SURE AVENUES TO COMFORT – Wednesday August 30th
2017
Memorise: For whatsoever
things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through
patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4
Read: Romans 15:4-5 (KJV)
15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written
for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might
have hope.
15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be
likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Bible in one year: 1st
Chronicles 22-24, Ezekiel 33:10-20, Hymn: Sing hymn 16
MESSAGE:
We
are blessed to have a God that does not desert those who belong to Him. In Hebrews 13:5,
God promised never to leave nor forsake His own. The divine presence of the
Great Shepherd strengthens His sheep, so much so that they entertain no fear.
If you are His sheep, He is always with you; even when you cannot feel Him. Do
you know that in those moments when it appears as if God has gone on a journey,
He is much more around you than you can imagine? When He promised to be with us
always, He was not joking (Matthew 28:20). Are you a sheep of the Great
Shepherd? Are you feeling lonely or does it appear that God has forsaken you?
He has not. He is right there by your side. He can hear your voice and your
whisper. He can even hear your unvoiced wishes, and He will answer you.
However, do everything to remain His sheep. Remain within His fold and shun
every temptation to stray to the left or to the right.
If
Jesus is the Shepherd of your soul, you will not lack comfort because He has
promised to comfort you through His rod and staff (Psalm 23:4). No one can make it
through this pilgrim’s way without the comfort of the Great Shepherd. One way
we receive comfort today, as followers of Jesus Christ, is through the Holy
Spirit. Hence, John
14:16 says,
“And I will pray the Father, and
he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.”
When
you go through loss or experience some very painful situations, you need the
comfort of the Spirit to restore you to a state of peace. The Holy Spirit is so
good at this. If however you create a gulf between yourself and the Holy
Spirit, how would you then be comforted in the time of need? From experience,
the comfort you get from fellow human beings is grossly inadequate. Why? At
best, man’s attempt at comforting you may satisfy mainly physical needs, but
the comfort of the Holy Spirit can reach out to all areas of need, particularly
the realm of the soul. Another way of accessing real soothing comfort is from
the word of God. Romans 15:4 says that this kind of comfort does not only
deal with the unrest in your heart, but it also gives you hope. This is one
reason why you should never be far from the Bible. The word of God inspires
hope. If you feel hopeless, check yourself; you may find out that God’s word is
scarce in your heart. Are you feeling hopeless or in need of comfort? Reach out
for God’s word today.
Key Point
One crucial time you need the
comfort of the Holy Spirit is when you are passing through a wilderness
experience.
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