We are to comfort one another

1 Thessalonians 4:18 “Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

The word “comfort” in this passage in the original Greek is the word “Parakaleo” which means to call to one’s side, call for or summon. The picture here is one where someone walks alongside of another, providing comfort, even exhortation as they walk along the road of life. Jesus told his disciples in John 14:16, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;” (KJV). The (NIV) uses the word, “Advocate”. The Holy Spirit is the one that the Father has sent to be with us, and in us, so that He might comfort and direct our steps as we walk the Christian life.

Each member of the Godhead is our source and supply for comfort in our walk in Christ. 

The Father            2 Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of                                   mercies and God of all comfort”.

                           Romans 15:5 “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward                             one another, according to Christ Jesus”. 

Jesus the Son       2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and                                        Father,who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by                                                grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.” 

Holy Spirit            Acts 9:31,“Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and                                  were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit,                                        they were multiplied.” 

The Word of God, the Bible, is a huge source of our comfort:

 · Romans 15:4 tells us, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” 

· 1 Thessalonians 4:18 

Each Believer is to comfort: 

· “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) 

· “Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts” (Colossians 4:7–8) 

· “Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.” (Colossians 4:10–11)

In what way do we comfort one another?

· With the comfort we each have received from God – “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 tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

· We receive comfort through our individual relationship with God and we receive comfort through our relationship with one another.

We are blessed to have so many different sources of comfort available to us as God’s children!

As we look at these verses we begin to understand the importance of involvement in the local church? Unless we are active members, actively comforting one another...we miss out, and our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ miss out, on the comfort God offers His people!

God intends for us to receive comfort from two angles: Vertically, through our relationship with Him and horizontally, through our relationship with one another in the local church!

Why would we deprive ourselves of the great blessing of comfort from God? Why would we shortchange ourselves when God desires us to have comfort "coming and going"? We hurt not only ourselves, but our fellow brethren as well! 

These words of Jesus ought to move us to action in the area of giving and receiving comfort in the body of Christ. 

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:41–46)

Blessings for today!

Your Care Pastor                                                                                                                                                                                                     Dave Knight