Bible Study 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

2 Corinthians 1:8–14 NKJV

8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many. 12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. 13 For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end 14 (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

As we opened our study last Wednesday night in our study of 2 Corinthians, we dealt with Paul’s introductions and we spoke at length about this idea of finding comfort and consolation in Christ, but in each other.

Galatians 6:2 “2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Ephesians 4:2 “2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,”

Matthew 11:28–30 “28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.””

1 Peter 5:7 “7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

He describes this intertwining or binding against burdens and tribulation by the comforts and consolation we find both in Christ and we aid each other in bringing comfort in times of real life situations.

I think of the day and the concerns in the moment and in recent days.

Stephanie Watson

Ms. Betty Paulk

Marge Suhr

Sue Sellers

Johnny Butler

I would dare that if you were able to speak with each of these individuals they would say they found great comfort and consolation knowing that the church was praying for them, coming to visit them, writing them cards, bringing them a meal, etc.

Tonight, Paul exercised that that he spoke of in just the prior verses by calling on the church in his own pilgrimage to be honest, peel back and share of a very transparent nature his need of God’s people in his time of suffering.

Share Your Struggles

2 Corinthians 1:8–9 “8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,”

I know each of us walk a fine line when it comes to be honest and transparent about our struggles, tribulations, and fears in life. Especially in the case of this Evangelist, Missionary, Pastor in Paul himself, he wants to be careful that he appear weak or fearful and lessens his trust in God-that is an ideal we might all share when we are very quiet and do not speak about our struggles. We do not want to come across in a manner that shows lack of trust in God’s provision in our difficulties.

Yet, all the verses I shared and the verses leading up to our text tonight shares that we should share in each other’s burdens. I believe many pastors have this distorted of the blended American pride at battle that they are invincible, they are a leader, they can not appear weak, they can not appear due to their walk with the Lord that they have any struggles and all of that dearly beloved is a forest. Pastors, church leaders yes, are called, but that doesn’t mean they are not sinners, it doesn’t mean they do not face the same struggles as a fallen world and I am fearful that so many people get in trouble in the ministry when they feel they have to go at life alone without the help of God’s people. Oh dearly beloved, as well as we desperately need the Lord, we need each other.

What was the burden that Paul was referring to?

Acts 19:23–41 NKJV

23 And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way. 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. 25 He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. 26 Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. 27 So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.” 28 Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” 29 So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions. 30 And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him. 31 Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater. 32 Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people. 34 But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” 35 And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Zeus? 36 Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess. 38 Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly. 40 For we are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.” 41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

Acts 20:1 “1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia.”

Crying is for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

You are saying that this event might have been the event that placed so much stress on Paul? Isn’t this the same Paul that experienced everything we read about in our study last week?

2 Corinthians 11:24–28 “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.”

Even Paul was not immune to needing the church’s prayers and at times more tangible assistance.

“For we do not want you to be ignorant”

I am always amazed at someone who gets upset with the church (and usually they are what I refer to as a fringe member) and something happens in their lives and they become frustrated because no one came to their rescue in time of sickness, hospitalization, etc. Dearly beloved, like Paul, we must communicate our struggles.

May I share with you a reality. It is probably less than 20% of the time someone will call me directly when they have a need. It is usually communicated through another party. And I must submit, I do not know why that is. I am an approachable individual. I do not bite. I believe that 98% of the people in here that has called me to respond to a need, by the best of my ability, I have tried to respond....and our church tries to respond.

Dearly beloved, I believe we flirt with a false pride when we come across as invincible and can handle all things on your own. That is dangerous ground when you live life that you have never cultivated anyone to throw the life jacket to you. I have cultivated some lifeguards in my life that I know I can call on to through a buoy to me. What am I talking about?

Very typical in a family dynamic there can be some struggles, some hurts, some strains and tensions that might be embarrassing. There are times we can be embarrassed for ourselves, embarrassed for our loved ones, sometimes the information is sensitive information and it involves other parties that are loved ones and you are sensitive in putting them in an embarrassing or precarious position. I want to be able to reach out to one of my lifeguards that will not tell about my drowning incident to everyone else on the lake of life.

Dearly beloved we face real fears but those fears have so many times a very sensitive nature to the need.

-Child going through a divorce

-Fears of loved ones facing health issues

-One of your loved ones in addiction

-loss of job

-troubled child or grandchild

Paul poured out everything in his fears and let’s just assume it was with the conflict with the silversmiths. He saw the opposition picking up with aggression in that his fellow companions, Gaius and Aristarchus were seized. His fellow disciples were fearful to the point of not allowing him to go into the theatre.

Can I tell you why this one incident was so life threatening and fearful for Paul as other incidents he faced? I can’t, no more than I can tell you why Elijah in one moment had boldness on Mt Carmel confronting 400 Baal worshippers versus fear for his life that Jezebel was going to take his life.

We all have our times that we trust in our own abilities in certain situations. And, usually God matures us in realizing that even those things we feel we are invincible, God can humble in those times. He wants us to depend on Him. He wants us to carry our burdens to Him.

Mark 4:35–41 “35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!””

In Paul’s despair He shared “that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead”

Share Testimony & Thanksgiving in Your Triumphs

2 Corinthians 1:10–11 “10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.”

Oh dearly beloved, it is important that we share in our struggles, but it is equally important that we testify in our triumphs.

Notice who God testified about?

Listen: Testimony times are transformational times.

Paul looked for opportunities to share the goodness of God.

Have you heard these types of statements:

I truly want to share Jesus with others but I do not know how to go about it. I do not know how to share the gospel. I do not know that I have memorized the right verses to lead them through the plan of salvation.

If you have heard that statement or made that statement raise your hands.

I want to see this church grow. I truly do, but I do not know where to begin. I do not know what to say that would cause people to want to come to church with me.

Have you ever heard that statement or made that statement yourself?

Notice in these verses when Paul shared all the calamities they faced, notice the crowns He placed on the heads of those that helped.

God V. 10

“We trusted in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from such a great death, and does deliver us (in the present).

Do you want to know how to share Christ? Share Him with the many victories you enjoy in Him on almost a daily basis.

Testimony-Do you have a testimony of a great healing in your life and it was the Lord who saved you and spared your life?

Did you have a former addiction and it was the Lord who helped you overcome and gave you the strength to put down the addiction?

Did you almost have a terrible auto accident, but by God’s grace you walked out without a scratch on your body, yet the vehicle was totaled?

The Church V. 11

“you also, helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.

a. Prayer

“you also helping together in prayer for us”

Philippians 1:19 “19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,”

Paul recognized the power of prayer when His people pray.

There are occasions when we can pray with the particulars. Dearly beloved, if you can allow us to pray for you in the particulars.

Philemon 22 “22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.”

But there are other times when we are called to pray about the private-do not press the private-trust the process.

Romans 8:26–27 “26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

When you are called to pray for an unspoken request-do not be guilty of praying longer thinking it will have a greater result simply because you do not know what you are praying for.

Matthew 6:7–8 “7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

Do you believe God’s church would grow if we spent more time boasting about the goodness of its people in ministering to us in our time of need?

I can’t say “thanks” enough for the people of the church that reached out to me in my time of losing my loved one. The cars, the meals, the visits while I was in the hospital.

I wonder if pride is our enemy that keep us from giving thanksgiving to God’s church.... when they helped me with a power bill, or helped me when we had a fire and replaced clothes, or when we needed help to repair my car where I could get to work.

Oh listen dearly beloved, may we all put away our pride and share God’s goodness, and His church’s goodness toward us when it is called for.

And we do that, both people will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus and God’s church will grow.

Paul was quick to share his struggles and the struggles of the missionary team traveling with him. But he was quicker to testify of the triumphs and share in thanksgiving over those that intervened in their time of need.

Let’s pray.