Counselor, Comforter, And So Much More

How do people know they are Christians? How do you and I gain confidence that we are born again by the regenerating power of God's Holy Spirit? The world can't know because the world does not accept the Holy Spirit. But the disciples were told that the Holy Spirit would live with them and would be in them. This morning I want to talk to you about the Holy Spirit, who He is and what He does.

I know most of you know the song that states, “Because he lives I can face tomorrow; because he lives all fears are gone.” Perhaps the idea for the lyrics had its birth in John 19. When did the disciples realize that Christ Jesus was in the Father and that they dwelt in Him? When did you realize this? Did they have to wait for the second coming, did you; for this to happen? The answers is, “Of course not.” No the Holy Spirit made this known to them and to us.

Before we go any farther I just want to make an observation here. A person does not show that the Holy Spirit lives in them by bizarre behavior or bizarre beliefs, but by knowing and obeying the commands of our Lord, Christ Jesus. It may sound funny, but you must balance the doctrine of the Holy Spirit in your life. Making to much of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit can lead to mysticism; making to little of Him can lead to legalism.

Christ Jesus in letting His disciples know that He was going away did not want them to be left alone. He had great concern for these “little children.” He would not leave them “orphans” with no one to care for them (v. 18). He walked with them, laughed with them, and taught them for three years and so it was natural for Him to feel this way.

He assured the fearful disciples that He will ask the Father to give them a “Helper.” Christ Jesus spoke of this gift immediately after He had encouraged His disciples to ask for anything in His name and He will give it that glory may be given to the Father.

This helper, who is He? Well as you already know the helper spoken of here is the Holy Spirit, but who is the Holy Spirit?

John 14:16-24; 26
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"

23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me... 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

1. Who Is The Holy Spirit (vs. 16)

He is God – You hear so much about the influence of the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost and His sacred duties that many are apt to forget He is God. He is one part of the essence of the Godhead and equal to God the Father and God the Son. Many, though they may not realize it; have acquired the habit of regarding the Holy Spirit as a lesser being which flows from the Father and the Son. But not equal to to them

It is easy to think of the Father as a person, because His actions are those we can see the results of and understand. In the beginning He spoke the things we see and know into being. The earth, the moon, planets, and the stars. He made all the animals and man. He walked in the garden and talked to Adam and Eve. He instructed Noah to build an ark, and talked to Moses on a regular basis. 

It is easy to think of Christ Jesus as a man. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1; 14. He was flesh and bone like you and me. He walked this earth, taught, ate, laughed and cried, and died as a man.

But when it comes to the Holy Spirit, His ways can be mysterious or even secretive in nature. He fills us, He works from the inside out, He moves us, and so forth. These are some what abstract in thought. And yet the Holy Spirit while He influences you is not just an influence. Nor is He an emanation, or a stream of consciousness flowing from within. And again the Holy Spirit is not just some energy flowing from the Father.

The Holy Spirit has intellect - and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Rom. 8:27

The Holy Spirit has emotion - Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Eph 4:30

The Holy Spirit has a will - But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 1 Cor 12:11

The Holy Spirit is a part of the Triune God Head - The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Gen 1:2. I always like to point to this verse and in jest tell my folks that this shows that the Holy Spirit was the original surfer dude.  

The Holy Spirit wants to be active part of your life, wont you let Him?

2. But what does the Holy Spirit do? “I will pray,” says the Son. “I will send,” says the Father. “I will comfort,” says the Holy Spirit.

He comforts – (vs. 16, 26; 16:17); Comforter is the first title used by Christ Jesus for the Holy Spirit. Why would God send you a comforter? Maybe the question should be, why not a comforter? 

a. You need comfort when separation is near 
b. You need comfort when tears are near 
c. You need comfort when you feel alone 
d. You need comfort when others turn against you 
e. You need comfort when death has touched those near to you.

The Holy Spirit counsels or teaches (vs. 26). I don't know about you, but I find this old world can be confusing. And it is good to know that I have help to figure things out. Christ Jesus had been a counselor to His disciples, but He was getting ready to leave. So He was going to send the Holy Spirit to teach them, guide them, and remind them. The Holy Spirit is willing to do the same for you. He will teach you, enlighten you and guide you. 

What does the Holy Spirit teach?

• The Bible ~ But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 2 Peter 1:20-21
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• All about life ~ "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” John 14:26
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• All about Christ Jesus ~ (vs. 26); "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.” John 16:13-15

The Holy Spirit convicts ~ "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;” John 16:8. 

He convict you of sin – If you are a Christian and you do something you know is wrong do you feel guilty? That's the Holy Spirit. Conviction comes before conversion and Correction comes before comfort

He convicts you when you are found lacking righteousness. We have all failed to do right, at least compared to Christ Jesus who demonstrated a perfect life. Your best will never measure up, after all we are all sinners - “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Rom 3:23. 

So do you just throw up your hands and give up? As Paul says, “May it never be so.” Instead listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and walk in the way of righteousness.

He convicts of judgment – what judgment is that? It is the judgment you face when you step into eternity ~ And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. Heb 9:27-28 

Are you prepared to meet God? What preparations have you made? There is really only one preparation you need to make. The purpose of conviction is to bring you to Christ Jesus. And if you already know Him it is to walk in His ways. Where are you in your relationship with Christ Jesus this morning?

3. The Holy Spirit Indwells (vs. 16)

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a subject so profound, and having to do with inner man so totally that many have no clue what is meant by it. Christ Jesus spoke of sending a comforter to dwell with the saints forever, This comforter would dwell with them and in them and you forever. He will never leave you. 

Ignatius, the first century church father and martyr, use to call himself Theophorus, or God-bearer, “because,” he said, “I bear about with me the Holy Spirit.” If you know Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour, then you are a God-bearer. ~ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Cor 3:16 

Let it never be said that you despised the Holy Spirit or His presence ~ "Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” Matt 12:32 

Do I understand the indwelling and being filled with the Holy Spirit? Not entirely, but I know this Christ Jesus said the Holy Spirit was coming to those who are Christ followers and that He will be with us forever and that is good enough for me.

Conclusion: Have you invited Christ Jesus into your life yes? If you have then you have the Holy Spirit living in you. Why is this important, because now you have a comforter, a guide and teacher, and one who will keep you on the narrow road so that you will not be found lacking in your Christian walk.

If you have not asked Christ Jesus into your life then you will have trouble understanding the benefits of the Holy Spirit and without Him you will not fare well on judgment day. Are you really ready to step into eternity knowing that?