Comfort in all circumstances
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Good morning
I hope everyone is doing well
God has done something amazing in my life since I last spoke here
I was accepted as a chaplain
So I will actually be leaving for school here in September
I remember getting this idea of being a chaplain 10 years ago
God pushed me through all these years
All praise to God for this I am truly excited
CH Pratel,
CH Green,
CH Spindle,
CH Lorenz
I Cannot thank you all enough for the help you gave me
But we are due to PCS here in January
Please keep my family in your prayers
Ok now I have to get busy I know we only have about 25 minutes
We have a lot to go over
Benefit and pleasure of starting you all off in a series
So if you would please open up your Bibles to
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.
We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.
2 Corinthians 1:3-11
Prayer - Let’s take just a moment and ask God’s favor over our lesson today
I recently found a movie with an interesting title
Tortured for Christ
Have any of you seen you this movie?
Perhaps read the book?
Its a tough read and a hard movie to watch
Not because of it theological complications
Not because its so academic that the average person wouldn’t understand
But because of what this pastor and his family went through for the sake of Jesus
I won’t go into to much detail
Romania during the late 1940’s and early 1950’s
The communist had just taken over
The state religion had just become atheism
To be a Christian was a crime
Preaching was a crime
Praying was even considered worthy of punishiment
Rev. Richard Wurmbrand went through some horrific things
The descriptions of torture literally bring you to tears
I find it interesting the depths to which the human mind can go
The severe lack of decency
The lack of compassion
The lack of comfort
I want to read to you just a small taste
Because I think its important to understand
To know what some men have gone through for Christ
Pg 38-39
The Martyr Savonarola said,
“There are two types of Christians, Those that sincerely believe in God and those that just as sincerely believe that they believe”
Think about that seriously
This pastor was locked up for 14 years
This pastor was locked up for 14 years
His wife was also locked up
Women tortured also
He
Spent 3 years in solitary confinement
Spoke to no one for three years
Was beaten constantly because he prayed
BUT Prayer was his only comfort
Any yet
Communication with God was the only source of comfort
He had done nothing wrong!
He was just a pastor
He loved on people
That was his crime
Does that sound familiar?
Is there anyone in the Bible that could possibly relate?
Thats right, the apostle Paul
Was also put through some horrendous things
He mentions them in the book of 2 Corinthians
Turn with me to chapter 11 real quick
Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
Yet Paul opens this letter up with words of comfort
Comfort? How in the world?
Doesn’t make sense
Yet Rev Wurmbrand also found that same comfort
He mentions 366 verse to not be afraid
One for each day of the year including leap year
It was God and His Word that provided Him with comfort
The same with Paul
The same with many that been tortured for simply having faith
And that what we are going to talk about today
Now I feel a certain weight of responsibility here
Being that you all are starting up a new series
I feel I need to go into a bit of context
To help you understand the book of 2 Corinthians a bit
Trust me it opens your eyes to the cirucmstances
It help you realize why Paul wrote the way he did
Context
Corinth
Capital city of the roman province of Achaia
Corinth is the capital city of the roman province of Achaia
Destroyed by Rome 146BC
killing most of the males and selling the women and children into slavery
It was destroyed by Rome in 146BC killing most of the male population and selling the women and children into slavery
Dormant for nearly 102 years
Julius Caesar established a Roman colony on the site.
The city laid dormant for nearly 102 years when Julius Caesar established a Roman colony on the site.
This explains the Roman influence in the region.
Geographically it is Greece
Now you know
Culturally its Rome!
The two cultures are so intertwined that its hard to differentiate.
Became the main depot for slave trade
So geographically it is in Greece but culturally its Rome!
Even the city buildings and names of individuals took on a Roman flavor.
Temple of Aphrodite still stood.
Caesar forced colonized with Greeks, roman soldiers, and former slaves from everywhere.
Caesar had forced colonized the city with Greeks, roman soldiers, and former slaves from everywhere.
At the time Paul was there,
1/3 of the population consisted of slaves
If you can imagine
temple worship that included sex cults and idol worship,
A hodge podge of cultures
Religions
Ideologies
No real standard
this was not a city or upstanding moral fiber so to speak.
At the same time it had become one of the largest and most modern cities in all of Greece
Home to Isthmian games which laid tribute to Poseidon the sea god.
You can imagine the gambling and events
It was also a capitalists venture
You had the chance to make lots of money
Many in Corinth were very wealthy
If you remember previous message
One author quotes a writer from the 2nd century,
One author quotes a writer from the 2nd century,
As one author quotes a writer from the 2nd century,
“Wealth and ostentatious display became the hallmark of Corinth, I learned in a short time the nauseating behavior of the rich and misery of the poor”
Another writer states, “The lavish life style still never full satisfied which lead to the desire for honor and self importance that seemingly could never be fulfilled”
Take a look at our own back yard
Las Vegas!
Co
This lead to a host of private entertainment, games and festival, abundance of new cults, philosophical arguments, collection of slaves and property…etc. Anything to feel worthy.
Las Vegas!
But we know that stuff never fully satisfies right!
Now if you remember the previous letter was nothing to be proud of.
Most consider it a formula for how not to do church.
So Paul is writing this time, with the intent to clear the air
To bring comfort
and to also bring a bit of correction however in a softer tone
2 Corinthian 1:3
However this time he is rebuking the church for not forgiving him
In 1 Corinthians he was rebuking them for not punishing him
However this time the young man has repented and yet the church is still acting very carnal.
Serious situations here
Paul is literally begging them to balance everything out but they just can’t seem to get it right.
Now lets jump back up to the opening because this is important as well
Paul opens up the letter clearly laying out his credentials, but why?
Jump to
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.
He appears to feel the lack of trust between him and the church
From the context of the 1st letter this make sense
He has a group of people that are angry at him, and probably don’t want to listen
So he identifies himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus, not of his own will but of God’s
Bold claim
He also gives heed to Timothy whom they had not treated well
Its obvious they didn’t treat timothy well so Paul has to stand up for him
Repeats his credentials as well
but then opens the letter a bit unusual
Understand God’s comfort
Understand God’s comfort
Some commentators say that the key theme of the book is comfort
Paul bounces back and forth between suffering and the comfort
Opens up with comfort which is immediately followed up by a statement of suffering
But lets dive deep into the understanding of God’s comfort
Now the key word here here is translated multiple ways such as comfort, counsel, exhortation, encouragement
But the word here is translated multiple ways such as comfort, counsel, exhortation, encouragement
Imagine lifting up another spirit or
walking along side of someone.
Being therefore someone.
Being that battle buddy that guy that someone needs in the moment of struggle.
We’ve all had that one person in our life that has needed a friend
That one person that may be suicidal
That may be going through a rough patch in their marriage
Or perhaps is struggling at work
Being the person that comforts or counsel or brings encouragement is so important
This is the type of comfort that Paul is speaking of.
Paul is saying that in all his struggles in all his suffering God gives him that type of comfort
Paul uses a word here that makes it seem as though God is walking with Paul on a moment to moment basis
But notice Paul just doesn’t limit the comfort of God to anything specific
But states that God comforts him in ALL
Isn’t that a wonderful thought!
How does he do this?
What do beleiver’s get that benefits us in all situations?
The Holy Spirit!
He becomes that comfort, that gift from God that walks along side us.
In fact the Holy Spirit is called our????
The person that helps in the moment of need
The Holy Spirit is called our????
Come on I know you know this
Our helper
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Not to mention look at the word play Paul uses here.
“Our Merciful Father and the source of al comfort”
Do we have any fathers in here?
How many of us know the comfort of a loving Father?
You know I remember as a child, still to this day, I remember being hugged by my father
Hearing his deep voice through his chest as he embraced me.
The comfort I got
the security
the love
the joy
the comfort only a father can give
You know when Sydney comes up to me and she is genuinely hurt or sad and she needs that comfort
I always remember that feeling I got from my father
Its in those moments that I hug her the most.
Those moments my arms wrap entirely around her
to the point she cannot escape, why?
Because i know the comfort that comes from being embraced so deeply that all the cares of the world melt away
I know what it feels like to know with ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE that daddy was going to make everything OK
This is what I want to provide for my daughter
Now contrasting this to the type of comfort Paul is referring to
Paul is stating the exact same thing
A Fathers love
A Fathers embrace
A Fathers comfort
Real quick Turn to
Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
Notice Paul’s deep love and desire for Scripture.
Pauls see Scripture as the answer to the communication gap
Let me ask you, have you ever heard Scripture read and just felt a warm feeling run through your body?
You know I remember as a young 18 year I joined the Army
Believe it or not I was 5’10” 118lbs
Drill sergeants
Now mind you that apart of my joining the army was in part out of rebellion
in fact I hadn’t been to church or opened my bible for months
and I remember the very first day I got there I received about two or three shark attacks
Can anyone relate?
In fact I remember my Drill saying
You will or may forget everything in life but you will never forget my name
To this day I still remember every detail of that man
I felt and admittingly still do feel that this man was pure evil
Lets face it he scared the snot out of me
But it was in those times that I finally opened up my Bible
I didn’t really know what I was reading or didn’t understand what book to even open up to
But I remember that it was the only thing that would give me comfort.
Interesting how we always turn to God in those moments
Brings me to my next point
Actually a couple things here
The purpose of Trials
The purpose of Trials
Paul states that the trials we go through are purposed
First off notice how God draws us in in the midst of trials
But what Paul is saying here is that these situations are meant so that we can show empathy
Why is it that we only come to God in the middle of a issue
I know in multiple situations the inidivual n
Verse 4 makes this very clear
I would argue that a majority if not all of our issues could be solved...
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.
But we all know the reality
Yet sometimes its in these moments that we draw closest to God
The deepest moments where when we were getting shot at
For some this moment may come in the middle of a struggling marriage
Perhaps a problem at work
For me it was Susan’s pregnancy
The doctor told us Sydney possibly had down’s
Of course special needs children are a wonderful gift from God
However no parent wishes this of their unborn child
God used this to bring me back
Lake Avenue
Church on the way
The power of prayer
Another important point in verse 11
And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.
My calling to ministry
Calling to ministry
I grew in God
Nothing is out of his hands
But when we get to a point that we cant control
When we get to a point that we cant control
We desperately look to God
God always brings us back in during these moment
That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Suffering has a purpose
nothing is wasted
I know many people that have felt like an absolute failure
What you may have gone through
What you may have have struggled through
Its purposed in God
Go back to verse 6
what
Our troubles
Allows us to help
Allows them to empathize
This is very important for us service members
Because people don’t understand
As a unified body we become God’s method of providing comfort
But like I said everything for a purpose
While going through his suffering he states
“This time I had scars to corroborate my message about the evil of the atheist view point and to encourage faltering souls to trust God and be brave”
I am sure we have all experience this
Partly this is due to the nature of my dad’s ministry.
I seem to be drawn to these types of people
There is an a boundary that at times I cannot seem to cross
A line of communication that I can’t bridge
Yet when you see a former addict
A man that has turned his life around and come to God
A man that met God in the midst of his trials
that has felt God’s comfort in those moments
that man or woman has the ability to reach that person that is so desperate for healing
This is the unity of the church that Paul so often speaks of
We as a community
***in our saddest more desperate moments, we draw closer to God
***Story about sydney and downs syndrome
Let’s switch gears here
Lets begin to understand something
While in seminary my homiletics proffesor
Never leave without stating two things
The Great Commission
The Gospel
The Great Commission and Paul
The Great Commission and Paul
The Great Commission and Paul
The Great Commission and Paul
Something that is obvious is the reason for the trials Pauls was going through
Evangelism
When you look at the pains he has gone through
The issues he has succomb to
Its not because he is selling girl scout cookies
Paul considers himself a slave to Christ
Turn to Chapter 2
But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.
2 Corinthians 2:
This passage is interesting
The context here is that Romans would hold victory parades
So Paul is saying here that we are the captives of Christ
We are his prize
The perfume in this passage also holds significance
The Romans would light perfumes during these parades
So the perfume was a sign of victory
Paul is saying they are the perfume of victory
Sum this up Paul see his one true purpose
To spread the Gospel of Christ EVERYWHERE
Go back to verse 9
Paul makes a bold statement
In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.
His suffering had given him the strength to carry on
His suffering had forced him to rely on the comfort of God
His suffering had enable him to lean on God
Just as Rev Wurmbrand and so many other Christian’s who suffer
Their suffering has enabled them
Given them the ability to endure
To last through the most horrific of events
You ever thought why Paul would continue?
Over and over, beating after beating
The same happened in Romania
They would beat a pastor for preaching in prison
When he came back from the beating he carried on
Why?
Why would people do this?
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:14
He could have stayed at the temple
He could have enjoyed a lavish life style
After all Paul was growing in the faith beyond all others
But instead
Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.
Application
and I am almost done here
So then what do we do with all of this?
How do we apply this to our lives.
Thank fully many of us will not have to face trials such as Paul
Many of us will never go through what Rev. Wurmbrand and others have gone through
First off I cannot over emphasize the important of prayer
Prayer
Do you find it interesting that in verse 11
Paul is stating they are helping him by praying
Nothing else just prayer
Missionaries feel as though they do more good when they are back here
They aren’t muddying up things with their sin nature
Stay in the Word
For those of us that find it hard to read,
I encourage you to try
Get on a daily reading plan, a journal, something
Its so important for your walk
John Piper once said we need to get alone with God daily
Preach to yourself the Word of God, let the Holy Spirit guide you in those quiet times
Do this until you know for certain that you are loved that you are cared for
Begin to understand the comfort of God as the bold men do
Its a relationship that only has a positive side to it
Let me close with one final bit of Scripture.
I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ
Let’s pray
Application
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of prayer
Reading the Word
Memorizing Scripture
Allowing God to speak to your heart