2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

A COMFORT THAT WILL LAST

Rick Baker – Pastor, Faith Baptist Church, Mint Hill, NC

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2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

Without travail there would never be any birth (1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8; Galatians 4:17).  Oftentimes, it is the inward problems that hurt the worst (physically, emotionally, and spiritually).  We need an “everlasting consolation” – something that will last when everyone else is gone.  We need something more than any man can give – something that has to come from God.

Praise the Lord, God’s word (1) corrects (2) convicts (3) and it comforts.

1.  This comfort is powerful in its origination.

Where does it come from?  “NOW our Lord Jesus Christ himself…”

2.  This comfort is personal in its observation.

“our…himself…our…loved us…given us…”

Could we with ink the ocean fill / And were the skies of parchment made /  Were every stalk on earth a quill / And every man a scribe by trade / To write the love of God above / Would drain the ocean dry. / Nor could the scroll contain the whole / Though stretched from sky to sky.

3.  This comfort is perfect in its operation.

“…and good hope through grace.”

Psalm 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

Comfort = come + fort

Praise God, we have something (someone) who will come and fortify our souls; someone who will enter and establish our hearts.

John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Hebrews 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.