The Comforter Has Come

Jesus Christ was a wonderful Comforter to His disciples. He taught them truth that was far beyond them to discover on their own. In fact, He was the embodiment of Truth. He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6). When the disciples began to hear that He was about to leave and go back to the Father, they were distraught. That is when He began to teach them about another Comforter that He would send to take His place. Jesus even said, "It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you" (St. John 16:7b). This Comforter that He would send would do something He could never do. This Comforter would be "in them" while He could only be "with them". Christianity in the New Covenant of Jesus Christ would be experiential and life changing.

The Comforter that Jesus would send, the Holy Spirit, would take everything that Jesus was and that He wrought on Calvary and make it experiential to us and in us. New Testament Christianity is not in your head only; it is in your heart and in your emotions. The Holy Spirit was sent by the Father and the Son that He might take up His abode in our innermost spirit and being. He came to take the helm of our total life: to teach us, to lead us, to anoint us; and to make us the personal ambassadors of Jesus Christ in this sin-sick world. When the Holy Ghost takes up His abode in your temple, you are no longer your own, you belong to Jesus Christ. This is why the Born Again Experience is a radical transformation.

The book of Romans identifies the Holy Spirit in His office of Comforter to the Believer. The word "Comforter" comes from a Greek word "parakletos" which means "intercessor, counselor, advocate; one called alongside another". We are not in this wonderful life alone or dependent on self and our innate abilities. Look at Paul’s words to the believers in Rome, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).

The eighth chapter of Romans is the classic picture of the "Born-Again Believer". Notice his introduction of this Spirit-led life. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1-2). While the entire chapter has breathtaking information about what the Holy Spirit has come to do, there are certain high points that bless my soul. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Romans 8:14-15).

When the infirmities of our flesh overwhelm us, we are instructed to completely give ourselves to the powerful intercession of the Spirit and to let Him become our advocate before the Throne. Again, Paul said, "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:26-28).

"We are not our own, we are bought with a price" (I Cor 6:19-20). What a calling and what promises we have received. This Christian life must not become human schemes dependent on psychological theories. We are warned in scripture not to walk in the way of the ungodly. The world wants to impose all kinds of humanism on our Biblical message, but it is poison to truth. The world’s mixture is an abomination to the perfect revelation of Holy Scripture and we reject them totally.

Conclusion
The Holy Spirit sent by the Father and His Son awaits your uncompromising welcome for Him to be your "Comforter". "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord." (Psalm 37:23) Every decision of your life is His to make when Jesus Christ is Lord. The height to which He will lead is unknown to those that follow the world and its fallen masters. The Bible is the only script of this "Comforter", so fill your mind with truth.