A Comforting Thought

John 16:12-15 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (14) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (15) All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (KJV)

The reason the disciples could not bear or endure sound doctrine at that time is because they were not born again, but rather still stuck in the carnal realm. The reason Jesus of Nazareth knew the things of God is because He was the first born into the realm of the Spirit, letting this Spirit of truth lead and guide Him and not the desires of his flesh. As good as an example this man was in demonstrating not only in word but in deed the works of God, even then He was instructing them to wait until the Comforter comes and is able to abide within them as well and let that Spirit be their guide. The Spirit itself was not speaking of itself and expounding in areas we were not able to comprehend, but rather would take the things of God and show them to us in a simple way so that we could hear God’s personal plan of salvation for ourselves and the place He has for us in His body of believers. When people spend more time pointing you to themselves and what they consider good works be assured this is not the Holy Spirit speaking through them anymore, but rather fallen people pointing people to the lower nature rather than pointing them in the direction of the one true source of life. The only comfort you will ever find in life is when you are able to know God for yourself and how to operate in the realm of the Spirit, giving more heed to His word and less to man’s.

John 14:16-18 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (17) Even 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. (18) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (KJV)

Do you know why people miss the message of God and fall for some cheap imitation? Because many times people are looking to other people as their source of strength and comfort, and are not looking to the Spirit which is the only source of that comfort. The other reason many fall is because the person preaching a message makes it sound like without him they wouldn’t be able to make it in their walk. Folks, bottom line, if it is not the Spirit that is leading and guiding you this day; if it is not the Spirit of truth bearing witness with your spirit and renewing your mind, then you are not one of God’s people and you have already fallen from grace. If someone is pointing you in any other direction besides that which is based on truth, that being the Spirit of truth, especially toward themselves or some other prominent person they think is godly, then I would seriously think about pointing myself toward the exit, ASAP. You have a direct line to the Father through His Son Jesus Christ, having sent the Spirit of truth for our benefit. Learn to trust in the inward man more than the outward one and you will get the results our Father intended for you in the form of peace, with a confidence and boldness to know that you are one of His people. God is able to speak through His people, but it is only when they allow the Spirit to speak and they stay out of the way. Like our Lord Himself said it is the Spirit that gives life and the flesh profits nothing; in other words, it is of no help or value. The more one is in tune and harmony with the things of the Spirit the less they will be pointing you to the realm of the flesh, or to any fallen man that thinks God needs them.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; (4) 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. (5) For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. (KJV)

You know why He is the God of all comfort? Because He is able to provide what is needed, spirit, soul, and body; the complete package. How many documentaries have you seen of famous people who had great talent in this world only to end up self destructing and having a meltdown? Not only did these people have talent, whether in the form of an athlete or an actor, or any other famous personality, they also had everything they could have desired of this world and yet could never find the true comfort that would bring them peace. All those in Christ shall suffer persecution; but be assured that as those sufferings abound so also will the consolation abound and bring comfort in time of need. The quicker and more alert one is to the things of the Spirit, the quicker they will be able to identify the answer the Lord is bringing to them through His spirit; while many others fall away and think they have done something wrong when confronted with these afflictions. The truth which will only come from the Spirit of truth is what will set you free and keep you free from fear and guilt; while those that don’t have their spiritual senses exercised will not know the difference between what is good and what is evil, keeping them in bondage to the problem and unable to access the solution.

Williams New Testament translation of 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful Father and the all-comforting God, 4. who comforts me in every sorrow I have, so that I can comfort people who are in sorrow with the comfort with which I am comforted by God. 5. For just as my sufferings for Christ are running over the cup, so through Christ my comfort is running over too.

What are you going to do when that person that claims they have a hold on your salvation isn’t around? Well there is a person that is around always, one that promised He would be with you always, abiding with you forever. Isn’t it comforting to know that God has made this available to all, not just a few who think they are special, but to whosoever would call upon the name of the Lord? Where do you find comfort; where are you looking for the true comfort that covers all the need; is it in the realm of man which is temporal or temporary, or is it in the eternal one, the one that lasts forever?

Matthew 7:9-11 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? (10) Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? (11) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (KJV)

You know, there are some fishy people out there with some fishy doctrines, which if something smells fishy then obviously it is. When you look to man for a spiritual answer you may end up with a cheap imitation, while if you are willing to look to the Spirit of truth then you will find the answer that brings comfort. Mankind is limited to what they can give, which usually has a price tag attached to it; while the gift of God is eternal life which was given to us freely through His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Comforting isn’t it?

God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord.