God calls us to comfort everyone with his Word!

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God" (Is 40:1). In Is 40: 9 we are told what the comfort is:  You who bring good news to Zion, say to the towns of Judah: “Here is your God!”

Those who come face-to-face with death, their own death and the death of a loved one need to hear: “Here is your God!”

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God" (Is 40:1). Those who suffer as a result of life threatening decease have to hear these words:  Your God is here!

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God and your God is here" (Is 40:1, 9).

These words must be heard today by those who suffer because of broken marriage and family relationships. Young men and women who get married with so many dreams and excitement and then have to leave the marriage with pain, anger and disappointment, need to hear. And it needs to be heard by the children from these broken marriages.

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God" (Is 40:1). The victims of abuse need to hear these words. Women and children who suffer behind closed doors, because of physical, sexual and emotional abuse! Orphans and widows, and child headed families, aunts and grannies looking after orphaned children and are crying for help and support need to hear:  Your God is here!

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God" (Is 40:1). It must be heard by those who live with unemployment and those who experience financial loss.   It needs to be heard by those who are robbed and financially abused. Your God is here!

Listen to the Word of God:

Your God is here!

God is coming to you

and his coming means that he will grant you comfort.

You are not alone, anymore....

Because your God is here.

God is your refuge.

His grace will comfort you through faith in Jesus Christ which is a gift of his Holy Spirit.

Depression

Psalm 73: 26: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

“My flesh and my heart may fail" defines depression, meaning unhappiness, sadness, hopelessness and misery. There are three parts to this little phrase.

"My flesh" – there is a physical component to despondency. The body weakens, there are aches, pains, fatigue and eventually the risk of serious illness as a result of constant misery – ulcers, strokes, heart decease – and there always is exhaustion.

Secondly, "and my heart" - there is an emotional-spiritual dimension to despondency. We feel discouraged, depressed, gloomy and burned out.

Thirdly, there is this word, "fail." It means to come to your wits end and be depleted of resources.

Is it a sin to experience despondency?

Under sad and hopeless circumstances it is no sin to feel despondent. Many of the exemplary believers in the Scriptures experienced deep and dark depression and even hopelessness. Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow in Gethsemane.

What is wrong is to yield to despondency, to refuse to fight it and to think that God cannot reach you in that dark space – or to believe that God cannot change your broken heart into a source of gladness and joy!

The most important 2 words in this verse are: "But God...Psalm 73:26 contains this truth: "My flesh and my heart may fail": And then comes the counter attack: “but God.”

“But God”.  God is the strength of my life.

God is my portion forever!

Depression can be the result of many circumstances  - but faith comes from one place only. It comes from the willingness to say: “but God.” But God can fill me with gladness again.

Tithing: a burden or a blessing?

Have you ever thought of tithing as a burden forced on you by God? Let me correct you this morning.  Tithing is the result of a humble and grateful vow to God for anticipated, prayed for, blessings.

Tithing is a privilege, a way to give thanks which will always be insufficient considering all we receive from God. Tithing is a way of saying to God: “I trust you, my Lord, my only Hope and Provider.”

When tithes are used well, they sustain your minister and your congregation’s ministries and monthly expenses.  It provides for reaching out to those in both material and spiritual need. It helps to evangelize the world, and rescue the lost from eternal judgment.

Tithing is an ordinance of God that fills us with joy and makes us love God more, because it reminds us that before we give to Him, He has given us everything we have.

After all, the Bible says that God loves a cheerful giver.   2 Corinthians 9: 7.

Are you tithing?

Without God’s material blessings we will have nothing!  Should we not gratefully respond by saying to our Lord – “I put my trust in you and will therefore give first to you, my ever-loving Lord, from what you have given me, to gratefully glorify your Name for your provision and to maintain your work for the salvation of many!”

May the Lord change our hearts and minds; because only through our obedience in this will Biblical, God-fearing churches and ministries survive the financial challenges we all face during these daring times!