A Christian Life Led with the Help of the Spirit
Reading Scripture: John 14:16
Verse to Memorize: John 16:7
Reference: Acts 2:1-4 Pentecost is a Christian holy day commemorating the first descent of the Holy Spirit upon the believers in Jesus Christ after His resurrection and ascension. After the Lord Jesus ascended into Heaven, around 120 people were praying in Mark’s upper room in Jerusalem.
Then, the Spirit came upon them like fire. Afterwards, a church was established in Jerusalem, and the apostles and believers, empowered by the strength of the Spirit, enthusiastically spread the gospel in Judea, Samaria, and to every corner of the earth (Ref: Acts 1:8). Only when we gain the help of the Spirit can we preach the gospel with the fullness of truth and grace all over the world, just as the Early Church members did.
- 1. The Helper: The Holy Spirit
At the Last Supper, which was the final meal Jesus shared with His disciples, He told them He would go to the Father and prepare a place for them. At the time, the disciples could not grasp the meaning of what He meant when He said where He was going. They were even worried, thinking that Jesus, who had always been with them, was going to leave. Jesus knew their thoughts and told them that He would not leave them as orphans. Jesus promised to send the Helper to them, saying in John 14:16, "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever." He added, "But 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 go, I will send Him to you" (John 16:7).
The Helper refers to the Holy Spirit, who protects, provides grace, and mentors believers. Jesus taught His disciples the roles of the Spirit in detail, showing how the Spirit would help them. However, they could not conceptualize any of it at the time. They came to realize His words one by one after the Spirit came upon them. The Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised to send to them after His ascension, descended upon the disciples who were waiting in prayer for the Holy Spirit. Empowered by the Spirit, they could boldly proclaim the gospel despite any persecution and affliction. Since the initial descent of the Holy Spirit, God, who is the same yesterday and today, has given the Helper, the Holy Spirit, as a gift to all who are believers in the Lord. This is because only when we receive the Spirit’s help can we overcome the world with faith and come forth as God’s children.
- 2. To Lead a Christian Life with the Help of the Spirit
1) We Need to Trust in the Spirit Who Dwells in Us and Rely on Him
Acts 2:38 reads, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." As written in the verse, if anyone repents of their sins and accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, God will send the Holy Spirit into their hearts. It is not that God gives the Spirit to some and not to others—God is able to give anyone the Spirit without discrimination.
The Spirit is invisible to our naked eyes, but He has demonstrated varied evidences of His existence. John 1:32 says, "John testified, saying, 'I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon [Jesus].'" Though the Holy Spirit has no specific shape, God opened the spiritual eyes of John the Baptist, allowing him to see it. Acts 2:1-4 describes the Early Church members' experience of the Spirit’s descending, and how they experienced the Spirit's power as well. It says, "When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance." The apostles were filled with the Spirit and, through their authoritative teaching, led thousands to repentance all at once.
They caused people to surrender before the name of the Lord Jesus. They exhibited proofs of the existence of the Holy Spirit with His power, such as raising the man who had been lame. Also, it is the Spirit in us who gives us the faith to call Jesus Christ our Lord and God our Father and enables us to worship, pray to, and praise God. Some people wonder, "Is the Spirit dwelling in me? I committed such a sin. Hasn’t the Spirit been quenched in me?" But unless you judge and condemn the Word of God with a hardened heart, most of you can still receive the Spirit. Even if you commit sins and repent, trying hard to live by the Word again, you can be forgiven after repenting.
This means that the Spirit is not easily quenched. Therefore, in order to live a life with the help of the Spirit, we must believe that the Spirit dwells in us and trust Him. We have to believe that the Helper, the Spirit, helps each of us, and that He enables us to rely on Him. We must lay aside our old selves that seek the world and live according to God’s will. When we face things that are hard to understand, if we believe in the help of the Spirit and depend on Him, we can do things that cannot be done with our own strength and know things that are unknowable.
2) We Must Not Ignore the Words of Goodness with Which the Holy Spirit Edifies Us
The Holy Spirit instructs us in goodness through the Word of God or His voice. However, if we listen to the word of goodness and think, "It has nothing to do with me," and close our hearts, we can neither gain realization nor grow in faith. When we listen to messages that teach us how to achieve the heart of the Spirit, such as "spiritual love," "goodness," and "the fruit of the Holy Spirit," the Holy Spirit provides us with the knowledge of how to accomplish the highest level of goodness. He shows us the measure of faith that belongs to the fullness of Christ and guides us to the most beautiful heavenly kingdom, the New Jerusalem. But some say, "It is impossible for me to achieve such a high level of goodness. Such deeds of faith are not achievable for me."
However, the Spirit believes in us with hope, knowing that we can achieve the highest level of goodness and possess great faith, just as the forefathers of faith did. He implants self-confidence in us and helps us realize what we should do according to our measure of faith, guiding us to act accordingly in a gentle and exquisite way. Unfortunately, some people ignore the Spirit's enlightenment. For instance, the Holy Spirit helps believers realize how great the love of God is, but sometimes people say they have not felt or experienced the love of the Father, so they cannot love Him, and they forsake the Word of God. This is an example of ignoring the word of goodness with fleshly thoughts that are hostile to God. If you continue neglecting the teaching of the Spirit, you will not receive His guidance, which is goodness, and you will not be able to receive God's love and grace.
3) We Must Live by the Will of God in the Guidance of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit is always leading God’s children to live according to His will. Through the Spirit’s guidance, we must demonstrate the willpower to live according to God’s will. Of course, this does not mean you can just shift responsibility onto the Spirit, saying, "The Spirit will do everything." You also have to make active efforts to act according to the Spirit’s teachings. If you truly believe that the Spirit dwells in you, you will naturally listen to the Word and pray with longing to receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In order to obey what He teaches you, you will discipline your body and make it your slave. Even when you find it hard to follow His guidance, if you sincerely believe in the Spirit, you will trust Him and rely on Him, thinking, "I can make it because the Spirit is in me."
At first, you need to show effort, but over time, as you continue to make these efforts, it will become easier for you to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and receive His guidance. Then, you can live constantly with the help of the Holy Spirit. In the Bible, there are many forefathers of faith who manifested great works. You may think, "How could they do such great works?" But if you receive the help of the Holy Spirit, it will be easy for you to do so as well. When we are helped by the Spirit, we can do things beyond our ability with His love and strength. However, if we rely on ourselves, everything seems tough and hard to achieve. Therefore, I hope you will say that leading a Christian life is easy because of the Spirit in you, and that it will bring you happiness.
Maisha ya Kikristo Yanayoongozwa na Roho
Usomaji wa Maandiko: Yohana 14:16
Mstari wa Kukariri: Yohana 16:7
Rejea: Matendo 2:1–4. Pentekoste ni sikukuu takatifu ya Kikristo inayokumbuka mara ya kwanza Roho Mtakatifu kuwashukia waumini wa Yesu Kristo baada ya ufufuo na kupaa Kwake. Baada ya Bwana Yesu kupaa Mbinguni, watu wapatao 120 walikuwa wakiomba katika chumba cha juu cha Marko huko Yerusalemu.
Kisha Roho akawajia kama moto. Baadaye kanisa likaanzishwa Yerusalemu, na mitume pamoja na waumini, wakiwa wamewezeshwa na nguvu za Roho, wakatangaza injili kwa bidii huko Uyahudi, Samaria na kila pembe ya dunia (tazama Matendo 1:8). Ni kwa msaada wa Roho tu tunaweza kuhubiri injili ulimwenguni kote katika utimilifu wa kweli na neema, kama waumini wa kanisa la kwanza walivyofanya.
- 1. Msaidizi: Roho Mtakatifu
Katika Karamu ya Mwisho, mlo wa mwisho ambao Yesu alikula pamoja na wanafunzi Wake, aliwaambia kwamba angeenda kwa Baba kuwaandalia mahali. Wakati huo wanafunzi hawakuelewa maana ya maneno Yake kuhusu alikokuwa akienda. Walihuzunika na kuwa na wasiwasi, wakifikiri kwamba Yesu, aliyekuwa pamoja nao daima, alikuwa akiwaacha. Yesu aliyajua mawazo yao na kuwaambia kwamba hatawaacha yatima. Akawaahidi kuwatumia Msaidizi akisema katika Yohana 14:16, “Nami nitamwomba Baba, naye atawapa Msaidizi mwingine, ili akae nanyi hata milele.” Akaongeza, “Lakini mimi nawaambia iliyo kweli; yawafaa ninyi mimi niondoke; kwa maana mimi nisipoondoka, huyo Msaidizi hatakuja kwenu; bali mimi nikienda zangu, nitampeleka kwenu” (Yohana 16:7).
Msaidizi ni Roho Mtakatifu, anayewalinda waumini, kuwapa neema na kuwaongoza. Yesu aliwafundisha wanafunzi Wake kwa undani kuhusu kazi za Roho na jinsi ambavyo angewasaidia. Lakini wakati huo hawakuweza kuelewa yote. Walianza kuelewa maneno Yake hatua kwa hatua baada ya Roho kuwajia. Roho Mtakatifu, ambaye Yesu aliahidi kuwatuma baada ya kupaa, aliwashukia wanafunzi waliokuwa wakingoja kwa maombi. Wakiwa wamewezeshwa na Roho, waliweza kutangaza injili kwa ujasiri licha ya mateso na dhiki. Tangu Roho Mtakatifu aliposhuka mara ya kwanza, Mungu, ambaye ni yuleyule jana na leo, amewapa Roho Mtakatifu kuwa zawadi wote wanaomwamini Bwana. Hii ni kwa sababu tunaweza kuushinda ulimwengu kwa imani na kuwa watoto wa Mungu tunapopokea msaada wa Roho.
- 2. Kuishi maisha ya Kikristo kwa msaada wa Roho
1) Tumtumaini Roho anayekaa ndani yetu na kumtegemea.
Matendo 2:38 yasema, “Tubuni, mkabatizwe kila mmoja kwa jina lake Yesu Kristo, mpate ondoleo la dhambi zenu, nanyi mtapokea kipawa cha Roho Mtakatifu.” Kama mstari huu unavyosema, mtu akitubu dhambi zake na kumkubali Yesu Kristo kuwa Mwokozi wake binafsi, Mungu humtuma Roho Mtakatifu akae moyoni mwake. Mungu hamtoi Roho kwa baadhi ya watu na kuwanyima wengine; anaweza kumpa Roho mtu yeyote bila upendeleo.
Hatuwezi kumwona Roho kwa macho, lakini amedhihirisha ushahidi mbalimbali wa kuwapo Kwake. Yohana 1:32 yasema, “Yohana akashuhudia, akisema, Nimemwona Roho akishuka kama hua kutoka mbinguni; naye akakaa juu Yake.” Ingawa Roho Mtakatifu hana umbo maalumu, Mungu aliyafungua macho ya kiroho ya Yohana Mbatizaji ili amwone. Matendo 2:1–4 inaeleza jinsi Roho alivyowashukia waumini wa kanisa la kwanza na jinsi walivyopitia nguvu Zake: “Hata ilipotimia siku ya Pentekoste walikuwako wote mahali pamoja. Kukaja ghafula toka mbinguni uvumi kama uvumi wa upepo wa nguvu ukienda kasi, ukaijaza nyumba yote waliyokuwa wameketi. Kukawatokea ndimi zilizogawanyika, kama ndimi za moto, ukaketi juu ya kila mmoja wao. Wote wakajazwa Roho Mtakatifu, wakaanza kusema kwa lugha nyingine, kama Roho alivyowajalia kutamka.” Mitume walijazwa Roho, na kwa mafundisho yao yenye mamlaka waliwaongoza maelfu kutubu kwa wakati mmoja.
Waliwaongoza watu kujisalimisha mbele ya jina la Bwana Yesu. Walidhihirisha ushahidi wa kuwapo kwa Roho Mtakatifu na nguvu Zake, kama kumwinua mtu aliyekuwa kilema. Roho aliye ndani yetu pia hutupa imani ya kumwita Yesu Kristo Bwana wetu na Mungu Baba yetu, na hutuwezesha kumwabudu, kumwomba na kumsifu Mungu. Wengine hujiuliza, “Je, Roho anakaa ndani yangu? Nimetenda dhambi kubwa namna hii; je, Roho amezimwa ndani yangu?” Lakini isipokuwa mtu auhukumu na kuukataa kwa moyo mgumu Neno la Mungu, wengi bado wanaweza kumpokea Roho. Hata ukitenda dhambi, ukitubu na kujitahidi tena kuishi kwa Neno, unaweza kusamehewa baada ya kutubu.
Hii ina maana kwamba Roho hazimwi kwa urahisi. Kwa hiyo, ili kuishi kwa msaada wa Roho, tunapaswa kuamini kwamba anakaa ndani yetu na kumtumaini. Tuamini kwamba Msaidizi Roho hutusaidia kila mmoja na kutuwezesha kumtegemea. Tuuvue utu wetu wa zamani unaotafuta mambo ya dunia na kuishi kulingana na mapenzi ya Mungu. Tunapokutana na mambo magumu kuelewa, tukiamini msaada wa Roho na kumtegemea, tunaweza kufanya yasiyowezekana kwa nguvu zetu wenyewe na kujua mambo tusiyoweza kuyajua.
2) Tusipuuze maneno mema ambayo Roho Mtakatifu hutufundisha.
Roho Mtakatifu hutuongoza katika wema kupitia Neno la Mungu au sauti Yake. Lakini tukisikia neno jema na kuwaza, “Hilihusu mtu mwingine, si mimi,” kisha tukaufunga moyo, hatutapata utambuzi wala kukua katika imani. Tunaposikiliza mafundisho yanayotuelekeza kupata moyo wa Roho, kama “upendo wa kiroho,” “wema” na “matunda ya Roho Mtakatifu,” Roho hutufundisha jinsi ya kufikia kiwango cha juu zaidi cha wema. Hutuonyesha kipimo cha imani kilicho katika utimilifu wa Kristo na kutuongoza katika ufalme mzuri zaidi wa mbinguni, Yerusalemu Mpya. Lakini wengine husema, “Haiwezekani kwangu kufikia kiwango cha juu hivyo cha wema. Siwezi kufanya matendo ya imani ya namna hiyo.”
Hata hivyo, Roho hututumaini na kuwa na tumaini juu yetu, akijua kwamba tunaweza kufikia wema wa juu kabisa na kuwa na imani kubwa kama mababu wa imani. Hutuimarisha kujiamini na kutusaidia kuelewa tunachopaswa kufanya kulingana na kipimo chetu cha imani, kisha hutuongoza kukitenda kwa upole na kwa uzuri. Kwa bahati mbaya, wengine hupuuza mafunuo ya Roho. Kwa mfano, Roho Mtakatifu huwasaidia waumini kuelewa jinsi upendo wa Mungu ulivyo mkuu, lakini nyakati nyingine watu husema hawajauhisia wala kuupitia upendo wa Baba, kwa hiyo hawawezi kumpenda, kisha huliacha Neno la Mungu. Huu ni mfano wa kupuuza neno jema kwa mawazo ya mwili yaliyo dhidi ya Mungu. Ukiendelea kupuuza mafundisho ya Roho, hutapokea mwongozo Wake, ambao ni wema, wala upendo na neema ya Mungu.
3) Tuishi kwa mapenzi ya Mungu chini ya mwongozo wa Roho.
Roho Mtakatifu huwaongoza watoto wa Mungu daima waishi kulingana na mapenzi Yake. Kwa mwongozo Wake, tunapaswa kujitahidi kwa nia thabiti kuishi kulingana na mapenzi ya Mungu. Hii haimaanishi kwamba tunaweza kumtwika Roho wajibu wote na kusema, “Roho atafanya kila kitu.” Sisi pia tunapaswa kujitahidi kutenda mafundisho ya Roho. Ukiamini kweli kwamba Roho anakaa ndani yako, kwa kawaida utasikiliza Neno na kuomba kwa shauku ili upokee mwongozo Wake. Ili kutii anachokufundisha, utauadibisha mwili wako na kuufanya mtumwa wako. Hata unapohisi ugumu kufuata mwongozo Wake, ukiamini Roho kwa dhati, utamtegemea na kusema, “Nitaweza kwa sababu Roho yuko ndani yangu.”
Mwanzoni unahitaji kujitahidi, lakini kadiri unavyoendelea, itakuwa rahisi zaidi kusikia sauti ya Roho Mtakatifu na kupokea mwongozo Wake. Kisha utaweza kuishi daima kwa msaada Wake. Biblia ina mababu wengi wa imani waliofanya matendo makuu. Huenda ukajiuliza, “Waliwezaje kufanya mambo makuu hivyo?” Ukipokea msaada wa Roho Mtakatifu, nawe utaweza kuyafanya kwa urahisi. Roho anapotusaidia, tunaweza kufanya mambo yanayozidi uwezo wetu kwa upendo na nguvu Zake. Tukijitegemea wenyewe, kila jambo huonekana gumu na lisilowezekana. Kwa hiyo, natumaini mtasema kwamba kuishi maisha ya Kikristo ni rahisi na yenye furaha kwa sababu Roho anakaa ndani yenu.