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Sermon:
THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT
TEXT:
2 CORINTHIANS 1:1 - 4
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: 2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 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.
INTRO:
I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE HAS EVER BEEN A MAN TO HAVE SUFFERED AS MUCH AS THE APOSTLE PAUL AND EVER LIVED TO TELL ABOUT IT.
PAUL AS A CHRISTIAN FACED SOME VERY HARD TIMES.
HE FACED –
· SHIPWRECK
· BEATINGS
· TIMES WHEN OTHER CHRISTIANS HAD FORSAKEN HIM
BUT EVEN THOUGH PAUL SUFFERED ALL THOSE THINGS – PAUL STILL FOUND TIME TO PRAISE THE LORD.
GOD IS -
A. WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE!
BLESSED BE GOD!
I BELIEVE PRAISING THE LORD IS SOMETHING THAT WE AS CHRISTIANS DON’T DO ENOUGH OF!
WE MURMUR AND COMPLAIN TO GOD ABOUT EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN
BUT WE FAIL TO PRAISE AND THANK HIM FOR ALL THAT HE HAS DONE.
THROUGHOUT THE BOOK OF 2 CORINTHIANS PAUL MENTIONS SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS ABOUT GOD – AND THESE ARE SOME THINGS THAT OUGHT TO CAUSE US TO REJOICE.
HE SAYS IN CHAPTER 3 VERSE 3
1. HE IS THE LIVING GOD!
THE REASON I AM HERE BEHIND THIS PULPIT TODAY AND NOT ON A BAR STOOL SOMEWHERE IS BECAUSE I SERVE A RISEN SAVIOR!
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY AND ALL THE OTHER RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD IS THE FACT THAT THEY WORSHIP SOMEONE WHO IS STILL IN THE GRAVE – BUT WE WORSHIP CHRIST THE ONE WHO CAME OUT OF THE GRAVE!
GOD IS-
2. A GOD OF GRACE AND MERCY
AND I WANT TO SAY AMEN TO THAT!
IF IT WERE NOT FOR HIS GRACE – NONE OF US COULD EVER BE SAVED AND IF IT WERE NOT FOR HIS MERCY – WE ALL WOULD GO TO HELL.
B. FATHER OF MERCIES
YOU SEE PAUL KNEW THAT HE NEVER HAD ANY ROOM TO EVER COMPLAIN ABOUT LIFE OR IT’S CIRCUMSTANCES - BECAUSE PAUL KNEW THAT HE WAS BLESSED JUST TO BE SAVED AND STILL ALIVE!
PAUL HIMSELF SAID IN ANOTHER PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE -
THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS OF WHOM HE WAS THE CHEIF
I TIMOTHY 1:13
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
WE HEAR A LOT OF TALK ABOUT GRACE & MERCY –
BUT MOST PEOPLE DON’T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE WORDS ACTUALLY MEAN.
GRACE = IS GOD GIVING US WHAT WE DON’T DESERVE – (SALVATION).
MERCY = IS GOD WITH HOLDING FROM US THAT WHICH WE DO DESERVE. (HELL)
PAUL HAD EXPERIENCED BOTH GRACE AND MERCY ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS!
GOD IS –
3. FAITHFUL
GOD IS TRUE
IT IS HARD TO GET CHRISTIANS TO BE FAITHFUL TO GOD IN THIS DAY AND AGE –
MANY ARE NOT AS FAITHFUL TO THE CHURCH SERVICES AS THEY SHOULD BE
I BELIEVE WE OUGHT TO BE HERE EVERY TIME THE CHURCH DOORS ARE OPENED!
WHEN YOU FORSAKE CHURCH TO GO OUT AND PLAY AND DO YOUR OWN THING – YOU ARE SIMPLY SHOWING THAT YOU DON’T LOVE JESUS CHRIST!
LIKE YOU SHOULD
MANY CHRISTIANS GO DAY IN AND DAY OUT WITHOUT EVER READING THE WORD OF GOD –
GOD WANTS US TO BE FAITHFUL IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO!
BUT EVEN THOUGH YOU AND I MAY TURN OUR BACKS ON HIM – AND BY THE WAY WE ALL HAVE AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN OUR LIFE – YET JESUS IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL!
GOD IS
4. AVAILABLE TO ALL
WHEN PAUL WROTE TO THE CHURCH OF ROME PAUL SAID:
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
PAUL WAS SIMPLY SAYING – NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE GOD IS AVAILABLE
GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS HE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL WHO WILL BELIEVE!
TO THE
· WICKED AND DEFILED – GOD IS AVAILABLE
· DRUNKARD – GOD IS AVAILABLE
· PORNOGRAPHER – HE IS AVAILABLE TO THEM AS WELL
SO THEN WHY IS IT THAT GOD ALLOWS HIS PEOPLE TO SUFFER?
WELL I BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS SIMPLY THIS: WHEN YOU AND I ARE SUFFERING FROM THINGS WE CANNOT CONTROL – WE HAVE TO DEPEND UPON JESUS.
ILL. WHEN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WERE FACED BY THE RED SEA AND AN ANGRY EGYPTIAN ARMY AND MOUNTAINS THEY COULD NOT SCALE TO THE SIDES – THE ONLY THING THEY COULD DO WAS CRY OUT TO GOD FOR HIS HELP.
ILL. WHEN SATAN CAME AGAINST JOB AND TOOK AWAY HIS FAMILY AND DESTROYED HIS HEALTH, AND WHEN ALL HIS FRIENDS HAD FORSAKEN HIM – THE ONLY ONE JOB COULD TURN TO WAS ALMIGHTY GOD.
AND IN THE MIDST OF ALL OUR TRIALS AND TRIBULATION – “HE IS THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT" - JUST AS VERSE 3 TELLS US
NOTICE FIRST OF ALL HE IS THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT -
1. WHEN WE DOUBT
YOU MAY BE HERE THIS EVENING WITH SOME DOUBT ABOUT YOUR SALVATION –
WELL LET ME ENCOURAGE YOUR HEART.
DOUBT IS A PROBLEM THAT ALL OF US FACE.
EVEN SOME OF THE GREATEST SAINTS OF GOD FACED DOUBT AT LEAST ONE TIME DURING THEIR LIFE.
ILL. JOHN THE BAPTIST DOUBTED WHETHER OR NOT JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH
LUKE 7:20
When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
LUKE 7:22
Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
ILL. THOMAS DOUBTED THE RESURECTION OF CHRIST
JOHN 20:27-28
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
SO IF YOU ARE DOUBTING YOUR SALVATION, WONDERING IF YOU ARE REALLY SAVED – WELL YOU DON’T HAVE TO DOUBT ANY MORE! IF YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED GOD’S WAY – THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST THEN THE DEVIL CANNOT TAKE IT AWAY.
LISTEN TO THESE COMFORTING WORDS FROM THE SCRIPTURE
– FIRST OF ALL THE BIBLE SAYS IN EPHESIANS 4:30
WE ARE SEALED TILL THE DAY OF REDEMPTION
* JOHN 10:28 & 29
WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN “ETERNAL” LIFE
* WE ARE IN THE FATHERS HANDS
NO ONE CAN CAN PLUCK US FROM HIS HANDS
PAUL: SUMMED IT UP IN ROMANS 8 - BY SAYING THERE IS NOTHING IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE THAT HAS THE POWER TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST!
NOW THAT’S SECURITY.
AND I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT I HAVE A SALVATION THAT DOESN’T EXIST BASED UPON THE KIND OF A LIFE I HAVE LIVED!
MY SALVATION & SECURITY IS BASED UPON WHAT CHRIST DID ON THE CROSS
WHEN CHRIST SAID, “IT IS FINISHED” – MY SINS WERE ALL WASHED AWAY
MY SIN DEBT HAS BEEN CANCELLED!
PAID IN FULL BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB
SO FIRST OF ALL HE IS THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT WHEN I DOUBT,
SECONDLY….
HE IS THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT
2. IN MY SORROW
ISAIAH 53:3
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:
EVEN JESUS HIMSELF WAS WELL AQUAINTED WITH SORROW AND GRIEF.
IF YOU HAVE LIVED ON THIS EARTH FOR VERY LONG, YOU TOO HAVE HAD YOUR SHARE OF SORROW.
WE ALL FACE ALL KINDS OF THINGS IN THIS LIFE THAT TENDS TO BREAK OUR HEARTS.
EVERY DAY YOU READ THE NEWS PAPER, YOU READ OF ALL KINDS OF BAD THINGS–
· A CAR ACCIDENT THAT HAS WIPED OUT AN ENTIRE FAMILY
· A FIRE THAT HAS CONSUMED A HOME
· A DEATH – BECAUSE OF SICKNESS & DISEASE
BUT I AM GLAD TO SAY, WE DON’T HAVE TO FACE OUR SORROW ALL ALONE.
TURN TO JOHN 16:5&6
5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart
THEN LOOK DOWN TO VERSES 20-22
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
HERE JESUS EXPLAINED THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE LEAVING THEM ALL VERY SOON AND THEIR HEARTS WOULD BE FILLED WITH SORROW – BUT THEN HE COMFORTED THEIR HEARTS WHEN HE SAID, “I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN!”
LISTEN GUYS, YOU MAY BE GOING THROUGH SOME ROUGH TIMES IN YOUR LIFE,
MAY-BE YOU’RE FACING SOME –
* FINANCIAL PROBLEMS – HE OWNS THE CATTLE ON A THOUSAND HILLS
* FAMILY PROBLEMS – HE’S THE ONE WHO CAN PUT IT ALL BACK TOGETHER –
AND KEEP IT TOGETHER –
HE’S THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT!
* PROBLEMS AT SCHOOL – WITH YOUR TEACHER OR FRIENDS
* PROBLEMS AT WORK
HE'S THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT!
GOD CAN TAKE A BITTER, UNPLEASANT SITUATION AND TURN IT INTO A TIME OF COMFORT AND JOY.
2 CORINTHIANS 1:4 – TELLS US THAT GOD COMFORTS “us in all our tribulation”
LET ME GIVE YOU 3 WAYS THAT GOD BRINGS COMFORT TO OUR HEARTS.
FIRST OF ALL HE USES THE -
1. SCRIPTURES -
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES THAT I HAVE BEEN HURTING ON THE INSIDE, AND WHEN I HAVE TIMES LIKE THAT – I LIKE TO GET ALONE WITH GOD AND OPEN UP THE BIBLE AND READ MY SAVIOR’S COMFORTING WORDS.
NO MATTER WHAT PROBLEM YOU MAY HAVE TODAY – THE BIBLE HAS THE ANSWER TO ALL YOUR NEEDS.
SECONDLY GOD USES –
2. SAINTS –
THAT’S WHY CHURCH IS SO IMPORTANT!
GOD HELP THOSE WHO ARE NOT FAITHFUL TO THE HOUSE OF GOD
WHENEVER WE CAN WE NEED TO LEND A SHOULDER TO SOME HURTING SOUL
TO HELP OTHERS IN THEIR TIME OF NEED.
MAY GOD HELP ALL OF US TO BE SENSITIVE TO THOSE HURTING & WITH NEEDS.
WE MAY NOT KNOW THEIR SITUATION
A LOT OF THEM MAY BE HURTING DEEP INSIDE –
SO WHEN WE CAN WE OUGHT TO –
· COMFORT THEM
· PUT AN ARM AROUND THEM
· GIVE THEM AN ENCOURAGING WORD
· SAY A PRAYER WITH THEM – WE MAY NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH IT MEANS!
THIRDLY GOD HAS SENT US HIS
3. HOLY SPIRIT –
THE COMFORTER HAS COME
EVERYTIME WHEN THE BOTTOM FALLS OUT OF ANY SITUATION OF LIFE – THERE IS A CALM SENSE OF PEACE – A DEEP ABIDING COMFORT IN THE HEART OF A CHRISTIAN THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT!
HE’S ALSO THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT!
3. WHEN I SIN
AND IF WE ARE HONEST – WE CAN ALL IDENTIFY WITH THAT!
ALL OF US HAVE COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.
I JOHN 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT WHEN I BLOW IT BIG – AND I OFTEN DO -
GOD DOES NOT –
· PUT ME ON A SHELF AND SAY YOU ARE THROUGH
· CUT ME OFF AND SAY I’LL NEVER ANSWER ANOTHER PRAYER
· CAST ME INTO HELL – EVEN THOUGH THAT’S WHAT I DESERVE
NO – HE FORGIVES, HE CLEANSES AND HE FORGETS ALL ABOUT IT!
NOW I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I AM THANKFUL FOR THAT!
IF GOD WAS TO REMEMBER EVERY SIN I HAD EVER COMITTED – THE LIST WOULD BE TO LONG NUMBER
WHEN I SIN –
* PSALM 86:5 SAYS – HE’S READY TO FORGIVE!
* I JOHN 1:9 SAYS – HE’S FAITHFUL TO FORGIVE!
* HEBREWS 7:25 SAYS – HE’S ABLE TO FORGIVE!
* EPHESIANS 4:32 SAYS – IN GOD’S EYES I’M ALREADY FORGIVEN!
ILL. WHEN PETER BETRAYED CHRIST HE WENT OUT AND WEPT BITTERLY, BUT JESUS CAME TO PETER, FORGAVE HIM, RESTORED HIM AND 3,000 PEOPLE WERE SAVED ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST!
GOD GAVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE!
WE ALL BLOW IT FROM TIME TO TIME – WE ALL SIN –
THAT IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR US TO SIN, BUT WHEN WE DO JUST COME TO CHRIST AND HE WILL FORGIVE YOU OF ALL YOUR SIN.
2 PETER 3:9
…. GOD.. is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
FINALLY HE’S THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT!
4. IN MY DEPARTURE PSALM 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
ONE OF THESE DAYS – WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!
BUT FOR THE CHRISTIAN – DEATH HAS NO GRIP,
WHEN THIS BODY DIES – THAT’S WHEN WE AS CHRISTIANS REALLY START TO LIVE!
THINK ABOUT IT – WHEN IT COMES YOUR TIME TO DIE - THE ONE WHO CONTROLS LIFE AND DEATH WILL BE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY!
FOR THE CHRISTIAN IT WILL BE LIKE A LITTLE BABY IN THE ARMS OF HIS MOTHER AT NIGHT TIME AS THE MOTHER CARRESSES AND PUTS THE CHILD TO SLEEP.
WHAT COMFORT TO KNOW THAT EVEN IN DEATH – JESUS WILL BE WITH US!
PSALM 116:15
PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS!
HEBREWS 13:5
WE FIND THE PROMISE THAT GOD will never leave thee, nor forsake thee
HEBREWS 9:27
TELLS US it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
LETS JUST MAKE SURE THAT ITS ALL UNDER THE BLOOD THEN TAKE COMFORT IN THE FACT THAT HE IS THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT!
