Finding Comfort for Suffering. The Holy Spirit as Comforter

Finding Comfort for SufferingFinding Comfort for Suffering

The Holy Spirit as ComforterThe Holy Spirit as Comforter

Christians experience sufferingChristians experience suffering


Nowhere does the Bible teach that Christians are exempt from the tribulations and natural disasters that come upon the world. Scripture does teach that the Christian can face tribulation, crisis, calamity, and personal suffering with a supernatural power that is not available to the person outside of Christ.

-Billy Graham

Nowhere does the Bible teach that Christians are exempt from the tribulations and natural disasters that come upon the world. Scripture does teach that the Christian can face tribulation, crisis, calamity, and personal suffering with a supernatural power that is not available to the person outside of Christ.

-Billy Graham


Christians experience sufferingChristians experience suffering


Christians experience suffering

Christians respond to suffering in healthy and unhealthy ways




Two ways to respond to suffering and pain in this world:

Escape

Embrace

Two ways to respond to suffering and pain in this world:

Escape

Embrace


Escapes from pain (unhealthy)Escapes from pain (unhealthy)


Escapes from pain (unhealthy)•Substances (drugs, alcohol, pain meds, etc.)




•Work


•Work



•Work

•Pleasure (food, sex, etc.)


•Work




•Work


•Entertainment (gaming, TV, internet, golf,

etc.)


•Work


•Entertainment (gaming, TV, internet, golf,

etc.)









Christians can find comfort for suffering from the Holy Spirit





15 “If you love me, you will obey my commandments. 16 Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever – 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he resides with you and will be in you.”

John 14:15-17 (NET Bible)

26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father – he will testify about me . . .”

John 15:26 (NET Bible)

7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you.”

John 16:7 (NET Bible)

31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced peace and thus was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the church increased in numbers.

Acts 9:31 (NET Bible)

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will. 28 And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:26-28 (NET Bible)

Contrary to what might be expected, I look back on experiences that at the time seemed especially desolating and painful with particular satisfaction. Indeed, I can say with complete truthfulness that everything I have learned in my 75 years in this world, everything that has truly enhanced and enlightened my experience, has been through affliction and not through happiness.

- Malcolm Muggeridge, in Homemade, July, 1990

Contrary to what might be expected, I look back on experiences that at the time seemed especially desolating and painful with particular satisfaction. Indeed, I can say with complete truthfulness that everything I have learned in my 75 years in this world, everything that has truly enhanced and enlightened my experience, has been through affliction and not through happiness.

- Malcolm Muggeridge, in Homemade, July, 1990









Finding Comfort for SufferingFinding Comfort for Suffering

Documents

Finding Comfort for Suffering. The Holy Spirit as Comforter