Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

THE MESSAGE OF GOD'S COMFORT
Part 1

1. These beautiful words strike the keynote of the second half of the book of Isaiah:
   1. In the first part of the book of Isaiah we find some of the reasons for Israel's exile
   2. But, also a prediction of the doom of other nations that mistreated God's people
2. Thus the book of Isaiah is another evidence of the inspiration of the Bible:
   1. The Bible shows impartially the dark side of human life
   2. And, also, the brighter, the more hopeful outlook upon life B. THE GOSPEL OF COMFORT
3. It is most significant:
   1. Paul writes about "the God of all comfort" - 2 Cor. 1:3; Rom. 15:5
   2. The Lord Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit as "another comforter" - John 14:16; 15:26
4. The need of the gospel of comfort:
   1. Ancient Israel's need was very obvious in the prophet's time; the people had long been in exile in a heathen land
   2. Their captivity seemed so strong that for most of them hope for redemption seemed remote - Ez. 18:2
   3. A new generation had grown up in whose heart the restoration of Israel seemed a meaningless dream - there were many heart-broken souls in Israel
   4. They were in great need of the gospel of hope and comfort - Is. 61:1
5. It must be noted that the word of comfort is directed:
   1. Not to those who live in sin - Is. 3:11
   2. But to God's people - Is. 3:10 - God loves His people and He wants them to know His love and compassion for them - "thoughts of peace and not of trouble" - Jer. 29:11; thus the gospel of God for his people is the word of comfort C. THE NATURE OF THE GOSPEL OF COMFORT
6. It is fascinating to note the strong and repeated emphasis on the word of comfort by the apostles:
   1. "Comfort one another" - I Thes. 4:18
   2. "The God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God" - 2 Cor. 1:3-4
7. The word of comfort is to be brought to those:
   1. Who sorrow because of their sin - 2 Cor. 2:7
   2. Note the comfort promised to His people in Isaiah 51:3
   3. The Psalmist says, "Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me" - Ps. 23:4
8. The preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ:
   1. Must have his heart filled with compassion before he can carry the message of comfort - Luke 7:13; Luke 10:33
   2. It would be very difficult to speak of the comfort of God unless we ourselves had experienced this comfort in our own life
9. I can think of seven specific elements of the gospel of comfort:
   1. God's deep interest in our sorrows and trials - Is. 53:3; 63:9
   2. God's very present help when we are in difficulty - Ps. 46:1
   3. The Lord will never forsake or abandon His people - no never - Is. 41:17; Matt. 28:20
   4. He will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea - Micah 7:18-19
   5. He will bestow the spirit of joy upon His people for the spirit of heaviness - Is. 61:3
   6. He will cause us to forget all our sorrows and everlasting joy shall be upon our heads - Is. 54:4
   7. Finally, He will remove the reproach of His people and everlasting joy will be the garment of salvation - Is. 54:4 Dear reader, is this the message that is the burden of your life?