This is part three of my Easter 2008 notes.

In Part 2 of this series, we talked about God's will being service through obedience to Him and loving others. It's not a complicated concept. It sounds so good, but why is so difficult for me, a sinner?

As it turns out it is hard for me - as in my Self. However, after Jesus talked about service, he introduced the Holy Spirit, the Helper, as the answer to the challenge. We are not in this battle against our Self alone.

• Jesus will send a Helper that will testify of Him (John 15:26)
• According to Jesus, it was an advantage for the disicples if Jesus "went away" to Heaven. He said he couldn't send the Helper to each of them unless he departed. (John 16:7)
• Matthew Henry writes Christ's righteousness is "imparted to us for justification and salvation"
• We have the power and mind of Christ because of the Holy Spirit!

Thank God for declaring what Jesus had ours. Praise Him. Try to imagine the significance of this gift. It means we are made right despite of our sin. It means we have a Guide and constant source of strength, peace, comfort, and humility. It means eternal life.

The Helper allows us to conquer our Self because it helps us to know our Self. In this Easter season, take Matthew Henry's advice from his bible commentaries, "It behoves every one to ask, whether the Holy Spirit has begun a good work in his heart? Without clear discovery of our guilt and danger, we never shall understand the value of Christ's salvation; but when brought to know ourselves aright, we begin to see the value of the Redeemer. We should have fuller views of the Redeemer, and more lively affections to him, if we more prayed for, and depended on the Holy Spirit."

What is different in the way you think and act because Jesus' power and mind have been given to you through the Holy Spirit?