Why We Suffer.
Part 2
2 Corinthians 1:1-11 (NKJV)
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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 tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
We Saw Last week ;
First, That we Might Be Prepared to Comfort Others
and now in Part 2 we see;
And now so, That we Might Not Trust in Ourselves
Did you miss this truth, wedged in verse nine?
9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,
Paul puts his finger on another reason for our season of sorrow: that we might come to a complete end of ourselves and learn the power of total dependence.
When Paul’s own strength had ebbed away, he found another strength. When his own will to go on faded like the last morning star, the sun of a new hope blazed on his horizon.
When he finally hit bottom, Paul learned that he was in the palm of God’s
hand. He could sink no lower than the Everlasting Arms.
Let me remind you of God’s dealings with His friend, Abraham, in
Genesis 22. The very first verse of that chapter tells us that God tested Abraham. In fact,
He told Abraham to take his beloved son Isaac to a mountain called Moriah and offer him up as a burnt offering. Though the old man’s heart hemorrhaged within him, he did not argue-he obeyed. What a test Clinging only to his hope in God, Abraham cooperated.
On that stark mountain a few days later, the aged patriarch, raised a sharpened knife-poised to plunge into the heart of the son he loved. (Think of it!) But God stepped in and stayed his hand.
You ask, “How could Abraham actually carry out such a plan in an obedient manner?” The answer is tucked away in Hebrews 11: 17-19, which says:
“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac; and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son: it was he to whom it was said, IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDENTS SHALL BE CALLED.
He considered that God is able to raise men even from the dead. . .”
Abraham was determined to shift the weight of his trust from himself to God, who “is able to raise men even from the dead.” And this, the Bible calls “faith.”
Perhaps I am writing to a stubborn, suffering saint who is wrestling with God over an affliction. You have not yet laid down your arms, rested your case, and decided to trust in Him completely.
Can’t you see, my friend, that God is trying to teach you the all-important lesson of submission to Him-total dependence on His infinite wisdom and unbounded love? He will not let up until you give up, believe me. Who knows better than God that case-hardened independence within you? How much longer are you going to fight God? In
Psalm 46: 10, He says to us:
“Cease striving and know that I am God. . .”
Cease striving-be still!
Surrender to your Lord, , , now. He does not design your ruin only your refinement,
“For I know the plans that I have for you,, declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
The great hymn, HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION says it best:’
When through fiery trials
thy pathway shall lie,
My grace all-sufficient shall he thy supply
The flame shall not hurt thee, I only design
Thy dross to consume
And thy gold to refine.
Years ago, I came across a statement which has returned to my thoughts again and again and that is;
“Pain plants the flag of reality in the fortress of a rebel heart.”
Pain reduces us to a primary level, the level of dependence on our God. While we stretch out full length on Him, everything within us that is useless and abrasive is simply melted away. Those who were hard and harsh are humbled in Him. Those once proud and self-sufficient are drawn to their knees.
Suffering reveals our creature status. We are not all-wise or infinite in strength. But God is. And we need Him- we were created to need Him. Desperately. Sometimes it takes coming to the end of ourselves to see that. God knows. We need to take every tiling we were, everything we are and everything we’ve ever hoped to be and simply place it all in the nail-scarred hands of our loving Lord. And lean hard upon His Word.
What was desired of the Corinthians upon this account: That they would help together by prayer for them (v. 11),
11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
by social prayer, agreeing and joining together in prayer on their behalf. Note, our trusting in God must not supersede the use of any proper and appointed means; and prayer is one of those means.
We should pray for ourselves and for one another.
The apostle had himself a great interest in the throne of grace, yet he desires the help of others’ prayers. If we thus help one another by our prayers, we may hope for an occasion of giving thanks by many for answer of prayer. And it is our duty not only to help one another with prayer, but in praise and thanksgiving, and thereby to make suitable returns for benefits received.
The apostle in these verses attests their integrity by the sincerity of their conversation. This he does not in a way of boasting and vain-glory, but as one good reason for desiring the help of prayer, as well as for the more comfortably trusting in God (Heb 13:18),
Heb 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
and for the necessary vindication of himself from the aspersions of some persons at Corinth, who reproached his person and questioned his apostleship.
11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
1 That we Might Be Prepared to Comfort Others
2 That we Might Not Trust in Ourselves
and now that brings us to the next point;
3 That we Might Learn to Give Thanks In Everything
You’ll never be able to understand this third reason, until you’ve grappled with the first two.
Notice how Paul phrases this to his Corinthian friends in verse 11.
“. . .You also joining in helping us through your prayers, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed upon us through the prayers of many.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
He wrote them a thank-you note. Looking upon his suffering as an opportunity to share his life with others, Paul felt drawn to the Corinthians with cords tied to the innermost being. As they mutually joined in and helped him through their prayers, thanks were rendered to God by many persons.
Because of Paul’s encounter with affliction, many were led to focus on the Lord Jesus Christ and give thanks. One man offered praise in his moment of sorrow, and God so multiplied his song it became a great chorus, echoing in musical voice from heart after heart.
God is interested in using us as living object lessons to others. That is precisely why He urges us to present ourselves as living sacrifices. What might happen in your life if you stopped fighting God and started to praise Him for your pain?
Try telling Him that you want to be His living object lesson of patience and stability to others. Tell Him how grateful you are for the crushing blows He has chosen to bring into your life.
In your own way and in your own words, express how very thankful you are that He has selected you from the ranks of millions to share in “the fellowship of His sufferings,” and, like Christ, “to “learn obedience from the things which you suffer” You will be a rare, refined believer if you respond to suffering in this manner, child of God.
Job responded in a similar manner when he said:
“Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hands?
Though He slay me, I will hope in Him” Job 13:14-15).
If Job could lift his face and say that to God, so can you.
“Lord-even though this is the most difficult experience of my life, my hope is in You. Thank You for this canyon of pain. I’m leaning on You as I go through it.”
A whole new dimension is opened up to the one who learns to give God thanks for His plan. , . pain notwithstanding.
Then:
He appeals to the testimony of conscience with rejoicing (v. 12),
2 Corinthians 1:12 (NKJV)
12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
GIVE GOD THE GOLRY IN ALL THINGS.
