1.
OUR Lord was the Comforter of His disciples when He was here. He undertook for them, He conducted their affairs in unwearied love and wisdom. And now at His request, since He is on earth no more, the Father has given to His disciples another Comforter, who undertakes for us this gracious service. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, and we always have Him. He abides with us forever; He ministers to our souls daily, and in unwearied love cares for us.
2.
Let us not forget our favors; let us rejoice in what we have not as well as in what we have. We have not the doubting, distrustful spirit. God has not given us a spirit to question His. Word, or to fear Him in bondage. But He has given us His Spirit, and this is the Spirit of adoption―by Him we know that God is our Father; yes, we know this in our heart of hearts, and the cry of the child is ours―the loving, trusting cry― “Abba, Father.”
3.
When a deed has been finally settled and written out, it is signed and sealed. The sealing comes as the completing act, or the act resulting from the completion of the transaction. The Holy Spirit seals, by His own indwelling, the true believer; and thus He Himself, in His sealing of God’s people, is the evidence of the completeness of their salvation. God will not revoke the deed; the seal will never be broken; the salvation upon which the seal is placed is perfect. The Holy Spirit is Himself the seal.
4.
The Comforter is “in you”; the cry, “Abba, Father,” arises from the heart; ye are sealed. Can more be needed? Yes; the full, joyous delight in God―the true, glad, and holy filling up of the heart. All are seeking after some good: “Be ye filled with the Spirit,” and perfect good will store the soul. The vessel at the fountain does not fill itself―the flowing water fills it. But the vessel must be at the right place, or it will not be filled. Neither do men bring full vessels to be filled, but empty. Our portion is the being filled; let us so live and act that Holy-Spirit-given peace, rest, and joy shall overflow our hearts.