01/12/07

GOD OUR COMFORTER

John 14:16 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;"


Jesus was speaking to His disciples about the Holy Spirit, who is the Comforter. The ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is the front line of defense against the devil and his devices of defeat. The phrase, "The God of all comfort" carries the idea of a divine comforter who encourages, refreshes, strengthens, aids, assists, and is an ever present help in the time of need. The ways that God chooses to comfort are not always the same. The very next scripture says the 'Spirit of truth' 'shall be in you'. God may deliver you or remove the cause of the affliction, or He may comfort you with words giving you a hope for the future. He also uses people to share their faith with you by prophesying. But mainly He sends fellow-laborers to serve and strengthen you by the ministry of the Word, and uses the body of Christ as a channel to comfort you.

The point is that the source of all comfort is God, no matter what channel He chooses to use.

True Christianity is not the absence of trials, but the strength and comfort of Jesus through the Holy Spirit, that will bring us through to the other side.

Even a strong metal container with a vacuum inside will be crushed just by normal atmospheric pressure. But that same container, with an equal or greater amount of pressure inside, will be just fine. Likewise, an individual who is void of God's comfort inside will be crushed by the pressures of this life. But a believer, who takes advantage of the comfort available to him through the Holy Spirit, can withstand anything. Victory is not dependent on the pressures without, but rather on the comfort within.


[ Prayer for the Day ]

O Spirit of God, You are my comforter. You fill me and dwell in me that I may sustain this world and myself from evil. Without You I have no hope, but in You I have the strength for victory. By the Word You created this creation and by the same Word You renew me unto God my Father. This I prayer in Jesus' Name. Amen.

[ Reference Scriptures ]

John 14:16-17 [AV]
¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
¹⁷ 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.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)