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*Learning to Minister through the Tough Times*
II Corinthians 1.1-11
*Introduction*
A cowboy on the western frontier came across an Indian lying flat with his ear to the ground.
The Indian said, “Wagon, four horses, two passengers, woman wearing calico gown, heavy man driving, thirty minutes away.”
“That’s amazing!” the cowboy said.
“And you can tell all that just by putting your ear to the ground?”
“No!” replied the aggravated Indian.
“Him run over me half hour ago.”
Have you ever felt like that Indian?
Maybe people have deliberately run over you.
Or maybe your circumstances have flattened you.
And just when you need encouragement, people seem oblivious to your hurt, or they misinterpret your actions and ask, “Why are you so down in the dumps?”
The Corinthian church was a troubled church full of hurting people.
In his first letter to them, Paul had to confront all kinds of problems—everything from division to immorality among their members.
Unfortunately, after they received his first letter, matters grew worse, and Paul had to make what he called “a painful visit” to confront the troublemakers.
Still the problems were not resolved, so Paul sent Titus to Corinth to help them get things straightened out.
Finally, after several months, Paul received word from Titus that the church was improving.
Paul then wrote what we call 2 Corinthians to express his appreciation for their improvement and to encourage the church to remain faithful.
He emphasized the special resources available to Christians who are hurting.
At one time or another everyone needs encouragement.
That is a key word in this letter.
Sometimes translated comfort, the word is used 29 times in this letter.
Paul was able to write a letter of encouragement because Jesus Christ had transformed their lives and his attitude.
If we are going to make this house a home we will have to learn to minister through the tough times.
*1.
**Hardships are part of every life*
a.
The two greatest human needs met by God are forgiveness and comfort.
Everyone is a sinner and needs God’s grace; everyone is a sufferer and needs God’s peace.
* i.
*Suffering is a normal part of every life, just as sin is.
*“The sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives” **(2 Corinthians 1.5).*
ii.
Jesus said that in the world we are going to have trouble just as he had trouble.
b.
Our culture today is trying to convince us that we should never have to hurt.
i.
Some parents try to solve every problem for their children.
“I don’t want my kids to have it as rough as I did.”
“I don’t wan my kids to hurt.”
So children’ don’t learn the pain of discipline, the unpleasantness of hard work, or the disappointment of denial.
They grow up thinking that all of life should be fun.
ii.
People in our society abuse a variety of substances trying to escape suffering and find the ultimate pleasure.
iii.
There are some who even what to teach us that that is what the Bible says.
They say that if we really trust Jesus we will never suffer and we will always be happy.
c.
But the truth is that the Bible teaches us from the very beginning that suffering is a natural part of a life lived in a sinful world.
i.
Just after Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, God said to Eve, *“I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children”** (Genesis 3.16).*
1.
I remember vividly working in OB & Delivery when I was in paramedic training and after about 15 hours of labor a young woman delivered a 10lb baby!
Her husband was so excited when he brought the baby around for her to see.
He was so proud.
She looked up and said two words, “NEVER AGAIN!”
2. Every one of us is here today because a woman suffered to bring us into the world.
ii.
The man was supposed to suffer, too.
*1.
*God told Adam that, because he had eaten of the tree, *“Cursed is the ground because of you; through the painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food”** Genesis 3.17-19).*
2. Every time we sit down and eat a meal, we’re eating because somebody suffered to provide that food.
d. Paul used two examples to illustrate that no one is exempt from suffering.
i.
Jesus
1. God had one son without sin, but He had no sons without suffering.
ii.
Himself
*e. **“Man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward”** (Job 5.7).*
* *
*2. **Hardships provide an opportunity to receive God’s comfort*
a.
We are so egotistical we think we can be self-reliant.
We think if we just make enough money, buy enough insurance, and have enough savings, every future contingency will be covered and we won’t have to depend on God.
i.
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