“For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” Acts 20:27
Are You A Comforter?
Text: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Introduction:
One of the greatest needs of the
world is for people who are comforters.
The world has so much:
1) wickedness and depressing things
2) harsh and critical people
3) difficult situations and
4) disappointments and discouragements, that life’s burden can be
great and difficult to bear.
A wonderful thing about coming
to God’s house is that we can be among people:
– who love God and love each other.
– who will build each other up,
– who will comfort each other so we can better carry on under the
trials of life.
– who will lift us up and cheer us, who will give us hope and joy
to carry on, people
– who are with us when we are down, people
– who we can trust will not treat us badly, people
– who will be a blessing to us and to our family.
The main lesson we want to
consider today is how we can:
a) be comforted ourselves, and
b) be a comforter of others.
Example:
One job of a pastor is to comfort those who need comforting.
Anything that hinders his ability to comfort others is an attack
on those needing comforting.
Let’s build an atmosphere of
comfort, love and encouragement where we can all grow to our maximum spiritual
potential.
Question: What Brings
Comfort to us?
1. TheHoly Spirit comforts
us compared to the enemy who accuses us.
John 14:16-18.
When Saul’s attacks on the
churches ceased at his conversion, we see these events in Acts 9:31.
a) the churches had rest – what a relief, what peace.
b) the churches were edified – they had a chance to develop,
grow and build.
c) the people walked in the fear
of God and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost.
d) the churches multiplied.
The Holy Spirit seeks to comfort
believers and churches.
As we are filled with and led by the Holy Spirit, showing the
fruit of the Spirit, we are comforted.
2. The Scriptures give us patience, comfort and
hope.
Romans 15:4-5.
As we read the life stories of
Bible characters, we see how;
i) They endured trials and God brought them through;
ii) They sacrificed and brought blessings to many peoples lives;
iii) Good came out of bad situations.
This gives us patience to endure
trials, comfort that God is working out His plans, and hope that we will be
kept safe.
This is one reason why we read
the Bible and why it is so popular.
The Bible gives us patience, comfort and hope.
3. Preaching is a comfort to us.
“But he that prophesieth (or preaches) speaketh unto men to
edification (strengthen), and exhortation (encourage), and comfort.” I Corinthians 14:3.
Preaching is meant to edify (strengthen), exhort (encourage) and
comfort (console) believers.
4. Return of a faithful Christian friend.
Four men who comforted others
are:
i) Titus coming
in II Corinthians 7:4-6.
“God…comforted us by the coming of Titus.” (v.6).
Paul tells how in Macedonia,
he and his workers had no rest, but were troubled on every side.
Outside were fightings. Inside were fears.
Paul said in v.6 that comfort came from 2 sources.
a) God comforts those who are
cast down, and
b) God comforted us by the
coming of Titus.
Titus coming to Paul was a great comfort because Titus was
committed to helping build people up.
He was a blessing and a joy to
be with. Is your coming a comfort and a blessing to others or a curse?
ii) Tychichus’ arrival
comforted the Ephesian’s hearts.
Ephesians 6:21-22.
iii) Timothy comforted
Paul by giving a good report of the Christians at Philippi.
Philippians 2:19.
Timothy came to Thessalonica to comfort and establish them in the
faith.
I Thess. 3:2.
iv) Justus, Paul’s fellow worker,
comforted Paul.
Colossians 4:11.
5. The Return Of Christ comforts us.
I Thess. 4:13-18.- V.18 – “…Comfort one another with these words.”
What words?
i) Don’t sorrow hopelessly at the death of our loved ones. v.13.
ii) The dead in Christ are with Christ in heaven. v.14.
iii) The dead in Christ will rise first. v.14-16.
iv) We will be caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air.
v) We will ever be with the Lord. v.17.
6. Other believers
Faith and Commitment to God, their local church and
the work of God is a great comfort to all believers who are watching.
I Thessalonians 3:7-8.
Your faith, faithfulness and commitment to God’s work and to each
other is a great comfort to other church members.
On the other hand, disloyalty is a discomfort to others.
If we stand fast and hold the traditions we’ve been taught by the
Apostles in the New Testament, we will comfort others and be established in
every good word and work.
II Thessalonians 2:15-17.
7. Thoughts of going to Heaven is a comfort.
Luke 16:25.
No matter how bad things get, we have the comfort of looking
forward to joy and happiness forever in Heaven.
This is especially true for those
who finish the work that God has given them to do.T
hey can look forward to
receiving a crown of righteousness for faithfully serving Christ to the end. – I Timothy 4:6-8.
8. Speaking Good Words to people comforts them.
Rehoboam should have done this – I Kings12:1-7.
Conclusion:
We are commanded to:
i) Comfort the feebleminded
( little spirited, fainthearted, fretful, worried) – I Thess. 5:14.
ii) Comfort those in
trouble, by the comfort that we are comforted of God. II Cor. 1:3-4
iii) Comfort yourselves and edify
one another even as ye do. – I
Thessalonians 5:11.
iv) Be of good comfort, be of
one mind, live in peace. – II Corinthians
13:11.
If you do these 8 things I
mentioned this morning
Allow the Holy Spirit to comfort you
Allow the Scriptures to comfort you
Allow Preaching comfort you
Allow Return of a Faithful Christ Friend comfort you
Allow The Return of Christ comfort you
Allow Other believers faith and commitment comfort you
