Vol.9 God the Deliverer in suffering

II Cor 1:8-11 For we do not want you to be unaware, 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. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
- Paul was led to write this letter by the persecution he was receiving from the very people who he had dedicated his life to serving, by the churches he had started.
- He endured all that he did for the sake of the gospel.

- Instead of cursing God, he blesses God openly for these trials (v.3), and he counts it a blessing to share in Christ's sufferings.

*God ALWAYS works out what He believes to be best for our lives - Sometimes though; we want to make that decision ourselves.

God intends to bring redemption through whatever situation or hurt life or sin throws our way!

- Suffering is not a respector of persons, but Jesus is the Redeemer of persons.

God created us in His image enough to know what the difference is between right and wrong.
     - We decided to do wrong, and so sin entered the world; and brought with it pain and corruption, taintedness and injustice.
     - We experience the result of that original sin daily, but as believers we have teh hope that God will retore all this to himself and to its original state. God is the only One that can bring good out of evil.

v.8 Exeedingly Burdened - Paul was at the brink of breaking, but he knew God would provide the strength an assurance he needed to press on.

* Paul's Gospel-Patterned suffering could have been seen as failure, but i t was all a part of God's plan for his life and ministry.

- God was using these difficulties and afflictions to teach Paul to rely on Himself.

Suffering Asks us = "On Whom do you rely?
     - What if God is trying to use my suffering to undermind my self reliance so He can show Himself strong on my behalf?
 
God really is all i need because He is the One that raises the dead to be alive in Him.

God can raises our pasts from the dead, our marriages from the dead, careers from the dead, bitterness from the dead - to experience redemption; we first have to die to ourselves and to our sin to have a New Life in Christ.

v.11 - Others can help this journey through their prayers, then those people will rejoice in our deliverance and resurrection - The more people that pray for our afflictions, the more people will rejoice in God's workings.