We continue our series Holy Spirit: My Super Helper, based on Jesus’ promise in John 14:16 to send us another helper who would be with us forever. The Holy Spirit is not a gas, feeling, or merely tongues. He is a person, the third person of the Trinity, given as our constant guide. Every believer must have this consciousness of the Holy Spirit.
Ecclesiastes 9:11 (NLT): “The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.”
THE REALITY: SKILLS ALONE DON’T GUARANTEE SUCCESS
Solomon observed that natural advantages don’t guarantee success. We see this in life: brilliant people who struggle, educated individuals who remain unemployed, hard workers who hit invisible ceilings.
Romans 9:16 says it plainly: “It is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God who shows mercy.”
Skill, hard work, education, strength, and eloquence are important but they don’t determine who makes it in life. The difference-maker is always God specifically, the Holy Spirit.
THE HOLY SPIRIT’S ADVANTAGE IN LIFE
Every day we face decisions that determine our life’s trajectory. How do we know which decision is right?
Isaiah 55:8-9 declares: “God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.”
The Pattern from Scripture:
- Creation: After God made man, He blessed them before sending them out (Genesis 1:28). The blessing makes the difference.
- Jesus’ Ministry: He didn’t begin until the Holy Spirit came upon Him at His baptism (Luke 3:23).
- The Disciples: Jesus told them, “Don’t go anywhere. Just wait until you receive the Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5).
- Our Lives: “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5) not that we don’t do things, but they’re nothing compared to what we could do with the Holy Spirit.
You can climb 20 floors by stairs and arrive exhausted, or take the lift and arrive refreshed in minutes. The Holy Spirit is like that lift, He makes life’s journey easy and direct.
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF WINNING BEYOND SKILLS
Daniel: Ten Times More Capable
Daniel and his friends competed with many brilliant young men in Babylon. What made the difference?
Daniel 1:17 says God gave them “unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom.” The king found them “ten times more capable” than all the other wise men.When the king needed his dream interpreted, something no one could do Daniel said, “
There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets” (Daniel 2:28). Daniel relied on God’s power, not his own, and gave God all the glory. That’s why believers are not proud, we know everything we have comes by God’s grace.
Esther: Favor Beyond Beauty
Esther was beautiful, but she knew beauty alone wouldn’t save her people. Before appearing before the king, she called all of Israel to fast and pray for favor and mercy.
A natural person would rely solely on appearance and charm. But Esther combined natural preparation with spiritual dependence. When she appeared before the king, he extended his scepter: “Esther, come.” That was the favor of God that differentiated her.
When believers must appear in important places, we take time to pray, commit it to God, and appear in the power of the Spirit. It differentiates us.
HOW FAR CAN GOD TAKE YOU?
Because God’s ways are higher than ours, He can take us farther than our skills can take us. God’s Spirit can take you to places where your degrees and education won’t take you, where your efforts alone won’t take you.
The Bible says God will lift a beggar from the dunghill and sit him with princes. He can lift a person from obscurity and make them someone everyone can reckon with.
So instead of struggling on your own, let God lead. Hand it over to God.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION: LIVING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
Develop Daily Consciousness
Many of us operate on autopilot just go, just decide, just do. But believers live differently. We constantly commit everything to God’s hands:
- Before starting the car: “Lord, I’m going. Go with me.”
- Before meals: “Lord, bless this food.”
- Before tasks: “Holy Spirit, help me with this.”
- Before decisions: “Holy Spirit, what should I do?”
Follow David’s Example
David, one of Scripture’s most successful men, said in Psalm 23: “
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He leads me beside still waters… He leads me in the paths of righteousness.“
Without God’s leading, you can go to turbulent waters that will drown you. But with His guidance, you find the right job with the best pay and least stress. You’re led to places where it’s easy to live righteously.
Trust and Acknowledge Him
Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways—not in some ways, in ALL your ways—acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Acknowledge Him. Have a consciousness of Him. Ask Him. Tell Him. And He will direct your path.
Personal testimony: Each time I consciously say, “Holy Spirit, help me with this thing,” I get unusual wisdom and insight. People ask, “How did you think of that?” I’ve got a God who knows all things, whose thoughts are higher than ours. And that God works through me.
CONCLUSION
God makes a difference in life. The Spirit of God makes a difference in life. Always submit your ways to Him. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.
Thank Him because:
- The One who knows all things lives in you
- The One who can do all things lives in you
- That same Spirit empowers you daily
You understand now why Paul says, “
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” That is the advantage of the believer.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- In what areas have I been relying solely on my own skills instead of acknowledging the Holy Spirit?
- When have I taken credit for success that was clearly God’s grace and favor?
- What decisions am I facing that require the Holy Spirit’s wisdom?
- How can I develop a daily habit of acknowledging the Holy Spirit in all my ways?
- What would change if I consistently operated knowing “I can do all things through Christ”?
