Being
a source of Hope, Comfort, and Peace, encouraging and building others up in
times of turmoil and trouble
D.P.
Weary
April
2011
What is the special “hope, comfort, and peace” that we as
Christians are supposed to have? How do we get them? How do we give them to
others?
Our hope is found in Christ Jesus and His promises to
those that believe and trust in Him. It is a hope of obtaining righteousness.
It is a hope of salvation and eternal life. It is a hope of His calling. It is
a hope of a new world and a new life. It is a hope of the Lord coming for both
the living and the dead at the end this current age. It is a hope of exultation
in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming. It is the hope that He will
help us through the tough times in life. It is the promises that He is our
protector and our hiding place in times of trouble. It is Christ that is our
hope. It is Christ in us that is the hope of glory. It is the Lord and God our
Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace.
We have hope because we have been born again to a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This hope is within us through the Holy
Spirit. This hope is God.
We obtain hope through perseverance and the encouragement of
the Scriptures. We obtain hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. We obtain this
hope by giving our lives to God by believing in Jesus the Son and being filled
with His Holy Spirit.
Hope
Rom 5:1 NASB - Therefore, having been justified by faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Rom 5:2 NASB - through whom also we have obtained our
introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope
of the glory of God.
Rom 5:3 NASB - And not only this, but we also exult in our
tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
Rom 5:4 NASB - and perseverance, proven character; and
proven character, hope;
Rom 5:5 NASB - and hope does not disappoint, because the
love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who
was given to us.
Rom 8:25 NASB - But if we hope for what we do not see, with
perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
Rom 12:12 NASB - rejoicing in hope, persevering in
tribulation, devoted to prayer,
Rom 15:4 NASB - For whatever was written in earlier times
was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the
encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Rom 15:13 NASB - Now may the God of hope fill you with all
joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the
Holy Spirit.
2Cr 1:10 NASB - who delivered us from so great a peril of
death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet
deliver us,
Gal 5:5 NASB - For we through the Spirit, by faith, are
waiting for the hope of righteousness.
Eph 1:12 NASB - to the end that we who were the first to
hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
Eph 1:18 NASB - I pray that the eyes of your heart may be
enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are
the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
Eph 4:4 NASB - There is one body and one Spirit, just as
also you were called in one hope of your calling;
Col 1:5 NASB - because of the hope laid up for you in
heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel
Col 1:23 NASB - if indeed you continue in the faith firmly
established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that
you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which
I, Paul, was made a minister.
Col 1:27 NASB - to whom God willed to make known what is the
riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you,
the hope of glory.
1Th 1:3 NASB - constantly bearing in mind your work of faith
and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the
presence of our God and Father,
1Th 2:19 NASB - For who is our hope or joy or crown of
exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His
coming?
1Th 4:13 NASB - But we do not want you to be uninformed,
brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the
rest who have no hope.
1Th 5:8 NASB - But since we are of the day, let us be sober,
having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of
salvation.
2Th 2:16 NASB - Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and
God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by
grace,
1Ti 1:1 NASB - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to
the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope,
Tts 1:2 NASB - in the hope of eternal life, which God, who
cannot lie, promised long ages ago,
Tts 2:13 NASB - looking for the blessed hope and the
appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,
Tts 3:7 NASB - so that being justified by His grace we would
be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Hbr 6:18 NASB - so that by two unchangeable things in which
it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong
encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.
Hbr 6:19 NASB - This hope we have as an anchor of the soul,
a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,
Hbr 10:23 NASB - Let us hold fast the confession of our hope
without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
1Pe 1:3 NASB - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again
to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:13 NASB - Therefore, prepare your minds for action,
keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to
you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1Pe 1:21 NASB - who through Him are believers in God, who
raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in
God.
1Pe 3:15 NASB - but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts,
always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an
account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
The Scriptures admonish us to “comfort and encourage”
one another. What is this comfort and how do we “comfort and encourage” others?
It is God who comforts us in all our afflictions so that we
will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction. This comfort comes
through Christ. God comforts us when we are filled with comfort. The comfort is Jesus working through the
Holy Spirit. We are comforted by knowing that God loves us, will never leave us
or forsake us, takes care of us, protects us, heals us, provides for us, and
whether dead or alive will come for us to take us to be with Him forever at the
end of this age. We are comforted when we believe that God has a plan and has
made that plan known to those that love Him. We are comforted when we believe
that He is always in control no matter what the worldly circumstances look
like. We are comforted when we know God’s plan and know the outcome of that
plan for it is very good! We are comforted when we know that His Kingdom is
coming and that His will, will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. We are
comforted when we know that we are citizens of that Kingdom and will sit beside
Him upon His Throne to rule and reign with Him for all eternity as His Bride.
We are encouraged when we realize who we are in Christ Jesus!
Comfort
Act 9:31 NASB - So the church throughout all Judea and
Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of
the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.
2Cr 1:3 NASB - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
2Cr 1:4 NASB - who comforts us in all our affliction so that
we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort
with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2Cr 1:5 NASB - For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours
in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
2Cr 7:4 NASB - Great is my confidence in you; great is my
boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in
all our affliction.
2Cr 7:13 NASB - For this reason we have been comforted. And
besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because
his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
1Th 4:18 NASB - Therefore comfort one another with these
words.
2Th 2:16 NASB - Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and
God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by
grace,
2Th 2:17 NASB - comfort and strengthen your hearts in every
good work and word.
Encourage
Col 4:8 NASB - For I have sent him to you for this very
purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage
your hearts;
1Th 3:2 NASB - and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's
fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to
your faith,
1Th 5:11 NASB - Therefore encourage one another and build up
one another, just as you also are doing.
Hbr 3:13 NASB - But encourage one another day after day, as
long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be
hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Act 20:32 NASB - "And now I commend you to God and to
the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the
inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
In a world full of strife, turmoil and evil, real peace
is a hard commodity to find. Real “peace” is peace in the midst of the storms
of life. This peace is not freedom or absence of trouble. This peace is a gift
from God to those that love and obey Him. In the world we will have trouble but
in Jesus we have peace because He has overcome the world. This peace quiets the
troubled and fearful heart. This peace is a gift from the God of hope who fills
us with joy and peace in believing, so that we will abound in hope by the power
of the Holy Spirit. When we are filled with the Spirit we will have love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control. God through Jesus has made peace through the blood of His cross.
Now the Lord of peace Himself grants us peace in every circumstance because He
is Peace. This peace is given and multiplied to us in the knowledge of God and
of Jesus our Lord.
Peace
Jhn 14:27 NASB - "Peace I leave with you; My peace I
give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be
troubled, nor let it be fearful.
Jhn 16:33 NASB - "These things I have spoken to you, so
that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take
courage; I have overcome the world."
Act 10:36 NASB - "The word which He sent to the sons of
Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)—
Rom 5:1 NASB - Therefore, having been justified by faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Rom 14:17 NASB - for the kingdom of God is not eating and
drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Rom 15:13 NASB - Now may the God of hope fill you with all
joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the
Holy Spirit.
Gal 5:22 NASB - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 NASB - gentleness, self-control; against such
things there is no law.
Col 1:20 NASB - and through Him to reconcile all things to
Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say,
whether things on earth or things in heaven.
2Th 3:16 NASB - Now may the Lord of peace Himself
continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!
1Pe 3:11 NASB - "HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO
GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.
2Pe 1:2 NASB - Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the
knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
We give hope, comfort and peace to others by telling
them about Jesus. We preach the Gospel, we teach others the Scriptures, we
share God’s love with them, we lead them into a loving relationship with Jesus
and we teach them about being filled with the Holy Spirit. People get hope,
comfort and peace when they are born again and filled with the Holy Spirit.
When we have the hope, comfort and peace that come from God
through a loving relationship with Jesus, We find true joy. We find joy
when we think that the God became a human and loved us so much as to give
Himself as a sacrifice for us. Jesus, the angels and we are filled with joy
when people give their lives to Him and make Him the Lord of their lives. We
have joy when we consider the reward that is stored up for us in Heaven. We
find joy when we realize the great authority and power that God has entrusted
in us through the Holy Spirit who indwells us. Our joy is made full when we
realize the power of prayer. We have great joy in knowing that Jesus has chosen
us to be His Bride and to rule and reign with Him for all eternity. It is the
God of hope that fills us with all joy and peace. Though we have not seen Him,
we love Him, and though we do not see Him now, but believe in Him, we greatly
rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.
Joy
Mat 25:21 NASB - "His master said to him, 'Well done,
good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in
charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'
Luk 1:14 NASB - "You will have joy and gladness, and
many will rejoice at his birth.
Luk 2:10 NASB - But the angel said to them, "Do not be
afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all
the people;
Luk 6:23 NASB - "Be glad in that day and leap for joy,
for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers
used to treat the prophets.
Luk 10:17 NASB - The seventy returned with joy, saying,
"Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."
Jhn 3:29 NASB - "He who has the bride is the
bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him,
rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has
been made full.
Jhn 15:11 NASB - "These things I have spoken to you so
that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
Jhn 16:20 NASB - "Truly, truly, I say to you, that you
will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your
grief will be turned into joy.
Jhn 16:22 NASB - "Therefore you too have grief now; but
I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your
joy away from you.
Jhn 16:24 NASB - "Until now you have asked for nothing
in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.
Jhn 17:13 NASB - "But now I come to You; and these
things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in
themselves.
Act 13:52 NASB - And the disciples were continually filled
with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Act 15:3 NASB - Therefore, being sent on their way by the
church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in
detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the
brethren.
Rom 14:17 NASB - for the kingdom of God is not eating and
drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Rom 15:13 NASB - Now may the God of hope fill you with all
joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the
Holy Spirit.
Gal 5:22 NASB - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Phl 2:2 NASB - make my joy complete by being of the same
mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
1Th 2:19 NASB - For who is our hope or joy or crown of
exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His
coming?
1Th 2:20 NASB - For you are our glory and joy.
Phm 1:7 NASB - For I have come to have much joy and comfort
in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you,
brother.
Hbr 12:2 NASB - fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1Pe 1:8 NASB - and though you have not seen Him, you love
Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice
with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these
words.
