The Comforter Abides
Last Sunday I was honored to preach at Emory Pike American Christian church. I had an appointment to preach there since June 15th. I really struggled with the perfect message to bring. I prayed from the moment I was invited until the moment I stepped behind the podium in the pulpit. The Sunday morning I was to preach, I woke up very early feeling so discouraged. I guess it was the devil trying to mess with me. He was making me doubt my ability to stand and preach the Word. It kept running through my head, "you are going to be a miserable failure today." As I studied and prayed, a song starting going around in my head, "The God Of All Comfort."
1. When angry storms around me rage, and life's greatest trials I must face. My ship is tossed seems all would be lost. Then the God of all Comfort, speaks peace to my soul.
Chorus: When the God of all comfort, speaks peace to my soul. The seas are calmed, the winds cease to blow. No matter how dark may be the night, everything will be alright. When the God of all Comfort speaks peace to my soul.
2. When a broken heart, leaves me hurting inside, and like rain my tears fall through the night. His voice I hear, there's not reason to fear. When the God of all comfort speaks peace to my soul.
That song is on a CD that my sister Jennifer gave me a couple of years ago, of the New Manna Youth Choir. I guess I've listened to it a thousand times but that particular song had never spoke to me like it did that morning. I kept praying for the God of all Comfort to come to me. I prayed and said, "Lord, it is only through you that I'll be able to stand and preach today. I am asking for your comfort," and I left it at that.
When we arrived at Emory Pike, as soon as I stepped in the front door I could feel God's presence. I was still nervous but kept praying for the Comforter. I joined in the choir singing and they sang a song that I haven't sang in years, page 184 in the Church Hymnal, He Abides. All four of the verses end, speaking of the Comforter:
1. Yes, the secret all is this: That the Comforter abides with me.
2. And there came a peace so sweet, Now that the Comforter abides with me.
3. Jesus satisfies my soul, Since the Comforter abides with me.
4. All my burdens rolled away, Now the Comforter abides with me.
I only made it through the first verse of the song before breaking down and crying. I could feel the Comforter, so strongly that it was if He was holding me in His embrace.
Later, as I stood behind the pulpit to bring the message, I read from John 14 where Jesus speaks of the Comforter:
"15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."
Oh how that passage of Scripture gave me comfort and peace. Our God is so marvelous and wonderful. We don't deserve one single blessing that He gives us, but he gives them to us anyway. Can you imagine having as much love as Jesus has? I pray that God would give me just a portion of that much love for others. I am so thankful for the Comforter.
When we arrived at Emory Pike, as soon as I stepped in the front door I could feel God's presence. I was still nervous but kept praying for the Comforter. I joined in the choir singing and they sang a song that I haven't sang in years, page 184 in the Church Hymnal, He Abides. All four of the verses end, speaking of the Comforter:
1. Yes, the secret all is this: That the Comforter abides with me.
2. And there came a peace so sweet, Now that the Comforter abides with me.
3. Jesus satisfies my soul, Since the Comforter abides with me.
4. All my burdens rolled away, Now the Comforter abides with me.
I only made it through the first verse of the song before breaking down and crying. I could feel the Comforter, so strongly that it was if He was holding me in His embrace.
Later, as I stood behind the pulpit to bring the message, I read from John 14 where Jesus speaks of the Comforter:
"15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."
Oh how that passage of Scripture gave me comfort and peace. Our God is so marvelous and wonderful. We don't deserve one single blessing that He gives us, but he gives them to us anyway. Can you imagine having as much love as Jesus has? I pray that God would give me just a portion of that much love for others. I am so thankful for the Comforter.
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