|
in search of a comforter
Living it up: Part 3- In search of a Comforter Friday June 25, 2010 Ecclesiastes 4:1-4; Matthew 11:25-29;
Solomon’s search for meaning in life continues.
He saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun. Lots of injustice in our world. We will see them or experience them in our lifetime.
Beyond Oppression, he saw the tears of people. We see the oppression and suffering but do not see the human loss. Whoever is dying are people and behind those people are families who are deeply affected.
*He saw power was on the side of the oppressors. The oppressors were powerful.
*Beyond the tears he saw that they have no comforter. The people were helpless and harassed and no shepherd to comfort and help them.
*He declared in his heart, these people are better off dead than alive.
-What is the use of living like that? Under the yoke of bondage and slavery.
I. In search of a Comforter:
Purpose of God’s creation. Man will enjoy life and live in relationship with his Creator. In harmony with his creator and creation. Man was to be fruitful and multiply. Occupy and have dominion over the created beings.
-God knew that man would sin and Man did sin.
-God knew sin will bring oppression in the life of people. God said to Adam the Curse that comes due to sin. “Through painful toil you will eat of it, all the days of your life.” “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground since from it you were taken; For dust you are and to dust you will return.” 3:17-19
-The Greatest Cause of all oppression and problem in life is due to Sin. Yours or Others’ sin.
In Genesis 3:15 God announced the “Woman’s Conquering Seed” who will crush the oppressor. “He will crush your head”. He promised a Comforter.
In Exodus 3 God saw the Misery of His people. They are in bondage. God says “I have indeed seen the misry of my people in Eguypt, I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from their hands and bring them up and out to the land I have promised….” 3:7,8
I have seen, I have heard, I have come: God sees the misery, he heard their cry and He wants to rescue.
God provided the deliverer in the form of Moses.
-He provided the Prophets, Judges, Kings, Messengers.
-“Comfort, Comfort my people, says your God.” Isaiah 40 opens, it is the NT opening of miniature Bible of Isaiah. “Speak tenderly to her and proclaim to His people” “Her hard service has been completed….Her sin has been paid for…” “A voice is calling, Prepare the way of the Lord…” Prepare for the Saviour the Comforter to come.
-He provided deliverers through the ages but all pointing out to the Great Comforter of His people who will come. “In the last days he has spoken to us through His son.”
II. The Comforter has come: Matthew 11:25-29 God wants to help the weak. He has a bias towards the poor and oppressed. He sent Jesus to preach the good news to the poor and to announce the year of jubilee. The year of deliverance from the oppressor.
*Jesus is praising God the Father for revealing the Good news of deliverance to the children and almost keeping it obsecured from the influential people.
*All things are committed to Jesus by the Father. No one can know the Father except through Jesus the Son. The Son chooses to reveal Himself to the people. *Then Jesus makes this profound statement> Come to me!
-Call to the weary and burdened. Life is having its toll on them. They are carrying a heavy load. Like Solomon’s philosophy, they are toiling and trying to find meaning in their toil. They are helpless. They are harassed. Life is not treating you well. This is not what you bargained for. “Come To Me”
Solomon could only see the oppression and only hope there will be a comforter. He was frustrated because there was no comforter. He saw how meaningless life was without someone to comfort the oppressed. Two are better than one. If one falls another one can lift him up. Three are even better. The cords of three strands cannot be easily broken. The Comforter is that third strand. Solomon could only see and moan that they need a comforter.
Jesus saw the oppression and Misery, said, Come to Me. I will give you rest.
-Come to ME and I will give you rest. Take my Yoke, Learn from ME. My Yoke is easy and my Burden is Light. You will find rest for your souls.” God’s demands sometime may sound a heavy burden to bear. Jesus says it is easy and light comparing to the bondage of Sin and Satan.
-Jesus said, The Thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. He may begin by just stealing away some of the Godly values and introduce safe sins in your life but his ultimate goal is to destroy your life completely.
-He said, I have come that you may have life and have it to the full (Abundantly). John 10:10
III. Life in Christ, the Comforter. His offer of life is open to all. If you know of Christ, then this life is revealed to you. Accept His life. You will spare yourself of many tears and snares.
John 3:16 – God so loved the world…..Whoever believes… have eternal life.
John 14:6 I am the Way the Truth and the Life…..
John 11:25 I am the Resurrection and the Life….
John 1:4 In Him was Life and that life is the light of men.
Mt. 20:28 I did not come to be served but to serve and give my life as a ransom for many. His life for our life.
1 John 5:12 Whoev er has the Son has life, whoever does not have the son of God does not have life.
IV. Another Comforter: Life in Christ is promised with another comforter to abide with us now.
Jesus sends another comforter, the Holy Spirit to comfort His people now. “I will ask the Father and he will send you another Comforter to be with you forever” John 14:16. Another Comforter, Another one of the same kind. Jesus is Comforter so will the Holy Spirit be, the Comforter for His people who believe.
V. The believers as Comforters. Life in Christ means, we comfort one another. Matthew 9: 35-38 Jesus looked at the misery of the People. They were harassed and helpless, without a Shepherd. No one to comfort them.
-He saw the Misery of the people and he saw they were harassed and helpless and he sends us to be comforter to the people.
2 Cor. 1:3-5 Father of all Compassion, God of all Comfort. We comfort one another because we have received Comfort from the Lord.
-God comforts us not to make us comfortable but to become comforters.
If you are in search of a Comforter, It is Over in Christ.
Life in Christ has a Comforter who has paid for our sins. Life in Christ has a comforter now in the form of the Holy Spirit to help us in our weaknesses. Life in Christ has all the help needed to be comforted. Life in Christ is that we see the tears of others and comfort them with the comfort we ourselves have received.
-Accept this Life in Christ. Enjoy your life in Christ. Tell others of this life in Christ.
Go back to the messages page. |
