Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:1–7 ESV

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

At the time of Paul’s writings here we note that others had been undermining his title

They were claiming that Paul’s title was fake due to his sufferings

Paul then writes back to prove to the church that he is the Lord’s sent man for the job

Paul starts with an introduction and a call to unity

Then he moves into comfort which is where we will begin today.

Source of Our Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:3 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

We must understand that the source of our comfort in life only comes from the Lord

If we seek comfort from anywhere else it will fail us

We are told over and over in Scripture that the Lord will never fail us

His comfort will never fail us either

This does come with a need for understanding

Paul gives this understanding through his writings here

The use of the word Father gives us the understanding that God’s comfort is a paternal comfort.

God’s love and comfort is like that of a Father to their child.

He is caring and supporting.

He is there to comfort like a Father because He is The Father.

Why is it important to understand that the comfort God provides is paternal in nature?

Paul’s use of the word “our” gives the understanding that God’s comfort is a personal comfort.

God’s comfort is carefully applied to the individual

God knows what each individual needs in that moment and time

God is there to apply genuine personal comfort to all during their times of affliction.

How is personal comfort different from a distant public comfort?

Being that God is the Almighty Creator of all that means the comfort He provides is a perfect comfort.

God’s perfect comforting nature is always on time

God knows what the soul needs before the soul knows it needs it

This makes God’s love comfort

He knows just what to do and when to do it, all within His perfect plan!

What makes the comfort of God so perfect?

Scope of Our Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:4 ESV

4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Next Paul dives into the scope of our comfort

After recognizing the source we must recognize the parameters around

understanding that we serve a limitless God we also know that He works on a schedule that is not ours

He has a plan that is perfect and it does not line up with our earthly desires or plans

The scope of comfort is direct and never ending but also limited by its understanding

God can comfort through all

God will comfort through all

But we may not recognize it unless we recognize the parameters around his comfort

of which Paul supplies in these verses.

Scripture says that the Lord is the one “who comforts us in all our affliction.”

We know that God is supplying our comfort in all that we endure

His comfort is never ending

comfort does not always come the way we want it!

Acts 9:15–16 ESV

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

Often times we like to think of comfort like that of a warm blanket

something that is there to surround us

something that is there to make us feel good

something that is there to give some type of instant relief

The love of God can meet all of these descriptions

But if someone is going to suffer

that does not mean there will be a sort of instant relief

that does not mean we are always going to feel good. Rather!

The Comfort of God is a comfort of Security in the Lord!

The greatest comfort we could ever feel is that of security!

A feeling of safety or safekeeping

A feeling of protection from harm

The problem is we often try to put God’s comfort as keeping us from all types of harm.

Including earthly or physical harm

This is not the type of Security that God always supplies in comforting His children.

Sometimes our God does keep us from harm and keep us in safe keeping

That is very much something the Lord does for His people!

In fact we see that Paul was saved several times through the mercy of God.

Multiple times Paul should have been killed in the moment by the mobs but God comforted Him and provided a way out.

But as we read earlier in Acts 9 the Lord would show Paul how much he would have to suffer.

This is not protection or security from worldly ailments but instead shows the cost of following in obedience to God’s command.

Instead the Comfort Paul recieved came from a comfort that God has Him secure for all eternity!

Why should we be more comforted by our eternity than our earthly comfort?

Strength of Our Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:4–5 ESV

4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

The strength of this comfort is incredible.

We see Paul give understanding as to how strong comfort can be from the Lord.

The comfort the Lord provides is overflowing!

It can be shown through the believer to the non believer.

It can be shown to the world so that they might experience a Love like we experience in the Father.

Paul shows the strength of our comfort in its ability to overflow from the believer and impact the world.

We are a vessel of God’s Love to the world.

We have the massive duty to allow the Spirit to pour out of us and into the world around us!

The Comfort that we are delivering to the world must first be coming from the Comforter Himself.

God allows us to suffer so that we will run to Him for comfort.

Once we encounter His comfort we in turn are able to comfort others!

Comfort is not something that is always just provided.

God wants us to seek out comfort in Him.

He wants to see our faithful desire for His supplication in our lives.

Let’s go back to the blanket

The comfort of a warm blanket in a cool room or on a cool fall evening on the porch.

The comfort of the blanket is only received because you went and retrieved the blanket in the first place.

You sought out the warmth and comfort the blanket would provide.

We must do the same for the comfort of the Lord!

We must seek out His comfort and allow Him to comfort us.

Just like the blanket

Sitting in our misery or uncomfortable state staring or thinking about the blanket will only make things worse

Instead we need to get up and seek out the comfort that we know is waiting for us!

What is the object of our comfort?

The object of our comfort is the fact that Christ understands our sufferings!

We know that Christ suffered on earth just as we suffer on earth!

He knows what we have been through

He knows how we are tempted.

He knows our personal struggles in life

He is able to comfort us because He has been in our shoes!

Have you ever had someone try to comfort you who had no idea the situation you were in.

They had no idea the emotions or struggles that were battling within your heart

While you appreciated the comfort and more than likely it was slightly helpful

The comfort received from someone who had been through a similar situation is much more comforting!

That is the comfort we have in the Lord!

He has been through what we have been through!

When we suffer like He suffered we are able to be comforted by one who also already encountered and endured!

Significance of Our Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:6–7 ESV

6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

Paul begins to reiterate this understanding

As if he is breaking it down for the church at Corinth.

Paul is giving comfort to the church for the fact that their leaders are being afflicted

They are better able to serve the church because they are being afflicted!

How does being afflicted yourself give more significance to the comfort you supply to others?

Paul then gives more understanding to Corinth

As you share in our sufferings you will better share in our comfort.

Comfort goes as far as the experience of the comforter.

Paul wants the church to recognize the significance of suffering in comparison to comfort.

Without suffering there would first be no need for comfort.

Suffering brings about comforting

The Lord wants us to rely on His comfort

Which means He is going to allow suffering to happen.

Suffering brings about a sense of reliance on the Lord in all of our afflictions!

When have you been better equipped to comfort someone because you first suffered in a similar way?