A Crucified Life - - Receives Comfort From God

 

2 Corinthians 7:6,8

But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus. His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you. When he told us how much you long to see me, and how sorry you are for what happened, and how loyal you are to me, I was filled with joy.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3870

Comfort: console, encourage and strengthen, advocate

From the Greek word 'parakaleó' (pronounced par-ak-al-eh'-o).

    God is 'up close and personal' with His people. He is not a faraway God, but the near God, the 'I will never leave you nor forsake you' God. 

• Hebrews 13:5
• Deuteronomy 31:6,8
• Joshua 1:9.17
• Isaiah 41:10-14

    God comforts His people when we are downcast (low in spirit, humble, meek). We are comforted by His presence, His nearness. And we are grateful that this is our God.

    Paul was writing to the believers in Corinth who had supported him on his journeys; thanking them for their loyalty and their mission support to him. We need to remain faithful to our missionaries, too. They need us to express our love for them not only in our prayers, but in our giving. 

    Missionaries who are faithful in sharing the gospel receive comfort from God through us who impart love and mercy to them, as Titus did when God sent him to Paul. Titus had good things to say, words which encouraged Paul and compelled him to reach out to the little church. 

    Let us continue to work together, as the believers did in the beginning of the age of the church, to advance the kingdom of God with our witness and our testimony. 

Give Me Faith by Elevation Worship

This Is Our God by Phil Wickham

Shepherd of My Soul by Rivers & Robots

Draw Me Close To You by Michael W. Smith

The Lord Is Near 

God With Us by MercyMe

 

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Speaking Words of Wisdom

 1 Thessalonians 5:14

And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

Admonish: warn, counsel, exhort; to caution or reprove gently

Colossians 3:16

Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 (words of warning, caution)

For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies. We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living."

Encourage: to comfort, to console

John 11:19

And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

John 11:21-25

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give You whatever You ask of Him.”

“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her. Martha replied, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Help: to hold firmly to, to hold against, 

Titus 1:9

He must hold firmly to the faithful Word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.

2 Timothy 1:13

Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Job 27:6

My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

Patient: persevere, am forbearing, suffer long

1 Corinthians 13:4

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

How we talk to one another is just as important as what we say to each other.