08/13/2023 Church service

周日礼拜

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 COMFORT
2 Cor 1:3-5

John Maxwell says we need to share our story – and be honest about our struggles and weaknesses.

…but it can be hard to be that real – that transparent.

Social media can be a great tool – and it can also be a great trap. It can be used to easily misrepresent your life by not telling the real, un-told stories of struggle and daily pressure.

Most of the time we are only seeing people’s highlight reels, which may lead us to believe they live a charmed existence while all we do is work and pay bills – and struggle.

“We compare our behind-the-scenes with other people’s highlight reels.”

“The greatest life in the world is to share life. That’s what life is all about.”
– TL Osborn

“Your heartache is someone else’s hope. If you make it through, somebody else is going to make it through. Tell your story.”
“Tell the story of the mountain you climbed. Your words could become a page in someone else’s survival guide.”

“It’s important that we share our experiences with other people. Your story will heal you and your story will heal somebody else. When you tell your story, you free yourself and give other people permission to acknowledge their own story.”
“Never think that what you have to offer is insignificant. There will always be someone out there that needs what you have to give.”

comfort: a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint.
the easing or alleviation of a person's feelings of grief or distress.

Sitting in a meeting bewildered So glad I am not the only one confused #comfort

To me, comfort is not some Pollyanna “cheer up” slogan – it is someone revealing to my heart the truth that there is still hope. Things can get better

comfort foods – reassurance stability

For the True Believer – there is ALWAYS that Hope, because WE serve the GOD Who says “ALL things are Possible if you can Believe.”

When someone loses a loved-one, we hear the words from Thessalonians about the resurrection of the Believers, and concludes with 1 Thess 4:18: Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

YOU, as a Believer, have the Light of Christ in You.
The Light – The Word made flesh
TPT “the Living Expression“ “the Living Expression was with God, yet fully God.”

Holy Spirit IS The Comforter
…but through The Holy Spirit working through us, we can comfort others

vs 4: He’s the one who comforts us in all our trouble so that we can comfort other people who are in every kind of trouble. We offer the same comfort that we ourselves received from God.

vs 3 – God of all comfort
“the source of all mercy and comfort.”
“The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort.”

All and Always are such comforting words

Let YOUR Light so shine…

“The greatest life in the world is to share life. That’s what life is all about.”
2 Cor 1:8 “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.”
Paul speaks of an affliction that he experienced while ministering in the province of Asia. Asia referred to the Roman senatorial province of which Ephesus was the provincial capital.
Scholars have tried to work out what happened to Paul. There are lots of possibilities.
It could have been the mob that rose up against Paul in Ephesus when his preaching convinces the people to denounce idols. The local silversmith Demetrius is upset about the business he loses because of Paul and a riot ensues.
It could refer to a time of imprisonment, or opposition from his fellow Jews, or the breakdown in relationship between Paul and his fellow beloved Christians in the Corinthian church.
We do know that what Paul faced was severe and that it pushed Paul beyond his natural abilities to a point where he despaired of life itself.
The Message translation puts it in a real and very raw way, saying:
“We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was all over for us.”
Paul isn’t writing for sympathy. He has a point to make. He goes on to say this about the experience. Again, from The Message:
“As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead!” #GoodThings
 comfort can often be redirecting someone’s focus (even if it’s your own.)

You and Christ within you are more than enough for your unique mission and purpose.
We must know that for ourselves, and we must remind others it applies to them too.

When God speaks – you gotta write it down!

2 Tim 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

We’ve got to Instill and Distill this truth in ourselves and to those we seek to encourage.

Instill: gradually but firmly establish (an idea or attitude, especially a desirable one) in a person's mind.

Distill: extract the essential meaning or most important aspects of

“power, love, and self-control.” “self-discipline” “wise discretion” “sobriety”

This is what God has given us (already) ( )

In this passage, Paul says to Timothy: “Because you have this faith, I now remind you to stir up that inner fire which God gave you at your ordination. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power and love and a sound mind.”

Think of how many situations and challenges this will address:
confusion – weakness – struggles – doubt – deep hurts - uncertainty

“power and of love and of a sound mind.”

He “never leaves us nor forsakes us.”

Jesus told us in this world we would suffer persecution

This is not from God – but from the outside forces of this world

Paul urged Timothy to “join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.”

God’s Word doesn’t deny the struggles – but it also provides Comfort:

1 Peter 4:13: Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.

Phillips: “If you are reproached for being Christ’s followers, that is a great privilege, for you can be sure that God’s Spirit of glory is resting upon you… If he suffers as a Christian he has nothing to be ashamed of and may glorify God in Christ’s name.”

Ron Carpenter: Multiplication takes pressure. Move forward. And don’t even think about giving up!”

We must always find time to reconnect to The Vine.
He is our source of Comfort

Psalm 34:19: Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

TLB: The good man does not escape all troubles—he has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one.

As the Body of Christ – we are each a part of “the Living Expression “

Don’t hesitate to share your story of triumph. Of Victory in Jesus.
“Other people are going to find healing in your wounds. Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts.”
“The courage it takes to share your story might be the very thing someone else needs to open their heart to hope.”
John Maxwell: You don’t help people when you stay separated from them – but only when you Connect.
When we comfort people, we are comforting them with the same comfort WE were comforted by.

vs 4: He’s the one who comforts us in all our trouble so that we can comfort other people who are in every kind of trouble. We offer the same comfort that we ourselves received from God.

HE (Jesus) is the Vine – we are the branches “apart from Him…”

Stay connected to Jesus’ Divine Grace – Divine Mercy – and Divine Power



vs 3 – God of all comfort
“the source of all mercy and comfort.”
“The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort.”

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” – Isaiah 40:1

Hillside United Methodist Church
3739 US 80
Phenix City  AL  36870
United States
Pastor: Mike J Koger

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