II Corinthians 2:14

II Corinthians 1:7

“We Should not Trust in Ourselves”

2 Corinthians 1:7 says, “And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.” There is no psychology and there is no power of positive thinking which is true and good for humanity unless it comes from the Bible. One reason the Bible is so important is that it teaches a person to understand the sufferings that come their way in life, how to endure those sufferings, and how to use those sufferings to accomplish a work for the gospel of Christ.

The first 6 verses of Second Corinthians teach us about learning to follow the will of God and understanding basic Bible Doctrine. The first few verses of 2 Corinthians are a doctrinal statement from the Apostle Paul to the Christians of Corinth. To be prepared to suffer for Christ you must know the Word of God.

The word consolation is a very special word in the context of this passage. 2 Corinthians 1:7 says, “And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers off the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.” From faith to faith. To see other Christians endure their sufferings for Christ, always puts a steadfast hope into the hearts of the brethren who see it. Call it the fire of Elijah or a love for Jesus.

Do not be in a hurry to die for Christ rather wait on Christ and die daily for him by picking up your cross whatever it may be and being faithful in the little things. Your goal as a Christian should be to become a tree planted by the rivers of water.

In a way the word consolation means a complete comfort. Steadfast hope, and consolation. The flesh is weak but the spirit is willing. The Spirit of God is the comforter. 2 Corinthians 1:7 says, “And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers off the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.” Sometimes people turn away from Christ in times of great persecution and political opposition. But those who do not turn away from righteousness, those who choose to be partakers of the sufferings will also be partakers of the consolation.

The word consolation is used here 3 times. Philippians 3:10 says, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” Under the shadow of his wings, the secret of the LORD is with them that fear him. If you stand for Jesus through your sufferings, you will have the opportunity to know Him in a way the Old Testament prophets and Apostles did.

When you think of the word consolation think of these verses in the Bible: Colossians 1:9, “Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.” Philippians 2:1-2, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” 2 John 6 says, “And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.”

A steadfast hope comes from consolation. Consolation is a love in the Spirit of God, a comfort of love full of mercy which brings a unity between the children of God, a fellowship in the Spirit, through walking after his commandments. This fellowship of the Spirit, this unity between believers that comes when they partake of the sufferings of Christ should be an illustration to those who see it of what it means to abide under the shadow of the wings of the Almighty.

I Kings 19:10-12, “And he said, I have been very jealous of the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”

As ye are partakers of the same sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. The consolation is the fire of Elijah. It is the same fire that Moses saw in the burning bush. In the Old Testament the Word used is the word loving-kindness. In the New Testament it is the word grace. Romans 4:16 says, “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace.” What God gives freely is grace.

One reason so many turn away from Christ, one reason so many turn away from following Christ is because they see the suffering that they must face. But as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. The secret of the LORD Christ Jesus is with them that fear Him. Yes there is suffering to face, suffering under the altar for every day is the LORD’s day. But the consolation is given to all those who walk by faith in the promises of God. It is of faith that it might be by grace. The Spirit of God is the consolation. Philippians 2:1-2, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

2 Corinthians 1:8-9, “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came unto us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life. But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.”

Paul described the suffering from the opposition against the Word of God in his life as being: pressed out of measure, above strength, despairing of his life, and having the sentence of death in himself. It is no wonder Paul found comfort and consolation in other Christians who suffered and endured for the gospel of Christ. It takes a lifetime to learn not to trust in yourself but to trust in the promises of God. There is always more to learn. There is always more to suffer. And there is always a consolation for those who continue to follow Christ.

Anytime there is suffering in your life as a Christian think of it as opposition against the Word of God. Such suffering can press you out of measure, above strength, and cause you despair of your own life. The great consolation for suffering Paul said is the eternal life that is in Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 says, “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which rasieth the dead. Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: I whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.”

From so great a death. Death is something all men fear when they face it because in man there is the natural desire to live. To know that there is eternal life in Christ is to have the strength to face death for Jesus, the strength to die daily, the strength to suffer and endure, and the strength go an extra mile for Christ. Jude 1:21 says, “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

Consolation and comforts. Love in the Spirit. Fellowship in the Spirit. As ye are partakers of the suffering so shall ye be of the consolation; the love of Christ the excellency of the knowledge of the gospel of eternal of life. Turn from your sins and turn to Jesus when the still small voice of the Spirit of God touches your heart to deliver from so great a death.

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