2 Cor 7:2-9 Godly Comfort
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· 2 viewsGodly comfort comes from God, through the body of Christ, resulting in rejoicing.
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Godly Comfort
Godly Comfort
2 Corinthians 7:2-9
God comforts the downcast. Everyone get discouraged/disheartened. Paul was talking about himself. Gospel ministry comes with seasons of discouragement and depression. How do you continue on? The Lord provides. He continually provides through his people.
Illus: You are a congregation of faithful brothers and sisters. I was in a meeting this week discussing the length of time that I have served this church (28 years) speaks to you.
Reflection later on this text, I think of the countless times you have been used of God to encourage my soul.
Main Idea: Godly comfort comes from God, through the body of Christ, resulting in rejoicing.
Comfort (παράκλησις) lifting of another’s spirits, comfort, consolation (BDAG 766)
Godly comfort comes from God, through the body of Christ.
Godly comfort comes from God, through the body of Christ.
Need for comfort/encouragement
In the face of disagreement or possible conflict
2 Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.
V. 2 picks up with what was stated a few verses earlier...
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.
Note 2 things...Paul is speaking the entire congregation, yet he is addressing 2 groups.
Group 1: Those closed off to Paul and his team… “open your hearts to us”
3 fold appeal. 1. We have wronged no one. 2. We have corrupted no one. 3. We have taken advantage(exploited) of no one.
Clearly, Paul is bothered by the apparent difficulty between him and the congregation he loves at Corinth.
Group 2: Apparently the majority of the congregation share great affection of Paul. However, they in danger of being influenced by some of the negative talk. V. 3-4 speak to his heart toward them.
3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.
Immeasurable love and union with the Corinthians in Christ
4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy. (will come back to v. 4)
Yet, he goes on to explain his love and need for comfort
5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within.
8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.
Repeat v. 5 5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within.
External difficulty and internal fear...likely fear of what had happened to Titus and what was transpiring in Corinth.
Did they receive the letter as intended or did they react in anger and descend deeper into sin?
The great apostle and his team were in need of comfort...see v. 6 “comforts the downcast” reminider...Paul is talking about himself. He needed comfort and encouragement.
Where does comfort come from?
Source of Comfort
6 But God, who comforts the downcast,
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.
Among Christians (and indeed, in the world), there are no absolute givers and no absolute receivers. God alone in Christ remains the absolute Giver. We live in changing roles of receiving and giving, giving and receiving. (Seifrid 305)
We are means of distributing comfort. God uses human agents to bring divine comfort (1:3–7). (CSB Study Bible 1847)
Means of Comfort
Individuals
comforted us by the coming of Titus,
7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
Congregation
7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, Titus is comforted by the Corinthian congregation’s care for him.
Paul is comforted by the expression of concern and love for him personally reported by Titus.
as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.
Paul is comforted by the repentant response to the severe letter.
8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
Illus: sermon on wisdom and alcohol and ending up in the hospital. Sermon was received with maturity and right response as have many difficult sermons that I have had to deliver.
Reflecting on your response and godly comfort causes me to rejoice.
Godly comfort comes from God, through the body of Christ, resulting in rejoicing.
Godly comfort comes from God, through the body of Christ, resulting in rejoicing.
4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort.
Paul speaks boldly and freely of his fond, abundant affection and godly pride in the Corinthians.
In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy. Notice how the two things are distinct, in our minds polar opposites, yet tied together.
Illus: People saying to me in the midst of great difficulty...How do people do something like this without the Lord and his people.
He again puts two things together that seem to be opposed to one another...
9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
Not rejoicing that they were grieved. He rejoices because they were grieved to repentance. Next week, we will look closely at godly grief.
In Philippians we see yet another reason for rejoicing in light of comfort.
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.
Simply concern…technology allows you at any moment to reach out to someone.
Nick Majors text this week: “How are you doing emotionally during all this? How can I pray for you? Answer: Much better. I have had some discouraging periods. Pray for 2 Cor. 1:3-4 to be at work in me and through me.
So What?
So What?
Are we both experiencing and evidencing the God of all comfort in our comfort of one another?
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.
Difference between Consumer Christianity and Comfort Christianity.
Consumer Christianity...What can you do for me? In light of Covid, may sound something like…”no one has reached out to me”
Comfort (not comfortable) Christianity says who around me can I comfort and encourage.
When I comfort others with the comfort that the Lord gives, I am again comforted.
Illus: We are all struggling with discouragement/depression. Covid and all the trimmings has been hard on each one of us.
Not, who needs comfort? Who should I reach to and encourage?
Be the church that you are by reaching out to offer comfort and encouragement.
GG discussion, need to apply the text, not simply talk about how to apply.
23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, 24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Red shirts can pray with you.
Prayer for offering
Info Guide and coming events and ministry opportunities.
Church is growing during this.
Live as his people wherever we go.
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