THE HOLY SPIRIT (COMFORTER) WAS NOT GIVEN TO PHOPHETS OF OLD. THE BIBLE SAYS SO

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Jesus told His disciples in John chapter 16 verse 7 that the only way they could receive the Helper or Comforter was if He left them. It is only when Jesus departs that He will send the Helper or comforter to them.

John 16:7 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you."

The Helper or Comforter he spoke about in the above verse is the Holy Spirit as can be seen in John chapter 15 verse 26 and John chapter 7 verse 39.

John 15:26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me".

John 7:39 "But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. "

Why did Jesus say that unless he goes away the Holy Ghost will not come. Why did John 7:39 say that the Spirit was not yet given when we know that prior to these statements, several scriptures show that the Holy Spirit (Ghost) was the one working with the prophets of old and that He was the one that actively worked with Jesus during his ministry on earth and that John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost from birth.

The answer to the questions lies in the fact that Holy Spirit that Jesus spoke about in John 16:7 and John 7:39 is not the same one that was operational on earth in the Old Testament nor was He the same that filled John the Baptist at birth and worked with Jesus during his ministry on earth. Jesus specifically said that the one He spoke about will not come to the earth if He (Jesus) does not depart. In other words, the Holy Spirit He spoke about had never come to the earth before His departure and only came to the earth after Jesus departs to Heaven and is glorified.

Ten days after Jesus rose and ascended into heaven, He was glorified and received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit so that He can pour it out on His disciples and church thereby fulfilling His promise to give us a special Helper or Comforter.

Acts 2:33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

The promise of the Holy Spirit which he received from the Father changed Him and this change now makes Jesus a life-giving spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam [Christ] became a life-giving spirit.

Prior to His departure to Heaven, Jesus could not give His Spirit to us because He was not yet glorified. Only when He is glorified is He able to become a life-giving spirit. In being glorified, He received the promise of the Holy Spirit so that the Spirit of the Father is now also the Spirit of the Son, thus giving Him omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. This is how Jesus became a life-giving spirit that He might fill all things. Now, today, He is able to send to His disciples and His church the presence of His own Spirit.

John 15:26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

Luke 24:49 "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

It is worthy of note that, now, there are not two spirits but only one Spirit. So the Holy Spirit is now the spirit of both the Father and the Son. Also notice that the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ were used interchangeably in the New Testament of the bible. Jesus our Lord is the Spirit and where His Spirit is, there is liberty.

Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

In conclusion, God is the one that was initially sending His Holy Ghost (Spirit) directly to the prophets of old; however, after Jesus ascension into Heaven, He was glorified and He received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father; and became a life-giving spirit which gave Him the ability to send His own Spirit to His disciples and His church.


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