On not playing the role of the Holy Spirit

We give far too little credit to the role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of others and often try to play that role ourselves. Not very successfully I might add!

The Holy Spirit is called the Counselor by Jesus. That is an interesting title when you think of the role of a counselor, helping people clarify issues, resolve issues, move from dishealth in some area of life to health.


Here is what Jesus says the Holy Spirit will do. "he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment...He will guide you into all truth...He will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you" (John 16:7-15).

These are powerful statements about a member of the Trinity who resides in our lives and is fully capable of speaking to His children about areas of their lives that need attention.  We often underestimate the power of the HS to bring needed change in the lives of others and overestimate our ability to do that.


What do we do when we see something in a fellow brother or sister in Christ that we think needs attention? Often our first thought is that we need to solve it which is really saying, that we feel we need to help the Holy Spirit do His job. It does not work to be the conscience of others. Not only does it not work but we may not even understand the issues. Conscience is my sensitivity to the HS, not someone else playing that role for me. 

Perhaps we ought to spend more time praying for others than trying to define what they should be doing. It is the Holy Spirit that takes from what is Christ's and makes it known to us. I may be able to convince, manipulate and force someone to deal with an issue but only the HS can bring needed change (and He knows what the needed change is far better than we) from the inside and in a way that transforms.

Jesus spoke to this in Matthew 7:1ff. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" 

My concern for my fellow believer is demonstrated more by my willingness to pray for them than it is for me to play the role of the HS in their life. Yes there are times when we gently point out areas of fault or sin but we must never play the role of the Holy Spirit. He is the ultimate counselor.