Encouraged by the Holy Spirit

(Ac9:26-31)



God is the God of all comfort (2Co1:3).

To comfort His Son He made the heaven (He1:2), and

For those who are comforted by Him He made the thrones.



While religion is man's effort to comfort himself,

Faith is receiving only God's comfort, and

The life of faith is by His comfort strengthening the church.



Though there is sadness, pain, disaster, and toil, for which man needs comfort,

There is no true comfort in compensation, severance pay etc.



For God wounds, but He also binds up (Job5:18).

As such, after Adam sinned he was banished from the Garden, and

God put before him thorns and thistles (Ge3:14-24).



God's comfort began with the exodus of Israel, when

They left their slavery of 430 years with great possessions (Ge15:13-16), and

God daily sent them manna for 40 years.



In spite of this, however, they did not understand God's plan,

Like Job who attempted to comfort himself with his self-righteousness (Job6:10).

Yet the prophet spoke of a time when God will comfort them in Jerusalem (Is66:13).



Thus, they longed for the promised consolation of Israel (Lk2:25)

To come from the temple where the name of Jehovah was.



Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn2:19), because

Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,

He would comfort the souls of all men,

Even though there was nothing in His appearance to reveal such and

His life was filled with sorrow, suffering, pains and punishment (Is53:3-11).



But as He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:

Laid down His life and waited for the comfort of the Father, acknowledging that the Father alone does not need comfort for He is the Comforter (Lk23:46);

Condemned the devil who was self-serving (Is14:12-15); and

Redeemed the sins of men who became sinners according to the plan of God (Ge2:17; Rm5:14).



The Father raised Him and

Ascended Him to the throne in heaven (Ac2:32-33).



The Holy Spirit is the Comforter who

Comes in the name of Yeshua

To encourage the believers and the church (Ac9:31).



For the church is the second public life of Jesus Christ,

It is only natural for her to face sadness, pain, suffering, toils and danger.

Therefore, she waits on the comfort, the encouragement of the Holy Spirit

To be strengthened and increase the number of those who believe.



O Lord,

Even if we are isolated in the world,

Even if our church is isolated in "the church community,

We will not be discouraged.

Let the Holy Spirit encourage and strengthen our church so that

Through us the number of believers will increase and the truth will spread!

Amen.