HOLY SPIRIT: ANOTHER COMFORTER
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth…” (John 14:16,17 KJV)
In our Lord’s Upper Room discourse, it is well evident that all the future hopes of the disciples were crashed combined with their uncertainty of the Master as they sensed His last moments. From the opening words of this chapter through the next two chapters, the monologue runs through a single theme – comfort and hope for the distressed disciples.
It is well befitting here then, that the Lord assures His comfort to them through none less than His equivalent personality – the Holy Spirit, from the God of all comfort, Who will come and abide with them forever. Let us look into some of the unique characteristics of this Comforter from different passages:
- He Abides Forever
This Comforter and His comfort is here to stay; to dwell with us and be in us (Jn. 14:16). The Greek word used here is ‘parakletos’, which literally means, one who is called to our side. The Holy Spirit is sent immediately by God to the believers when they are saved, to be with them, to console, comfort, reassure, guide, and help in times of distress and need.
David strongly felt the importance of this Spirit and His presence (Ps. 51:11; 139:7). Unlike all other comforters of this world, He will never leave us, especially in our times of difficulty or sorrow. It is important to note here that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in a New Testament believer is a permanent one (Eph. 1:13), unlike the filling of Him which is required frequently (Acts 4:31; Eph. 5:18).
Since He is also the Spirit of truth, there are no false hopes or interim comforts, as He comforts us in the truth of the infallible Word of God.
Another fact to note is that the context of this promise is on the ‘future’ of the disciples, once the Lord has been crucified, or once He would not be with them. Here lies the very essence of this Comforter, in that since He is Eternal God, and since He abides in us forever, His indwelling in us is itself an assurance of our salvation eternally.
- A Divine Teacher
The Comforter will teach all things and bring to our remembrance all things said by the Lord (Jn. 14:26). It is human nature to forget, and more to err. Often, we have experienced this power of the Spirit in recollection of His comforting words in times of need, sometimes for our own selves and sometimes to comfort others too.
The Holy Spirit is in us also to teach us. To have the knowledge regarding God and His Son crucified is all that Paul desired from Corinthians, and he claims that this is possible only through the demonstration of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:2-4).
The revelation of God in the Old Testament was partially through the prophets and then in the New Testament fully through the Son, who is the express image of God’s glory. Furthermore, now in the believers, the Holy Spirit performs a continuous mission of teaching and guiding us - even the deep things of God (1 Cor. 2:14).
He also guides us into all the truth (Jn. 16:13), as He is the Spirit of truth Himself. So, here we have a Divine Teacher and a Truthful Guide at the disposal of a believer, to warn and to exhort and even to remind compassionately of his forgetfulness!
- His Strengthening Power
We have in the Holy Spirit not just a Comforter, but a powerful Comforter. There is strength in His comfort, (1 Sam. 30:6).
This power is seen in different ways, like overcoming the flesh, convicting a sinner to truth, strengthening the church in trials (Acts 4:31), witnessing for the Lord, and strengthening the apostles during missionary journeys (Acts 13:9; 18:9-10).
However, an extraordinary performance of this power is manifested in comforting a believer in threefold ways in Romans 8:
- Power of resurrection
Apart from the undoubted truth that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13; 4:30) and that He has been given to us as an earnest deposit (2 Cor. 1:22), it is so comforting to know that it is the same Spirit dwelling in us who raised Jesus from the dead and that God will give life to our mortal bodies through this powerful Spirit (v. 11; Eph 1:20; 2:5)!
- Grants us boldness to call God, Abba
The Spirit of adoption continuously witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God, despite all our infirmities and weaknesses. He thus gives us the confidence to call God, Abba, which in its original sense has a deeper personal connection than daddy or papa. (v.15)
- Helps in our weaknesses
He makes intercessions for us, with unutterable groanings, so that our weak prayers are reinforced with full power to reach the ears of the Father because He makes intercession according to the will of God (v. 26-28).
How blessed we are to have such a Comforter to stay with us forever, teach us, guide us, and lead us into truth!
He will never lie, but empower us in times of need, constantly assuring us that we are His dear children while bearing and groaning with our weaknesses, yet reaffirming that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!
By Bro. James Raghu, Surat
Related topic: BROKENNESS: BASIS FOR BLESSINGS
26/09/2023
