The Strange Path of Comfort
The Cross Shaped Life • Sermon • Submitted
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· 6 viewsPaul draws the disciples eyes to true comfort, God himself. This comfort is experienced most profoundly in the midst of our own perplexities and trials.
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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.
Why does God allow affliction, suffering, and despair?
Why does God allow affliction, suffering, and despair?
God allows, not causes, affliction, suffering, and despair.
I feel like I address this often, likely because conversations lead me back here. God is love. Love is a ch
Suffering reveals misplaced confidence.
Suffering reveals misplaced confidence.
Misplaced confidence: Is the source of so much of our pain. Allowing a person, ideal, or dream take the place of God.
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.
People will let us down, God will not! We must embrace the realm of God- Centering our lives wholly on Christ.
Christ followers operate on the basis of a God who saves and raises, a God who can do all things…
For Paul, the focus is not the thorns or the hardships to be endured, rather the focus is on God who is triumphant over them- A God most clearly seen in the personhood of Jesus.
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.
Paul gives meaning to our suffering. Our suffering is how we identify with Christ.
In our suffering we demonstrate our real theology and philosophy of life.
My life is about me… look at what I am going through.
My life is about Christ, look Jesus suffered for me,
lived a Holy Life for and to God in and through suffering
His life for mine, so of course I will face affliction.
My affliction how I declare my testimony.
My suffering is my testimony.
As I heard on great African American Preacher Say, “There is not testimony without a TEST.”
God can use anything for His Glory
Suffering changes our thought patterns.
Suffering changes our thought patterns.
For good or bad! But one thing is certain, suffering changes our thought patterns.
Putting hope and confidence in Jesus means taking action- Demonstrating faithful obedience to God and his promises even in the face of hardship. Paul knew a God who could do anything! He believed in a God who could act on his behalf and a God who wanted to act on behalf of a community.
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.
What do I do when I am so utterly burdened beyond strength that I despair for life itself?
What do I do when I am so utterly burdened beyond strength that I despair for life itself?
Intentionally change I and me to we! Community.
Intentionally change I and me to we! Community.
True community redirects miss place confidence and anchors our hope and thoughts in Jesus.
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.
Pain is communal. We are to support one another, in the word of the Mandalorian, “This is the Way!” Anything less falls short of God’s intention, The Way!”
Pain is not meant to be endured alone and especially not pain for the sake of the gospel.
When pain is triumphed over, we can all praise God together!
Triumph over pain and despair is exactly what God wants for our lives. He believes that we can overcome, in fact, he enables us to do so through the power of Christ.
When you feel like cursing turn to blessing.
When you feel like cursing turn to blessing.
Praise
Praise
Blessing God in the midst of pain redirects miss placed confidence.
State who God is and what he has done: (1 Cor 1:2-5)
Who He Is: Father of Jesus. Father of Mercies. God of all comfort.
What He Does: Comforts us in affliction He bring Hope and Salvation.
Sing: There is a song for that!
Testimony: What difficulties have you seen Christ overcome in your life? Praise to God for those triumph bless God and give you a credit, deposit of hope for future thorns.
Prayer
Prayer
Have a prayer partner.
Over come pride and ask for prayer.
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.
Scripture
Scripture
Testimony of Grace… Story of walking home the path was dark, I prayed, put my trust in Jesus, I looked down and my feet and there was light for them…
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.
God’s strange path to comfort is suffering, affliction, and despair.
God turns our test into a testimony as we direct our hope and trust to the saving work of Jesus.
God turns our test into a testimony as we direct our hope and trust to the saving work of Jesus.
Praise & Prayer