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The Comforter from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

Today I want to talk about the work of the Comforter. Before Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, He promised the disciples that He would send Someone else to them. He knew that His time on Earth would soon be completed and that He would return to heaven, but He would not abandon the disciples or leave them all alone.

It is so important today, that you realize that you are not alone, for the same Comforter that Jesus sent is still here. Jesus did not abandon His disciples, the Holy Spirit did not come down for a single season, but forever. He descended on the day of Pentecost and He has never left. This is what Jesus told His disciples:

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:16–18 NASB

Jesus promised His disciples that when He left them that He would send another Helper, and that He would remain with them forever, for eternity, that He would not leave them as orphans. The word that He used for “Helper” is “Paraclete” from the Greek word parakletos meaning one who gives support, is a helper, adviser, strengthener, encourager, ally, comforter, one “who is called to someone’s aid” or “one who advocates another.” The term may be used technically to mean a lawyer, a defender.

Jesus told the disciples that it was to their advantage that He went away, for where Jesus could only be in one place at a time, the Holy Spirit could be with each of us at once. The disciples were sad when Jesus explained what was going to happen to Him, so He comforted them with these words:

“But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:6–7 NASB).

The Holy Spirit is a distinct divine person. Jesus called Him “another helper” (John 14:16). He speaks (Acts 1:16; 8:29; 10:19; 11:12; 13:2; 28:25). He teaches (John 14:26). He searches our innermost thoughts (1 Corinthians 2:11). He witnesses (John 15:26). He makes determinations (1 Corinthians 12:11). He intercedes for us (Romans 8:26). He can be lied to (Acts 5:3). He can be grieved and feel sorrow (Ephesians 4:30).

The Holy Spirit is to be obeyed, loved, and adored along with the Father and the Son. He is our contact on Earth and Who we will be working with on a day to day basis while we are here. It is the Holy Spirit who guides us, speaks to us, and it is His presence that you feel settle on you and burn within you. When you have a need, it is the Holy Spirit who will prompt others to help you. When you need comfort, it is the Comforter who brings it.

The Holy Spirit gives us spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4–11) and He guides us into producing good fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22–23). All God’s work in us and through us, touching our hearts, our characters, and our conduct, is done by the Spirit. He is the heavenly executive carrying out the orders of the Lord on the Earth.

The Holy Spirit began His full ministry on Pentecost morning, following Jesus’ ascension in Acts chapter 2 and He continues on today. It was just as Joel had prophesied (Joel 2:28–32) and John the baptist (Mark 1:8).

Those who believe in Jesus Christ each receive a measure of the Holy Spirit and He is the inner witness who guides us, but He is an overflowing river of which there is no end. Jesus called it a river of living water in John chapter 7:

Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37–39 NASB). 

Jesus went up, the Holy Spirit came down, and He has never left. So during this season know that you are not alone. Jesus did not leave us as orphans. The Holy Spirit surrounds us and fills us. He knows what we are going through. He knows how we feel inside and He understands. He sees the tears that we cry, and those that we hold in.

There is hope, for He can open the doors that we need. He can make a way, where there seems to be no way. As we pray and submit to God’s will with: “May Your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven”, the Holy Spirit will help make that become a reality in our own life. Jesus sent us the Comforter, because we would need someone to comfort us.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please fill me with Your precious Holy Spirit and help me walk in Your truth. I want to know You in a deeper way. Set me free of the things that hold me back and deliver me from the evil one, for my delight is in You, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.