SERMON BRIEF
Date Written: February 18, 2001
Date Preached: February 21, 2001
Church: BBC (PM) Wed Night
FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS
Series: Great Imperatives for the Christian Walk
Title: The Imperative Being a Comforter
Text: 1 Thess 4:13-18
Introduction:
An English woman had 2 daughters and one had died and the other had moved to America. One day she boarded a ship to go and see her daughter in America.
During the ship’s journey they encountered a great storm that tossed the ship around like a ragdoll. All on the ship were distressed and panicking, except for this elderly lady.
When someone asked her why she was so calm at a time like this, she told them this. I am on my way to visit my daughter. I have one in America and the other is in Heaven. Regardless of what this ship does, I will be seeing one of them soon! She had hope that eliminated her fear and panic. She was comforted in knowing that her destination was set. Those around her could find comfort in her strength. Being a Christian she could rest assured that whatever the outcome there was hope!
And I want us to see that the words of our text tonight are directed to Christians and NOT to non-believers. Paul was sharing these thoughts with those who were believers in Thessolonica. Each of us is commanded to participate in the ministry of bringing comfort to others around us.
We are to provide this ministry with the precious promises and provisions of God that are described by the Apostle Paul in tonight’s passage.
When I look at this passage I can see 3 things that we must look at when we look at the ministry of being a comforter.
The need for comfort.
The basis for the Christian’s comfort, and
Being a comforter.
1st I want us to look at the need for comfort.
Sooner than we think or can imagine, we will either be in need of comfort or be associated with someone who is in need of comfort.
Very seldom does a month go by in which death does not touch some family in our community. Or touch the lives of someone very near and dear to us. We are not to remain unconcerned in the presence of grief. Our ministry is to be concerned and offer comfort to those who are hurting.
Let’s look at what Paul said here in this passage:
v.13 – “…but we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep…” Now while there is much speculation concerning death and what comes after death. There is also some great ignorance about what the NT teaches regarding God’s provision for those Christians who die.
Each believer should study the NT to fully appreciate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We need to delve into great passages of Scripture like 1 Cor 15 which tells us about the importance of the resurrection and why we should take comfort in it.
v.13 also states “…that you may NOT grieve as others do who have NO hope…” Believers do grieve over the death of someone near and dear just as non-believers do. That is because we all feel the pain of loss when someone we love dies. We all have that selfish longing of wishing they were still here with us.
However, while the believer grieves over the loss of a loved one Paul tells us that we must not grieve as those who do NOT know Christ! Because their sorrow is the sorrow of those who have no hope after this life.
A very perceptive observer on the mission field noticed that the Christians did not express their grief as the Nonbelievers did. He noticed a peace about the Christians and an utter hopelessness about the nonbelievers.
He stated that if this was the ONLY benefit from being a Christian then it would be worth all the effort and expense put forth by all the missionaries. As followers of Christ we are encouraged to refrain from grieving as if we had NO HOPE!
But why? Why should Christians refrain from grieving as the world grieves? I believe we can find this in following verses of this passage as we see…
The basis for the Christian’s comfort:
The Apostle Paul says we are to ‘comfort one another with these words…” What words was he referring to?
a. “…we believe that Jesus died and rose again…” v.14. Our only hope of victory over death and the grave is based solely on the victory of Jesus over death and the grave.
Jesus died for our sins and raised again on the 3rd day (resurrecting for our salvation) Jesus conquered the power of death and the grave for us…he did this on our behalf! The resurrection of Jesus provides us with a revelation of what God has planned for those who trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior!
The occasion for these words of instruction and comfort from the Apostle Paul grew out of the pain that the early believers were experiencing when their friends and loved ones died prior to the return of Jesus. Paul affirms to them as well as to us today that when Christ comes again to claim His own, believers who have experienced death prior to His coming will be with Christ on that wonderful day. They will be raised to be with Him!
b. Those who are alive at the 2nd coming of Christ will NOT have precedent over those who have died prior to his coming: Some people interpret this passage in terms of a detailed explanation of the return of Jesus.
We will get closer to the truth if we interpret them in terms of instruction and comfort for the distressed believers a short 2 or 3 decades after the ascension of Jesus.
Here Paul is doing nothing more than comforting ALL believers that both the living and those who have died in Christ will share equally in the wonderful victory of the return of Jesus Christ!
He is affirming that “…we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord…” v17.
Here Paul is dealing with the pain that is experienced when death separates the living from the dead. He is affirming that the day will come when we will be together in and through what Christ has done in His death and resurrection!
However, we know that all of us will need the ministry of being comforted at some point in our lives and now we also know the basis for the Christian’s comfort and why Paul tells us to react the way he does. But finally I want us to look at what we must do to…
Becoming a comforter…
Each of us will need comfort that comes from the God of all comfort and from the Father of all mercy (2 Cor 1:3-4)
Each of us is encouraged, even commanded, to be a source of comfort to one another. To comfort means to encourage, to impart assurance of victory, to help others know that death will not have the final victory over us or our loved ones, or any others that believe and accept that Christ is Lord and Savior because of what Jesus Christ has done for us!
a. We must study our Bibles! If we are going to be obedient to this imperative of being a comforter, and if we want to be a source of comfort to help those who are in need of comfort, we must know, we need to know what the Scripture teaches about God’s provisions for those who place their faith and trust in Him.
b. We need to claim the promises of God as well! The NT contains many promises to those who trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. However, we must claim those promises for us to experience the comfort and encouragement that comes with those promises!
c. We can also be a channel through which God can and will help others. Our presence and our words of assurance and sympathy will bless others in their times of grief. We must realize that our presence means so much more than our words at a time of grief like this. There is really NOTHING that we can say, but being there for them means everything!
Finally in conclusion – Determine that with God’s assistance you will be a source of comfort and help to others in their times of grief and sorrow!
