1. Affliction and Comfort
2 Corinthians 1:1-11

2. Paul’s Letter
Probably 3rd or 4th letter to the Church at Corinth
Recived the Gospel willingly
Self-centered in their relationship with God

3. 2 Corinthians 1:1-7
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; 7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.

4. Tonight
Suffering – could be a good thing
Comfort – how can we receive it?
Practicalities

5. Suffering
Paul suffered a lot
We suffer too
Generally try to avoid suffering

6. Suffering
As a result of our own sin
As a result of living in a fallen world
As a result of following God

7. Suffering Afflicted – nagging negative circumstances
Perplexed - not knowing what to do in a situation
Persecuted – hostility from the outside
Struck down – cast down, sudden failure, unexpected betrayal, deeper revelation of sin nature

8. Suffering in the Bible How much?
2 Cor 1:8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;
Verse 9 - indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead

9. Watchman Nee
I was once staying in a place in China with some twenty other brothers. There was inadequate provision for bathing in the home where we stayed, so we went for a daily plunge in the river. On one occasion a brother had cramp in one leg, and I suddenly saw he was sinking fast, so I motioned to another brother, who was an expert swimmer, to hasten to his rescue. But to my astonishment he made no move. So I grew desperate and called out: `Don't you see the man is drowning?' and the other brothers, about as agitated as I was, shouted vigorously too. But our good swimmer still did not move. Calm and collected, he remained just where he was, apparently postponing the unwelcome task. Meantime the voice of the poor drowning brother grew fainter and his efforts feebler. In my heart I said: `I hate that man! Think of his letting a brother drown before his very eyes and not going to the rescue!' But when the man was actually sinking, with a few swift strokes the swimmer was at his side, and both were safely ashore.

10. Watchman Nee
When I got an opportunity I aired my views. `I have never seen any Christian who loved his life quite as much as you do', I said. `Think of the distress you would have saved that brother if you had considered yourself a little less and him a little more.' But the swimmer knew his business better than I did. `Had I gone earlier', he said, `he would have clutched me so fast that both of us would have gone under. A drowning man cannot be saved until he is utterly exhausted and ceases to make the slightest effort to save himself.' Do you see it? When we give up the case, then God will take it up. He is waiting until we are at an end of our resources and can do nothing more for ourselves.

11. Comfort
Parakaleo means "to come alongside" to strengthen

12. How to receive God’s comfort?
Know God
Know God’s purpose
Know God’s people

13. Comfort – Know God
To receive comfort start a relationship with him
John 1:12 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name
Great comfort and relief in this first step

14. Comfort – know God’s purpose
God has a purpose
God is in control
God is good

15. Comfort – Know God’s People
1 Corinthians 1:4 …who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort
We do not suffer in vain
Implies need to let others comfort us

16. Conclusion / Application
God comforts us when we adopt his views
We all will suffer, let the Lord comfort you
2 Corinthians 4: we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

17. Suffering for Christ today
Read a book
Missing sleep
Giving money
Investing in people
Withstanding failure
Agony for other people
Withstanding attacks from Satan
Reprioritizing life

18. Responding to Suffering
Don’t go back to old sin
Don’t be surprised – 1 Peter 4:12
Be ready – 1 Peter 4:1
Don’t compare – 2 Corinthians 10:12
Focus on God’s promises – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, Hebrews 12:11, 1 Peter 5:9-10
Give thanks - James 1:2-4, Philippians 1:29

19. Watchman Nee
There are some Christians who endure suffering, but they have no conception of the preciousness of the suffering that is their lot. They go through it without any sense of gratitude to the Lord and only hope for the day when they will be delivered out of it. They do not heartily accept affliction, but regard it as something deplorable that has to be endured. Their attitude betrays the fact that they lack the mind to suffer