Tag: Comfort

Devotional Thought for Today – 10/19/2020

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 Pg 1048 In Church Bibles. - ppt video online download

In context of course Paul is speaking about comforting one another (like-minded believers) about the return of Christ 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18.

Yet is it not the “Christian” duty to comfort one another whenever possible? Not just here as Paul describes  Christ’s return but in all things.  Here are some of my favorite verses on the subject:

Romans 15:5 – Working to build up our neighbors

1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Building each other up through comfort and encouragement

Hebrews 10:23-25 – Encouraging one another to to love and to do good deeds

We all have busy lives, often too busy for those around us, but make an effort to see those in need, say a kind word and share the Love of Christ today. 

 

Hope As We Leave Quarantine

The Master's Seminary Blog

Hope As We Leave Quarantine

James Street | June 12, 2020

After months of quarantine, the world finally seems to be getting back to normal. Masks are no longer required in certain places, non-essential business are opening their doors, and churches are starting to meet again. But the Coronavirus isn’t gone; it’s still here. Just because we hid ourselves from the virus doesn’t mean the virus will now start hiding itself from us. Now that people are beginning to gather in public places again, some may get sick with COVID-19—some may even die. That’s a scary thought. Many are uneasy about returning to normal life, and that includes Christians. Church leaders must now make difficult decisions about how to hold their services. Congregants must now decide whether they should even go to church right now or not. There is a healthy fear in all of us and it drives us to look to the Bible for answers. What hope does God give us at such a delicate time like this? For many evangelicals, Psalm 91 has been the answer. Its message is attractive, because it sounds like the pandemic we’re facing today:

For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. (Ps. 91:3)

You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you. (Ps. 91:5–7)

For you have made the LORD, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. (Ps. 91:9–10)

CONTINUED AT: SOURCE

Abounding in Hope

Abounding in Hope

BY HENRY M. MORRIS III, D.MIN.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

The seemingly sudden onset of the coronavirus pandemic has brought a time of trouble. The past few months have been difficult for many people in our country. Millions have lost jobs or suffered a reduced work volume and consequently face fearful financial uncertainty. And while the economy will no doubt rebound, it’s likely there’ll be turmoil for the tens of thousands of small businesses that won’t recover and must retool and refocus on other ventures. Small churches might not have the resources to maintain contact with their congregations under mandates to shelter in place or limit group gatherings, resulting in a trend for those members to participate in online worship with larger churches.

It’s not yet clear just how all of these restrictions will change our lives and social interaction with each other, but we who are privileged to be a part of the Lord’s Kingdom shouldn’t be anxious about the future. The Scriptures offer precious promises from God to His people that we can rest in during times like these…

CONTINUED AT: SOURCE

 

Sunday’s Sermon Series – Fear and Trust

Psalms 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God ...

Everyone gets afraid or has a fear of something. I hate tall ladders, not sure why I can walk around on roof trusses 60′ in the air but get me on a 32′ extension ladder and my knees wobble.  

For the Christian we have a place to channel that fear, place to find sanctuary in the storms of life, our Creator Himself calls upon us to simply focus and trust in Him. Faith, the one element that is utter foolishness to unbelievers, is the greatest weapon we have against fear. 

Ps 56:3 Isa 12:2 (AMP and RVR 1960)

C.H. Spurgeon Sermons: 

Faith Hand in Hand with Fear PS 56:3
Fearing and Trusting—Trusting and Not Fearing Ps 56:3 Isa 12:2

 

Death vs. Life

1 Corinthians 15:22 In Adam All Die In Christ All Made Alive (brown)

CONTEXT:

Yesterday in our devotional Blame Game we can trace the history of blaming others back to Adam and Eve (Gen 3:12-13). But the consequences of their actions were far greater than that, instead of peace and good health with eternal life in the Garden of Eden they brought about sin, disease, and DEATH. Genesis 3:16-19.

Here in 1st Corinthians Chapter 15 the Apostle Paul begins by laying out the facts of Christ’s resurrection: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. He then proceeds to make the argument that if Christ has resurrected so too shall there be a resurrection of the dead 1 Corinthians 15:12-34. It is in the middle of this I wish to pull our text for today and explore God’s Holy word. 

1 Corinthians 15:19-22 

If in Christ we have hope[a] in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (ESV)

Si en esta vida solamente esperamos en Cristo, somos los más dignos de conmiseración de todos los hombres. 20 Mas ahora Cristo ha resucitado de los muertos; primicias de los que durmieron es hecho. 21 Porque por cuanto la muerte entró por un hombre, también por un hombre la resurrección de los muertos. 22 Porque así como en Adán todos mueren, también en Cristo todos serán vivificados. (RVR 1960)

v.19 If in Christ we have hope[a] in this life only, 

There was and still are cults that claim to be “christian” or claim some level of christian faith but deny the full deity and resurrection of Christ. Their desire or better put reason for being associated with Christ is worldly gain. 

The second category and the one Paul is more likely writing about is all those who claim to be Christians, suffer for being so (remember Paul’s hardships) yet have no hope of eternal life.

we are of all people most to be pitied.

If either case is true of man what is left of them but to pity them? In the first man will live out his days and gain nothing for the Kingdom Matthew 6:19–21. In Paul’s case he would have willingly suffered for no reason at all for his hope was a lie. The original Greek here, eleeinoteroi, meaning pitiful or miserable combined with The whole of every kind of man.

v.20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead,

Okay, here are the facts, Christ has risen from the dead Matthew 28:6 so our hope is not in vain not to be pitied.

the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 

Firstfruits were the first of the harvest offered to God by the Jewish people. By using this term Paul insures the reader understand that Christ is the first of many believers to follow in God’s harvest of His chosen.

v.21  For as by a man came death, 

Remember it was Adam who brought sin and death into the world for all mankind. For anyone out there who is a naysayer claiming that’s not fair, why should I pay for something or be held accountable for something some guy did 6000+ years ago? If you look deeply at your true nature (apart from Christ) you know you would have done the same thing. 

by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead

Jesus is the ONLY way, there is no other to eternal life.

v.22  For as in Adam all die,

Adam brought death, despair and helplessness into the world. A man of sorrows to be pitied

so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

Jesus brought comfort, hope and Life to all who believe upon him as Lord and Savior.

CONCLUSION:

Are you to be pitied, is your hope in this life only today? Or are you to be counted among the saints …born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven(1 Peter 1:3-4 ESV). 

 

Take Heart

Some “Christians” think they are exempt from suffering and tribulations. This is not what Christ said, in fact if you are not “suffering” for your faith Romans 8:18, James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 5:10 its probably time to check if your faith is real. But Glory to God, Christ has overcome this world and we can find peace and comfort in Him.

Logos.com

Reina-Valera 1960 (RVR1960)

 Estas cosas os he hablado para que en mí tengáis paz. En el mundo tendréis aflicción; pero confiad, yo he vencido al mundo.

Alexander MacLaren’s Expositions of Holy Scripture

John – PEACE AND VICTORY – John 16:33.

Daily Devotional – Mortification of Sin

by John Owen – March 31th, 2019

Chapter 13
PREPARATORY DIRECTIONS
Speak No Peace (Continued)

c. When to take comfort from a promise of God

But you will say, “When may we take the comfort of a promise as our own, in relation to some peculiar wound, for quieting the heart?”

1). When God speaks the promise to you

   We may take the comfort of a promise for our own, first and in general, when God speaks it—be it when He will, sooner or later.(95) I told you before, He may do it in the very instant of the sin itself, and that with such irresistible power that the soul must receive His mind in it. And sometimes He will make us wait longer. But when He does speak—be it sooner or later, be it when we are sinning or repenting, be the condition of our souls what they please—if God speaks, He must be received. There is not anything in our communion with Him that the Lord is more troubled with us about, if I may so say, than our unbelieving fears, which keep us from receiving that strong consolation He is so willing to give to us.

   But you will say, “We are where we were. When God speaks it, we must receive it, that is true; but how shall we know when He speaks?” I would we could all practically come up to this, to receive peace when we are convinced that God speaks it, and that it is our duty to receive it.

   There is, however, if I may so say, a secret instinct in faith whereby it knows the voice of Christ when He speaks indeed. As the babe leaped in the womb when the blessed virgin came to Elisabeth (Luke 1:41), faith leaps in the heart when Christ indeed draws nigh to it. “My sheep,” says Christ, “hear my voice” (Joh 10:4, 27)—that is, they know My voice; they are used to the sound of it. They know when His lips are opened to them and are full of grace. The spouse was in a sad condition, asleep in security; but yet as soon as Christ speaks, she cries, “It is the voice of my beloved” (Song 5:2). She knew His voice and was so acquainted with communion with Him that instantly she discovers Him. And so, will you also. If you exercise your-selves to acquaintance and communion with Him, you will easily discern between His voice and the voice of a stranger. And take this criterion with you: when He speaks, He speaks as never man spoke. He speaks with power, and one way or other will make your “heart burn within” you as He did to the disciples (Luke 24:32). He does it by putting “in his hand by the hole of the door” (Song 5:4)—that is, putting His Spirit into your hearts to seize on you.

   He that has his senses exercised to discern good or evil is the best judge for himself in this case, being increased in judgment and experience by a constant observation of the ways of Christ’s communication, the manner of the operations of the Spirit, and the effects it usually produces.

2). If the Word does true good to your soul

   If the Word of the Lord does good to your souls, He speaks it: if it humble, if it cleanse, and if it be useful to those ends for which His promises are given—namely, to endear, to cleanse, to melt and bind to obedience, to self-emptiness, etc. But this is not my business, nor shall I further divert in the pursuit of this direction. Without the observation of it, sin will have great advantages towards the hardening of the heart.

(95) See The Leading of the Holy Spirit by A. W. Pink (1886-1952), available from CHAPEL LIBRARY.
Excerpts from Mortification of Sin by John Owen from: The Chapel Library •  chapel@mountzion.org

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Yesterday on our Faith Builders Ministry site I posted on Proverbs 15:1 and today’s verse seems a natural follow on.

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do (KJV)

Paul points two things out that should be obvious to everyone; the primary duties of every true Christian include comforting, encouraging and building each other up. He even commends the church at Thessalonica for doing just that.

What may not be so obvious in today’s day and age is the fact that this can not be accomplished in isolation; note Paul says: “comfort yourselves together”. Also as we noted yesterday this can only be done by those using soft, gentle and thoughtful words.

 

Fly to the Word of God!

June 4, 2018 by Steve Rebus

(from “The Preciousness of God’s Word” by Octavius Winslow)

As a system of ‘consolation’ Christianity has no equal. No other religion in the wide world touches the hidden springs of the soul, or reaches the lowest depths of human sorrow, but the religion of Christ. 

Continued at Source: Fly to the Word of God!

Secure in God’s Word

There is nothing that can defeat temptation more , nothing that can overcome depression more, nothing that can provide comfort and hope, make us feel safe and secure, more than God’s Word. – Mike