TOPIC :  ”COMFORT IN TIMES OF TROUBLE”

Read: 2 Corinthians 1:1-7(NKJV)

1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ 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 all Achaia:
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 tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
6. Now if we are afflicted, [it is] for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, [it is] for your consolation and salvation.
7. And our hope for you [is] steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also [you will partake] of the consolation.

MESSAGE

STUDY: Challenged by some false apostles especially in Corinth, Paul, with the authority of an Apostle, began this letter by affirming his apostleship. He reiterated his commission as an apostle to his critics. He however, praised God for the circumstances of his life though there were troubles and afflictions. He called God “the Father of Compassion” and “the God of all comfort” (vv. 3-5). Since he saw God’s hand in all the things in his life, he did not pray to have them removed so he might escape from them but saw them as opportunity to suffer with Christ. He also established that his affliction was a consolation and salvation for other Christians, who would also endure same so they could also be comforted (vv. 6,7). He hoped that as Christians partake in the sufferings, so they would also partake in the consolation thereafter. Christians are to learn a great lesson from Paul’s experience.

Though, in trouble and distress, yet he praised God. This demonstrated his hope and trust in God. Praising God in times of trouble or distress is a way of praying for deliverance. Paul and Silas praised God while in prison and were delivered (Acts 16:25-28). No doubt, we are meant to face challenges in the world but the only way out is to be of good cheer (rejoice in God) because He fights our battles (John 16:33). It is amazing how Christians today face their daily lives filled with challenges but never avail themselves of God’s intervention. The word ‘comfort’ means to strengthen. What Paul experienced was the strengthening of God that gave him peace and which strengthened his faith. So let us learn to praise and rely on God at all times, especially in times of trouble.

PRAYER: Lord, help my faith in You when trouble and afflictions come; help me to overcome them.

The Anglican Communion is the fourth-largest Christian denomination. Founded in 1867 in London, England, the communion currently has 85 million members within the Church of England and other national and regional churches in full communion.