Thanks Be To God -- Who Comforts Us

 

2 Corinthians 1:3, 4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3874

Comfort: from the Greek word paraklésis, which means: properly, a call (urging), done by someone "close beside," i.e. a personal exhortation that delivers the "evidence that stands up in God's court." ; personal advocate;is an "intimate call" that someone personally gives to deliver God's verdict, i.e. "the close-call" that reveals how the Lord weighs in the relevant facts (evidence).  Paraklesis (holy-urging) is used of the Lord directly motivating and inspiring believers to carry out His plan, delivering His particular message to someone else. The core-meaning of paráklēsis ("personal urging") is shaped by the individual context, so it can refer to: exhortation, warning, encouragement (comfort), gladness, joy, consolation.

Comfort means so much more than we thought it did, doesn't it? This word paraklésis is used three times in this passage: the first time in verse 3 and the first and last time in verse 4.

GOD COMFORTS HIS PEOPLE

Matthew 5:4

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Romans 15:4

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 

1 Timothy 4:13

Until I come, give heed to the public reading of Scripture (in churches and synagogues), to exhortation, to teaching.

Knowing that all comfort originates with and comes from God, we accept that the Comforter He sends also originates with Him.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3875

Advocate: from the Greek word paraklétos (pronounced par-ak'-lay-tos), which means: called to one's aid; an advocate, an intercessor; a consoler, comforter, helper; from 'close-beside': , a legal advocate who makes the right judgment-call because close enough to the situation.

John 15:26

When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me.

Acts 1:4, 5

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, said He,  "You have heard of Me. For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days after these."

 GOD'S PEOPLE COMFORT EACH OTHER

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3870

Comfort: from the Greek word parakaleó (pronounced par-ak-al-eh'-o), which means: to call to or for, to exhort, to encourage;  (a) I send for, summon, invite, (b) I beseech, entreat, beg, (c) I exhort, admonish, (d) I comfort, encourage, console. Appeal to, implore, plead. 

This word parakaleó is used just once in this passage. The third time comfort is mentioned is when we comfort one another. How do we do just that? 

We Comfort One Another With The Love of Christ

Philippians 2:1

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affections and compassions, fulfil my joy, that you be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

We Comfort One Another With The Fulfillment of Prophecy

(The Prophecy) Deuteronomy 18:15

The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him.

(Prophecy Fulfilled) Luke 2:25

Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for The Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 

In Luke 2:25, The Consolation is from the Greek word  paraklésis which we already see described in the first definition given of the word comfort, but now as a proper noun: THE COMFORTER, THE CONSOLER, THE CONSOLATION, THE ADVOCATE, THE HELPER. 

Thanks be to God who comforts us as we live our daily lives in His Word, according to His Will and Purpose for our lives. Thanks be to God for His Advocate, who defends us before the Father, who convicts us of sin and brings us into repentance, that we might be His holy people, of the generation of righteous living in and through Christ. 

Thanks be to God for His path, His Way, which is old and narrow and difficult to traverse, but totally worth the effort it takes to do so. 

Dear God,

Thank You, firstly, for sending Your Son to die on the cross in my stead and, secondly, for sending Your Comforter, Your Holy Spirit to encourage me in my walk with You. Who helps me to guard my heart and who guides me through Your Word every day, revealing to me what You would have me to know. 

In Jesus' Beautiful Name, I pray,

Amen

Father, Son, Spirit by Jason Upton

He Abides (classic hymn)