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“ Summary, Part 4 (final) ” d. LET US GRACIOUSLY RECEIVE GOD’S COMFORT FROM THE MEANS HE HAS APPOINTED [51:13]. i. From our pastors through their ministry of the word. It is awful to hear God’s word and do little more with it than to sit through it and practically forget it afterward. We are not alone: God is with us (Ps 23:4) and so are the brethren (Rom 1:12, Pr 27:17, Ecc 4:12, 3 Jn 4). ii. Through our fellowship with God’s people, especially on the Lord’s Day. Heb 10:22-25 – the Lord’s day is a means of grace for Christians to comfort one another. God did not intend for us to go to heaven as scattered individuals, but as a flock under a comforting shepherd.
Ian Migala (11/16/2015)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 3 ” iii. Let us regard ourselves as stewards of those comforts so that we may later minister them to others. Like Ebenezers, we should remember our comforting experiences to remind ourselves and other Christians that God’s comfort is available and effectual. b. BEWARE OF MISAPPLYING GOD’S COMFORTS [36:57]. God doesn’t comfort those who are comfortable in their sins. We must be cautioned about using comfort as a means of enabling. Ps 28:13 – we need to be honest in the face of sin, and we must encourage repentance (see Is 40:1-2). c. LET US SEEK TO GIVE COMFORT APPROPRIATE TO THE NEED OF EACH SITUATION [42:00]. Rom 12:15 – join one in his joy or grief, even if you are not of the same mood. Job 2:11-13 – Job’s friends were most comforting in silent commiseration. Note where their speculations had gotten them by verses 13:4 and 16:2. Truth heals, but only when properly applied. We’re channels of God’s comfort; God is the one sending it.
Ian Migala (11/16/2015)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 2 ” c. GOD INTENDS THE CHRISTIAN LIFE TO GOD-CENTERED AND OTHERS-SERVING RATHER THAN MAN-CENTERED AND SELF-SERVING [26:02]. As members of one body, Christians are members of one another. Job 30:28 – Job was alone in his suffering. We may seek comfort, but we must be givers of comfort even more. To only seek comfort is actually parasitic. Ps 69:20 – David’s experience pictured Jesus’ experience on the cross. In our own day and place, we feel this sense of abandonment more and more, and it is even creeping into the church. 2. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE GIVING AND RECEIVING OF COMFORT [32:11]. a. LET US LEARN TO STORE UP GOD’S COMFORTS SO THAT WE MAY BE READY TO MINISTER COMFORT WHEN AND WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED. i. If we would store up comforts, we first learn to bless God amidst our afflictions. Knowing that God afflicts us to among other reasons comfort us restores our hope. ii. Let us meditate upon those comforts amidst our afflictions. His comforts should be something for which our souls yearn. Ps 27:13-14 – David exhorted himself to wait upon God’s comforts.
Ian Migala (11/16/2015)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 1 ” Returning to 2 Cor 1:1-11, we conclude this series. 1. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ABOUT AFFLICTIONS IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE [starting at 6:49 of the audio]. a. AFFLICTION IS PART OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. Our path to heaven is laden with trials and sufferings. The Word of Faith movement is wrong about Christians being spared these trials: as Jesus learned obedience in His sufferings, we must do the same if we are to bear His image. 1 Thes 3:3 – our sufferings are our God-given destiny. Heb 12:6 – God singles us out for His discipline. Right after Paul survived a stoning, he preached that “through many tribulations we enter the Kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). 2 Tim 3:12 – persecution attends our faith. God sends us afflictions to enrich our lives. A life of ease is usually a life of spiritual stagnancy. b. ONLY CHRISTIANS ARE PROMISED GOD’S COMFORT IN THEIR AFFLICTIONS [14:47]. God extends common grace even to those who hate Him, but he only comforts those who know Him as their comforter (cf. Rom 3:16-17). 2 Cor 12:1-10 – spiritually, weakness is strength. When we disinvest ourselves of the world’s affections, we find God’s grace. Affliction simplifies things and gets us back to the basics. Whatever afflicts us now, God ordained it as a means for His comfort for us.
