Sermon for 5/25/2008
Introduction:
Advice and instructions taken from actual military sources. Some of these guys must have had a sense of humor
"When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not our friend." --U.S. Marine Corps
"Cluster bombing from B-52s is very, very accurate. The bombs are guaranteed to always hit the ground." --USAF Ammo Troop
"Never tell the platoon sergeant you have nothing to do." --Unknown Marine Recruit
"Aim towards the enemy." --Instruction printed on U.S. Rocket Launcher
WBTU:
A. Talk about Memorial Day.
B. We often forget about those left behind. Clip from a League of their Own where a telegram is delivered to the Women’s Team and the coach goes down the line until he gets to the one who’s husband died in action.
C. Read Scriptures 2 Corinthians 1:3-11
F. we are talking about all separations (grief), trials, tribulations, sufferings, pains, broken dreams, physical and spiritual illness, miseries and heartaches. NIV- trouble.
G. When these things happen, many times we ask the question, “Why, God, Why?”
H. Here in vs. 3, that first word Praise be or Blessed be from the Greek is the same word where we get the English word, Eulogy. Now a eulogy is given at someone’s funeral. Now at a eulogy anything can be said about a person but generally we talk about that person’s character. We don’t say things like he was good at digging ditches, or he was good at laying down tile, or she was a good secretary. Usually we say things like he was tender, kind, an understanding father, a faithful mother, those kind of things. We say things that we would be embarrassed to say while that person was alive. Paul begins here talking about the nature of God, not what God does but His nature. He does this on purpose because what God does and God’s nature seem to be in opposition here. "Why do bad things happen to good people? Why did so and so have to die in battle?"
J. C. S. Lewis in his book a Grief Observed talks about watching his wife Joy die of cancer: What I feared most is not that I would become an unbeliever, but that I would believe that this is what God is like, that God is cruel.
I. Paul doesn’t get into the "why" stuff. He emphasizes God’s nature in introducing the issue of troubles. Father of compassion (mercies), God of all comfort (encouragement)
J. Instead of focusing on the why, let’s focus on how to deal with troubles.
K. People ask me how I get my sermon ideas. Many places! Tell story behind this. I was studying this text and having a hard time, I prayed, “Lord, I praise you for your comfort, your hope and your salvation.” I stopped and I had my outline…
Thesis: From this passage, let’s talk about God’s comfort, hope and salvation.
For instances:
I. Comfort
A. The word comfort here means more than just sympathy. It has the idea of strengthening, of helping, of making strong in the face of suffering. Another thought is bravery in the midst of suffering.
B. Remember when we fell down as children and skinned ourselves. Mother would come and kiss it and then we could go and play. We need much more as we grow up.
C. There is a beverage that calls itself Southern Comfort. Let me say that if we are looking for comfort in the things of the world we will not find any. Notice what vs. 3 says, “God of all comfort.” All comfort comes from God. How do people live without God and his comfort?
D. Vs. 4 Paul mentions that God comforts him so that, in turn, Paul has the ability to comfort others. God uses people many times to comfort others.
E. I saw a preacher friend of mine at Central Continuing Care. Met him at the door. We stood and talked for a few minutes and then without asking me how I was doing he shared things with me that were a great comfort. The Lord used him!
F. In my life I have experienced a move. In my life I have experienced my parent’s divorce. Take these things that have happened and tell others how you coped, how the Lord got you through. You understand, be used of God!
G. Jesus understands! He is a great comforter. Vs. 5. Jesus has suffered beyond anyone’s comprehension!
H. When we come to Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes into us and he is a great comforter. (John 16:7 KJV) Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
I. In this life: (Phil 1:29 NIV) For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him. Even so we receive Christ’s comfort.
II. Hope
A. Vs. 8- We don’t know the nature of these hardships. Some type of persecution or a physical affliction made worse by his missionary work.
B. Despaired even of life. Paul is being very honest here with the Corinthians and even the Lord. He wished he was dead. It is not wrong to do that. He was emotional!
C. Now when I say the next things I want those who have experienced this not to take offense, but I am saying these things to prevent others from doing this. I know there is a broken heart in each pew. Suicide is wrong! We do not have the right to take our life because we were bought with a price, the blood of Jesus Christ. The Lord will come and take us when he wants us! People commit suicide most of the time because they have a terrible pain in their souls and spirits! To destroy the body is not going to take away that pain, it is internal, it is spiritual! Jesus Christ can take away that pain! Life there is hope!
D. To want to leave this world and go to heaven is not wrong! (Phil 1:23 NIV) I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far
E. Vs. 9- Paul talks about the resurrection. Two resurrections in mind here: Christ’s resurrection. Think about the hopelessness the disciples must have felt on the Saturday after Jesus’ death, but then on Sunday! Next, the resurrection of our bodies. It only takes God to resurrected a body. Anything is possible with God! (Mat 19:26 NIV) Jesus said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
F. God can take a hopeless situation and make it hopeful!
G. Vs. 10- On him we have set our hope; in God we trust.
H. When we are at the end of our rope, that is when we look up and learn something new, see something new. Without reaching the end of the rope, many times we don’t look up. We trust in our resources and our talents too much, we need to trust in God!
I. (Rom 8:23 NIV) Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.(Rom 8:24 NIV) For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?(Rom 8:25 NIV) But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
J. Vs. 6- Patient endurance is produced by hope. Keep going because of hope!
K. (1 Pet 4:13 NIV) But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
III. Salvation
A. Salvation is in three tenses: Past through the cross, present through the plan of salvation, future pardon from hell and to heaven.
B. Another word for salvation is deliverance. He delivers us from our sins.
D. Paul could have peace in the midst of his troubles because he had confidence in God that he delivers his people. He has delivered in the past and he will deliver in the future! God is like the pizza man, he delivers in the present (Not always on your time, but he delivers)!
D. Vs. 6- How could God bring comfort and salvation to others through Paul’s suffering? As suffering brought Paul closer to God, and made him rely more and more on God alone, Paul was more effective. He was more “usable” by God to bring salvation to God’s people. In a sense the Lord is taking his instruments and sharpening them for greater use and effectiveness!
E. (Psa 46:1 NIV) God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
F. Our emotional comfort comes not from within ourselves, but from God’s commitment to sustain and save his people, no matter what.
G. Now what a minute, in the past God has not delivered some people! This is Memorial Day and those soldiers were not delivered, they died! True but not true! (Dan 3:16 NIV) Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.(Dan 3:17 NIV) If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.(Dan 3:18 NIV) But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Now if they died in that furnace, then God did not deliver them. Oh, yes, he would have. Look at vs. 10. To die for the Christian is glory!
H. Christ was not delivered from the cross! True but not true! (Rom 4:25 NIV) He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
I. Through these things we can become bitter or better. (Heb 12:15 NIV) See to it …that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
