power of signs and wonders, in the

power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem
and round about as far as Illyricum I
have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
Romans 15:19
The Holy Spirit
also helps us by
giving us spiritual
gifts.
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not
want you to be unaware. 2 You know that when
you were pagans, you were led astray to
the mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I
make known to you that no one speaking by the
Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one
can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same

Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the

same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the
same God who works all things in all persons.
1 Corinthians 12:1-6
The Holy Spirit as Helper gives supernatural
wisdom and abilities to help us in our
mission and service in God’s Kingdom.

God says of Bezalel, the artisan who built

the tabernacle in the wilderness in Exodus
31:3, “I have filled him with the Spirit of
God in wisdom, in understanding, in
knowledge, and in all kinds of
craftsmanship . . .”
This is what Holy Spirit continues to do for
us today. He gives knowledge, wisdom,
supernatural gifts and discernment.

This truth is verified in the New Testament.

Everyone is to be gifted by the Holy Spirit
to do their part in the body of Jesus.
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not
want you to be unaware. 2 You know that when
you were pagans, you were led astray to
the mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I
make known to you that no one speaking by the
Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one
can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same

Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the

same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the
same God who works all things in all persons.
1 Corinthians 12:1-6
7 But to each one is given the manifestation
of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to
one is given the word of wisdom through
the Spirit, and to another the word of
knowledge according to the same Spirit;
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to
another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
1 Corinthians 12:7-9
and to another the effecting of miracles,
and to another prophecy, and to another
the distinguishing of spirits, to another
various kinds of tongues, and to another the
interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and
the same Spirit works all these things,
distributing to each one individually just as
He wills.”
1 Corinthians 12:10-11
Everyone is to be endowed with power
from on high to manifest Jesus to their
world.
“. . . but you will receive power when
the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and
you shall be My witnesses both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and even to the remotest
part of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
His continual presence with us
even helps sustain our bodies.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from

the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ
Jesus from the dead will also give life to your
mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in
you. Romans 8:11
So what is our part in receiving the gifts and
power the Holy Spirit wants to give us as our
helper?

We must seek for them.

We must believe and receive them.
We must step out in faith.
We must use them once we have them.
ENCOURAGER – The Holy
Spirit as Encourager
encourages us by breathing
into us new life which brings
confidence, hope and
renewed strength for the
journey.
As we look at our soul today we might see
areas of where we need God to breathe
new life. This is the primary work of the
Holy Spirit in encouragement.
Discouragement is really is the result of
being overtaken my hopelessness. It is
being overtaken by the spirit of death. We
have no strength. We have no motivation.
We have no joy. We have no confidence in
the future. Many others have felt the same.
Then He said to me, “Son of man, these
bones are the whole house of Israel; behold,
they say,

‘Our bones are dried up and our hope

has perished. We are completely cut off.’
Ezekiel 37:11

When we find ourselves in this place the Holy

Spirit desires to change everything for us by
His encouragement.
To be encouraged by the Holy
Spirit is far more than a pep talk. It
is the provision of everything we
need to arise from our
discouragement and run the race.
He not only encourages us by
words of life. He encourages us by
pouring new life into us.
Another extremely important
aspect of the Holy Spirit’s work as
Encourager is to give us new
hope.
For I know the plans that I have for you,’
declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and
not for calamity to give you a future and a
hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
As He breathes His new life into us
we find we grow in confidence and
courage. He encourages us and
builds us up to face the challenges
of making changes in our lives,
and stepping into the vision He
sets before us.
So what is our part in receiving the
encouragement of the Holy Spirit?

When we are discouraged we need to

call upon Him to encourage us.
We need to seek His Joy to fill us by
speaking His words to our soul.
We need to believe He will bring us to
a better day.
Here is how David did it:
When my heart was embittered
And I was pierced within, 22 Then I was senseless
and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You

have taken hold of my right hand. 24 With Your

counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive
me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but You?
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is

the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:21-28
ADVOCATE – The Holy Spirit as Advocate
Breathes New Life into us by bringing the truth
of our identity to us.

He reveals how God sees us. He presents us

and our prayers before Jesus who brings them
as intercessor to the Father.
He fights against the devil and his angels on our
behalf by bringing to light the lies they speak in
our hearts or the lies we have accepted.
He speaks the truth about all things. That truth
brings us into freedom.
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will
guide you into all the truth; John 16:13

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the

Father will send in my name, will teach you all
things and will remind you of everything I have
said to you. John 14:26 (NIV)

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of

the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)
The Holy Spirit is our advocate to take
our prayers to the throne of God and
present them to Jesus. Jesus then
takes them and acts as an intercessor
to present them to God. We are told
the Spirit, as our advocate, even helps
us in those prayers. He does this by
giving us deep yearnings that cannot
even be spoken.
In the same way the Spirit also
helps our weakness; for we do
not know how to pray as we
should, but the Spirit Himself
intercedes for us with groanings
too deep for words;
Romans 8:26
He also does this by giving us a
new language, a spiritual
language that may be earthly or
may be angelic, to pray perfect
prayers that are exactly what
God desires us to pray.
These signs will accompany those
who have believed: in My name they
will cast out demons, they will speak
with new tongues; Mark 16:17

And they were all filled with the Holy

Spirit and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit was giving
them utterance. Acts 2:4
He also fights against the
enemy’s accusations and
lies we carry and believe
in our hearts and those the
devil brings against us.
So what is our part in receiving the advocacy of
the Holy Spirit?

We are to actually believe what the Holy Spirit

says. It is interesting that most of us believe
what our minds, our feelings or what others tell
us about our identity. But the only one who can
really be trusted it God. And God sends the Holy
Spirit as our advocate to tell us the truth. That
truth is found in the scriptures but He breathes it
again into our whole being to bring life.
The Holy Spirit drives out the lies but only
if we are willing to stop believing them and
start believing Him.

When we are confronted with a thought

that does not seem to line up with God’s
Word we can ask the Holy Spirit, “What do
you say about this?” And then we need to
believe and act on what He says.
COMFORTER – The Holy
Spirit as Comforter Breathes
New Life into us by bringing
comfort, healing and
restoration to our souls.
Psalm 23 best describes His work in this:

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2

He makes me lie down in green pastures; He
leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores
my soul; He guides me in the paths of
righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Even
though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are
with me; Your rod and Your staff, they
comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the
presence of my enemies; You have
anointed my head with oil; My cup
overflows. 6 Surely goodness and
lovingkindness will follow me all the
days of my life, And I will dwell in the
house of the Lord forever.
Comfort from the Holy Spirit is when He comes
to minister compassionately to us when we are
tempted, harassed, wounded or weary.
Like David says, He brings into a place of peace
and quietness. He gives us spiritual water and
food to refresh us. He brings restoration and
healing. He leads us away from danger into right
paths. He protects us as we journey through the
valley that could bring death. He walks the
journey with us continually letting us know He is
always with us. His discipline and protection
become our comfort.
The Holy Spirit as Comforter
breathes new life into things that
may have been dead, held captive
by the enemy or limited by our pain
and hurt.

He does this so we can experience

abundance in these same areas.
So what is our part in receiving the
comfort of the Holy Spirit?

We need to be vulnerable enough to

seek and accept His comfort.

We need to tell Him exactly what we

need and let Him do His comforting
work in us.