Sermon notes from Sunday 31 December 2017
2 Corinthians 1 verses 1 - 11
It is always good to think back on this the final Lord`s day of the year, it doesn`t seem long ago since the first Lord`s day of the year. Whether we want to do it or not there is no doubt about it we will look back at the past year of the things that took place in it. We are encouraged to do that. Things that brought some disgrace, things that thrilled us, things that abhored us. We will look back because another year beckons. We do not want to make the same mistakes as we made in the past year. In verses 9 and 10 the apostle Paul is speaking about his past, his present and his future. We are thinking today of the past and the present we are in and the future which is in God`s hands alone. We are told not to boast of another day because it is in his hands today. Here in this second letter to the Corinthians Paul was writing to a group of people just like you and me. In that church there were men and women of all ages, it was a mixed congregation. In the first letter he had a lot to deal with, there was a lot of trouble in that church. There were divisions in it. There was immorality in that church. There was a lot of backbiting and gossip. Paul had to write to them to correct that. 2 Corinthians letter is a bit different. He was taking time just to see how his first letter went down. As he does that he starts off with his testimony - "I Paul, the sent one of Jesus Christ is writing to you." It is good to have a testimony, to tell people we belong to the Lord. Not boasting of ourselves, in our salvation we have done nothing. The Holy Ghost has convicted, converted and convinced us to keep on going on. A testimony that is alive, that is vibrant. Paul writing to this church was able to say "I still have this testimony". In verses 3 and 4 he is giving thanks. It is good to look back in the past year and see how God comforted us and we should give thanks for that. Are we thankful today for all he has done for us over the past year? Do we thank God for saving our souls? Then in verse 8 Paul goes on to the subject of trials. He is not rushing away from trials. Paul is not saying that the Christian life is easy going. We will have trials and difficulties. Paul`s testimony, Paul`s thanks and Paul`s trials. Then Paul guides them into this great truth in verses 9 and 10
"But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead; Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver; in whom we trust and that he will yet deliver us."
First of all he is making a reflection on the past. He looks at his trials and troubles and says he has learned something positive from them. He wants to hand that on to you and me. Every Christian goes through a time of trial and trouble. Maybe as you look back on the year gone by you can testify to that. Paul reminds us in verse 4 that during the time of trial and tribulation God was comforting us and the reason he was doing that - "that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble." In the past year there has been hurt and pain and suffering and sorrowing. Some of us have lost loved ones and that has brought pain. Paul said we are not suffering as those who have no hope. There will be tears, broken heartedness. There have been those lost this year who have been very dear to us. When we going through pain we are receiving a time of comfort from the hand of God. Paul says that it is God who comforts us in all our tribulation. What for? That we might comfort others in any similar trial. James takes it further "my brethren count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations." Here is Paul describing his affliction as a time of comfort. "we were persecuted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed." That phrase "cast down" is taken from the scene of the gladiators of the arena who came out to fight against each other, when one man lifted the other to break his back, to destroy him. That is the term that is used. So violently treated, despaired of our own lives. Such was the severity of our trials. We had this sentence of death in ourselves but God dealt with us. We are lookng back on a year gone by, reflecting. Paul was not only reflecting but recognising God`s hand on his life. As we look back on our lives can we see the hand of God in all things? One time Paul was in Damascus and things were going well for him, souls were being saved but then all of a sudden a rumour went around and Paul was ridiculed and condemned. They planned to take his life but the disciples heard of it and put Paul in a basket then let him down over the wall to safety. He recognised God`s hand in all of that situation. On another occasion he was in Troas when he was stoned and left for dead but God raised him up. Again Paul saw the hand of God in his life. Did you see the hand of God in your life, in your family, in your home, in the trials and tribulations you went through? What did Paul learn from these situations? We should not trust in ourselves. It is good to be like the apostle Paul - to trace our footsteps back. There will be disappointments in ourselves and in others, no question about that. Hard and difficult times, painful times, times of loss. Let us look and see the hand of God daily. Remember when Peter was arrested and cast into the prison house, sitting between 2 soldiers in chains. In answer to the prayers of a church God steps into his life and God delivers him. Have we seen God stepping in, in answer to our prayers in this past year? God promises to never leave us nor forsake us. God will be with us all along.
There is also a reassurance for the present. "I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me." Are we ready to be sincere in our Christian walk? For whatever happens in the year ahead? Paul learned most of these lessons when coming through times of hardness. This is a man who came through times of prison, through beatings, stoning yet he could say "I know all things work together for the good of them that love God." This is God`s way of bringing something good into my life and others. This is not an idle boast but is only meaningful when we trust in God. That is why he could say in Philippians 4 verse 11 "I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content." There is very little contentment in this old world. Paul was content with his lot. Don`t forget this man had something in his own life that he prayed definitely to get rid of it but he was content with it. The pain, the hardship - why - because the Lord has said "my grace is sufficient for you." That is why he could say "be careful for nothing". Then he goes on to qualify it with these words "in prayer and supplication let your requests be made known unto God." That is our reassurance today. This is what God is giving to us. Just like the 3 Hebrew children who were commanded to bow to the king`s god. If they did not they would have to endure the fiery furnace. That furnace was so hot even the guards when they opened it up were destroyed. When Daniel and his 3 friends came through that fire there was not even the smell of smoke on them.
It gives us a resolve for the future. I don`t know what will happen this day, this week, this year. I do not even know if I will see any of it but I have a great resolve for the future.
"and doth deliver" that is the present
"in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us" that is the future
Here`s my life and I am placing it in God`s hands for the New Year. The Psalmist says "our help comes from the Lord". Paul is not depending on himself. David didn`t depend on himself when faced with the giant Goliath. He told Saul he didn`t need the heavy armour given to him. The Lord would deliver him as he had in the past. As we look back on the past year and reflect on its pain can you recognise God in it? Thank God for that reassurance for the present day we are in. Whether the future be long or short he will be with us in the future. He will never leave us nor forsake us.
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