COMFORTED BY THE SPIRIT.
By Wm. Covert
THAT Christ might impart words of consolation and direct his people to the never-failing source of joy, Christ, just before his crucifixion, gave many sweet promises to the sorrowing disciples. Among them was this: “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world can not receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” John 14:16, 17. At the moment when these words were spoken, Christ’s followers were looking into the future with dark forebodings as to any comfort or joy with which to lighten their pathway. In speaking of being separated from the Saviour’s personal presence, they expressed the thought of being left as orphans, with none to comfort them in the world. But Jesus replied, “I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.” Still enlarging upon the thought, he declares the Comforter to be “the Holy Ghost,” whom the Father would send in Christ’s name. And yet again Jesus said that he would send the Comforter from the Father to his people. John 15:20. Therefore the Comforter is of both the Father and the Son. As the disciples had imbibed certain errors which kept the Spirit of God from softening their hearts and enlightening their minds, it was not possible for them in that condition to experience the true consolation which the Comforter gives. It seems that it was partly for this reason that Christ said to them, “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. The Lord is certainly desirous of making his people as happy even now as their needs and condition will justify. To bring about this state of comfort and joy, God imparts something of the happiness of his own nature to them. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Rom. 8:15. God through his Spirit assures us of his love and pleasure in seeing us happy; and for this reason he would make us feel at home and comfortable in his presence. It is not God’s pleasure to have his children dread to approach him, as the slave dreads his master. Instead of this spirit of dread and fear, his effort is to impart to us the spirit of freedom and confidence which is enjoyed by the free child at home. Therefore it is written, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ.” The Father desires all his children to share equally in his blessings. As Jesus, our own Saviour, feels at home in the presence of the Father, so the Father would that we should enjoy a like spirit of freedom in his presence. His Spirit will constantly testify to us that we are his children, and talk to us of his fatherly love. The Lord speaks to us through Paul, saying, “Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” God through his Spirit causes us to actually feel that we are his own sons, and that we have a perfect right to call him our Father. Until we receive this spirit of sonship there can be no full assurance of faith, no childlike confidence in our prayers. But follow this thought to its legitimate conclusion, and there will come into the heart a joy which is unspeakable and full of glory. God intends through the comfort imparted by the Spirit to give consolation to his children, even in the midst of their afflictions just as truly as in the more favored periods of life. That we may be assured of this precious truth the following words are written:— “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” 2 Cor. 1:3, 4. The darkest hours of sorrow may be the richest, filled with the spirit of comfort from God. It is then that the sweetest message of God’s love is most needed. When bereft of friends, the Comforter tells us of a Friend who never forsakes us in any trial. If we are deprived of home, it speaks of a title to a mansion of glory in a clime where flowers never fade. If aged and weary, the Comforter whispers of eternal youth, where weariness does not come, and the strong-drawn tension of nerve shall never give pain. God has a way, through the comforting Spirit, of making these things so real that they seem to be already in our possession. And truly they are ours; but just now we are away from home by appointment from our Lord. Being comforted with his presence and consoled by his love, we can thereby comfort others with the same comfort by which we are comforted. The blessedness of it is that God through the Holy Spirit brings the very atmosphere of heaven and his own nature into the place where his children walk or abide, and there envelops them in his love. It removes from the one of a timid nature that fear and that dread which would otherwise render life unhappy. Often converted children are made to rest with perfect confidence in the darkness of night, because of the comforting presence of the Redeemer. And truly they are not alone, for Christ is by their side. This blessed Spirit takes away the lonesome feeling which to some is so tormenting; and, instead of this, they feel that they are in the presence of the dearest and strongest Friend. This sweet comfort will be given for the asking and believing, or the resting and receiving. Above all things else, let faith drink in the promises of God as the thirsty land drinks in the falling rain. With entire confidence in the living word, let its power take full possession of the mind and direct the life in the way of peace.