Heavenly Comfort — Erlo Stegen

Dear Jesus, you who changed the water into wine, we pray that now the same will happen. These are just earthly words that we read and that we speak, but you can, through the Holy Spirit, make every word, every letter alive, that it will be of meaning for us, that it will mean happiness, joy, life for us.

Unity and Consolation in Philippians

In the name of the Lord. Amen. The text for today we find in the letter of Philippians, chapter 2, verses 1 -5. Since you have experienced the consolation in Christ, the inspiration through love, the fellowship through the Spirit, the inner feeling of more and more life, then now make my joy complete by being one in sin, one in love, one in heart, one in striving.

One should not do anything out of selfishness or pride, but in humility one should consider the other higher than oneself. You should not just think of everyone's own interests, but also of those of others.

The same sin should be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, so far. Just a few points I want to talk about in this text. In the beginning we speak of consolation in Christ. The inspiration through love, the fellowship through the Spirit, and then of joy, complete joy.

And that this sin should be in us, which was also in Christ Jesus. Now the first point, the consolation in Christ. The consolation in Christ. What does it mean? Last night there was a black man here. They said he was very, very dirty.

And he wanted to see me. Then they said, no, he can not see me. I do not know where I was. Yes, but he wants to see me. They said it looked like he had not eaten for a long time. He had not washed for a long time.

He was very dirty. He said, no, I have to see that man. I can not leave without having seen him. They asked him, what is it you want to talk about? No, I will not tell you. But I want to see him. Then they said, there is a black employee.

And he can talk to him. Then he said, well, then he will talk to him. And then he talked to him. And he told him his story. He said, the 4th of April I escaped from the trunk. I am in great difficulty.

There are at least 9 major complaints against me. And a white man talked to me. And he said, if you want to receive help, go to Qasizawan. And talk to that man. And he said, why? I escaped from the trunk.

He could not drive a taxi. Then they would see him immediately. And then they would receive him. After all these months, he was on his way to this place. And he said, look, I have to make peace with God.

I am a sinner. And a great sinner. I do not know what will become of me. But I said, as long as I can get out of this place. And talk to that man. I will receive help. And all my sins will disappear. I want to bring everything to light.

And the staff said, it was precious to see. How he healed his life. He healed his life. And said, pray for me. That God will forgive me. That he will clean me with his precious blood. And when he did that.

When I prayed for them. He said, man, I feel so good. The pain is gone. God has forgiven me. My heart is full of joy. Of peace. I found it. What I was looking for. And when they were ready, they said, what else can we do for you?

He said, bring me back to the police as soon as possible. Back to the trunk. I found life. God has made my life. Now I can go back again. Take me to the police right away. Now I have joy. And peace. In my heart.

The Lord has comforted me. He received comfort. Our text begins with, Since you have found comfort in Christ. Is it not wonderful. That a man here on earth. Can experience the comfort of Christ. That's something wonderful.

Paul's Prison Joy and the Comforter

Something wonderful. And when I heard that yesterday. I said, I'll start with that. That's the best. If man experiences that. That's the heavenly comfort. Now this letter. Is written out of prison. Paul was not a thief.

He was not a liar. But. According to the gospel. They put him in the trunk. And here in this letter to the Philippians. He shares them with. Of the circumstances. In which he himself found him. Do you know the circumstances?

Yes. There are many different circumstances. In this world. They reach as far as the east of the west. We do not even know. What for you, Carl. And Suzelle. What the future holds for you. Nobody knows.

What it will be. Of fruit. Tears. And what not everything. But as the English song says. It is comfort for us. And the Lord Jesus, when he said to his disciples. I have to go back. To him who sent me.

Was their hearts. Filled with righteousness. And the Lord saw it. And he said, look. How come your hearts are filled with righteousness? It is better for them. It is advantageous for you. That I go. If I do not go, the comforter will not come.

Look. The comforter that comforts. He will stand by you. He will be with you. Now the black would understand it better. A bride, when she marries, then she cries. She cries. Because it is the end of her father and her mother.

But we white people are different. They are always surprised. They say, how can you young people be so happy when they marry? With us it is the opposite. But we white people also need comfort. Because circumstances can be.

That we are sick. And full. Tired of life. We say, life has no meaning for me anymore. And we know where it ends. But we have a comforter that supports us. Also in difficult times. Now. Paul said to us.

Where he was when he wrote this letter. He was in the trunk. It's not a nice place. It's not where we want to be. It's not beautiful and nice circumstances. But we are surprised. If we read this letter.

What it is about. And what he said to us. He says. May the new life in Christ. What God has given for him. By his grace. And by his faith and obedience. He could overcome in all circumstances. He said, this life.

What he received. Overcome all other things. Bring peace and happiness. Regardless of the circumstances. And that's why he could write. In prison. Oom Langpiet is not here now. But his son is here, Gert.

He said. Always be happy in the Lord. I repeat. Be happy. He did not say if circumstances are good. When the sun shines. And the sun is smiling. No. In all circumstances. Always. Stay in the Lord. That is not the same.

Sometimes it is full of joy. Sometimes it seems beautiful and beautiful. But sometimes there are storms. Can also be sick. Sometimes it is life. Sometimes death. But the life that God has given us. We can always be happy.

Always have joy. Always have peace in our hearts. And he said, I repeat. I do not know how the community felt. To get a letter from Paul. Which led so. And there in the most terrible circumstances. None of us would like.

To experience something like that. And he said. Be happy. Always happy. At all times. Whether it goes well. Or bad. And he said, I repeat. Be happy. Like this black man died. And there the circumstances.

It is not nice circumstances. They let the police come. Five of them came. To get this man. Then they asked him. What is it? What do you want? He said, take me back to the trunk. Where I escaped. And he tells them.

Also the whole story. And the officer. The greatest of them. Says, this is the first time in my life. That I meet something like this. That I experience something like this. This is the first time. I have never experienced anything like this.

It is wonderful. If the gentlemen. So work. And for a person. So can comfort. If we did not know for the gentlemen. Where would we be today? Maybe I would have been dead. I was unhappy. When I was a little boy.

I did not know. What is the meaning of life. When we are with us. When our cousins ​​played. At home. There was a big bunch of trees. And then I said to them. I wish I could be a bunch of trees. Or a dog.

Oh, then one girl said. How come Erlo? I said, look. There the tree. Is cut off. And then it is. The end. Everything is ready. And if I were a dog. Would you kill for me? And that is the end. How happy I will be.

And then the girl laughed. And said, oh. That's why you are a dwarf. I am so happy. That I am a human being. One day I will be like. An angel in heaven. I said, yes. That's how a little girl talks. But I do not understand it.

There was no joy. And fruit in my life. But the consolation of Christ. As the Holy Spirit. Already testifies to us. Wrong things. And we make peace with God. We realize. We have sinned. We have sinned.

Then. The Spirit of God comforts us. The comforter. He said, the blood of Jesus cleanses you. Then we have peace. Joy. And true love. So it is. If we find for the Lord. The comfort of Christ. He died for us.

He turned our sins. And when he turned away the sins. And we have given our lives completely. Although we do not know. What the future holds for us. We know this thing. Nothing will go wrong. Because we are in the hands.

Of the Almighty God. Who is perfect. And those who have love for God. Everything works well. Although it seems wrong. But it works well. This is the best life that a person can live. In this world. Now Paul speaks.

He said. You have experienced the comfort of Christ. If we have not yet experienced it. We do not know what it means. But fortunately there the person. What it has experienced. And then he goes on. And says.

Divine Love and Fellowship in the Spirit

We have the trace of love. The trace of love. We have sung about love. We can have everything. But if we do not have the divine love. Then heaven and hell will change. This is the end of happiness. The end of joy.

But if there is love in our lives. And where we say. I can not help but have love for him. Because he first had love for me. And if he has love for us. Then we have love for him. And not only for him.

Also for each other. If I say. I have love for him. And I do not love my fellow man. Says John the Apostle. Then he lies. And the truth is not in us. The love. And the community. Through the Holy Spirit.

That is what the Lord. Through the Holy Spirit. Can give us. The community. If we do not know it. Sometimes we want to be alone. Or go alone. But. If we know the community of the Holy Spirit. He brings us closer together.

And we become one. When the Spirit of God came. Was the people of one soul. One heart. One spirit. They had the same spirit. It is a foretaste of heaven. And if these things in your life. Is a reality.

I can guarantee for you. And assure. As true as there is a God in heaven. It will be better every day. In your marriage life. They will be more. The love will grow. The community will grow. It will always be more wonderful.

And then. Because the Spirit of God. Does not lead us apart. But closer together. And then inner compassion. And co-existence. Inner. It's not just an external thing. That you smile nicely. But in here.

There is nothing. The inner compassion. And co-existence. The old translation. In Afrikaans. It speaks of the inner tenderness. And distance. The inner feeling. The inner feeling. Connection. Always comes closer to each other.

And. After these points. He said. Then make my happiness complete. Then make my happiness complete. He was in the trunk. He said. You can make my happiness complete here in the trunk. But it's not just.

The happiness of Paul. It was the Holy Spirit. That inspired him. To write it. And ultimately. It's not just the happiness of Paul. The apostle. But God's happiness. That God. The Triune God. Will be happy.

For your lives. It happened a few times. When the Lord Jesus was here on earth. That a voice came down from the blue. And said to the people. That's my son. He makes my heart happy. And so. We must be sure.

That the Father in heaven. Will be happy. We know. Not that he will be sad. But that God in heaven. His happiness. Will be complete. If he looks at us. If he looks at you two. How wonderful it would be.

You are still young. But in your young life. If God. Has happiness. In heaven. You two know. And he says. Then make my happiness complete. By what? By being one. One in love. One of heart. One of soul.

One in striving. It is wonderful. That a man can live such a life in this world. This world of darkness. Darkness. Sin. And we can hardly say the devil's world. Because the Lord has called him. The God of this world.

Although the devil works. But how wonderful. That our Christians. Can live such a life. That shines brighter than the sun. One family among the children of the Lord. One in love. One of heart. One of soul.

One in our feelings. Our will. Our goal. It is wonderful. What God can do. In a man's life. If we give our lives unconditionally to him. And completely give it to him. And he says. In Ephesians. Where it speaks of love.

Christ-Centered Marriage and Keeping Our Eyes on Christ

Men. You must have love for us. As Christ loved the church. The same love that Christ had. The man must have. Then he becomes happy. And of course. The Bible says. The old women must learn from the young women.

How to love a man. God has a work for everyone. Even the old ladies. The young people must learn. How to have love for their man. Now. I am already at the last point. This family. What was in Christ. Also in you.

There the family. There the love. There the spirit. What was in him. Must also be in you. I remember. It is not so immense. I remember. I think that. Exactly 25 years ago. I must have faith. In Zurich.

In Switzerland. That was Walter Mannhardt's faith. And then I said to them. That in Afrikaans. The old Afrikaans translation. Says it. Where it talks about the man and the woman. Says. I said it. With the eye on Christ.

Is that not wonderful. The new translation. Use other words. But the old translation says. The man must be like that. And about the woman. He will leave his father and mother. To his wife. And the woman will be like that.

But I said it. With the eye on Christ. Now. Let your eye. Always be on Christ. Do not take your eye away from Christ. Then things go wrong. So if you drive your car. And you look left or right. You come off the right path.

You can never do it. Keep your eye. On the path. Do not look left or right. Keep your eye. On Christ. Even if you do it. It will go well. And so will you. Keep your eye on Christ. Then circumstances do nothing.

Nothing. That will not be a problem. Even if you married a German-speaking son. That does not matter. They say they are square headed. And this and that. My daughter says. Do not worry. Even if we are with the African-speaking.

The African-speaking man. Is much better than the Germans. Now you got a German. See. But your eye. Keep it on Christ. Then it does not matter. Even if you speak German. Or think in German. Just look at Christ.

And the English can say it well. They say. Get the center right. And the circumference will take care of itself. Do not worry. About the external things. Get the center right. Then everything will be fine.

But if you take your eye away from Christ. You will try. You will try. Later you will be sick of it. Then it will not work. But it is easy. With the eye on Christ. Then marriage is not a problem. Even if it is a German.

And even if it is bare. Does not matter. Do not worry. Just keep your eye on Christ. And you Karl. Do the same. I said. I can guarantee. It will go well. But if you. Do not keep your eye on him. And on these words.

And Karl. You who chose this text. Tie it around your neck. Never forget it. It is one of the bad things in this world. That we forget things that we should not forget. Always keep it. In good and bad days.

Whether it is rain. Or time of drought. Never forget it. Then it will go well. With you. And you will be able to write letters to other people. You will be able to say to them. Be happy in the Lord. At all times.

Then it will be a wonderful life. Karl, do you believe with all your heart. That Suzel is the one. The woman that God has chosen for you. And Suzel, do you also believe that Karl is the man for you. Now.

The Lord. Through the Holy Spirit. Will assist you. He is the Comforter. He will teach you. What you need. And do not mind the circumstances. If you walk with him. It will go well. And the Lord will bless you.

And make you great. Your parents. Grandparents and grandmothers. And far beyond the family boundaries. That is what the world needs. People who are blessed. People who are blessed. And people who are led by the Holy Spirit.

Faithfulness Through Changing Circumstances

Now have you heard. There is good. In human terms. Bad days. Of joy. And heartache. But with God. You will always overcome. It does not matter. The Bible says. He who has money. Must be as if he does not have money.

And who does not have money. Must be as if he is rich. Look how rich I am. See. And I am happy. Good. And this ring. Is an external sign. That you believe it. And the Lord said. These two will be one flesh.

Will be one. And make God's gift. That you will not just be one in flesh. But one in spirit. Every day where you are not one. And the spirit is not. It is a lost day. But. If you are one. In what we have heard.

You will be happy. And the Lord by his grace. When he comes. You so find. If he has other plans. We never know. Anything can happen. Can also happen to me. Although I am without a wife. But still. I enjoy there.

The heavenly life. And is happy. Full of joy. And peace. And joy. And so it must also be with you. And it may be for some time. That he returns. And that we are ready. Let us pray. That the Lord will see for them.

Prayer for a Blessed Marriage

Ladies and gentlemen. The children. They now have for the community. For heaven and earth. Policy that they believe. That they are determined for each other. And that it is your holy will. That they also be one.

In body. Be then with them. Be with them every day. From their lives. To the end. That their married life. A heavenly life will be. A blessed life. A good example. For young and old. That the love. The comfort.

The strength. The happiness. The joy. Always to be seen. That thereby. They will be a great blessing. Not just for the two of them. But. For the rest of the families. And for the rest of the world. Now Lord Jesus.

Your grace. And the love of the Father. And the community of the Holy Spirit. That it is. Their life's fulfillment. That they will survive. And that it will be glorious every day. That they will grow in grace.

And become strong. To you. In the sanctification. Of your holy name. Amen.