2. Introduction
To the degree we learn to master the
following spiritual skills, our ability to
bring real comfort to others will be
multiplied.
As noted previously:
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3. IV. How to Offer Comfort
A. We Must Share God's Word of Comfort
B. We Must Rely on the Holy Spirit of
Comfort
C. We Must Utilize Christ’s Ministry of
Protection in Trials.
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4. D. We Must Look to the Future—Short-
term, Long-term, Eternal
E. We Must Offer Our Own Experience of
Faith
F. We Must Offer Our Help in a Firm but
Friendly Manner.
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5. I begin now to share four more skills
Christians must develop in order to be
well-prepared to minister comfort to
others in their time of pain and anxiety.
The first is . . .
G. We Must Offer Our Support.
1. Showing faith is the most effective way to
share faith and bring encouragement.
(Rom 1:12 NIV) . . . that you and I may be
mutually encouraged by each other's
faith.
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6. 2. Persevering through our own trials is
the most effective way to encourage
others to persevere through theirs.
(2 Cor 1:6-7 NIV) If we are distressed, it
is for your comfort and salvation; if we
are comforted, it is for your comfort,
which produces in you patient
endurance of the same sufferings we
suffer. {7} And our hope for you is firm,
because we know that just as you
share in our sufferings, so also you
share in our comfort.
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7. 3. Sharing our concern for others
relieves their feelings of alienation and
brings joy to the those who need to
know that others care for them.
(2 Cor 7:7 NIV) [Titus] told us about your
longing for me, your deep sorrow, your
ardent concern for me, so that my joy
was greater than ever.
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8. 4. Sharing the burden of others and
providing them release from the care and
pressure of their suffering is the quickest
way to restore their strength and spirit.
a. Paul was relieved in the burdens of his
ministry by caring friends.
(1 Cor 16:17-18 NIV) I was glad when
Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus
arrived, because they have supplied what
was lacking from you. {18} For they
refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such
men deserve recognition.
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9. b. Paul encouraged the church to bear
the burdens of other members in their
weakness. When one is hurt, it should
hurt us all.
(Rom 15:1-3 NIV) We who are strong
ought to bear with the failings of the
weak and not to please ourselves. {2}
Each of us should please his neighbor
for his good, to build him up. {3} For
even Christ did not please himself but,
as it is written: "The insults of those
who insult you have fallen on me."
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10. (1 Cor 12:24-27 NIV) Our presentable
parts need no special treatment. But
God has combined the members of the
body and has given greater honor to
the parts that lacked it, {25} so that
there should be no division in the
body, but that its parts should have
equal concern for each other. {26} If
one part suffers, every part suffers
with it; if one part is honored, every
part rejoices with it. {27} Now you are
the body of Christ, and each one of
you is a part of it.
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11. 5. Teaching about our ultimate victory in
Christ can reduce the fear about the
present evil in the world and coming
judgment.
(1 Th 5:3-11 NIV) While people are
saying, "Peace and safety,"
destruction will come on them
suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant
woman, and they will not escape. {4}
But you, brothers, are not in darkness
so that this day should surprise you
like a thief.
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12. {5} You are all sons of the light and
sons of the day. We do not belong to
the night or to the darkness. {6} So
then, let us not be like others, who are
asleep, but let us be alert and self-
controlled. {7} For those who sleep,
sleep at night, and those who get
drunk, get drunk at night. {8} But since
we belong to the day, let us be self-
controlled, putting on faith and love as
a breastplate, and the hope of
salvation as a helmet.
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13. {9} For God did not appoint us to
suffer wrath but to receive salvation
through our Lord Jesus Christ. {10} He
died for us so that, whether we are
awake or asleep, we may live together
with him. {11} Therefore encourage
one another and build each other up,
just as in fact you are doing.
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14. H. We Must Be Ready to Forgive and
Seek Forgiveness.
We must speak first concerning . . .
1. The unfortunate fact is that it may
become necessary from time to time to
rebuke or censure individuals in the
body of Christ.
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15. The Greek words “elegko” and
“epitimao” (meaning “to rebuke or
censure”) are two words frequently
translated “rebuke” in the New
Testament. Note these biblical
principles.
a. Jesus rebuked his disciples (Peter,
James, and John in particular), as well
as demons and disease.
b. It is a pastoral responsibility and must
be done to fulfill biblical purposes.
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16. (2 Tim 4:1-2 NIV) In the presence of God
and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the
living and the dead, and in view of his
appearing and his kingdom, I give you
this charge: {2} Preach the Word; be
prepared in season and out of season;
correct, rebuke and encourage--with
great patience and careful instruction.
(Titus 2:15b NIV) Encourage and rebuke
with all authority. Do not let anyone
despise you.
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17. (2 Tim 3:16-17 NIV) All Scripture is God-
breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness, {17} so that the man of
God may be thoroughly equipped for
every good work.
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18. c. It is an individual believer’s
responsibility.
(Mat 18:15-16 NIV) "If your brother sins
against you, go and show him his fault,
just between the two of you. If he
listens to you, you have won your
brother over. {16} But if he will not
listen, take one or two others along, so
that 'every matter may be established
by the testimony of two or three
witnesses.'
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19. d. It the church’s responsibility as a body
to minister rebuke to the unrepentant.
(Mat 18:17 NIV) If he refuses to listen to
them, tell it to the church; and if he
refuses to listen even to the church,
treat him as you would a pagan or a
tax collector.
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20. All of this has been noted so that the we
might remind ourselves of the ministry
of giving comfort to the repentant
believer.
2. The liberating principle is that the
scripture commands us to forgive a
repentant believer in order to prevent
them from becoming overwhelmed
with sorrow and alienated from
fellowship and service with other
Christians.
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21. a. The church is to rebuke its members
then forgive them readily when they
return with repentance.
(Luke 17:3-4 NIV) So watch yourselves.
"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and
if he repents, forgive him. {4} If he sins
against you seven times in a day, and
seven times comes back to you and
says, 'I repent,' forgive him."
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22. b. The church’s goal is restoration and
relief from the overwhelming sorrow
the repenting brother or sister may be
experiencing.
(2 Cor 2:5-8 NIV) If anyone has caused
grief, he has not so much grieved me
as he has grieved all of you, to some
extent
--not to put it too severely. {6} The
punishment inflicted on him by the
majority is sufficient for him.
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23. {7} Now instead, you ought to forgive
and comfort him, so that he will not be
overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
{8} I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm
your love for him.
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24. c. The church’s model for forgiveness
and restoration is no less than God
Himself.
(1 John 1:9 NIV) If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just and will forgive
us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness.
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25. I. We Must Speak Uplifting Words
1. The words of some are stagnant and
unhealthy, but good counsel has the
effect of life-giving wisdom.
(Prov 18:4 NIV) The words of a man's
mouth are deep waters, but the
fountain of wisdom is a bubbling
brook.
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26. 2. The words most helpful are those that
come from the counsel of God’s Word.
(1 Pet 4:10-11a NIV) Each one should use
whatever gift he has received to serve
others, faithfully administering God's
grace in its various forms. {11} If anyone
speaks, he should do it as one speaking
the very words of God.
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27. 3. The words most uplifting to those who
do not know Christ are those of the
gospel that offer eternal life.
(1 Cor 1:17-18 NIV) For Christ did not
send me to baptize, but to preach the
gospel--not with words of human
wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be
emptied of its power. {18} For the
message of the cross is foolishness to
those who are perishing, but to us who
are being saved it is the power of God.
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28. J. We Must Stand by Those Who Need
Comfort.
No one should have to suffer alone.
(Eccl 4:10 NIV) If one falls down, his
friend can help him up. But pity the
man who falls and has no one to help
him up!
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29. (2 Cor 7:3b NIV) I have said before that
you have such a place in our hearts
that we would live or die with you.
Conclusion
How far are you willing to go to insure
that a fellow believer would not have to
suffer alone?
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