Nov 5, 2017
by: Jack Lash Series: 2Corinthians: Paul's Most Underappreciated Epistle | Category: NT books | Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:10–11
- Introduction
A. Paul’s intense troubles in Asia
B. Now in v.10-11 he transitions from talking about the past to talking about the future.
C. 2Corinthians 1:10–11 He delivered us from such a deadly 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 through the prayers of many.
II. Explanation of v. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.
A. There’s a certain resting which is being referred to here.
1. This man who has suffered much has a very positive outlook on the future.
2. He’s not resting in the hope that he will not suffer any more, for he clearly expects more to come.
a. In the Bible, God is often referred to as Deliverer, as Shield, as Fortress. But He’s never referred to as the Coddler, the One who prevents us from every being disturbed or who guarantees our convenience, or who provides us with ease.
3. It’s resting in the fact that the God of deliverance is watching over him.
4. Do you realize what a blessing it is to have an attitude toward life like this?
B. For Paul, this resting is based on what has happened in the past.
1. The reason Paul is so confident that God will deliver him in the future is because He has been so faithful to deliver in the past.
2. Like Paul, we base our present faith upon God’s faithfulness in the past.
a. O God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come!
3. This is one major way God works to grow our faith: the more we see Him act in delivering us from our perils, the more we are able to trust Him to deliver us from the next peril.
4. And we have a boat load of resources for our faith, an extensive history of divine deliverance to guide our expectations about the present and the future.
a. Our own life experience — Our Father has proved Himself over and over again to us. He has rescued us from many a peril, many a pit and many a pickle. He has shown Himself trustworthy. May we not be forgetful of His faithfulness in the day of trouble. May we stand upon His past faithfulnesses so that the tides of trouble do not overwhelm us.
b. The experience of others around us
c. The stories and promises of the Bible
(1) 1Cor.10:6, 11 these things happened for us
(2) How firm a foundation is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
d. The history of God’s people down through the ages
5. And so when faced with a crisis, we must develop the habit of remembering, of looking at the big picture, of reflecting back on how God has worked in the past.
6. Because, unfortunately, the effect of past faithfulness upon our faith is not inevitable. It is very possible to watch God provide faithfully for all our needs many, many times and still not trust Him to meet our needs the next time a crisis comes, isn’t it?
a. Like Peter, we often forget about Jesus when the waves surge around us. And taking our eyes off of Him, we begin to sink. (Matthew 14:22-33)
(1) “Oh no! I was afraid God wasn’t worthy of being trusted. Looks what He’s allowed now!”
(2) Panic, fear — as if the danger is the big thing in the room. God is the big thing in the room. The Deliverer is the big thing in the room.
b. The disciples panic in the storm (Matt.8:23-27) — they saw the storm as the big thing and Jesus rebuked them for failing to see that the Man asleep on the pillow in the back of the boat was the big thing. They thought the boat was in danger. They thought their lives were in danger. But with Jesus around, it wasn’t the boat which was in danger, it was the storm which was in danger. The boat didn’t get vanquished, the storm got vanquished.
c. The story of Elisha surrounded by the Syrians (2Kings 6:8-22)
7. Instead, we must practice the discipline of remembering.
a. Talking to yourself more and listening to yourself less
b. This is what Phil.4:6 is talking about when it refers to praying “with thanksgiving.”
C. Now it’s clear that though Paul expects future deliverances, he is well-aware of the fact that desired and prayed-for deliverances don’t always happen.
1. He gives an example of this in 2Cor.12, when he talks about praying three times for the thorn in the flesh to be removed, but God doesn’t remove it.
2. So, when he says, “On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.” he doesn’t mean that God always delivers when we feel we need deliverance, nor that He delivers in the way or time we expect or want to be delivered.
3. But God doesn’t just help us survive. He delivers us in time and space from many sufferings.
4. So when we suffer, we should pray not only for strength to endure the suffering, not only for faith to accept the suffering, but for deliverance from the suffering.
5. Now, when you pray for deliverance, you should always pray “Thy will be done” because if God knows it’s better for you NOT to be delivered, as was the case with the cross and with Paul’s thorn in the flesh, then that’s what we should want.
6. Of course, in the end, God delivers us from all our troubles and afflictions.
III. Explanation of v. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
A. The word ‘also’ shows that Paul isn’t changing the subject but continuing his thought.
1. Interestingly, he introduces prayer as if that’s what he’s been talking about all along.
2. He looks to the future expecting God’s deliverances and also urges the Corinthians to pray for him so they can participate in these future deliverances Paul expects.
B. This shows that there’s a community aspect to this pattern of affliction and deliverance.
1. This is the way it is in the body of Christ.
a. We all expect to suffer and be in need of deliverance.
b. We all expect God to deliver us in the future.
c. We all expect to be a part of each other’s sufferings and each other’s deliverances through prayer,
d. We bear one another’s burdens and rejoice in one another’s blessings.
e. “Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12
2. One of the great blessings of being in the body of Christ is being a part of the dance or rhythm of Christian fellowship:
a. God allows one of His children to suffer.
b. He/she recruits prayer from brothers and sisters in Christ.
c. God’s people cry out in prayer for deliverance.
d. The Lord delivers in answer to the prayers of His people.
e. The delivered person reports God’s answer to the others.
f. They all praise God for His deliverance.
C. Notice Paul’s expectancy re: prayer – expecting good things when you knock on His door
D. Some are hesitant to ask for prayer — not Paul.
1. Like Paul, we should ask others to pray for us not for our own sake, but for the glory of Christ!
2. First and foremost, prayer is not about getting something you want. It’s about the glory of Christ.
3. By asking others to pray for us, we will give them reason to give thanks to God when He answers.
4. And if we only pray when there’s some earthly thing we really need/want, then we miss the boat.
5. And if we only ask others to pray for us but fail to inform them about God’s answer to their prayers so that they can thank Him with us, we miss the boat.
IV. Case studies:
A. Praying for loved ones in need of Christ
1. For me to live is Christ, or for me to live is my children’s salvation
2. 3John 4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
3. Desperation versus desperation
a. Desperation = I can’t go on without this.
b. desperation = I want this from the core of my being, but I want God’s will more.
4. Both are appropriate, but the first is only appropriate in one case: our need for God.
B. Going crazy with little children
1. So chaotic, so unpredictable, so insane, so unending, so unappreciated,
2. God has put me here because these precious little ones need to see a person who knows that the love of Jesus is better than life. This is a test: Do I really believe God is in control?
3. Sometimes kids are out of control. Whether it’s being rambunctious, or emotionally overreacting, or cruel toward others, they need adults to help keep them in check. And the most important tool adults have is the tool of our own example. If their craziness makes us crazy, which can happen very easily, then the children aren’t being taught self-control.
4. What is needed is adults who keep perspective, who remember that there are bigger things than toys and games and minor wounds and getting the job done. And in particular, they need adults who remember God in the midst of the chaos, who remember His goodness, His love for children, His perfect control over what looks like chaos, His patience with those who don’t cooperate.
C. Wanting to get married
1. Life isn’t worth living if I’m not married. (Jesus isn’t enough for me.)
2. God knows my desires. He made me this way! And He loves me more than I love myself. He can take away my singleness in the blink of an eye, if He so wills. But He will only do so when He knows it’s the right time.
3. Remembering all those who waiting, feeling like it would never come.
D. Esau
1. Strong feeling of hunger
2. Esau had a treasure that no man on earth had. He had the right to God’s promise, and it included all of his children.
3. Am I going to give up God in order to get dinner, or look to God to give me dinner? - Communion — “On him we have set our hope”
A. He has proved Himself faithful by past acts of deliverance.
B. But elsewhere Paul himself tells us that the greatest example of this is the cross.
C. Romans 8:31–32 If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?