in the early part of John 14 the Disciples of Jesus were troubled when he told them he was going to leave to prepare a place for them in heaven they were deeply upset Jesus the one they had come to know as the Son of God the one they worshiped the one who cared for them and the one they relied on for guidance was leaving the very person around around whom their entire lives revolved was about to go imagine how they must have felt when the Son of God told them he had to depart it's important
to understand that Jesus was speaking to a group of men who had followed him day and night for three years they had witnessed his miracles experienced his protection and learned from his teachings for those three years Jesus had provided for their every need whenever they fa a problem they turned to him and he solved it their entire lives revolved around him they had left behind their jobs their lives and even family members to follow him and now he was leaving them but one of the most wonderful truths about God is that he never simply takes
away he adds more he doesn't subtract he multiplies he never leaves you in distress he always brings comfort John 14: 16-17 and I will ask the father and he will give you another comforter counselor helper intercessor Advocate strengthener and standby that he may remain with you forever 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 he left so that the father would send the Holy Spirit Jesus emphasized that it was in our best interest
for him to leave as he said in John 16:7 nevertheless I tell you the truth 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 it is expedient for you that I go away these words must have been difficult for the disciples to believe how could it possibly be in their best interest for Jesus to leave how could it be to their advantage it is expedient for you that I go away from our perspective
these words hardly seem positive the idea of Jesus not being physically with us doesn't feel advantageous after all we need Jesus in our lives we need the savior we need the one who raises the dead and walks on water it's understandable that the disciples were confused about how Jesus departure could be a good thing but this was not a negative thing at all as long as Jesus was physically present the object of the disciples Faith would always be a tangible external person Jesus Christ while that was still remarkable Jesus knew that his disciples would need
to go out into the world to preach the gospel he would not be physically present with all of them at all times however the Holy Spirit would be even today though Christ is not physically here the Holy Spirit dwells in the lives of Believers across the globe in every corner of the earth there are Saints indwelt by the spirit of God all across Africa there are people filled with the Holy Spirit across Europe North America South America Asia and Beyond you will find people God's people empowered and guided by the holy spirit this is the
advantage Jesus spoke of and it is a reality for believers everywhere people from all walks of life are filled with the Holy Spirit perhaps the reason why Jesus's words about his departure and the promise of the comforter do not encourage us is that we fail to fully draw upon the power life and strength of the Holy Spirit we cry out to Jesus saying where are you but often fail to recognize or sense the presence and comfort of the Holy Spirit if Jesus said that his departure was to our advantage then he is right and it
is our perspective that needs to change if Jesus had not left the Holy Spirit would not have come when Jesus was physically on Earth he was not omnipresent but the holy spirit is omnipresent this means the holy spirit is everywhere at the same time fully present with every believer no matter where they are or what they face the Holy Spirit knows all things and dwells in all believers simultaneously you are never out of his sight never out of his care and never without his help like the Disciples of Jesus many of us feel weighed down
believing we are alone or that God has left us however the message today reminds us that the holy spirit is our comforter and we are never alone he is not just a distant helper he is within you guiding strengthening and sustaining you every moment of your life there is something transformative about being conscious of the holy spirit's presence when you truly realize that the holy spirit is with you your fears diminish your hope rises and your heart finds peace knowing that he is always with you in every situation brings a peace beyond words Jesus promised
to send another comforter when he departed from the world and that comforter is the holy spirit This Promise was not just for the Disciples of old it is for you right now in your life the holy spirit is actively working in you through you and around you unlike the Disciples of Christ we are not waiting for this promise to be fulfilled we already have the reality of it the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost and has been in the world ever since from the moment you gave your life to Christ the Holy Spirit took residence in
you you don't have to look for him he is already there he lives in you equips you and empowers you Jesus clearly explained the holy spirit's role the word comforter in John 14:16 refers to the Holy Spirit and the Amplified Bible expands on the full scope of the comforter ministry as the comforter the holy spirit is also our counselor helper intercessor Advocate strengthener and standby think about that in every moment of confusion he is your counselor in every moment of weakness he is your strengthener in every moment of Despair he is your helper and Advocate
standing by you fighting for you and lifting you up with all these roles fulfilled by the Holy Spirit we cannot live as if we are alone you are never without a friend never without guidance and never without strength because the holy spirit is is actively working in your life have you ever wondered how the early Believers could endure torture and imprisonment while remaining joyful it was because the Holy Spirit was their comforter even in the darkest prisons the holy spirit filled their hearts with peace and courage even in their pain they were aware of his
presence and that awareness gave them joy that nothing in this world could take away the comfort of the Holy Spirit becomes evident in times of distress he does not leave you to face your challenges alone he stands beside you holding you strengthening you and Whispering peace into your heart Jesus never promised a life free of difficulties but he assured us of the holy spirit's presence to provide comfort and strength he didn't say we wouldn't face storms but he promised that we wouldn't face them alone the holy spirit is with you in every trial equipping you
to overcome and reminding you that you are never abandoned no matter what you are going through whether sickness the loss of a loved one financial difficulty or any other storm of Life the holy spirit is with you right now as you are listening to me he is present ready to comfort you strengthen you and guide you his power is at work in your life even when you don't feel it or see it he is your everpresent help in times of trouble the greatest tragedy for believers does not lie in the challenges they face but in
their lack of awareness of the holy spirit's presence during those challenges when we forget he is there we lose the strength peace and comfort he freely offers but when we acknowledge his presence we tap into a limitless source of power and encouragement whatever storm you are facing today know that the holy spirit is right there with you offering his strength and comfort he sees your pain knows your fears and is actively working to bring you through you are not abandoned you are surrounded by his love and grace whether it is divorces whether it is the
fear of the future Isaiah 43:2 which reads when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walth through the fire Thou shalt not be burned neither shall the flame Kindle upon thee God never told us that we will not face challenges however we should be conscious of the fact that when the Holy Spirit is with us we will not face the challenges alone you are never alone live in that reality don't forget no matter what you are going through you are never alone
when you cry yourself to sleep God is with you he is a God who loves you and cares for you in ways beyond your comprehension the Comfort the Holy Spirit provides overwhel Elms the turbulence of the world there is nothing more reassuring than knowing the holy spirit is with you at all times in both good and bad moments the challenges of life cannot overcome us because the holy spirit is our constanty companion however it requires intentional effort on our part to build a relationship with him and yes you can build that relationship my friend friend
if you truly see him for who he is the holy spirit is not an it he's a person Jesus never referred to the Holy Spirit as an it but always as he or him if you only see the Holy Spirit as a force essence or wind it will be impossible to develop a relationship with him you can't connect with a concept but you can connect with a person someone one who will walk with you through every situation
