Sunday, September 2, 2018

GODLY DIRECTIVES - COMFORT AND JOY

We are a people under duress these days, in some degree or fashion. It is just the nature of life. Some are in more distress and some even feel as if they are adrift in the ocean, surrounded by sharks. Some just barely have their eyes above water and others walk around in a daze. Some are doing the bare minimum to survive, but are not sure why they do, what they do.

I have encountered two varying degrees of this hopelessness in just the period of thirty minutes while visiting a college campus.  One particular young man, who looked like a freshman, was very unsure of himself, obviously troubled with no father-figure. I wish I could have spent more time speaking hope and encouragement to him.  I was able to give him a copy of the bible and show him how to read the Psalms for comfort and encouragement. Then, a beautiful coed asked if I could pray for her as she sadly swilled down gut-churning Red Bull to stay awake in class. Both young people needed comfort and hope which only God can supply.

The Lord Himself told us in His Word that He is always there available for us. Look at how many times the word “COMFORT” is mentioned in 2 Corinthians 1:4-7 (NASB).  Nine (9) times in four (4) verses, comfort is mentioned. The true Biblical meaning of comfort here is even more incredible. The original word, used by the Holy Spirit (the true Author of Scripture) for COMFORT here…is from the root word of….THE HOLY SPIRIT! Each of the nine times comfort is used, the root of the original – PARAKLETOS (Holy Spirit) – is evidenced.

The Holy Spirit IS God. He is the third member of the Trinity or Triune God. He lives ONLY in truly born-again.  One of the titles, or stated divine attributes of the Holy Spirit is Advocate.  He is the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ and takes our prayers up the the Throne. 
2 Corinthians 1:4-7
4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 
6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; 7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.

He (Holy Spirit) is the Counselor and guides us into the path of all Truth, as found in the Bible. If it is not in the Bible, it ain’t Truth.  Being the Counselor, He also interprets the Oracles of God, found in the Word of God, so that the people of God (us) can comprehend the Power, Majesties and Mercies of God. The Holy Spirit is also the Comforter. He is the Only One Who can bring comfort, peace, joy and the mercies of the Father to His people (us).  This is the comfort of which our Bible passage is speaks.

Therefore, because of these verses, we note the following:
  • There is comfort in our afflictions (physical and mental pain), even if it appears to be the opposite at times. The Lord is still moving in His many ways.
  • We can comfort others because God has dealt mercifully with us. Then, we can go even beyond what was given us, as the Grace has been multiplied to, so will be empowered to shower love, compassion and more on the lost and hurting.
  • The comfort we share freely only has power because of the Sufferings and Price Jesus Christ paid with His life on the Cross, where we lay our burdens down and accepted Him as Lord, to begin with. The Main Comforter – the Holy Spirit – has authorized us to be the Hands and Feet of Christ, by His mere presence in our lives
  • Now, comfort may even sound generic, unless we grasp the full measure of the Love of God through the Spirit’s intervention in our lives, to effect this truth. “Comfort” is not sitting on a luxurious couch from Ashley Furniture, watching a 75 inch TV with a pizza. It is a literal Heavenly salve to soothe our souls. It is even physical in its manifestation. This Heavenly Comfort spoken of in 2 Corinthians 1:6 is what we need to persevere in times of sickness, trouble, financial difficulty, relationship problems and more….even religious persecution.

What the Lord is actually teaching us here is that He has already made provision for us to make it through, basically, Life.  The Christian is the only one equipped to persevere, if he or she reads and comprehends the Word of God and His Ways. The reason is we have the Same Power within us Who raised Jesus from the dead, on the Third Day after He was crucified.  This fact carries great weight because, when activated properly, the strong believer in Christ is perfectly positioned to both receive mercy; strength; consolation; refreshing; encouragement and good cheer. All of these are wrapped up in the Biblical meaning of Godly comfort.

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