Dig Deeper Into What Comforts Believers Still Today

1.  Comfort each other because we are the church of God.

      a.  God poured & pours out His grace and peace on those He places in His church when 

            they trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior (1-2).

      b.  God owns & possesses us through "OUR" Lord Jesus Christ, so bless & thank Him.

      c.  God's character & glory is worth bragging on. 

• Father / source of all mercies and comfort;

• Triune God, Father, Jesus, and Comforter - Holy Spirit ( "parakleiseos" by the power

                 of the "paraklete"). 

• His comfort is enough, but He calls us to cooperate with Him in 

                 this ministry. 

• He cares for you in ALL of your cares; like "thlipsei" - afflictions,

                 troubles & trials, as well as "pathemata" - sufferings for Christ (4-8).

2.  Comfort each other because of the Commandment of God (v. 4;  Isaiah 40:1).  

      a.  because it is continual, keeping on present active comforting.

      b.  because it is comforting to have a lifelong, God-given job & purpose.

      c.  because He enables you to do what He calls you to do - His "parakalon" enables us to 

                "parakalein."

3.  Comfort each other because of Your confidence in God.

      a.  God gives us a positive "hope" in each other as a part of our koinonia - partnership in

           suffering and comfort.  In this shared fellowship we get both, not just suffering (v 7).

      b.  God can change other lives long-term through your temporary trials by giving them

            endurance and eternal life as they put their trust in the same Savior we have (v. 6).

      c.  The God who delivered & delivers from death and through death can be easily trusted 

            with deliverance from our daily temporary burdens (v. 8-9).

      d.  God gives confidence about future deliverances based on His past deliverances (v. 10).