BE COMFORTED IN PERILOUS TIMES

Mark 11: 22-25

²² “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. ²³ “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ( the "mountain" are those things which seem like impossibilities to you) ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. ²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵ And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (emphasis mine)

2 Corinthians 1: 3-7

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 receive from God. ⁵ For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. ⁶ 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. (emphasis mine).

You see, it is NOT about us, it is all about Jesus, and all about others...

This does not mean we cannot seek help or prayer or the council of a trusted brother or sister, no no no... This is saying that we need to allow the Lord's comfort to come to us so we can comfort others, and place them above ourselves.

We find this "comfort," which is the Holy Spirit of God himself, when we learn to trust God and NOT Rely upon our own understanding, and learn to rely upon his Love for us. This 'perfect love," cast out ALL fears...

1 John 4: 16-18

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. ¹⁷ This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (emphasis mine)

2 Corinthians 1: 8-11

⁸ We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. ⁹ Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we 'might not rely on ourselves' but on God, who 'raises the dead'. ¹⁰ He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have 'set our hope' that he will continue to deliver us, ¹¹ as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. (emphasis mine).

You see beloved. It does not matter how "dead" your present situation appears. God raises the dead things and brings us into light and life ! We walk by faith and not by sight. We do not spend time counting all the "giants in the land," we go forward with the word of God and stand by faith. You may be thinking your present situation will never end, it looks hopeless, there seems to be no word from the Lord, and it seems no friend or sermon can reach in deep enough to satisfy your fears and give you deliverance. It may seem dark and foreboding and lonely in so many ways, and no one else seems to understand, yet we can find comfort in the word of God and prayer, and although our dependence is not upon men, we can be comforted by the Holy Spirit, as Paul so instructed us through those in the body who have and are allowing that same comfort to work in and through them..

As Paul said...

2 Corinthians 1: 3-6

So, when we, like the Apostle Paul in the scripture above here, allow these times of "peril," to cause us to draw closer to Jesus, and stop trying to figure everything out, and allow the Holy Spirit "The comforter," to bring us to the place of not relying any longer on our self and our own intellect and devices, and schemes, and plans, then 'we can be used' by the Spirit of God to comfort others with the comfort we have already received through our obedience to Christ in our perils. This "comfort,' will not be our work, but the work of God through us, and will bring heavenly healing and wisdom and hope to those we minister to. Because it is not about us any longer. It is all about Jesus. It is all about placing the needs of others above our own. This is the Love of God.

Also, the word HOPE in the passage above here does not mean hope as we use it everyday, E.G. 'I HOPE I get a letter from them," I hope they come to see us," et. This type hope leaves room for doubt and speculation... It means I may or may not get that letter, I may or may not get the visit from friends I am waiting for.

The word HOPE in the passage of scripture above here means this; 'An eager expectation that what God has promised he will bring it to pass...'

Did you catch that ? An EAGER expectation that God's promises to you WILL come to pass.. ! Eagerly awaiting the things we pray for and HOPE for to come to us, because God has promised that they will, if we do not wallow in our own understanding again, and loose heart, and wallow in despair.

I have left you with some scripture here below that I believe will further encourage you.

I pray in Jesus name, that the work from hell be broken off all who find themselves in bondage and have lost their true peace and place with and in God. That you will find encouragement in this letter this morning I felt led to write to everyone. I pray you will take the step by faith into the Jordan and see the Lord part the waters and flood of adversity against you, and bring you into the promise land. But be aware that even over on the other side, there awaits the Philistines ! The enemy and a warfare. This we will never be shed of until we go to be with the Lord. This is why we have been given the armor of God, and all the other spiritual blessings from heaven and the power of the holy Spirit, and the precious baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire (which we need if we are to overcome), to stand firm against the devices of the enemy and walk in peace.

For those of you who have received this comfort from the Lord Jesus, I pray you will comfort others with the comfort you have received !

SOME SCRIPTURES FOR YOU.

Proverbs 4

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

¹ Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
   pay attention and gain understanding.
² I give you sound learning,
   so do not forsake my teaching.
³ For I too was a son to my father,
   still tender, and cherished by my mother.
⁴ Then he taught me, and he said to me,
   “Take hold of my words with all your heart;
   keep my commands, and you will live.
⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding;
   do not forget my words or turn away from them.
⁶ Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
   love her, and she will watch over you.
⁷ The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
   Though it cost all you have,get understanding.
⁸ Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
   embrace her, and she will honor you.
⁹ She will give you a garland to grace your head
   and present you with a glorious crown.”

¹⁰ Listen, my son, accept what I say,
   and the years of your life will be many.
¹¹ I instruct you in the way of wisdom
   and lead you along straight paths.
¹² When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
   when you run, you will not stumble.
¹³ Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
   guard it well, for it is your life.
¹⁴ Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
   or walk in the way of evildoers.
¹⁵ Avoid it, do not travel on it;
   turn from it and go on your way.
¹⁶ For they cannot rest until they do evil;
   they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
¹⁷ They eat the bread of wickedness
   and drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸ The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
¹⁹ But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.

²⁰ My son, pay attention to what I say;
   turn your ear to my words.
²¹ Do not let them out of your sight,
   keep them within your heart;
²² for they are life to those who find them
   and health to one’s whole body.
²³ Above all else, guard your heart,
   for everything you do flows from it.
²⁴ Keep your mouth free of perversity;
   keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead;
   fix your gaze directly before you.
²⁶ Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
   and be steadfast in all your ways.
²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left;
   keep your foot from evil.

Psalm 107: 20

²⁰ He sent out his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.