What is your Counterfeit Comforter?
The Holy Spirit is sent to us as our Comforter, He is closer to us that we are to
ourselves. Like the eyes of the body through which we see physical things, He is
seldom in focus to be seen directly because He is the one through whom all else is
seen in a new light. This explains why the relationship of the Father and the Son is
more prominent in the gospels, because it is through the eyes of the Holy Spirit that
the Father-Son relationship is viewed. The Holy Spirit appears as the power by which
Christians are brought to faith and helped to understand their walk with God. He
brings a person to new birth (John 3:6), “it’s the Spirit who gives life” (John 6:63). The
Holy Spirit is the Paraclete, or Helper, whom Jesus promised to the disciples before His
ascension. He guides believers into all truth with what He hears from the Father and
the Son (John 15:26, 16:13).
The Holy Spirit honors the Father and Son by helping the community of believers.
The person and ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Gospels is confirmed by His work in
the early church. The baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5)”for John truly baptized
with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from here.” Is
the pouring out of the Spirit’s power in missions and evangelism (Acts 1:8). “But you
shall receive power after the Holy Spirit is come upon you and you shall be witnesses
to Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of
the earth”. This prophecy of Jesus and of Joel (Joel 2:28-32) began on Pentecost
(Acts 2:1-18). Many of those who hear of the finished work of God in Jesus’ death
and resurrection (Acts 2:32-38) repent of their sins. In this act of repentance, they
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, becoming witnesses of God’s grace through the
Spirit.
Paul’s teaching about the Holy Spirit harmonizes with the accounts of the Spirit’s
activity in the gospels and Acts. According to Paul, it is by the Holy Spirit that one
confesses that Jesus is Lord (I Corinthians 12:3). Through the same Spirit varieties of
gifts are given to the body of Christ to ensure its richness and unity (I Corinthians 12:4-
27). The Holy Spirit is the person who bears witness to us that we are children of
God. He “makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans
8:26-27).
The Holy Spirit also reveals to Christians the deep things of God (I Corinthians 2:10-
12) and the mystery of Christ (Ephesians 3:3-5). The Holy Spirit acts with God and
Christ as the pledge or guarantee by which believers are sealed for the day of
salvation (II Corinthians 1:21-22), by which they walk and live (Romans 8:3-6) and
abound in hope with power (Romans 15:3).
As we reflect on all the things the Holy Spirit have been sent to do in us, you kind of
wonder why things are the way they are in the earth today. The reason is that most
people have the Holy Spirit to help them, but they don’t let Him operate in their lives.
Most people react to the problems that comes into their lives by turning to other things
for comfort (food, people’s opinion, drugs, drinking etc.). the Holy Spirit speaks to us
through the word of God and because some have not put the word in them, don’t
recognize when the Spirit speaks to them.
Jesus said “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all those
things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33), but most people try to do all they can
before they turn to God. God sent us the Holy Spirit to help do everything, all we
have to do is to tap into His power, by asking for wisdom in doing things.
Christianity is not a walk, that anyone can do by themselves, even Jesus was
empowered by the Spirit when He walked on this earth. The good news is that you
don’t have to try to do things by yourself, the Holy Spirit is in you to help you do all
things. Jesus says “you have not because you ask not”. “ask and it shall be given
you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone
that asks receives, and he that seeks finds, and to him that knocks it shall be opened”
(Matthews 7:7-8).
Lets not look to counterfeit comforters, but lets make a point of going to God first
Philippians 4:6-7 says “Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace
of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus.”
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: April 14, 2006