A Loving Introduction • 2 Cor 1:3-7

Review & Overview

1. Previous Study’s Review

Last time we were together as we began the book of 2 Corinthians...   

We saw 6 things by way of background & or introduction to the book... the who, what, where, when, why & how of the book

We mentioned that 2 Cor. is a very personal letter & a passionate letter by Paul to the Corinthians to:           Congratulate them for Repenting...        Confirm his Authority & Motive...      &      Confront False Teachers...

We mentioned that chp.1: deals with Paul’s Confidence in God...    which involves many things in chp.1...

We also looked at Paul’s Introduction to the Letter.

We saw that his introduction involved 3 things:

Involved 2 People: Paul & Timothy

Involved All The Saints

Involved Grace & Peace

2. Current Study’s Overview

This brings us to vs.3-11...        &      our study today...   Read...

Last time we looked at 3 things regarding Paul’s Introduction...   today we’ll look at 1 more thing: God’s Comfort & Consolation Vs. 3-7

The words Comfort & Consolation are used interchangeably and are the same greek word...  

This word is used 10 times in these next 5 verses...   comfort, comforts, comforted, consolation...

It’s used either in the verb form:   parakaleo...         or       the noun form:   parakalesis...

para: along side...  

kaleo: to call…

it speaks of being called to come along side of someone...

To help them...    teach them...     encourage them...    correct them...   you can fill in the blank...

We want to look at three things that involves God’s Comfort & Consolation

1. The Person of Comfort & Consolation Vs. 3-4a

2. The Purpose of Comfort & Consolation Vs. 4b-5

3. The Pattern of Comfort & Consolation Vs. 6-7

1. The Person of Comfort & Consolation Vs. 3-4a     

Now look at vs.5... So here we see that God the Father gives us comfort and in Vs. 5 Christ gives us comfort. But it doesn’t end there...

Acts 9:31 NKJV

31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

we receive the comfort of the Holy Spirit. In fact in...

John 14:26 the H.S. is called the Comforter...   

Romans 15:4 NKJV

4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Rom.15:4 we have the comfort of the Scriptures...

APPLICATION: This is important because a lot of people turn to a lot of things to try to find Comfort...   Consolation...

They turn to People...   Power...  Prestige...    but   only a Personal relationship with Jesus Christ can bring true comfort to our hearts and consolation to our souls...    

Matthew 11:28 NKJV

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

ILLUSTRATION: A doctor had to give a painful shot to a four-year-old girl.

When she learned what the doctor was about to do, her face showed her fear and her body tensed.

As the doctor picked up what looked to the little girl to be a needle large enough to kill an elephant, she turned her eyes to her father, who then took her hand and fixed his eyes on hers.

And an expression of confidence and calmness came on her face.

She knew she was not alone and found comfort, not in her father’s spoken answer, but in his presence with her in her time of trial.

APPLICATION: When trials & tribulations come it’s for us in the sense of God trying to do something in us, for us to cling to Him.

So understand, trials & tribulations are for us, it is for our benefit.

2 Cor.4:15 all things are for you sake.  

2 Corinthians 4:15 NKJV

15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Turn w/ me to Romans 5

Tribulations Definition - To inflict pressure or to press together - Speaks of squeezing olives under a huge stone.

Understand, Tribulation is something promised to all of us.

John 16:33 NKJV

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Acts 14:22 NKJV

22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV

12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

and since tribulation is promised by God, what should we do?

We should Glory… Why do we Glory in Tribulations?

Tribulations Produces Perseverance Vs. 3b- Or Patience - Hypomone

Perseverance Produces Character Vs. 4a - This word character means to prove - Proving to someone by demonstration to bring about an approval.

And you know, our true character comes out in Tribulation.

APPLICATION: People who go through tribulation typically act like brats.

But When we glory in tribulations because we know it is positive for us we know God is for us and has a purpose for us.

Character Produces Hope Vs. 4b - When we have the right perspective towards our tribulations we become patient - And when we are patient we have the right character - And when we have the right character we are hopeful.

Why? Because we have our hope in something that is so much bigger and better than anything tribulation.

And guess what!? Look at Vs. 5a Because Hope does not disappoint... 

 James 1:2 count it all joy… Go back...

So God comforts us in all our tribulation not some, but all.

But what does that look like? You may be here asking that question?

I believe that God can bring comfort to us when we are experiencing tough times in life, but what does that look like practically?

If your taking notes I want to give you 8 practical ways the Lord brings us comfort in our tribulation:

1. **Through Prayer & Meditation:** Prayer & Meditation can bring comfort by connecting us with God, fostering a sense of spiritual connection and divine presence.

By Praying & meditating God will provide answers, signs, peace, or simply a sense of release after sharing one's burdens.

2. Through Reading Scripture: Certain passages in the Bible can provide solace and perspective during tough times.

Reading and meditating on them can bring comfort, hope, and a sense of God's compassion and promises.

3. Through Christian Fellowship: Support from a community of fellow Christians can manifest God's love and comfort.

The encouragement, empathy, and prayers from others can be a tangible representation of God's care.

But more on this in a second...

4. Through The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit can provide a sense of help in the midst of tribulations.

In scripture He is called the helper, which btw is the same word for comfort & consolation.

5. Through Divine Signs and Synchronicities: I don’t know about you but I experience comfort through divine signs from God.

For instance, like certain Bible verses continually appearing in unexpected places, or significant “coincidences”.

6. Through Music and Worship: Singing hymns, worship songs, or simply listening to uplifting Christian music can provide emotional release and a sense of God's comfort.

7. Through Personal Reflection and Journaling: Reflecting on one's experiences, writing about them, or expressing gratitude can foster God’s presence, it can bring a sense of comfort and perspective in tribulations.

8. Through Dreams and Visions: You can find comfort and messages in dreams or visions, because it is communication from God.

Now these experiences can be highly individual, and they may not all apply to every Christian.

But the point is that God's comfort can come in many forms and it is always associated with a sense of peace, reassurance, and hope.

2. The Purpose of Comfort & Consolation Vs. 4b-5

There are many reasons for God’s comfort & consolation but we have 2 here.

2.1 To Produce Fruit Vs. 4b

So the more He comforts us the more we can comfort others.

So trials & tribulations are not only for us but also for Others...  Because when we receive God’s Comfort we then can bring that same Comfort to others...   

no matter what they’re going through...   because   it’s not about the Tribulation...    It’s about the Comfort...

APPLICATION: We all understand what people mean when they say, you don’t know what I’m going through because you’ve never gone through it...           &       while that may be true, it doesn’t matter...

Because God’s Comfort is for ALL our tribulations...  

it doesn’t matter if I’ve experienced your trial or not...     because God’s Comfort is the same for every situation...  for every trial...  &  tribulation...

2.3 Involves The Root Vs. 5

The more we suffer, the more God comforts us.

God the root of our comfort, He comforts us because of the tribulation we go through...

If you’ve not yet experienced great tribulation, be patient because you will...       it’s promised by Jesus...    

John 16:33 NKJV

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

APPLICATION: Praise God that no matter what we’re going through...   no matter what trial we’re experiencing... 

The God of all comfort comforts us...      in all our tribulations...    not most...    but    all... 

Now this doesn’t necessarily mean that the tribulation will come to an end...  

but  it does mean in the midst of trails God will Comfort us...         &      enable us to get through it...

You know, in our universe there is a phenomena or universal law called “the law of conservation”

ILLUSTRATION: Ecosystems: always have predators and prey. In nature, ecosystems often demonstrate a delicate balance.

For example, predator-prey relationships, where the number of predators and their prey usually balance each other out.

If the prey population increases, the predators will have more food, causing their population to increase.

However, this will then decrease the prey population, causing the predator population to decrease as well, and so on.

ILLUSTRATION: Water Cycle: The water cycle is a global-scale demonstration this balance.

It involves evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.

If evaporation increases due to higher temperatures, we often see more rainfall, which then replenishes the body of waters from which the water originally evaporated.

APPLICATION: Same w/ God’s comfort and our tribulation.

3. The Pattern of Comfort & Consolation Vs. 6-7

3.1 Involves Paul’s Example Vs. 6

Paul offers his own experiences as an example of this beautiful principle.

In Vs. 6 he says when he is afflicted not only does he receive comfort but the readers of this letter does too.

As the Christians witness Paul endure pain, suffering, and tribulation because of God’s comfort.

Others can also be comforted by the fact the someone simply is enduring.

Understand Paul went through a lot of suffering. Turn w/ me to...

2 Corinthians 11:23–28 NKJV

23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

In spite of all that tribulation, pain, and suffering Paul endured, why? Because of God’s comfort.

APPLICATION: It brings comfort to us when we see a fellow brother or sister in Christ overcome and endure tribulations.

Because it gives us hope that we too can endure and that our faith in Christ is not in vain.

3.2 Involves Paul’s Hope Vs. 7

Paul’s hope for those who experience tribulation, pain, and suffering is for them to be steadfast.

When we Experience tribulation we should remain steadfast knowing that God will get Us through the trial &     get Us to the other side...

ILLUSTRATION: Jesus told the disciples to get into a boat & said in Luke 8:22 let us cross over to the other side... 

then came a great storm, the disciples woke up Jesus and said Master do You not care that we are perishing...  

You see They didn’t listen to Jesus:  He didn’t say, I hope we make it to the other side...  

no, let’s cross over... They didn’t follow the example of Jesus:    He was sleeping...    very comfortable...             They didn’t think that their journey would have a storm...  

APPLICATION: Why? Why, will we get through the trial? Why will we make it to the other side? Because of God’s comfort & consolation.

ENDING....