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                   PARAKLETOS:  A Greek Word for Holy Spirit

                                  (Condensed)

                            Tuesday, January 7, 1992



























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                   PARAKLETOS:  A Greek Word for Holy Spirit

           16 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
          (Bible, Gospel of John 14:16-17 KJV).

    When Jesus spoke this to His disciples, He was referring to the third Person
of the Godhead that completes the Holy Trinity: God the Holy Spirit.  The Greek
word in verse 16 that is translated as "Comforter" in the King James Bible is
"Parakletos."  Jesus was saying that He would send another Person Who was
exactly like Himself, the "allos Parakletos," God the Holy Spirit:
        ... in 1 Jn. 2:1, Christ is termed our substitutionary, intercessory
        Advocate.  Christ designates the Holy Spirit as Paraclete (Jn. 14:16),
        and He calls Him allos ... another, which means another of equal quality
        and not heteros ... another of a different quality. Therefore, the Holy
        Spirit is designated by Jesus Christ as equal with Himself, God ... The
        Holy Spirit is called a Paraclete because He undertakes Christ's office
        in the world while Christ is away from the world as the God-Man.  He is
        also called the Paraclete because He acts as Christ's substitute on
        Earth ... (Zodhiates, 1718; italics mine).
    In the Book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul differentiates between the
counterfeit "gospel" ("heteros") and the true Gospel ("allos").  This
counterfeit "gospel" was a heresy delivered to the Galatians who had already
received the truth.  Paul entreats the Galatians to reject heretical teachings:
        6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the
        Grace of Christ unto another [heteros] gospel:  7 Which is not another
        [allos]; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the
        Gospel of Christ.  8 But though we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any
        other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let
        him be accursed.  9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man
        preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be
        accursed (Galatians 1:6-9 KJV; Greek words in brackets mine).
    Thus, "Comforter" provides an incomplete portrayal of the "allos Parakletos"
(God the Holy Spirit).  Since the Holy Spirit is a living, functioning being of
the Godhead, it is impossible to describe Him in one word; as it is impossible
to describe God the Father or God the Son in one word.
    Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines "Comforter" as the Holy
Spirit when capitalized, or "one that gives comfort" (263).  Implying that this
circular definition properly introduces one to the Holy Spirit is tantamount to
claiming an intimate knowledge of someone who is merely a casual acquaintance.
    The majority of the problem is the cultural and chronological barrier of the
translation, which can obscure the original dynamism.  We are not concerned with
inaccuracy but rather inadequacy.  The Greek texts of the books comprising the
New Testament were employed in several English translations.  The most popular
English rendering is the King James Version of the Bible, first published in
1611.  However, 17th-century English may not be sufficiently articulate for all
contemporary readers.  The NIV Bible, a late 20th-century product, attempts to
translate the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts into the context of modern-day
English.  Indeed, The NIV Study Bible translates John 14:16:  "And I will ask
the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever."  The
footnote states,
        Counselor.  Or "Helper."  It is a legal term, but with a broader meaning
        than "counsel for the defense" (see 1Jn 2:1).  It referred to any person
        who helped someone in trouble with the law.  The Spirit will always
        stand by Christ's people (1625).

    The New American Standard Bible translates John 14:16:  "And I will ask the
Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever."
Comforter, Counselor and Helper are all accurate, if not complete, portrayals of
the Holy Spirit and His ministry.
    The King James scholars were faced with the task of translating one of the
Greek words for the Spirit, "Parakletos."  Finding no single word with a
parallel meaning in the English language, the translators did the best they
could by using "Comforter."  This presented quite a problem because "Parakletos"
is a word of broad meaning, rich in context.  A closer look at the Spirit and
the Holy Trinity will demonstrate the inadequacy of "Comforter" and then we will
see how "Parakletos" reveals the interminable spiritual truth in Jesus'
statement.
    The first thing to understand is that all three Persons of the Godhead have
existed since the dawn of time.  God the Father speaks in the Book of
Revelation:  "'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'Who is, and
Who was, and Who is to come, the Almighty'" (1:8 NIV).  This extraordinary
declaration of eternal existence and supreme sovereignty is reiterated in
Revelation 21:6 and 22:13.
    It is erroneous to conceive that the Son, Jesus Christ, was not in existence
prior to His human birth.  Jesus addresses this fact as He is answering a group
of unbelieving Jews, descendants of Abraham, on His eternal existence:  "Jesus
said unto them, 'Verily, verily I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am'" (John
8:58 KJV).  However, there is a far deeper revelation associated with Jesus'
statement of "I am."  Around 1445 B.C., God commissioned Moses to lead the
nation of Israel out of Egyptian slavery.  Moses asked God Whose Name he should
declare to the Israelites.  God replied succinctly:
        And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM:  and He said, Thus shalt thou
        say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you (Exodus 3:14
        KJV).
    When Jesus said "I am," He manifested His Deity as God the Son.  Jesus made
this declaration to the mob that Judas Iscariot had led to capture Him.  They
were frightened out of their wits by Jesus' declaration of "I am" ("He" was
added by the King James scholars and is not part of Jesus' proclamation):
        3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief
        priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and
        weapons.  4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon
        Him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?  5 They answered Him,
        Jesus of Nazareth.  Jesus saith unto them, I AM He. And Judas also,
        which betrayed Him, stood with them.  6 As soon then as He had said unto
        them, I AM He, they went backward, and fell to the ground.  7 Then asked
        He them again, Whom seek ye?  And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.  8 Jesus
        answered, I have told you that I AM He ... (John 18:3-8 KJV; "AM"
        capitalization mine).
    Prior to His capture, Jesus announced His Deity ("I AM") to the Jews.  Jesus
taught in one of the Jewish temples that He is God the Son, the Incarnate
Deity Immanuel ("God with us" - Matthew 1:23) and that when He was sacrificed
they would know that He was doing His Father's work:
        23 And He said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above:  ye are
        of this world; I am not of this world.  24 I said therefore unto you,
        that ye shall die in your sins:  for if ye believe not that I AM He, ye
        shall die in your sins ... 28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have
        lifted up the Son of Man, then shall ye know that I AM He, and that I do
        nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these
        things.  29 And He that sent Me is with Me:  the Father hath not left Me
        alone; for I do always those things that please Him.  30 As He spake
        these words, many believed on Him (John 8:23-24, 28-30 KJV; "AM"
        capitalization mine).
    Jesus informed a Pharisee named Nicodemus of His divine purpose.  Though He
would be sacrificed for all of humanity, people still have individual freedom to
choose whether or not to believe in Him.  God has done all He intends to do to
reconcile humanity to Himself and He will do no more.  Opportunity is knocking:
        17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but
        that the world through Him might be Saved.  18 He that believeth on Him
        is not condemned:  but he that believeth not is condemned already,
        because he hath not believed in the Name of the Only Begotten Son of God
        (John 3:17-18 KJV).
    In the prophesy of Micah, we find a revelation of the coming human birth of
Christ as well as confirmation of His eternal existence:
        But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of
        Judah, out of you will come for Me One Who will be Ruler over Israel,
        Whose origins are from of old, from ancient times (Micah 5:2 NIV).
    The Apostle Peter reaffirms Christ's perpetual presence, predestined purpose
and relevant revelation:  "For He was foreknown before the foundation of the
world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you"  (1st Peter
1:20 NASB).
    It is also incorrect to imagine that the Holy Spirit did not exist until
after Christ's Ascension into the Kingdom of God.  The eternal existence of the
Holy Spirit is confirmed in the first chapter of the first book of the Bible:
        1 In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth.  2 And the
        Earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the
        deep.  And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (Genesis
        1:1-2 KJV).
    To neglect the existence of or minimize the power of the Holy Spirit is to
do an injustice to the Christian Faith.  Many churches lack the power and
authority to complete their Christian work because they neither thoroughly
comprehend nor properly emphasize the structure and power of the Holy Trinity.
    God the Father is the Creator and is glorified through Jesus the Son:
        15 ... He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God [the Father], the
        first-born of all creation.  16 For by Him [Jesus] all things were
        created, both in the heavens and on Earth, visible and invisible,
        whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have
        been created by Him [Jesus] and for Him [Jesus] (Colossians 1:15-16
        NASB; pronouns in brackets mine).
    The Book of Hebrews expounds further on the revelation of God the Father
through the ministry, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ the Son:
        1 God, Who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to
        the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by
        His Son, Whom He has appointed Heir of all things, through Whom also He
        made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of His glory and the express
        image of His Person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power,
        when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of
        the Majesty on High (Hebrews 1:1-3 NKJV).
    The laws given by God the Father were not designed to place impossible
burdens upon people for the purpose of making them righteous.  It is Satan who
portrays God in this fashion.  The Book of Romans demonstrates that God's
intention was to turn people to His chosen Messiah, Christ:
        19 ... what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under
        the law:  that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become
        guilty before God.  20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no
        flesh be justified in His sight:  for by the law is the knowledge of
        sin.  21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested,
        being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness
        of God which is by Faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that
        believe ... (Romans 3:19-22 KJV).
    Jesus Christ the Son is the only absolute sinless, spotless, sufficient
sacrifice for the sins of the entire world, past, present and future:
        23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are
        justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that came by Christ
        Jesus (Romans 3:23-24 NIV).
    Lest anyone misunderstand His Messianic role and pass Him off as just
another common "religious" teacher, Jesus Christ made a bold statement of His
uniqueness:  "... I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.  No one comes to the
Father except through Me" (John 14:6 NIV).  Reiteration of Christ's singleness
of purpose and authority is found in the Book of Acts:  "And there is Salvation
in no one else; for there is no other name under Heaven that has been given
among men, by which we must be Saved" (4:12 NASB).
    The Gospel of Matthew records Christ's quiet invitation to belief in Him:
        28 Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give
        you rest.  29 Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and
        lowly in heart:  and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  30 For My yoke
        is easy, and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV).
    The Bible guarantees the free gift of Salvation to whosoever asks:  "And
everyone who calls on the Name of the LORD will be Saved" (Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21;
cf. Romans 10:13 NIV).  Peter explains accepting Christ as Saviour:
        38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name
        of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive
        the gift of the Holy Spirit.  39 The promise is for you and your
        children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will
        call" (Acts 2:38-39 NIV).
    The Apostle Paul explains Salvation through Faith:
        9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
        believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou
        shalt be Saved.  10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;
        and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation.  11 For the
        Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed (Romans
        10:9-11 KJV).
    An excellent definition of Faith is found in the Book of Hebrews:
        1 Now Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of
        things not seen.  2 For by it the men of old gained approval.  3 By
        Faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the Word of God, so
        that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible (Hebrews
        11:1-3 NASB).
    The Book of Ephesians demonstrates that God's Grace is totally impartial:
        8 For by Grace are ye Saved through Faith; and that not of yourselves:
        it is the gift of God:  9 Not of works, lest any man should boast
        (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV).
    There is no boasting or self-righteous attitude acceptable before God.
Jesus asserted that God's Saving Grace cannot be purchased, earned or hoarded:
        9 ... He also told this parable to certain ones who trusted in
        themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
        10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the
        other a tax-gatherer.  11 The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to
        himself, 'God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people:  swindlers,
        unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer.  12 I fast twice a
        week; I pay tithes of all that I get.'  "But the tax-gatherer, standing
        some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to Heaven,
        but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the
        sinner!'  "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather
        than the other; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he
        who humbles himself shall be exalted" (Luke 18:9-14 NASB).
    A weeping woman fell at the feet of Jesus.  A Pharisee named Simon viewed
her with contempt.  Jesus explained that the "worst" sinners usually become, in
fact, the best servants of God:
        39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to
        himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of
        person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner."  40 And
        Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you."
        And he replied, "Say it, Teacher."  41  "A certain moneylender had two
        debtors:  one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  42 When
        they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both.  Which of
        them therefore will love him more?"  43 Simon answered and said, "I
        suppose the one whom he forgave more."  And He said to him, "You have
        judged correctly." ... 47 "... I say to you, her sins, which are many,
        have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little,
        loves little" (Luke 7:36-43, 47 NASB).
    When Christ spoke of His forthcoming death and Resurrection, He described
the interrelationship between the Trinity and the believers via the Holy Spirit:
"On that day you will realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I
am in you" (John 14:20 NIV).  One receives the Holy Spirit by spiritually
receiving Christ, not just intellectually.  Jesus told Nicodemus:
        7... 'You must be born again.'  8 "The wind blows where it wishes and
        you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where
        it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:7-8
        NASB).
    Jesus advised His disciples that He must be sacrificed so that He could send
the Parakletos (the Comforter), Who would continue His ministry:
        ... I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away:  for
        if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart,
        I will send Him unto you (John 16:7 KJV).
    So, the Spirit's role was to shift from directing people from the outside to
living within believers and guiding them from the inside.  This is Biblical, as
Christ had to be sacrificed first for the Spirit to continue His ministry.  The
Bible verifies the approaching personal indwelling of God the Holy Spirit:
        37 ... Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come
        unto Me, and drink.  38 He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath
        said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of Living Water.  39 (But this
        spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive:
        for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet
        glorified (John 7:37-39 KJV, cf. John 4:10, 13-14).
    Accordingly, Jesus encouraged His disciples to persist in their petitions to
God the Father and believe Him for the promised Holy Spirit:
        9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall
        find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  10 For every one that
        asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh
        it shall be opened.  11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a
        father, will he give him a stone?  or if he ask a fish, will he for a
        fish give him a serpent?  12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer
        him a scorpion?  13 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? (Luke 11:9-13 KJV).
    God the Father turned away from Christ while He hung on the Cross so that
His Atoning Sacrifice would be complete and the bill wholly and eternally paid:
        34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi,
        Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, My God, why
        hast Thou forsaken Me? (Mark 15:34 KJV).
    Christians recognize the importance of public confession of Christ as
Saviour and Lord.  Christ hung naked on the Cross to His death, so He knows
public humiliation.  Because Christ made a public sacrifice, all who would
receive Him must make public confession of Him.  There is no middle ground:
        32 Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also
        confess him before My Father Who is in Heaven.  33 But whoever shall
        deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father Who is in
        Heaven (Matthew 10:32-33 NASB).
    Jesus Christ is now Lord of all, even obdurate non-believers:
        9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name
        that is above every name, 10 that at the Name of Jesus every knee should
        bow, in Heaven and on Earth and under the Earth, 11 and every tongue
        confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father
        (Philippians 2:9-11 NIV).
    Jesus left His disciples shortly after His Resurrection to sit at the right
hand of God.  His disciples witnessed His Ascension (Mark 16:19-20; Luke
24:50-53).  Just prior to His Ascension, the Resurrected Christ instructed them
to await the expected Holy Spirit, Whom He would send on the Day of Pentecost:
        And, behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you:  but tarry ye in
        the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high (Luke
        24:49 KJV).
    Jesus bestowed the Spirit to His disciples at this point, but this was not
the fiery baptism of the Holy Ghost (Spirit) to occur on the Day of Pentecost:
        21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you:  as My Father hath
        sent Me, even so send I you.  22 And when He had said this, He breathed
        on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost (John 20:21-22
        KJV).
    God directed John the Baptist to preach repentance and baptize with water.
Christ drew a parallel between water baptism and baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Baptism of the Spirit at Pentecost was a separate act from Christ bestowing the
Spirit via His breath.  Acts reiterates Christ's commandment to the disciples:
        4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they
        should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the
        Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me.  5 For John truly baptized
        with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days
        hence (Acts 1:4-5 KJV).
    The purpose of the baptism of the Spirit was to empower the disciples to
carry out Jesus' Great Commission (cf. Matthew 28:19) of spreading the Gospel:
        But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
        and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea,
        and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the Earth (Acts 1:8 KJV).
    The Heaven-sent Holy Ghost marvelously manifested on the Day of Pentecost:
        1 When the Day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
        2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from Heaven
        and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  3 They saw what
        seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of
        them.  4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak
        in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them (Acts 2:1-4 NIV).
    When God the Son was sacrificed, God the Father moved out of inanimate
temples and moved into Christians in the vibrant Person of God the Holy Spirit:
        ... for ye are the Temple of the Living God; as God hath said, I will
        dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall
        be My people (2nd Corinthians 6:16 KJV).
    The New Bible Dictionary says,
        Admittedly, it is easier in the Old Testament to interpret the activity
        of the Spirit in an impersonal way than it is in the New Testament; but
        in both God is personally and powerfully present in His Spirit.  In each
        Testament there is a movement from the more external to the more
        internal work of the Spirit and from what might be called "outward
        application" to inward appropriation (531).
    Evidence of the Spirit's eternal existence and "outward application" can be
found in the Old Testament.  Prophets received their revelations many times
while in the Spirit.  For example, the Holy Spirit played a major role in
bringing a prophetic and futuristic vision of the nation of Israel to Ezekiel:
        The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the Spirit of
        the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of
        bones (Ezekiel 37:1 KJV).
    The "inward appropriation" of the Spirit bears a nine-faceted "fruit" as
detailed in one of the Epistles of Paul:  "22 ... the fruit of the Spirit is
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, 23 Gentleness and
Self-Control" (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV).  The Apostle Paul wrote that the gifts of
the Spirit are also evidenced in nine distinct manifestations:
        4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  5 There are
        different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  6 There are different
        kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.  7 Now
        to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common
        good.  8 To one there is given through the Spirit the Message of Wisdom,
        to another the Message of Knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to
        another Faith by the same Spirit, to another Gifts of Healing by that
        one Spirit, 10 to another Miraculous Powers, to another Prophecy, to
        another Distinguishing Between Spirits, to another Speaking in Different
        Kinds of Tongues, and to still another the Interpretation of Tongues.
        11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them
        to each one, just as He determines (1st Corinthians 12:4-11 NIV).
    In the Book of Acts, we are introduced to believers who had been Saved by
believing in Jesus, but had not yet received God the Holy Spirit:
        14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
        received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:  15 Who,
        when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the
        Holy Ghost:  16 (For as yet He was fallen upon none of them:  only they
        were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus.)  17 Then laid they their
        hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:14-17 KJV).
    The Apostles witnessed the coming of God the Holy Spirit upon the Gentile
believers.  The Apostle Peter addressed a large group of people who had gathered
at the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion.  Peter told them of the ministry,
death, and Resurrection of Christ.  Peter also revealed that Christ had anointed
them to preach Salvation in His Name.  The Jewish Christians accompanying Peter
were astounded at what happened next:
        38 "... God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power
        ... He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power
        of the devil, because God was with Him ... 42 He commanded us to preach
        to the people and to testify that He is the One Whom God appointed as
        Judge of the living and the dead.  43 All the prophets testify about Him
        that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through
        His Name."  44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy
        Spirit came on all who heard the message.  45 The circumcised believers
        who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit
        had been poured out even on the Gentiles.  46 For they heard them
        speaking in tongues and praising God.  Then Peter said, 47 "Can anyone
        keep these people from being baptized with water?  They have received
        the Holy Spirit just as we have."  48 So he ordered that they be
        baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ ... (Acts 10:38, 42-48 NIV).
    Upon his entrance to the city of Ephesus, the Apostle Paul encountered
believers who had responded to the "baptism of repentance" preached by John the
Baptist, but had not yet received the "baptism" of God the Holy Spirit:
        1 ... Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus.
        There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, "Did you receive the
        Holy Spirit when you believed?"  They answered, "No we have not even
        heard that there is a Holy Spirit."  3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism
        did you receive?"  "John's baptism," They replied.  4 Paul said, "John's
        baptism was a baptism of repentance.  He told the people to believe in
        the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus."  5 On hearing this, they
        were baptized into the Name of the Lord Jesus.  6 When Paul placed his
        hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues
        and prophesied.  7 There were about twelve men in all (Acts 19:1-7 NIV).
    The Spirit, working inside and consequently through believers, continues the
work of Christ, spreading the Gospel, praising the Son and glorifying God.  The
New Bible Dictionary says,
        Since God is said to be Spirit (Jn. iv.24), the whole Trinity has been
        thought of by some in terms of Spirit.  This has tended to cloud the
        distinction between the Spirit, the Father, and the Son.  Moreover, to
        speak, as some do, of the Spirit as the relation of love between the
        Father and the Son, or further, to define the Spirit as the "living
        action of God in the world," while emphasizing a valuable, yet partial,
        truth, nevertheless tends to depersonalize the Spirit and to reduce Him
        to an influence or force, albeit a benign one (531).
    Christians must realize that the personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit
enables them to carry on the work of Christ.  Jesus promised His disciple Philip
that the Spirit would enable believers to produce many fruitful works:
        12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has Faith in Me will do what I have
        been doing.  He will do even greater things than these, because I am
        going to the Father.  13 And I will do whatever you ask in My Name, so
        that the Son may bring glory to the Father.  14 You may ask Me for
        anything in My Name, and I will do it (John 14:12-14 NIV).
    Exodus chapter 26 describes a tabernacle erected to atone for the sins of
the people of Israel.  Hebrews 9:1-5 depicts the configuration of the
tabernacle.  The innermost chamber was called the Holy of Holies.  Only the high
priest could enter this chamber once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus
23:26-32) to intercede to God on behalf of the people.  A veil sealed the
entrance to the Holy of Holies (Exodus 26:31-37).  Hebrews 9:6-7 describes the
ritual performed by the high priest of Israel.
    Just before Jesus dies on the Cross at Calvary, the Gospel of Luke tells us:
"... and the veil of the temple was torn in two" (23:45 NASB).  The significance
of this mysterious event is revealed by the Book of Hebrews:  "...  through His
own Blood, He entered the Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal
redemption" (9:12 NASB).  Therefore, the Book of Hebrews calls Jesus the "High
Priest" in verse 3:1 and the "Great High Priest" in verse 4:14.  Hebrews
demonstrates that believers now possess a right once held only by the high
priests of Israel, thanks to the High Priest of God, Jesus Christ:
        19 ... therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the Holy Place
        by the Blood of Jesus, 20 by a New and Living Way which He inaugurated
        for us through the veil, that is, His flesh (Hebrews 10:19-20 NASB).
    For 2,000 years every believer in Jesus Christ has had direct access to God
the Father through God the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26-27) and Jesus Christ (Romans
8:34, 1st John 2:1).  The Book of Hebrews portrays Christ as exceptionally and
experientially qualified to comfort His people:
        14 Therefore, since we have a Great High Priest Who has gone through the
        heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the Faith we
        profess.  15 For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to
        sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One Who has been tempted in
        every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.  16 Let us then approach
        the Throne of Grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and
        find Grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV).
    Quite obviously, the Holy Spirit is done an injustice to be referred to
merely as a "Comforter," "Counselor," or "Helper."  Let us examine the word
"Parakletos," now that we understand Who it is we are trying to describe.
    In the story of Job, we find the word "parakletos" translated as
"comforters."  "Parakletos" is the word found in Job 16:2 in the Septuagint or
Greek translations of the Old Testament.  Job was a righteous man (Job 1:5, 8,
20-22; 2:3, 9-10) suffering at Satan's request, which God in His omniscience
allowed.  Now the context of the word as used here is not referring to the Holy
Spirit, but the implied application is similar.  Job, having been delivered into
the hands of the enemy by God, was being consoled by three friends who had an
intellectual but not spiritual belief in God.  Job's friends mistakenly believed
that all suffering was a result of sin and that Job should confess his sin
instead of denying his guilt.  This shortcoming rendered these three useless in
comforting Job.  Job's disdain for his companions and their counsel is recorded
as such:  "I have heard many such things:  miserable comforters are ye all"
(16:2 KJV).  Job's friends, although their intentions were good, were no
substitute for the presence of God or His Spirit.  Job learned to accept God's
sovereignty and was exonerated (Job 42).
    Jesus said:  "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you" (John
14:18 NIV).  Buddha, Mohammed and all other religious teachers have left their
followers as orphans, because they have not risen from the dead as Jesus Christ
has.  Acknowledgement of Jesus' Deity authenticates His authority, separating
Him from false religious leaders who obfuscate the Gospel and deceive the world:
        22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ?
        This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.  23
        Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses
        the Son has the Father also (1st John 2:22-23 NASB).
    The dictionary states that the prefix "para-" means "alongside of."  Not
only did God the Father pay our sin bill by sacrificing God the Son, but He also
helps us to maintain our Christian posture by the indwelling of God the Holy
Spirit.  We cannot do it in our own power.  Barclay says,
        Parakletos itself is a word which is passive in form.  It means
        literally one who is called in.  But although it is passive in form it
        is almost always active in meaning ... If that be so we shall come best
        at its meaning by examining first of all the verb parakalein from which
        parakletos is derived (1974, 217).
    Barclay finds parakalein a magnificent verb:
        At its most general parakalein means to call in, to summon.  So a man is
        said to call in an ally ... to call in a counsellor to give advice ...
        to call in an advocate to plead a case in the law courts ... It is also
        used of calling upon a man to undertake a public duty such as the duty
        of a gymnasiarch, whose duty it was to maintain and train a team at his
        own expense to run in the torch race ... Therefore at its widest a
        parakletos is a person who is called in to help in a situation with
        which a man by himself cannot cope (1974, 217-218).
    The Christian life is metaphorically referred to as a race several times in
the Epistles.  Paul exhorts the effort that a Christian should make:  "Do you
not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in
such a way as to get the prize" (1st Corinthians 9:24 NIV).  The Book of Hebrews
reveals that Christians are truly in the arena:
        1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of
        witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily
        ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before
        us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, Who for
        the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame,
        and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2
        NKJV).
    Since God is just and the Day of Judgement has been set, people need defense
counsel to stand before Almighty God.  Christians have confidence because Jesus
is the Defender based on the Cross.  In 1st John we find the word "Paraclete,"
derived from "Parakletos," translated as "Advocate:"
        1 My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not
        sin.  And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus
        Christ the Righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins;
        and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world (2:1-2
        NASB).
    However, Christ's sanctifying advocacy is active in application:
        8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is
        not in us.  9 If we confess our sins, He is Faithful and Just and will
        forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1st John 1:8-9
        NIV).
    The Apostle Paul reaffirms what Christ accomplished for Christians, who
cannot be separated from the love of God in Christ:  "... If God be for us, who
can be against us?" (Romans 8:31 KJV).  Paul corroborates the Apostle John's
portrayal of Christ as the unparalleled Paraclete:  "... It is Christ that died,
yea rather, that is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also
maketh intercession for us (Romans 8:34 KJV).
    The eternal security of the believer who has genuinely received Christ is
emphasized in the New Testament.  God gave His Holy Spirit for this reason:
        21 Now it is God Who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.  He
        anointed us, 22 set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in
        our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come (2nd Corinthians
        1:21-22 NIV).
    This recurrent theme of security was likewise expounded at Ephesus and
substantiates the manifestation of Christ's promise in John 14:16:
        13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the Word of
        Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation.  Having believed, you were marked
        in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 Who is a deposit
        guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's
        possession--to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV).
    Paul's letter to the Church at Colossae demonstrated that the Christian's
security is based on God's workings through the sacrifice of Christ the Son:
        13 ... He [God] made you alive together with Him [Christ], having
        forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the
        certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was
        hostile to us; and He [God] has taken it out of the way, having nailed
        it to the Cross.  15 When He [Christ] had disarmed the rulers and
        authorities, He [God] made a public display of them, having triumphed
        over them through Him [Christ] (Colossians 2:13-15 NASB; pronouns in
        brackets mine).
    One winter day in Israel, Jesus spoke of the assurance believers possess:
        27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:  28 And
        I give unto them Eternal Life; and they shall never perish, neither
        shall any man pluck them out of My hand.  29 My Father, which gave them
        Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My
        Father's hand.  30 I and My Father are One (John 10:27-30 KJV).
    Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to all that believe in Him.  The Spirit
testifies of Christ, Who bridged the gap of broken fellowship between God and
humanity.  Paul gives a synopsis of the Bible's principal Message in 1st
Timothy:  5 "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus, 6 Who gave Himself as a ransom for all men ..." (2:5-6 NIV).
    Sometimes, people unfairly portray God as a hater of humanity.  God loves
all people and wants them to live in peace.  1st Timothy tells of God's love:
"3 This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, 4 Who wants all men to be Saved
and to come to a knowledge of the Truth" (2:3-4 NIV).  God's compassionate love
is accurately portrayed in the Book of Jonah as God informs Jonah of His concern
for over 120,000 inhabitants of Nineveh and even their cattle:
        And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than
        sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand
        and their left hand; and also much cattle? (4:11 KJV).
    Peter portrays God as a sympathetic Comforter:  "6 Humble yourselves,
therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper
time,  7 casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you" (1st Peter
5:6-7 NASB).  God's ultimate act of love was nailing His Son to the Cross.  John
the Baptist, Jesus' second cousin, seeing Him said:  "... Behold the Lamb of
God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29 KJV).
    During a legal trial in this life, a defense attorney can hardly be called a
"comforter" although his presence would be comforting if he is competent.
Especially if the attorney can always guarantee a "not guilty" verdict, as Jesus
can by the testimony of the Spirit.  God knew that no one could be competent
enough to stand before Him, let alone defend another, so He took it upon Himself
to create a one-time, all-encompassing Atoning Sacrifice to satisfy His demand
that sin be punished.  The sin bill for every single person was paid 2,000 years
ago by Christ.  The Holy Spirit propagates this Message throughout the world,
via Christians.  Therefore, no one need fear approaching God the Father to seek
His Grace in Christ, for He will eagerly greet them with outstretched arms:
        16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though
        we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.  17 Therefore,
        if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new
        has come!  18 All this is from God, Who reconciled us to Himself through
        Christ and gave us the Ministry of Reconciliation:  19 that God was
        reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins
        against them.  And He has committed to us the Message of Reconciliation.
        20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His
        appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ's behalf:  Be reconciled to
        God.  21 God made Him Who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we
        might become the righteousness of God (2nd Corinthians 5:16-21 NIV).
    Barclay tells of the Spirit's diverse role:
        The meaning of advocate for the defence is both fitting and adequate for
        parakletos ... but it is not so fitting in the Gospel.  There the
        Parakletos is the Spirit of Truth ... the Spirit is the Interpreter and
        the Teacher and the Remembrancer ... the Spirit is the One Who will
        testify of Christ ... but above all parakalein is used of exhorting
        troops who are about to go into battle (1974, 220).
    God gives utterance to the Spirit of Truth.  Jesus said:
        13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all
        truth.  He will not speak on His Own; He will speak only what He hears,
        and He will tell you what is yet to come.  14 He will bring glory to Me
        by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you (John 16:13-14
        NIV).
    The Apostle Paul reveals the Spirit as the Interpreter / Intercessor:
        26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know
        what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with
        groans that words cannot express.  27 And He Who searches our hearts
        knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the
        saints in accordance with God's will (Romans 8:26-27 NIV).
    Jesus says the Parakletos (Spirit) is the Teacher and Remembrancer:
        But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in
        My Name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
        remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:25 KJV).
    Jesus tells of the Parakletos' (Spirit's) testimony in John's Gospel:
        26 But when the Comforter is come, Whom I will send unto you from the
        Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He
        shall testify of Me:  27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have
        been with Me from the beginning (John 15:26-27 KJV).
    The paraklesis (comfort) of the Parakletos (Spirit) includes exhortation:
        Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria,
        and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the
        comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied (Acts 9:31 KJV).
    Christians are to study the Word of God assiduously.  This is the Sword of
the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) that gives spiritual discernment and confidence in
living and witnessing for Christ.  2nd Timothy encourages study of God's Word:
        Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to
        be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2:15 KJV).
    The proclaimed Word of God is guaranteed to bear fruit by God Himself:
        10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from Heaven, and returneth
        not thither, but watereth the Earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud,
        that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:  11 So shall
        My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth:  it shall not return unto
        Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall
        prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (Isaiah 55:10-11 KJV).
    The young preacher Timothy was instructed by the Apostle Paul:  "... be
sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your
ministry" (2nd Timothy 4:5 NASB).  Jesus said to serve Him diligently:
        45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made
        ruler over His household, to give them meat in due season?  46 Blessed
        is that servant, whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing.  47
        Verily I say unto you, That He shall make him ruler over all His goods
        (Matthew 24:45-47 KJV).
    Therefore, sagacious Christians are good stewards of time, talents and
resources, looking forward unto the day when the Master will say,
        ... Well done, thou good and faithful servant:  thou hast been faithful
        over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:  enter thou
        into the joy of thy Lord (Matthew 25:21 KJV).
    Christians, who must spread the Gospel, should know the nature of the enemy.
Prospective converts to Christianity may not comprehend the Gospel due to
Satan's interference.  Satan, the enemy of God and man, is called "the god of
this world" in this excerpt from 2nd Corinthians and is not to be confused with
the Omniscient, Omnificent, Omnipotent, Omnipresent Almighty God:
        3 But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  4 In whom
        the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,
        lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, Who is the image of
        God, should shine unto them (4:3-4 KJV).
    But the veil which has blinded the minds of unbelievers need not be
permanent.  Spiritual emancipation is proclaimed and available to all:
        16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17
        Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there
        is liberty.  18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror
        the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from
        glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord (2nd Corinthians
        3:16-18 NKJV).
    Thus comes the realization that Christians are involved in a supernatural
battle; a battle on a spiritual plane that non-believers cannot possibly
comprehend.  Paul writes of the believer's spiritual warfare:
        3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  4
        (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God
        to the pulling down of strongholds;)  5 Casting down imaginations, and
        every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and
        bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2nd
        Corinthians 10:3-5 KJV).
    Christians cannot overcome Satan in their own power, they must have the
Spirit of God.  Only a person who is Saved can receive the sealing of the Spirit
of God.  Attempting to defeat Satan in the natural is ill-advised.  Seven
unsaved Jewish brothers tried to enter the supernatural battle without actually
having been born-again.  All seven sons of Sceva lived to regret it:
        13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke
        the Name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed.  They
        would say, "In the Name of Jesus, Whom Paul preaches, I command you to
        come out." ... 15 One day, the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know,
        and I know about Paul, but who are you?"  16 Then the man who had the
        evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all.  He gave them such
        a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding (Acts 19:13,
        15-16 NIV).
    Christians must use prayer, for this is what Satan fears most:  "... the
prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16 NIV).
    False teachers and false prophets draw people unto themselves, but true
followers of Jesus Christ point others to Him, and to Him only; not to
themselves:  "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and
ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake (2nd Corinthians 4:5 KJV).
    The Apostle Paul stated that the power in his ministry came from the Holy
Spirit and that His power enabled Paul to preach the simple message of God's
Grace.  Paul's confidence was in God; not in his skill as a polished orator:
        1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of
        speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.  2 For I
        determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him
        crucified.  3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much
        trembling.  4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words
        of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  5
        That your Faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power
        of God (1st Corinthians 2:1-5 KJV).
    The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy to patiently admonish unbelievers whose
minds were blinded from the Truth of the Gospel by Satan and are consequently
taken prisoner by his deceptive tactics:
        24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all
        men, apt to teach, patient; 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose
        themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the
        acknowledging of the Truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out
        of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will (2nd
        Timothy 2:24-26 KJV).
    Recognition of the majesty and sovereignty of God may appear nonsensical to
the unenlightened, obstinate or haughty.  Paul wrote that unrelenting autonomy
or self-rule before God demonstrated untenable ignorance, not wisdom:
        20 For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are
        clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His
        eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  21 Because
        that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were
        thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart
        was darkened.  22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools
        (Romans 1:20-22 KJV).
    In one of his letters to the Church at Corinth, Paul concedes that "highly
educated" unbelievers may consider Christianity a frivolous pursuit:
        18 For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are
        perishing, but to us who are being Saved it is the power of God.  19 For
        it is written:  I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence
        of the intelligent I will frustrate."  20 Where is the wise man?  Where
        is the scholar?  Where is the philosopher of this age?  Has not God made
        foolish the wisdom of the world?  21 For since in the wisdom of God the
        world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the
        foolishness of what was preached to Save those who believe (1st
        Corinthians 1:18-21 NIV).
    Paul reveals that the Christian life is a true supernatural battle against
the evil, albeit fleeting, empire of Satan the adversary:
        10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.  11 Put on
        the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the
        devil's schemes.  12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
        but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of
        this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
        realms (Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV).
    Paul describes the spiritual warfare "armor," using the armor of a Roman
soldier as a model:
        13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil
        comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done
        everything, to stand.  14 Stand firm then, with the Belt of Truth
        buckled around your waist, with the Breastplate of Righteousness in
        place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from
        the Gospel of Peace.  16 In addition to all this, take up the Shield of
        Faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil
        one.  17 Take the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit, which
        is the Word of God.  18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all
        kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always
        keep on praying for all the saints (Ephesians 6:13-18 NIV).
    Perplexing tribulations may manifest in a Christian's life:
        12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are
        suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.  13 But
        rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you
        may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.  14 If you are insulted
        because of the Name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory
        and of God rests on you (1st Peter 4:12-14 NIV).
    Peter explains the occasional necessity of these trials:
        6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if
        necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 that the proof
        of your Faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even
        though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and
        honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen
        Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in
        Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9
        obtaining as the outcome of your Faith the Salvation of your souls (1st
        Peter 1:6-9 NASB).
    The Spirit is a Christian's perpetual Helper during these periods:
        1 Therefore having been justified by Faith, we have peace with God
        through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through Whom also we have obtained our
        introduction by Faith into this Grace in which we stand; and we exult in
        hope of the glory of God.  3 And not only this, but we also exult in our
        tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and
        perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope
        does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within
        our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who was given to us (Romans 5:1-5
        NASB).
    Paul encourages Christians to look beyond transient difficulties:
        16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying,
        yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.  17 For momentary, light
        affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all
        comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at
        the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are
        temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2nd Corinthians
        4:16-18 NASB).
    The Apostle Peter warns the Christian that Satan would do anything to
discredit the Faith:  "8 Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil
prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  9 Resist him
standing firm in the Faith ..." (1st Peter 5:8-9 NIV).  The Apostle John
encourages Christians, who have come to know the Truth, by assuring that the
Spirit of Christ is far more powerful than Satan:  "... because the One Who is
in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1st John 4:4 NIV).
    The Resurrected Jesus instructs His followers to make disciples of others:
        18 ... Jesus came and spake unto them, saying All power is given unto Me
        in Heaven and in Earth.  19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
        baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
        Holy Ghost:  20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
        commanded you:  and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the
        world.  Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20 KJV).
    God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit and the bride (the
Christian Church) urge all who would exercise their free will to come to Christ
in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible:
        16 I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the
        Churches.  I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and
        Morning Star.  17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.  And let him
        that heareth say, Come.  And let him that is athirst come.  And
        whosoever will, let him take the Water of Life freely (Revelation
        22:16-17 KJV).
    Jesus invites "whosoever will" to become partakers of the "Water of Life:"
        ... I am come that they might have Life, and that they might have it
        more abundantly (John 10:10 KJV).
    "Comforter" is an insubstantial rendering of the Spirit and His ministry.
The Holy Spirit is solely responsible for spreading the Good News of the Grace
of God in Christ.  Since it is God the Holy Spirit Who manages Christians and
the Christian Church according to His divine power, wisdom and purpose, the
Apostle Paul posed a rhetorical question to the Church at Corinth:  "...  will
not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?" (2nd Corinthians 3:8
NIV).  Barclay sums up the insufficiency of "Comforter:"
        To limit, even by suggestion, the work of the Holy Spirit to consolation
        and to comfort is sadly to belittle the work of the Spirit.  By the
        study of the word parakletos we have come to see the wide scope in time
        and eternity of the Parakletos (1974, 221).
    The Christian who is genuinely interested in growing spiritually would do
well to study the deeper truths associated with some of the more significant
words of the modern translations of the Bible.  The "Parakletos" literally cries
out to be taken to heart.  Zechariah 4:6 says:  ". . . not by might, nor by
power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts" (KJV).  Barclay notes:  "The
early Church was a Spirit-guided community" (1976, 19).


















                                  Works Cited

    Barclay, William.  The Acts of the Apostles.  Philadelphia:  Westminster
Press, 1976.
    Barclay, William.  New Testament Words.  Philadelphia:  Westminster Press,
1974.
    Bible (King James Version).  London:  Thomas Nelson Publishers.
    Douglas, J. D.  The New Bible Dictionary.  Grand Rapids, Michigan:  Wm. B
Eerdman's Publishing Co., 1973.
    Harper Study Bible (New American Standard Bible).  Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Zondervan Bible Publishers, 1985.
    Strong, James.  Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.  Peabody,
Massachusetts:  Hendrickson Publishers.
    The New Testament (New King James Version).  Nashville, Tennessee:  Thomas
Nelson Publishers, 1987.
    The NIV Study Bible (New International Version).  Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Zondervan Bible Publishers, 1985.
    Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary.  Springfield, Massachusetts:
Merriam-Webster Inc., 1987.
    Zodhiates, Spiros.  The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible (King James Version).