Sorrow, Yet Always Rejoicing
Notes
Transcript
Intro; What does it mean to be a person with sorrow? Feeling or showing grief, distressed, a state of sadness
On the flip side what does it mean to be a person of rejoicing? One who is glad, enjoying a state of joy and happiness, jubilant with delight
The real question is how can you be both of these people at the same time?
That’s the paradox we’re going to look at tonight as we “Sorrow, Yet Always Rejoicing”!
Text; 2 Cor. 6:10
10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
It”s hard to hide your true feelings from people. You may cover them for a while, but eventually it begins to wear on you and your true feelings come out. No one can look around at the world like we live in and not have sorrow at what they see if they are a christian.
How can a man be Sorrowful, Yet Always Rejoicing?
1. A Man of Sorrows; 6
1. A Man of Sorrows; 6
Paul was a man who had his share of sorrows. In this very scripture we are looking at, Paul had sorrow in his heart because of those in the church at Corinth who were quarreling and because some of the members were questioning his apostolic authority.
Paul had also asked the churches to give to the saints need in Judea and his heart was sorrowed because the church at Corinth was delaying their giving.
10 And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;
11 but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.
Paul also had his heart broken as he watched those who had ministered with him walk away from the faith.
15 This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.
16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.
Paul’s heart ached over the lost, over disobedient and immature believers.
1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,
2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.
2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?
2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
Beyond the sorrows that life can bring, Paul had state of sorrow/agonized over the spiritual welfare of the church as a whole.
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.
Paul was a man of sorrow just like our Savior!
Isaiah 53:3 (NKJV)
3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…
2. Yet Always Rejoicing; 6
2. Yet Always Rejoicing; 6
How can a man filled with so much grief and sorrow also be one that is “Yet Always Rejoicing”?
Joy [rejoicing] comes from embracing God’s grace, goodness and His sustaining power regardless of the circumstances of life. Happiness is based on circumstances wherein joy is from the Lord! Joy is a fruit of the Spirit!
Sorrow is real, but in Christ rejoicing conquers our sorrow!
Jesus compared our sorrows, yet always rejoicing to childbirth.
John 16:20–22 (NKJV)
20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
This analogy tells us that our pain is not forever and that once it accomplishes its purposes, there will be joy. The same baby that causes the pain also causes the joy!
Paul spoke of his sorrow that would bring joy
4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.
12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,
13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;
14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill:
16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;
17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
Times of difficulty can also be times of discovery, not only of our own needs but also of God’s gracious supply.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
Close;
There are sorrows that will come our way in life, regardless of who you are. But if you are in Christ, the grace of God will carry you through the times of sorrow. “Sorrowful, Yet Always Rejoicing” is the life of the believer who has prepared for victory a claimed it in Christ!