God of All Comfort

Sunday, July 7, 2024

God of All Comfort

Introduction

Good Morning, my name is Shawn. I am the family pastor and one the elders here at First Grace. If you are guest, thank you for coming. I want to be honest with you, we are in a bit of a transition which is always hard for any church. I would like to request that you not give up on us. This is a fantastic church full of great people. At least in the short term, I will be walking us through 2 Corinthians. I chose this book because it, more than any other New Testament book, seemed to provide perspective in the midst of difficulty.

Kids/teens, if you have one of our Sermon Notebooks, I have titled this sermon “God of All Comfort”

Our big idea is this: God comforts us so that in Christ we would comfort others and set our hope in him.

Today, we are going to be in 2 Corinthians 1:1-11. I am uncertain what will happen, but I like to move through books because it allows us to see what the Spirit is saying through the author to Christ’s church in context. For some quick background, 2 Corinthians is a letter of reconciliation between Paul and the churches in the Roman province of Achaia and especially in Corinth its capital. They were going through some tough stuff, there was sin, false teachers, doubts about Paul, divisions, it was just hard. After a couple of letters, and a rough visit or two, the Corinthians realized the mistakes they had made and wanted to reconcile. They sent a letter to Paul, and this is his reply.

2 Corinthians 1:1–11

Prayer: Our Father, thank you for your Word. Thank you that we have the ability and ease as to be able to read it whenever we want. We can discuss it openly because we have a measure of security which some of our brothers and sisters could only dream. In the name of Jesus, I request you guard our hearts from callousness and complacency. Help us to take the whole of your word into account, and I ask that you bless the hearing of your word. I ask, finally, that you be with me that I might serve you well as I attempt to explain this text and apply it to this church. May your Spirit move among us to your glory honor and praise.

Main Idea: God comforts us so that in Christ we would comfort others and set our hope in him.

First, God Comforts us

Paul and Timothy begin their letter to Corinth and the Roman province of Achaia with his standard greeting, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” He then continues into his letter. Paul opens by blessing the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ because he is the father of mercies and God of all comfort. This is important because he is the one who comforts us when we are in the midst of all of our affliction; as in he is the source of all comfort.

This is a good place to say it is a little unclear who “we” are in this section. In some ways it appears as though Paul is referring to himself and his companions who have been afflicted as they have endeavored to take the gospel to the gentiles. However, there is also a universal sense to the way he uses the word “we,” at least in the first few verses. In a way, what he seems to be articulating is this: it is true of Paul and the other apostles, and it is true for the Corinthians, it is true for you and it is true for me. Later, he seems to shift speaking specifically about himself and his companions. I will point that out when we get to it. In verse 3, Paul calls God the father of mercies

What is mercy in this context? As one person (whose name I couldn’t pronounce) describes: “Mercy is the compassion and relief which is administered to those who are in misery. God is not said to be the Father of mercy, but of mercies, of all the mercies we need or can enjoy. Did we lose sight of all our mercies, we might find them again in God, who is the Father from whom they all proceed. Mercies of all kinds flow from Him—deliverance from evil, the enjoyment of God, pardon, sanctification, preservation. There is mercy in everything that befalls us: in health, in strength, in safety, in affliction, in recovery—nay, in every bereavement that we meet with.” ‌God is the father of mercies, he is the one who sees us, like he saw Hagar in the wilderness, or the three men who were tossed into a blazing furnace by Nebuchadnezzar. Just as he saw David in his desolations, weeping in his bed, eating his own tears for food, and Samson in his brokenness, the result of his own sin and foolishness.

We have a God who sees and knows us in our difficulties. He sees and has compassion; his mercy, his grace, and his love flowing unabated over us. Paul also calls him the God of all comfort.

This designation is interesting. To comfort or console is to ease the grief or trouble of someone. You might say it is the actions associated with the compassion of mercy.

If a friend is experiencing a great trial or grieving a loss, you may see him in his sorrow and have compassion for him. To comfort is to put that mercy into action, to put your arm around him or her. To listen to them in the midst of their trial. To be like one of Job’s friends (before they opened their mouths) when they simply sat with Job in the dust. To be there. There may be a time to speak, but being there is absolutely essential. Paul says God comforts us specifically so that we may be able to comfort others who are in the midst of any affliction, with the same sort of comfort. This is interesting because where did the original comfort come from? Likely, it came from someone spurred on by the Holy Spirit to give comfort to a brother or sister in Christ.

Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the comforter. He was sent by the Father of Mercies and God of all comfort to his children so that he might comfort them all with one another. If you are a Christian, The Holy Spirit uses you to comfort others. He uses you and he uses me. Have you ever been in need of someone to simply be there? When you didn’t know what to say, you just didn’t want to be alone. Have you ever been so burdened in your heart, it felt like a weight bearing you downward, you just needed someone to listen, not to correct you, you know you have been thinking poorly, you just need to get it out. Have you ever needed someone, but knew you couldn’t make yourself ask, and just felt even more lonely as a result?

Here is the thing, the only way we can actually be a comfort to one another is if we love one another. We can only do it, if we have mercy and grace for one another; when we see our own sin more acutely than we see others. That isn’t to say we never point out the sin of others, but only when we can do it in genuine love and humility. This only works when we stop holding onto a record of wrongs, mistakes, flaws, and inadequacies. When are quick to seek forgiveness and quick to forgive. This is only possible if we know one another. In order to know one another, we have to let people in. We cannot hide behind masks, where we show everyone we have it all together, because sometimes we don’t.

I have to admit, right now, I don’t have it all together. I am a mess. When I was kid I had some painful things happen, and I just kind of shut my emotions down. It has been my habit even into adulthood. In recent years, it seems as though God has been using things in my life to shave down the callouses in my heart. I feel like I am bleeding and everyone can see it. It has been a crazy year for us, and it isn’t over, several of you have been a great comfort for me and my family, to those who have been there, thank you.

It is my hope that even as God has used you to comfort me in my trials and struggles, that I have been or can be able to be a comfort you or others. I don’t know everyone’s struggles, but I know I am not only one who has had a rough year. We all encounter our own various trials and afflictions. Yes, God uses them for his glory, and our development, yet this doesn’t make them any less painful, and it doesn’t eliminate the feeling of loneliness that comes with it. We all need to open our eyes, do we see those who stand on the edges? Do I? Is there someone who could use God’s comfort through you? Is the Holy Spirit pushing you to connect with someone? Do it! Pay attention. Do you know your others well enough? Do you allow them to know you? I have done pretty well with a few of you, but not all. God willing, I would like to correct this and get to know all of you better in time.

Father, show us all comfort right now, we need it. Use us to console one another in the midst of current and future trials and difficulties. Help us to know you and Christ our savior better, and to care for one another with the help and comfort of your Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray this, AMEN!

God comforts us so that in Christ we would comfort others and set our hope in him.

Second, as Christians we are unified in Christ.

Looking at Verse 5, We are united to Christ and we are united to one another through him. It is in him we all live and move and find our being. He is our righteousness, our adoption, our election, our holiness, our righteousness, and our strength. In him we share in every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places. In him and him alone do we find our ultimate comfort. Yet we also share with him in his sufferings.

Christians live as sojourners in this world. We are strangers and enemies of the one who rules, the prince of the power of the air; Satan, the ruler of the principalities of darkness, our ancient enemy, the serpent. He prowls around like a roaring lion seeking to whom he may devour. Under God’s sovereignty, he rules this world, but knows his days are numbered because all authority, power and dominion has been given to Jesus Christ our savior who will return to conquer him. The time is coming when he will be thrown in to the pit of eternal torment created for him and his demons. However, while his days are numbered, he still has sway over this world as we await the return of Christ in glory. Jesus said, no servant is greater than his master. Jesus suffered, and we will suffer too. It is a part of uniting with him. This is true for each of us, but it is also true for his bride the church. When we live and move on the earth as enemies of the kingdom of death, we will go through periods of difficulty and suffering. However, as Paul says, we who share in his sufferings will also share abundantly in his comfort

This is the comfort, that no matter what happens to our bodies, nothing can be done to our souls which belong to God. We are comforted by the hope of future resurrection. Why? Because Jesus was resurrected in glory, so will we. We share in this too. This is a certain hope.

In verse 6, it seems to shift focus a little. This is where the “we” gets a little more specific. It is Paul and his team, or the Apostles as a whole. He tells the Corinthians, 6If 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. 7Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

Paul is saying the things they experienced, both their affliction and comfort was for the sake of the Corithians’ comfort and salvation. This was particularly true of Paul who would suffer greatly as he performed the ministry of reconciliation. This ministry was to bring God and human beings together through the gospel, the good news of what Jesus Christ had done. In Christ Jesus, Christians are to be poured out like him, and like Paul, for the salvation of others. It is hard to imagine it here in West, but Christ would use the afflictions of his church to spread the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. This is what we read about in the book of acts. In fact, this was so true, the early church fathers began to say, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” When the enemy would attack it only served the kingdom of Christ, the servants of Jesus would take the gospel with them even as they fled danger. They conquered Rome because of their fearless love and self-sacrifice. They are the ones who sat with the sick and the dying, they are the ones who rescued those abandoned or left out for exposure. With all this in mind, I want to pause to encourage you to abandon the comforts of this world for the comfort of Christ.

YHWH is the father of mercies and God of all comfort. In his mercy, he saw us in our affliction, lost and abandoned, far off from him, alone and without God in the world. We were like sheep without a shepherd. This is true for all of humanity and it is true for each and every one of us. We were born into a broken and hostile world. We are afflicted by it, we are infected by it, and we are perpetrators of it. We call this sin. Sin within us (deep in our hearts), sin in our actions, and sin in this world we have fashioned in our own distorted image. God is a God of mercy and comfort. In his perfect wisdom, he saw us and sent his son as a solution to our misery. This is not the misery of losing a loved one, though it is related. It is not the misery of sickness, though it is related. It isn’t the misery of living in the fear of death, though it is related.

It is all of these and none. We are in misery, because we lost our truest friend because of our sin. We are sick and injured because of our sin, and we are living in a kingdom of the fear of death became of our sin. Your sin and my sin. Because of this, we have sided with the evil one and will go to the place created for him, Gehenna, a lake of fire, a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth, a place never meant for us. It is God’s perfect judgement for our sin and rebellion against him. Even so, Christ stepped into this world, true God and true man in one person. He entered our suffering and took all of our misery, your sin, my sin, and he bore like a weight on his shoulders. Jesus is the only one unstained by sin, yet he took our sin upon himself and suffered and died on the cross in our place. On the third day after he died, Jesus was raised from the dead in glory. This was his ultimate comfort in the midst of his suffering, that though he would died, he would be raised. Having risen, he was given all authority and power and dominion and a name that is greater than every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the father. Now Jesus promises to everyone who repents of their sin and puts their faith in him, he will give them eternal life. That eternal life begins now with the comfort of the hope of future resurrection, the comfort of the Holy Spirit of God, and the comfort of an imperfect family of other Christians who have put their faith in Jesus and strive to live free in this world of misery. As you consider this, if anyone here is struck to the heart because of what Christ has done. If you would like to put your faith in Jesus Christ as your only hope in life and death. I invite you to do so today, don’t wait. Take a moment to pray, ask God for forgiveness for your sin and confess your faith in him. Now, faith isn’t a mental exercise, it is the substance of our hope in him.

When you came in and you looked at the seat you now sit in, you probably didn’t think about it, but you believed it would hold you, faith was when you sat in it. Now is that moment with Jesus. I am going to pray a simple prayer, this isn’t a magic formula, it is just a simple prayer to introduce you to the one who saved you. If you would put your faith in him, pray this with me sincerely, put your whole heart and soul into it. But before we begin, I should warn you. Christ promises salvation, freedom from your sin, but he doesn’t promise you safety. He does not call to you so that you would become just another person in a seat. He is calling you to be an ambassador on his behalf, and an enemy of this world. He is much much greater, but I don’t want to deceive you, no one is promising you better life now, Christ promises long abundant life in the resurrection, when he returns in glory.

Lets pray: Father in heaven, you are God and king. I know I have sinned against you. I am guilty before you my righteous judge. I also know you sent Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for my sin and to offer me forgiveness. Please forgive me in Christ Jesus and save me. Father, please send your Holy Spirit to dwell within me to comfort and to guide me as I continue to live this life for your glory and honor and praise. It is in the name of Jesus Christ my savior I pray this, AMEN.

Now, if you prayed that alongside me, please come talk to me and tell me about it, if you are a child tell your parent or grandparent who is with you. Jesus commands us all to go and make disciples. A disciple is simply a follower and learner of Jesus. We don’t just want to get you to say a prayer, then leave and be on your own. We want to help you and be there for you. Please come let me know, if you have put your faith in him today. If you need to, grab a friend. If I am talking to someone, just come make eye contact with me and nod, and I will give you my full attention.

Father, if there is someone here who does not all already know you, I pray you move in his or her heart to come to you. Amen

God comforts us so that in Christ we would comfort others and set our hope in him.

Third and finally, Set our hope in him

Looking at verse 8, Paul and his team had endured great hardship. It is true all of us will experience trials of various kinds, but Paul experienced many many hardships. He says they were so utterly burdened beyond their strength that they despaired of life itself. They felt they were destined to rest in the sleep of death. Paul then shines a light on his suffering, the purpose of it is to make him rely, not on himself or his own strength, but on God who raises the dead. Paul marveled that God saved them from such deadly peril, and he knew that God would deliver him again. It is on God the Father and the Lord Jesus he put his hope, not just the hope of salvation, but the hope of present safety and deliverance from suffering and affliction. He also basically demanded more help in the form of prayer from he Cortinthians.

This reminds me of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When the king of Babylon demanded they bow down and worship the idol he had set up, they refused. They hoped their God would deliver them. They hoped in present safety, but they also knew God might not save them from their current circumstances, but they were devoted to him and would not bow to another God. Ultimately, he would rescue them from the fiery furnace. Paul, in contrast knew that even if God did not deliver him from his afflictions, should he die, he would be with Christ his savior, and would be resurrected unto eternal life in the day of our Lord. As Christians, I am concerned we have lost the hope of deliverance from our present affliction. Do we rely on our strength or wisdom, or on the one who raises the dead? I worry we walk in fear of our present circumstances, I know I have. We trust only in our own strength and fear suffering or difficulty. It paralyzes us, it paralyses me. Because of this we are no longer conquerers as Christ created his church to be.

What has happened to our courage? What has happened to mine? On my way to Indianapolis, I was listening to a lecture on what the Bible teaches about the church and what it is to be (yes, I am that kind of nerd)

While I was listening, I was struck very strongly when he spoke on baptism because one of the churches he visited overseas would ask any who would be baptized if he or she would still be willing to do it knowing it could cost them their lives. Would you be baptized today if you knew it could cost you your life? Would you take communion today, knowing it could mean suffering? What has happened to our courage? Have we made Christianity so easy we don’t even need God’s deliverance because we encounter no true difficulty? So let me ask this, what will you do? What will I? Will I continue to be so distracted by selfish pursuits and comforts that I forget that I have been given the comfort of eternal life in Christ that I might be a comfort to others with the comfort I, myself have been comforted? Will I continue to hope that even when I am weak, he is strong?

In fact, his strength is only shown to be more perfect in my weakness. Will I live in fear or stand strong knowing Christ established his church to be an attacking force against the kingdom of death? Attacking at all times with the good news of salvation in Christ Jesus. Let us be a church who comforts one another in our afflictions, who takes the good news of Jesus Christ as the ultimate source of comfort, and begins to lay siege to the strongholds of darkness currently reigning in Sheffield, Hampton, Rockwell, and Mason City. Let us be a church who has reason to put our hope of deliverance in God, trusting his strength, not just our own.

God comforts us so that in Christ we would comfort others and set our hope in him.

Lets Pray: Our Father, we put our hope in you. You, the one who raises the dead, who will raise us up on the last day when our savior appears in the air. You can also deliver us from our present trouble, but even if you do not, may we trust fully in you. Help us to rely, not on our own strength, but on yours. Show your strength to be even more wonderful and perfect in our weakness.