HOW WE CAN GET OUR HEART AROUND THE CORNER
Today I was asked to speak on "God as Comforter" at a Christian High School assembly in Nevada. It was a day of celebration as the school had just placed first for the third year in a row in the State Academic Olympics. The scheduled speaker was called out for an emergency. Since I was in town, I was called upon to speak at the last minute. (Be ready in season and out of season. Even when you are on vacation!). I spoke from the heart extemporaneously. These are my recollection notes written AFTER I spoke to the student body.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we
ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:18 (KJV)
When I was recently on a mission in Brazil, I was grateful for the one who was called alongside me to be my 'appointed interpreter'. With my helper at my side, I felt I could go anywhere I needed to go and say anything I needed to say. Without my helper, doors of conversation would not open to me and I would be rendered speechless.
- Foreign ambassadors know the value of an expert interpreter at their side to ensure that the right words are being used to effectively communicate to the intended hearers.
- Winning athletes know the value of a coach- one who is called to be present with us, to come alongside us, and train us.
- Defendants appreciate the value of an Advocate to represent them in court, to use their knowledge of the law to release them from its condemnation, and put them in the right before all.
- Blind persons appreciate the value of having a guide so they can find their way in life.
- Students, who want to learn a difficult subject, know the value of having a personal tutor who is an expert in their desired field of study.
- People who are hurting know the value of a healer or counselor who is able to relieve them of their suffering.
- Those who are lonely know the value of an intimate trustworthy confidante.
- Those who recognize that they cannot do something themselves know the value of practical help.
In order for these helpers to fulfill their value they must be present, competent and personal.
When God reveals Himself in the Bible as "The God of all comfort" (2 Cor 1:3) He is saying that He is our appointed helper, coach, interpreter, advocate, guide, teacher, healer (Psalm 147:3), counselor, and friend all rolled into one and multiplied to the nth degree.
The three persons of the Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, share the roles and responsibilities of "Comforter".
God the Father is the comforter, a 'parakletos'- one called alongside to help. (2 Cor 1:3). Jesus also refers to Himself as a 'paraklete', a comforter (John 14:16) and as one who communicates to us the comfort He has received from the Father (John 14:9-13) The Holy Spirit is the 'another comforter' Jesus promised (John 14:16); He comforts us and enables us to be ministers of comfort to others (John 14:26; John 15:26; 16:7-15).
Each member of the Trinity pledges His ongoing comfort to the community of blood-bought believers (those who are made alive to God through faith in Christ Jesus).
We are comforted by:
- HIS PRESENCE- HE IS WITH US. He is an ever present help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1) He "comforts us in all our troubles (2 Cor 1:4). The Psalmist said "21 You will increase my honor and comfort me once again." (Psalm 71:21)
- HIS PROMISES-HE IS FAITHFUL. He will bring us through. Although we may battle storms and taking water on board, He will bring us to our desired have. Psalm 119:50, 76 (NIV)
50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
76 May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. - HIS PROVIDENCE- HE KNOWS WHAT WE NEED.
One missionary who had been laboring among tribes wanted to find the local word for 'comforter'. One day his native helper came to him asking for a week's leave, and he explained that his uncle had died and he wanted some days off to visit his bereaved aunt - and he said this: "I want to help her heart around the corner'." The missionary had his word for 'comforter'! This is what the Comforter does. He helps our heart 'around the corner'. He knows how to heal our brokenness. He gets us past the obstacles and restores us to life with Him in the NOW. - HIS PEACE- HE HAS RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF. Our hearts can be rest in the perfect redemptive work that Jesus accomplished for us on the cross (John 14:27). We can also have the peace of the indwelling presence of Christ in our hearts.
- HIS PROTECTION- He keeps us from falling (Jude 1:24). He is our defender and our Advocate (1 John 2:1-2) He intercedes for us (Romans 8:26-27).
- HIS POWER- HE IS ABLE
Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, - HIS PROVISION- HE GIVES US HIS WISDOM AND LOVE. Nothing is able to separate us from it. (Romans 8:36-39) His love will last beyond death, outdistancing any love of an earthly spouse. He gives us wisdom so as we can know what to do and what to say in the light of His counsel.
This is the one who is called alongside us. He will not leave us. He is faithful. He knows what we need; He has reconciled us to Himself and given us peace. He will protect us, empower us and provide for us. And most importantly, He will glorify Jesus!
The only solution to our loneliness, our inadequacy, our lostness, our guilt, our broken heartedness, and our awayness from God is to put our faith in Jesus Christ and receive His forgiveness and the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. We must be saved by confessing that our trust is in the merits of our Jesus Christ, this world's only Savior and not our own merits.
May all of you who are feeling at sea, alone in the crowd, distressed with the daily pressures of life, trapped, or just drifting, or merely existing, come to Jesus now. He does not want you to live as orphans. He does not want you to be comfortless. He says "I will come to you". He has come to save us, to comfort us (confortare- to strengthen us). To heal us. To guide us. May every heart prepare Him room and humbly admit our need for God's rescue and say 'yes' to the God of all comfort. Call on His Name and He will come to you.
