Comforted so to comfort
Apostleship defense - Book of 2nd Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 42:29
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Notes
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Handout
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
A continued history with the Corinthian church that Paul loved (1Cor1:1-3; 2Cor1:1-2). To understand the place we need to take a minute and do groundwork, lay the foundation of the 2nd letter to the Corinthians.
To the Corinthians with love
Paul had written to the Corinthians previously as we studied and wrote from Ephesus. He promised to send Timothy to them (1Cor4:17, 16:11) to help them in the struggles they were going through
Problems with divisions- Sectarianism (1Cor1-3)
Immorality (1Cor5)
Christian freedom issues (1Cor8, 10)
Christian theology issues (1Cor11-15)
It would seem that Timothy went to Corinth and brought back word to Paul and the issues were not better but had even worsened and there was a new influence coming in that even challenged his apostleship and authority.
Paul makes unplanned, abrupt trip to Corinth due to issues reported to him (2Cor13:1-2)
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every fact is to be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 2 I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone,
The abrupt unplanned visit was not an easy visit (2Cor2:1, 5-11, 7:12)
He was determined not to come in sorrow to them (v.1)
Don’t let Satan take advantage of us! Forgive (vv.5-11) - speaking possibly of the reconciliation of the man in 1Cor5 that has been restored by the Lord but not forgiven by the church
It was an emotional visit, and there was another letter we know Paul wrote to them (2Cor2:4, 12-13; 7:6-7) that we do not have, just the inference to it.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.
That letter got a response back to Paul via Titus who said the letter was received and put into place within them, but Titus gave word of these missionaries (aka: super apostles) that were Jews from Judea who were challenging Paul’s apostleship and that is what caused this letter to be written in and or about AD55.
Problems addressed in 2Corinthians:
Immaturity still; pagan temple worship (chpts 6,7)
Corinthians challenge of oratory teaching (chapter 10)
And even challenging Paul’s humility (chapter 11)
Purpose of the letter:
Correcting view on values (external vs. internal)
Exampling weakness is really strength
Defending His apostleship
Collection from the saints for church in Judea
Commentator Clinton Arnold says this in summarizing 2nd Corinthians and Paul’s aim.
“To regain the support of key groups in Corinth in order that the community as a whole can grow to maturity in Christ.”
1st Corinthians was entitled “Be united” and that theme continues to carry over into 2nd Corinthians as we look at what some say is Paul’s most emotional epistle.
(Transition) Now with some background and setting out of the way there are only a couple of things want to get to this morning.
The greeting (2Cor1:1-2)
The comfort (2Cor1:3-7)
The Greeting
The Greeting
Like most letters it starts with a greeting and there are things to get from the greeting that give us Paul’s thoughts of the Church from the onset.
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gleaning from the scripture:
Who is the author (v.1)?
Paul and Timothy are the authors
Who are the recipients (v.1)?
The recipients are Church of God at Corinth, and all the saints in all Achaia.
What is the desire for the church (v.2)? And from whom (v.2)?
Paul’s desire was for grace and peace to be theirs
Grace and peace come from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ.
Did you notice the order of things? Grace comes before peace! God’s grace comes before eternal peace comes. You can find this in most other letters in the N.T.
Behind this passage there are some good points to see about the Christian life in general:
Having needed comfort in times of trouble, comforted so can comfort others, Paul points to the source of all comfort (2Cor2:3-4)
Oftentimes comfort comes through enduring faith (2Cor2:5-6)
Comfort comes with the power from the Comforter
Results of comfort given, the power to comfort others
Commentator William Barclay says this about the word comfort
“the true root meaning of the word Comfort is the Latin word “Fortis” which means courage, or brave, Christian comfort is the comfort which brings courage and enables a man to cope with all that life can do to him.”
God never sends a man a vision without the power to work it out and never sends hi task without the strength to do it!
(Transition) As we head into the next section now that it is in suffering that there is often growth. So, may we now turn to our next section.
The Comfort
The Comfort
Who likes to be comforted? When do you most like to be comforted? May we take a few minutes this morning and look at comfort, true comfort, the source and the purpose of it.
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 will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;
7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.
What did you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Have you known people that regardless of any personal circumstance are able to offer comfort to others? Paul was one and uses he and the other apostles as living proof that they were comforted so to comfort others.
Then there are those who are devastated by personal hardships, tribulations (death and the like) and they have no peace, receive no consolation even when offered. They certainly are not in any shape to offer comfort to others.
So, the difference. Paul points out the difference in the passage we are looking at. So now may we glean from the scripture then will look at the source, the bestowal and the purpose of the comfort.
Gleaning from the scripture:
Question: How many times do you pick out the word comfort in these verses?
v3=1, v.4=4, v5=1, v6=3, v7=1 = Total 10 times!
Question: According to (v.3, 5) what is the source of all comfort?
God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ in whom we receive comfort through.
Question: Look at (vv.4-5) who are the comforted noted?
It is “us” being the apostles, those suffering, those afflicted
Question: what is the reason for the affliction (vv.6-7)?
It is for “your” comfort and to
Be sharers of “our” comfort.
(Transition) now let’s press on and touch on some points about true comfort.
True Comfort!
First we need to be careful where we look for “true comfort”
It is not found in comparing yourself and your situations to others
It is not found in some false hope that things will “just get better”
Nor in thinking, “well this is just the way it is, it cannot be helped.”
Trying to find comfort in exciting or exhilarating things; trying to satisfy with the cravings of the flesh.
Finally it is not found in pining, in complaining, whining about the troubles you are facing.
(transition) now may we turn to the source of true comfort
True comfort comes from God, the God of all comfort (v.3; also see Jm1:17))
True comfort comes from the Father of all mercies (v.3)
True comfort comes from the God of patience and comfort (Rom15:5)
5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
One more:
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
True comfort is a gift that comes from above from the Father of lights! There is no limitation to the comfort that He provides. we know the who it comes from but now may we look at the how.
When is true comfort bestowed?
Bestowed when needed most (v.4; Heb13:5; 1Cor10:13; Ps23:4)
5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”
He has promised to never leave nor forsake, even when in the valley’s
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Bestowed and increased in our greater affliction (v.5)
Let me put (v.5) back up there for just a minute this time in the NASB
5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
Abundant comfort, or consolation (NKJV) are ours because of the suffering of Christ and we can understand and appreciate that in our sufferings.
Our consolation, our comfort is bestowed on us through Christ (v.5; Eph1:3).
In Him we have every spiritual blessing according to Eph1:3!
We have the source; now look at the typical means (Rom15:4; Php4:6-7)
Look at the means in this verse
4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Question: What is the means as noted in (Rom15:4)?
The scriptures, the word!
Now look at another means
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Question: What is the means as seen in (Php4:6-7)?
The means are prayer, supplication with thanksgiving.
(Transition): We have the source, God through Jesus Christ; we have the means the word and prayer; now may we look at the purpose.
The purpose of true comfort
The purpose of true comfort
In short we can see the purpose in (2Cor1:4) but there is more behind it than that too.
Purpose to comfort others (v.4)
4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Comfort given is purposed not just to comfort us, but so that we may comfort others that are in affliction.
John Henry Jowett said
“God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters.”
Our comfort is designed to be shared!
Now going back to the bestowing again for a minute, we have another means now- YOU!
Here is a biblical example of comfort given to comfort others
4 Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction. 5 For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within.
6 But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more.
Paul was comforted by Titus, who was comforted by the Corinthians! Titus shared, Paul received!
So we have the direct means, God’s Word (Rom15:4) but now we have the indirect means through others, in the exhortations of others
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Don’t miss out on the abundant comfort available. (some application)
Be sure to feed on God’s Word
Be sure to be persistent in prayer
Be in relationship with others who may be a source of comfort to you and you to them.
(Transition) One more point to make- what are the results of receiving and sharing true comfort?
The Results of true comfort
The Results of true comfort
Everyone wants to know cost and results! So may we look at the results to the cost (affliction).
Knowing and acknowledging blessings (v.3)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
blessings that are intermixed with adoration!
True comfort results in praise and adoration (v.3)
(Below is only if time is permitting)
Now, let’s park here for a few minutes
Question: Has there ever been a time when you received God’s comfort that is a constant reminder to you to be a comfort to others because of the comfort you received?
(Conclusion)
Are you lacking true comfort?
Maybe you are looking in the wrong places for it, true comfort
True comfort as we have discussed this morning is only found in Christ
Some scripture to consider
1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
Comfort, receive it, share it as expressed in the scripture
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Be ready to praise, exhort the Lord for the true comfort provided.
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.
(Prayer) (Exit)