In this engaging episode, discover the parallels between personal suffering and biblical teachings. Jeff discusses the importance of seeking resolution over reflection in times of pain and the role our attitude plays in navigating hardships. Experience insights on how we, as believers, can become instruments of comfort for others, reflecting God’s compassion and mercy in our daily lives.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us. Let’s think about the comfort that God provides today from the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us.
SPEAKER 02 :
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour. Let’s begin.
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Well, thank you to our J-Web, and greetings to all of you. We really appreciate you tuning in today for our study. To the Christians at Corinth, Paul penned in 1 Corinthians 1, verses 3 and 4, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. You know, friends, with the troubles and suffering throughout this old world, there is none other to direct troubled souls toward than God Almighty. Or, as in the gospel hymn of old, the question is asked, where could I go but to the Lord? Considering our text of 1 Corinthians 1, 3, and 4, I want us to note from the outset three characteristics of God that tells us He is the one to whom we must turn in times of suffering and strife, griefs and troubles. First, let’s notice that He is the Almighty. He is God the Creator. He created. He resurrected. He is way more than sufficient to comfort and to train one in comforting. He is way more than sufficient, friends. He is the Almighty. Number two, He is the Father of mercies. And the word mercy is a word that means to pity or to have emotions and acts of pity. And we credit that with the old classic word studies of A.T. Robertson. He’s the father of mercies. Oh, to think he’s the almighty and the mercies he can bestow. And then he’s called the God of all comfort. The word comfort meaning a calling to one side, an exhortation or a consolation. Here’s the way the word is used again in Luke 2.25, looking for the consolation of Israel. And that’s equivalent to waiting for the coming of the Messiah. God called to the side of man Christ Jesus the hope and salvation to man. A calling to one side. Also, the word means to one’s aid, and that suggests the capability or the adaptability for giving aid. It means in the widest sense a comforter or one that the Old English word secures one. It expresses aid to one who is overwhelmed. All that is left is to plea for help, and one is there. I often see this calling to one side, the God of all comfort, and that word comfort. You know, you go to one side, hug them or hold them in the loss of a loved one or a suffering or a hurt. Think about the day of salvation or one salvation. That old English word secured or aided or helped thee. Look how it’s used in 2 Corinthians 6. In the day of salvation have I aided or helped you. Again, God called to the aid of man, Jesus Christ, when man was overwhelmed of sin, the only comfort and forgiveness that is theirs in Christ. Therefore, with God among us, let us suggest, friends, that our sufferings and hurts, that one’s attitude could very well contribute to one’s suffering and will help them rather than cast blame upon God. God provides the help, the attitudes, and the guidance needed, and that’s what we’re going to talk about today. I’m suffering. Help me. But first, a message from our J-Web.
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For over 30 years, the Gospel Gleaner has brought forth sound biblical articles for your reading and study. It is published online four times a year, and subscriptions are free. Just go to GospelGleaner.com and sign up and let them know you heard about it from the International Gospel Hour. That’s GospelGleaner.com.
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And now, friends, I’m suffering. Help me with less reflection on my suffering. You see, friends, sometimes one reflects on the hurt and suffering to the point that one is consumed. Well, you know, that suffering and hurt and all, it’s stirred enough as it is, so let’s not add more on to it. Kind listeners and friends, I’ve been there, and I know, and sometimes I find myself returning there to a time in my life of hurt or heartbreak or suffering, and you know, it never does any good. We must look to resolve the suffering and hurt or to find through God what is needed in which to deal with the attitudes and suffering that can actually be a hindrance and not a help. Emotionally and spiritually, everyone desires comfort. May one never desire to be as a psalmist in Psalm 69, 20, in that he looked for comforters, but he found none. Are there matters and or things in our times of suffering that will keep us from seeking or finding the consolation or the comfort needed? Are we like that psalmist? Let’s adjust some attitude with this, folks. And let’s be warned of some things that when we reflect on our sufferings or keep looking upon the hurt and the pain, there are things that will alter the help that we need. How about discouragement? We get discouraged and it blinds one to the help that is there. We look at the harm and not the help, the pain and not the process, and then we stay within our sufferings. What about dislocation from our brethren and from God? We pull away from the church, and we eventually pull away from God. Oh, how about don’t tell? Don’t say anything to anybody. Well, I don’t want to trouble anybody. It still amazes me when folks get upset over something, but nobody knew to help or what to do. And we say we don’t want others to know. But others can help us. What about feeling sorry for ourselves as if we are the only one going through this? Well, friends, we’ve seen suffering upon us all. And remember our lesson text. We need to take the comfort that God gives us and in turn comfort others. Sometimes we blame God to the point that we say God is not there, but oh yes He is, friends. This we’ve already affirmed. You see, deep down, folks, we know of what all God provides. But it’s easy for us to look the other way. We keep reflecting upon our problems and struggles when we need to resolve them. So let’s go with less reflection. And number two, I’m suffering. Help me. toward more resolution than reflection. I pick up with 2 Corinthians 1, verses 6 and 7. And let me pause here, friends. Earlier I said 1 Corinthians 1, 3 and 4. That should be 2 Corinthians 1, 3 and 4. And if you caught that, great work, Bible student. And I apologize. 2 Corinthians 1, 6 and 7. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. There is consolation and salvation. That base that God provides. And note, it is effective for enduring. You see, friends, here’s where our attitude must change. And look upon the altitude. What’s above? What does God provide? Allow the affliction, the suffering, to look. To direct our lives toward consolation and salvation. In other words… What can help me with this? And friends, that is hard. But when it is done, look what is already there. It is part of us. But think, albeit for a moment, we are looking away from our affliction and looking towards something else to help us deal with it. that grants a respite and a peace that sows toward consoling and comfort. And yes, dear friends, sometimes it does take our attitude to adjust as God has granted that we may be able to be comforted and to comfort. From verse 7 of 2 Corinthians 1, the hope there is the expectation and the patience reminding us this will get better. Through Christ it will, it must. The steadfast is a word that means to plant the feet down to where we know within God we can stand, we will stand, and the consolation is there to find and to partake. In 1 Peter 4, 19, Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator. We suffer according to the will, but we’re going to keep on going in well-doing. Oh, friends, how thankful we are that we can deal with our sufferings through the power of God. I want to pause here and defer back to our J-Web. We have that awesome God and Man study that’s available by mail. We want to send it to you. It’s free. Here is our J-Web with the details.
SPEAKER 02 :
An additional Bible study by mail is now available from International Gospel Hour. It’s titled, God and Man, How to Be Saved from Sin. This study booklet addresses a number of questions about the salvation from God to man. And friends, like all materials, it’s free. Call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, God and Man. Or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type God and man in the message box. Another Bible study that is free from IGH and our friends at godandman.com. That’s god-and-man.com. And, you know, since you can’t see it, let me just spell that out for you. We’d love to hear from you.
SPEAKER 01 :
Friends, we know of the struggles and strife that we face in this old world. We hope this broadcast has been of help to you, and we will continue our studies together at another time. Please let us know if we can ever be of help to you here at International Gospel Hour. Thank you again for joining me today. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
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God be with you till we meet again.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com God be with you till we meet again.
