NOW COMFORT AND EDIFY ONE ANOTHER WITH THIS 2

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” 

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (KJV)

The news of the coming of Jesus has always been news of encouragement and comfort to the Church.

In this same first epistle to the Thessalonians, Paul the apostle used the news of the coming of Jesus as comfort to those whose loved ones had fallen asleep (or died in Christ).

Those who die without Christ have no hope. And this is not the same with the believers. For those who fall asleep in Christ have hope. Therefore, as believers, we don’t become sorrowful as the people are without hope. We comfort one another with this glorious news of the coming of Jesus. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

The ultimate good news of the coming of Jesus is that all believers shall be together with the Lord in a more palpable and experiential way.

The continuous reminder of the coming of the Lord must be comfort to the believers, knowing that we have far greater moments of glorious manifestations of the divine life ahead.

The coming of our Lord is the news that we shall live forever, both those who are alive and those who are asleep in the Lord.

The right testimony and understanding of the blessedness of the coming of our Lord Jesus comforts and edifies the believer.

This comfort and edification are necessary because they strengthen the faith of the believer.

More than ever, believers in today’s world need to have clarity of the testimony of the coming of Jesus. Amidst the increase in deception, spiritual, physical, and psychological attacks against the faith, believers must set their hope not only in the news of the resurrection of Jesus. Believers must be comforted that, as we were made alive and raised together with Christ, even so shall we live together with Him in all eternity.

This is our hope!

And this is our comfort.

In 1 Thessalonians 5, you will find two Greek words translated as comfort.

– “Parakaleō”
and
– “Paramutheomai”

In verse 11, Paul the apostle chose the Greek word “Parakaleō”.
Parakaleō (translated as comfort) means more than to soothe.

It’s made up of two words, “Kaleō” (to call) and “Para” (side of or alongside).
The word literally means to call alongside or to call or summon a person to your side.

The meanings of “parakaleo” include to entreat, to appeal to, to summon, to comfort, to exhort, or to encourage. It means to urge someone to take an action. At the root of this word, conveys the idea of enabling a person to meet some difficult situation with gallantry and confidence.

When Paul the apostle chose this word, in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, he didn’t mean to say as believers, we should soothe one another on the grounds of what the Lord has accomplished.

He was charging the believers to urge one another to act according to the glorious hope of what our Lord Jesus has accomplished and the glorious news of the great day of His coming.

We are to march on through the storms of this world with great confidence of hope. The same word translated as comfort was also translated as “beseech” in Romans 12:1 (King James Version).

Which means to comfort one another is also to beseech one another to take a strong stand in the hope of the coming of our Lord Jesus.

The knowledge of the coming of our Lord Jesus supplies an impenetrable strength as that of a great army to a believer.

These things we have been discussing make you unwavering in your journey of faith. Set your heart on them.

Jesus is coming again, and be comforted (urged) as you continuously shine forth the light of the glory of our Lord Jesus in your sphere.

To believe and walk with the Lord is not an empty fable.

To believe and give attention to fulfill the ministry the Lord has entrusted to you is not shadow boxing. This is the manifestation of your destiny; remain resolute.

Hallelujah!