God Encourages Those Who Are Discouraged
Review:
2 Corinthians 6:14 & 17 NLT
14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers.
17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
(These statements were directed to members of the Corinthian Church)
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- Doing the right thing can be very painful.
- Paul experienced deep discouragement.
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God Encourages Those Who Are Discouraged
Paul’s Appeal for Reconciliation.
Paul’s Burning Desire for a Restored Relationship with the Corinthian Church.
2 Corinthians 7:2-7 (NLT)
2 Please open your hearts to us. We have not done wrong to anyone, nor led anyone astray, nor taken advantage of anyone. 3 I’m not saying this to condemn you. I said before that you are in our hearts, and we live or die together with you. 4 I have the highest confidence in you, and I take great pride in you. You have greatly encouraged me and made me happy despite all our troubles.
Paul’s Joy at the Church’s Repentance
5 When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside. 6 But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. 7 His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you. When he told us how much you long to see me, and how sorry you are for what happened, and how loyal you are to me, I was filled with joy!
Examine the scriptures:
2 Corinthians 7:2-7 (NLT)
Review:
2 Corinthians 6:14 & 17 NLT
14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers.
17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
(These statements were directed to members of the Corinthian Church)
- The Corinthians were siding with (believing) false teachers and they were rejecting Paul.
2 Please open your hearts to us.
2 Corinthians 6:11-13 NLT
11 Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. 12 There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. 13 I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!
- Paul desperately wanted the Corinthian church to accept him as a spiritual leader.
We have not done wrong to anyone,
2 Corinthians 2:17 NLT
17 You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.
nor led anyone astray,
2 Corinthians 4:2 NLT
2 We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.
2 Corinthians 6:3 NLT
3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry.
nor taken advantage of anyone.
A history of “hurt” with the Corinthian Church.
Some misunderstandings resulting from “the missing letter”.
2 Corinthians 2:1 NLT
So I decided that I would not bring you grief with another painful visit.
Paul is defending his actions.
3 I’m not saying this to condemn you.
Paul did not blame the Corinthians for their vacillation. His rivals, the false teachers, were cunning.
Cunning: having skill in achieving one’s ends by deceit or evasion.
- Paul’s rivals were cunning.
2 Corinthians 11:3-5 NLT
3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. 4 You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.5 But I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these “super apostles” who teach such things.
2 Corinthians 10:12 NLT
12 Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!
- Paul’s rivals are described as wonderful, important, “super apostles”.
I said before that you are in our hearts, and we live or die together with you.
4 I have the highest confidence in you, and I take great pride in you. You have greatly encouraged me and made me happy despite all our troubles.
- Paul was confident that God was at work in the Corinthian church.
1 Corinthians 1:4-9 NLT
Paul Gives Thanks to God
4 I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. 5 Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. 6 This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. 7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul’s Joy at the Church’s Repentance
5 When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest (no peace of mind) for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside.
- Paul experienced deep discouragement.
6 But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.
- God encourages those who are discouraged.
7 His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you.
2 Corinthians 2:3-4 NLT
3 That is why I wrote to you as I did, so that when I do come, I won’t be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you all know that my joy comes from your being joyful. 4 I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.
When he told us how much you long to see me, and how sorry you are for what happened, and how loyal you are to me, I was filled with joy!
- Doing the right thing can be very painful.
