God of all Comfort

Introduction: Calamity

Last 12 months have been chaotic

Many may find themselves feeling ‘afflicted’

We know that hardship in this life isn’t limited to 2020 and 2021

Our world has always been filled with Chaos and it will always be filled with Chaos

Separation from family

Depression

Anxiety

Financial Struggles

Personal afflictions

John 16:33

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Continuing Series “Character of God”

The God of all Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:3–7 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

Paul identifies God as three things here

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

Father of Mercies

God of all Comfort

God actively comforts his people

1 Cor. 1:4 “who comforts us in our affliction”

Present tense

What is comfort?

paráklēsis

urges forward, pushes toward further action

It is because of God’s comfort that Paul is able to exhort us to push forward, to fight the good fight, to finish the race.

God’s comfort doesn’t always mean that we will be removed from our circumstances

God is consistently identified as a ‘comforter’ in the Old Testament

Isa. 51:12

Isaiah 66:13

Neh. 9:19

Psalm 51:1

Isa. 63:7

Daniel 9:9

What is the purpose of our comfort?

We are comforted so that those around us may experience the same comfort from God

2 Cor. 1:5 raised a lot of questions in my mind

How do we share in Christ’s suffering?

Because, when we have accepted Christ as our Lord and savior, we have died to ourselves and are alive in Christ.

Paul says, “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me,”

v. 5: Because of the unity that the Holy Spirit brings to the church, when we experience affliction, we can look to the example of other believers who have likewise endured affliction and stood up despite that hardship.

Paul has hope because he knows from his own previous experience and from his own deliverance from his afflictions, that when other believers are faced with calamity and chaos as well, they will experience that same comfort from God.

Application

How can we experience this comfort in our own lives?

We may not face the same kind of persecution that Paul faced in his ministry

We can experience the same comfort he received from God

When you are faced with various afflictions, look to the example of other believers

Paul was given the strength to continue on with his ministry despite facing

Beatings

Whippings

Stoning

Imprisonment

Starvation

Shipwrecks

God stood with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace (Dan. 3)

He delivered his people from the hand of Egypt

Jesus stands ready to calm the storms in your own life, but even if that storm rages on around you, have hope knowing that he stands with you in the storm.

Hardship is unavoidable, and in the middle of your affliction it feels like the only thing you can see

Those who have accepted Christ as savior find comfort in knowing that Jesus has overcome the grave, and we serve that same God who rose Jesus from the grave.

We take comfort in knowing that after this life passes away, we will spend eternity in paradise.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the comfort that you have made available to those whom you call Son or Daughter. We praise you for standing in the fire with us. Thank you that because you have made your church one in spirit, we can take comfort in the afflictions and comfort of believers around the world. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to die in our place, to overcome the shackles of death and sin, and for rising again and taking his rightful place on the throne of heaven. In his name we pray, Amen.