7 April 2024 AM – Text: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 – Topic: Comfort
Introduction: Why do bad things happen to good people? That question has been asked countless times. The primary answer is that we live in a sin-cursed world. Bad things like death, pain, sorrow, and loss are the result of sin. God created a perfect world, but Satan tempted Adam and Eve, they disobeyed God, and plunged God’s creation into sin.
Jesus Christ, God the Son, took on a human body in order to pay for man’s sin. Additionally, during his earthly sufferings, He experienced the temptations and pains of life so that he can truly comfort us when we suffer.
Transition: Paul began 2 Corinthians with three facts about comfort that we need to understand, experience, and apply.
1. God is the God of all Comfort (v.3)
a. It is comforting that He is the Father of Jesus.
1) Jesus is part of the Triune God, one with the Father and the Spirit.
2) He understands our trials, not only because he is God, but because Jesus experienced the trials of human life. (Hebrews 4:14-15) “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.“
b. It is comforting that He is the Father of mercies.
1) Mercy deals with pity or compassion. The word used expresses empathy with another’s condition. One commentator put it this way, “This term characterizes God’s actions and feelings toward fallen humanity.” Bob Utley
2) Our God is the Father of mercy, pity and compassion. (Psalm 86:5) “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” (Psalm 86:15) “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.“
c. It is comforting that He is the source of all comfort.
1) The word translated “comfort” has several meanings, but the meaning that fits this context is “to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort”.
2) To Israel God said, (Isaiah 66:13) “As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.“
3) Because comfort, empathy, compassion, and pity are qualities native to God’s eternal nature, He is called the God of all comfort. Every genuine, lasting, comfort is sourced in God.
2. God is our Comfort (v.4, 8-11)
a. Paul testified of God’s comfort (v.4a)
1) He prepped his next words with the assurance that God was comforting him in all his tribulations.
2) If we are walking close to the Lord, we can say “Amen” to what Paul just said. God does comfort us.
a) He prepares us for our trials.
b) He encourages us during our trials.
c) He sustains us through our trials.
d) He enables us to look back and see the times he has led us safely through the valley of the shadow of death. (Psalm 23:4) “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.” Note carefully that David said that the LORD his Shepherd led him through the valley of the shadow of death. In the context, the Shepherd protected His sheep and got them safely through that deep valley with many shadows in which predators would hide. If a shepherd’s sheep always died while going through that valley, he would have no sheep. I know this verse is often used to comfort those who lose loved ones, but I believe it is primarily God’s comfort that He will bring us safely through those times when we are full of fear and despair.
3) God often uses His Word to comfort us. Find your comfort in the pages of this Book! God may also use those whom He has comforted to comfort us.
b. Paul knew what it was like to be down and in need of comfort (v.8-11).
1) Paul reminded the Corinthian believers of the troubles he had faced in Asia. Those troubles had depressed Paul (Read 2Co 1:8-9).
2) David Guzik notes, “There are at least five suggestions for this trouble: (1) Fighting with “wild beasts” in Ephesus (1Co. 15:32). (2) Suffering 39 stripes after being brought before a Jewish court (2Co. 11:24). (3) The riot at Ephesus (Act. 19:23-41). (4) A particular persecution shortly before he left for Troas (Act. 20:19; 1Co. 16:9). (5) A recurring physical malady.”
3) Paul said that God delivered him and his companions from so great a death (v.10). God continued to deliver. He believed God would deliver yet in the future.
4) Later in this book, Paul notes that it comforted him when he heard that the church was doing right. (2 Corinthians 7:6) “Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus.“
5) Paul also acknowledged the comfort of knowing that many believers were praying for him (v.11).
a) Praying for fellow believers is very important. It is placing ourselves in their shoes during their trials.
b) It is also important that we let people know that we are praying for them. That is a great encouragement to them, just as it is to us when someone assures us of their faithful prayers.
c) Obviously, we must not tell a person we will pray for them if we do not fully intend to do so.
3. God’s Comfort Enables us to Comfort others (v.4-7).
a. Those who experience comfort can share comfort.
1) Until God brings you through a trying time and gives you His comfort, your comfort for others is limited (v.4).
2) Paul said that the sufferings he suffered for the cause of Christ abounded, but likewise the comfort of Christ abounded (v.5). He viewed all of his sufferings as God’s working in him so that he could comfort others (v.6).
3) We do not enjoy going through trials, but if we allow our trials to be comforting stepping stones rather than bitter stumbling blocks, we will be able to comfort others when they go through similar heartaches.
a) No one can comfort a young mother grieving over a miscarriage like another mother whom God has comforted through her own miscarriage.
b) No one can comfort a parent whose child has gone astray like another parent whom God has comforted during a similar experience.
c) The most comforting person at a funeral is the one whom God comforted during the loss of their own loved one.
d) Empathy is at the core of comfort, and personally experiencing God’s comfort during a heartbreaking burden ought to increase our empathy.
4) I believe that often God allows our trials to prepare us to comfort others.
b. Paul hoped the same for the Corinthian believers.
1) As they partook of sufferings, he was confident that they would experience God’s comfort.
2) Are you looking for opportunities to share God’s comfort with those who are burdened? Your words will carry a much stronger impact if you are able to say, “I know what you are going through, I have been there and God brought me through.”
Conclusion: If you are needing comfort, our God is a God of comfort. He will comfort you if you let Him. Spend much time in His Word. Once He comforts you, He wants you to share that comfort with others. If you see someone who is down or hurting, share God’s comfort.
If you are not positive that the Lord has saved you, comfort begins there. Repent of your sins and trust Christ to save your soul.
