SALT AND LIGHT: November 2012

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

I HAVE MY RIGHTS MATTHEW 5:38-42

Matthew 5:38 ( ESV )

³⁸“You have heard that it was said, ^£‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’

§ Exodus 21:22-25-God designed these laws to take the law out of private hands because of vengeance and to prevent inappropriate punishment. Instead though for many they were used for just the opposite purpose.

§ Lev. 24-17-22-Life for life-given so that the one who committed the crime would have a punishment that would fit the crime. (They were not literally applied all the time.) These acts were not meant to sanction personal retaliation for wrong done to someone.

Matthew 5:39 ( ESV )

³⁹But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But^£ if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

§ Jesus is now trying to teach the people that abuses by others will come. We as believers though do not have to respond to these abuses though like the world does. (The Law of Love?)

§ Do not resist-The idea is one who stands against or to oppose. No personal vengeance the Lord alone will make all right that has been wronged in the end. Rom. 12:19

§ Evil-God knows that people will mistreat others wrongly. He is not blind.

§ # 1. When we are insulted by others. Slaps-The Greek verb means to slap with the back of a hand. This was used more as an insult then that of an act of violence. The point is that it is better to be insulted by someone twice then to respond back in the same way. (God is not against self-defense but in this passage he is dealing with will our response be that of vengeance?) Remember though how this took place in Jesus life at the trials in John 18:21-24 Jesus did answer back but did not strike back.

Matthew 5:40 ( ESV )

⁴⁰And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,^£ let him have your cloak as well.

§ # 2. Personal loss of property-The tunic was one’s undergarment while the cloak was a person’s outer garment. The cloak was often used as something to sleep in so the O.T. prohibited anyone from taking it. Ex. 22:26-27 If it was to come to this realize that according to these verses God will hear your cries for He is compassionate. (The old phrase, “He would give you the shirt off his back.” This has the idea of am I willing to sacrifice myself even though it is for an enemy and is not even ness. required of me?

Matthew 5:41 ( ESV )

⁴¹And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

§ # 3 Am I willing to suffer the loss of my personal liberties? According to Roman law a soldier could compel a civilian to carry his own pack one mile. (Roman mile a little shorter than ours. Roman mile-4,850 feet Our mile-5,200 feet.) Roman roads were marked by milestones or mile markers made of stones that marked over 50,000 miles of Romans roads. (A good example of this is found with Symon of Cyrene who was forced to carry Jesus cross in Matt. 27:32)

§ Am I willing to submit to unreasonable demands for the sake of the name of the Lord?

Matthew 5:42 ( ESV )

⁴²Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

§ # 4 What happens when my finances are infringed upon by others? In the first part we see a beggar who ask us to help him. As a believer we should be open handed and not tight fisted. Dt. 15:7-11 or Ps. 112:5-9 but we are also told not to give foolishly to those who are lazy. II Thess. 3:10

§ We are also not to refuse someone who might ask us for a loan. (Many times to those who have little chance of repayment. This is the very heart of Generosity.)

§ Key to all of this is brought up in I Peter 3:8-12. (Commit your case to the Lord in prayer.)

1 Peter 3:8-12 ( ESV )

⁸Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

⁹Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

¹⁰For ^£“Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;

¹¹ let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

THE STAND DANIEL 3

The Alamo- 13 days in San Antonio from February 23 – March 6, 1836. Around 180-260 men would fight against a superior force of around 1,800. At one point legend has it that Col. William Travis supposedly drew a line in the ground and asked those willing to die for the Texan cause to cross and stand alongside him. He did write the following words, “I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country. VICTORY OR DEATH.” We are also called to stand.

We are commanded to take a stand as well.

Ephesians 6:11 ( ESV )

¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Daniel 3:1 ( ESV )

¹King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits^£ and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

· King Neb. Was the king of the Baby. Empire during this time. They had conquered Israel and now some of their brightest young men and women are there captives. The Israelites were now the minority. (Picture of the world system where we as Christians are the minority as well.)

· Why Gold? Have to look back to Daniel 2:31-35 to see the significance of this. (Background) I believe that Neb’s pride took over and he was telling God your right my kingdom is majestic but it will remain forever. A true mark of the Anti-Christ is that he will be marked by being a man of pride.

· Height-90 feet high and 30 feet wide. So on this plain of Dura it could be seen far and wide. (Driving in Kansas and Nebraska and seeing objects in the distance.)

Daniel 3:2 ( ESV )

²Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

· Gathered-He had first of all gathered all of his officials from the most powerful to the least. Almost like Stalin, Are you for me or against me?

Daniel 3:3 ( ESV )

³Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

· They have all come to obey the king. Think of the multitudes that were gathered around that image. (In man’s view they were the all wise, the powerful and thinkers of their day. They gathered around this image that was probably in human form.)

Daniel 3:4 ( ESV )

⁴And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,

· Command-No options.

· People’s-A very cosmopolitan group. People from every nation and tribe. Picture again of the world wide church?

Daniel 3:5 ( ESV )

⁵that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.

· Forced state religion upon the people. The Anti-Christ Rev. 13. Just the enormity of the sounds overflowing you. Instruments calling the people to worship. WHAT ABOUT THE VOICES AROUND US CALLING US TO FORGET OUR GOD.

· Fall down-To bow or to make one’s self low. This was to only to be done to God.

Daniel 3:6 ( ESV )

⁶And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.”

· Punishment by fire. The furnace-More than likely tunnel shaped at the top flowing into a dome which was supported by columns.

Daniel 3:7 ( ESV )

⁷Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

· All the people-Like sheep of a different “god.” Their faith was based upon their circumstances or the crowd. Think about it they all followed probably different “gods” but now Neb. Ruled over all of them at the threat of death.

Daniel 3:8 ( ESV )

⁸Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews.

· Chaldeans were probably astrologers who were priest of Bel. Their motive was that of jealousy. How dare these go against the king. (Remember, the boys had a high position within the land.) Note the term Jews used here, their hatred was directed to these people just like those of today.

Daniel 3:9-12 ( ESV )

⁹They declared^£ to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever!

¹⁰You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image.

¹¹And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace.

¹²There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

· Shall be cast-Wants to remind the king of his words and his DUTY to keep those words. Once again calls them certain Jews. It was YOUR APPOINTMENT.

· Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego-There Hebrew names were changed to to Baby. gods. Shadrach’s name was Hannaniah meaning the Lord is Gracious. Meshach’s name was Mishael or Who is like the Lord? Abednego was Azariah which meant The Lord is my helper. They could change their names but not their hearts.

· Pay no attention-False accusations.

· Do not serve your gods-True but they would violate the commandments the True God gave them. You could hear their accusers say, “It was not right for their leaders to act this way.”

Daniel 3:13-15 ( ESV )

¹³Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.

¹⁴Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?

¹⁵Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good.^£ But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

· Furious rage-He had lost all control. It was uncontrolled to the point of murder. (Many will mock or even become furious over our faith.)

· Well and good-I am a reasonable man and will give you another opportunity “to do right.”

· What god-He is about to find out there is a supreme God. He will save them. He had already forgotten what he had said in 2:47 “Truly your God is the God of Gods, the Lord over kings.” It was words and would not be true for him until chapter 4 when he would finally humble himself. His answer here would have been there is NO ONE.

THE BOYS REPLY

Daniel 3:16-18 ( ESV )

¹⁶Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

¹⁷If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.^£

¹⁸But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

· No need-Some questions don’t even deserve an answer because there is such a God.

· We serve-We are going to keep on serving this God no matter what.

· He is able to DELIEVER US-They knew this because of the Word of God. He delivered the people of Israel from Egypt. He gave them the land through Joshua. He Delivered them through the Judges. He has delivered us from Hell and the power of sin through His Son.

· But THE NEXT PHRASE IS THE KEY TO THE PASSAGE. BUT IF NOT, BE IT KNOWN TO YOU, O KING THAT WE WILL NOT SERVE YOUR gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.

· This is TOTAL ABANDONMENT TO GOD. We will not bow down.

We applaud and rightly so this type of faith even to the point of death but what about us? Do we have a faith that will stand up against the evils of this day? Sex, alcohol, language, popularity, being the cool parent. If we fail here why do we think we would be able to take this kind of stand?

Daniel 3:19 ( ESV )

¹⁹Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated.

· Filled with fury-remember we are the minority be prepared when you stand for ALL HELL TO BREAK LOSE UPON YOU.

· 7 times-Probably not a gauge but the idea is to the extreme. (7 represents completion0

Daniel 3:20-23 ( ESV )

²⁰And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

²¹Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics,^£ their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace.

²²Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

²³And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.

· Before we go any further remember this no matter what happens VICTORY HAS ALREADY BEEN WON.

· Probably went up some kind of ramp and as they were thrown into the flames the men who threw them in were incinerated. I can only imagine what they must have thought when they were being tossed in. (Father into your hands do I commit my spirit.)

Daniel 3:24-25 ( ESV )

²⁴Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”

²⁵He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

· His anger so furious other versions put in He was watching. He wanted to take delight in burning them to death and their suffering. (Probably a window on the furnace.

· 4 men unbound-Not suffering but walking in the midst of it all. The fourth had to him like the appearance of a god. (It was probably Jesus in the fire. God will walk with us when we go through the fires in our lives. He will protect us.)

Daniel 3:26-27 ( ESV )

²⁶Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.

²⁷And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.

· Come out-They probably could have stayed in there even longer if it were not for the king’s command. Supernatural deliverance-1) No power over their bodies. 2) Hair not singed. 3) Cloaks not harmed. 4) Not even the smell of fire upon them.

Daniel 3:28-30 ( ESV )

²⁸Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside^£ the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.

²⁹Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.”

³⁰Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

· They had trusted him even to the point of death for they would not worship any other God.

· Torture awaited any who said anything against their God. (A picture of what happens to those who refuse Christ as they will face the fires of Hell.

· Promoted-A picture of the rewards who have put their faith in Christ.

Monday, November 26, 2012

COMFORT ONE ANOTHER. II CORINTHIANS 1:4-11

2 Corinthians 1:4 ( ESV )

⁴who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

· Quick review of our last lesson: Writes to a church that he birthed, rebelled against him and is now moving forward. He told them about who there God is. He is the source of GRACE, PEACE and our focus the very source of COMFORT in our lives. He wants to be the one who will comfort us in all of our afflictions or the presses in our life.

· Now Paul shifts his focus as he now brings out what we as believers should do when we see others faced with the presses of life. Let's pick up the last part of verse 4.

· WHY DOES GOD COMFORT US when we go through trials. Well one of the main reasons may not be what you would think that it would be. Simply put in verse 4 SO THAT WE CAN COMFORT OTHERS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH TRIALS. We are to share His comfort with others. We are now told that as HE WALKS ALONGSIDE OF US, we are TO WALK ALONGSIDE OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. We are not comforted by God just for our own selfish needs but we are to ACTIVELY GET INVOLVED in the lives of others.

· Notice what he also states in this verse, WITH THE COMFORT WITH WHICH WE OURSELVES ARE COMFORTED BY GOD. In the same way that we are comforted by God He wants us to comfort others. From a practical standpoint that means asking ourselves how would God want me to walk alongside of my brother at this time? (Think about Job as he suffered, he probably needed just someone to be there but instead he was not comforted by a group of men who had all the answers. It is important to speak and sometimes to confront even when we comfort but we are also to be those who sometimes just say, I'm here for you buddy. Its still a lesson I need to learn.)

2 Corinthians 1:5 ( ESV )

⁵For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.^£

· Paul would write to the Philippians the following words.

Philippians 3:10 ( ESV )

¹⁰that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

· I love the first part of that verse but it’s the second part that is a little harder for me to deal with, Paul wanted to not only know the power of Jesus resurrection in his life but to also suffer for His namesake. It is a fools paradise to associate suffering with a sinful lifestyle. As even Christ would suffer for us. Paul not only suffered for the name of the Lord but as the verse says he did so ABUNDANTLY. Literally he was saying to the church of Corinth that had more than enough to spare when it came to suffering for the name of Christ. How have you suffered for His namesake? What about our brothers in other lands? Yet in the midst of His trials he also uses that same word again in that he shared ABUNDANTLY in God's Comfort. Listen we maybe going through much in this life but during those times as much as we suffer God offers us an abounding comfort to go through it. When we suffer for His sake and His glory He suffers right alongside of us.

· Remember one of their big problems had been that of unity. Now Paul encourages them to go forward together and to comfort one another through it all.

WHY ARE WE AFFLICTED THOUGH GOD? LOOK AT ONE OF THE REASONS AS STATED AGAIN IN verse 6.

2 Corinthians 1:6 ( ESV )

⁶If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.

· One of the purposes of us going through trials is not just for me and my good but for the sake of individuals around us so that they can see how GOD works through us. So that they can be encouraged in their walks 1. To draw closer to Christ, 2. So that they can be encouraged as they go through their fires. He wants to give us supernatural strength that only can be claimed as from Him. Why? So that He may receive all the glory.

· I don't know about you but when I am going through trials I am constantly reminded of the OT Saints and Paul Himself.

· Job, "And when I am tried I shall come forth as Gold."

· Joseph, " You meant evil against me but God meant it for good."

· Paul and Silas at Midnight because they were comforted by God Prayed, and sang praises to him though there bodies were worn and torn. When I read of these men I am comforted to be a part of a group that according to Hebrews, "The world is not worthy of."

· I also know by reading this verse that in the end when I suffer or am afflicted I know that He WILL COMFORT ME.

2 Corinthians 1:7 ( ESV )

⁷Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

o Paul apparently knew that they had or were going through a time of suffering as well. The church of Corinth was going through the press. Yet I love how he starts verse 7 with the words HOPE and UNSHAKEN. He was confident just like the Philippians that, "He who had begun a good work in them would continue it until the day of Christ Jesus. Brothers encourage each other that God will complete His good work in them and walk alongside of them in the trial. We do not have a faith that is built on shifting sands but on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ Himself who is the ROCK Of AGES. Paul knew with this type of confidence based on Christ that just as they were suffering they would just as sure share in the comfort that only God could give alone.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 ( ESV )

⁸For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers,^£ of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.

⁹Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

· Why does Paul now bring up the following two verses? Why does he now let them know about his suffering? Brothers and sisters, Paul wanted them to understand that Christ will comfort us and this he is confident of, but he also wanted them to know just how hard it can get for us as the press crushes us. He was saying to them, " The trials sometimes will be beyond human comprehension but there is always hope.

· He did not want to leave them in the dark but speaks about a time when he was in Asia. It was a time of INTENSE affliction. What specific time we are not told of clearly in the passage. It may refer to the mob violence he experienced in Acts 19:23-41 or some other time but we know that he had experienced many times of intense affliction.

2 Corinthians 11:23-28 ( ESV )

²³Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.

²⁴Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.

²⁵Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;

²⁶on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers;

²⁷in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

²⁸And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

§ Paul knew what it was like to be burdened beyond his strength. He had felt the pressure and had been weighed down by the load. He knew what it was like to feel the pain around him and in him. Yet it was even more than that don't miss the last part of verse 8 it was to the point that, "HE DESPAIRED OF LIFE ITSELF."

§ Paul had went through such a rough time that he had grown despondent of even life. Does this sound so harsh? Lord, I wish that I were dead. He was not alone in such pain. (JOB, DAVID, ELIJAH and JONAH went through times in their lives in which they felt like they just could not go on.) It was to the point of in verse 9 that he felt he had received the sentence of death. Paul may have been speaking of this as a true sentence of death as during the times people wanted him dead for sharing the gospel. He may also be speaking of like a physical illness that had overtaken him to the point of death. Maybe to where he felt such personal distress he could not go on. I believe all of this could have been a part of what was going on.

§ WHY GOD? WHY? So that we may learn not to rely upon our own strength but upon Him alone. It is only God who will help us through it all. Yet he will not only help us through it but he allows us to experience resurrection power when we rely upon Him.

Romans 8:11 ( ESV )

¹¹If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Ephesians 6:10 ( ESV )

¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

§ With Paul's authority being questioned why would Paul share this with them? Paul wanted them to WALK ALONGSIDE OF HIM as he faced his trials and by sharing his weaknesses with them they could relate to him.

§ ARE WE WILLING TO DO THIS WITH OUR BROTHERS?

ANOTHER THING THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH ONE ANOTHER AS WE WALK ALONGSIDE. WE HAVE A GOD WHO WILL DELIEVER.

2 Corinthians 1:10 ( ESV )

¹⁰He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

· I love the song, We shall be free. One day brothers and sisters we will be delivered from this house of flesh, which is but a prison, and one day we shall see Him Face to face and it will be worth it all. Why do I know this because just like Paul we have seen God deliver us from situations that seemed hopeless. He has come to my rescue time and time again and he will be there walking alongside of me. Now He may not deliver me from my trials physically but He will deliver me through the trial with His hand in mine.

· We can not rest on our own hands to deliver us but we must set our hope in Him alone. How many saints I have seen go through trials and seen my God deliver them. Yet I have also seen God deliver by taking them home. "HOW PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS."

· When walking alongside, remember to share the promise of hope with our brothers.

LASTLY HOW CAN WE WALK ALONGSIDE OF ONE ANOTHER? PRAYER.

2 Corinthians 1:11 ( ESV )

¹¹You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

· I like how Paul says, You also MUST. Paul wanted them to pray for him desperately. He saw this as one of the greatest ministries that the church of Corinth could have in his life. The ministry of prayer is one of the most underused ministries in the church today. Oh, that we would get a burden to pray for one another instead of panic or worry. We can go to the God of all COMFORT to pray that he will grant COMFORT to his sheep.

· That word help is used today often as it is the word synergize or to energize another and to assist them. Paul constantly made this a request in Rom. 15:30-31, Phil. 1:9 and Col. 4:12 This is the key to walking alongside of one another that we might be known as a people who will energize one another not by our strength but by calling out to the God of all COMFORT to help out our brothers and their needs.

THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT II COR. 1:1-3

2 Corinthians 1:1 ( ESV )

¹Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:

· At the very start of this letter we see the name Paul brought forth which was common in the writing of that day. Yet I wonder how the church of Corinth had taken it when they saw this familiar name at the beginning of this letter. Their relationship had at times been very strained. Like a father Paul had help give birth to the church at Corinth. He had appointed leaders and others to oversee the church. Like a Father though had to deal with them like a rebellious child at times as well. There were even those who doubted his authority and some false teachers had come into their midst who questioned his very apostleship.

· Paul wanted them to understand at the very start that he was an apostle or literally a "sent one" by Jesus. Yet, this is not enough notice how he uses the next word not only was he an apostle but an apostle OF Christ Jesus. Don't miss this important fact, He had been "sent or cast out" to be used by God but he was the very POSSESSION of Christ Jesus. Then he states one more important fact, this position of his was by the very, WILL OF GOD. He was not appointed by men as some of the false prophets and teachers of the age but his authority was given to him by the very finger of God. (You may not like it but if you don't then this is your decision to go against the very will of God.)

· Then if you notice he also includes this statement, AND TIMOTHY OUR BROTHER. Paul's companion to him in the ministry was that of Timothy another person who Paul had mentored in the ministry.

· Why would this be so significant to what is being written in this passage to the Corinthians? The disciple had now become a "partner" to Paul in the ministry. He was no longer just a son in the faith but a BROTHER. He who was once mentored now was one who would WALK alongside of Paul in His ministry. Listen brothers and sisters if Paul needed others to walk alongside of him how much more would we. This becomes a big theme esp. here in the first chapter.

A little information about the church in Corinth.

· Population of about 100,000 during the time of this letter.

· Port city and became an important trade center.

· Cosmopolitan and had a huge ethnic diversity.

· Known for its worship of Poseidon, Imperial families and a temple devoted to Aphrodite, where sexual acts were included in their worship of her.

We know of at least 4 times in which Paul wrote to the believers at the church of Corinth.

· There was a letter written to them before I Cor. As we see Paul bring this up in I Cor. 5:9

· Paul has to write them the book of I Cor. To deal with issues that had divided the church. (Ex: Spiritual gifts, Divisions and cliques, Authority as an apostle.)

· Instead of getting better after this second letter things only got worse, prompting Paul to make another visit in which the relationship became even more strained and the children began to question Paul's Apostleship. According to II Cor. 2:1-4 Paul would simply call it PAINFUL. He would write them a letter that he himself would call, "THE SEVERE LETTER." II Cor. 2:3-4.

· I believe that after Paul wrote this letter many of them finally got it and repented according to II Cor. 7:5-13. Paul could now rejoice with them and help them to continue to grow and deal with more issues. He now writes to them the book of II Corinthians. 2.

· NOW WHY IS ALL OF THIS SO IMPORTANT? 1. Coming alongside of each other will also sometimes force us to confront one another in brotherly love. 2. Don't give up on people especially our brothers in the Lord. Realize that after all that they had put Paul through he still addressed them as SAINTS or literally HOLY ONES.

2 Corinthians 1:2-3 ( ESV )

²Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

o The most common of greetings in all of Paul's epistles begins with the words Grace and peace. (Exceptions: Romans, I and II Timothy. Latter two he adds the word mercy.)

o Grace has the idea of a gift or to benefit another. I still like the old acronym when trying to describe this word. God's Riches At Christ Expense. Has the idea of who receives a gift from another. I can think of no greater gift than that of His salvation.

o Peace-To be quiet or at rest. In the midst of the troubled seas around us what a beautiful gift from God that He has and is willing to give us. 1. We have peace with God-We are no longer enemies with God but rather we are at peace with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ. In contrast to being like, "the wicked who are like the troubled sea." 2. We have the peace of God. So that as believers we are able to go through the rough times knowing that He is there for us and will walk with us through the fire.

· Now in verse 3 Paul praises the Lord and gives Him the unique title of the Father of Mercies and God of all comfort. I love to know that in the midst of it all we have a God who is Merciful. We do not get what we deserve in this life. Instead the Father showers His pity upon us. We who deserve the very flames of Hell are shown mercy.

· In context when you and I go through the mills of life one of the things that will encourage us is when we take time to remember these gifts and what He has done for us.

· Yet even though we are shown Grace, Peace and Mercy that is not enough for what Paul has to share with the Corinthians. We have a God who wants to COMFORT us.

· I am reminded of how Jesus will use this special word with His followers. He has walked, talked, slept with them for 3 1/2 years. They have heard His teachings, seen His miracles and laid it all down for Him and now one night He tells them I am going to leave you. You and I know the rest of the story but they did not. Jesus then tells them they He will not leave them as Orphans but that He would send them another one just like Him who would offer them CONSOLATION and SOLACE while He was gone. That Comforter would be none other than the HOLY SPIRIT Himself.

· The word for Comforter in the John passage is the PARAKLYTE. What does that have to do with what is going on here in II Cor. ? Well a form of that word is used here for the word Comfort. It simply means, TO WALK ALONGSIDE OF. I look at it as one who walks alongside of us in the rain and storms of life. (Ex: The old spiritual STAND BY ME, No not the B.E. King hit . Second Ex: Nate walking in the rain by himself.)

· Notice what he also states that He is the God of all comfort-He is the one who is the VERY SOURCE of comfort. Why when faced with troubles and trials do we go chasing after everything else to comfort our hearts. (Sex, Prosperity, Achievements both past and present, the bottom of a glass? All of these will only comfort us for awhile. Yet, Jesus is the only true source of comfort for our souls. Look at some of these following verses which are found in the book of Isaiah. Going through some hard times right now let these words comfort your soul.

Isaiah 41:10 ( ESV )

¹⁰ fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:13 ( ESV )

¹³ For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

Isaiah 43:2 ( ESV )

² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

This is a truth through out all of the scriptures we serve a God WHO WANTS to not only live within us but to WALK ALONGSIDE OF US in the storms of life. He wants to stand beside us, hold our hand and lead us through to the other side.

Why is this so important brother Mike? Well lets take a look at the beginning of verse 4.

2 Corinthians 1:4 ( ESV )

⁴who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

o Right now for the sake of our focus of our time here I just want to focus on the first 7 words of this section and esp. the last word.

o You see God wants to walk alongside of us in the midst of ALL our affliction. He wants to walk alongside of us in the midst of everything that we go through but esp. in the area of our afflictions. He is the faithful friend who will stick closer than a brother.

o The word for AFFLICTION has the idea of the PRESSES of our life. The times of fire which are not always outwardly but inwardly as well. The sleepless nights, the loss of loved ones, the financial pressures, the wayward children or grandchildren. We just want to scream out to God. STOP IT, I just can't go any further. When I think of this word I am reminded of my times at Ms. Elsie's house with her Cider Apple press.

o These are the times that we need someone to lean on. Paul uses that word affliction 12 times in this letter alone and 4 of those times he will use it in verses 4-11 alone. Are you going through one of those times of feeling like being between a rock and a hard place?

o We can try to do it on our own but when we do so we only set ourselves up for failure. He is reaching out to us like a drowning man.

o Shouting at the top of His lungs grab hold of my hand. I am here for you.

o This is who our God is. He is not some cosmic bully. He is one who wants to walk through the press and the times of troubles in our lives. He comes as one who offers us GRACE, PEACE and COMFORT. He KNOWS our sorrows and grief, our losses and a world that has gone mad and says, I want to walk with you through it all. These are His opening words to the Corinthians, words of hope and encouragement as I hope they are to you.

SALT AND LIGHT