TOPIC :  ” FELLOW WORKERS OF JOY”

Read: 2 Corinthians 1: 8-24(NKJV)

8. For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.
9. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,
10. who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver [us,]
11. you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift [granted] to us through many.
12. For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
13. For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end
14. (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also [are] ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.
15. And in this confidence I intended to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit —
16. to pass by way of you to Macedonia, to come again from Macedonia to you, and be helped by you on my way to Judea.
17. Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No?
18. But [as] God [is] faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No.
19. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us — by me, Silvanus, and Timothy — was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.
20. For all the promises of God in Him [are] Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
21. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us [is] God,
22. who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
23. Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth.
24. Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.

MESSAGE

STUDY: Apostle Paul in today’s passage, reminded the church at Corinth of his experience together with his fellow missionaries in the province of Asia. They gave up all hope but with the prayers of the church and the help of God, they were delivered from trouble, especially that which came to them in Asia (vv. 8-11). He wanted them to understand his teaching to avoid any doubt about his ministry. In verse 24, Paul wrote to encourage the church to be each other’s helper of joy; he said he did not come to control but to be a helper of joy. The church prayed for him and he also prayed for the church.

He described his involvement as ministerial servant rather than dominating force. Christians also need to do the same in times like this by acting as mediators rather than dictators. Believers are to follow in Paul’s footstep in advancing the gospel, and inspire and encourage those in darkness to seek the light, so they can rejoice for all eternity too. There is need to help each other; we need to be “helpers of joy” to others by praying for them. (1 Tim. 2:1). Be a “helper of someone’s joy”, by giving to someone in need, by encouraging and by comforting.

PRAYER: Father, help me to bring joy and happiness to other people so that they will be blessed through me.

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.