““The comfort of the The comfort of the

Servant and His Servant and His hope”hope”

2nd Epistle to the Corinthians2nd Epistle to the Corinthians

2Cor.1:3-72Cor.1:3-7

  3 Blessed 3 Blessed bebe the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, comfort, 44 who comforts us in all our tribulation, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ourselves are comforted by God. 55 For as the For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. consolation also abounds through Christ. 66 Now if Now if we are afflicted, we are afflicted, it isit is for your consolation and for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, are comforted, it isit is for your consolation and for your consolation and salvation. salvation. 77 And our hope for you And our hope for you isis steadfast, steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also the sufferings, so also you will partakeyou will partake of the of the consolation.consolation.

  33 Blessed Blessed bebe the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfortcomfort, , 44 who who comfortscomforts us in all our us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to tribulation, that we may be able to comfortcomfort those who are in any trouble, with the those who are in any trouble, with the comfortcomfort with which we ourselves are with which we ourselves are comfortedcomforted by God. by God. 55 For as the For as the sufferingssufferings of Christ abound in us, so of Christ abound in us, so our our consolationconsolation also abounds through Christ. also abounds through Christ. 66 Now if we are afflicted, Now if we are afflicted, it isit is for your for your consolationconsolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same same sufferingssufferings which we also which we also suffersuffer. Or if we . Or if we are are comfortedcomforted, , it isit is for your consolation and for your consolation and salvation. salvation. 77 And our hope for you And our hope for you isis steadfast, steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of because we know that as you are partakers of the the sufferingssufferings, so also , so also you will partakeyou will partake of the of the consolationconsolation..

Nabil’s Definition of Comfort:Nabil’s Definition of Comfort:

Finding my favorite chair, kicking my shoes Finding my favorite chair, kicking my shoes off and reclining back with a diet coke in off and reclining back with a diet coke in one hand and the TV remote in the other one hand and the TV remote in the other and several of my favorite movies on DVD. and several of my favorite movies on DVD. The phone is off the hook, the kids are at The phone is off the hook, the kids are at school, Sherry is working and making me school, Sherry is working and making me money, and the doorbell is not working! money, and the doorbell is not working! (And don’t forget the Pistachios)(And don’t forget the Pistachios)

– Key wordKey word – – ComfortComfort (29 x’s in 2 Cor.) (29 x’s in 2 Cor.) Yet many references to “Yet many references to “sufferingsuffering” also. – ” also. –

We’ll see they often go hand in hand!We’ll see they often go hand in hand!

COMFORT! (3-7)COMFORT! (3-7)– St. Paul addresses one of the oldest questions St. Paul addresses one of the oldest questions

of man…“Why suffering?”of man…“Why suffering?” His answer is 3-fold: Christians Need His answer is 3-fold: Christians Need

Comfort; Christians Receive Comfort; Comfort; Christians Receive Comfort; Christians Share Comfort.Christians Share Comfort.

Matt. 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for Matt. 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."they shall be comforted."

Let’s define…Comfort/Paraklete– Let’s define…Comfort/Paraklete– (Para=alongside; Kaleo=to call) “to call (Para=alongside; Kaleo=to call) “to call alongside”alongside”

This word was used in court of a legal This word was used in court of a legal assistant, the defendant's advocate, the assistant, the defendant's advocate, the counsel for the defense. God comforts us in counsel for the defense. God comforts us in our trials much like a lawyer comes to the our trials much like a lawyer comes to the defense of someone who is on trial.defense of someone who is on trial.He remains by our side. He gives us advice He remains by our side. He gives us advice in His Word. He explains to us much of what in His Word. He explains to us much of what is going on. He stands up in defense of us. is going on. He stands up in defense of us. He proclaims our innocence to the judge. In He proclaims our innocence to the judge. In all these ways, He is being a comforterall these ways, He is being a comforter

John 14:16-18 "... I will ask the Father, John 14:16-18 "... I will ask the Father, and He will give you another (Paraklete), and He will give you another (Paraklete), that He may be with you forever; the that He may be with you forever; the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. I He abides with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."to you."God has promised to be by our side, God has promised to be by our side, comforting us, never leaving us alone. comforting us, never leaving us alone. The Holy Spirit won't leave us as orphans The Holy Spirit won't leave us as orphans - He abides in us. He strengthens us.- He abides in us. He strengthens us.

– Everyone needs comfort…even Everyone needs comfort…even Christ and the apostlesChrist and the apostles, (Our Lord , (Our Lord Jesus in Gethsemane, St. Paul, disciples Jesus in Gethsemane, St. Paul, disciples “sending the comforter”)“sending the comforter”)..

When tragedy strikes, when our life When tragedy strikes, when our life collapses before our eyes, that’s collapses before our eyes, that’s when we need someone to come when we need someone to come alongside & put an arm around us.alongside & put an arm around us.

Example of nurse/childExample of nurse/child

– The law of flow and overflow!The law of flow and overflow! When a cup is filled to overflowing, whatever When a cup is filled to overflowing, whatever

spills over the edge is spills over the edge is the samethe same as what's as what's being poured in. being poured in.

If suffering is poured into a Christian, the If suffering is poured into a Christian, the Christian will overflow. But what spills over is Christian will overflow. But what spills over is differentdifferent from what is poured in. from what is poured in.

– SufferingSuffering goes in but goes in but comfortcomfort comes out. comes out.

There is a blessed There is a blessed proportion!(sufferings/comforts)proportion!(sufferings/comforts)

– The Ruler of Providence bears The Ruler of Providence bears a pair of scales a pair of scales - in - in this side he puts his people’s this side he puts his people’s trialstrials, and in that he , and in that he puts puts their consolationstheir consolations. .

– When you suffer, avoid self-pity, because When you suffer, avoid self-pity, because self-pity will turn you into a reservoir self-pity will turn you into a reservoir instead of a channel.instead of a channel.

– Q: How have Q: How have youyou experienced experienced God’s comfort during times of God’s comfort during times of difficulty & pain?difficulty & pain?

– IF Yes, Then:IF Yes, Then:– God’s comfort is not God’s comfort is not givengiven; it is ; it is loanedloaned, ,

& you are expected to pass it on to & you are expected to pass it on to others.”others.”

God seeks chain reaction comfort…God seeks chain reaction comfort…pass it on!pass it on!

““God does not comfort us to make us God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters.”comforters.”

– Different Levels of comfort for:Different Levels of comfort for: Little children have to deal with monsters or Little children have to deal with monsters or

bad guys under the bed.bad guys under the bed. Social pressureSocial pressure SicknessSickness TragedyTragedy

– Not only is God in full control at all Not only is God in full control at all times in these situations, but He is times in these situations, but He is also always offering you comfort. also always offering you comfort. Jesus said,Jesus said,Matt. 5:4 "Blessed are those who Matt. 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."mourn, for they shall be comforted."

– Phil. 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, Phil. 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Christ Jesus.

Q: Have you gone through any sufferings? Q: Have you gone through any sufferings? How have you used them? How have you used them?

Rom.8:18Rom.8:18 “For I consider that the “For I consider that the sufferingssufferings of this present time are of this present time are not worthy to be not worthy to be comparedcompared with the with the gloryglory which shall be which shall be revealed in us.”revealed in us.”

Ex: Amber, MADDEx: Amber, MADD

Q: When you know someone around you is Q: When you know someone around you is suffering, how do you respond? Do you suffering, how do you respond? Do you agonize with them, or does it give you 5 agonize with them, or does it give you 5 minutes concern?minutes concern?

““You must You must live with peoplelive with people to know their to know their problems, and problems, and live with Godlive with God in order to in order to solvesolve them.” them.”

It always takes us by surprise, and often, it It always takes us by surprise, and often, it makes us think that our world is about to fall makes us think that our world is about to fall apart. But apart. But 1Pet. 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at 1Pet. 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to youstrange thing were happening to you

Don't think it's strange when you suffer. It's Don't think it's strange when you suffer. It's normal. God is using these things to show normal. God is using these things to show you where you're at. They're simply tests to you where you're at. They're simply tests to demonstrate to you exactly where you're at demonstrate to you exactly where you're at in your walk and relationship with God.in your walk and relationship with God.

Story of 3year Old…….Never be a critic or a Story of 3year Old…….Never be a critic or a JudgeJudge

– Enduring = upomonh(upomone), not Enduring = upomonh(upomone), not bleak acceptance of trouble, but triumph.bleak acceptance of trouble, but triumph. Don’t just Don’t just exceptexcept suffering, but suffering, but triumphtriumph over over

it.it. Often we start well in our sufferings, often Often we start well in our sufferings, often

holding on to it Yet after “a whole day” we holding on to it Yet after “a whole day” we fizzle fast! fizzle fast!

The The cheetahcheetah survives by survives by running down its running down its preyprey. The big cat can sprint . The big cat can sprint seventy miles seventy miles per hourper hour. . But the cheetah cannot sustain But the cheetah cannot sustain that pace for long. that pace for long. Within its long, sleek Within its long, sleek body is a disproportionately body is a disproportionately small heartsmall heart, , which causes the cheetah to tire quickly. which causes the cheetah to tire quickly. Unless the cheetah catches its prey in the Unless the cheetah catches its prey in the first flurryfirst flurry, it must abandon the chase, it must abandon the chase

I rejoice in knowing that... I rejoice in knowing that... – There is no oil without squeezing the There is no oil without squeezing the

olives, olives, – No wine without pressing the grapes, No wine without pressing the grapes, – No fragrance without crushing the No fragrance without crushing the

flowers, and flowers, and – No real joy without sorrow.No real joy without sorrow.

How to comfort the studentsHow to comfort the students Do be a good listener. Answer briefly Do be a good listener. Answer briefly

any questions.any questions. Do show extreme sensitivity.Do show extreme sensitivity. Do remember words aren’t always Do remember words aren’t always

necessary(in giving comfort).necessary(in giving comfort). Do allow them to express whatever Do allow them to express whatever

emotion they are comfortable with.emotion they are comfortable with. Do remember the others who are Do remember the others who are

grieving also.grieving also.

What I Shouldn’t tell or do to the What I Shouldn’t tell or do to the studentstudent

Don’t avoid him/her.Don’t avoid him/her. Don’t wait for them to reach out to Don’t wait for them to reach out to

you, reach out to them.you, reach out to them. Don’t be critical of the person’s Don’t be critical of the person’s

actions. actions. Don’t ask countless loaded Don’t ask countless loaded

questions.questions.

Don’t say, “I know what you are going Don’t say, “I know what you are going through.” Everyone’s grief is unique.through.” Everyone’s grief is unique.

Don’t try to answer when they ask Don’t try to answer when they ask “Why?”“Why?”

Don’t try to have “all” the answers.Don’t try to have “all” the answers. Don’t give, cliches or expressions, Don’t give, cliches or expressions,

such as, “Time heals all wounds”, “The such as, “Time heals all wounds”, “The Lord knows best”, God doesn’t make Lord knows best”, God doesn’t make mistakes.” mistakes.” (These are true but they (These are true but they don’t necessarily bring comfort at don’t necessarily bring comfort at this time) this time)

Don’t tell them about similar incidents.Don’t tell them about similar incidents.

So always remember this verse:So always remember this verse:

who who comfortscomforts us in all our us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to tribulation, that we may be able to comfortcomfort those who are in any those who are in any trouble, with the trouble, with the comfortcomfort with which with which we ourselves are we ourselves are comfortedcomforted by God. by God.