One of the greatest things to remember is that we have a spiritual heritage. Our heritage is that we have a Comforter, to be with us forever. I love the idea that He is with us, teaches us, and brings things to our remembrance. What heritage! Rejoice, my friends, for in challenging times we are never comfortless.
Don’t you just love to be the recipient of a promise? The promise is full of comfort to those who will receive Him as a gift.
1. The Comforter (the Holy Spirit) seals us unto God, 2 Corinthians 1:22.
2. The Holy Spirit (the Comforter) takes away worry Mark 11:13.
3. The Holy Spirit comforts us with joy, Romans 14:17.
4. The Comfort of the Spirit gives us direction into truth, eliminating spiritual error, John 16:13.
One of the marvelous things I have learned in regard to the Comforter is that there is a continual assurance that comes from abiding in His presence, Romans 8:16. I especially appreciate something I have discovered through the years concerning how the Comforter helps our spiritual weaknesses, Romans 8:26. I am sure that some of you have experienced times when the Holy Spirit helped you in intercession when you just did not know how you should pray. The Comforter came through for you, Romans 8:27.
I have also enjoyed knowing that all things work together for good to them who love God and are called according to His purpose. Paul was able to say that nothing, neither time nor eternity, could separate us from God. The spirit-filled life is a life of assurance and knowing we are more than conquerors. The great- est of all these things is the overriding truth that we are being conformed to the image of His dear Son, Romans 8:29.
Romans 8, is the great Holy Spirit chapter of the Bible, and I encourage you to become familiar with the privileges of the Spirit that are set forth in each line. I have spent my entire life reading and re-reading these lines and have learned that 33 times in Romans 8 the Holy Spirit is mentioned, and 17 times in Romans 7 the personal pronoun “I” is mentioned. Leaving us to choose, which life would we choose to live, i.e., life in the Spirit or a life in the flesh? Scripture teaches us to ask for the Spirit, Luke 11:9-13, “The Father gives the Spirit to them that ask. Ask for the Holy Spirit, and you shall receive. Seek the Holy Spirit and you shall find Him.”
In 1890 a song was written by Frank Bottome, which is a classic to revisit.
Oh, spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found, Wherever human hearts and human woes abound; Let every Christian tongue proclaim the joyful sound: The Comforter has come!
Refrain:
The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come! The Holy Ghost from Heav’n, the Father’s promise given; Oh, spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found - The Comforter has come!
The long, long night is past, the morning breaks at last And hushed the dreadful wail and fury of the blast, As o’er the golden hills the day advances fast! The Comforter has come!
Lo, the great King of kings, with healing in His wings, To every captive soul a full deliverance brings; And through the vacant cells, the song of triumph rings; The Comforter has come!
O boundless love divine! How shall this tongue of mine To wondering mortals tell the matchless grace divine— That I, a child of hell, should in His image shine! The Comforter has come!
Sing till the echoes fly above the vaulted sky, And all the saints above to all below reply,
In strains of endless love, the song that ne’er will die: The Comforter has come!
The Comforter is with you now. I believe in you. Your loving pastor,
Cleddie & GayNell Keith