16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” (2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 (ESV)
A SERMON DELIVERED BY C. H. SPURGEON AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON ON THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 15, 1888.
Now let me turn the text around the other way. I think that these two things are put together because establishment in word and work is so necessary for our comfort. I said we must be comforted that we might be constant in the service of God, now I put it that we must be constant in the service of God that we may be comforted. God does not give His dainties to idlers. He has choice secrets into which He does not admit everybody, or even all of His own family.
When we are diligent in His service, and all our powers are fully consecrated to Him, then He gives us gracious rewards, not of debt, but according to the discipline of His own house, wherein He honors the faithful, and chastises those who are negligent. Now, beloved, you will miss your comfort when you begin to neglect your work.
I know how it used to be with the boys at home. In cold weather they huddled round the fire, almost sat on the fire, it was so cold that they could not tell how they would live through the bitter winter, but when Father came in, he said, “Now, you boys, set to work, and clear away that snow, don’t sit here idle, go and do something,” and they came in with ruddy cheeks, and somehow or other the temperature seemed to have altered considerably, for they were quite warm from their exercise.
I do think the best thing that could happen to some men would be that they might have something to do. I do not find much about depression of spirit in the journals of Mr. Wesley, or Mr. Whitefield, and men of that sort, who spent themselves in the Lord’s service. The fact is, the Lord seemed to carry them on from one work to another, and from strength to strength in their service, and they were comforted as to their hearts because they were established in every good word and work.
These things act and react one upon another, the comfort makes us work, the work brings to us a fresh measure of comfort. See how even the Savior puts it. He says, “Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” That is the first rest, pardon of sin. What next? “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” That is another rest over and above what Jesus gives. “Through bearing my yoke, you shall find in my service rest unto your souls.” God grant us grace to seek that rest which we are to find, now that we have received the rest which Jesus gives to those who come unto Him!
I have not yet fully answered this question—Why is there the conjunction of these two things, comfort and constancy? I think it is because the two blended together serve a very useful purpose. We are in this world to bear witness, and by our bearing witness we are to bring others to faith in Christ through the operation of the Holy Spirit. Now, there are some people who are only to be won for Christ by the holy confidence and comfort of believers. I am sure that, if a Christian woman, in the time of affliction at home, is calm, patient, resigned, and happy, she is more likely to see her husband converted by the comfort that religion brings to her own heart than by taking him to hear a sermon. By her Christian character, she will preach to him, and supply him with evidence of the power of grace which he will not be able to gainsay.
I have known persons, in a storm at sea, exercise great influence over all in the vessel by the way in which they have been able to live above the storm, resting patiently in God, and in times of personal sickness, what a wonderful influence there is about holy patience! Some members of the family, who never have been moved by the external services of religion, have been deeply impressed by the patience of great sufferers, and especially by the serenity of dying saints. They have said to themselves, “There is something in this religion, after all, there is no mistake about it, the grace which could support and calm the heart at such a time as this, must be the gift of God.”
Now, if this were accompanied by idleness, it would lose much or all of its force, but when this holy calm comes over one who, in days of health, was full of active service for the Master, then the two things together become powerful arguments which gainsayers are not able to resist. Do seek to have this blessed blending, this comfort, like a light that burns within the lamp, and then this establishment in word and work, like the rays of light that stream from the lantern at the head of the lighthouse, that all may see, both far and near. And I should like to give one other answer to this query, which is this. Paul in his prayer puts the two things together, because there is great need for both.
There is great need to pray that our Father would comfort the hearts of His people, for there is trouble enough in the land, there is trouble enough in every house, there is trouble enough for each one of us, we do need you to often pray for us, that God would comfort our hearts.
More to come. May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 