Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

Two examples of mutual comfort …

I. THE

COMFORT PAUL.

A. Because their faith is

.
1 Thessalonians 3:6a
But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love.

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

B. Because their

of Paul are positive.
1 Thessalonians 3:6b
He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.

C. Because their

encourages Paul.
1 Thessalonians 3:7
Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.

1 Thessalonians 3:8-9
For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?

3 John 3-4
It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

II.

COMFORTS THE THESSALONIANS.

A. By praying for their

.
1 Thessalonians 3:10
Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

B. By praying for their

.
1 Thessalonians 3:11
Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.

C. By praying that their

would increase.
1 Thessalonians 3:12
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

D. By praying that their

would increase.
1 Thessalonians 3:13a
May he strengthen your hearts…

E. By praying that their

would increase.
1 Thessalonians 3:13b
…so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

III. CONCLUSION

Q: Would Paul be comforted by your

?

• please note: all verses are from the New Internation Version 1984 (NIV84)