3. Mourn over God’s people straying (Luke 19:37-44): they are like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36); God marks those who groan over abominations (Ezekiel 9:4). 4. Mourn with others in their grief (John 11:33-35): “He had no tears for His own griefs, but sweat drops of blood for mine… how marvelous, how wonderful is my Savior’s love for me!” (C.H. Gabriel) Jesus knew the outcome, but still wept (Hebrews 4:15). How we receive encouragement: individually through the Holy Spirit: “Encourager” is His Name (John 16:7,20-22), a Father overflowing with encouragement (II Corinthians 1:3-7); through a church filled with the Holy Spirit: comfort others with the comfort we received (II Corinthians 1:4-6), prophecy (I Corinthians 14:1,3,31), a local expression of Christ’s Body: hearts knit together (Colossians 2:2), encourage each other daily (Hebrews 3:13, 10:25); “Church: where never is heard a discouraging word”.The God who sees: God does not afflict lightly (Lamentations 3:32-33); mourning is not passive; it’s sowing (Psalm 126:5-6); no more death, mourning, or pain (Revelation 21:4); “You keep track of all my sorrows; You have collected all my tears in your bottle; You have recorded each one in your book” (Psalm 56:8). The Comforter Has Come: (Frank Bottome, 1890) O spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found, Wherever human hearts and human woes abound; Let ev’ry Christian tongue proclaim the joyful sound: The Comforter has come! The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come! The Holy Ghost from Heav’n, the Father’s promise giv’n; O spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found — The Comforter has come! The long, long night is past, the morning breaks at last, And hushed the dreadful wail and fury of the blast, As o’er the golden hills the day advances fast! The Comforter has come! Lo, the great King of kings, with healing in His wings, To ev’ry captive soul a full deliverance brings; And through the vacant cells the song of triumph rings; The Comforter has come! O boundless love divine! How shall this tongue of mine To wond’ring mortals tell the matchless grace divine — That I, a child of hell, should in His image shine! The Comforter has come!
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