Suffering

Suffering

Bible Reading:  2 Cor 1:3-10

Song:  "HAVE THINE OWN WAY"

I. Introduction

A. Fair weather friends really bring you down when you 

     really need them.

B. Friend in need is a friend ... INDEED ! better than 

     riches !

C. Funny show (wonder years): theme " Get by with a 

     little help from my friends"

D. Friend that will stick closer to you than a brother = 

     GOD !!

E. Focal point of friendship is when you are really 

    suffering and need a friend to comfort you.

F. Finding this truth in the scriptures... 2 Cor 1:3-10

II. Body

A. Comfort in suffering: 

     God is our help and example 3-5

     1. Without God there are times when you really are 

         ALONE!! (walk from buttermilk falls)

     2. With God even the worst of times is bearable and 

         God's presence is near, so.....blessed be God"

     3. Without a doubt, true joy, true comfort, true 

         happiness is found in God; for LIFE is in HIM!

     4. With God there is purpose in ALL aspects of our 

         life and this purpose is the building up of the body 

         of Christ !

      5. With God as our help and example, we have 

          encouragement to press on. ... vs. 5

B. Comfort through suffering: Godly sacrifice is 

                                               comforting 6

     1. The goodness we do for others comes back in ways 

         we can not possibly imagine.

     2. The greatness of Christianity is 

         SELF-SACRIFICE! (Christ the perfect example)

     3. The Godly man WILL DO... GODLY THINGS.

     4. The God of all the Earth will do right and HE 

         WILL GET US THROUGH.

C. Comfort with suffering: 

     Godly communion is strength 7

     1. God does not leave you alone (even though it may 

         seen like it at times) 1 Ki 19

     2. God's nature IS hope, is secure, is ABLE to be 

         equal to ANY problem. 1 Cor 10:13

     3. God has given us ALL a charge to be "helpers" to 

         help build up the BODY OF CHRIST.

D. Comfort beyond suffering: 

     God given strength in the PAST 8-9

     1. What is the most vivid pain you can remember? 

         (Sensitive teeth in 1993)

     2. What did it mean to you when you first realized you 

         were getting better ?

     3. What if your suffering were brought about by your 

         efforts to spread the Gospel?

     4. What God has started, GOD will finish.

     5. With each and every victory you experience, your 

         faith grows and grows and grows.

     6. What value is there in suffering ... confidence that 

         God will have HIS way with you AGAIN... this is 

         HOPE.

E. Comfort for suffering: 

    Godly confidence for the FUTURE 10

     1. The future (and this verse) is really tied to the past.

     2. This is what faith is all about.

     3. The essence of faith is confidence in GOD !

III. Conclusion

A. Suffering and comfort are tied together for the 

     Christian.

B. Suffering has value 

    (EXAMPLE, COMFORT, CONFIDENCE, HOPE, 

      FAITH)

C. Suffering produces FAITH.

D. Suffering is actually GOOD FOR YOU.

E. SUFFERING BRINGS YOU CLOSER TO GOD   

    (AND OTHERS CLOSER TO YOU).