Psalm 4:6-8 (Amp) Many are saying, “Oh, that we might see some good!” Lift up the light of Your face upon us, O LORD. You have put joy in my heart, More than [others know] when their wheat and new wine have yielded abundantly. In peace [and with a tranquil heart] I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety and confident trust.
Text – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
“Father of compassion” Compassion is defined as sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. All compassion is the progeny of His compassion.
God of all comfort
John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever.”
Acts 2:38 “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
- As a gift of the New Covenant God has given us an indwelling comfort zone in the person of the Holy Spirit, who goes with us wherever we go and is with us forever.
What are some of the features of this Comfort Zone?
1. Pressure free. Judgment free. Shame free. Performance free.
Luke 22:20 “In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
- The shedding of Jesus blood was not just a natural consequence of crucifixion but an intentional and supernatural payment that He willingly made on our behalf for the debt I owed but could not pay
- Romans 3:25 – Atonement through his blood. Romans 5:9 – Justified by His blood. Colossians 1:20 – Peace through His blood. Ephesians 1:17 – Redemption and Forgiveness through His blood.
Assignment: look up the words atonement, justified and redemption.
2. He “gets it” and He “gets” us.
The neat thing about talking to the Lord is we can talk to Him about everything, but we never have to explain anything.
Psalm 139:4 “Even before a word is on my tongue You know it all together.”
3. Supreme Love.
Ephesians 3:16-19 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
- The Holy Spirit makes this love real to us.
- Every rescue story can be reminder of what Jesus did for us. He delivered us from the dominion of darkness. From eternal separation. From condemnation. To the comfort zone of God’s kingdom. God’s household. The Joyful assembly of angels. From death.
4. Through One Another
(2 Corinthians 1:4) “so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God”
God uses His people as part of His comfort zone.
The “highlight line” of our Bible study last week came as one brother addressed another as we talked about the dynamics of friendship: “I used to want to be you, but I now realize you are too special for me to be you, and I am too special not to be me.”
This brought encouragement and comfort because we all carry around some insecurity about ourselves. This statement reassured of us how special each of us are to God.
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