The God of all Comfort!

As we celebrate Mother’s Day and the comfort that moms give to their spouses and their children, we are going to look at the comfort that God wants to give all of us.

Isaiah 66: 13 NIV
As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.

God is waiting to be your comforter. Waiting to give you peace and rest in this turmoil.

Matthew 5: 4 NIV second beatitude
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Last week we talked about Jesus being the mediator in heaven for us to have an eternal relationship with God.

Revelation 7: 17 NIV
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Jesus is offering to give you comfort if you turn to Him. It is in times like right now, that we search for answers and God has an answer for you if you can just believe that He is real.

The apostle Paul wrote letters to many of the churches that he started on his Missionary journeys. His letters were to remind those churches that God is real and to encourage them in their work for God.

His words comforted them as they struggled to grow and share the message of the Messiah – Jesus Christ.

One of those letters was to the Corinthian churches and it was written in two parts. We are reading from the second part and the passage is all about “the God of all Comfort.”

Join me as we read

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 NIV
3 Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

What does “comfort” mean to each of us? I gave several answers in the object lesson just before this message. Comfort comes when we feel secure, safe loved and needed.

This is especially needed in times of pandemics and crisis. You can go through a lot if you feel comforted.

That is where God comes in for many people. God wants to be our comforter.
He will be our comforter if we let Him.

Isaiah 49: 13 NIV
Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains!
For the Lord comforts His people and will have compassion on His afflicted ones.

Part of our comfort comes from knowing that someone will be there in the tough times with us. I love reading how the Psalmists describe how God is with them.

Psalm 121: 1-8 NIV

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;

4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;

8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

When you are full of fear, doubt, anxiety and just plain lost in the struggle, look to the one who made us and cares so much for us and wants to comfort us.

Philippians 2: 1, 2 NIV
1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
God wants us all to see Him as “the God of all comfort.” God is waiting for you to cry out to Him for help, to come and make your Spirit whole.

Now we close with a song by David Huff, sung by Barb Munro, called “My Song of Praise”

Thanks Barb!

For the mothers of First Baptist Church and others that are watching our service, we give you this special presentation.

We close with a verse from that great prophet Isaiah:

Benediction: Isaiah 41: 10 NIV
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

The God of all comfort promises to be with you each day. Have a wonderful week!
Thanks for joining our service!