The Purpose of Our Afflictions

The Purpose of Our Afflictions 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 January 16, 2021 The Big Idea: In a remarkable testimony and exhortation, Paul gives us seven specific things that happen when we or those we love face afflictions. Simply put, the Lord never wastes our troubles, but brings endless good out of them. 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 (ESV) 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. 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 [James 1:2-4] 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. 7 Good and Beautiful Things That Happen When We Face Trouble: 1. It is through our afflictions that we learn who God is and what He can do. [vv. 3-4a] - He is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. - He is the God who “comforts us in all our affliction.” 2. It is through our afflictions and the comfort we receive from the Lord that we are able to comfort others. [v. 4] 3. It is in suffering that we are brought closer to Christ, who actually invites us into His suffering and comfort. [v. 5] 4. It is in affliction and comfort that the Lord teaches us endurance and joins us to one another. [vv. 6-7] 5 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. 5. Afflictions create unbearable burdens that we know we cannot lift and that drive us to rely on God who can do the “impossible.” [vv. 8-9] § The One “who raises the dead” can do other impossible things – like bring our sufferings to an end. [Revelation 21:4] 8 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. 10 6. Each time God gets us through a scary time it builds our faith and hope for the next time we need deliverance. [v. 10] 7. Troubles are opportunities to touch God and people through prayer. [v. 11] God’s Word never pretends that God’s people don’t suffer. But the problem of our suffering is met with the promise of God’s comfort. The Purpose of Our Afflictions 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 January 16, 2021 7 Good and Beautiful Things That Happen When We Face Trouble: 1. It is through our afflictions that we learn ______ God is and what He can ____. [vv. 3-4a] - He is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. - He is the God who “comforts us in all our affliction.” The Big Idea: In a remarkable testimony and exhortation, Paul gives us seven specific things that happen when we or those we love face afflictions. Simply put, the Lord never _________ our troubles, but brings endless _________ out of them. 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 (ESV) 1 3 2. It is through our afflictions and the comfort we receive from the Lord that we are able to ___________ others. [v. 4] 3. It is in suffering that we are brought closer to Christ, who actually _________ us into His suffering and comfort. [v. 5] 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. 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 [James 1:2-4] 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. 5 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. 4. It is in affliction and comfort that the Lord teaches us _______________ and joins us to one another. [vv. 6-7] 5. Afflictions create unbearable burdens that we know we cannot lift and that drive us to _______ on ________ who can do the “impossible.” [vv. 8-9] § The One “who raises the dead” can do other impossible things – like bring our sufferings to an _________. [Revelation 21:4] 8 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. 10 6. Each time God gets us through a scary time it builds our _______ and ________ for the next time we need deliverance. [v. 10] 7. Troubles are opportunities to touch ______ and __________ through prayer. [v. 11] God’s Word never pretends that God’s people don’t suffer. But the ___________ of our suffering is met with the ____________ of God’s comfort.