2 Cor 7:13b-16 Godly Encouragement

Jeff Long

The LIght of the Gospel • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

2 Corinthians 7:13–16

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Godly encouragement in the body of Christ results in joyful refreshment and confidence.

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Godly Encouragement

2 Corinthians 7:13b-16

This week one of our charter members Mrs. Beverly Cloer went to be with Jesus. Beverly and her husband Leary were used of God in my early years as pastor to encourage my heart.

Main Idea: Godly encouragement in the body of Christ results in joyful refreshment and confidence.

Godly encouragement is from God through his people for his purposes

Worldly encouragement is from people for their purposes.

Both understand that people need encouragement, godly encouragement knows that the body of Christ needs encouragement for the sake of the spiritual growth and the mission of the gospel.

Godly encouragement in the body of Christ results in joyful refreshment.

13b And besides our own comfort,

2 Corinthians 7:6-7, 10-13

we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.

“Refreshed” rest and rejuvenation. Life-giving.

Illus: dehydrated person getting an iv.

The time that Titus spent in Corinth proved to be a time of refreshment due to this interaction with the congregation of believers. Their repentance and reception of the message that Titus brought to them, in addition their treatment of him as a minister of the gospel and brother in Christ refreshed Titus.

Throughout Paul’s letters, he writes about people and congregations that have been used of God to bring encouragement to him.

1 Corinthians 16:17–18 ESV

17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, 18 for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.

Why was Paul refreshed? Needed refreshment. Their presence alone.

Above all we must resist the temptation to run away from people’s needs because we do not think we can cope. The troubled do not usually expect us to solve their problems; but they do appreciate our concern and prayerful support. What matters most to people in distress is not ‘saying things’ but ‘being there’. (Barnett 138)

Words do matter...Paul surely enjoyed...news, stories, personal encouragement.

Support for the work of the gospel.

Gifts...reminders of home. Illus: Peanut butter/ candy.

Are we giving and receiving godly encouragement resulting in joyful refreshment?

Romans 15:32 ESV

32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.

Our personal presence with others, our GG, student ministry, congregational gatherings need to be life-giving gatherings.

Covid 19 brings particular challenges to congregational life. As it relates to offering joyful refreshment, which requires intentionality and personal contact, we must be more intentional than ever.

Hard when we are not sure where one another are. GG key to staying in contact. Do not forget one another.

Those of you who have underlying health concerns and need to remain quarantined, please make efforts yourself to reach out to others during this season.

If you have fallen into a pattern that you are hardly in contact with the church, take steps today to reach out to others and to receive those who reach out to you.

As members of the body of Christ and this local church, we have a joyful responsibility to one another. Prayerfully consider how you can be used of God to refresh the hearts of others today.

Godly encouragement in the body of Christ results in joyful confidence.

14 For whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true.

“boast” to express an unusually high degree of confidence in someone. Paul’s boast was a Christ-centered boast.

Galatians 6:14 ESV

14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Paul spoke confidently about the Corinthians to Titus. Titus, knowing the content of the letters and the reputation of the Corinthian church was less than confident I am sure. Paul encourages the Corinthians by telling them that he took the risk and offered a godly boast in them. “He boasts in them when they least deserve it, and hardly earn it.” (Seifrid 312)

As a result of their response, he goes on to say...

15 And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling.

Affection (σπλάγχνον) Splagchnon refers to a feeling of “affection, tenderness, compassion, pity.”

They responded to Titus as though he were sent from God to them. They received the Word of God with repentance and obedience. “Their obedience was an obedience to the apostle and his message. And that obedience, in turn, was nothing other than obedience to God.” (Seifrid 312)

Going forward, Paul states emphatically...

16 I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.

Philippians 1:6 ESV

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

We can understand him saying that to the Philippians but to the Corinthians? Paul believed and taught that those who are in Christ will grow and mature in Him and be kept to the end.

What effect does it have on people to hear and understand this truth?

Congregational context #1: You don’t measure up, try harder. (discouraging)

Congregational context #2: You are awesome, live like it. (false confidence)

Congregational context #3: You are in Christ, trust Him. (encouraging) Spiritual growth happens in this context.

We are not trying to earn anything. Christ has accomplished all that can be done. He transforms our lives and the Holy Spirit lives within us. He will finish what He has started and will keep his own until the very end.

Are we giving and receiving godly encouragement resulting in joyful confidence?

Although there are occasions when Christians give cause for disappointment, a (fellow believer) should always exercise confidence on their behalf. If they are regenerate, grace still reigns and will continue to do so. Better days and better ways must come, even though immediate action might be necessary...In the last analysis, the children of God are not to be condemned as failures. (Naylor 335)

Let’s remind ourselves how Paul began his 1st letter to the Corinthians...

1 Corinthians 1:4–9 ESV

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Illus: Our founding pastor M.O. Owens Jr wrote a commentary on 2 Corinthians, he titled it “Encouraging the Saints” exactly what he did. He was one of the most refreshing brothers that I have ever known. His confidence was in Christ and in Christ in you. ripple effect on the church.

Encouragement and joy are contagious and can have a ripple effect in community. (Guthrie 383)

Prayer

Offering

Need for workers to serve kids on Sunday mornings at 9:30 and 11. (3rd/5th and younger preschoolers) Email me pastorjeff@parkwoodonline.org

Tailgate—gathering to say we are starting back. Organized by GG’s. What you are not a part of a group? Great way to make contact with a GG for the first time. Bring your chair and come.

1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 ESV

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.