Suffering For Faith and By Faith
Suffering For Faith and By Faith • Sermon • Submitted
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· 6 viewsPreparing believers to suffer when persecution comes on us.
Notes
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This paragraph speaks of the comfort that God gives to suffering believers. It serves as a theological introduction to the personal narrative that Paul is going to give in the following paragraphs. Critical information for those who may one day be called upon to suffer for their faith.
The New International Version (1984) Psalm 34
19 A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
A simple outline: (Philips)
I The Source of our comfort
II The Scope of our comfort
III The Strength of our comfort
WIERSBE Outline
I. He permits trials
II He is in control of trials
III. He enables us to bear trials
IV He delivers us from our trials
V He is glorified through our trials
ILLUSTRATION A missionary friend told me about the miraculous deliverance of his daughter from what was diagnosed as a fatal disease. At the very time the girl was so ill, several friends in the United States were praying for the family; and God answered prayer and healed the girl. The greatest help we can give to God’s servants is “helping together by prayer.”
The word sunupourgeo translated “helping together” is used only here in the Greek New Testament and is composed of three words: with, under, work. It is a picture of laborers under the burden, working together to get the job accomplished. It is encouraging to know that the Holy Spirit also assists us in our praying and helps to carry the load (Rom. 8:26).
I. HE IDENTIFIES THE ULTIMATE SOURCE OF COMFORT FOR SUCH TIMES.
Emphasize “Father” total new concept compared to pagans.
“Blessed!” The word is eulogētos. The word is used in the New Testament only of God. It expresses gratitude, adoration, and praise.
PATERNAL
Your reputation, respect, and record may serve to indict your rather than excuse you. Contacts, political pull, compromise will not likely help us at such a time.
1:3 Paul blesses God the Father and acknowledges that God is the one who gives comfort to the believer.
(1) Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
(2) Fathers of mercies. 22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
II. THE ULTIMATE VALUE OF BEING COMFORTED IN SUFFERING.
PERSONAL “our”
There is personal value
There is corporate value
There is societal value
1:4 God’s purpose in comforting suffering believers is others-centered; it focuses on edifying the Christian community filled with people who are also suffering for Christ.
1:5 Paul notes...he is not talking about general suffering, but suffering “Christ’s sufferings,” that is, suffering for Christ. Nor is he talking about general comfort, but comfort for suffering servants of Christ.
PERFECT-Furthermore, our comfort is a comfort which is perfect. And He is “the God of all comfort,” He has an absolute monopoly on it. All true and lasting comfort comes from Him.
Exploring 2 Corinthians: An Expository Commentary Part 2: Paul and His Commission (2 Corinthians 1:3–5:21)
Both words are kindred to paraklētos, the word for “the Comforter.” This particular word was used in courts of law to denote a counsel for the defense, one who pleads another’s cause. It also signifies one who succors or comforts, which is just what the Lord Jesus was to His disciples.
John Phillips, Exploring 2 Corinthians: An Expository Commentary, The John Phillips Commentary Series (Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp., 2009), 2 Co 1:3.
John Phillips, Exploring 2 Corinthians: An Expository Commentary, The John Phillips Commentary Series (Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp., 2009), 2 Co 1:3.
John Phillips, Exploring 2 Corinthians: An Expository Commentary, The John Phillips Commentary Series (Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp., 2009), 2 Co 1:3.
III. THE ULTIMATE EXAMPLE OF PAUL’S OWN SUFFERING’
“When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’
“ ‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’
“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”
The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”
As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”
The New International Version (1984) Paul’s Charge to Timothy
11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
IV. THE ULTIMATE BENEFIT OF HIS SUFFERING AND THEIRS.
For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.
And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.