Focus: The Comforter

Text: Jh.14:26

"The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost."

The Lord Jesus Christ promises to send us the Holy Spirit, whom He says will not only be WITH us but will also live IN us. He would be not only an indwelling reality but also an accompanying presence.

The Spirit is known as the Spirit of truth. He inculcates truth in us. I repeat with emphasis that the Spirit imparts truth to us. He exposes us to the highest form of reality, and of a truth, God is the ultimate reality in the universe and the prime mover of all things, and as the ancient philosophers had asserted, He is the First Cause. John writes, "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye KNOW all things" (Jh.2:20). You know all things by the Holy Spirit. He goes on to say, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him" (1Jh.2:27). The Spirit teaches us truth. Nothing He says is a lie. He speaks absolute truth.

The Spirit is known as the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of holiness (Rom.1:4). He not only imparts truth to us but also hallows us. As the Spirit of sanctification, He sanctifies and consecrates us. He sets us apart for His use. He makes us holy. 

The Spirit is also known as the Comforter, and as our comforter He comforts, revitalizes and fortifies us. Luke reports concerning the churches of Judaea, "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied" (Act.9:31). The churches walked in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the giver of comfort, and He lives in you.

In 2Cor.1:3, Paul calls God, "the God of all comfort." The comfort that the Spirit gives us is both multifaceted and total. 

The comfort I need might be different from the one that you need, and the sure thing is that the Spirit knows what kind of comfort we need at every point in time, and He gives it to us uniquely and sufficiently.

Paul testifies that this God of all comfort "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" (2Cor.1:4). The word 'tribulation' and 'trouble' are the same word in the Greek. So whether you call it trouble or tribulation, God comforts you in it. He strengthens you. He soothes your heart and calms your mind. 

Paul makes us understand that forgiveness is one way of relieving or comforting someone. He says concerning a man who had fallen into a particular sin and the church had since excommunicated him from the church, "So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow" (2Cor.2:7). Every time the Spirit dispenses comfort to those in need of it, sorrow gives way.

Paul declares concerning his Corinthian congregation, "Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation" (2Cor.7:4). Paul's followers were a source of comfort to him. They stood by him and did their best for him. He says again, "Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all" (2Cor.7:14).

I pray for you to receive the comfort of the Holy Spirit and be strengthened in your heart. Allow the indwelling Spirit to supply you the comfort you need and support you in moments of distress or trouble. He is the supplier of all the comforts of God. Enjoy the Spirit and be encouraged by Him!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter