02 | Light of the Gospel | 2 Cor 1:3-11 | Joel

SERMON OUTLINE

God of all comfort

Share in our suffering and in our comfort

Rely on the God who raises the dead

Application

Pray

God of All Comfort

Good morning church! It is my joy this morning to be with you and to gather together as the family of God under his word. Today we will pick up in and we will begin at verse 3 so if you can go ahead and find it in your bibles or your scripture journal we will read there together in a minute. If you dont have your Bible please feel free to grab one off the benches next to you and make it your own. Also if you have not received a scripture journal for 2 Corinthians we still have some available. Last week we launched our series titled Light of the Gospel which is our hope and prayer for this series in 2 Corinthians, that God will shine the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ upon his people. Amen? I hope your appetite was whetted last week as Jeremiah shared some of the highlights of this beautiful letter of the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth. Between the sermon and the CG questions it has been sweet to see how many quotable verses are in 2 Corinthians and the rich gospel that they speak of. This morning’s text is one of those so let’s dive in together

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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.

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.

Lets do that now, please pray with me.

PRAYER

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God of all Comfort

Vs 3

Lets look together at verse 3

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

Paul is beginning his letter as he often does with a blessing for the church, a benediction for the people of God and here he is again reminding the church of person of Jesus

His deity as the son of God

His lordship as king

That he is the Christ - The Messiah - The sent savior

He is also pointing to the attributes of God, who God is

He is Abba Father

He is the loving Father that sent his son Jesus to rescue a rebellious and wayward people

He is the Father of mercies

He is the God of all comfort

Pastor Sam Storms in his devotional on 2 Corinthians writes that

“we should read this passage something along the lines of: ‘the Father who is characterized by mercy” and “the God whose heart delights in giving comfort.’”

15  But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

6  Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.

for they have been from of old.

19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

Paraklesis - Encouragement, Comfort

Parakletos - is the reference used in when Jesus says that he will pray to the father to send a Helper or Comforter or Encourager

This is often the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, to come along side and speak words of truth that give us courage and help. It is both consoling and emboldening. What a gift that God himself dwells inside of us to give us courage in our suffering.

“This work of encouragement is indeed the work of the blessed Trinity: as Paraclete the Father comforts and consoles us; as Paraclete, the Holy Spirit strengthens and guides us; and as Paraclete, Jesus Christ the righteous is our Advocate with the Father and our Helper in the hour of temptation.” - Paul Barnett (New International Commentary)

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“we should read this passage something along the lines of: ‘the Father who is characterized by mercy” and “the God whose heart delights in giving comfort.’”

Sharing in our Suffering and Comfort

Vs 4-7

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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.

Paul’s hope is that those who are experiencing distress, suffering, persecution and affliction will be comforted with the comfort of God and that they will share that comfort with each other.

This comfort or encouragement, filling up with courage and boldness, will only happen in the midst of suffering. Paul is clearly laying out the fact that the disciples of christ will experience some degree of suffering in this world. Why is saying this? Two reasons that we know of.

The first is that it is true and Jesus himself has told us that we will take up our cross and die to our selves which is suffering

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Also we are called to be imitators of Christ and therefore our lives will look like his. In verse 5 Paul points to the suffering of his savior and says that we too will share in his suffering and we also share in his comfort.

The second reason that Paul is sharing this is one of the main reasons for his writing this letter to the Corinthian church. Paul is writing to remind the disciples in Corinth of his apostleship. He is challenging the would be “super-apostles” that have come in and begun to lead the church to doubt Paul’s apostleship.

There are several false arguments and Paul will speak to many of them throughout the letter

but this particular address is to the idea that he was not an apostle because he suffered.

They pointed to Pauls suffering and deemed that it was because of God’s displeasure and that if God is not pleased with Paul then he could not be an apostle.

Paul points to Jesus to defend himself and reminds the Corinthian church that the Son of God suffered and died.

If suffering was a sign of God’s displeasure does that mean that the father was displeased with His Son.

NO!! So how can this prove God’s displeasure with Paul

Another observation in this section of the passage is that there is a pattern in these verses that points to the idea that what happens to us is not solely for us.

Lets look at this community aspect

Vs 4 - Comforts us in our affliction so we can comfort those who are in any affliction.

Vs 6 - If we are afflicted its for your comfort and salvation, if comforted its for your comfort

Vs 7 - share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort

This is contrary to our normal selfishness

Sam Storms again says - “When we hurt, we rarely think of others. We expect them to think of us.”

This is our natural inclination but it is not what Jesus did and and it is not the call we are to answer. Look at Jesus in the midst of suffering he prayed to the father something to the effect of Take this

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Rely on God who Raises the Dead

Rely on God who Raises the Dead

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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.

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.

Here, Paul is sharing the great distress he experienced during his time in Asia. Many believe that it was an illness or physical ailment, others have come to the conclusion that it was a specific period or event of persecution, possibly the riot recorded in Acts that took place in Ephesus, which was the capital of the Roman province of Asia. Still others argue that it was a severe depression or spiritual anguish. Whatever it was, Paul in verse 9, said that he thought he was going to die!

I’d like to stop right here and point out that there are folks here that are experiencing being overwhelmed. Many are battling with depression. A lot of you are in hard and tough seasons of life and not sure how much longer you can keep doing what you are currently doing. You hear Paul say this and you think you know the feeling. What a gift of kindness that God would through Paul let us know that it is ok to feel that way.

To be human.

But Paul doesn’t end there. He goes on to speak the truth of what was taking place in that moment.

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.

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.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

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.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Here is the truth. God allowed the affliction and suffering in Paul’s life and those that were with him, to force them to rely not on themselves but God.I want to look closely at two words here. in the last sentence of verse 9

The first is the word “make” God is always sovereign. In the midst of suffering he is there and he can and does often relieve suffering . HE is actually the only one who has the ability to do it. He heals bodies, restores the broken, reconciles enemies, softens hearts, brings the prodigal back. transforms the rebellious heart saves sinners and makes dead things alive!

The same almighty God, who allowed his Son Jesus to suffer and die, raised him from the dead!

Let us BELIEVE that he can do these things!

But there are times when he doesnt....

Why? Paul gives us one good reason right here. the suffering, the affliction, the despair was all to MAKE them rely on God. God will use the circumstances in our lives to transform us into a people who trust him, who rely on him, who depend on him completely!

And we can do all of this! How do we know

The same almighty God, who allowed his Son Jesus to suffer and die, raised him from the dead!

Paul says in

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

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Application

Look to Jesus! He is risen from the dead and he is the proof that we have an inheritance that this world cannot take away.

Rejoice in the community of saints that we get to share our suffering and our comfort with each other.

Pray and participate with God. By grace, the Holy Spirit will tune your heart to give thanks and sing praise. He will open your eyes to see the work of God in your suffering and in the suffering of those around you.

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Communion

Each week we get the opportunity to take communion together