Comfort From God the Source of All Good Comfort

From Eden to Grace, comfort from God has come in many ways. One day God will bring endless ease and well-being to all who obey Him. Until then, Get your comfort from God. He is the source of all good comfort.

Summary

Give praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the Father who gives tender love. All comfort comes from him. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles. Now we can comfort others when they are in trouble. We ourselves receive comfort from God [2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIRV)].

Think about this: Comfort from God

God, our Father is the source of comfort. He is the perfect model of a good parent. He does all to make sure that His children are at ease and well. Our Father comforts us when we are in trouble. He wants us to use that same comfort to bring comfort to others when they need it.

“All comfort comes from him”, comfort in this verse in its simplest form means help. This type of comfort is more about helping than merely giving relief. God helps/comforts us so we can help/comfort others.

Key Points:

1. The Comforter

   We must let the Holy Spirit (the Comforter), that lives in us, be the source of our good comfort. Make no mistake, God gives us all the help we need. As a result, you should be comforted. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble [Psalms 46:1 (KJV)].

2. Times of trouble

   Jesus and the disciples had trouble. If you obey God, you will too. During times of trouble, God gave them comfort, He will do the same for you. For as we undergo more of the pain which Christ underwent, so through Christ does our comfort become greater.
   6 But if we are troubled, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which takes effect through your quiet undergoing of the same troubles which we undergo:
   7 And our hope for you is certain; in the knowledge that as you take part in the troubles, so you will take part in the comfort [2 Corinthians 1:5-7 (BBE)].

3. Comfort

   God’s focus is on the yet-to-come in heaven not the here-and-now on earth. He promised food and clothing for now, but a life without sorrow is yet to come. So, you should put the kingdom of God and what He says is right first [in your lives], then all these things [i.e., food, drink, and clothing] will be provided for you [Matthew 6:33 (AUV)].

To comfort is to give aid, relief, or support. Also, encouragement, relief, or cheer in grief. Refreshment of spirit in trouble.

“Those persons who feel grief [over their sins] are blessed because they will receive comfort [from God when they repent] [Matthew 5:4 (AUV)].

Skip to the end.

Through the Holy Spirit

These things I have spoken to you while I am still present with you. 26 But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you.

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 You have heard how I said to you, I go away, and come again to you. If you loved me, you would rejoice, because I said, I go to the Father: for my Father is greater than I [John 14:25-28 (RKJNT)].

The word ‘comforter’ in John 14:26 comes from the Greek word (Strong’s number G3875) παράκλητος parakletos (par-ak’-lay-tos) n.
1. (properly) one called near (to give help); helper.
2. an intercessor (one who entreats of behalf of another).
3. a comforter.

John 14:26

Let us take a closer look at the word ‘comforter’ (parakletos) in John 14:26. This chart is the result of reading the verse in 130 versions of the Bible.

There were 11 English words/phrases used for parakletos. Forty-four used the word comforter; Wycliffe’s 1395 version was the first. Here are four of the top five:

• Helper (used in 37 versions – (ACVI); (Diaglott 1864; the first to use helper in place of comforter); (Anderson); (TCNT); (JMNT); (EGNT)
• Advocate (used in 16 versions) – (MACE 1729; the first to use advocate in place of comforter); (LO); (Rotherham); (WNT); (ASWNT)
• Counselor (used in 11 versions) – (Riverside); (CENT); (WEB); (NHEB); (ALT)
• Paraclete (used in 10 versions; the first was the Vulgate 400 AD) – (Etheridge); (DRB); (IGNT)

Parakletos – comforter

God cares about and loves you. He wants to live in you as your private source of comfort, the Holy Spirit. Can He be any closer than that? What a caring God we have. Once in you, He is with you at all times. Always there to help you. Just knowing that He is there should give you comfort.

Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are [1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (WEB)].

Comfort relates to the body and to the mind. It makes a person feel good and calm. It is to ease the pain of trouble or sorrow. To comfort is to soothe by giving a feeling of hope. It helps erase the worry and bring back cheer.

How do we get comfort from God?

We must know that God gave comfort to His people before the Holy Spirit. Then, He worked mostly through others to care for those who worshiped Him. Now, He works through us by the Holy Spirit that is in us.

• O be turned to me and have mercy on me: give your strength to your servant, and your salvation to the son of her who is your servant. 17 Give me a sign for good; so that my haters may see it and be shamed; because you, Lord, have been my help and comfort [Psalms 86:16-17 (BBE)].
• Among all my troubled thoughts, your comforts are the delight of my soul [Psalms 94:19 (BBE)].
• Then the young women who have never had a man will dance for joy, and the young men and old as well. For I will change their sorrow to joy and will comfort them. I will give them joy for their sorrow [Jeremiah 31:13 (NLV)].

Skip to the end.

The Comforter

Because the Scriptures show different sources. Now we should determine who is our source of comfort.

1. The Lord

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalms 23:1 and 4 (KJV) [read Psalms 23:1-4 (1 and 4); Isaiah 51:1-16 (3 and 12)].

2. Another [different] comforter

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; John 14:16 (KJV) [read John 14:15-18 (16)].

The fact that it will be another or different ‘paraklētos’ implies one is already present. By the way, verse 17 tells us the Holy Spirit, aka the Spirit of Truth, will come. Back to the mystery, who was the current comforter? I won’t spoil it but the answer could possibly be in verse 18.

I encourage you to take your time to analyze verses 16-18. Because they contain keys to the Godhead. In other words, they tell of the relationships between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

3. The Holy Ghost (Spirit)

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. Acts 9:31 (KJV)

4. The Father, God

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 2 Corinthians 1:3 (KJV) [read 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (3-4)]

Jesus said…

And I will pray to the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; 17 That is the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see him, neither does it know him: but you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you [John 14:16-18 (RKJNT)].

Christ must go so the Comforter could come

But now I go to him who sent me; and none of you asks me, Where are you going? 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth;

It is for your good that I go away: for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send him to you [John 16:5-7 (RKJNT)]

WHY?

Jesus pointed out that He had to go away so the Comforter could come. Did Jesus go away and come back as the Comforter?

Now on the last and greatest day of the Festival [of Tabernacles], Jesus stood up and spoke out, “If anyone is thirsty he should come to me for a drink. 38 As the Scripture has recorded [Note: The following is not an exact quotation from the OT, but echoes Isaiah 58:11 and Zechariah 14:8], ‘Streams of life-giving water will flow from the person’s heart who believes in me.’”

39 Now He said this about the Holy Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive [See Acts 2:38]. For [at that time] the Holy Spirit had not yet been given, since Jesus had not yet received splendor [in heaven]” [John 7:37-39 (AUV)].

The answer relies on your knowledge of Jesus. A future Bible study, ‘One Spirit’ will give more details.

Spirit of…

You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God is in you. But if any man has not the Spirit of Christ he is not one of his. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of him who made Jesus come again from the dead is in you, he who made Christ Jesus come again from the dead will in the same way, through his Spirit which is in you, give life to your bodies which now are under the power of death [Romans 8:9-11 (BBE)].

Do you have the answer? If you still do not know why Jesus had to go so the Holy Spirit could come, send me a message: Tim

Skip to the end.

Comfort from God wrap-up

God is the source of all good comfort. Let him comfort you. Can you think of anything more comforting than having God’s comfort? He is The Comforter!

Now, may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us never ending encouragement and good hope through [His] unearned favor, 17 encourage and strengthen your hearts in every good thing you do and say. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (AUV)]

Endless comfort from God

From Eden to Grace (from the beginning until now), comfort from God has come in many ways. Ultimately, the God of all comfort will bring endless ease and well-being to all who obey Him.

“And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things have passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said to me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

6 And he said to me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that is thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and lewd men, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:4-8 (Webster)

All good comfort

Oh my friend, you may get comfort from many sources. Alcohol, sex, smoking/vaping, or by other means. But you must know that God is the source of all GOOD comfort. So, I urge you to get your comfort from God!

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ [2 Corinthians 1:3-6 (NLT)].

May the one God, whose name is Jesus, bring you comfort in your time of need and always. The best comfort is comfort from God. Be blessed my friends—♥ Tim.

Scriptures to read and study

Note: parenthesis (#) enclose the key verses.

Summary: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 (3-7); Psalms 46:1; Matthew 5:1-12 (4) and 6: 25-34 (33).

Holy Spirit: John 14:16-26 (25-28); 1 Corinthians 3:5-17 (16-17). Psalms 86:16-17, 94:16-19 (19); Jeremiah 31:1-14 (13).

The Comforter: John 14:16-26 (16-18) and 16:5-15 (5-7); Romans 8:1-11 (9-11); John 7:37-39.

Wrap-up: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 (16-17); Revelation 21:1-8 (4-8). 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 (3-5).

Related studies/lessons/snacks for further Spiritual growth:

Let God Take Care of Your Worries and Concerns – an estimated 4-minute read.

Encouragement; A Mantra Of The Scriptures, Good For Comfort! – an estimated 6-minute read.

Herescope: Just Being Comfortable – an estimated 9-minute read.

Trust God; Build Your Hope And Depend on God – an estimated 17-minute read.

♥ Question for “Comfort from God”: Are the gentle words spoken to you, which give comfort from God, too little for you? Job 5:11 (NLV)

See what is available on the Sound Truth Ministry website.

Copyright information:

(NIRV) Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. www.zondervan.com The “NIrV” and “New International Reader’s Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ || Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.