Comfort Through The Holy SpiritSpeaker: Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Gist: Have you been deserted by all? Are you worried and troubled by various trials and tribulations that you face? Be not dismayed. The comforter whom the Lord has given you is always there for you. He will comfort you. He will wipe away all your tears. "Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied." (Acts 9:31)
Before Lord Jesus Christ was taken up to Heaven from this earth, He after revealing to them that He was leaving this world to go to His Father, said, "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever; the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you" (John 14:16,17). Jesus implied that the Holy Spirit would speak to them and comfort them.
Accordingly, after Jesus was taken up, the Holy Spirit came down, dwelt with the mankind and as we read in the Bible, intervened in the affairs of men for their benefit.
"Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot." (Acts 8:29)
When Peter, the disciple of Jesus was wondering within himself what was the meaning of the vision he had seen, the Holy Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them" (Acts 10:19,20). The implicit suggestion to Peter was that he would discover the meaning of his vision there.
When there was a little confusion in the early Church, to set is right, the apostles, elders and brethren of the whole Church formulated with the help of the Holy Spirit, a set of rules of which they wrote, "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us..." (Acts 15:28).
We came across a wonderful testimony in the Festival of Joy held at Madras recently. A brother called Kesavan had come to the Prayer Meeting, with a friend for the first time. He had lost everything in his life and was confused about his future. He was wondering whether he should live or die. That day, when I was giving God's message, the Holy Spirit came upon me abundantly. He showed me Kesavan and asked me to call him by his name. So, filled with the Spirit, I called and said, "Dear brother Kesavan, you are thinking, 'Alas, I do not have any job. I have no place in this world. I should go somewhere to die.' Kesavan, Lord Jesus is going to change you into a big merchant in this very same city. Listen to my words. Go and start a small business. Jesus appears near you. He blesses you." The next day, the same man came to the meeting joyfully and witnessed, "I am Kesavan whom you called yesterday. I came to this meeting yesterday, after being forced to come, by my friend. I had come with the idea that it is better to die, as I have lost my work and found it impossible to run my family. But Lord Jesus promised some business for me. This morning as the Lord promised, a gentleman came to my house and asked me to help him in selling away his land and gave me the original document for the land. I was taken by surprise. Quickly, I was able to sell the land and I got a commission of Rs. 5000/-. Now I am getting a lot of proposals from different places." On hearing his testimony, the whole audience applauded and glorified God.
Dear friend, how closely the Holy Spirit dwells near us. He will come to you at times of your grief, when you mourn. He will comfort you saying, "Be not afraid. Have faith. Do not weep." He will wipe away your tears.
Prayer:
Gracious Heavenly Father,
I give you crores of thanks for giving me You Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Even when I pass through the valley of sorrow and tears, help me not to be discouraged. Grant me Your grace to be steadfast in my faith and not to be shaken. Help me to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and obey His words accordingly. Help me to believe that the Comforter is always by my side. In Jesus' matchless name, I pray.
Amen. |