THE DIVINE COMFORTER


A. "AND I WILL PRAY THE FATHER, AND HE SHALL GIVE YOU ANOTHER COMFORTER, THAT HE MAY ABIDE WITH YOU FOREVER." John 14:16
  1. Another Comforter:
    1. Our blessed Lord gave continuous comfort to the disciples. A typical example is found in John 14:1-3
    2. The Holy Spirit is that other Comforter - John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7
  2. Meaning of the word COMFORTER:
    1. This is a translation from the word "parakletos" meaning "one that helps you, stands by your side."
    2. The common concept of the word "Comforter" is too narrow; the word, "helper" would be more proper. This we shall see as we seek to enter into a fuller understanding of the mission of the Holy Spirit.
B. THE DIVINE COMFORTER
  1. Our great Helper:
    1. He helps us when we pray - Rom. 8:26
      1. Only when we pray in the Holy Ghost is our prayer effectual - Jude 20
      2. It is He who makes intercession in our behalf when we pray - Rom. 8:26
    2. He helps us to understand the Word of God; He is our divine teacher - John 14:26; 16:13
    3. He helps us to resist the temptations of Satan - Isa. 59:19
  2. Our Comforter:
    1. Gives comfort in sorrow - 2 Cor. 7:6
    2. Gives assurance in trials - Acts 16:25; 27:23, 24
    3. Gives boldness in witnessing for the truth under severe circumstances - Acts 4:19; 5:29; 7:1-39
    4. Encourages us when doubt seeks to undermine our confidence in our relationship to the Lord.
    5. How often does Satan whisper into the ears of the saints, "You just think that you are a child of God; you know in your heart that you are not fit for the kingdom of glory."
C. THE HOLY SPIRIT CONTINUES THE WORK OF OUR LORD IN THE HEARTS OF THE BELIEVERS
  1. He enables us to become effective witnesses for Christ:
    1. We think of the large number of believers after Pentecost, who went about witnessing for the truth of God - Acts 8:4; 11:19
    2. Then think of the boldness of Paul in the face of death, and when he was in chains - Acts 23; 24; 25; 26:24-28
  2. He brings to our mind words that will help us to repel subtle temptations: Isa. 59:19
    1. You will recall how Martin Luther was tempted by the priests of Rome to doubt his understanding of the scriptures, but how the Spirit of God gave him strength of memory to recall scriptures he needed to repel the tempters.
    2. How often have I been helped when I needed to show that our position on certain doctrines was based upon the Word of God.
  3. But what is of special interest to us, if that is possible, is what He does in our lives, preparing us for the life hereafter:
    1. He sheds abroad in our hearts the love of God - Rom. 5:5
    2. That divine grace makes us partakers of the divine nature - 2 Pet. 1:2-4
    3. God's love in our hearts enables us to conform with the direction given by the Lord in Matt. 5:38-48
    4. God's love in our hearts will keep the love of the sinful pleasures of this world out of our hearts - 1 John 2:15, 16
    5. It will help us to keep God's commandments out of a pure motive - John 14:15; 15:10; 1 John 5:4, 5
  4. Do we ever think seriously of the implications of the work of the Holy Spirit?:
    1. He gives direction in the work of the church of God - Acts 13:1-6
    2. He unfolds the scriptures to us - 1 Cor. 2:11-17
    3. He brings comfort to us in sorrow.
    4. He guides us in the way of the Lord. He is truly the paraklete sent from heaven for God's people.


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