God of All Consolation

FROM: APRIL 7, @ APRIL 13, 2020

Topic: "God of All Consolation" 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 We are going through days of distance, days of silence, days of fear, days of confinement, days of solitude! Days when we are discovering the reality of life! There is nothing right now in this world to be attached to, nothing that brings us joy, comfort, or illusion. There is nothing! Well then, we need to learn what God really intended for us to do here on earth! It is to do His will!

I. The apostle explodes, rumbles in giving thanks for the consolation that the Lord gives us!

A. (Vs. 3) "...God of all comfort..." 1.Consolation is THE RELIEF THAT CAN BE GIVEN TO SOMEONE.

2. It is to alleviate a person's sadness, an affliction, a suffering, someone’s pain.

3. Our God is the God of ALL CONSOLATION, WHO HAS ENOUGH LOVE AND POWER to provide the necessary strength and comfort to all his children in all kinds of circumstances.

4. God wants you to know THAT HE IS YOUR COMFORTER!

B. (Vs. 4) "...who comforts us in ALL our tribulations..." The consoling presence of God is in ALL afflictions!

1. THE APOSTLE AND HIS PARTNERS ALSO HAD TRIBULATION IN THE WORLD, BUT THEY ALSO HAD THE PEACE OF CHRIST!

2. Let us not selfishly keep the consolation we have received from God for ourselves! Let us be the channels through which the comfort that has its source in God also reaches the brothers who are under the same tribulations as us!

3. Only those who have gone through painful experiences are prepared to comfort those who need it.

4. THOSE WHO DO NOT SUFFER CANNOT SYMPATHIZE (SUFFER) WITH THOSE WHO DO SUFFER.

5. Never avoid approaching anyone's bed of pain, or avoid reaching the house of mourning. Let us approach anyone WHO NEEDS OUR COMFORT!

6. We are not consoled for our comfort, but to BE CONSOLATORS!

C. (Vs. 5) Somehow our sufferings resemble those of Christ.

1. Christ endured these sufferings not only for the redemption of the world.

2. His sufferings were also FOR THE EDIFICATION OF THE CHURCH!

3. We have to be careful that nothing destroys that edification, we have to construct every day.

4. In these days the edification of the Church has not stopped, although we can be sad, but Jesus, for what He lived, comforts us. Jesus had anticipated that He would send us the Counselor! (John 16:7) And if we go by what He says, WE WILL SEE GOD WORK IN EACH ONE OF YOUR HOMES!

D. (Vs. 6) We can see the good arising from your afflictions as well as from your consolation!

1. If you are afflicted you will also receive consolation.

2. Afflictions and consolation were sanctified (blessed, consecrated) by the cross.

3. If the apostle was afflicted that resulted in the consolation and salvation of the saints. Not the salvation of their souls but the forces that would help them save themselves by going through their trials.

4. From this we learn TO TOLERATE WITH PATIENCE, well, it is the same experience that we are living today. Because we are in solitude as the apostle was (being more

difficult for him since he was in prison) and THERE WAS JOY IN HIM because he was waiting for the day when he would see the brothers.

E. (Vs. 7) "...as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."

1. When tribulation came it was because later, one step away, there was consolation (relief)!

2. We suffer for Christ, but consolation also comes through Christ, who is the Head!

3. Sufferings never come alone in our lives. THEY ARE ALWAYS FOLLOWED BY THE CONSOLATION OF CHRIST!

4. God knows that in believing him we will go through tribulations, but in the midst of those tribulations HE KNOWS HOW TO BRING US THE CONSOLATIONS!

5. We are comforted so that when we find someone in trouble, someone who lacks comfort and encouragement, WE CAN GIVE THE SAME HELP AND THE SAME CONSOLATION THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US!

6. He will always and in due course give us strength to resist! He is the God of All Consolation! Amen.