THE COMFORTER

By Jay Pearson

 

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter,
that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16)

I will start by reading some scriptures pertaining to the Comforter. As born-again Christians we have been given by our Father God and our Lord Jesus Christ a Comforter for our well being and so much more.

John 14:15-18
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Jesus was with his disciples on earth and was their Comforter. Knowing that he would leave, he promised that he would not leave them comfortless. He promised them he would come to them. That promise is to you and me also.

John 17:20
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

Ephesians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

How would Jesus come to them and those who believe in him?

Acts 1:4-5
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

The Comforter is known by more than one title, each representing his ministry.

John 14:25-26
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The Comforter is the Holy Ghost and is the Spirit of Truth.

John 14:16-17
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

We know that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). We also know we are to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (Matt. 28:19). In 1 John chapter 5 we learn more about these three.

1 John 5:5-8
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

These three are one and these three agree in one. We are privileged to have the ability to fellowship with each one.

1 John 1:3
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 13:14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

Our fellowship with the Father through his Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost is a gift to us as children of God. It come with responsibility.

1 Corinthians 6:19
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

We have the Comforter in us, a personal communion with the power from on high. The Holy Ghost is in us to guide us to all truth. To deliver and comfort us in our tribulations. He is not in us to supply our wants no matter how important or godly we think they might be. The Holy Ghost does not belong to you and me. He resides in you and me. We belong to the Holy Ghost. Our gift of life comes with freedom of your will. The gift of the Holy Ghost comes with its will, the will of the Father, and is not subject to our will.

1 Corinthians 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Our fellowship or communion with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost is an act of love. We have direct communication with each one. For years in my early Christian life I was slow to talk to Jesus because I thought I was not giving God his rightful place, but now I know differently.

Colossians 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Ephesians 1:22-23
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

More recently I have enjoyed the company of the Comforter in my life. The Holy Ghost has always been in my life directing, delivering, and leading. I just did not acknowledge his person and work in me with thankfulness. The Lord has given us this gift to navigate through this life in obedience to him. I’m thankful to the Lord and the Holy Ghost, the Comforter.

Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

John 16:13-14
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

What do we do now, having this glorious gift?

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

How are we comforted? We are comforted by the Holy Ghost. May we shine that light and comfort to others that they might be comforted also by the same Comforter.

Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Jesus is preparing a place for us that where he is, we may be there also. But until that time, we have the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Ghost. Like the old hymn says, our fellowship with the Holy Ghost gives us "a foretaste of glory divine."

John 14:15-16
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

One day we will see Jesus face to face. But through the gift of the Holy Ghost, we can enjoy a taste of heaven while we wait here on earth. We can fellowship with Jesus even now.

John 14:18
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

As you continue through your day I hope you enjoy your communion with the Holy Ghost and have a better understanding of the Comforter that abides in you.

 

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Presented 11 June 2023 in Pride, Louisiana