THE HOLY SPIRIT IS JEALOUS?

Several weeks ago I wrote an article entitled, “The Comforter Has Come!” Jesus was talking to His confused and bewildered disciples about the coming and ministry of the Holy Spirit.

In the days just before Calvary, the disciples were bewildered and didn’t understand what was happening. Into this time of confusion Jesus introduced the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He said to them, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper/Comforter” (John 14:16, NKJV). We, too, are living in a confusing and anxious time. If any group of people ever needed the comfort and help of the Holy Spirit, we do! A new iPhone, iPad or Twitter account is not going to help us through the increasing confusion of the days ahead — but the Holy Spirit will.

The word “helper” or “comforter” is paraclete, a Greek word meaning “one who is called to someone’s aid” or “one who advocates for another.” Generally, the word speaks of one who acts in another’s behalf as a mediator, intercessor, advocate or encourager.

Jesus told the confused disciples that He was requesting the Father to send “another comforter.” The word "another" means "an additional one of the same kind," indicating the ministry of the Holy Spirit would be a continuation of the ministry of Jesus.

James 4:5 gives us a unique look at the ministry of the Holy Spirit to us and His desire to encourage and bless us. “Do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ‘The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously’?”

The first part of the verse has been difficult for scholars to explain. It seems to refer to a Scripture that James references. Remember, at the time James wrote this letter, the Scripture that was referred to is what we know as The Old Testament. The New Testament letters and accounts were just being written. The difficulty is that there is no single Scripture that uses the wording in James’ quote. What we do know is that the entire Old Testament expresses God’s zealous desire to bless and watch over His people. It broke His heart when Israel was disobedient, would not listen, or turned away from Him. I believe that what James was referring to was that the whole of Scripture is a testament to God’s great love, God’s jealous intent for His people.

James then applies that understanding of God’s jealous love to the Holy Spirit and His work in us. “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously.” The Amplified Bible puts it this way: “Do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking to no purpose that says, The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit [to be welcome] with a jealous love?”

Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest translates this verse: “Do you think that the Scripture says in an empty manner and to no purpose, The Spirit who has been caused to make His permanent home in us has a passionate desire to the point of envy?”

I think it’s difficult for many people to understand that God’s Spirit is jealous over us. Much of the confusion is over the contemporary use of the word and the Hollywoodish idea that jealousy is always evil and deranged.

There is a negative side to jealousy but the word also means “zealous vigilance.”

So, why would James use this unusual wording to describe a part of the Holy Spirit’s work in us?  Was he proposing that possibly the Holy Spirit, at times, feels like a jilted lover?

Many in the church today acknowledge the Holy Spirit but most of the time they pay Him scant attention. Even in the Pentecostal church, which is my background, it is rare to hear teaching about the Holy Spirit.

Here is a list of most of what Jesus has said the Holy Spirit will do us and this list does not include the gifts and fruit of the Spirit:

·         He will empower us — Act 1:8

·         He will comfort/encourage us — John 14:14-21

·         He will guide us — John 16:13

·         He will reveal things to come — John 16:13

The Spirit zealously desires (yearns) to operate at full efficiency in us. I am not advocating some weird lifestyle where people wander around talking gibberish about off-the-wall, wacko prophecies and then crediting their bizarre behavior to God. I’m talking about sane, successful, Spirit-full people who are being used of God to effectively minister to people and expand His kingdom. These are people who have learned to honor and cooperate with the Holy Spirit and He elevates their level of effectiveness in the kingdom. Kingdom efficiency and church growth methods are worlds apart — one is born of heaven and the other is flesh-driven!

The Spirit is yearning for us to the point of jealousy because He knows what resources are available, through Him, for every child of God. The Spirit is zealous because He knows what potential we have and what we can become. He is vigilant because He knows how to lead us out of the quandary, the dead-end situations we are in, the difficult circumstances we face, into the fullness of our God-ordained future. The Holy Spirit is not jealous of us; He is jealous for us to be all that the Father has destined for us.

The Comforter has come! Have you made Him welcome?