Class Lesson February 23, 2020

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

The boll weevil has not been kind to America. After it first migrated from Mexico in 1892, it quickly began to wreak havoc on one of the primary crops in America: cotton. Thanks to the boll weevil: 

• Cotton production dropped 50 percent within five years. 
• Land values dropped as local economies bottomed out. Unable to work, an estimated six million people, mostly African-American farm workers, migrated from the south to the north in what came to be called the Great Migration. 
• Losses were estimated at $23 billion.

Why would anyone honor the boll weevil? Yet that’s what the town of Enterprise, Alabama, did. Cotton was once king, but since the boll weevil was killing the industry, the farmers around Enterprise switched to other crops and found them to be more profitable. So they erected a monument in the pest’s honor. The boll weevil forced them to look in another direction, and that ultimately benefited them. 1

We don’t need to honor the pain points in our lives, but let’s consider how we can use those pain points as a way to honor the One who walks beside us.

THE POINT: 

Every part of life—including difficulties—is an opportunity to glorify God.

THE PASSAGE: 

2 Corinthians 4:7-18

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

2 Corinthians 4:7-11

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

“Treasure” is such an inviting word. We seek treasure. We prize the people or things we love as treasures. But what is the treasure to which Paul was referring? Based on the previous verses, Paul could be referring to his ministry or the gospel—“the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). Considering that Paul’s life and ministry were totally wrapped up with the gospel, Paul’s treasure could be both. His treasure was what he possessed and proclaimed in Christ.

Paul seemed amazed that God would put this incredible treasure—the light and gospel of Christ—in human vessels that are as common and insignificant as “earthen vessels”—clay jars. During Paul’s time, clay jars were extremely common. Every family had lots of them in their home. They were fragile, but if one broke, you simply picked up another one. The importance of the clay jar was not in itself, but in what it carried. In a similar way, our bodies are fragile; we’re prone to “break.” Yet God uses us to be vessels of His glory and truth. The contrast between ourselves—these fragile earthen vessels—and the glory of God inside us causes others to be amazed with what they see in us: the light of Jesus.

DIGGING DEEPER EARTHEN VESSELS

Picturing himself as an ordinary, everyday utensil conveying an invaluable treasure is as striking an image as Paul’s picture of himself as a defeated but joyous prisoner marching in God’s triumphal procession (2:14). Such an image underscores his weakness. An earthen vessel is “quintessentially fragile,” prone to breakage, easily chipped and cracked. A breakable vessel offers no protection for the treasure (except from dust and water). The image therefore serves to emphasize the contrast between Paul’s own pitiful weakness and the great power of God.

Second, the image highlights Paul’s lowliness. He has in mind earthenware jars or, perhaps, the small, cheap pottery lamps. Neither were things of beauty. They lacked any outward luster in contrast to the treasure, and their cheapness would disguise the fact that they contained anything valuable at all. The contrast would emphasize the priceless value of the treasure compared to Paul’s relative worthlessness. What the earthen vessel contains is the only thing that gives it importance.

Third, the image highlights Paul’s expendability. Earthen vessels had no enduring value and were so cheap that when they were broken no one attempted to mend them. They simply discarded them. Broken glass was melted down to make new glass; an earthenware vessel, once hardened in a kiln, was nonrecyclable. Easily broken, they were also easily replaced and not worth repairing. But the vessel is essential. David Garland, 2 Corinthians, vol. 29, The New American Commentary, ed. E. Ray Clendenen (Nashville: B&H, 1999). WordSearch ed. 

The earthen vessel is different from the treasure, yet because of the treasure of Christ in our lives we are …

·       … “troubled on every side, yet not distressed.”

·       … “perplexed, but not in despair.”

·       … “persecuted, but not forsaken.”

·       … “cast down, but not destroyed.”

Whatever may happen to us bodily has no bearing on the life we have in Christ.

Paul and his traveling companions knew this by experience. They had endured much as they spread the light and glory of the gospel of Jesus. As they traveled, they were keenly aware they carried “in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” Earlier, Paul had written to the Galatians: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal. 2:20). They were troubled, perplexed, persecuted, and cast down in their bodies, but the resurrection and glory of Jesus was clearly evident and on full display.

Everything we do and say is a reflection of the gospel in us. Even when we face hardship and suffer, we still can reflect and glorify Jesus in our lives. We are merely earthen vessels, but we are carrying the world’s most important message everywhere we go.

Question 2: 

When have you seen someone glorify God when afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, or struck down?

2 Corinthians 4:12-15

12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

We might wonder what good can come from pain and difficulties, but those moments of trial can and should be opportunities to point to Christ and offer Him thanks. We’re not thankful for the hardship itself but for what it accomplishes. Paul and his ministry team faced persecution and even death, but it was for the blessing and benefit of the people of Corinth. “So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” Paul endured all of his trials and adversity knowing it would benefit the people who would hear the gospel and trust in Jesus. It was because Paul was willing to suffer such hardship, that people were able to hear the gospel and find life!

The life Paul had in his mortal body was a gift from God and would be made manifest in his own future resurrection. When his physical body died, his life didn’t end. Paul endured because he had the knowledge of his own eternal life in Christ. “Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.” He could endure any hardship, because this short life is not all there is.

Paul could also endure any and all things because it benefited the Corinthians and all those he sought to reach. The result? “The abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.”

  

In May of 2004, our daughter Hadley was born premature. She weighed only 15½ ounces and was in mortal danger for weeks. We were terrified. We were scared of losing her. We were scared of having to care for this tiny, sickly little girl. Yet after 108 days, our little girl was well enough to go home. It was a hard road, but we are thankful how God worked. He used His church to rally around and support us. His Holy Spirit brought to us “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Phil. 4:7).

We are thankful how God continues to use us because of what we endured. In the years since Hadley came home, we have been in touch with many parents in similar situations. We are thankful for the opportunities He has given us to come alongside others and give comfort and hope to them, as others gave hope and comfort to us.

Question 3: 

How can suffering lead to the spread of the gospel?

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Pain and suffering hit us all. It may be for a brief time, but for others, pain is something they’ve lived with for years. Many of us are walking through suffering right now. And if you aren’t aware of any hardship at the moment, just wait. It’ll come. Regardless of the source of our difficulties, we’re called to endure. Paul assured us, “For which cause we faint not,” and He gave us the reason.

Question 4: 

What keeps you from giving up when life gets hard?

The answer is largely in the verses we just examined. We endure because He has shown us mercy and grace. We endure because it draws us closer to God as we keep focused on Him. We endure because it displays the power of God and the life we have in Him.

We can also endure and not give up when we keep our suffering in perspective. From the viewpoint of our eternity with Christ, whatever we endure in this life is “our light affliction.” Even if we were to suffer for the rest of our earthly lives, that is a short span of time when compared with eternity.

The rewards of our eternity with Christ far outweigh the pain of the temporal. When we allow God to work in us, we find strength. We grow in Christ. “But though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” This truth then changes our focus from what we can see (the here and now) to what we can’t currently see (eternity).

Karen Alexander Doyel lives out this truth. She has fought cancer and survived. She lost her husband in a tragic accident when her sons were young adults. She is fighting cancer again and has survived in the face of all odds. Yet, she is more on fire to share the love of Christ now than ever before. How can that be? She feels so “free!” When I (Candace) encountered her at a women’s conference, it was clear she had lost weight. Her hair was still in the process of growing back, and she seemed fragile. In spite of appearances, she struck me as the strongest woman in the room. She had a fire in her belly to boldly proclaim Him to anyone who would listen. She was beautiful. Her outward body was weak—she had to sit down on a stool as her physical body faltered—but spiritually she was strong. Only God could do that. She is a living testimony that “though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

We, too, can stand strong because a far greater glory awaits us in Christ.

Question 5: 

What are some practical ways we can develop a better focus on eternal things?

ENGAGE

Think of several instances of suffering that you or someone close to you have experienced. Then write words of praise to God demonstrating how each moment has drawn you close to Him.

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

LIVE IT OUT

How will you use your life to bring glory to God?

Pray. Ask God for help when you endure suffering. Ask Him to draw you closer to Him. Ask a few close friends to pray for you and remind you of God’s love for you.

Journal. One way to discover how God is at work is to use a journal to write down your prayers and observations. In time, you can look back at your writing to see what He taught you and how you have grown in Christ.

Share. Tell someone else of your experience with God during a time of difficulty or suffering. It’s your story to share. Look at it as a gift to someone who is suffering now. Pray and ask God to make you aware of any opportunities to use your story to encourage or help others.

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Keep Your Eyes On Me

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Hope to see everyone this Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan

Teacher Notes:

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HOW CAN I HONOR GOD IN MY SUFFERING?

I Still Believe is a Christian film based on the life of singer-songwriter Jeremy Camp and his first wife, Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer shortly before they married. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and died on February 5, 2001, when he was 23 and she was 21. "I Still Believe" was the first song he wrote after her death. The film is coming out in 2020. This is the true-life story of Christian music mega star Jeremy Camp and his remarkable journey of love and loss that proves there is always hope in midst of tragedy and that faith tested is only faith worth sharing.

So, in the spirit of the song I ask you all to finish the phrase. 

"I still believe..."

...in the good in people.

...children are our future.

...we all can make a difference!

...God loves us.

...in both a place called Hope and that shining city on the hill.

...Hillary should go to jail!!

...Keith Richards was replaced by a robot.

...this is the greatest country in the world!

...in marriage and family

...Lee Harvey Oswald did NOT act alone.

...in the power of prayer.

I still believe in Your faithfulness,

I still believe in Your truth,

I still believe in Your holy word 

Even when I don't see, I still believe

I still believe God brings good out of bad situations!

An elderly pastor was asked what’s the one question he had gotten over the years more than any other? His answer was, “why?”. He went on to say that the people asking the question were often experiencing some tragic suffering or watching someone they love endure misery. So many times, there’s really not a clear answer. The best I can do is to be emotionally present, compassionate, empathetic, and at the right time, try to redirect their focus from “why” something happened, to “how” they can use it to glorify God.

Jesus teaches us this very thing in John 9:1-3, “As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

There are at least four ways to glorify God in our suffering:

1. If there is sin in our life that has contributed to our suffering, we can glorify God by confessing it, repenting of it, and seeking to walk away from it.
2. While we are suffering, we can respond with love for God and godly character so other believers see our honesty about the grief and hope in the Lord.
3. Suffering provides an opportunity to witness to non-Christians who know us and see our faith revealed in our suffering as we walk with the Lord through our sorrow.
4. Suffering increases our ability to minister to others who are suffering with compassion, empathy, and understanding.

Now, you are probably thinking that in moments of pain, most of us tend to focus on getting rid of the pain. Our first thought isn’t usually, how can I honor God? But, when we step away from the pain and objectively see what we’re going through, we may see how our reactions to the pain and our belief toward whatever happened, actually reflects our trust—or lack of trust—in God. We live in a world focused on self. As believers, however, we are to point away from ourselves to the One we love and trust—even during the hard times.

This morning, Paul is going to give us 3 more ways we can honor God in our suffering:

2 Corinthians 4:7-11

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.

Paul reminds us here that we may think we are at the end of our rope, but we are never at the end of our hope.

We can honor God in our suffering:

I. By still believing in His faithfulness. Not giving up, no matter what!

What did Paul mean when he spoke of “treasure in jars of clay”? What are the jars of clay in reference to? In what ways are we like clay jars?

• Jars of clay / Earthen vessels were inexpensive and very breakable.
• Paul used these terms as symbols of the human body. Paul no doubt bore the scars of his persecutions, and that made his body look frail and weak.

What was Paul referring to as this treasure?

• The supremely valuable message of salvation in Jesus Christ has been entrusted by God to frail and fallible human beings (jars of clay). Paul’s focus was not on the perishable container but on its priceless contents – God’s power dwelling inside us.
• Though we are weak, God uses us to spread His Good News, and He gives us the power to do His work. Knowing this power is His, not ours, should keep us from pride and motivate us to keep daily contact with God – our power source.
• Our responsibility is to let people see God through us.

Paul was able to still believe when he was hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted and struck down, because God’s power and faithfulness insured him that he was not crushed, in despair, abandoned or destroyed.

• Despite being hard pressed – Paul was not crushed; he was able to continue doing what God had called him to do.
• He was perplexed – he did not see a way out but despite this, he was not in despair – he knew God would provide a way out.
• He was persecuted – yet knew God had not abandoned him.
• He was struck down – but was not destroyed – he still believed and kept going.

In each of these instances, God’s power triumphed over human weakness. God still works in that way today.

2 Corinthians 4:12-15

So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

“I believed, and therefore have I spoken” – Paul borrowed this phrase from Psalm 116:10. The psalmist had faced all kinds of hardships – even to the point of death – but he still trusted God to take care of him.

We can honor God in our suffering:

II. By still believing in His truth and giving thanks and praise for it.

• We might wonder what good can come from pain and difficulties, but those moments of trial can and should be opportunities to point to Christ and offer Him thanks. We’re not thankful for the hardship itself but for what it accomplishes – the spread of the gospel.

How can suffering lead to the spread of the gospel?

• The way we endure suffering becomes an opportunity for us to demonstrate our trust in God.
• Just as we identify with Christ in His suffering, we can identify with Him in His resurrection.
• Our suffering for Christ may be instrumental in leading others to know His marvelous grace in their own lives.
• All our situations in life can become opportunities for giving thanksgiving and praise to God.
• In all things, we are to seek God’s glory.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

It is easy to lose heart and quit. We all have faced problems in our life that have caused us to want to just walk away. But Paul says rather than giving up, concentrate on experiencing the inner strength from the Holy Spirit. Your very weakness allows the resurrection power of Christ to strengthen you moment by moment.

We can honor God in our suffering:

III. By still believing in His Holy Word and its promise.

What is the promise?

• A far greater glory awaits us with God in heaven. Paul had faced suffering, trials, and distress as he preached the Good News. But he knew that they would one day be over and he would obtain God’s rest and rewards. As we face trouble, its easy to focus on the pain rather than our ultimate goal. Just as athletes concentrate on the finish line and ignore their discomfort, we too must focus on the reward for our faith and the joy that lasts forever. No matter what happens to us in this life, we have the assurance of eternal life, when all suffering will end and all sorrow will flee away.
• We must keep our eyes on things that are eternal. When we get to heaven, our earthly problems will be insignificant. Our confidence of eternal life in heaven enables us to endure the sufferings of this world.

What are some practical ways we can develop a better focus on eternal things?

Every part of life – including difficulties – is an opportunity to still believe and glorify God.

Conclusion: If we are not careful, we can become so consumed by our difficulties, that we lose sight of everything else. In our despair, we see only what is around us. We become inwardly focused. We lose hope. We contribute nothing to the well-being of others. We may think God has forgotten us. And even if we think of Him, we may convince ourselves we have nothing to offer. Such was not Paul’s attitude toward the suffering he encountered because of his service to Christ. His difficult days were only another opportunity to display his faith, to praise God for hope, and to reflect on the greater glory that awaited him. We do well to emulate his thinking and his action. And we can do so because the power and ability available to Paul is still available to us though the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. As Christians, we have something beyond. Therefore, we need not grow weary or faint.

Class Lesson February 16, 2020

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

Chicken soup. A whole lot of people have a bowl of chicken soup as soon as a head cold hits. Others will try every over-the-counter medication available. Still others are firm believers in their grandmother’s home remedy. It works for them, so they become evangelists for Grandma’s cure-all. Some home remedies might seem unusual. For example, some people fill a sock with either onions or chicken fat and then wrap the sock around their necks. (We can’t vouch for this, but the sight and the smell of that sock would certainly alert others that you have a cold!)

But every child knows that, when you’re sick, there’s nothing quite like having a parent right next to you. Anyone’s presence helps, but when it’s a parent—someone who loves and cares for you no matter what—their presence makes all the difference.

The comfort of someone’s presence makes a difference when we suffer. God is certainly present with us and we will see in 2 Corinthians that we can be God’s presence and comfort to others when they suffer.

Abide Prayer

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WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

2 Corinthians 1:3-4a

3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4a Who comforteth us in all our tribulation,

Up to this point in our study, we have considered the “hows” and “whys” of pain and suffering: What we want is relief from suffering. Paul pointed us to the Source of that relief: God. He is “the God of all comfort.” This was not a new concept in Scripture; the Bible continually reveals God to be comforting and compassionate.

“Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him” (Ps. 103:13). Probably the most well-known and beloved reference to God’s comfort is in Psalm 23: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (23:4).

How exactly does God comfort us? We typically view comfort as relief from pain. We assume we’ll experience God’s comfort when He removes our pain and restores a sense of ease or well-being.

However, the Greek word means to come alongside someone. Our English word comfort includes the Latin fortis, referring to strength. We experience comfort then, not because our pain is gone, but because God walks beside us. He strengthens and encourages us. We hope God removes the pain, but even if He does not, we can still know comfort because He walks alongside us (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

The only solution to our suffering and pain is the Lord Jesus. He is the one who “comforteth us in all our tribulation.” There’s nothing we can suffer that Jesus has not already experienced.

• Feel the pain of loneliness? Jesus was abandoned and alone on the cross.

• Feel physical pain? Jesus endured scourging and the torture of the cross with all of its suffering and shame.

• Feel the pain of rejection? Unbelieving people—even members of His own family— turned their backs on Jesus.

When Paul said He “comforteth us in all our tribulation,” he knew what he was talking about. Paul was not immune to difficulties, and even before he wrote this letter, he had endured hard times. He wrote later in his letter:

“For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus” (2 Cor. 7:5-6).

Paul’s experience with God’s comforting presence allowed him to worship and praise God even in the midst of his trouble. He used the phrase “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The phrase blessed be is a common component of the worship found in the Psalms. It is a way of acknowledging the greatness and worthiness of God. Before Paul even unpacked all the ways God had comforted him, he praised God for the opportunity to experience grace and peace through the Lord Jesus.

We can express praise to God too, and know that, when we face afflictions, the God of all comfort meets us where we are. And as Paul will show us, the way He meets and comforts us is quite often through His church.

Question 2: What are some ways God comforts His people?

2 Corinthians 1:4b-7

4b that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

We can and should be thankful for the comfort God gives through Christ, but the comfort He provides is not just for our benefit. He wants to extend that same comfort to others through us. Of course, we are not the source of comfort in the lives of others, but we are to be a conduit of God’s comfort and presence in the lives of others.

We are His representatives, and what He does in our lives should overflow into the lives of others. While this truth certainly can apply to all forms of affliction and suffering, here Paul was specifically addressing the suffering related to being a follower of Christ that we know as persecution.

Paul described this as “the sufferings of Christ.” When we align ourselves with Jesus, the world will treat us as it treats Him. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18).

Most of us in America have never really experienced persecution. We do not know what it is like to be beaten or jailed for our faith. Few if any of us have suffered physical, economic, or emotional harm for our allegiance to Jesus, but when such persecution comes—and it will come—we have this great promise: when we suffer for our faith in Christ, or when “the sufferings of Christ abound in us,” we can also experience the comfort of Christ. 

Paul could be a conduit of God’s comfort in difficulties because he had received God’s comfort in his own tribulations. Paul had experienced persecution first hand, and God could use his suffering as a source of comfort for others. Paul did not shy away from the troubles; he endured the trials so that he could share Christ. Because he endured the affliction, Paul was able to share the gospel in Corinth. Paul’s affliction was “for your consolation and salvation.”

We have a special connection with the people of China, since we have adopted three sons from that country. We were saddened when we heard about the increased persecution that is happening to the believers and churches in China: arrests, beatings, and cruel treatment. On a recent visit to China, I (Chad) heard first-hand some of their stories. I worshiped with them and prayed over them. They were so thankful for the encouragement and comfort. God will use us as His vessels of comfort.

I (Candace) have a friend whose husband died. It was a shock because, although he had been sick, his doctors did not expect him to die. My friend was devastated, depressed, and overwhelmed with all the arrangements she suddenly had to make. Her Bible study group stepped in; they cooked, brought in food, and helped with whatever she needed. In other words, they brought her comfort. Then it happened! Her friends saw her relax a little. The

smiles came and even some laughs at stories she told about her husband. This was a wholly different kind of comfort than what the Chinese Christians needed, but it was the comfort my friend needed. However, we may have experienced the comfort of Christ—whether in the midst of pain, persecution, or loss—we can be channels of His comfort in the lives of others.

Question 3: What obstacles sometimes discourage us from reaching out to those who suffer?

  

ENGAGE

From the list, circle one kind of situation you might be experiencing or have experienced. Then answer the questions.

Financial problems     

Physical pain   

Broken relationships   

Fear of the future

Guilt from the past 
Struggles with sin’s consequences

Emotional pain 
Other: ________________

How have you observed God comforting others in this kind of struggle?

How has God comforted you through this struggle?

How can God use you to help others in similar situations?

2 Corinthians 1:8-11

8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; 11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

Paul pointed to another way we can be a channel of God’s comfort to others. In describing his own painful experiences in Asia, he declared they had been more than he could bear and had almost cost him his life. I love Paul’s transparency: He confessed to being “pressed out of measure.” Yet, Paul knew he couldn’t rely on his own ability to overcome these hardships; he had to trust God.

Trust comes when we see God as Paul did. Paul remembered God’s power—the power that “raiseth the dead.” That same power was at work in Paul’s situation; as God had worked in the past, He would continue to work in the present and in the future. The natural by-product of such faith and trust is hope. Paul had an unshakable, sure confidence “that he will yet deliver us.”

While Paul knew a level of comfort because of His hope and trust in God during the trying times, he also knew he was being supported by others through prayer. The apostle gained comfort from those who were “helping together by prayer for us.” Knowing others are standing before the throne of God in prayer for us is both comforting and encouraging even in the most difficult times.

I (Chad) was in a country in Southeast Asia where the church is under heavy persecution. I was training pastors in theology and ministry in an underground church school. One day, as I was teaching, one of the workers at the school where we were meeting alerted us that government officials were coming for an inspection. We turned off the lights while the officials questioned the owner of the building. We remained quiet, but we prayed! I have never prayed so fervently in my life. They would not harm me, an American, but the pastors could be fined, beaten, and even thrown in jail. I prayed for each of these pastors. After the situation had subsided (the officials did not search our area), I heard their stories of beatings, confiscated property, and jail time. They mentioned the power of prayer over and over again. God was glorified by the way they suffered for Jesus, and I was deeply challenged to pray regularly for them.

Question 4: Why do you think prayer is such an important part of the Christian life?

Stepping into the lives of those who hurt and suffer is a gift to them and a reason to thank God. “For the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.” Even when we pray for those we don’t personally know, like persecuted believers in other parts of the world, we are making a difference. But it’s not about people seeing that we are making a difference; it’s all about bringing thanks, praise, and glory to the One who makes all the difference.

Question 5: How can God use our group to help bring comfort to others?

LIVE IT OUT

You likely know someone or are aware of a group that is suffering. Let God use you to offer them comfort.

Be present. Allow God to use you to give comfort to someone who is hurting. Simply being present is sometimes the greatest comfort of all.

Be thankful. Think of someone who provided comfort in the past when you needed it. Thank God for using them, and write them a note of thanks for the way they encouraged and supported you.

Be prayerful. Commit to pray for a missionary, people group, or country. Pray for God’s comfort and strength in the face of believers’ trials.

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Hope to see everyone this Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan

Teacher Notes:

Where Does Comfort Come From?

Click Play to Hear

This song was played in my Baptist church in 1971…What do you know about it?

Bridge Over Troubled Water is a gospel phrase which Paul Simon took from a gospel group. It was in a Baptist church hymn. He liked the phrase and he used it to compose the song. It’s a song about proving comfort for someone in need. Art Garfunkel sang the lyrics.

How does a song bring comfort to you?

What’s your favorite comfort food?                                     Why does food bring comfort?

·       Comfort foods are comforting because they provide psychological comfort. These foods remind us of fond memories or occasions.

·       Comfort food provides a nostalgic or sentimental value, and may be characterized by its high caloric nature, high carbohydrate level, or simple preparation. The nostalgia may be specific to an individual, or it may apply to a specific culture.

In our lesson this morning, Another Paul wrote 2 Corinthians to provide comfort to the believers in Corinth that were experiencing pain and suffering. Paul had spent considerable time in Corinth, but after he departed, the church fragmented. Factions aligned claiming to follow various leaders. Sinful behavior met no challenge. Pride, arrogance, and egotism replaced the fruit of the Spirit. Paul wrote and visited to correct the situation, but to little avail initially. Eventually, however, most believers repented and healing began. Paul wrote 2 Corinthians to facilitate continued healing and the restoration of relationships. Suffering is one of the major themes in the letter, primarily from being followers of Christ. Paul used his own circumstances to point out that following Christ would lead to opposition, suffering, and challenge. Yet by his own experience, he knew that God gave divine comfort that turned sorrow into strength, tribulation into triumph, and the misery of opposition into opportunities for ministry.

Up to this point in our study, we have considered the “how’s” and “whys” of pain and suffering but: What we want is relief from suffering.

Paul points us this morning to the Source of that relief and it’s not a food or a song, its … God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-11 (NIV)        Praise to the God of All Comfort

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Three main points for us to discuss today:

·       God is the source of comfort.

·       We are called to be channels of God’s comfort.

·       The prayers of God’s people help those who suffer.

Nothing is beyond the ability of God, no matter the nature of the struggle. Whatever has caused the suffering, He is Master over it. He is able to comfort and strengthen the struggler. Furthermore, He expects His people to reach out to others as channels of blessing and encouragement.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4a

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles,

These verses teach us about God’s nature?

1.     God is the source of comfort.

This was not a new concept in Scripture; the Bible continually reveals God to be comforting and compassionate.

Other verses that reference God’s comfort:

·       Psalm 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.

·       Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Do you want just comfort/healing or do you want comfort/healing from God’s hand?

·       There is a difference. Healing from God’s hand is lasting and substantial. Some day we will be fully and finally healed. If comfort is a means in and of itself it will not last. And it will not lead us to use our comfort for the sake of others. Worldly comfort culminates on itself but God-given comfort will spread to others. Knowing that God holds the keys to comfort is both comforting and a bit scary. It means that there might be seasons when we have to smart for a while. David, certainly did. He holds the key. He is very good. He is very wise. We are going somewhere and I trust Him. Even if we pitch our tent in rubble and ashes, I trust that this will be a means to prepare me for dancing in the palace of heaven. Sure, I’ll ask him for the keys whenever I hurt. I’ll beg him to take away pain. I’ll long for the days when the clouds and darkness lift. I’ll use every means necessary to fight the things that rob godly comfort and peace. But if the clouds don’t lift and the darkness continues to break in, I’ll just wait.

How exactly does God comfort us?

• We typically view comfort as relief from pain. God removes our pain and restores a sense of ease or well-being.
• The Greek word means to come alongside someone. Our English word comfort includes the Latin fortis, referring to strength. We experience comfort not because our pain is gone, but because God walks beside us. He strengthens and encourages us. We hope God removes the pain, but even if He does not, we can still know comfort because He walks alongside us (2 Cor. 12:7-10). Paul’s thorn in the flesh.

God does not promise to eliminate troubles from our lives. He promises to help us through our troubles and comfort us in our troubles.

• Is it normal for us to ask God to help us avoid troubles? Yes, and He may answer our prayer and enable us to avoid some troubles. But He won’t let us to avoid all troubles.
• When we experience trouble, is it normal for us to ask God to immediately remove the trouble from us? Yes, and God may or may not do that. He may remove the trouble, or He may allow the trouble to continue for a while; or even a longer period of time. The woman that touched Jesus’ robe – was healed because of her faith. The Centurion soldier’s daughter.
• Is it normal for those who are experiencing troubles to think that God does not care about them or is not concerned about their suffering? Yes, but that’s not true. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles,  

God the Father is the “Father of Compassion.” He is the source of compassion. He created compassion. He knows compassion. He has compassion. He is aware of our troubles, our hurts, our suffering. He feels our pain and wants to do something to alleviate it. That is His nature. He is the Father of Compassion. His compassion is not limited to some troubles. His compassion extends to all of our troubles. He is the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles. No matter what trouble we are experiencing, the God of all comfort can alleviate the suffering, diminish the pain, help us deal with the troubles, and give us comfort in our afflictions.

  

2 Corinthians 1:4b-7

4b so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

2.     We are called to be channels of God’s comfort.

·    The way we respond to the difficulties that come with serving Christ can be a model for others when they are confronted with similar trials.

·       One-way God makes His presence known is through other believers who walk alongside us in our pain, supporting us and praying for us. Through them, we can sense God’s comfort. In turn, God can use our own painful experiences to assure others of His presence, that He cares, that He loves us, and that He comforts us.

·       Remember that every trial you endure will help you comfort other people who are suffering similar troubles.

What does that mean?

What obstacles discourage us from reaching out to those who suffer?

What does the suffering of Christ mean?

There are different kinds of sufferings.

• Christians will suffer because we live in a fallen world that is under a curse - bad things happen to everyone – including Christians.
• The sufferings of Christ are the same kind of sufferings that Christ experienced. Jesus was opposed by the majority of His generation. He was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering.
• If we follow Jesus the way we should – by living like Jesus lived; by proclaiming the same truths that Jesus proclaimed – we will suffer like He did. That is the sufferings of Christ. That is what Paul and Timothy experienced – and not to a small degree, but to a great degree. They shared abundantly in the sufferings of Christ. And they are letting Christians know that to the degree that they shared in the sufferings of Christ, they experienced the comfort of Christ. Paul explained that he and his companions suffered greatly for bringing comfort and salvation to the Corinthians. But just as God comforted Paul, God would also comfort the Corinthian believers when they suffered for their faith. He would give them the strength to endure.

2 Corinthians 1:8-11

8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Paul also knew he was being supported by others through prayer.

3.     The prayers of God’s people help those who suffer.

How do the prayers of God’s people bring you comfort?

Knowing others are standing before the throne of God in prayer for us is both comforting and encouraging even in the most difficult times.

• The most faithful servants of Christ are not exempt from trouble.
• As we face the most difficult days, we are to put our trust in God who is able to deliver us.
• God who has delivered us in the past is more than able to deliver us from what comes upon us in the future.
• Our prayers on behalf of those who suffer are a way we can help during their time of great need.
• God’s gracious response to our prayers for others provides an opportunity for us to give praise and glory to His name.

Paul could be a conduit of God’s comfort in difficulties because he was the recipient of God’s comfort in his own tribulations. Paul had experienced persecution firsthand, and God could use his suffering as a source of comfort for others. Paul did not shy away from his troubles; he endured the trials so that he could share Christ. As a result of the affliction he endured, Paul was able to share the gospel of comfort in Corinth.

Conclusion: As God comforts us, we are to comfort others.

Abide Prayer

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