Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
–2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Often, when some believer has problems in life, a brother or sister at church comes up and says: “You know, sister, the Lord is testing your faith by fire, He is building your character, so that you may be pure and perfect and fit for every work of the Lord!” or something along those lines. Have you ever heard that before? Many brothers and sisters, acting in the spirit of bondage of the old covenant, think that by this they are helping and instructing you, and all because they themselves do not know or understand what the true comfort of the Holy Spirit is, who is the Spirit of grace, love and freedom.

Faith in the Good Shepherd

John wrote in his letter: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world…” (1 Jhn.4:1) And this concerns not only our faith in Jesus Christ, but also all kinds of visions, prophecies and statements of so-called “men of God”. The teaching we abide in is very important. If there are some problems in your life, they come only from the devil. Jesus said: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (Jhn.10:10)

Notice that the first thing the thief does before killing and destroying is steal. Steal what? In the next verse Jesus says of Himself: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (Jhn.10:11) So the enemy tries to steal your faith in the good and loving Shepherd, who gave His life for us. He tries to make you doubt the Lord’s love for you, portraying the Lord as a strict tutor who teaches you patience with fire. And he will twist it so that it sounds like what one sadistic father used to say: “I punish you because I love you.”

Listen, beloved brothers and sisters. All of God’s wrath and fire ended on the cross, when Jesus said “It is finished!” The only discipline from God today is: “Believe in My Son Jesus Christ and receive My inheritance and promise”. As soon as a person has received Christ and the Holy Spirit, all rebuke and correction ends, and now God’s goodness and mercy, as David sang in Psalm 23, will always follow us all the days of our life. The only fire left today is the fiery darts of the enemy, which he shoots at believers, trying to make them think that it is the Lord teaching them a lesson. What does Paul advise us to do in such cases? “above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” (Eph.6:16) The shield of faith in the loving and good Shepherd, who gave His life for us. Jesus came to give us life, and that more abundantly!!! An abundance of love, peace, joy, rest, health, well-being and all of Daddy’s blessings, which He has generously poured out on us in Christ Jesus.

The Truth Is in Christ Jesus

Many believers keep thinking that the Holy Spirit convicts them of sins, mistakes and other shortcomings. Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. (Jhn.16:8) The Holy Spirit convicts only the world, or unbelievers, who live in darkness and under the power of Satan. A Christian is not the world, for we are not of this world. Jesus goes on to explain how the Spirit of God convicts an unbeliever: “of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” (Jhn.16:9-11) The Spirit of God convicts a person who does not believe in Jesus and tries to be righteous by his own works, showing him that now Jesus, seated at the right hand of the Father, is his righteousness, and that God no longer condemns anyone, because sin and the devil were condemned in the flesh of Jesus Christ on the cross. (Rom.8:3)

As for us, His disciples, Jesus explains further: “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak…” (Jhn.16:13) “There you go, Brother Paul, it is written that He will guide into all truth. And yesterday I did something bad, and that’s the truth, so the Spirit is correcting me!” Dear friend, Paul wrote that the truth is in Jesus. (Eph.4:21) The truth is not in our deeds and our behavior. If you have health problems and consider yourself sick, that is not the truth. Temporary life circumstances, although they seem very real, are not the truth. Let me say it again: “The truth is in Jesus Christ!” Is there sin, sickness, poverty, problems or difficulties in Jesus Christ?? We are not even talking about Jesus as He walked on the earth, although that would already be enough. Paul wrote that we no longer know Christ according to the flesh, even though we once did. (2 Cor.5:16) We are talking about the risen and glorified Christ Jesus. And what is the truth that is in Christ?

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us…” (Eph.1:3) Blessed us where? In Christ Jesus! “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you…” (1 Cor.1:4) Where was grace given to us? In Christ Jesus! “Now He who establishes us with you…and has anointed us is God,” (2 Cor.1:21) Where has God established and anointed us? In Christ Jesus! “nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God…” Where is the love of God? In Christ Jesus! “Therefore if there is any consolation…” (Phl.2:1) Where is our consolation? In Christ Jesus! And where are we? “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus…” (1 Cor.1:30) The truth is not in what I did yesterday, how I feel right now or how much money is in my account. The truth is in Christ Jesus, and that is exactly what the Holy Spirit guides us into!

Another Comforter

Jesus said to His disciples: “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever” (Jhn.14:16) And then Jesus explains what the role of this Comforter (Helper) is: “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” and further “At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” (Jhn.14:18,20) This is how the Holy Spirit comforts us: first, He always reminds us that we do not go through our sorrows and difficulties alone, but Jesus is always near, for He Himself said that He would not leave us orphans, and He Himself also said: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear.” (Heb.13:5-6) And second, the Holy Spirit tells us that Jesus is in the Father, and we are in Christ Jesus, and Christ is in us, the hope of glory! Everything we need for life and godliness has been given to us in Christ Jesus.

To dispel once more any doubts about whether our sorrows have anything to do with God, the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah: “Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake” and then the Lord continues: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD. (Isa.54:15,17) This is our heritage! Accusation is not from the Lord!! Righteousness is from Him!!! Even if the enemy comes against us one way, accusing us of something, he will flee before us seven ways. The enemy no longer has the power to accuse us. “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” (Rom.8:33-34) Intercedes for what? For our eternal righteousness!

That is why it is so important to know and believe that we are forever righteous in Christ Jesus, forever loved, for our good Shepherd laid down His life for us, so that we would enjoy life, and that more abundantly. And even if momentary afflictions sadden us, we know and believe that we have a Deliverer in whom we trust, who delivers and will still deliver us from all problems and difficulties, you also helping together in prayer for us, so that thanks may be given by many on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many. We thank for everything our Father, the Father of mercies and all comfort, who has given us the Comforter, who comforts us with the love, righteousness, peace and joy of Christ, so that we too may comfort you, beloved brothers and sisters! To Him be all glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen!