Title A Comforter Who Gives You Strength
Contents
A comforter who gives strength. (2 Corinthians 1:3-7)
Every year in the fall, the big event of the school is the athletic meet. Especially in rural areas, the whole neighborhood gathered together on the school grounds to play some sort of mini-Olympics. The highlight of the sport, then and now, is the marathon. As marathon runners run out of breath as they run around the track on the playground, someone comes along and runs alongside them to cheer them up. Water is sprayed on the head with a water jug to the sweaty athlete, and a cool bottle of water is handed over. The word used to give strength from the side like this is called “comfort”. It's not a passive word, it's dynamic.
In Greek, it is called parakalon, which literally means to stand by and strengthen. In English, it is comfort. It is a compound noun of the words 'together' and 'strength, ability, fortress', meaning that it is a strong fortress by your side. So the Holy Spirit is Paracletos, the Spirit of Comfort. Come to us and give us strength and courage. It inspires new motivation in our hearts. He raises us up again from discouragement and frustration. He makes us dream bigger than before we failed. (John 14:16. 15:26. Romans 15:13)
Jesus blessed the twelve disciples to receive the Holy Spirit as the first gift of resurrection while they were hiding in the attic because of the grass. It was the spirit of comfort that gave me new strength. In this way, God always gives us strength. It gives you courage. He gives you the strength to rise again from the seat of disappointment and frustration. He is a strong support for us so that we do not fall in the midst of hardships and trials that are difficult to bear.
So Paul praised and thanked God for this content (verse 3). “Let us praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is a merciful Father, a God of all comfort.”
The English Bible translates this beautifully. 「Compassion & comfort」 (Compassion & comfort) If mercy is inward, then comfort is outward action. God comforts us with a warm heart. He energizes us so that new energy springs from within us.
That's why Paul likes to use the word "comfort". Number 18 is written in 2 Corinthians, and it is repeated 10 times only in chapter 1. The driving force that kept him from getting tired in the difficult mission field was the overflowing experience of God's comfort. Because of God's comfort, I was able to endure many hardships. We only read the Bible up to verse 7, but if you look at verses 8-10, Paul experienced a lot of hardships during his missionary work. In some cases, they even went to the point of losing hope of living. It felt like a body sentenced to death. Nevertheless, the driving force that allowed me to rise again like Ottogi was because of God's comfort. So 2 Corinthians begins with consolation and concludes with consolation (13:11). “Finally, brethren, rejoice. Be made whole and be comforted.”
If we look at the Bible, the common denominator of those who overcame the dire trials and pains of life was the comfort of God. Whenever Moses was tired and exhausted in the wilderness, God comforted him with kindness. Whenever David was lonely and sad, God warmly comforted him. Whenever Elijah or Daniel were lonely and lonely, God comforted them like a friend. Please believe that God will come to you today as a comforting spirit. The Lord comforts the broken heart. He comforts a bruised chest. He cares for your inner side when you are weak and exhausted and gives you new energy. You are my strength by my side. You are a strong support. You are a strong fortress in life. God is the comforter of love. If so, what kind of person does God comfort and strengthen by his side?
1. He comforts the lonely and gives strength.
God always visits and comforts those who are lonely, lonely and left alone. He is by the side of those who are in a desperate situation in life and gives strength to them. It strengthens your strength. (Isaiah 41:10) “Do not be afraid, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you. yea, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. He holds your right hand strong. (Psalm 73:23-24) “I am always with you; you have taken hold of my right hand. You will guide me in Your precepts, and afterward you will receive me in glory.”
That is why Jesus often visited the lonely and comforted them. You have been a friendly friend. You shared a warm conversation. And you gave me courage and gave me strength. Please believe that he will come to comfort you and comfort you, who are lonely and lonely today.
2. He comforts those who are troubled and gives them strength.
God hears a voice of consolation when we are on the verge of drowning and weary of anxiety and worry. “Don't be afraid. Don't worry. I will be with you. I will take care of you. I will protect you. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.” (Isaiah 43:1-13; John 14:1; Philippians 4:6-7) God sometimes promises, “As a mother comforts her children, so she will comfort them.” (Isaiah 66:13) “As a mother comforts her children, so I will comfort you, and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.” ‘You give me joy instead of sorrow, wreaths instead of ashes, hymns instead of sorrows, clothes of praise.’
3. He comforts those who are discouraged and gives them strength.
Modern people have a lot of heartache. The wounds of the body are visible, but the wounds of the mind are invisible. The wounds of the mind hurt more than the wounds of the body. So the Lord heals a broken heart. Psalm 34:18 says, “God is near to the brokenhearted and gives refreshment.” In Psalm 42:5, it says, “God refreshes those who are discouraged so that they may have hope.”
Today, Jesus comes and comforts those who are discouraged and brokenhearted. He comforts me not to cry. He comforts the broken heart and becomes a strong strength. “Lord who comforts me when I come before you in loneliness and wandering, you help me and cover my broken heart.”
4. He comforts those who are weary and gives them strength.
What is the greatest message of Jesus' invitation to people? “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden. I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) The Lord gives strength to the weary today and strength to the helpless. To those who thirst for God, He gives new strength to soar up like an eagle. (Isaiah 40:28-31) “Have you not known or have you not heard? Eternal God, the LORD, who created the ends of the earth, does not grow weary or weary; he has no limit in understanding; he gives strength to the weary, and strength to the powerless. In addition, even young men will grow weary and weary, and young men will stumble and fall, but those who wait on the Lord will find new strength, and they will rise up like eagles on wings; they will run and not get weary, they will walk and not get tired.
In times of crisis like today, we need warm comforters. We need an encourager who shares life's hardships and suffers together. You need someone to support you by your side. God has entrusted us with this noble mission (Isaiah 40:1). “Comfort ye. Comfort my people.”
I hope that we will live as comforters who support each other. How would you like to become a comforter who gives strength to those around us who are lonely and lonely, who are in trouble, those who are discouraged, and those who are weary?
We are the lonely racers of life. Just as you need someone to throw a water bottle at a marathon runner, you desperately need someone to support you. I am thirsty for warm comfort.
Just as God comforts you with a mother's heart, how would you like to become such a comforter? Let's pray for those who need comfort at this time and this place today.