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The Lord laid
this page on my heart some time ago. It contains 27 short
articles with comments drawn from Scripture to help those who
may be hurting. May the Lord bless them to encourage
hearts and lives is my sincere prayer.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 27 (THE
MOST PERSONAL ONE OF ALL) ... NOVEMBER 19, 2004 ...
My heart is sad
today.
As you discerning
readers all know by now, Sister Norma and I have lost a
Grandchild this week.
A little boy. His
name was to be "Michael" too!
Our daughter and
her husband were expecting.
I of course
cancelled the Revival meeting in Alabama. Pastor Harrell
graciously understood!
I have spent
time at the hospital and will today be at the funeral home and
graveside.
The little
fellow died in the womb ... not long before his scheduled date
of birth ... and to most folks this would not be such a "big"
thing.
But I strongly
believe that the Word of God teaches that life begins not at
birth ... but at conception!
In Psalm 139
it looks to me like the Lord is creating and fashioning a little
baby even before He is born! "For thou
hast possessed my reins:
thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise
thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous
are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right
well. My substance was not hid from thee,
when I was made in
secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts
of the earth. Thine
eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book
all my members were written, which in continuance were
fashioned, when as yet there was none of them."
Again, this is all before birth, folks!
My goodness,
God even called Jeremiah to preach before he was born! Listen
to the preacher give his testimony! "Then
the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Before I formed thee in
the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the
womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the
nations." Wow!
God cares for
the babies ... even the unborn!
It is my
conviction that little Michael is in heaven today!
And no one
need write me and tell me that little babies go anywhere else.
When King
David's infant died, he said: "I can't bring the baby back to
me! BUT I can go to the baby and see him some day!"
Here's the
Scripture. "But when David saw that his
servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead:
therefore David said unto his servants,
Is the child dead? And
they said, He is dead. Then David arose from the earth,
and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his
apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped:
then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set
bread before him, and he did eat. Then said his servants unto
him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst
fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when
the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. And he said,
While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said,
Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the
child may live? But now
he is dead, wherefore should I fast?
can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not
return to me.
And David comforted Bathsheba his wife."
2 Samuel 12:19-24
I can't bring
the baby back. But I can go see him some day!
It breaks my
heart to think of that darling little (well formed) body lying
in the cold dark ground.
But ... even
there ... even in the cemetery there is comfort for the Believer
in Christ!
One day Jesus is coming again.
He will open
those graves and out will come bodies (saint's bodies) to meet
the dear Lord!
They were
"planted" in the grave for this very reason!
They were
(Paul said) sown in corruption ... but will be raised in
incorruption!
They will be
changed in a moment from a dead vile body to a glorious body
like that of Jesus after His Resurrection!
Here's what
Paul says Jesus will do on that great Rapture day!
"Who shall change our vile body, that it
may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the
working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto
himself." Philippians 3:21
Here's my
comfort today ... "But I would not have
you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep,
that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if
we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say
unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and
remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them
which are asleep. For
the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the
dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:
and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
1st Thessalonians 4:13-18
Blessed be the
Name of the Lord.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
Pray for us.
ARTICLE 26 ...
The Bible says in
Psalm 119:151 --- "Thou
art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are
truth."
Jesus further emphasized this
truth in Matthew 28:20 ---
"And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world. Amen."
And Paul reports of Jesus in
Hebrews 13:5: "For
he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
Yet Job ... in all his
suffering ... began to doubt this great fact. Job 23:3 ---
"Oh that I knew where I might find him!
that I might come even to his seat!"
Now, who is
right, Jesus and the Psalmist ... or Job?
(And I think
Job was speaking in a moment of great discouragement. He knew
better than to talk like that.)
THE LORD IS
ALWAYS NEAR!
Even when He
stands far off ... He is near!
Let me ask you
a question.
When is the
sun nearer to you?
On cloudless
days when a light breeze is comfortable blowing?
Or when the
fog is thick and the skies overcast?
Is He closer
during the hurricane or during the heat wave?
Answer: It is
equally close in all those circumstances!
Then ... when
is the Lord closer?
During that
great revival meeting?
Or when you're
experiencing a tremendous trial of some kind?
He is
always close!
Again, here's
our verse for today:
"Thou
art near, O LORD...." Psalm 119:151
I'm so glad
our RELATIONSHIP with the Father remains the same ... wherever
the circumstances of life take us!
Think of it
this way.
When is a
"son" more a son to his father?
When he is
thousands of miles away on an around the world trip ... or when
he's home for Christmas, sitting by the fireside with his Dad?
When is a wife
more of a wife to her beloved husband?
As they sit at
table together eating supper each night ... or when he's out of
town working?
I'm so glad we
serve a loving OMNIPRESENT (everywhere at once) Heavenly Father!
Thank Him
today because He is NEAR!
In this great truth find encouragement and
comfort today!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 25 ...
Let me first of all remind you that "comfort"
is found in knowing our sin is gone! Jesus has carried away the
load of our guilt and iniquity! That's the focus of our
Isaiah verse!
Isaiah
53:11 says it very well. "He shall see of
the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his
knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many;
for he shall bear their
iniquities."
The verb
"shall bear" (in Hebrew = "sabal") literally means "to carry a
load!" Jesus has taken the load of my sin and carried it far
away!
Hebrews
9:28 also says it! "So Christ was once
offered to bear the sins
of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear
the second time without sin unto salvation."
The verb ("to
bear") in this verse is "anaphero" and means to carry up and
away! (It is an aorist infinitive. He has already done this
for you at the Cross of Calvary!)
The Scripture
reinforces the same truth again in 1 Peter 2:24 ---
"Who his own self
bare our sins in
his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should
live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."
Again here the
verb is "anaphero." However this time it is an aorist active
... proving that It was Jesus Who did the work of taking away
our sin!
My point today is this. Jesus took away our
iniquity!
Are you saved?
If not ... here's the best news you will hear
all day.
Jesus still cleanses from ungodliness!
He still takes away sin!
John 5:24 says this:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and
believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall
not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."
Now I can't do this for you.
Only the Holy Spirit of God can bring you to
the place where you are truly ready to believe in Jesus (unto
salvation)!
But someone reading these lines this Tuesday
may be right there!
If so ... I'll guarantee you this ... God
will keep every promise He made in His Word! (Including the ones
about saving old sinners!)
What a Saviour!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 24 ...
Christ Jesus
has borne the weight of our sins, dear Believing Christian! How
we ought to rejoice! Listen to Simon Peter speaking of our dear
Lord: "Who
his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we,
being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose
stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2:24)
He
also desires to
take our "cares" from us ... and carry them away! Again it's
Peter who tells us this.
"Casting all your
care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5:7)
The opening
verb of our sentence, "casting," translates "epiripto." It is
derived from a verb that means "to fling or to hurl" something!
(To deposit something very heavy ... a great load!) It is an
aorist participle. Peter considers this such a tremendous
blessing that surely every Christian has already done so!
Our verb here,
"epiripto" is only found one other time in all of Scripture:
"And they
brought him ( a little colt) to Jesus: and they cast their
garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon." (Luke
19:35) Jesus, God's
burden bearing Servant (like this little colt) invites YOU to
cast your burdens on Him! He can handle them all!
But what does that little word "care" mean?
It is the little Greek noun "merimna." It is
only used 6 times in the Bible. Each of those times it is
translated "care or cares." It has the idea of worries or
distractions. Let me show you what I mean. "Merimna" develops
from a stem verb ("merizo") that pictures one "pulling a thing
into parts." (You could say "tearing it to pieces!") One
lexicon says it means "to disunite!"
Each of you can identify with that
definition! YOU have had worries that mentally and emotionally
pulled you in different directions! You could get no peace of
mind! You could not concentrate your thoughts! You were
literally "torn up" over the issue!
Three times "merimna" is used in the New
Testament it fell from the lips of Jesus as He taught His great
parable of the sower. In it He spoke of the "cares" of this
world! Once again our Lord used the term in His later ministry
where He warned of the "cares" of this life (Luke 21:34). And
in 2 Corinthians 11:28 Paul once spoke of bearing the "care" of
all the churches!
But WHY would the Lord Jesus do this for you
and me?
Peter again says:
"Because He careth for you."
Our verb "careth" is the Greek word "melo."
It means "to be concerned! Also it means "to be interested
in!" Vines Word Dictionary says: "To make something an object
of one's attention, especially with love and forethought and
interest!"
As a verb our word is an indicative present
active 3rd person singular term. Jesus loved His children in
Peter's day and continues to do so up until this very moment!
Our text here is asking no question! It is stating a fact! He
does care for His own!
By the way, that final pronoun "you" is in
the plural form! He loves all of those to whom Peter is
writing! And who are they? Those who have believed in His
Name! The blood washed family of God! See 1 Peter 1:1-2.
Thank God for this verse!
Ponder it throughout the day!
Through it the Spirit of God will minister to
your very soul!
He
cares for you!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 23 ...
Dear Christian friend, did you know that the
Lord Jesus Christ has borne the full load of your sin and washed
it away with His precious Blood? If you need Bible proof, here
it is! Isaiah 53:11 declares: "He (Jesus)
shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be
satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify
many; for he shall bear their iniquities." If you are
saved ... your sins are gone!
Then the dear Lord also cares so much for you
that He will carry the weight of all your worries and fears too!
More proof needed? 1 Peter 5:7 says:
"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."
But that’s not all! Our great God
additionally asks us to let Him carry our BURDENS as well! Watch
this verse:
"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he
shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be
moved." Psalm 55:22
My Brother or Sister in Christ, are you
staggering around today with some heavy load? Is it nearly more
than you can carry?
Why not claim the promise of this great
verse?
Let’s study it a minute.
The word "burden" is a good place to begin.
It is a Hebrew noun ("yehab") that is only used once in all the
Bible! Therefore it could represent a unique (one-of-a-kind)
situation. Even if nobody has the situation you do ... even then
... cast that problem on the Lord (at His invitation)!
The word comes from a verb ("yahab") that
means to give! This heaviness is apparently a trial that has
been "given" to you by someone! (Better make that a capital "S"
on Someone. For the Ultimate Controller of all our lives is the
Lord God Almighty! Hence, this word means "that which is given
by providence!" That which God has allowed to come you way! (If
you can’t believe that He sent it ... you at least must admit
that He could have stopped it from coming ... if He had so
chosen!)
The verb "throw" means to cast, to hurl, to
fling! In our King James Version it is translated: cast away,
cast down, cast forth, cast off, and cast out! This verb is in
the imperative mood also ... telling us that God has worded this
as a command! To get an idea of the type action implied here,
notice the "first use" of our verb in Scripture. Hagar does
something to little Ishmael: "And the
water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one
of the shrubs." Genesis 21:15 And here’s the second time
the verb is used. Joseph’s brother are talking about him in some
rather derogatory ways. "Come now
therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and
we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see
what will become of his dreams." Genesis 37:20
"Upon" is a preposition that does literally
mean "on" or "toward." God wants that burden of yours!
What will He do for me if I cast my burden
upon Him?
He will "sustain" me! The verb ("kul") means
to keep or to maintain. In the King James Bible it is rendered
in such ways as: feed, guide, hold or nourish! In its first
Bible use (Genesis 45:11) it is translated "nourish!" The verb
has a "time" sense which indicates ongoing constant action! God
will keep on sustaining us! (At lease He has not quit up until
this very moment!)
"Suffer" means ("nathan") to give! God says
that He will never "give" us to being "moved" by these trials.
He will give us stability through the storm! He always has given
such power and peace ... and He’s still doing it right now!
(Incomplete action!)
This English word "never" is just beautiful!
It translates 2 Hebrew words. ‘Le’ and "olam" means TO ... and
... VANISHING POINT. God here promises us that we will not be
moved (immovability) until the very extreme end of time! This
means "everlastingly."
The "righteous" are the saved, blood-washed
children of God. The Hebrew word means right (in a forensic or
court room or legal sense) or straight in the eyes of God.
And they will never be "moved." Now "mot" is
the Hebrew verb and has the meaning: to totter, to shake, to
slip, to be overthrown, to be dislodge or to drop! In Leviticus
our word is expressed "fallen in decay" by the King James
translators. (Leviticus 25:35 ... the first use of the verb in
all of Scripture)!
Sounds to me like God is serious about
wanting to take our burdens! He demands that we cast them upon
Him.
If God so commanded this ... then not to do
so would be a sin!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 22 ...
God not only carries our sins (Isaiah 53:8 or
Hebrews 9:28) ... and our worries (1 Peter 5:7) ... and our
burdens (Psalm 55:22) ... HE ALSO CARRIES US!
Listen to what the Lord says to Israel in
Isaiah chapter 46.
"Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and
all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me
from the belly, which are carried from the womb: And even to
your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I
have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver
you." Isaiah 46:3-4
What an array of verbs we have here as God
promises His people "transportation!"
"Hearken" means to give ear, to hear
attentively. (This verb God used is an imperative. He commands
this of Israel!)
The verb "borne" is "amas" in Hebrew. It
means (here as a "passive") to be loaded onto something (or
Someone). It is usually used of a heavy object. Here's
something else unusual about our word, it is only found 9 times
in the whole Bible!
The word is usually found in the context of
"loading" a beast of burden. However in Psalm 68:19 David
rejoices: "Blessed be the Lord,
who daily loadeth
us with benefits, even the God of our salvation."
The Lord takes us upon Himself (heavy loads that we are) ... and
gives us His load (many benefits)!
Next the verb "carried" (Hebrew = "nasa") is
used. This word means "to lift." That wicked murderer Cain
declared in Genesis 4:13 "My punishment
is greater than I can
bear."
This is true of every sinner! But God here promises that He
will bear us even with all our loads! In Genesis 7:17 the
waters of the flood "bare up" the Ark of Noah! Now that's
lifting something rather heavy!
Now the second time the English word
"carried" is used in our text ... it's a different term yet! "Sabal"
means "strong to labour!" For example, Psalm 144:14 ---
"That our
oxen may be
strong to labour; that there be no breaking in,
nor going out; that there be no complaining in our
streets." In Solomon's employment were 70,000 men who
were just "burden-bearers" (using our word here). 1 Kings 5:15
--- "And Solomon had threescore and ten
thousand that bare
burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains."
Furthermore, God said to Israel ... I made
you ... I will carry you! (In Exodus 19:4 the Lord "flew" them
out of Egypt! Notice how Scripture words it.
"Ye have seen what I did unto the
Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and
brought you unto myself.")
And God will "carry" His people all their
lives! ("even to our old age") The expression "hoar hairs"
means until one becomes gray!
BUT the Lord promises not only to carry us
... He will also "deliver us!" The word is "malat." It means
to slip away or to escape! (God does have a great "escape"
planned for His Church!) It's a Piel verb --- indicating
intensely aggressive action!
Wow!
This is one of the greatest "security" verses
I've seen in all Scripture!
I thought you might enjoy knowing a little
about it today!
Live this Friday in the joy of knowing He
carries you all your days ...and will deliver you in Heaven
eternally!
Glory to God.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE
21:
Today our "COMFORT" passage is found in
the Old Testament.
The verse that has arrested my attention
is located in Psalm 119:50.
"This is my
comfort in my affliction: for thy word
hath quickened me."
Notice that the Psalmist is under
"affliction" as he writes! The noun affliction comes from a
family of words meaning "to look down upon" ... then meaning "to
depress." He has PRESSURE on him! It wouldn't surprise me
that today somebody reading these lines also has "pressure"
being heavily exerted upon them! (Our word is translated
"trouble" three times in the Old Testament!) What do you do
when the trials of life are so burdensome? When "depression"
comes? Do what the Psalmist did! Go to the Word of God!
What can the Scripture do for you when
you're under such "pressure?"
David here found "comfort" in the dear
Word of God! (A Hebrew word only used twice in the whole Bible,
the other place being Job 6:10.) The verbal background of the
word means "to sign, to breathe strongly, to feel sorry for, to
pity or to console! Wow! Remember that Paul also mentions the
"comfort" of the "Scriptures" in Romans 15:4! (The Bible calms
and soothes and speaks sweetly to the believer's troubled
soul!) Psalm 107:20 says: "He
(the Lord) sent His Word, and healed them, and delivered them
from their destructions." That "healing" well
may involve emotional help too! And, again, it comes
from Scripture.
But ... what specifically did the
Scriptures do for the Psalmist? They "quickened" him! The verb
means "to live!" It is so translated 153 times in the Bible!
It's "revived" 12 times! And "recovered" 8 times! Our verb
here is in the Piel stem --- meaning that the action is
INTENSIVE! The Scriptures are hyper-active in quickening and
reviving us! (A lot more study needs to be done on the Bible
usage of this little verb --- but what we've done here is enough
to convince me afresh of the POWER of the Word of God!)
The ultimate truth of our verse is that
COMFORT comes from the precious Word of God!
Hand me my Bible, please!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 20:
1 Thessalonians 4:18 says this:
"Wherefore comfort one another with these
words!" There is so much in that short verse!
If nothing else it lets us know that one
great source of our comfort is THE WORD OF GOD! "These
words" refer to Scripture!
Secondly it tells us that the fact of the
coming of Jesus (the Rapture) is a particular tool of comfort in
our lives! We ought to dwell upon His return much!
Thirdly it says that we Christians are fully
capable of comforting our brothers and sisters in Christ (again,
via the Scriptures)!
Fourthly, here's proof that the "preacher"
(Paul in this case) knows enough about comfort to give
instruction about it! I am telling you: the Men of
God can help you when you are discouraged!
Lastly, this is a command! We are expected to
comfort one another! (God never demands that we do something we
can't do!)
Oops! I just found our same command in a
slightly different format. "Wherefore
comfort yourselves together, and edify one another." 1
Thessalonians 5:11
Let's all get busy helping one another! After
all, when I am "down" ... you are "up!" And when you are "down"
... I am "up!" It just makes sense that we help pick one another
up from the valley of discouragement! COMFORT ONE
ANOTHER!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 19:
2 Corinthians 7:6 has a powerful
statement! There Paul says:
"Nevertheless God, that comforteth those
that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus"
Notice several things with me please.
Firstly, even Paul got discouraged!
If HE did ... you can be sure we will from time to time.
Only the Lord was NEVER discouraged! Isaiah
42:4 says of Jesus: "He shall not
fail nor be discouraged,
till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait
for his law."
Secondly, GOD HIMSELF comforts His
children when they are low! That verb "comforteth" is our
old friend "parakaleo" meaning to come to one's side (and stay
there) to help and uplift and encourage them! It is a
present participle meaning that the action is constant and
habitual!
Thirdly, those in need of help are said to
be "cast down." It's a Greek word that means lowly!
It has the idea of being bent down low to the ground!
(About as low as you can get!) No one is so depressed that
the Lord can't lift them up! Glory!
Fourthly, one thing that may have helped
Paul get out of his lowliness (or depression) was the coming of
Titus! Something that always seems to help when you're
discouraged: get around a Christian Brother or Sister and
fellowship with them about the things of God! (Some
believers excel in exhorting and edifying others. Meet a
couple of those gifted believers and keep them as friends!)
Lastly, notice that Paul just seems to
take this fact as a routine truth of the Christian life!
He just seems to mention in passing that God has comforted him
(yet again)!
Friend, let God come to you today and
share love and comfort as only He can do! He has probably done
that for you before ... and He will likely do it again ... and
again ... and again!
Don't you just love Him today?
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 18:
Proverbs 17:22 says:
"A merry heart doeth good like a
medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." The
verse is almost self-explanatory. Someone who is
discouraged has what the Bible calls a "broken spirit."
Such a condition, if left untreated for too long, can have some
damaging effects! (Not being a doctor, I can't speak to
the physical difficulties. But I know there are some!
High Blood pressure, ulcers, sleeplessness, etc., might be
included on the list.) But I do know that spiritually a
broken heart can "dry the bones." It can rob you of your
joy and victory in Christ. It can knock you right our of
your Bible and church! It can bring disastrous results.
If you are constantly depressed, get some
help somewhere. Your Pastor, a godly friend, the
Scriptures themselves, the dear Holy Spirit, a trained counselor
(one your preacher recommends preferably), or maybe even a godly
book on the subject might be of help.
I just know that discouragement (if
prolonged) can be detrimental to you! Proverbs never spoke
more clearly! Depression "drieth" the bones!"
While I certainly don't know much ... but
I can point you to the ONE Who does! And that is exactly
what I've tried to do in these columns.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 17:
Today's "comfort" verse
may be a bit unusual. But it has spoken to my heart this
morning.
1 Samuel 30:6 says:
"And David was greatly distressed; for the
people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people
was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but
David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." I suppose that after all has been said and
done ... this verse remains a "key" to our spiritual health.
The last line of defense in this war against discouragement or
depression is: THE LORD HIMSELF ... and you yourself!
See in the verse above that David encouraged himself! How
did he do so? We are not exactly told. But,
remember, David knows Scripture! Maybe he quoted the 23rd
Psalm during those dark days of his life! "The Lord IS my
Shepherd! He leadeth me! He restoreth me! He
is with me! He promises me the oil of His holy Spirit! He
will sprinkle upon me goodness and mercy! He will maintain
me forever! (Wow! I am getting help just typing the
verses!)
Where did David get his help? FROM
THE LORD! (See Psalm 121.) "My
help cometh from the Lord!"
There it is! It just may be THE
secret to it all! When the hard times hit ... get alone
with the Lord. Determine that things will not KEEP YOU DOWN!
(As good as the preacher, or the counselor, that best friend,
your mate, that good book, etc, may be ... NOBODY OR NOTHING IS
AS GOOD AS THE LORD in lifting our hearts!)
Ask God to make you an
exhorter/encourager/counselor ... with a specialty in
self-encouragement! King David is the President of that
group!
Don't say you can't do that! (You
can do ALL THINGS through Christ
Who strengthens you!) See Philippians 4:13.
I do not say this lightly or carelessly.
Go to your room ... and "encourage yourself" in the Lord!
Technical note: The Hebrew verb
"encourage" is also translated in the King James Bible "repair"
(47 times) and "strengthen" (42 times) and "prevail" (10 times)
and "strong" (5 times) and "hold on" (5 times)! What a
word! Those "translations" just maybe the 5 keys to
unlock your downcast heart today!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 16:
Our verse today IS found in the old
testament book of job chapter 16 and verse 2. there job says to
his friends: "I have heard many such
things; miserable comforters are ye all."
did you get
that? job looks at his three friends and calls them all
"miserable comforters." (this is an enlightening verse.) and
truly they were terrible encouragers to job in his misery. this leads me to a statement. no everyone
will be able to comfort you in your time of need. in fact ...
some people (if you are around them long) will make you feel
much worse. they simply are not gifted with the ability to help
others who are in distress or depression.
do yourself a favor. and do it now before
heartache comes and clouds your judgment. select a godly friend
or tWO who might be skilled with the ability
"to speak a word in season to him/her that
is weary." (this quotes Isaiah 50:4 which is speaking via
prophecy of our lord jesus christ.)
maybe your pastor will be on your list of
exhorters. or your Sunday school teacher. (or the bagwell
web-site "comfort" page.) or that best friend (if you are so
blessed to have one who can help life life’s burdens).
and please keep that crowd away from you who
can only see the dark side of life. (with friends like job had
... he surely needed no more enemies.)
happy hunting for your "comforters."
by the way, if there is just "nobody" who can
help you, I have a suggestion.
the darling holy spirit is "the comforter."
he is always by your side!
May god give you a "comfortable" day is my
prayer.
--- Dr. mike bagwell
ARTICLE 15:
I have exhausted all my ideas
about "comfort!" What should I do? I want to have a
thought each day for those who may be hurting or discouraged or
grieving. I know what! I can go to the BIBLE!
Just maybe there I will find a treasure trove of encouragement!
(Remember that in Romans 15:4 Paul mentioned
"the comfort of the Scriptures" to his people!) Well, here's
the verse I found. Isaiah 66:13. Let me print it out
word for word. It's that important! The Lord Himself
is speaking! He says:
"AS ONE
WHOM HIS MOTHER COMFORTETH, SO WILL I COMFORT YOU; AND YE SHALL
BE COMFORTED IN JERUSALEM."
(I wonder
if Paul had this verse in mind when he wrote to the
Thessalonians, telling them: "But we
were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
So being affectionately desirous of you ..."
The verb Paul used for "cherish" is Greek "trophos" and derives
from "thalpo" which likely comes from the root "to warm." It's a
picture of the mother hen as she broods over her young!
She keeps them warm and fed and protected! She in times of
danger even puts them "under her wing!")
Here in
Isaiah 66:13 the Lord compares Himself to a Mama who "comforts"
her own children. The verb (in Hebrew) means "to console
or to pity." (The root thought is "to sigh or to breathe
strongly" in compassion and empathy! He is touched with
the feeling of our infirmities! See Hebrews 4:15) It
is in the "imperfect" form here. That means that it suggests
incomplete action! God yet to this day STILL is comforting
His people! That includes YOU dear believing friend!
And the verb is in the "piel" stem. That indicates the
action is INTENSIVE active. God really puts Himself into
this comforting business! God does everything
wholeheartedly! What would it mean when He does something
intensively? (Wow!)
From the
verse it looks like God is a Success as a Comforter! He
says that He will do it. Then it immediately says that IT
IS DONE! (Sounds like creation week, doesn't it?
"Let there be light! And there was
light!") Maybe God here in human hearts is creating
peace and joy!
Did you
notice? Read the verse again. It's not hard to tell
its subject, is it? There's one word mentioned three
times? What word is it? COMFORT! The Lord
surely led me to a COMFORT verse today!
Dear
discouraged friend. Let your Saviour today take you in His
great big Arms and (like your Mother used to do) comfort, pity,
love, smile and cuddle you until joy bubbles from your heart and
soul.
Good news!
Just as He was a successful Comforter in Israel's case ... so
will He be in your case!
By the way
... all this happens in "Jerusalem." And the name of that
glorious city, Jerusalem, has right in its "middle" the Hebrew
word for PEACE (Shalom)!
Let me
close for now: SHALOM to you!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 14:
In the 11th chapter of Luke Jesus says something a bit unusual.
He had been casting out devils from sick and possessed people.
He clearly did this by the Power of the Holy Spirit within Him.
(He was given the Spirit "without measure." That is,
an unlimited supply! See John 3:34 for proof!)
Then it happened! Some of His enemies
said that He was casting out devils by the power of Beel-zebub.
(That's Satan himself!)
By the way, in so doing they committed what
the Bible calls the "unpardonable sin!" That is not our
topic today ... but it is well worth you study!
In defending His miracles of exorcism, Jesus
said this: "But if I with the finger of
God cast out devils, no doubt the Kingdom of God is come upon
you." (Luke 11:20)
Here is my "comfort" point for today.
Jesus (Who had undoubtedly cast these demons out of those people
by the HOLY SPIRIT) said He cast them out by THE FINGER OF GOD!
He just likened the Spirit to God's very FINGER!
I don't know how you will take that word picture ... but to
me it's POWERFUL!
Dear discouraged believer friend, do you
realize today that God has sent His Spirit to be your COMFORTER?
The Holy Spirit is your "paraclete!" That means He goes by
your side every hour to help you and strengthen you and life you
up from the cares of life!
And that Holy Spirit (Who is by your side and
within you today) is the very FINGER OF GOD! God's finger
created the world! (Psalm 8:3) God's finger worked the
miracles on Egypt! Exodus 8:13) God's finger wrote
the Word of God, the commandments upon the tables of stone!
(Exodus 31:18) God's finger wrote on the ground and
scattered the enemies of the woman taken in adultery! She
was saved that day! (John 8:6) God's fingers
(through Jesus) healed a deaf man who also could not speak.
Jesus placed His fingers in the man's ears and healed him!
(Mark 7:31-37)
Then don't forget those fingers of God are
connected to His Mighty Hands! (Think of all THAT
implies!) Hands that scooped out the oceans! (Isaiah
40) Hands that were pierced and nailed to an old rugged
Cross for you and me! Hands in Which he has engraved the
names of all his children! (Isaiah 49:16)
I've said all that to say this:
Discouraged friend, the FINGER of God (the Holy Spirit) is with
you today to help you! Let Him be the "lifter up of your
head", and hands, and heart today! (Psalm 3:3)
That's a powerful therapy!
You and GOD have a good day! (I'd say
anywhere God is ... it will be a good day!)
Someone e-mail me if these "comfort" articles
ever help! (I do believe they're helping me.)
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 13:
May you find encouragement in
the verse for today is my prayer!
Proverbs 12:25
"Heaviness in
the heart of man maketh it stoop; but a good word maketh
it glad." That word "heaviness" is really the Hebrew
noun for anxiety, worry or fretfulness. I wonder today if
someone is reading these lines whose heart is loaded with worry.
You feel you can go no further. If so, this Proverbs verse may
be just for you!
The verb "maketh it stoop" is a word meaning
to "depress." Have your sorrows and trials become so heavy that
they have put you into depression? Again, this very verse may be
for you!
Here is the good news! It is possible (again,
according to our verse here) for this "depression" to be
transformed into gladness! The verb "maketh glad" is in reality
"to brighten" or be joyful. (It is translated "rejoice" 95 times
in the Old Testament.) Sadness turned into gladness!
I need to tell you one more thing about that
little word "stoop." In the Scriptures it is translated 99 times
"to worship!" That literally says that when Solomon had a heavy
heart, when problems bent him so low he "stooped" ... he just
bowed down and worshipped God! (That’s exactly what Job did when
his troubles came. He worshipped God! Read Job 1:20!) No
matter how you "feel" today ... take some time and bow down and
love, adore, or worship your heavenly Father!
But ... what "triggered" this move from
depression to gladness? The answer is in the verse. It was "a
good word." Those words
simply translate the common Hebrew terms for "good word!"
It’s the adjective "good" that means active good! Good that
spreads! Good that influences! And the noun "word" is word with
power! Word that accomplishes its goal!
If we could just find the right "word" for
you today, your sorrow, grief, depression or pain just might be
over!
I have an idea. Get alone for a few minutes
somehow and take your Bible. Now see if you can find in it a
"good word!" It’s there! Read it. It just may make you glad!
In prayer get a good word from the Father!
Ask Jesus to speak to your heart as your Great High Priest! Ask
the Holy Spirit to bear witness to your spirit with some good
word from Heaven!
Get ready ... good words are coming! And when
they reach you ... no more stooping! Just bright gladness and
joy (and maybe even a little shouting)!
May God give you a "good word" is my prayer!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 12:
The "comfort"
verse the Lord has given me today is found in Isaiah 50.
There the Lord Jesus speaks prophetically and says:
"The Lord God (the Father)
hath given Me (Jesus) the tongue of
the Learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to
him that is weary!"
Jesus here claims that He knows how to say
words that will help the weary! The whole phrase "to speak
in season" is just one Hebrew verb. That verb ("uth")
means "to hasten to someone's side to help!" Jesus is the greatest Exhorter (One Who
encourages!) we know!
The Hebrew ("yaaph") verb "is weary" means
fatigued or exhausted! The idea is one who is ready to
faint! Have you ever been there? I surely have!
In fact, someone may be there right now!
If so, I have good news! Jesus is fully
able to come to you ... speak to you ... and relieve you of your
weariness!
Cry out to Him! Tell him just how you
feel! (He knows anyway!) Place yourself in His
strong hands! He can bring you comfort and strength!
Memorize this great verse today! If you
can't learn it by heart ... write it down by hand (or enlarge it
and print it on your computer) and keep it by your side the
whole day long. Look at it often. Think about it
over and over again. Then turn the verse into a prayer.
God WILL send you just what you need!
I praise His Name!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 11:
I have spoken regularly of the
Holy Spirit in writing this column. (You can't write about
"comfort" without mentioning the Spirit of God!)
Let me say today to any
discouraged Christian that your being strengthened and
uplifted may not be something you have to do
for yourself ... or something another has to do for you.
It might just be a matter of being more and more saturated
(filled) with God the Holy Spirit! I'll try to show you what I
mean. When the Spirit of God takes control of one's life, there
are some things that will (automatically) happen! You will begin
to bear "fruit" in your life! This fruit is not something that
you have to produce either! It is something that
is grown within you ... as you yield to that
precious Holy Spirit of God!
Preacher, what kind of fruit
is this? And here is my point. See how much of this "fruit"
directly involves "comfort" in your life!
Here is the list: Love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and
temperance. Again, see how many of these deal with
encouragement! (Peace certainly does! So does faith!
Temperance (self-control) will help also! Joy is essential as
well.)
I don't know if you see my
point or not. The more we are filled with the Holy Spirit (Who
is called THE COMFORTER 4 times in John's Gospel) ... the more
we will have just what we need to help us through our low times!
Glory to God!
I am praying for YOU today! I
trust that something in this brief note will encourage your
heart and give you strength to keep on serving our Lord!
May you have a better day this Monday! Remember, the Holy
Spirit is by your side (paraclete)!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 10:
Good day in the Lord!
Our prayer is that you will have a good (and a godly)
Sunday!
I saw a verse yesterday that thrilled me!
Psalm 94:19 says:
"In the multitude of my thoughts within me
thy comforts delight my soul."
The Psalmist is speaking to God!
Notice that the writer has received COMFORT from the Lord!
HOW did he do so? How did his comfort arrive? (The
way he got comfort should be a way I could get comfort!)
God is no Respecter of persons!
Notice that the Psalmist needed "comfort." He was
discouraged. He was disturbed. He was fearful. He
was in a real difficult situation. He was at the end of
his rope! (Read verse 18 where he said: "My
foot slippeth!")
What brought him "comfort?" Well, it was not really his
comfort ... it was GOD'S COMFORT that did the job! If we
somehow could learn to tap in to God's Comfort we would be all
right! Man -made comfort is only temporary at best!
But HOW did he get the Lord's "comforts?"
This is strange! He got GOD'S COMFORTS BY MEANS OF HIS
(THE PSALMIST'S) OWN THOUGHTS! The discouraged man's
thoughts ushered in God's comforts! (Amazing!)
Again, HOW did this happen?
That's easy to answer. The Psalmist had learned to make
his own thoughts correspond to God's thoughts! (Here is a
guarantee! The PROMISES of God in Scripture ARE His
COMFORTS!) The disturbed believer here learned to think
God's Word! And ... that made all the difference!
Let me illustrate.
Think these promises today!
Call unto me, and I
will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which
thou knowest not. Jeremiah 33:3
Fear thou not; for I
am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I
will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold
thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10
When thou passest
through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the
rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through
the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame
kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:2
I will not leave you
comfortless. John 14:18 (The Greek term there
for "comfortless" is our English word "orphan!"
Nevertheless I tell
you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I
go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I
depart, I will send him unto you. John 16:7
There are 6,995 more promises in the Word
... just like these!
Think God's thoughts after Him ... and you
will enjoy His Comfort today! In fact, you will be
"delighted" in your soul! (If I had the time I'd love to
share with you that verb "delighted!" It is a jewel.)
Well, let's just do so! It is only
used at 8 places in the whole Bible! It is translated
"play" or "dandle" (to bounce up and down as one does a baby on
the knee or in the lap)! It even has the idea "to please
oneself with!" These "thoughts" of God that comfort us are
mental "playthings" with which give us great pleasure and
relief! The imperfect Hebrew verb here mean constantly
ongoing action. (Keep thinking God's Promises/Thoughts ... keep
being delighted with "comfort!")
Wow! I sure am glad I saw that
verse!
May the Comfort of God be your today is my
prayer!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 9:
Our
"comfort" verse today is found in Nahum 3:7. In part that
verse asks:
"Whence shall I seek comforters for thee?"
(Where will I find your comforters?)
Here is God
seeking "comforters" for the people of Nineveh!
I have
never seen that before in my life! (I've read Nahum numbers of
times, but that verse
has escaped my attention!) God literally says that He had
sought comforters for someone! I believe
God is no Respecter of persons! (Don't you! Read
Acts 10:34.) If He sought comforters for these folks ... He
will seek comforters for YOU, my dear believing friend!
Just think!
Right now, in your sorrow or hurt, God well may be looking for
just that right person to bring you comfort, strength and
Christian love!
By the way,
that Hebrew noun for "comfort" is NA-HAM. (It also is
spelled NAHUM!) Look at the name of the Bible Book from
which our first verse is taken today! It is NAHUM! His name
means "comfort!"
This is
amazing! God is looking for comfort for those Gentiles. Guess
where that "comfort" was to be found? Right under their literary noses! In the person
of the "preacher" who has been bringing to them the message of
the Lord!
Now, I'm
not saying that only the preacher can bring comfort. NO!
But I am saying your comfort may be closer than you think!
(Like on a web site! Or at Church tomorrow! Or from
your best friend! Or maybe a source yet unknown!)
Perhaps God is still looking! But ... He will find you
some comfort. And He will bring it (him/her) to you!
He has said so in His Word! And, remember, God
can not lie! (Titus 1:2) It is the Lord's very
nature to bring comfort! He IS Comfort!
Along that
same line I found another verse! This one is in Isaiah
51:19. Here the Lord asks Israel:
"By whom shall I comfort thee?"
Comfort here is the very same root word Nahum used, but this
time it's a verb and the sentence action is in a different stem.
Now our verb is a Piel imperfect. That means it expresses
intensive action! (God is searching DILIGENTLY for comfort for
them!) The imperfect time sense means the action is
incomplete! (God kept on and kept on searching for someone
to give them compassion and mercy!)
Therefore,
armed with 2 good Bible examples, I say unto you: Beware!
Today just may be the day your COMFORT comes! (God is
looking for it now!) If help and strength and a little
relief arrive,
please take time to e-mail me and let me know! I'd like to
rejoice with you!
(To be
Biblically "honest" with you, I must add something. Both
Nineveh and Israel may have "missed" their God designed
"comfort!" HOW? If you will read the texts carefully
...both nations were living sinfully. Sin can BLOCK God's
blessings, including His comfort! HOW can I avoid that,
preacher? I've just GOT TO HAVE God's help now!
Here's how. Jesus died to save us from our sin! If
you are lost ... and the Holy Spirit is convicting you ...
TRUST JESUS today! He will save you! Then the Holy Spirit
moves into your very being! (1 Cor. 6:19,20) If you are
already saved, confess (and forsake) your sins (1 John 1:9).
Our God is faithful and just and will forgive your sins and
cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Then ... as far as I
can see ... the comfort "channel" is open!)
May God
give you a good Saturday (and a godly Saturday) ... and a
Saturday with real traces of His Comfort ... is my
sincere prayer!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 8:
I surely have enjoyed studying and writing these "comfort"
articles! God has encouraged my own soul through the
Scripture shared on these pages.
The only problem is that no one will admit
they need any "comfort" or "strength" any more! So ... I
don't know if anybody has gotten any help here or not!
Maybe the Lord just has me writing it to
help "me!" And that's all right if it's His Will! All I know is that I am pretty sure He
laid this page on my heart and led me to begin it. The old
(now dead and with the Lord) preacher Joseph Parker said:
"Preach to hurting men, and you will never lack for a
congregation!" Just maybe he was right!
Today's "verse" is found in 2 Corinthians
13:11. "Finally, brethren, farewell.
Be perfect, BE OF GOOD COMFORT,
be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace
shall be with you." What a verse! Note especially
the part that says "BE OF GOOD COMFORT!" Paul here is
giving a series of "commands" to the believers in Corinth!
The verbs are in the imperative mood! The verb to be of
good comfort is "parakaleo" which we have studied earlier in
these columns. (It's still on the page below today's
notes.) It means to realize and act upon the fact that
Someone (the Holy Spirit) can been called to be by your side to
strengthen you and help you every moment of every day!
But here's my point today! "Comfort"
or being "encouraged" can't be just an emotion! It can't
be just a feeling! Not for the Christian, anyway! You see,
Paul has here just commanded us to be comforted! You CAN
NOT COMMAND an emotion! You can't tell a man "BE SAD!
Sadness is an emotion. Emotions can't be made to come or
go on command! You can't tell a may, "CRY!" One
cannot cry (an emotion) on command.
IF PAUL HAS COMMANDED THESE CHRISTIAN TO
BE COMFORTED ... COMFORT MUST BE SOMETHING WE CAN BRING UPON
OURSELVES BY OBEDIENCE TO THE PROMISES OF GOD!
Now I am not trying to make anybody feel
bad today. I am not saying that you are especially weak or
immature because you are discouraged. It happens to us
all! But I m saying that there are enough Bible promises,
and enough of the Holy Spirit of God, and enough of the GOD of
all comfort TO MAKE US ENCOURAGED AND UPLIFT US ALL if we would
just believe what They've said to us and lean on them!
I am not going to sit around for days and
have a "pity party," when I can get up ... dust off the seat of
my pants ... meditate on a Scripture or two ... lean on the
Almighty God who created this universe and saved my soul ...
and shout GLORY!
I intend to "BE COMFORTED!" (You all
may have to preach this back to me some day next week or next
month! Thank God for what is available to us through our
dear Savior, our Advocate. That word "advocate" means
comforter! It is in Greek paraclete!)
I feel encouragement and strength flowing
from HIM to me even as I write this note on Friday morning at
1:00 AM in a motel room in Kimball, Tennessee!
I pray this helps someone today!
(Someone besides just me.)
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 7:
In past days we have looked at the meaning
for the Greek word "comfort." (The columns are still on
the page here if you care to review.)
Today I want to give you the English word
"comfort." It comes to us from Latin. It is two
words (a preposition and a noun) fused together. "Com" is
Latin "cum" and means "with." "Fort" is Latin "fortis" and
means courage or strength." (As in FORTitude! Or an
army FORT!) When we say that the Holy Spirit gives you
comfort, we do NOT mean that He simply pities you or wipes your
tears. (He does that ... but He does so much more!)
He actually "com + forts" you! He comes to you (para +
clete!) and shares with you the very STRENGTH, COURAGE,
FORTITUDE of God Himself!
The COMFORTER (Holy Spirit) really
empowers you to face life with all its hurts and trials and
pressures! Wow! What a blessing to know!
Remember, not only is the Spirit our
Comforter! God the Father is the God of all COMFORT!
And God the Son is the ADVOCATE, Which is the word Comfort also!
And the Scriptures give us COMFORT (Rom. 15:4) as well!
We have strength available today! Let's
"tap" into it and live for God!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 6:
It seems the Lord gives me one more new
thought each day for these "Comfort" pages! I thank Him
for it.
In Acts 4:36 we meet a new man in
Scripture. His name is Barnabas. Here's what the
Bible says about him: "And Joses,
who by the Apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being
interpreted, THE SON OF CONSOLATION,) a Levite, and of
the country of Cyprus."
That word "consolation" is "paraclete" in
Greek! You know what that means by now! Nearly every time you see this man in
Scripture, he is encouraging someone! Here in our verse,
where we first meet Barnabas, he is selling his land and giving
the money to the church. What an uplifting thing to do!
(At least if you were hungry and that money helped feed you and
your family, you would be encouraged!)
If we had time we would look at each
appearance of Barnabas and soon we would see that he was gifted
as an "exhorter." The word simply means to uplift or help.
Here's my point. There are certain
believers whom the Lord equips to be "comforters" to His people.
Barnabas types are still around today!
Let me make a suggestion to anyone who may
be going through a time (maybe even an extended time) of
discouragement or depression. FIND AN EXHORTER, A
COMFORTER, A PERSON GIFTED IN UPLIFTING GOD'S CHILDREN ... and
spend time around them!
You know as well as I do that some folks
(if you're around them much) will just further discourage you!
But others (praise the Lord) are the very opposite.
They always seem to be able to share strength and joy with
whomever they meet!
I'll guarantee you that down at the church
you attend God will have someone who can be an uplifting
influence in your life! (A bit of advice here: This
works best if men encourage men and ladies encourage ladies!)
Even if the Pastor is going to do the exhorting (and a lady is
involved) insist that his wife be present as well! No need
to complicate the problems, is there?
You might be saying, preacher, I don't
doubt what you're telling me ... BUT I know of absolutely NO ONE
who can help me.
Well, then ... this is the next course of
action. PRAY that God will bring a sister or brother into
your life who can be a source of strength and encouragement!
God does answer prayer! By the way, give Him time to
answer!
Next, if the problem is that severe, READ
these "Comfort" pages every day! They will be loaded with
Scripture and (as we saw yesterday) Scripture gives us strength
and comfort! In fact, if no friend is available at all ...
stay with the notes here. (Or go to the Christian book
store and get a volume or two on encouragement. That can
help.) If you can't find anything, e-mail us. We
will recommend something to you. Several books come to
mind (in all price ranges).
One last thing, if nothing else works may
I remind you that David "encouraged himself" in the Lord!
The verse I'm alluding to is found in 1 Samuel 30:6. God
can teach you how to do that. (If you learn ... you'll be
like a car! You'll carry your own battery pack to get you
started and your own generator to keep you going!)
All I'm trying to say is that we're
concerned about you and want to help you be encouraged!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 6:
I am excited today
about the verse the Lord has shown me!
It
is found in Romans 15:4 and uses the specific words:
"The Comfort of the Scriptures!"
Here's the whole verse:
"For whatsoever things were written
aforetime were written for our learning, that we through
patience and COMFORT OF THE SCRIPTURES might have hope."
What a verse!
That word
"comfort" is our old friend "paraklesis" again! (See the
Sunday, Nov. 2nd article below!) We can get comfort from
God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit and (now)
EVEN FROM THE SCRIPTURES!
But
preacher, how can I get help and strength and companionship (all
3 are definitions of that word paraklesis) from the Scriptures?
Just think!
How many of the Psalms begin with the writer discouraged (or
even depressed)? In some of the Psalms David is fearful or
in danger or fleeing from Saul! In some he is even angry
it seems! There are even a few chapters in Psalms where
the author is hurting (physically at times and emotionally at
times)!
But in
every case (without exception except maybe once) by the time you
reach the END of the Psalm something has happened! What?
They have been "helped" by the very Scriptures the Holy Spirit
led them to write!
I am
telling you there is POWER in the Word of God to comfort a
downcast soul (or heart or man or lady)!
Scripture
can "exhort" says Paul. (2 Timothy 3:16) By the way,
"exhort" is a verb form of our noun here ... paraklesis!
May I offer
you a suggestion today? In fact, I'll think I'll take a
dose of my own "medicine" here! GET INTO THE SCRIPTURES
AND READ AND READ AND READ!
I heard a
preacher say once: "For every SIGH (heartache) ... there
is a PSALM!" Just maybe that is so!
I used to
have a little "habit" when I was discouraged. Let me tell
you about it. When the old devil hit me with both feet and
knocked me over with depression or defeat ... I would get my
Bible and begin reading (guess where?). Yes! In the
Psalms! AND I WOULD (THAT DAY) READ EVERY PSALM IN THE
BOOK. There are 150 of them! It would take a while
... but without fail ... my depression would vanish! My
discouragement often was transformed into excitement about the
things of God! It was like a tonic for my spirit!
(I really
think that when the devil sees that discouragement is going to
DRIVE you to the Scriptures, he will "back off" and try
something else in your case! His last desire is to put you
in the MIDDLE of the Bible!)
And it does
not HAVE to be just the Psalms. There's a whole Bible
filled with encouragement available to each of us! (1189
chapters!)
WOW! This
has been a help to me today! (And I pray it will uplift
someone else too!) That's why these pages are here!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 4:
I don't know today exactly your heart's condition! You
may be worried. You may be fearful. You may be
lonely. You may be none of the above ... but something
even worse. BUT I DO KNOW THIS ... there is a God in
Heaven ... and HE KNOWS exactly what you're going through today!
He not only knows ... HE CARES!
He cares so much that He sent His Son to
this old world! Jesus came to (and now I am going to quote
Isaiah 61:1 where Jesus says):
"HE HATH SENT ME TO BIND UP THE
BROKENHEARTED ... TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES ... TO
COMFORT ALL THAT MOURN!" The word "brokenhearted"
contains the idea of being "crushed!" (Anybody reading
this been "crushed" by the problems you face?) Jesus can
"bind you up!" That verb means to "heal!" The word
"captives" means "taken away!" Has something happened to
you that has literally changed your world? (Taken away
your family or job or hearth, etc.?) And the word "mourn"
comes from a Hebrew root verb meaning "to cry, to wail out loud
in grief or pain!" And Jesus came to comfort you in such
hurting! What can Jesus do for me, preacher?
Oh, the answer is in our verse! He will (Isaiah 61:3)
"give beauty for ashes! oil of joy
for mourning! the garment of praise for the spirit of
heaviness!" (Wow! What a trade!) Stay
with Jesus! Lean on Him! Cry out to Him today!
Cry your tears in His Presence! Tell it all to Jesus!
He offers you a trade! Take it! Lean on Him!
And ... when He does just what He said He
would do (AND HE WILL) ... do this one thing for Him:
THANK HIM! GIVE HIM THE GLORY! And God will be
honored!
How can Jesus do all that? By means
of the fact that He died on the Cross. He shed His
Precious Blood to save us from our sin. He has become our
High Priest now in heaven (at the Right Hand of God) and is
praying for us this very moment!
Accept His comfort!
You'll find Him REAL and TRUE to His Word!
Goodness! I'm feeling better
already!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 3:
We discussed here
Friday that one of the "key" Bible words for "comfort" is
the little Greek term "paraclete."
We learned that it
meant "one called alongside to help and strengthen!"
I just can't tell you
what an encouragement that "word picture" has been to me through the years! When I am
disheartened (or even depressed) I just remember that the Lord
is there by my side. His Arm around me! His Strength
upholding me! His Eyes upon me! His Hands defending
me! (WOW!) But ... this week I saw
something about this "paraclete" thing that I've never realized
before!
*
Scripture calls God the Father our
"Comfort!" (Paraclete) 2 Corinthians 1:3
*
Scripture also calls God the Son
our "Comforter!" (Advocate = Greek "Paraclete")
That's in 1 John 2:1 where we're told that if we sin, Jesus is
our Advocate! The word Advocate is the word Paraclete!)
* And
Scripture calls God the Holy Spirit
our "Comforter!" (Paraclete) In fact, "Comforter" is
one of Jesus' favorite Names for the dear Holy Spirit. And
that very word "Comforter" is translated from the Greek noun "paraclete"!
(John 14:16 and 26! Plus John 15:26 and John 16:7)
Do you realize what that
means? Everywhere I go today, the Godhead (Trinity)
is with me! God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is "paracleting"
me! (Going with me by my side! Helping me!
Strengthening me! Whispering in my ear!)
Glory be to God!
Now ... there's some
encouragement! I just believe that will help anybody!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 2:
Isaiah 40:1 says:
"Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith
your God." What a verse this is! It has
undoubtedly given help to multitudes through the years!
The verb "comfort" above
means (in Hebrew) "to sigh, to breathe strongly" ... then it
comes to mean "to console, to pity."
This alone proves that God
is the God Who CAN provide whatever we need in our times of
trial and heartache. (God cares! His desire is to
minister to us in times of need!) The verb "comfort" is in
the imperative mood. That means it is a command! God
literally commands Isaiah to "comfort" the people of God!
(God never commands something unless it is in His will to do it!
If God commands it, He WILL give the power to do it!)
Just think! One of
the "jobs" of a preacher is to help "comfort" God's hurting
people! By the way, if you are indeed in a time of sorrow
or pain today ... by all means you must go to church tomorrow!
Sit under the voice of a man of God as he opens the Bible and
preaches words of comfort to discouraged souls! He is
under a command to "comfort" you! His very ministry is
designed to help YOU in YOUR TIME OF NEED! Go let that
preacher help!
The verb "comfort" also in
the "piel" stem (Hebrew). That means that it is intensive
active (voice). This comfort from God (through one of his
messengers) is to be vigorously administered.
"Comfort the hurting with all the strength you have" ... God
charges Isaiah!
And just HOW is that to be
done? What is it that comforts the downcast? Well,
the rest of Isaiah answers that question. The answer is JESUS!
This last section of Isaiah (chapters 40-66) is full of
references and prophecies and descriptions of the Lord Jesus
Christ! After all, HE IS OUR COMFORT! Want a verse
to prove that? Paul supplies it in Ephesians 2:14 where it
is declared of Jesus: "He is our
PEACE!"
If you're in need of help
today, go to Jesus! He is the COMFORTER! He can do
what no other one can!
I'm not trying to be
simplistic! I just know that that preacher who loves God
... and the God who saved him ... can provide the COMFORT you
need today!
I hope this helps "lift"
some dear believer today.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
ARTICLE 1:
This is the very first
article on the "Comfort" page and I am excited about it!
Everyone needs some encouragement ... and a few of us at
any given time are really going through some "down" experience
or some real crisis in our lives. So ... here goes!
The Bible says (in 2
Corinthians 1:3): "Blessed by
God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
Mercies, and the GOD OF ALL COMFORT." Please
notice one of the Names for God: THE
GOD OF ALL COMFORT!
That title is our focus
today! The Greek word for our God of all "comfort"
is "paraklesis." That is a compound noun which means (para
= alongside plus the root verb kaleo = to call or to summon)
Someone Who is come alongside us to help us and to strengthen us
as we walk our daily journeys!
Have I got some good news
for you today, dear "hurting" friend! Someone (the
Almighty God of the universe) is there beside you! He will
not leave you all day! He has that Big Strong Arm of His
around you! (Those are "everlasting arms!"
Deuteronomy 33:27) He want to help you and strengthen you
hour by hour! You are not alone!
Recognize His Presence!
Talk to Him! Ask Him to make you more AWARE that He's
there! Lean on Him! (He's Strong!) Ask Him for
advice! (He promises to give you wisdom for the way!
James 1:5) He will not fail you! Remember ... He's
also has been lonely (Gethsemane)! He's also hurt deeply
(Calvary)! He's knows what it is to be talked about (folks
even said He had a demon)! He is "touched" with the
feeling of your infirmities! (Hebrews 4:15)
Also please notice that
He's the God of ALL comfort! A Pastor may know one kind of
comfort that can help you. Your husband or wife may know
another kind. A counselor may know yet a third type of
therapy. BUT ONLY "ONE" KNOWS ALL COMFORT
THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR YOU ... AND THAT "ONE" IS GOD!
Bow your head! Close
your eyes! Ask Him right now to help you through this!
He can do it ... and He will do it! It's a promise!
Well, I have to go for now.
But the good news is ... HE doesn't have to go!
Remember ... He's by your side! That's the very meaning of
the God of all COMFORT!
I sincerely pray that you have a better day
(to the glory of God) today!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
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