When One Needs Comfort

SPEAKER 02 : 0:00

Dear friends, there comes a time where we all need comforting, or we find ourselves comforting someone. So let’s lift ourselves today and think about comfort from God. That’s here from the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us.

SPEAKER 01 : 0:21

Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. We’re so glad you’ve decided to listen to our program today. In a world of challenges, we need God’s Word to help us face those challenges. Thank you for joining us in this period of Bible study with our speaker, Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ. So let’s listen today.

SPEAKER 02 : 0:45

Here’s Jeff. Thank you to our J-Web for his kind words, and greetings to all of you. I’m honored that you’ve joined us today for this very special study. Want to remind you that the International Gospel Hour website is internationalgospelhour.com. Feel free to peruse it and send us a message through our contact tab. Let us know where you hear our broadcast. You can also call us toll free at 855-444-6988 and let us know the same. We’d love to hear from our listeners. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 118 Fayetteville, Tennessee 37334. We are under the oversight of the elders, the shepherds of the West Fayetteville, Tennessee Church of Christ. You know, in Hebrews 11 and verse 6, the Bible says, But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Friend, today may we always, without exception, Follow the faith that we are to have in God to make changes in our lives. We want to consider 2 Corinthians 1 verses 3 and 4. Written to the church at Corinth, Paul says, 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. Now, to hear this verse immediately refreshes the listener. It grants an ease of heart. It gives a glimmer of hope in whatever hurt that one is facing. Emotionally and spiritually, friends, we all desire comfort. We never desire to be as the psalmist in Psalm 69, 20, in that he looked for comforters, but he found none. But we must also place this in its proper context. Paul is writing to the church, the Christians in Corinth, who were obedient to the gospel of Christ. We learn that in Acts 18, verse 8, where they heard, believed, and were baptized. And when we are taught to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and to believe it, Romans 10, 17, from whence comes our faith, we repent of our sins as Jesus commanded in Luke 13, 3. We confess our faith in Christ, Matthew 10, 32 and Acts 8, 37. And like the Corinthians, we are baptized into Christ, just like they were on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, 38. Just like Saul was, now we know him as the Apostle Paul in Acts 22.16. At times in our suffering, many miss having a church family and the fellowship within because there is none. When I speak of the church of Christ, when I speak of the church that I read of in the New Testament, I can tell you, friends, in my lowest moments of life, I am grateful the church, my brothers and sisters in Christ, were there for me. It is through Christ that we are able to do those things to help one another. Maybe you are going through some suffering now, and you’re looking for answers. Friends, I would refer you to the nearest Church of Christ, and we will be able to help you. Let me explain. If you have a need and would like to speak to someone of the local Church of Christ, call our toll-free number at 855-444-6988. And leave your name and your number. That’s all you have to do. Let us know you’d like to speak to someone locally. And the first thing we do is we call you back. And we talk with you and we explain how we handle that. We are very particular and respect the privacy of our listeners and their requests. And we will handle it in a proper way. I think of one young man who called us. And I called him back. And we talked. And he gave us permission to share his information with a local church of Christ. And he obeyed the gospel of Christ. And to God be the glory. So friends, we are standing willing and able to help you. But for now, we want to talk further about when one needs comfort. But first, here is our J-Web with our free publication offer for this broadcast.

SPEAKER 01 : 5:36

How about another free online publication? Subscribe to Truth, a monthly four-page worldwide publication edited by our friend and brother Roger Campbell. Each issue has four to six articles of excellent writing and biblical study. Please send us an email at info at internationalgospelhour.com and leave us your name, email address, and write truth in the message blank. Again, please send an email to info at internationalgospelhour.com and leave your name, email address, and write truth in the message blank.

SPEAKER 02 : 6:13

Friends, let’s talk about the lesson text of comfort, and we read it earlier from 2 Corinthians 1, 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 of our trouble or 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. A lot of comfort in those passages. You know, in the book of Lamentations, did not God, through Jeremiah, give comfort to those in Jerusalem? When he said in Lamentations 3, 22 and 23, through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. The thought of comfort means to call along to one side, or the Latin term meaning to brave together, which means that someone comes alongside or spends a moment with you and helps you to brave something together. Sometimes we talk about individuals that we are grateful that they help us get through it. So friends, mercies and comfort, that’s bestowed upon the children of God from their father. Now, let’s also note the word of God will comfort us. In Psalm 119, 49 and 50, remember the word to your servant upon which you have caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has given me life. In Colossians 2, 2 and 3, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love and attaining to all riches and the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and wisdom. Knowledge. To attain the knowledge, the assurance, the understanding, the wisdom and knowledge, that mystery or what is revealed that is necessary for comfort from the Lord. How many of us will reach for the Bible when in our times of trial and trouble, maybe to read a 23rd Psalm or maybe to read a text of Scripture that seems to help us? But friends, don’t forget. When we are Christians, when we are members of the Lord’s church, when we have that compassion, that these things we discuss even grow greater. I submit to you that love comforts us, the love of God. For in Psalm 9, verse 9, the Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in time of trouble. I mentioned Psalm 23. What about verse 4? Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Acknowledging as a sheep to the shepherd, your rod, your staff, they comfort me. They keep things away from me. And even in Matthew 5, 4, Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Those that mourn of sin have the hope of being comforted. There’s the love of others. And, you know, Paul’s comfort of the Christians at Rome and his comfort unto them, Romans 1 verse 12. And we mentioned the church at Corinth that comforted and refreshed Titus in 2 Corinthians 7 verse 13. That refresh gives the idea of an intermission or a pause. And think for a moment of others that refreshed you with comfort and ease and gave you a pause from your suffering. The character in the Bible, Tychicus, the individual, was to comfort the hearts of the church at Ephesus, Ephesians 6 and verse 22. You know, friends, sometimes a loving moment of a word, a hug, some expression that we can grant to ease an individual. You know, we’ve received it, and let us also be one to extend it. Friends, once again, if you’re struggling and you’re looking for answers, we truly want to help you. And there is a Church of Christ in your area. We will do our best to refer you to someone that can be of help to you. We’re very careful how we do that. If you’d like to think on that and let us know, you can call us at 855-444-6988. Leave your name and your phone number and just say, I’d like to speak to you about the church. And we’ll call and we’ll talk with you. We also will gladly mail you absolutely free our Bible study course by mail. We offer it quite often here from International Gospel Hour. We’re able to do that free. We don’t want your money. Maybe a study of the Bible will help you work through those things because the Word of God will comfort and the love of God comforts and the love of others such as us here want to comfort and help you as well. Here is our J-Web with those details, and I’ll be back to wrap up our broadcast.

SPEAKER 01 : 11:11

Our well-received Bible study course by mail is available to everyone absolutely free. Would you like to try it? All you do is call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study. That’s it. That’s all you have to do. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com. Click on the Contact tab and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. At your own pace, you can study the Bible in your own home. Again, it’s free. Give it a try. And it’s from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.

SPEAKER 02 : 11:51

Well, friends, once again, we thank you for joining us for this special broadcast concerning the comfort from God. When one needs comfort, God provides many things for us. We are willing to help you. Again, if we can help you with your circumstances… Please call us at 855-444-6988. Leave us your name and number. We’ll talk with you. We’ll refer you to a Church of Christ in your area that can help. Let’s study together at another time, and thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.

SPEAKER 01 : 12:27

Thank you for listening today. May this study prompt your search of God’s Word for His will in your life. To assist you in your study or to listen to our other programs, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com. To God be the glory.