September 28, 2008
Morning Service

II Cor. 1

 

Introduction:

 

• In Paul’s first letter he addressed many problems in the church.  Many of these problems still exist, and that’s why it is important to continue to study these letters.  These letters, our Bible, are the instructions from God Almighty, to His church.  Left on our own, and we would self destruct.  I mean we would yield to the desires of our flesh, and it would destroy us.
• We find in this letter that the area, or cities Paul is working through, are Ephesus, Macedonia, and Corinth.  The men that are working with Paul in this work are, Timothy, and Titus.  These are the men that Paul wrote to, and the letters are known as the Pastoral Epistles. 
• Since the first letter, there had been more false teachers raise up, and again attack the trustworthiness of Paul.  Paul sends Titus to deal with this problem, and upon his return, rejoices to hear that the church has repented, and is dealing with the false teachers.

 

Paul’s second letter to Corinth can be broken down into 3 divisions.

1. An explanation of Paul’s ministry.
2. The collection for the Saints.
3. The vindication of Paul’s Apostleship.

 

Paul begins with his usual introduction:

 

2Co 1:1-24  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:  (2)  Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  (3)  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; (4)  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 

• As we study we should be constantly looking for truth to combat the false teaching that is still abundantly being taught.  One of the misunderstood doctrines is that of the Godhead.  To say that it is a difficult topic would be a gross misunderstatement.  But here we see clearly that the Apostle Paul wants us to know that Jesus had a Father, and He was the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.
• It was Jesus Himself, who tells us of His Father in the Scriptures.  Time and again Jesus let’s us know that God Almighty was his heavenly Father.  Matt. 1:18, teaches us clearly that Jesus’ Father was the Holy Ghost.  “Mary was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”
• This God, and Father of Jesus Christ, is also the Comforter.   Listen to Jesus;

Joh 14:15-24  If ye love me, keep my commandments.  (16)  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;  (17)  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  (How is this?  By faith.) (18)  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.  (19)  Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.  (20)  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.  (21)  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.  (22)  Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?  (23)  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  (24)  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

• Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.  Rom. 10:17.  Do you see how that we should believe that the Godhead abides in us, to comfort, and guide us in our daily walk with God Almighty?
• Paul said this in reference to the Godhead;  Col 2:9  For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.  The Godhead consisting of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Don’t wrestle with this jus accept it by faith, that’s what we are asked to do.

(5)  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.  (6)  And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.  (7)  And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. 

• We have said many times “we don’t know what suffering is for our faith.”  Many still do, but we really don’t.  Because of lack of faith, I’m sure many will accept the mark of the beast, and fall away, when the time comes.

(8)  For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:  (9)  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:  (10)  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; 

• God delivered Paul many times in his life, but there finally came a time for Paul to die.  Was Paul’s usefulness over?  God forbid, it was just time to move on in the plan of God.

(11)  Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.  (12)  For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.  (13)  For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;  (14)  As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.  (15)  And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;  (16)  And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judea. 

• Now notice how that the Apostle gives us the encouragement to think positively at all times.

(17)  When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?  (18)  But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.  (19)  For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.  (20)  For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 

• For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.   Time fails us this morning to list all the many wonderful promises that God has for His children.  But they are all positive, yea, and amen.  No negativity in serving God.  Our God is able to do far above what we think possible.  There are no limitations with our God, and all His promises to us are positive.

(21)  Now he which establisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;  (22)  Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 

• If you are a Christian this morning, if you have obeyed the Gospel, which is to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, to repent of your past way of living for the world, to have been baptized for the remission of your sins, then you should, by faith, understand, and accept, that you have received the Holy Spirit into your life, as an earnest, a down payment if you please, holding your place in Heaven.
• Until the time of our body changing experience, we have been given the Holy Spirit to help us through this ole wilderness called the world.  However, the time will come, when Jesus comes back after the church that this ole body will be changed, in the twinkling of an eye, and we shall go be with the Lord.

WE CLOSE CHAPTER ONE BY SAYING: 

(23)  Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.  (24)  Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

• Paul is saying “that all my preaching, and instructions, are for your encouragement, and growth.  For you to rejoice in the Lord, and I say rejoice.  For the joy of the Lord is your strength.
• Remember you stand by faith, and faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 

OUR PRAYER:   O HOLY SPIRIT OF ALL COMFORT, COMFORT OUR HEARTS, AND MINDS IN THESE MOST DIFFICULT TIMES.