Dark Times

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2 Corinthians 1:8–11 NLT
We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia

BROTHERS AND SISTERS
State: Why was it important for the church to know about their struggles?
What teaches us more - the good times..or..the tough times
We are not called to speak only of a happy blessed unchallenged Christianity
Paul wanted them to know about the true Christian experience
State: What was the nature of their struggle

We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.

State: “thought we would never live through it”
means: To fall apart
To lose one’s mental and emotional composure
They thought they were going to die
we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself
What were the lessons Paul wanted to share from this?
1st:

But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.

State: Relying on God is not something we do willingly
-It is a learned behavior
-It reminds us that God raises the dead
Not only was death a threat for Paul
-His missionary career appeared to being cut short
-The problems at Corinth had not been resolved
-the collection of money for the saints in Jerusalem is not completed
-Paul’s ambition to evangelize the western part of the empire would not reach fruition
The 2nd lesson Paul wanted to pass along was

10 And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.

State: The only way to learn this confidence about God’s ability and willingness to rescue us is if we experience it.
The 3rd Lesson Paul wanted to pass along was

And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

State:
People praying helped him survive the situation
His telling of his survival encouraged the saints who were praying
This would encourage even more praying by the saints
God’s deliverance of Paul would result in all the saints praising God.
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