THE MESSAGE OF GOD'S COMFORT
Part 2


A. "COMFORT YE, COMFORT YE MAY PEOPLE, SAITH YOUR GOD. SPEAK YE COMFORTABLY TO JERUSALEM, THAT HER WARFARE IS ACCOMPLISHED, THAT HER INIQUITY IS PARDONED" - IS. 40:1-2
  1. The careful reader will note:
    1. That, beginning with chapter 40 the book of Isaiah is a message of encouragement, comfort to God's people
  2. "I even I am he that comforteth you" - Is. 51:12
  3. "I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will lead him that is afar off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord, and restore comfort to his mourners" Is. 57:18
    1. That a compassionate God shares the sorrows of his children more than they realize - Is. 63:9
  4. The message of reassurance and comfort from God:
    1. Was the theme of the Son of God - Is. 61:1-2
    2. It was the gospel preached by the apostles - 2 Cor. 1:3; Col. 2:2 B. LET US NOTE
  5. The nature of the message of comfort:
    1. "The Lord hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted" - Is. 61:1; "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart and saveth such as are of a contrite heart" - Ps. 34:18; "The sacrifices of a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God thou wilt not despise" - Ps. 51:17
    2. "I will heal thee of thy wounds" - Jer. 30:17; "With his stripes we are healed" - Is. 53:1-3
  6. The divine method of comfort:
    1. God comforts us through the instrumentality of his children. This was not the case in Job's experience. His comforters were "miserable comforters" - Job 16:3; but experience shows that many sorrowing ones were greatly comforted by their friends
    2. He comforts us by the word of God; the message of hope. What would we do in the hour of sorrow were it not for the hope we find in the Bible
    3. But, and this is important, the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead is the great comforter sent from God - John 14:26; 15:26; He brings light in darkness and assurance to the heavy hearted - Ps. 71:2; 51:3; 66:13; 2 Cor. 1:3; 2 Thes. 2:17 C. THE EFFECT OR RESULT OF THE DIVINE COMFORT
  7. The immediate effect is peace and assurance:
    1. The loved one layed to rest was ready - 2 Tim. 4:8-9; Luke 2:29-30
    2. She is asleep in Jesus because she trusted in Him in life - she is secure in death - Dan. 12:3; 14
    3. "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth, that they may rest from their labors, for their works do follow them" - Rev. 14:13
  8. Their future is as bright as God's promises:
    1. Said Jesus to Martha, "Thy brother shall rise again" - John 11:23
    2. "Thy dead men shall live again" - Is. 26:19-20
    3. "Thy dead in Christ shall rise first" - I Thes. 4:16
    4. "Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also" - John 14:1-3
    5. God has promised to wipe away all tears from the eyes of his weeping children; He does it by abolishing death - Rev. 21:1-4; 2 Tim. 1:10
    6. There will be a family reunion for all who fell asleep in Jesus Christ - Jer. 31:17-18; 2 Thes. 2:1-3
    7. Said the Psalmist, "As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake, with thy likeness" - Ps. 17:15
  9. This, dear ones is the message of comfort from the God of comfort:
    1. It is the light of heaven that lights up even the shadows in the valley of death
    2. Writes Paul, "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts" - 2 Cor. 4:6


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