A Cry For Comfort

Key Passages: Isaiah 40:1-2; 2 Corinthians 1:1-8

Introduction

Many people today are crying out for comfort but don’t know where to find it. The difficulties and sufferings of life have left them confused, depressed, or disillusioned. Instead of turning to God, who is the only source of true and lasting comfort, they may have given up on Him. Desiring relief from pain and hardship is only natural, but the bigger issue is learning how to benefit from the experience by turning to the Lord and receiving His encouragement.

Sermon Points

God comforts His people.

Situations change, but the Word of God stands forever (Isa. 40:8).
The Lord lovingly shepherds His people (Isa. 40:11).
God’s power and knowledge are displayed in His creation (Isa. 40:12-13).
He is sovereign over all the events on earth (Isa. 40:21-23).
The Lord gives strength to those who are weary (Isa. 40:29-31).
He is the “God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3).

What is comfort?

The New Testament word for comfort means to encourage or come alongside.
The Holy Spirit is our Helper or Comforter (John 14:16, 26).

The Holy Spirit seals believers.

God marks us as His children (Eph. 1:13).
The Holy Spirit’s presence and power remain constant.

What is the source of our comfort?

Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, is the Comforter.
He puts a limit on our suffering (1 Cor. 10:13).
God promises to work out everything for our good (Rom. 8:28).
Nothing can touch us apart from God’s permission.

How does God comfort us?

Comfort comes through the Scriptures.
According to Psalm 119:50, God’s Word revives us.

How can we find comforting Scripture verses?

Read the Bible daily.
Ask God to guide you to the right passages.
Choose favorite verses.
Read biographical passages about people in the Bible.

Summary

The comfort we need in times of pain or hardship is found in the Scriptures and through the Holy Spirit. The Lord delights in speaking personally to us through His Word, and His Spirit comes alongside us to encourage and instruct us. He’s always there when we need Him to lighten our load, quiet our fears, lift our spirits, ease our pain, or invigorate us when we don’t think we can take another step.

Copy Sermon Outline

Isaiah 40:1-2

1 Comfort, O comfort My people," says your God.

2 Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of the LORD'S hand Double for all her sins."

2 Corinthians 1:1-8

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;

7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;

Psalms 62:1

1 My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation.

Psalms 63:6-8

6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,

7 For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.

8 My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.

Psalms 119:50

50 This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me.

Isaiah 40:8

8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.

Isaiah 40:11-13

11 Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales?

13 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counselor has informed Him?

Isaiah 40:21-23

21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

23 He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.

Isaiah 40:29-31

29 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.

30 Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly,

31 Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

John 14:16, 14:26

16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

Romans 8:28

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

1 Corinthians 10:13

13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Ephesians 1:13

13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Aired On 08 May 2015

A Cry For Comfort

God always has a reason for our trials, and we’ll never have to go through them alone if we’ve trusted Jesus Christ as our Savior. Because God has placed the Holy Spirit within us to be our Guide and Comforter, we can exit our trials stronger than we entered into them. By building and strengthening our faith, God makes us even more useful for His kingdom.

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