True Supplication

Does God ever put us in situations that are too much for us to handle?

2 Corinthians 1:8–14 ESV

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. 12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. 13 For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand— 14 just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.

A Desperate Situation

2 Corinthians 1:8 ESV

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.

Paul believes in transparency

Paul speaking to the church here brings up their affliction

Paul mentions the depth of their struggle

They were burdened beyond their strength

Greek word Bareo means they were weighed down

They were carrying a heavy load with the weight of their struggle

They were absolutely beyond their means

Why does God allow His people to be pushed beyond their means?

When we are pushed beyond our earthly means we become reliant on God to support our mission.

We see that is the case here with Paul and Timothy

We do not know exactly what they were dealing with but it is something that they were dealing with painfully

They were being persecuted

They were being pursued possibly at times

They had been imprisoned

They had illness

Their life was hard

Miserably hard

Paul’s plans had to change at times due to these struggles

A Death Sentence

2 Corinthians 1:8–9 ESV

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

Next we see how big of a burden this is

Paul says they were burdened but expounds by saying they felt as if they were going to die

They despaired of life itself

These are strong words from the Apostle

Paul’s despair of life itself would have been a humbling experience for the apostle

To be one of the most well known minsters in the church and then be put in an inescapable situation would have seemed miserable

We know that Paul found the only ending in this was his death.

But we see something different come through the pages of his writing

Paul was obviously still alive and writing to Corinth meaning they had survived

Paul’s death sentence was merely an opportunity to deepen his trust and Hope in the Lord.

This is made obvious by Paul’s statement at the end of verse 9.

How did God use Paul’s growth in this situation to Glorify His name and increase His kingdom?

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Paul quite literally was being obedient to his command to Corinth in his first letter.

Paul is living a life that is reflecting what he is teaching

Paul states explicitly that this time of trouble brought a deeper reliance on the Lord.

Ultimately through his humility about his struggles and need for growth Paul brings glory to the Father

A true example of his teaching to Timothy of being above reproach in 1 Timothy 3 as a minster to the church

A Divine Solace

2 Corinthians 1:10–11 ESV

10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Next we see that Paul rests in a Divine Solace in this situation

Paul recognizes that without God’s provision they would have surely died.

This salvation brought solace to the heart of the Apostle.

He had a deeper sense of peace

He would have also had a deeper sense of understanding of the Lord.

He had a deeper trust in the Lord.

He had a deeper relationship with the Lord.

In this passage we see Paul being humble enough to state areas of struggle in his life

Bold enough to share how God provided and carried through that struggle

Understanding that Paul was willing to share his struggles, why is it important that we share our struggles with the church?

It allows us to rejoice together at the provision of our Father

It deepens the relationship between believers and

One more key factor of Paul's openness is in his requests

A key factor of these verses is Paul’s request for a prayerful help.

Paul knows that prayer goes a long way in the support of the Gospel ministry

Thus he uses this testimony as a further request for prayer for the mission God has called them to.

Paul attributes part of the Lord’s provision to the prayers supplied by the saints

In Ephesus Paul encouraged prayers for each other

Ephesians 6:18–20 ESV

18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 he stated to pray without ceasing

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV

17 pray without ceasing,

The goal of this prayer was in support but Paul gives a different focus at the end of verse 11.

The multitude of people praying for deliverance will ultimately turn into prayers of Thanksgiving bringing even more glory to God.

Paul’s focus through the result of this struggle is to bring glory to the Father

True deliverance by God brings about some of the greatest shouts of Thanksgiving and Praise

The great thing in prayer is to feel that we are putting our supplications into the bosom of omnipotent love.

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A Definite Statement

2 Corinthians 1:12–14 ESV

12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. 13 For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand— 14 just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.

Lastly Paul comes back to the false statements about his apostleship that had been circulating

He does so by making a statement of his goal and purpose in ministry.

Paul starts with a boast which seems counterintuitive to humility.

Paul has one ground to stand on it is his sincerity in the Gospel and his reliance on God throughout his mission.

After explaining the reason behind his struggles Paul expresses a statement of purpose

A statement that is definite in nature

A statement that is purely oriented in a God glorifying ministry and nothing else

Paul is not seeking fame or fortune through this statement

He is seeking to clear his name so that the message of the Gospel will no longer be hindered

Paul is boasting in his constant devotion to the Lord

We also know that Paul calls himself the worst of sinners

When we analyze the boast and the humility we see Paul is proud in the sense of God’s deliverance and his own desire to be obedient to his call

Paul knows he can be confident in his conscience above all things

His actions have portrayed his message

He is Transparent and Open yet Bold and Driven

Paul addresses his issues at Corinth directly so that the issues could be resolved quickly.

Paul got to the point.

In doing so he stated that he hoped the entirety of the church would understand his calling

not just the part that had previously understood

Paul brings up the rapture

The bringing of the Saints together

instead of boasting of self Paul has a desire to boast of each other

To lift each other up in front of the Father

To bring glory to the King through the work of His people

Paul first states that they must understand or acknowledge each others work for the Gospel to be boastful for each other.

Paul sees it necessary to focus on how the Lord is working wherever He is working, not stopping to doubt the Lord’s hand but praise His work!