Encouragement in Adversity
Authentic Church • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 8 viewsThe ways God encouraged Paul after a long a difficult struggle in his ministry.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
the bible is loaded with examples of discouragement
Elijah after confronting the prophets of Baal on Mt Carmel ()
David coming home with his band of soldiers to find their village burning and their wives and children taken captive (1 Sam 30:1-6)
the very men whom he led into battle turned against him and threatened to stone him
“But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God”
Jeremiah who was given the unenviable task of preaching to a people who would reject him, his message and even threaten his life!
known as the weeping prophet
wrote a book called “Lamentations”
Discouragement is a regular part of life in a sin cursed world and it often makes its way into the lives and ministries of God’s people.
When Paul came to Corinth he was a discouraged man.
he was a discouraged man
before his 2nd missionary journey even began he had a sharp disagreement with his fellow pastor and co-labourer Barnabas which ended their working partnership
on the first part of his journey he travelled back through the places he and Barnabas had planted churches on his first missionary journey
returning to Derbe and Lystra Paul reconnected with Timothy who would become his protege and partner, this was probably the highpoint of his trip
from there his trip became more and more difficult and discouraging
as he and his team travelled through Phrygia and Galatia the HS kept preventing him from preaching the word
there must have been times when he second guessed his decision to take this journey
was he wrong in his disagreement with Barnabas?
was there some failure on his part which was the cause of the HS’s keeping him back?
when they finally reached Troas on the edge of the sea he must have wondered if they were at a dead end!
after a vision in the night they decided God was leading them to Macedonia so they travelled to Thessalonca and very shortly after arriving and ministering there they were chased out by by a mob of jealous Jews and wicked men
Paul preached in Athens as a result of his being chased out of Thessalonica and Berea by irate Jews who rejected his teaching about Jesus rising from the dead as their Messiah
they were in so much danger that Paul and his team had to be spirited out at night!
when they fled to Berea the Thessalonian Jews pursued him so that he was forced to flee again and ended up in Athens
when he came to Athens he was provoked by the plethora of idols and though he faithfully preached the word only a few were saved
though a few were saved and a church is never mentioned in Athens
it is more than likely the believers there met together for worship and instruction in the Word
Paul then left Athens and travelled the 85 kms west to Corinth
if he was provoked by the idolatry and hardness of heart of the Athenians he must have been dismayed by the cess pool of moral vice in Corinth
how do we know that Paul was discouraged?
when looking back on his time in Corinth he writes in ,
3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all.
how uncharacteristic of the great Apostle Paul!!
when he came to Corinth he says he was weak and fearful
1
he was literally shaking, perhaps sick?
while Paul was in Corinth he wrote his 2 letters to Thessalonians
in his letters to them, listen to what he says about his time in Corinth,
7 for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.
1 Th 3:7
When Paul came to Corinth he experienced 5 discouraging emotions: weakness, fear, much trembling, distress and affliction. (; Thess 3:7)
Paul was a hurting man!
it was out of dark time that Paul gave this counsel in ,
13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
as he wrote this from Corinth he was writing out of his own experience
2 Thess 3:
the troubles and trials of his ministry had worn him out!
Principle:
discouragement is a fact of life
it is something we have all experienced
shattered dreams and goals, the struggles we face at work, and certainly not least in our family and church relationships
how much more so as we long to live for Christ and be faithful to him (Rom 7)
the struggles and challenges which inevitably come to us all can easily lead us to become weary, discouraged, fearful and distressed
When we face the discouragements of life and ministry we must never forget that our God is an encourager!
The names of God which speak of help and comfort: El-Roi, Yahweh-Rohi, Yahweh-Rapha, Yahweh-Jireh.
El-Roi (el-roh-ee)- God of seeing () - God saw Hagar in her distress and met her need
Yahweh-Rohi - (yahweh roh-hee) - The Lord our Shepherd () - I shall not want
Yahweh-Rapha - The Lord who heals () - God healed the bitter water and told the people that if they obeyed him they would not experience the diseases he inflicted on the Egyptians
Yahweh-Jireh - The Lord will provide () - God provided a ram in place of Isaac
Paul writes of this
the HS given to live within us is called, the Helper! ()
in our passage today we are going to see how God helped his weary servant Paul and it is my hope and prayer that as we do so we too will be encouraged in our endeavours to continue to walk with the Lord and do his will in every area of our lives
and it is my hope and prayer that as we do so we too will be encouraged in our endeavours to walk with God and do his will in every area of our lives
Paul’s Arrival in Corinth (v.1)
Paul’s Arrival in Corinth (v.1)
we see in our passage that after addressing the Areopagus, Paul travelled from Athens to Corinth
where Athens was a city of learning, of culture, of art, Corinth was a city of trade, commerce and the pursuit of the lusts of the flesh
Corinth was a city of vice and debauchery
Corinth could well be called sin city
it was so well known for its vice and debauchery that the name Corinthian came to mean someone who was given to drunkenness and sexual immorality
to Corinthianise was to go a whoring
characterized the city, from the slaves to the upper crust
the reason for this: Corinth was a centre of trade and travel
people from all over the Roman world travelled to it or through it on their trading journeys and as such it became a place to satisfy their lusts and sinful desires
[map of Corinth showing it to be critical trade route between Europe and Asia]
the isthmus is only about 5 miles wide
any north/south traffic had to go through Corinth
because of the east/west traffic by ship
because of the length of time and the treacherous waters to the south those transporting cargo east/west by ship would take the shortcut through Corinth
cargo would be unloaded and carried to a ship on the other side either by slaves or on carts pulled by animals
in some cases smaller ships would be pulled out of the water on rollers and rolled to the other side!
why didn’t they build a canal - they did but it wasn’t finished until 1893
because Corinth was in a very strategic location a tremendous amount of traffic went through it
a tremendous amount of traffic went through it
it became a place to entertain all the people travelling through
other reasons the city was a centre of vice and corruption
another reason it was a popular place was that the Isthmian games, second only to the Olympics, were held in this city
other reasons the city was a centre of vice and corruption
famous temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was located on a peak of rock overseeing the city
famous temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was located on rocky peak overseeing the city
1000 priestesses who were glorified prostitutes would descend on the city at night to ply their trade
“Korinthos, there, on account of the multitude of courtesans, who were sacred to Aphrodite, outsiders resorted in great numbers and kept holiday. And the merchants and soldiers who went there squandered all their money so that the following proverb arose in reference to them: 'Not for every man is the voyage to Korinthos."
Corinth
Corinth was a renowned hub of commerce and vice
it is in this city, marked by gross immorality and evil behaviour that the Apostle Paul was to have a very fruitful ministry!
what is known about the city of Paul’s day?
Principle:
it is striking that in contrast to glorious Athens a church was planted in filthy Corinth
what is known about the church he planted there from his letters?
there is often more hope for those overcome by vice than those devoted to learning and art
example of Jesus’ ministry to tax collectors and sinners vs. the self-righteous religious leaders!
God may not do much with the self-righteous intellectuals but he does much with rotten sinners!
the church established there enjoyed more spiritual gifts than many others
so having been chased and hassled and attacked everywhere he went, Paul landed in the cess pool of Corinth and it is no wonder that he was weary and discouraged
but God is a God of encouragement and we are going to see how he comforted Paul in his distress
God is concerned with the emotional wellbeing of his people!
do you believe that?
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
if you need encouragement what will God do? he will meet your need!
we often experience discouragement in our lives
it’s the result of living in a sin cursed world
hopes and dreams for our lives or the lives of those we love don’t come to pass
you pour yourself into someone and instead of thanks you get unjust criticism
you look at your lot in life and see that it hasn’t worked out the way you thought it would
we all experience these things but God is a God of encouragement
Paul comes to Corinth and he is discouraged and weary and God is going to comfort him!
Encouragement Through Friends (vv.2-5)
Encouragement Through Friends (vv.2-5)
Paul is weary, he is discouraged, he is downhearted and he comes to Corinth and he is all alone
God knows that his servant is in need and so encourages him through friends
first, God encourages him through others
New Friends With New Opportunities
New Friends With New Opportunities
what the bible says about friends:
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.
God brings 2 new friends into Paul’s life
they became such a blessing to him that he mentions them again and again throughout his letters
notice what Luke says in v.2
2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them,
Aquila was a Jew like Paul and they were also believers
Aquila and Priscilla would become some of Paul’s most beloved friends and co-workers.
we’re told that Aquila and Priscilla were in Corinth because they were kicked out of Rome with all of the other Jews
the reason for Claudius’ expulsion is unclear
previous expulsions in occurred in 139BC and 19BC for aggressive Jewish missionary efforts
a historian named Seutonius wrote of this expulsion by Claudius, 70 yrs later, saying that the reason was the Jews rioting over a person named Chrestus
the problem is that there is no record of such a person
in the Greek language, commonly spoken at the time, Chrestus is only 1 letter removed from Christos!
it is not unlikely the Jews were expelled from Rome over their rioting over the influx of Christianity
we saw this Thessalonica! (Acts 17:5-8)
not only did Paul gain new friends in Aquila and Priscilla but co-workers
notice verse 3:
3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.
Acts
not only did Paul gain Christian friends but co-workers
Paul and Aquila shared the same trade of tentmaking
Paul used this trade to support his ministry rather than demanding financial support from those he taught
he did so in order to remove any impediment to the gospel
Aquila’s home and tentmaking shop were most likely one and the same and Paul stayed with them and worked with them
Principle:
Aquila and Priscilla encouraged Paul by showing him hospitality.
what a blessing it is to be invited to someone’s home to share a meal, to speak of Christ, to share of how the Lord saved you, to talk of how Christ is working your life
an area of Christian life where some of us need to grow!
it is a great blessing to those who host and a great blessing to those hosted!
it is interesting that Jesus used this very kind of ministry to encourage his despondent disciples in
Jesus knew his disciples were downhearted and discouraged and sought to encourage them with an open invitation
Jesus described heaven in terms of a household! (John 14:1-3)
1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
if you are discouraged invite someone over and you will likely be encouraged
if you are encouraged invite someone over and you will likely encourage them
as Paul worked to support himself with his new found friends and co-workers, he continued to preach the gospel
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
because there was no church yet Paul had to support himself, thus he could only teach at the local synagogue every Sabbath
he did so because he did not want to be a burden on them
writing to the Thessalonians from Corinth:
9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
2 Thess 3:
8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.
he didn’t want anything to hinder them from hearing and accepting the gospel, so he worked until God provided
he proved to them and to the Corinthians that we wasn’t there for himself, he was there for them
Paul is an example of the principle that when we prove ourselves faithful in ministry God richly provides.
and what was his goal his ministry? to convince his own Jewish people that Jesus was their Messiah
so we see God encouraging Paul with his new friends, Aquila and Priscilla, a brother and sister in the Lord, working with them in making tents, and living with them in their home
however, if new friends are great, old friends are even better!
Old Friends With Wonderful News (v.5)
Old Friends With Wonderful News (v.5)
5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.
Encouragement Through Old Friends (v.5)
Encouragement Through Old Friends (v.5)
Paul’s dear friends and co-workers, Silas and Timothy, finally arrived!
Paul was preaching and teaching in a synagogue when Silas and Timothy arrived on a Sabbath day
Not only was Paul encouraged by the arrival of his old friends but he was encouraged by their good news!
timeline:
Paul was chased out of Thessalonica and then Berea (; )
from Berea Paul travelled to Athens and sent instructions to Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible ()
when Silas and Timothy arrived in Athens Paul sent them back because of his deep concern for the wellbeing of the churches
Timothy was sent back to Thessalonica ()
Silas was sent to Philippi (; )
Timothy’s news from Thessalonica
they became imitators of Paul and his team in spite of great affliction ()
they became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia ()
their faith in God became known everywhere ()
having been chased away so quickly what amazing news of their growth, maturity and perseverance!
Paul’s response
6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you—
7 for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.
8 For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God,
10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
1 Thess 3:6
Silas’ gift from Philippi
when Paul left Philippi there was only the families of Lydia and the jailer who had believed
not only was the Philippian church thriving but they had taken up an offering for Paul’s ongoing work
9 And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.
11 And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
2 Cor 11:9-10
so we see how God encouraged Paul with the arrival of his old friends Silas and Timothy and their wonderful news
even more so how he was revitalized with the knowledge that their work in Thessalonica and Philippi had not been in vain?
what joy! what comfort! what relief!
how gracious and kind God was to Paul in his time of weakness, fear, and discouragement!
Principle:
the work of the ministry is often hard and difficult and thankless and we can become discouraged and down hearted
we are called to serve one another and that is often a difficult and thankless job!
one of the ways God encourages us is through friends, both new and old
God often uses the people in our lives to remind us that our labours for him are never in vain!
sometimes it’s an encouraging word
sometimes it’s an affirmation of effective ministry
sometimes it’s a reaffirmation of love
sometimes it’s a simple invitation to a meal and fellowship
a further encouragement for Paul
As a result of the gift from the Philippians Paul was able to stop tent making and devote himself full-time to his ministry of preaching the Gospel!
notice what it says at the end of v.5,
Paul’s message: Jesus is the Anointed/Messiah promised in the OT
“Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.”
that word occupied means “to be or become fully engaged or engrossed in some particular activity
Paul’s message: Jesus is the Anointed/Messiah promised in the OT
having been blessed by the Philippian church Paul was able to devote himself fully to the ministry in Corinth
to be preoccupied v. — to be or become fully engaged or engrossed in some particular activity.Paul’s message: Jesus is the Anointed/Messiah promised in the OT
he was able to pour himself out in his great passion, to bring the Gospel to a lost world
Paul was opposed and reviled for this message
opposed: organized opposition
reviled: they blasphemed against Jesus (a forgivable sin)
he shook out his garments
an act of judgment
Jews would do this when re-entering Israel after a trip into Gentile lands
they were shaking the Gentile dust of their feet so as not to contaminate Israelite land
he went to the Gentiles
opposed: they were against Paul
he stopped bringing the word to the Jews
a terrible judgment
reviled: they blasphemed against Jesus (a forgivable sin)
God’s normal way of saving people is through preaching - see
he shook out his garments
an act of judgment
he went to the Gentiles
he stopped bringing the word to the Jews
a terrible judgment
God’s normal way of saving people is through preaching - see
he went next door and taught in the home of Titius Justus where the synagogue ruler Crispus believed (this was most likely not a sabbath day when Crispus would normally be occupied with his leadership role in the synagogue)
many believed and were baptized
Encouragement From God Himself (vv.9-10)
Encouragement From God Himself (vv.9-10)
God’s encouragement to Paul
don’t be afraid but keep preaching
promise of his presence
promise no one would attack and harm him
“I have many in this city who are my people” (v.10)
they were as yet unbelievers who still had to hear the gospel and be saved
this points to the doctrine of election and predestination
God set his saving love on some (not all) before creation and gave them to the Lord Jesus (placed them into the hand of the Lord Jesus)
Jesus died for them and not one of them will be lost
without knowing who those persons in Corinth were, Paul’s responsibility was to preach the word
needed to trust God to bring them to hear or to guide him to preach to them
needed converts to share their testimony as well
Paul stayed 18 months teaching the word
Paul’s goal to strengthen and equip the church so that it could
this is what every church needs: to be strengthened in its knowledge and understanding and application of the Word so that they will be able to fulfill their mission
salt and light to the world
spread the gospel
resist the effort of the world to make it conform
bring every thought captive to Christ
pillar and ground of the truth
he Failure of a United Attack (vv.12-17)
he Failure of a United Attack (vv.12-17)
he Failure of a United Attack (vv.12-17)
Encouragement Through Failed Opposition (vv.12-17)
Encouragement Through Failed Opposition (vv.12-17)
Encouragement Through Failed Opposition (vv.12-17)
Encouragement Through Failed Opposition (vv.12-17)
God told Paul that no one would “attack to harm him” (v.10)
the Jews’ wanted Gallio to affirm their religious beliefs about how God was to be worshipped
Gallio refused to hear the suit because it had to do with Jewish beliefs rather than Roman law
he drove the Jews out of the tribunal
beating Sosthenes appears to be against Roman law but Gallio did not respond
God encouraged Paul through new friends, Aquila and Priscilla
they showed him hospitality and became co-workers both in tent making and in preaching the gospel
God encouraged Paul through old friends, Silas and Timothy
they brought encouraging news that their labours had not been for nothing!
Our God Is an Encouraging God!
Our God Is an Encouraging God!
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isa 40:
In his second letter to the Corinthians Paul recounts God’s comfort when he was discouraged. ()
10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
2 cor 1:
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
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.
5 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 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.
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Ps 23