Lesson series ▪ 2001 Tags: 2 Corinthians; Ministry; Paul; Suffering; Comfort Excerpted from Paul on Ministry: Lessons from 2 Corinthians Related Resources: The Source of the Believer’s Hope: An Analysis of Romans 8:26-39; Spiritual Maturity through Affliction: Insights from Psalm 119 Objectives
Text (NKJV)3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, IntroductionLife can be very uncertain. One thing is certain, however, and that is that we will face problems as long as we are in this life. You can probably identify one or more areas of difficulty in your personal and family life. In fact, the New Testament tells us that suffering plays a significant part in the Christian experience. Peter devoted much of his first epistle to a discussion of suffering (e.g., 2:18ff). Paul told Timothy that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3:12). Elsewhere he referred to his own experience of absorbing “in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church” (Col 1:24). How can something that is so bitter and unbearable be associated with positive outcomes? Why does God subject His children to affliction? Suffering is a major theme of the book of 2 Corinthians. Today we will focus on a particular passage (1:3-11) that reveals four distinct purposes in our problems. Receiving God’s Comfort (1:3-5)God wills for us to experience “tribulation” (thlipsis: oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress) so that we can better know Him. We could not truly appreciate Him as “the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort” without being delivered from certain depths of pain. We are called to become acquainted with Christ’s “sufferings” (pathema: suffering, misfortune, calamity, evil, affliction) (cf. Phil 3:10) so that we can experience the blessing of His “comfort” (paraklesis: encouragement, consolation, comfort, solace). Trusting in God’s Comfort (1:8-10)
God intends for us to learn to trust Him more through suffering. When
circumstances betray us--when we come to the end of our rope--we are more
likely to recognize Him as the only One whose grace is sufficient for our needs
(cf. 2 Cor 12:9-10). Paul experienced such a dark time in Asia that he was
certain he would lose his life. He was completely overwhelmed, and in the midst
of his uncertainty he learned to trust God for deliverance. Offering Christian Comfort (1:4, 6-7, 11)
God’s plan for suffering includes other Christians as well. One important
reason why God allows us to experience trouble is that it prepares us to
minister to others who are undergoing similar difficulties. Therefore, we
should see both affliction and comfort as means of administering “consolation
and salvation” to others. One of the ways we can help to comfort those who
suffer is by lifting them up in prayer. Receiving Christian Comfort (1:4, 6-7, 11)If God is willing to use us to minister to others in their time of need, He certainly plans to use them to encourage us when we are down (cf. 1 Cor 12:26). There is a mutuality about the issue of suffering. Though Paul’s suffering was directed at the Corinthians’ spiritual growth, they contributed to his consolation by praying for him. ConclusionSalvation is no guarantee of a painless life. In fact, we are assured that following Christ will involve a share of difficulty. However, we can be certain that God does not recklessly subject us to suffering. Tribulation always has a purpose--in fact, several purposes. Apart from suffering we could neither know the fullness of God’s grace; learn to trust Him implicitly; or minister to others as God desires. Yes, you will encounter hardships as you live for the Lord. Learn to seize the riches of His comfort, and share them with others who are under the burden of suffering. |