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 have received from God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 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 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NIV)
Comfort and Suffering
Time for a Biblical perspective
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (NIV)
overcome when He died and ressurected.
Sickness
Death
Persecution
Temptation - we are tempted, and sometimes we gave into it.
Trials
Natural events
...They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Acts 5:40-41 (NIV)
I am happy because I am worth suffering!
What did Jesus say about suffering?
John 15:20 - If you are a body of Christ, you will be persecuted.
What did Paul say?
2 Tim 3:12 - same thing, will be persecuted.
Why do we have to suffer?
Why should we suffer? We are better equiped to be suffer.
Our sufferings have a purpose - Paul rejoice because he know it has a purpose
- Suffering changes us.
Romans 5 : 3-5
- Suffering draws us close to Christ
philippians 3 : 10
romans 8 : 15-18
Jesus suffers in this earth. we co-heirs with Jesus.
Paul was beaten with stone, persecuted, had a terrible life. But everything means nothing.
- Suffering enables us to comfort others.
2 Cor 1:3-4
- Suffering creates endurance in others
2 Cor 1:6 - it enables us to be persistance.
- Suffering produce community
2 Cor 1:7 - suffering is not that God wants us to experience bad things. It's just sometimes God will answer immidately like Job, or sometimes He just hold our hands all the way..
How does God comfort us?
His presence
Matt 28:20
His promise
John 14 : 26-27
His provision
Heb 13:5-6 - God wil always provide our needs, and not our wants! :)
How do we comfort others?
2 Cor 1 : 5
First, accept God's comfort - experienced it!
Secondly, reach out to comfort others
- be with them
- encourage them
- help them
Application
- Surrender everything in prayer
- Be in Christ's body!
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