#COMFORTABLE CONTEMPLATIONS
Introduction:
As we sit, pray and meditate on The Word of God it amazes me that so many people today are uncomfortable in their lives as Christians. I want to look at Paul and the beginninig of letter he wrote to a church who were being decieved by false teachers.
As Paul wrote he must have had some comfortable contemplations.
2 Cor 1:1-4
In this passage of scripture we see the Apostle Paul invoking the blessings of God. Lets look at Verse #1 and #2
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.
You know after this we see Paul blessing God.
Paul was tired, he was weary, not only spiritually but I am sure physically, but he continued to be in good cheer enough to continue to bless God.
He went on to write
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.
Paul wrote about some comfortable things and I want to look at a few of those things today.
I. Paul wrote about the comfortable occupation/ Blessing God. “Blessed be God”
If a man under affliction blesses the Lord:
A. It shows he has not been defeated.
1. Paul certainly had reason to be defeated.
2. There are people in the world who have reasons to be defeated.
a. There are not days that will go by that Satan will not try to defeat you
b. There are not days that will go by that Satan will not try defeat others
*Your not the only one in trouble
*Your cross is unique to you and mine is unique to me.
*I wouldn’t recomend you trading yours.
* I’m certainly not trading mine.
3. Being defeated only lends to Satan’s triumph over you.
a. Satan wants you to be defeated and rob you of the Joy of your salvation.
*If Satan has robed you of the Joy then do as the Psalmist and ask God to give it back
*Jesus doesn’t want you to feel defeated, It’s not his plan.
*Life more abundently
*Sometimes it doesn’t seem that way
4. Being defeated only lends to keeping you from blessing others
a. The true joy is in Giving/ It’s better to give than to recieve
*What do you give when your defeated.
B. It’s a prophesy that tells that God will deliver.
1. When Paul continued to bless God he was telling of a future time when God would deliver him from the trials, tribulations, and aflictions he was under.
a. Never in Paul’s life did God not bless him when he blessed God.
2. When you and bless God we tell the world that God will bless us.
a. God didn’t let Paul down
b. God wont let you and I down.
c. God will bless and you know what, He’ll do it when we don’t derserve it
*The Nation of Isreal.
*While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
C. It profits the believer beyond measure.
1. It takes the believers mind off the current condition.
a. You can’t focus on one thing and have another occupy your mind at the same time
b. It takes a heart to heavenly thoughts and contemplations
c. It gives a taste of Heaven.
a. When we get to Heaven we gonna be standing around praising God.
b. Doing it here is just a prelude.
d. It takes distress out of the picture.
*Why?/ It brings Jesus on the seen/ right now and right away
D. It’s reasonable payment to Jesus
1. For what He has done
2. For what He plans to do for us in the future.
II. Paul wrote about the comfortable titles.
A. Paul wrote about a name of affinity,
1. The father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
B. Paul wrote about a name of gratitude
1. The Father of Mercies
C. Paul wrote about a name hope.
1. The God of all comfort
D. Paul wrote about a name of discrimination
1. “Who comforteth us”
2. The Lord has a special care for those who trust in Him.
III. Paul wrote about the comfortable fact.
verse #4--“Who comforteth us in all our tribulation”
A. God personally condescended to comfort mankind
condescend-- To descend to the level of one considered inferior; lower oneself.
Heb 2:9
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
1. Paul knew that he did not have to taste death due to the work of Jesus at Calvary.
Heb 2:9
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
2. Not only did God come to our level but He even went lower to comfort us.
a. He became every bit of sin so we would have victory over death.
B. God habitually condescends to comfort us
1. Don’t say He doesn’t.
a. God said He would never leave us nor forsake us.
b. Jesus promised that we would find rest for our souls.
Matt 11:28-29
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
(KJV)
*This is an act that happens over and over again as we need that comfort over and over.
C. God is extremely good at comforting us.
1. He has done it a long time
a. He’s had plenty of practice.
2. He has not seen a problem that He can’t handle
3. We haven’t see a problem that can’t be handled with Jesus.
Rev 1:8
8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
a. If He is the beginning and the ending and He is the author and the finisher of our faith then there can’t be anything He can’t handle.
D. He will everlastingly comfort us Verse #3 says He is “The God of all comfort”
1. He will comfort us to the very end
a. Jesus is with us always/ comforting us to the end.
Matt 28:20
20 I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Ps 23:1-6
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
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.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
2. God cannot and will not change.
Mal 3:6
6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
3. I’m going to ask a question.
a. Shouldn’t we always be happy since we can depend on God to always to comfort us.
IV. Paul wrote of a comfortable design
The design is in verse # 4
A. To make us comforters of others.
1. the Lord aims at this: The Holy Ghost, The Comforter, trains us up to be comforters.
a. There is a big need in the world today for a comforter
B. To make us comforters on a large scale.
1. There is so much grief
2. It is such a large scale
C. To make us experts in consolation
1. It is important to learn from the comforter
2. We take from our own experiance an comfort others
D. To make us willing to comfort.
1. It is a privledge to be comforted
2. It is a prieledge to be able to comfort other.
Conclusion:
