Comfort
2 Corinthians 1. Paul had experienced many trials and tribulations and especially while at Ephesus (Acts 19) where the revival had led into a riot. Paul had to leave town and head back to Philippi. There he met up with Titus who gave him a report on the Corinthian church, and it was at this time Paul penned the second letter to the Corinthians. And in these first eleven verses Paul's topic is "comfort". Paul wanted them to know that the "God of all comfort" is the One who was comforting him at that time after he was run out of Ephesus. And that He is the same God of all comfort who will comfort them in their trials and tribulations.
There are three things I want you to see in these first eleven verses. 1) A Principle 2) A Purpose 3) Prayer. First the principle.
1) Principle: 1:8-9
Many times I hear people say "God won't put more on you than you can stand." Paul will tell you here that is absolutely untrue. Paul said we were to the point of death and had no where to turn but God. He had put more on Paul than Paul could stand, so much so that Paul had to fully rely upon the Lord. Instead of trusting in his own wits, he had to totally trust in God. Will God put more on you than you can stand? Absolutely. Why? So that you will totally rely on Him-v.9.
2) Purpose 1:3-4
Here Paul says that God comes alongside of us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, He brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can comfort them and be there for them just as God was for us. Here's the purpose: God does not comfort us to make us comfortable; He comforts us to make us comforters!
3) Prayer 1:11
Paul tells the Corinthians that their prayers were part of the process God used to deliver them. "You and your prayers were a vital part to our rescue operations...", Paul was saying. The same still occurs today. Have you ever wrestled with something or been discouraged by something when suddenly you felt an infusion of peace and life and joy, and you knew someone was praying for you? That's what Paul was saying here, "When we were despairing even of life itself, you helped us by praying for us...you played a crucial part in our rescue."
In the trials of life understand the principle, understand the purpose and exercise prayer.
"The God who washed away our sins,
will also wipe away our tears!" --a quote from tomorrow's Our Daily Bread.
There are three things I want you to see in these first eleven verses. 1) A Principle 2) A Purpose 3) Prayer. First the principle.
1) Principle: 1:8-9
Many times I hear people say "God won't put more on you than you can stand." Paul will tell you here that is absolutely untrue. Paul said we were to the point of death and had no where to turn but God. He had put more on Paul than Paul could stand, so much so that Paul had to fully rely upon the Lord. Instead of trusting in his own wits, he had to totally trust in God. Will God put more on you than you can stand? Absolutely. Why? So that you will totally rely on Him-v.9.
2) Purpose 1:3-4
Here Paul says that God comes alongside of us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, He brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can comfort them and be there for them just as God was for us. Here's the purpose: God does not comfort us to make us comfortable; He comforts us to make us comforters!
3) Prayer 1:11
Paul tells the Corinthians that their prayers were part of the process God used to deliver them. "You and your prayers were a vital part to our rescue operations...", Paul was saying. The same still occurs today. Have you ever wrestled with something or been discouraged by something when suddenly you felt an infusion of peace and life and joy, and you knew someone was praying for you? That's what Paul was saying here, "When we were despairing even of life itself, you helped us by praying for us...you played a crucial part in our rescue."
In the trials of life understand the principle, understand the purpose and exercise prayer.
"The God who washed away our sins,
will also wipe away our tears!" --a quote from tomorrow's Our Daily Bread.
posted by Royce Hendry at
6:16 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home