Comfort for the afflicted Day 2

In Part 1, we saw that all comfort comes from God and that Paul gives the example of his own life, a life full of affliction but also full of comfort for us to follow.

Comfort should move in a circle between the believers (see Part 4).

In Part 2 our focus is on the comfort that we get from God’s Word, the bible.

Here are a number of examples of strong comfort from the bible.

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
 He leads me beside still waters.
 3 He restores my soul.
 He leads me in paths of righteousness
  for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
  I will fear no evil,
 for you are with me;
  your rod (discipline) and your staff (protection),
  they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
  in the presence of my enemies;
 you anoint my head with oil;
  my cup overflows….
 
 

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.

The way scripture comforts us is by the indwelling Holy Spirit making the comforts of the bible alive to us. When we comfort others with a scripture, we are giving the Holy Spirit (the divine Comforter) an opportunity to comfort them. We will pick up on this in Part 3.

Closing Prayer

Amen