WHAT WE NEED

Jesus’ earthly ministry lasted three years. During His last supper with His disciples, as His time of death drew near, Jesus took time to speak words of comfort and assurance to them. He knew they would miss Him greatly, miss His teachings and their time of fellowship. Though He would no longer be with them in the flesh, He promised them a Comforter that would be with them for the rest of their lives.

The Greek word for Comforter is parakletos, and it is used by John five times in the following scriptures: John 14:15, 26; 15:26; 16:7 and 1 John 2:1. Literally, the meaning of parakletos is “called besides to assist,” “to aid another,” or “an advocate.” Additionally, He informed the disciples that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, would be called the Spirit of Truth, and He would dwell with them and be in them. He would not control them, but He would guide them in all truth.

The scripture revealed the Comforter or the Holy Spirit was coming from the Father per request of Jesus. Just like the Father gave Jesus to the world, Jesus requested the Father give the Holy Spirit to believers, and we saw this come to fruition on the day of Pentecost when one hundred and twenty believers in an upper room receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Before this event in the Old Testament, the Spirit of God was with men, for men, and upon men to accomplish their earthly assignments, but from now onward, He would be in them.

From all the turmoil in our present world, I am sure everyone realizes that the world is in direr need of answers. People are pressured on every side, and many feel the solution to their situation is death. People have no hope, and they do not know who to trust. There answer is the parakletos.

Throughout the New Testament, the Bible shares the Holy Spirit’s many works, for he is not limited to a few things. He is a comforter, a teacher, a guide, a revealer, an imparter of spiritual gifts, an intercessor, a refresher, a regenerator, a constrainer, a keeper, a lover, a mover, a sanctifier, and a producer of fruit. Knowing all that the Holy Spirit provides, who would not want Him active in their lives?

If you have not received the Holy Spirit, I am inviting you to do so. Luke 11:13 states. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” So, ask the Father now. When the Holy Spirit fills you, the sign that He is in you, as seen in Acts 2:4; 10:44 – 46 and 19:6, is the ability to speak in a language unknown to you. The bible states in 1 Corinthians 14:2, “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.” So, don’t expect to understand what you are saying. Just know by faith as you speak in the unknown language, God has fulfilled the request of His Son in your life.

Moreover, for those of you that already received the Holy Spirit but have not completely surrendered to Him, I implore you to do so, for you are missing out on God’s best for your life. I pray we all remember the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit, and allow Him full access to every area of our life, for He is what we need.