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“ Summary, Part 4 (final) ” b. BY ENCOURAGING ANSWERS TO OUR PRAYERS. Ps 86:17 – It is so uplifting to receive answers to prayers. c. BY DIRECTING OUR ATTENTION TO HIS WORD. Ps 119:50, 52 – Remembrance of biblical judgments of old and promises for the future are comforting. Ps 119:76 – Even our eyes falling upon Scripture just at the right moment bring tremendous comfort. Ps 94:19 – They can also bring tremendous perspective in times of agitation. Ps 27:13 – God’s promises of future blessings can bring us through any trial. Ps 119:82 – God’s word was David’s comfort. Jer 15:16 – Jeremiah savored what the sweetness of the word did for him. Rom 15:4 – Paul drew on Scripture’s older lessons for hope in his own afflictions. E. OUR COMFORT IS EXCLUSIVE [53:55]. His comfort is exclusively for His people. Though He bestows everyone with the common graces, His personal graces come only to Christians. OBSERVATION [55:10]: How vain are the attempts of men to find hope apart from Christ and His word. That’s why the Bible is not a comfort to those without Him. Like Job’s friends, the world’s comforts only leave us unsatisfied, empty, and unsaved, and often even worsen our afflictions. From what do you seek comfort in this uncomfortable world? We must not look to the creation, but to the Creator.
Ian Migala (10/6/2015)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 3 ” C. OUR COMFORT IS CONTINUAL [32:03]. He is not just the Father of mercy, but the Father of mercies. We’ve failed ourselves before, but He never failed us. His comforts attend our trials. He who ordained our trials will sustain us in our afflictions. Lam 3:22-23 – His lovingkindesses never cease because His compassions never fail. When we cling to sin or doubt His love, His eye is still upon us; we will not experience comfort then, but we will be restored upon repentance. D. OUR COMFORT IS SUITABLE [38:38]. His comforts are perfectly suited to each Christian. 1. IN ITS TIMING [39:16]. He comforts us IN our affliction: not before when we don’t need it, not after when we’ve already received it. Even when we’ve exhausted our resources, He comes in the nick of time to show us true comfort, usually in ways we don’t expect and perfect in every way. 2. IN ITS APPLICATION [41:00]. He fits His comforts to our trials. 1 Cor 10:13 – He does not tempt us beyond what we are able to bear. When a trial comes, it is practical to give it to Him. He may not remove it, but He will empower us to endure it. a. THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF OTHER BELIEVERS. 2 Cor 7:5-7 – He also comforts us through other believers, even their mere presence, and also by their good reports.
Ian Migala (10/6/2015)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 2 ” Some things about His comfort: 1. HE DOESN’T COMFORT US BY PROTECTING US FROM AFFLICTION [17:55]. He consoles us in it. If He withheld afflictions, how could He comfort us? 2. FEAR OF MAN PREVENTS US FROM KNOWING GOD’S COMFORT [18:55]. Is 51:12 – What do we say of our faith if we don’t go to God when man afflicts us (cf. Rom 8:31). 3. GOD’S FATHERLY MERCIES ARE MOTHERLY IN THEIR TENDERNESS [21:18]. Is 66:13 – Made in the image of a tender God, women show a greater capacity for tenderness. B. OUR COMFORT IS EFFECTUAL [22:55]. God comforts us in all our afflictions. His comforts are not potential or sporadic but actual and regular. Is 51:13 – a striking passage of God’s comfort in a most unlikely place. Our trials are the grounds for His blessings. We’ve seen His comforts in our past afflictions, so what makes us doubt them now? Cf. Heb 2:18, 4:15-16.
Ian Migala (10/6/2015)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 1 ” Continuing from last week, II. THE BLESSED CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR COMFORTS (vv. 3-4) [starting at 5:30 of the audio]. Christians suffer affliction, and only a false gospel teaches otherwise. Jesus promised that we would suffer them. Paul said that through them we will enter the Kingdom of God. Without them, why would need God’s mercies and comforts? He does not provide them through material things, but through spiritual things. People who believe that find spiritual emptiness. Comfort comes from contentment for our providential situation, and so we accept hardship. Spiritual blindness also keeps us from His comfort; wallowing in self-pity is often mistaken for spiritual cleansing. It is not. Spiritual self-reliance is another pitfall; God will only bring us down to show us our weakness and utter need for Him. 2 Cor 4:8-12 – despite all our afflictions, we are not ruined; rather, we are sustained by the life of Christ. The gospel is not just a word, but a word with power. Five points about our comfort: A. OUR COMFORT IS PERSONAL [17:00], meaning that it comes from a personal God. Our comforts don’t just happen, but come from the one who comforts us.
