Week 6: The Holy Spirit — Who Is the Helper Jesus Promised? Studies
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Week 6: The Holy Spirit — Who Is the Helper Jesus Promised?
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Week 6: The Holy Spirit — Who Is the Helper Jesus Promised?

Admin User · 19 February 2026

Jesus didn't leave us alone. He sent the Holy Spirit — the Counsellor, the Comforter, the one who makes the Christian life possible. This week we explore who the Spirit is and what He does.


1 Opening

This Week's Question

Who is the Holy Spirit, and what does He do in my life?

If you grew up in church, you might have heard a lot about the Holy Spirit — or almost nothing. For some, the Spirit feels mysterious, even intimidating. For others, He's been reduced to a feeling at a worship service.

But Jesus was very clear: the Spirit is not optional. He's not an upgrade. He is the means by which Christ is present with us now. Without the Spirit, the Christian life is impossible. With Him, everything changes.

2 Scripture

15If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. 25These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. 14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 21And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

3 Explanation

Jesus' Promise

In the Upper Room (which we read in the discipleship track), Jesus told His disciples He was leaving — but He wasn't abandoning them. He was sending "another Advocate" (John 14:16) — someone just like Himself who would be with them forever.

The Greek word is Parakletos — one who comes alongside. Counsellor. Comforter. Advocate. The Spirit doesn't replace Jesus; He makes Jesus present to us.

Key Verses to Sit With
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth."
— John 14:16–17
"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
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
— Galatians 5:22–23
"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 for us through wordless groans."
— Romans 8:26
What the Spirit Does

The Holy Spirit is not a vague force or a warm feeling. He is a Person — the third Person of the Trinity — and He is actively at work in your life:

  • He convicts — showing you sin not to condemn you, but to free you (John 16:8)
  • He teaches — illuminating Scripture so it comes alive (John 14:26)
  • He empowers — giving you strength you don't have on your own (Acts 1:8)
  • He intercedes — praying for you when you can't find the words (Romans 8:26)
  • He produces fruit — transforming your character from the inside out (Galatians 5:22–23)
  • He assures — confirming that you belong to God (Romans 8:16)
A word from Pastor Claudette: The fruit of the Spirit is not a to-do list. You don't manufacture love, joy, and peace by trying harder. They grow — like fruit on a vine — as you stay connected to Christ through the Spirit. Your job is to abide. His job is to produce. That's the difference between religion and relationship.

4 Application

Making It Personal
  • Have you ever been aware of the Holy Spirit at work in your life? What did that look like?
  • Which role of the Spirit (convicting, teaching, empowering, interceding, producing fruit, assuring) do you most need right now?
  • What does it mean to you that the Spirit prays for you when you can't find the words?

Reflection Questions

What did Jesus say the Holy Spirit would do? (John 14)

What happened at Pentecost, and why was it significant?

What is the difference between "life in the flesh" and "life in the Spirit"? (Romans 8)

Which fruit of the Spirit do you most want to see grow in your life right now?

Log in to record your answers.

5a Prayer

Holy Spirit, I confess that I often try to live the Christian life in my own strength. I forget that You are here — not as a distant force, but as a Person who knows me, loves me, and is actively working in me. Teach me to listen to You. Produce in me what I cannot produce in myself. Pray for me when I have no words. I welcome You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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