2 Corinthians 1:4 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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2 Corinthians 1:4

Comments

Paul is speaking about himself and Timothy and Silas, the apostolic band, the evangelist that travelled with him. This chapter is going to talk about two kinds of tribulation. All tribulations generally, and then it is going to home in on tribulations which we incur for Christ’s sake in his service and because we bear his name. So first, all troubles, even everyday troubles and griefs and trials and pressures. When we say ‘all’ we do not mean necessarily the things that we bring upon ourselves through sin or disobedience that are unrepented of. And you could think of a thousand examples, troubles I have and you have because we neglect the means of grace, because we do not pray, because we do and say wrong, sinful, foolish, inappropriate things. Because we omit certain duties, perhaps because of times of laziness or times of worldliness, and so we get ourselves into all kinds of problems. Do not expect comfort for that. To get the comfort of the Lord in those we have to repent of the deed or the word or the act. But there are a thousand and one trials beside, and we have the God of all comfort.There is a purpose even in this and the apostle has it in verse 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.’ It is given by God to you, answered prayer, relief, comfort, help. It is given because he pities you and he desires to comfort you and help you. But it is also given in order to equip you to comfort others and to encourage others and to help others. So there is a duty attached to every blessing and we need to remember that.

Application

I have had my prayer answered, I have been given great relief and now I owe a duty – I must relieve another and bless another and encourage another. That is the meaning of the verse and we must never forget it. I am comforted, relieved, helped, assisted. I will wallow in this. No, I will pass it on and be unselfish and extend the comfort to another.

If the Lord saves you in a largish church and the bills seem to be paid and things seem to be done and others take the initiatives and things go forward, maybe you are not sufficiently inspired by this kind of procedure. Trouble – prayer – encouragement – thanksgiving. This is the Lord’s unique way of working. The apostle – it was constant with him. He has to be in a place where he finds he has no power, he has no capacity, it cannot be done. Then he calls upon the Lord and God breaks through and encourages him. This is the Lord’s work; this is how it is done.

You go out, you do contact work, nothing happens. You man the church bookstall, nothing happens, nobody comes in. You knock the doors and people do not want to talk. This is God’s way of working until we realise I do not have the charm, persuasiveness, capacity to achieve anything. This is the Lord’s work, then I really pray to him. I am under pressure. The things that I do are not bearing fruit; they are not working out. I call upon him and I get the encouragement, comfort, consolation. Things begin to happen and I praise him and thank him and trust him all the more.

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2 Corinthians 1:4 Commentary and Bible Study