II Corinthians 1-2

II Corinthians 1 and 2
Down – But not out!!
Discouragement in life is no respecter of persons. Discouragement seems to attack the successful far more than the unsuccessful; for the higher we climb, the farther down we can fall. Paul said in 1:8 “For we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about the affliction and oppressing distress which befell us in [the province of ] Asia, how we were so utterly and unbearably weighed down and crushed that we despaired even of life [itself].“ In verse 9, Paul tells us that there is truly purpose in such an experience of ‘down’ feelings: “Indeed, we felt within ourselves that we had received the very sentence of death, but that was to keep us from trusting in and depending on ourselves instead of on God Who raises the dead.”
Great as Paul was in character and ministry, Paul was human just like the rest of us. Paul might have escaped such burdens except that he had a call from God and a concern to help people.
II Cor. seems to have been written a few months after the 1st letter probably before the onset of winter in AD55. Paul wrote it from Macedonia after the completion of his 2-year ministry in Ephesus. Paul’s problems with the believers in Corinth did not end with his first letter to that troubled congregation. The ministry and character of Paul himself were under attack, his motives questioned and his authority challenged. False teachers had infiltrated the Cor. church and had challenged both Paul’s personal integrity and his authority as an apostle. Paul sent Titus, who returned with heartening news of repentance. Titus brought the good news that a revival had broken out in the Cor. church. Paul then writes this warm autobiographical letter II Corinthians, reminding the church of his commitment, his conduct, and his credentials. His walk has been consistent with his talk—truly a model for Christians in any generation! Personal matters constitute a large part of this letter. Paul shares his feelings, obligations, ambitions, and responsibilities. Paul was very transparent about himself in this letter.
Paul wrote this 2nd letter for several reasons. 1. He wanted to encourage the church to forgive and restore the member who had caused all the trouble. He also wanted to explain his change in plans and enforce his authority as an apostle. Finally, he wanted to encourage the church to share in the special relief offering he was taking up for the need saints in Judea.
One of the key words in this letter is COMFORT or ENCOURAGEMENT. = “called to one’s side to help.” The verb is used 18 times in this letter and the noun 11 times. It seems that no matter Paul circumstances, he could still write a letter saturated with encouragement.
Paul had a secret of his contentment. (Paul exposes the basis for contentment even more thoroughly in his letter to the Philippians). The bottom line secret is the LORD. When you find yourself discouraged and ready to quit, get your attention off of yourself and focus your attention on the Lord. Paul gives us 3 simple reminders:
REMEMBER WHAT GOD IS TO YOU
v. 3 Paul could not sing about his circumstances but he could always sing about the Lord Who is in charge of the circumstances. Praise is an important factor in achieving victory over discouragement and depression. Praise changes things.
PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE IS GOD! Paul praised the Lord for what He had done in the past – Eph. 1:3, 4 Chose us IN CHRIST!!! And blessed us with all spiritual blessings. I Pet. 1:3 praised God for FUTURE blessings and a “living hope” In II Cor., Paul praised the Lord for PRESENT blessings, for what God was accomplishing then and there. God is the God of all comfort. – word repeated 10 times in 1-11. Don’t confuse the word comfort with sympathy. Sympathy can weaken us. God’s comfort is not a pat on the head and a piece of candy, or a toy to distract. He puts strength into our hearts so we can face our trials and triumph over them. When we find ourselves discouraged because of difficult circumstances, it is easy to look at yourself and your feelings, or to focus on the problems around. BUT the 1st step we must take is to look by faith to the Lord and realize all that God is to us. Psa. 121:1-2
REMEMBER WHAT GOD DOES FOR YOU v. 4a, 8 – 11
He permits the trials to come … we must not think that trouble is an accident. Everything in the life of a believer is a divine appointment. HE IS IN CONTROL OF TRIALS…v.8. When the Lord puts His children into the furnace, He keeps His hand on the thermostat and His eye on the thermometer. GOD ENABLES US TO BEAR OUR TRIALS. 1ST He shows us how weak we are in ourselves. He wants us to trust HIM not our gifts or abilities, our experience, or our ‘spiritual reserves.” When we turn our backs upon our self dependence, the Lord’s resurrection power can go to work. This does not mean idle complacency, doing nothing and expecting God to do everything. You can be sure that Paul prayed, searched the Scriptures, consulted with his associated and trusted God to work. He is sufficient for ANY difficult of life. He is able, but we must be available.
Paul did not deny the way he felt; God does not require that we deny our emotions. II Cor. 7:5 GOD DELIVERS US FROM OUR TRIALS We are not always delivered immediately nor in the same manner. James was beheaded, yet Peter was delivered from prison. Both WERE DELIVERED BUT IN DIFFERENT WAYS. Sometimes we are delivered FROM our trials and sometimes we are delivered IN our trials. GOD IS GLORIFIED THROUGH OUR TRIALS. When Paul shared what the Lord had done…praise broke out. Sometimes our service means suffering.
Paul was not ashamed to ask Christians to pray for him. The greatest help we can give to God’s servants is “helping together by prayer.” =A picture of laborers under burden, working together to get the job accomplished. God works out His purposes in the trials of life, if we yield to Him, trust Him, and obey what He tells us to do. Difficulties can increase our faith and strengthen our prayer lives; they can draw us closer to others; they can glorify God.
REMEMBER WHAT GOD DOES THROUGH YOU.
In times of suffering, we become cisterns instead of channels. Yet, one reason for trials is so that you and I can learn to be channels of blessing to comfort and encourage others. Because God has encouraged us, we can encourage them.
Paul makes it clear that we do not need to experience EXACTLY the same trials in order to share God’s encouragement. Paul with “his thorn in the flesh” concluded “My grace is sufficient for thee.” 12:9
Human suffering is not an easy subject, nor easy to understand. Sometimes suffering comes because of our own sin and rebellion (Jonah) – discipline. Sometimes we suffer to keep us from sinning. Suffering can do a great work in us and through us…much depends upon our reaction/response to the suffering.
Suffering can help us to minister to others. Paul experienced trouble, not as punishment for something he had done, but as preparation for something he was yet going to do…minister to others in need. Sometimes a church family experiences special trials in order that the Lord might bestow on them special abundant grace.
God’s gracious encouragement helps us IF WE LEARN TO ENDURE. “patient endurance” is an evidence of faith. If we react wrongly to our trials, they will work AGAINST us instead of FOR us. Heb. 12:1-7 spiritual maturity.
God has to work IN us before He can work THROUGH us. It is much easier for us to grow in knowledge than to grow in grace…learning God’s truth and getting it into our heads is one then, but living God’s truth and getting it into ourselves is quite something else. Preparation for the plans that the Lord has prepared for us may require suffering.
We cannot store up God’s grace for emergency use…if we could we would be prone again to depend upon ourselves. The grace of God cannot be stored up.
When you and I suffer in the will of God, we are sharing the sufferings of the Savior. Our Savior suffered and He was without sin. There is a “companionship” to suffering: it can draw us closer to Christ and to His people. But is we start to wallow in self-pity, suffering will create isolation instead of involvement. We will build walls and not bridges. Let the Lord use you to be an encouragement to others.
4 | Page
YOU DON’T HAVE TO FAIL:
Crisis REVEALS what a person! How we handle the difficulties of life will depend largely on what we depend upon to respond to circumstances! (Christ in us-the hope of glory). What is your attitude towards crisis or difficult circumstances or suffering?
Paul faced so many trials which he shares through his letters. What kept Paul going? What kept Paul from failing:
A clear Conscience 12-24
Conscience is that inner faculty that “knows with” our spirit and approves when we do right, but accuses when we do wrong. Conscience is not the Law of God, but it bears witness to that Law. Disobey causes the conscience to become callused and the light becomes dimmer and dimmer.
A clean conscience is a foundational need for integrity.
Paul was criticized for changing his plans…he was delaying a visit until repentance was evident. Paul yes was yes and his no was no…Paul’s reputation spoke loudly to the people.
A Compassionate Heart 2:1-11 *Love puts others first: Paul had written the painful letter…wasn’t thinking of his own feelings…his great desire was that the church might obey the Word, discipline the offender, and bring purity and peace to the congregation. Proverbs 27:6 Knowing he would wound them brough pain to his heart. Sometimes those who love us must hurt us in order to keep us from harm. Consider feelings of others and seek to put their good ahead of everything else.
*Love seeks to help others grow v5-6 Paul did not name the man who opposed him but did say to discipline him FOR HIS OWN GOOD. Tue discipline is an evidence of love. Parents really mean it when they think, “This hurts me more than them!”
*Love forgives and encourages 7-11. Paul urges the congregation to forgive the man…for his sake. Forgiveness is the medicine that helps to heal broken hearts. (Parents should follow discipline with assurance of love and forgiveness or discipline could prove harmful.) Confirm love to the forgiven. Don’t whitewash situations…face them honestly.
*Forgive the offender FOR THE CHURCH’S SAKE . An unforgiving spirit can occur when sin is not dealt with in a Biblical manner. It gives Satan a “beachhead” … we grieve the Holy Spirit and “give place to the devil”. The Holy Spirit convicts so that we will confess and turn to Christ for cleansing…Satan accuses us of sin so that we will despair and give up. Works the same way in the congregation as in the individual.
A CONQUERING FAAITH 12.17 Paul lacked peace to walk through certain doors, but he had a song of praise because he trusted the Lord.
*Paul was sure that God was leading him. The believer can always be sure that God is working everything together for good, so long as we Love Him and are seeking to obey His will. Rom 8:28. This promise is an encouragement for confidence not for carelessness.
*Paul was also sure that God was leading him in triumph v. 14b We do not fight for victory, we fight from victory. Believe God and turn seeming defeat into victory.
* Paul was sure that God was using him as He was leading him. 14-17 Paul saw believers as an incense … giving forth the fragrance of Jesus in their lives and labors. To other believers, we are the fragrance of life, but to unbelievers we are the fragrance of death. The way we live and work can mean life or death to a lost world. Paul reminds the Corinthians of his motive...heart pure and motives sincere.
We don’t have to fail! Circumstances may discourage us, people may oppose us and misunderstand us, but we have the spiritual resources to win the battle IN CHRIST…a clear conscience, a compassionate heart and a conquering faith.