Article
The Comforter Within
June 30, 2019
"And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever." (John 14:16)
The scene is an upper room in Jerusalem. Jesus Christ has eaten His last Passover meal with His twelve disciples. His betrayer, Judas Iscariot, has left the room. The emotions around the table are palpable. Not only has Jesus revealed a betrayer in their midst, but He also has told the remaining eleven that they will all forsake Him. It is finally dawning on them that He is really going to die, and they will have to face life without Him.
But into this atmosphere of sorrow and despair, Jesus makes a wonderful promise; God the Father will give them another Comforter. Jesus identified the Comforter in John 14:26; He is the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Spirit is not something Jesus created to fill the void when He left earth. As part of the Trinity Godhead, He has always existed. He is mentioned in Genesis 1:2 as playing an active role in creation. The Holy Spirit was not a stranger to the earth. In the Old Testament, He empowered men and women to accomplish God's work by coming "upon'' them.
These eleven Jewish men would have been familiar with the working of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament age, but Jesus is introducing a new concept. The Holy Spirit would not only come "upon'' believers, but He would dwell within them.
"Even the Spirit of truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you and shall be in you." (John 14:17)
In our modern translations, the Holy Spirit is given the title of "Comforter." In the original Greek, the word used was "parakletos" or Paraclete which translates, "someone who is called in." The Greeks used Paraclete in a variety of ways. A paraclete might be a person called in to give witness in a court of law, or to testify in someone's
behalf. They could also be called in as an advocate to plead the cause of someone convicted of a serious crime. A paraclete could be a person called in to put courage in the hearts and minds of discouraged soldiers who had lost their fight.
behalf. They could also be called in as an advocate to plead the cause of someone convicted of a serious crime. A paraclete could be a person called in to put courage in the hearts and minds of discouraged soldiers who had lost their fight.
The word Paraclete, as a title for the Holy Spirit, stood for many years. In the fourteenth century, John Wycliffe was the first Bible translator to use the word "Comforter." At that time, Comforter was a very good translation. It comes from the Latin word "fortis," and it means: strong, powerful, mighty, and bold. We get our English word "fortify" from fortis. Fortify means to protect, strengthen, and to increase the effectiveness of. In the fourteenth century, Comforter was a great translation for the Holy Spirit, but in 2019, the word has been reduced to referring to someone who sympathizes with us in trouble or sorrow.
My sister Joyce had only been saved a short time when her seven-year-old daughter was killed in a car accident. On the way to the funeral, Joyce was silently praying, "Lord, I don't know how I will get through this." Suddenly, she said it was as if the windshield parted and the Holy Spirit came into the car. In her heart, my sister was rejoicing and saying, "It really works! The Holy Spirit is a Comforter!"
Yes, the Holy Spirit is a Comforter, but He is so much more!
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; 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." (John 16:7)
Jesus was promising to send more than comfort. He was sending the third person of the Godhead. He was sending Himself in the form of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit was sent to protect and strengthen us against attack from our enemy - Satan. He was sent to fortify us with power and to increase our effectiveness. He has been called in to equip us to live the Christian life successfully.
Speaking to a large audience, D.L. Moody held up a glass and asked, "How can I get the air out of this glass?" One man shouted, "Suck it out with a pump!" Moody replied, "That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass." After numerous other suggestions, Moody picked up a pitcher of water and filled the glass. There, "he said," "all the air is now removed." He then went on to explain that victory in the Christian life is not accomplished by "sucking out a sin here and there," but by being filled with the Holy Spirit.
God is with us; God is for us: God is in us.
The very name of Jesus Christ is Immanuel, which means - God with us. Sin and disobedience caused mankind to be alienated from God. But suddenly, Christ came, and God was with us! Then Jesus obediently went to the cross, and perfect reconciliation was provided. Now, God is for us! "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31b)
Jesus Christ rose from the grave, ascended on high, and sat down at God's right hand. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out, and God was in us!
When we become born again, believers in Christ, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts. According to I Corinthians 6:19, our bodies become the temples that God now chooses to dwell in. We have a great enemy, but we also have a great Helper. The enemy is Satan; the Helper is the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. The stronger of the two is the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, " Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." (I John 4:4)
A young missionary, Herbert Jackson, was given a car to help him in his work. The car had a major problem - it would not start. Jackson devised a plan to cope with the problem. When he needed to go somewhere, he went to a nearby school and asked permission to bring some of the children out of class to help him push-start his car.
He was always careful to park on a hill or to leave his car running when he stopped for short visits.
He was always careful to park on a hill or to leave his car running when he stopped for short visits.
When poor health forced the Jackson family to leave the field, a new missionary was sent to lead the mission. Jackson handed the car keys to him and explained his methods for starting the car. The young man opened the hood and began inspecting. "Why, Dr. Jackson," he said, "I believe the only trouble is a loose cable." He twisted the cable, turned the key, and the engine roared to life.
For two years, Dr. Jackson had used his own devices and endured needless trouble. The power to start the car was there all the time - it only needed to be connected!
When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, He transformed the cowardly disciples of Jesus into fearless men who were willing to give their lives for the Gospel.
That same transforming power has been given to us. It's time for the true church of Jesus Christ to put aside human devices and efforts.
The Comforter dwells within!
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