The Comforter

All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26)

The Holy Spirit is referred to with a number of descriptions and names including the Spirit of truth, advocate, Eternal Spirit, Witness, the power of the Most-High and Breath of God.

He is pictured as a dove, wind, fire, cloud, rain and dew.

He is the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Jesus. He was present at the beginning hovering over the waters and when God breathed life into the humans he had created. We are now controlled by the law of the Holy Spirit who gives us life. We live in the realm of the Spirit.

We live in Christ and he lives in us and so the Holy Spirit lives in us.  We are led by the Holy Spirit who tells us about Jesus and his teaching.

We are marked in him as the deposit guaranteeing our inheritance, assuring us that we are a child of God, adopted by him and teaching us to call on God with terms of endearment, Abba, Father.

We are individually and corporately a Temple of the Holy Spirit.

When, in our weakness we do not know what to pray for the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

After his crucifixion and resurrection Jesus ascended to heaven to take his place enthroned at the right hand of God and, as he promised, he sent us his Holy Spirit with a title translated variously as Comforter, Advocate, Patron, Intercessor—Counsellor, Strengthener, Standby.

His role is to stand by us, stand with us, take our side. Where necessary he acts in our defence; after all, Jesus died for us. Who can condemn us when Christ himself is interceding for us at the right hand of God? Who can being a charge against us when God himself declares we are forgiven, justified? Who can separate us from the love of Christ when the Spirit of Jesus lives permanently in us?

Of these various titles, roles and descriptions given the Holy Spirit the meaning that means most to me is the title Comforter.

The word comforter derives its origins from Latin via French to English as one who consoles or supports in distress, anger, etc. A comforter brings comfort: to cheer up, console, soothe when in grief or trouble, to strengthen much.

In ancient castles a comfort was built within the outer walls as a refuge of extreme resort when the outer walls were breached, a place of greater security, safety and protection.

The Latin origin stems from fortis, meaning strength, courageous, brave, steadfast. To this the prefix con or com was added giving intensity, completeness, power, authority.

There is great comfort in knowing that the Holy Spirit speaks as an advocate on my behalf with my Father God through my Saviour Jesus Christ.

And also as I live day by day the Spirit of him who raised Christ from the dead is living in me, I know that he who raised Christ from the dead gives life to my mortal body!

I have received the Holy Spirit the Comforter, the Spirit who brings comfort, who comes with strength, with power, the power of the resurrected Christ, he who has strength, courage, bravery and authority. He who teaches me about my Lord Jesus Christ.

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control.

Yeah thanks, that's interesting.
So do you think that the holy spirit is it's own spiritual being? Or is it gods spirit? Or is it both?

 

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Jesus. He is God.

 

 We each also have a “spirit” as an essential part of our being.  My spirit cannot be separated from me while I live. My spirit is me. My spirit understands my thoughts, feelings, desires, joys, pains - understands me. As does your spirit understand you. But you and I cannot communicate spirit to spirit so as much as we try we can only ever get a limited understanding and relationship together.

 

The wonderful thing is that God’s Spirit is not so limited. The Holy Spirit communicates and testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children (Romans 8). The Holy Spirit fully understands God - and he fully understands us. The result is an ongoing and developing personal relationship with God as the Spirit reveals more and more of Jesus to our spirit, to us.