Comfort One Another

TEXT - 1 Th 4:13KJV But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. {14} For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. {15} For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. {16} For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: {17} Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. {18} Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

INTRO: THERE ARE TIMES AND SEASONS OF LIFE THAT CAUSE US PAIN & distress. It is in these times that we need a source of comfort. God is concerned about your fears. He knows that you are but flesh. There are things that cause us to fear, sickness, death, divorce, lack of employment, the loss of relationships. The surmounting evidence of an approaching Tribulation scares us. Any or all of these things could give a person a nervous break down. In fact Jesus warned that the time would come,

Luke 21:26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

God seeks to comfort us in all of our trials. When speaking of the Tribulation, we are comforted with words concerning the Rapture. Whatever you are facing God can and will comfort you.

I. THE NEED TO BE COMFORTED IS A COMMON NEED.

A. You, at some time in your life, are going to come to the place that you will face something that will cause you to fear. Sooner or later, something will wound you deeply and you will need to be comforted. If you have not experienced this yet, you just have not lived long enough.

B. Paul experienced the need to be comforted - 2 Cor 1:3-9 KJV Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; {4}Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. {5}For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. {6}And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. {7}And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. {8}For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: {9}But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

II. JESUS UNDERSTANDS THE NEED FOR US TO BE COMFORTED. HE UNDERSTANDS OUR FRAME OF MIND.

A. In fact He took the time to tell the disciples he would not leave them comfortless.

1. John 14:14 KJV If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. {15}If ye love me, keep my commandments. {16}And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; {17}Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. {18}I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

2. John 16:32 KJV Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. {33} These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

B. Watch Him deal with people.

1. A woman who is sick - Matt 9:20 KJV And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: {21}For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. {22}But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.