The Comfort of the Spirit
If you are anything like me, you are rarely aware of and appreciative of the Holy Spirit and His work. I am nearing the end of John Owen’s “Communion with God” and have been greatly encouraged by the active nature of the Spirit’s role in my life currently. Here is a quote from one section that was particularly encouraging.
In a word, in all that concerns us in this life and in all our expectation of another life, we will always stand in need for the comfort and strength of the Holy Spirit.
Without the comfort and strength of the Holy Spirit, we will either despise afflications or collapse under them and God’s purpose in sending them to us will be defeated.
Without the comfort and strength of the Holy Spirit, sin will either harden us so that we treat it with contempt, or else cast us into despair and so we neglect the gracious means that God has graciously provided us with to defeat it.
Without the comfort and strength of the Holy Spirit, duites will either puff us up with pride or leave us without that joy which will encourage us to further obedience.
Without the comfort and strength of the Holy Spirit, prosperity will make us worldly and sensual in finding contentment in these things and so weaken us for the day of trial.
Without the comfort and strength of the Holy Spirit, the comforts of our loved ones will separate us from God and the loss of them will turn our hearts to stone.
Without the comfort and strenth of the Holy Spirit, the poverty of the church will overwhelm us and the prosperity of the church will not concern us.
Without the comfort and strength of the Holy Spirit, we shall not have wisdom in our work, nor peace in any condition, nor strength for any duty, nor success in trial. Nor will we have joy and comfort in life, nor light in death.
How sad, then, is the condition of those who know nothing of the Spirit as Comforter.