II Corinthians 1:3-4
Introduction: The God of all comfort vs3, comforts us, so that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble vs 4. God comforts the believer in time of need and when someone else goes through something, the believer is able to comfort others that needs comforting, with the comfort which he had received of God. To comfort is to strengthen, to invigorate, to cheer or enliven. At any given time, there will be someone in this church that will need to be comforted by another believer. Because of that reason, it’s good to see a couple of examples in the Bible of people who need to be comforted.
Those that need to be comforted are:
- Those that are Troubled– II Corinthians 1:3-4 “them which are in any trouble”.
- Job 5:7 “man is born unto trouble”. Because of this fallen nature, trouble is everywhere around us. It’s inevitable to stay out of trouble, whether it’s because of our bad decisions or because of the devil, we will get into trouble some times. When that happens, you will be able to comfort someone that is in trouble, perhaps in some trouble that you have been through already.
- II Corinthians 4:8 “we are troubled on every side, yet not distressed”.
II. Those that are Discouraged– II Corinthians 2:7 “So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow”.
- This is the comfort of the church, this man this man had already been delivered unto satan for the destruction of the flesh. This man felt shame and embarrassment for getting all the attention and being disciplined by the church. Would the church receive him or would they begrudge him. This man had hurt Paul and the church therefore he need to be comforted by Paul and the church.
- I Corinthians 5:1-2, 6, 11.
III. Those that are Cast Down– II Corinthians 7:6 “comforted those that are cast down”. If there has ever been a minister that needed God and his comfort it was Paul. Paul was disliked, belted, criticized, attacked, slandered, etc.
- Paul here was comforted by Titus but more specifically by the word which Titus receive from the church in Corinth which he delivered to Paul. Paul was cast down because of the actions of this church (reported commonly, puffed up, glorying about it) yet he was comforted in God’s answered prayer. This church had repented, and turned to holiness Vs 9 “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance”.
IV. Those that are Weak– I Thessalonians 5:14 “comfort the feebleminded”. Weak, destitute of physical strength, the debilitated, faint hearted, discouraged, disappointed, those who fear a difficult situation, etc. These people are often overlooked, on the sidelines, despised, however, instead should be comforted, encouraged, and assured.
- The Weak are Necessary- I Corinthians 12:22 “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary”.
Conclusion: If you look back in your Christian life, you will realize that God has used other people to comfort you in your time of trouble, and that’s because God uses Christians to comfort other Christians. Not only is it good to receive comfort in time of need, however it’s also good to be used of God to able to comfort others in their time of need. So keep an open eye, and the next time you see an opportunity to comfort someone in trouble, comfort and encourage.