Suffering According to the Bible
2 Corinthians 1:1-11
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus 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 the whole of Acha'ia: 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 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. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If 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. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our o comfort. 8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself. 9 Why, 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; 10 he delivered us from so deadly a peril, and he will deliver us; on him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us in answer to many prayers.
Paul in chapter 1:1-11 was addressing the suffering he was going through
as well as recognizing the suffering of others in that as he was teaching
in his letter that as we suffer we are comforted by others. Also so that
as our other brothers and sisters go through sufferings we can comfort
them. The letter that he is writing also reminds us that the person who
suffered for us is Jesus Christ and he suffered more than we ever could.
Paul himself is not forgetting that. Part of the reason behind the sufferings
is to produce perseverance,
James 1:2-6
2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, 3 for you
know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let
steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete,
lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who
gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given
him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is
like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
When we go through trials/sufferings James states that we should consider
it pure joy because as I said it produces perseverance and perseverance
must finish its work so that you are not lacking anything, yet if you
lack wisdom ask God and he will give it to you.
Philippines 4:6-7
6 Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Paul is addressing prayer and how God helps us through our sufferings through prayer. He talks about 4 main statements in this passages Prayer, Supplication, Thanksgiving, Peace. Let’s talk about these three statements for a few minutes. He says prayer, what’s prayer? Prayer is a conversation between you and God. When you pray God listens to you. Supplication what’s that? Supplication is a request you ask God for something, again he is listening. Thanksgiving what’s that? I can tell you this right now it is not the holiday that he is talking about. He is talking about thanking God for what you have. Now the promise he gives us in verse 7 the peace of God what’s that? When you have peace you are comfortable, so it is comfort. God promises comfort/peace to us. He gives us another promise when we are at peace/comfortable the peace/comfort will keep our hearts and minds. Basically we will be able to keep a pure heart and a clear understanding of what God is telling us he wants us to learn through the sufferings we go through
Will you pray with me?
Lord Jesus thank you so much for your comfort, your joy and our sufferings. As you suffered for us so we should also go through sufferings. Help us this day and every day to comfort others. Blessed Father please forgive us for our sins and reveal yourself to us. Once again thank you. In Jesus name Amen
REVISE March 13th 2011
James Anderson (James Cerebral Palsy Site)
(619) 715 9152