The Ministry of Giving Comfort

Part 2

Introduction

We have previously noted that God’s desire to offer comfort to those who need it is evident in several ways:

1. God’s characterization in Scripture as the God of all comfort, 2 Cor 1:3.

2. God’s counsel in Scripture as a source of finding comfort, Psa 119:49-50

3. God’s construction of the church to minister comfort, 1 Cor 12:24b-26a

4. God’s communication through others to bring comfort, 2 Cor 7:6-7

I. The “Words” of Comfort Reveals Ways Comfort Is Ministered.

A. Various Old Testament Nuances Concerning Comfort

1. To cause to smile

2. To show compassion and consolation

3. To support or strengthen

B. Various New Testament Nuances Concerning Comfort

1. To come to one’s side to help

2. To soothe or console

3. To use soothing words like a soothing medicine to relieve pain

4. To cheer up or to make a soul well

5. To encourage someone to take heart because help is near

6. To correct wrong thinking that has been causing pain to one’s self or others

II. How We Learn to Comfort Others

A. From Our Own Experiences

B. From Our Victories Won by Faith.

C. From Taking Advantage of Our Opportunities to Provide Comfort

III. How Comfort Is Impeded

Now we enlarge our biblical understanding of the ministry of comfort by noting. . .

A. Comfort Can Be Forfeited When We Refuse to Face Our Sin.

Some people struggle to find comfort in their sorrow and pain but fail to find it for a variety reasons.

1. God is with us—but we are not with God.

(Isa 59:1-2 NIV) Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. {2} But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

(Psa 66:18-19 NIV) If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; {19} but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer.

2. God will send comfort when we experience godly sorrow for sin and it leads to repentance. Being sorry without repentance brings death.

(2 Cor 7:8-10 NIV) Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it--I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while-- {9} yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance.

For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. {10} Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

(Psa 34:12-16 NIV) Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, {13} keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. {14} Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. {15} The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry; {16} the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

B. Comfort Can Elude Us When We Seek it in Wrong Places.

1. It is not wise to seek comfort without regard for God’s Word.

(Prov 18:2 NIV) A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.

2. It is not wise to seek comfort by indulging in worldly pleasures or losing ourselves in our work.

(Eccl 2:10-11 NIV) I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. {11} Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

3. It is not wise, or possible, to find salvation or lasting comfort in anyone but Christ.

(Acts 4:12 NIV) Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

C. Comfort Offered by Fault-finders Rather than Faith-builders Can Be Uselsess.

(Job 16:1-6 NIV) Then Job replied: {2} "I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all! {3} Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing? {4} I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you.

{5} But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief. {6} "Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I refrain, it does not go away.

As someone has aptly said, “There is a reason why God has given us two ears and only one mouth.” Or stated another way, “God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we can hear twice as much as we say.”

D. Comfort Originating from the Wicked Destroys Our Hope for Blessing.

(Psa 1:1-2 NIV) Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. {2} But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

E. We Can Seek Comfort in Addictions that Will Either Numb the Pain We Feel or Cause More Pain.

(Prov 23:29-35 NIV) Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? {30} Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.

{31} Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! {32} In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. {33} Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things. {34} You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. {35} "They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt! They beat me, but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?"

Conclusion

"To paraphrase the Bible," Ayn Rand [wrote], "the modern attitude is, 'Father, forgive us, for we know not what we are doing - and please don't tell us!"

The attitude of our day is we don’t know what we are doing, praying won’t help because there is no God, thinking won’t help because there are no answers, and there are no answers because there is no truth.

However, …

1. God agrees with man that he does not know what he is doing.

(Psa 94:11 NIV) The LORD knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile.

2. God disagrees with man that there is no God because He has revealed Himself in history so that we can pray and it will help.

(Isa 46:9 NIV) Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.

3. God disagrees with man that there are no answers to the human condition and promises to give answers to any seek Him and ask in faith.

(Prov 8:17 NIV) I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

(Jer 29:11-13 NIV) For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. {12} Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. {13} You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

(James 1:5 NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

4. God disagrees with man that there is no truth and has sent him the Truth Who is Jesus Christ.

(John 14:6 NIV) Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

There should be a lot of comfort in those words. To deny or neglect this truth is to deny yourself the only true and lasting source of comfort you have—the Lord Jesus

Christ.