A group of friends went deer hunting and paired off in twos for the day. That night one of the hunters returned alone, staggering under an eight-point buck. "Where’s Harry?" he was asked. "Harry had a stroke of some kind. He’s a couple of miles back up the trail." "You left Harry lying there, and you carried the deer back?" "Well," said the hunter, "I figured no one was going to steal Harry."
I wonder how Harry was feeling. I would imagine he felt abandoned, cold and alone. We have felt the same, haven’t we?
“You seem to imagine that I have no ups and downs, but just a level and lofty stretch of spiritual attainment with unbroken joy. By no means! Often times everything in my life appears to be murky.” So wrote the man who was called in his day “The Greatest Preacher in the English speaking world, Dr. John Henry Jowett. He pastored leading churches in the early 20th century, preached to huge congregations and wrote books that were best sellers.
Or, “I am the subject of depressions of spirit so fearful that I hope none of you ever get to such extremes of wretchedness as I go to.” These were words spoken by Charles Spurgeon whose ministry in London made him perhaps the greatest preacher England ever produced.
Discouragement attacks us all doesn’t it? So we are not surprised then when we read that the Apostle Paul was “pressed out of measure” (I call it being out of sorts) and "despaired even of life.” (1st Corinthians 1:8) Great as he was in character and ministry, Paul was human just like the rest of us. Paul could have escaped these burdens except that he had a call from God and a concern to help people.
Paul’s letters to the Corinthian Church are sandwiched between his letter to the Romans and his letter to the Galatians. The specific letters to the church in Corinth really address some very practical issues. But are these two the only letters Paul wrote to them? Evidently there was a third, although it was not inspired by God and therefore not included in our Biblical Canon. Paul references this third, private letter in chapter 5 of 1st Corinthians.
So who were the Corinthians? We have read many passages from these letters over the years and we have discussed the background of the church of Corinth, but it is good to review. As we look closely at the culture and lifestyle of the Corinthians, it may remind you of our society today.
Corinth was one of the foremost Grecian metropolitan cities with a population between six and seven hundred thousand. The capital of the province was Achaia (a-kee-a.) In Acts chapter 18, (written by the Gospel writer Luke) we read that Gallio, (Gall-leo) the Roman proconsul or governor resided there. Because of Corinth’s geographical location it was a very prosperous city, known for its vast commerce and immense wealth. Greek civilization thrived there. The fine arts were cultivated, athletic games and schools of philosophy flourished in this proud city. But it was also known for its open and gross immorality. The Greek worship of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty and sexuality, was deep rooted in the culture of Corinth. Aphrodite was the Greek name for the one whom the Romans worshipped as Venus. So great was the moral corruption, that the phrase “to live like a Corinthian” had become a byword of shame and disgust. When we read chapter 1 of Paul’s letter to the Romans, he gives us some idea of the moral conditions prevailing in Corinth, for he wrote Romans from Corinth. In verse 24 Paul writes of the people of Corinth; “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness in the lust of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the creator.”
And in the verses that follow, he lists specifics such as unrighteousness, wickedness, maliciousness, full of envy, deceit, evil mindedness, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving and more if that is even possible. The Corinthian church was not immune to these cultural qualities; these were very much a part of the church. So Paul’s words of the Gospel directed to the people of Corinth were timely and badly needed. How the Gospel reached Corinth we learn from the 18th chapter of Acts. I encourage you to read the account. After spending time in Athens, the Apostle Paul traveled to Corinth and began his work in a very quiet way. He did not enter the city with a blare of trumpets; he was not advertised as a great evangelist; he simply went to work as an unknown craftsman. He was a tentmaker associated with his two friends Aquila and Priscilla, and they opened a business together.
Having established their business, Paul began to move among the Jews. He attended the local synagogue where he listened to the regular services and then when the opportunity was given, he presented the Gospel message. Jewish visitors, especially those dressed in teacher’s garb, were permitted to take part in the service. Undoubtedly, when Paul was there, he wore the garments that showed he was a graduate of the school of Gamaliel, and therefore recognized as a teacher in the highest regard. So from Sabbath to Sabbath, on Saturday of course, he reasoned with the Jews and Gentiles who might be present. It was a common thing for inquiring Gentiles to attend the Jewish services. Tired and weary of the customary recurring heathen festivities, finding nothing in paganism to answer the yearning, true desires of their hearts, they sought in the synagogue what they could not find elsewhere. Some say; “We read in the book of Acts that Paul preached on the Sabbath day, and that is Saturday, so therefore we are duty bound to worship on Saturday instead of Sunday!”
The true fact is that Paul was simply accommodating himself to the Jews who met on their Sabbath. If he wished to reach them, he had to reach them on that day. Paul’s Gospel message started with knowledge of the Old Testament Scripture which pointed directly to the One who was crucified outside of Jerusalem, who had been raised from the dead, and who had ascended to Heaven. Paul also recounted his own conversion and his face to face encounter with the risen Lord Jesus.
Paul preached in the synagogue and when he was no longer able, he taught from the home of a man named Justus whose house adjoined the synagogue. One of the first men who converted was a man named Crispus who was the chief ruler of the synagogue. He believed with “all of his house.” Paul preached for a year and a half in Corinth. As we continue to read in the 18th chapter of Acts, we read of the insurrection stirred up against Paul in the days of Gallio. We read that the Greeks caught a man named Sosthenes (Sos-then-eese) who had since become the chief ruler of the synagogue. He was seized and beaten by the mob in the presence of Gallio, when he refused to proceed against Paul at the instigation of the Jews. Sosthenes participated in the persecution of Christians, but for some reason, he spared Paul’s life that day. What interest this background gives to the opening verses of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. Notice who his first letter to the church in Corinth was addressed to:
“Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother. To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 1st Corinthians 1:1-3.
And in 2nd Corinthians, Paul writes: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. 2nd Corinthians 1:3-7.
One of the key words in this letter known as 2nd Corinthians is comfort and encouragement. The verb is used 18 times in this letter and the noun 11 times. Do you think it is important to receive comfort from God and to comfort others? What was Paul’s secret of victory when he was experiencing pressures and trials? His secret was God. When you find yourself discouraged and ready to quit, take the attention off yourself and focus it on God. Out of his own difficult experience, Paul tells us how we can find encouragement in God.
“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2nd Corinthians 12:7-10.
Always remember what God is to each of us. He is the Father of Jesus Christ, and the Father of mercies – new mercies every day. And He is the Father of all comfort.
In the Gospel of John, 14th chapter, Jesus assures us that He will not leave us comfortless when He says “I will come to you.”
Also remember that God permits trials in our lives, He is always in control to give us strength to endure and wants to be glorified through them. And God works through us in all ways so that we can encourage and comfort others.
Jesus Christ predicted Peter’s denial, He knew Peter would deny Him, yet He desired to forgive Him. And the Lord said; “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you that he may sift you as wheat (separating the good from the bad.) But I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” Luke 22:31-32. Strengthen your brethren.
“Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God my Father, Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.”
