The Comforter Has Come—Five Truths About The Holy Spirt.
John 14:16-17KJV
A group travelers were being made to wait on their airplane, which was late due to another flight being canceled. The crowd looked horrible and impatient as the time went on and on, finally an angry passenger pushed his way to the front of the line, slammed his ticket down and said, “I must be on this flight now and I must be in first class.” The flight attendant, trying to be nice said, “Sir, we will get to you as soon as possible, but you must wait in line like everyone else.” He quickly said, “Ma'am do you have any idea who I am?” Without hesitation, she smiled, picked up her intercom microphone and said, we have a passenger here at the gate who does not know who he is. If anyone can help him find his identity, please come to gate 17
The first question that should be answered is, Who is the Holy Spirit, and what use is He in my daily affairs?
John 14:16-17AMP And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.
The Holy Spirit is your rock solid, trusted friend. He gives insight, and a lot of edification. P.H
Jesus say’s in verse 17 says, The world doesn’t know Him, but you know Him, and He will remain with you.
Real Pentecost should produce an inward desire to live a spirit lead and spirit filled life until Jesus comes.
Romans 8:14NIV For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
Sons and Daughters of God are lead—Spirit lead.
Acts 4:31AMP And when they had prayed, the place where they were meeting together was shaken [a sign of God’s presence]; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness and courage.
Don’t care attitude: The prayer of boldness helped to produce Pentecost. If you have an attitude of I can live with it, or without it you will never experience true Pentecost.
The king James version of the Bible translate the Greek word Paraclete as comforter.
The New King James version uses the word helper. Both words are appropriate, for they both describe the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Paraclete describes both Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The Greek word Paraclete is derived from two words; para, which means beside or along side; and kaleo, which means, to call.
Paraclete means, “One called alongside to give help or aid.”
As our comforter the Holy Spirit is adequate, appropriate, and abiding.
He is the adequate comforter.
Again John 14:16 Jesus said, I will pray the father, and he shall give you another comforter.
In the Greek language there are two words for the word—Another. Another, is defined as another of a different or separate sort. Jesus use the first definition. He was saying, “That the father would send another comforter of exactly the same sort as Jesus had been.”
Upon studying these inspired verses, I read the Passion Translation, and it seemed appropriate.
Listen again to John 14:16TPT And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Savior, the Holy Spirit of Truth, who will be to you a friend just like me—and he will never leave you.
Think about this, All that Jesus was to the disciples, the Holy Spirit is to us today!
Again, He is the adequate comforter.
John 14:17TPT The world won’t receive him because they can’t see him or know him. But you know him intimately because he remains with you and will live inside you.
If you’re a person of faith, you’re in the same boat with the Father of faith—Abraham. You’re in the same boat as Abel, Noah, Billy Graham, Elijah, Elisha, The apostles Paul, Jesus…just to name a few.
The Holy Spirit is not like comforters we read about in Job 16:1-2 Then Job answered and said, I have heard many things; miserable comforters are you all.
Jobs comforters were the opposite of what their name implied—They were accusing and faultfinding.
Jesus stated in, John 14:26KJV 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.
He will teach you, lift you up, He will be a positive reinforcement in your life, He will show you things you know not of.
2. The Holy Spirit is adequate for any task:
Jesus said it in John 14:12KJV Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Something I’ve noticed: The Holy Spirit was given to you to make you adequate. Every person I’ve ever met that received the infilling of the Holy Spirit got a lot smarter. I’m serious.
John 14:12TM The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing.
Whatever you face—the Holy Spirit will help you.
3. He is the appropriate comforter.
The comforter is still healing hurts and soothing the agony of men's souls today. Whatever I am in need of, He is appropriate for the moment.
Our advocate serves as our representative, builds our case, pleads our calls, and intercedes on our behalf.
4. He is the appropriate teacher.
Again, John 14:26…He will teach you all things…
How thrilling it is to study with a teacher who wrote the textbook.
Second Peter 1:21… For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Doctor Tim Hill, General Overseer said, We need to understand that we are not filled with the Holy Spirit for our enjoyment, but we are filled for our employment.
John 15:26NKJV “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
5. He is the abiding comforter.
The comforter is not aloof, impersonal, or out of touch. He desires to be with his people.
Again, John 14:16KJV And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
The comforter is our companion and associate. An associate is one who is employed to travel with another and act in the capacity of a friend.
The comforter is present. His presence is the difference between worship-based on ritual and worship marked with power.
The comforter was present with the early church.
Acts 5:3aNKJV But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit…
Peter was verifying there was a higher power present, the Holy Spirit.
AW Tozer once wrote, Wise leaders should have known that the human heart cannot exist in a vacuum. If Christians are forbidden to enjoy the wind of the spirit, they will turn to the wind of the flesh. Christ died for our hearts and the Holy Spirit wants to come and satisfy them.
Again, the Holy Spirit is the higher power present.
Acts 15:28aNKJV For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us…
Augustine once wrote—“O Holy Spirit, descend plentiful into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there thy cheerful beams.”
Benediction.
