Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate [Helper / Comforter] will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.  John 16:7

What is found on this page are some thoughts about the Holy Spirit and how He moves in our lives. The content shall contain basic facts, advice and correction and lead up to a vital role He fulfills as our advocate/helper/comforter.

It is becoming increasingly evident that many churches simply do not know Him and His ministry to us today.

I say that very carefully, but that fact can be easily verified by visiting churches yourself and checking what you see against scripture. We have extreme swings of the pendulum whereby He is not welcomed at all through to extremism and strange behaviour—and what seems to be on the increase—some kind of “control”. Many churches in the latter category do not allow Him to move in their meetings unless it fits in with their program and agenda, usually after the end of a meeting.

If they do allow any ministry, it is usually conducted by a select few who apparently have been “trained” by the leadership and no one else is permitted to function—even if they are real and genuinely anointed by the Holy Spirit.

On many occasions, such “trained” people do not know what they are doing, much like the blind leading the blind.

I understand the need perhaps for a degree of decorum or to ensure that everything is “done decently and in order” as Paul put it—but that is not what the bible teaches.

What is our conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, let everyone be ready with a psalm or a teaching or a revelation, or ready to use his gift of tongues or give an interpretation; but let everything be for edification.
If the gift of tongues is exercised, let it be by two or at most three, and each in turn; and let someone interpret.
And if there is no one present who can interpret, let the people who speak in tongues keep silent when the congregation meets—they can speak to themselves and to God.
Let two or three prophets speak, while the others weigh what is said.
And if something is revealed to a prophet who is sitting down, let the first one be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, with the result that all will learn something and all will be encouraged. Also, the prophets’ spirits are under the prophets’ control; for God is not a God of unruliness but of shalom. 1 Corinthians 14:26-33 (emphasis mine)

All of these things are done in the congregation—in the Synagogue—during the service—not afterwards.

The entire congregation should be edified, blessed and encouraged and visitors should witness what happens.

In many churches, people are told to wait or share what they have with a “leader” of some kind who assesses it and chooses to grant permission or not. Paul did not say that is how it is to be done. It is spontaneous and sometimes more than one person at a time can be inspired by the Holy Spirit. They can then share and others who are tuned in to the Holy Spirit can assess it.

The pastor or leadership  in such churches “trains” people according to their own purposes and desires.

Whilst training is desirable, it overlooks the basic truth that the Holy Spirit is the one who reveals truth and it is the Holy Spirit who anoints them and disburses what Gifts He desires to those He chooses, when He wishes.

He motivates those He wishes at His own discretion—and timing. It is tantamount to trying to control the Spirit!

I have just entered into my 58th year with the Lord as of september 1st 2025 when writing this and have seen the many church fads and movements come and go. Some have been great and wonderful and have taught me many things.

I have also seen “movements” that are questionable, such as “apostolic” reformations and “prophetic” movements that have come and gone. Some of them border on newage principles, using all kinds of props and role playing. They are playing games. A common occurrence is trying to get people to prophesy to each other. Do not get involved in those things. That is not the way the Holy Spirit operates. He is sovereign. I will not be able to explain it fully here due to size constraints, but in essence it is trying to take the initiative or ”control” out of the Holy Spriti’s hands so that we can “do it our way”, forgetting that is is the “One and the same Spirit is at work in all these things, distributing to each person as he chooses” (1 Corinthians  12:11).

Philip never told the Holy Spirit to wait!

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city. Acts 8:5-8

An angel of Adonai said to Philip, “Get up, and go southward on the road that goes down from Yerushalayim to ‘Azah, the desert road.
Acts 8:27

To a certain extent, I know that this what happened to Philip often happens to us at first hand.

In one of my meetings in India several years ago, I was in a large venue seating several thousand people and was sitting on a stage where some kind of band with a popular male singer was performing.

A woman at the front of the crowd suddenly started to manifest in a very weird way under the influence of an evil spirit. People around her moved away from her. I jumped off the stage, took a few steps towards her and commanded that thing to leave in the name of Jesus and never return. She made a strange sound and all of the contortions and strange appearance immediately left her. Apparently she was a well known witch and feared by many people.

Jesus never told us to have “deliverance meetings” but many people do and often make a spectacle of it. If and when He came across a situation when an evil spirit was present, He acted and often told the thing to be quiet, avoided a “show” and that was it. He told us that we are to operate in like manner, but I know of many people who brag and boast and turn the thing into a circus event. That’s mocking the Holy Spirit.

As I walked back to the stage, the Lord told me that He was present and wanted to heal people. He gave precise instructions as to what to do and when I did, the entire meeting erupted as He walked amongst them. I did not try to conjure up a thing. The Lord took me by surprize. That was for this particular meeting only and If I try to do it again, even though it was “successful”. I would be out of order.

Just because something great happens once, does not mean that we should keep trying to do that every time.

When Israel was en-route to the Promised Land, they encountered a den of poisonous snakes. It was lethal if one bit someone. God commanded Moses to make a brass serpent and lift it up on a pole, instructing the people who were bitten to stand beneath it and gaze upon it. They were then healed.

God moved on in the cloud and the people had to follow it—or be left behind.

Even  today, we in the church must “follow the cloud”—or be left behind.

When they did, they left the snakes behind—but took the brass serpent with them. They started to worship the tool that God used once and once only and 400 years later it became an idol. The man of God destroyed it and called it Neshushtan. See 2 Kings 18.

Many churches and ministries are doing the same thing today. It has to stop.

The following morning the pastor’s sons told me that the building was owned by a group of Hindu men who came to them saying, “We want to know the Jesus that the foreigner was talking about because we were healed. “

I was not aware that they were there and believe that there were twelve men. They wanted to be baptized as believers. Who told them about baptism? Certainly not me. The pastor’s sons didn’t!

Shortly after, two women arrived asking for prayer. One woman lifted the hem of her saris and her leg was grotesquely misshaped and swollen in an elephantine condition. The skin was a green/grey colour and looked waxy. I laid my hands on her and she was healed. The other women was holding her baby daughter and wanted me to pray for her. There is much more to the account, but the daughter had been born with a hole in her heart and Jesus healed her.

The girl’s father was a Hindu doctor and the entire family was saved.

I could share many more illustrations, but scriptures reveal in many places that the Spirit of the Lord “came upon“ certain people from time to time. God is omni-present of course, but He does not always make Himself known at all times. The account in John when Jesus healed the man at the pool indicates that there are times when “things happen”and when they do not. We must learn to tell the difference.

Despite the apparent results, we must ask if they are really doing all they claim—and are really authorized by the Lord to do so.

Such folk may be told to depart from Him as they are workers of iniquity.

Avoid them.

The same principles apply to conducting any form of outreach, such as evangelism. We all want to win the lost and obey the great commission, but forget one thing—the Lord has to send us. He once told me that there are “went ones”and ”sent ones” and to make sure I am one of the “sent ones”. There are many churches that should not exist all and many people who call themselves”pastors” (and other ministries) who should not be there.

Jesus sent the disciples out from time to time—but they never went forth unless He had authorized them.

Paul wanted to go to Asia which is a noble task, but the Holy Spirit forbade him. I do not know the reason, but he would have been disobedient if he had gone out on crusades at that time. We have much to learn.

Marjorie and I attended a church some time ago to ask for healing prayer at the Lord’s request. We had to wait until the end of the meeting and when we stood there, were asked what we needed. A woman came to me with that question and I told her to let the Holy Spirit tell her. She did not know what to do and tried to guess, but failed.

Apparently she was one of the people who had been ”trained” for such a “ministry”.

She asked me to hold my hands out and upward and when she placed her hands on mine, the power of God hit her, not me. I just stood there.

The associate pastor burst into the room and became very angry and agitated and abused me.

That man was out of order, but he is supposed to be a leader. I calmed him down, but he could not look me in the eye and avoided me every time he could whenever we saw each other after that. This speaks volumes. I suspect he is not “real”. He is  “self appointed” and say that because when a real prophet or man of God is present the fake avoids him or her, knowing that they can see right through them.

Please listen very closely to the voice of the Lord. Follow His instructions. Man made rules may not be truth, despite the outward signs of “success”. Man made rules try to control the Holy Spirit—and other people. He is sovereign and regarding His gifts, He functions as He wishes, for His purpose, when He wishes and in accord with His own agenda. He knows what is happening and is what I describe as a “real gentleman” who we can grieve and offend either by playing games or by ignoring Him.

Let us see what Jesus said about Him.

He told His disciples that once He left to be with the Father, He would send a Helper, Ruach Ha-Kodesh, the Holy Spirit of God, but this is only part of a much larger truth.

God Himself is the source of all our Help.  He is our Advocate, Comforter, and Intercessor, sometimes helping us through Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) and through His Spirit.

The word for helper is often parakletos (masculine) or paraklesis (feminine).

Parakletos was an advocate in a legal sense (like a lawyer), referring to the person who represents someone in the presence of another. The word Praklit is a Rabbinical term adopted from the Greek word that in modern Hebrew means solicitor or legal counsel.
Praklit ha-mechoz means district attorney and the Israeli solicitor general is praklit ha-medina.

God is both Advocate and Judge in His own court of law. He is our Advocate. A good example  of this is found in Job when God Himself is testifying and advocating for him, a righteous man who lost his children, his wealth and his health. In response to his tragic circumstances, Job’s wife told him to curse God, while his friends told him to repent of his sins. Job pointed to God as the only one who could testify of his innocence.
Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and He who testifies for me (sahadi) is on high.  Job 16:19

Other Bible translations may read my Advocate or He who vouches for me.

Whatever English words are used, the Hebrew Sahadi is very personal.  It means the one who testifies or advocates on my behalf. 

While others accused Job, saying, There is no end to your iniquities (Job 22:5), Job pointed to God on His throne as the only one who truly understood him and who knew the actual facts of why this calamity came upon him.  No earthly friend or lawyer could adequately know all of this.

Because God sees and knows all, He is the only true Advocate and Judge we also have.

When people misunderstand our intentions, or our words, or when they condemn us for something that we did not do, we have an advocate with our Father in heaven.  He will come to our defense if we ask Him, just as He did with Job.

God saw Job’s faith in Him, while his friends wanted Job to curse his Father in heaven. God declared Job innocent and restored his fortunes two-fold, but His friends were not so fortunate. God penalized them for not speaking correctly about Him:
My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.
Job 42:7

But that was not the end of Job’s friends. God has always made a way to reconcile us back into good standing with Him.  In Job’s day, it required sacrificial offerings (korbanot) and prayer:
Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. Job 42:8

Today, we have Messiah. He is our Advocate. Like Job’s friends, we too have a sin problem which cuts us off from God and there is a price to be paid for it, but God not only became our judge in our own court case, He sent another Advocate to pay our fine.

The wages of sin is death. To be set free from the penalty of death, God’s law required that all sacrificial offerings be without defect. We see this in Leviticus 1:3, 22:17–33. He was the High Priest that had to be purified. See Leviticus 16:4, 20–28. God revealed His essence as Jesus to meet the sacrificial requirements of the Law regarding the sin offerings.  By doing so, He forever redeemed us from our eternal death sentence.

Messiah Yeshua “emptied Himself, taking on the nature of a servant, being born in human likeness.  And being found in human form, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on the execution stake. Philippians 2:5–8

As a man, Yeshua had “been made perfect forever”  as seen in Hebrews 7:28. In His perfection, we were redeemed with the precious blood of Messiah, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. See 1 Peter 1:17–21.

This kind of perfection that met every requirement of the Law was only possible because Jesus was not merely a man.

He was one with God even from the very beginning  according to John 1:1–2.

We are advocates today. God not only required a sacrifice from Job’s friends, He gave Job the responsibility of now praying for them, interceding on their behalf for the false accusation they spoke against him and against God.

In this way, Job became their paracletos, their personal advocate, helping them to be reconciled back to God.

Reconciliation is always in God’s heart and we, too, are to become a paracletos for others, just as “God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them.”

Likewise, God has entrusted us with “the message of reconciliation” as revealed in 2 Corinthians 5:18–19.

If God can send Messiah Yeshua to be our Advocate, not counting our trespasses against us, we can advocate for others, for we are “ambassadors for Messiah” and “God is making His appeal [parakaleo] through us.” See 2 Corinthians 5:20

God is all comfort. Not only is God our Parakletos (Advocate), He is also our Paraklesis, our Comforter in a very personal sense. In 2 Corinthians 1:6, Paul said that He is the “God of All Comfort.”

He comforts the downcast (2 Corinthians 7:6) and those who mourn (Matthew 5:4).

Paklesis is also a “holy urging,” allowing us to give exhortation, comfort and encouragement to others through God’s Holy Spirit. That in itself is of great comfort. When the congregation in Antioch read Paul’s letter, they rejoiced because of its encouragement / exhortation (paraklesis). See Acts 15:31.

God is our intercessor.  When we need comfort, encouragement, exhortation, conviction of sin and reconciliation with God, we can call out to our Advocate in Heaven for help.

There may be times when we come to God with one of these needs, not knowing exactly how to pray for it.

In these circumstances, we can seek the help of the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) to intercede for us:

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit intercedes for us with wordless groans. Romans 8:26

Other times, Jesus will intercede for us as our Kohen Gadol (High Priest) and final sacrifice, nullifying the accusations of our adversary who is continuously trying to tell us that we are not worthy. In these times, Paul reminds us to stop believing such lies and to remember the truth of the matter:
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?  It is God who justifies.  Who is to condemn?  Messiah Yeshua is the one who died — more than that, who was raised — who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”  Romans 8:33–34

After appearing to multitudes of people over 40 days, the risen Jesus, “was taken up before their very eyes” in Acts 1:9. Always remember, that God is your Redeemer, your Comforter, your Encourager, your Counselor, your Helper, and your Advocate working for you,and in you through His Spirit of Holiness and His Son, Messiah Yeshua.

O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary. The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God!
Psalm 68:35

I can now come back to my opening statements about how the Holy Spirit moves in our lives today and shall quote Jesus again:

Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate [Helper / Comforter] will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.  John 16:7

Please allow the Holy Spirit to move how He wants to move, what He wants to do and when He wants to do it.

He will not lead you astray and will enrich your lives in the process.

As Jesus told us, the Holy Spirit will teach us, lead us and guide us and reveal Jesus to us. Amen.