1 – The one-word theme of 2 Corinthians is: SUFFERING. Paul’s opponents sought to discredit his ministry by pointing to all of his suffering as though it meant God was dealing harshly with him. Paul instead shows how suffering is so important to the life of the Christian and our ministry one to another. We will not serve God one iota past what we are willing to suffer in serving Him. Those who want to serve Christ without suffering or who want to preach a Christianity devoid of suffering, distance themselves from the Lord who suffered for them. If suffering is automatically a sign of God’s displeasure or failure in the Christian life – then Jesus was the most miserable failure of all. This necessary theme is expanded upon by Peter in his first epistle.

2 – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV) 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 affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

RAF: Christians are not as much repositories for God’s riches, as conduits. Many would like to be useful in ministering to others while at the same time failing to realize that God’s primary way of equipping us for that work – is in meeting OUR need SO that we can then meet another’s. If we are unwilling to need His comforts – the comforts which become ours in the midst and aftermath of suffering – then we need not be surprised if we have nothing to give to anyone else. His blessings pass to and thus through us to others. He does not give us what WE do not need to give to others – but binds us to others by means of the need and His supply in it. It is those who have been comforted in their grief, who are best enabled to minister Christ to the grief of others. Those who have found His supply in want, His support in trial, His peace in the storm and His presence in abandonment and lonliness – then have Him to share with others in the very same circumstances. It is amusing how we pray for faith, but then do not want any trials where we actually have to trust Him for anything. We will plead with Him for opportunities to minister to others, but are unwilling to have needs He has to meet in us first, so that we can truly minister Him and not ourselves to those in like need. It is when we’ve been comforted, that we can best bring Him as comfort to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We could add here that this then exposes the first foundation of any true Gospel ministry in evangelism as well. We are not equipped to call others to flee to Christ for salvation, if we have not known our own sinfulness, and fled to Him for mercy and grace ourselves. It is Heaven’s economy that those who call men to Christ, are those who first know their own desperate need of Him – and how He has met that need by His death at Calvary. Unregenerate preachers are an abomination. Like nurses with numb hands trying to be tender to burn victims in excruciating pain.

3 – 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (ESV) For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

RAF: There is a vast difference between despairing of life or of a situation ever changing for the better, and yielding up to despair altogether. Christians are not required to be unrealistic in their assessments – either for the good or the bad. It is not faithlessness to be in a position where you say – “this does not look like it will ever get any better.” In fact, our unwillingness to accept certain unchangeable realities can bring us to the utmost frustration and defeat. Faithlessness, is seeing the situation, and forgetting that “this” – here and now, is not THE end – imagining that there is NO future whatever. Faithlessness fails to insert the sure hope of the resurrection into the equation. It stops with the circumstances. Paul points to the impossible place he was in with his companions, and then demonstrates how in it, indeed by means of it – God was getting them to look beyond the immediate, and remember that the God who raises the dead is the One above it all. And that if nothing changes here and now – in THAT day, it will. We may be so utterly devoid of resources as to despair that we will even make it through the present circumstance alive. And if we do not – our God will raise us up on the last day. And that is where our hope rests.

4 – 2 Corinthians 1:12-14 (ESV) For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and acknowledge and I hope you will fully acknowledge— just as you did partially acknowledge us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.

RAF: Paul places no weight on enjoying great comforts or earthly, external trappings as somehow indicating God’s favor. What he prizes is how he has been enabled to live in all of life’s circumstances:

a. With a conscience right before God;

b. Having behaved – conducted himself – in simplicity: sticking to the necessary essentials;

c. and living in sincerity – plain, straightforward transparency, not needing to hide anything;

d. Not reasoning according to this world, but according to Heaven’s wisdom;

e. Living in the knowledge of being people who have received grace;

f. And thus living first and foremost in communicating that grace to others.

This is the the way he first came to them;

this is the way they accepted him at first;

this is the way it still is;

and this is how it is to be when Christ returns.

5 – 2 Corinthians 4:5 (ESV) For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

RAF: In our day, it is not unusual for many to think more about THEIR ministry, than THE ministry. In other words, some are about the business of building their ministry which they want to take on a certain form and by which they wish to identify themselves. It is not uncommon to hear it said: “I have such-and-such a ministry.” This mindset, which appears to be one Paul had to confront in some in the Corinthian Church is met most comprehensively in this text. Note:

a. The proclamation which Paul is about, is NOT about HIS ministry – it is about Christ Jesus. Paul is not as much concerned about having a church planting ministry or a counseling ministry or a healing ministry or a music ministry or anything else of that kind. What he is about, is proclaiming Christ. That may be done in thousands of different contexts – but as the central object, it never changes. The message is more important than the ministry. Whenever this gets reversed, monuments to men are not far behind.

b. The proclamation of Jesus is not simply or merely as Savior – but as Lord. Gospel preaching which does not in the end call men to come to Jesus as their God and King – as their Lord, fails to be Gospel ministry. His Lordship is inherent in the concept of the incarnation – He left His pre-existent glory to take on human flesh. It is inherent in His earthly ministry, displayed as Lord over disease, demons and even the Sabbath. It is inherent in His resurrection – where he is declared to be Lord of all! It is inherent in salvation where we are translated from the kingdom of darkness, into His kingdom – where we become His bond-slaves. We cannot truly preach Him apart from being Lord. This is what we are calling men to, to repent from self-government to Christ’s Lordship.

c. And how then does Paul classify his “ministry?” “Servants” – slaves, for Jesus’ sake. Slaves of Jesus, so that others might know Him.

6 – 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (ESV) But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

RAF: This portrait of the Christian life is so foreign to our Americanized Western Christianity. Here, the picture painted is of a people constantly or at least repeatedly brought to the end of themseves by circumstances of every kind, SO THAT, His supernatural sustaining power might be demonstrated through us – IN us. While we are alive in these bodies, we are always being given over to circumstances which would seem to destroy us – and by means of it – He brings others to life. It is beyond our comprehension. But Dear Saint, you who have been trested and tried and who have thought that it must mean God has abandoned you or is hanging you out to dry for some unknown reason – listen to this passage. Ease, success, plenty and no adversity are not the presupposed norms of the Christian life. It is just the opposite. And those who would tell you different, are not reliable. This reality remains unknown to them. You in Christ who are standing today in the midst of severe trial, and know full well that you are not doing it by means of even the smallest ability of your own – He is manifesting Himself to the rest of us in your mortal flesh.

1 – Proverbs 3:3 (ESV) Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.

RAF: Never let the wonder, the mystery, and glory, the reality of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness toward you ever escape your consciousness. When we imagine His love to be vacillating or indistinct – or when we doubt the absolute certainty of His commitment to see all of His promises to come to pass – faith suffers its most devastating blows. See our God as constitutionally incapable of the any of the defects of human love. In the darkest of hours, He cannot love you any more, nor can He love you any less. See Him as ontologically unable to fail to keep His word, or to break His promises. He does not merely carry out His promises faithfully, He IS faithful. This is the One with whom we have to do. This is our God. Loving and faithful beyond anything the human mind can imagine. This is the One in whom we place our trust.

2 – Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

RAF: Bring everything to Him, EVERYTHING. Do not fail to make every concern, ever twinge of anxiety or fear known. And do the same with every joy and thankgiving. Bring Him into every aspect and moment of life. Every experience. Live life IN Christ.

3 – Proverbs 3:11 (ESV) My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof,

RAF: This need to refrain either from despising (treating lightly) or wearying of the Lord’s discipline is true whether you are the subject of such loving discipline, or if you are in leadership and must be an agent in carrying it out, or, if you are part of a Body which engages actively in such outward love.

All three applications must be made.

a. The sinner, treats the Father’s discipline as though it is a light thing. Either that God does not discipline at all and just leaves us to ourselves, or, that He does not take unrepentant sin in our lives very seriously. It is easy then too – if we DO live in the reality of His loving discipline, to grow weary of it, as though we can do NOTHING right and want to just get away from every manifestation of it. Such then is the need to be reminded this is love, and the product of His delight in us. To pay us the supreme compliment, that the Lord of the universe pays attention to the details of our lives.

b. Leadership can treat it lightly and thus neglect it. Or, being confronted with many needs to administer it in certain seasons, can grow exceedingly weary in the process. But we are to be agents of God’s love – NOT His wrath. We must keep this focus and not let it cross over into something heavy and odious. We too must remember how the Father is delighting in sons and daughters, and that we are there to manifest His love, care and concern in His active involvement in their lives.

c. So too a congregation can begin to wonder if Church discipline is really all that necessary. After all, it is painful and uncomfortable. We naturally dislike it. As a people we can grow weary and just say – “let’s let God handle it alone – why get ourselves all upset at people’s sins and involved in them?” Then again, we must take up the banner of love and be sure we do not neglect to love in the hard places. To do what is uncomfortable, when it is best for the ones we are loving in Christ’s name.

4 – Proverbs 3:13-14 (ESV) Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.

RAF: Three times in Scripture we are admonished that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Ps. 111:10; Prov. 1:7; Prov. 9:10). Knowing God now, is the beginning of the treasures of eternity. How can we know what life is meant to be apart from understanding the purposes of the One who gave it to us and sustains us in it? And how can we understand His purposes fully, unless we come to know Him for Himself? In ancient courts of law, advocates for one accused did not so much provide evidence against the accusations themselves, as they did testify to the fact that the character of the one accused made it impossible that they could do what they were accused of. Nothing will make us more sure of God than getting to know Him. Nothing will make us happier in His providential appointments in our lives than grasping how fully and perfectly He loves us – and how flawlessly wise he is both in His direct actions and in His permissions. This truly is better than gain from silver or gold. These are lasting riches. These are eternal glories. You gain true, cosmic, eternal wisdom when you understand who and what God is, and stand in the right fear that being exposed to such awesome and incomprehensible realities engenders. And when at last you prize this above all other things – then you will know true contentment and satisfaction.

5 – Proverbs 3:19-20 (ESV) The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.

RAF: Here is a call to keep always in view – that it is God who made this world in which we live – with purpose and wisdom, and that by His design it functions and exists. This is so we never cross over into existential despair. So we never fall into the fears of randomness. Never fail to see God is behind life itself, and that He remains sovereign and supreme as He moves all of history toward its final goal of all things summed up in Christ Jesus. The knowledge that human existence is on a trajectory toward an eternal goal is vital to our living in hope and reality. The damnable horror that has sprung from a Godless, evolutionary view of man that makes him nothing more than a cosmic accident plunges the souls of men into a bottomless despair. Only the light of the Gospel as it reveals the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ can rescue us from that wretched abyss.

6 – Proverbs 3:28 (ESV) Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.

RAF: Give the Gospel at every opportunity. Do not listen to the deceptions of your own hear that argue you need to be in a better mood, or have your mind in a better place, or that it is inconvenient, or that you don’t have the time at that moment to do it well. You have the words of eternal life with you at all times. Seize the moment He has provided you. Don’t wait. Fulfill your ambassadorial role and tell them the good news. “Christ has come. He has died the death for sin at Calvary. Final judgement awaits us all – and might be here in a moment. Look to Christ and put your trust in Him as your sin-bearer. Today. Forsake your sin, repent and believe.” What an impact a moment can have on someone’s eternity.