Grace for Every Trial

Theme: The Believer’s Strength

Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson book)

Know: God’s grace and power are best displayed in our weakness.

Think: I will live with the assurance that God will give me the grace and strength I need for every situation.

Do: Learn to be content when facing difficulty, knowing God will use it for His glory and my good.

Out of weakness were made strong—Hebrews 11:34

Hopelessness is one of many weaknesses, but Psalm 39:7 CSB - Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.

Discouragement, bitter times? We can find our hope in God as Jeremiah did: Lamentations 3:14-25 GNB People laugh at me all day long; I am a joke to them all. 15 Bitter suffering is all he has given me for food and drink. 16 He rubbed my face in the ground and broke my teeth on rocks. 17 I have forgotten what health and peace and happiness are. 18 I do not have much longer to live; my hope in the LORD is gone. 19 The thought of my pain, my homelessness, is bitter poison. 20 I think of it constantly, and my spirit is depressed. 21 Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing: 22 The LORD's unfailing love and mercy still continue, 23 Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. 24 The LORD is all I have, and so in him I put my hope. 25 The LORD is good to everyone who trusts in him.

Back to our Scriptures:

Summary:

B1 Paul has listed in 2 Corinthians 11 the many sufferings he has experienced because he preached the Gospel.

B2 Now he advances some of the great blessings God has given him—revelations, that is, messages from God.

B3 He has reason to brag about how he great he is, but…

B4 He rejoices in his weaknesses.

B5 What a strange thing it is to boast in weaknesses.

Questions:

B1 What is his most grievous weakness? (2 Corinthians 12:7).

B2 God allowed what to pester and cause trouble? Really?

B3 What is the main danger of pride in a Christian?

B4 Many have proposed physical ailments, but discuss the many possibilities this thorn could have been. Remember it could be physical, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, etc.

B5 Who is the messenger of satan? Can satan afflict us? Job 1:6-12 CSB - One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. The LORD asked Satan, "Where have you come from? " "From roaming through the earth," Satan answered him, "and walking around on it." Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil." Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing? "Haven't you placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. "But stretch out your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will surely curse you to your face." "Very well," the LORD told Satan, "everything he owns is in your power. However, do not lay a hand on Job himself." So Satan left the LORD's presence.

B6 The word for torment in 2 Corinthians 12:7 is κολαφίζω kolaphizō and means to hit with the fist.

C1 Here are some of the verses that use this word:

D1 Matthew 26:67 CSB - Then they spat in his face and beat him; others slapped him.

D2 1 Peter 2:20 CSB - For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

C2 Have you ever felt that satan was punching you around over and over?

C3 How would something like this keep anyone from getting proud?

C4 Isn’t the Christian life supposed to be perfect, peaceful, happy all the time?

B7 Paul prayed 3 times to be relieved of this pain. Why was God’s answer, “No?”

B8 What was God’s answer? “But his answer was: "’My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.’"

C1 Are you weak?

C2 How will God’s grace help you?

C3 Remember there is no relief from this suffering, just God’s grace given in love to help.

C4 So how can we deal with illness, sorrow, loneliness, hopelessness, etc. and etc.?

C5 Remember, also, that this is what God told PAUL. It does not mean that it is to every situation or to every person.

C6 If we are being chastened by God for a known sin, we must repent and ask His forgiveness.

C7 If we are unaware of unconfessed and unforsaken sin, then perhaps it is a trial that God allows.

C8 Perhaps, you have made a bad choice and now suffer the consequences, or perhaps, someone else has made a bad choice with the resulting consequences affecting you or me. But God’s grace WILL be with you and me.

B9 How do we boast about our weaknesses?

B10 How do we find contentment? Paul faced weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties.

B11 Some commentators and translators understand the phrase taking pleasure in (εὐδοκέω eudokeō) to be contentment. Here are some pointers on contentment from the Apostle Paul:

C1 Philippians 4:11 NKJV Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.

D1 Note the word learned.

D2 How do we learn contentment?

C2 Being content with what we have is a thing to be learned by the Christian. To learn something, we must experience it. Learning takes time and practice. God knows what He is doing. While we are learning, His grace will help us through the process (Philippians 4:13). Hebrews 5:8 NKJV [Jesus] though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

C3 As God, Jesus knew all things, but He had not experienced being a man. I might understand a lot about my dog, but I have never been a dog to experience everything a dog does or thinks. Jesus learned the experience does NOT mean He was ignorant of being a human.

C4 Being thankful for what we have is very important. God helps us. How does being thankful help us to be content? Remember, Paul was writing this letter from prison.

C5 Being content does NOT mean we are to stop learning Scripture, living a godly life, or learning truth, for we want treasure in heaven. Matthew 6:19-21 WPNT Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust ruin and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust ruins and where thieves neither break in nor steal; because where your treasure is there your heart will be also.

Next week:

B1 A prescription for blessings

B2 Theme: A song of wisdom

B3 Scriptures: Psalm 1

Growing In Holiness

Theme: The Believer’s Testimony

Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 6:1-7:1

Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson book)

Know: We are to live blameless and obedient lives that point people to Christ.

Think: Cultivate a desire to be a pure dwelling place for God’s Spirit.

Do: Be growing in holiness, separating myself from all sin.

B1 2 Corinthians 6:1,

C1 Working together

D1 With other ambassadors

D2 With God

D3 How do we work together with other ambassadors (believers)?

D4 How do we work together with God?

C2 In vain

D1 This is receiving God’s grace, which all believers have, and not using it. It just gets ignored.

D2 Give some examples of this.

D3 How do we use God grace?

E1 The grace of salvation

E2 The grace of God’s gifts

F1 Romans 12:4-8 LEB For just as in one body we have many members, but all the members do not have the same function,  in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another, but having different gifts according to the grace given to us: if [it is] prophecy, according to the proportion of [his] faith;  if [it is] service, by service; if [it is] one who teaches, by teaching; if [it is] one who exhorts, by exhortation; one who gives, with sincerity; one who leads, with diligence; one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

F2 1 Peter 4:10-11 HCSB Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.  If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

F3 Parable of the talents

G1 Matthew 25:14-15 MKJV  For it is as if a man going abroad called his own servants and gave them his goods.  15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to each according to his ability. And he went abroad at once.

G2 Why is it important to be faithful to the gift God gives?

G3 We need to remember: Matthew 25:29 MKJV  For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will abound. But from him who has not, even that which he has shall be taken away from him.

B2 2 Corinthians 6:2

C1 Should we or others be concerned with Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation?

C2 How does this apply to God’s grace?

B3 2 Corinthians 6:3 GNB  We do not want anyone to find fault with our work, so we try not to put obstacles in anyone's way.

C1 How can we live as Christians as the New Testament teaches and not be offensive? Do we just accept everything? Does doctrine not matter? Isn’t doctrine divisive? Isn’t preaching about sin make people feel guilty and not return to church? Should we be inclusive in the Gospel, Doctrine, and the Christian life?

C2 What obstacles might hinder or stop someone from becoming a Christian?

B4 2 Corinthians 6:4-10

C1 What hardships did the first century brothers and sisters endure?

C2 How did they show they were really God’s servants?

C3 How did God help them, and how will He help us?

C4 Paul writes about the difficulties with joys they have faced being Christians. How is it possible to have joy in these many difficulties?

C5 Why would Paul and the others continue to preach Jesus and the Gospel if the resurrection and Jesus’s life were NOT true?

C6 How can believers be grieving, sorrowful, etc. and still rejoice?

B5 2 Corinthians 6:11-13

C1 Is being honest what we believe helpful or hurtful?

C2 Closed hearts is an expression showing a lack of fellowship and honesty in relationships. How does this happen in a church setting?

C3 Paul is stating, “We love you and want to help you. Why don’t you show the same feelings for us?” Yet, Paul doesn’t seek this love so greatly that he compromises Christian teachings.

B6 2 Corinthians 6:14-16

C1 Utley comments in his notes on this verse: Believers must restrict their most intimate, personal relationships to fellow believers. This helps us fight the pull of fallen culture away from Christ. Faith in Jesus and the indwelling Spirit have caused a sharp and deep cleavage within families, businesses, hobbies, amusements, even churches.

One must take into account passages like 1 Cor. 5:9-13; 7:12-16; 10:27 to get the theological balance of this truth. We must remember the wickedness of first century pagan culture. This is not an affirmation of monastic living, but an attempt to reduce intimate personal relationship with the fallen world system (cf. 1 John 2:15-17).

D1 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 MEV I wrote to you in my letter not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I did not mean the sexually immoral people of this world, or the covetous and extortioners, or the idolaters, since you would then need to go out of the world. 11 But I have written to you not to keep company with any man who is called a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner. Do not even eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But God judges those who are outside. Therefore “put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”

D2 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 deals with a believers married to an unbeliever.

D3 1 Corinthians 10:27 deals with eating with a non-Christian. Do not ask if the food was dedicated to an idol.

D4 1 John 2:15-17 MEV Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 The world and its desires are passing away, but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

D5 What do some Christian pastors ignore this separation?

C2 Robertson’s Word Pictures comment on this verse: Literally, "Stop becoming (μη γινεσθε present imperative, not μη γενησθε aorist subj.) unequally yoked with unconverted heathen (unbelievers)." Some were already guilty. Marriage is certainly included, but other unions may be in mind. Cf. Eph 5:7. Paul gives as the reason (γαρ) for this prohibition five words in questions to distinguish the contrasts.

D1 Ephesians 5:7 MEV Therefore do not be partakers with them.

C3 There are four contrasts named here; what are they, and how to we avoid the ungodly ones?

D1 Messiah and the devil (literally worthless) are opposite in methods, doctrine, standards, in fact, everything.

D2 A believer and a unbeliever have nothing in common either.

E1 1 John 5:11-12 GNB92 The testimony is this: God has given us eternal life, and this life has its source in his Son.  Whoever has the Son has this life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

E2 1 Corinthians 1:30 HCSB But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us — our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

D3 The temple of God is the believers, who have God the Holy Spirit, and idols, which are dens of demons.

E1 1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV  Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

E2 1 Corinthians 6:19 NKJV  Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

E3 1 Corinthians 10:20-21 NKJV  Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.  21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons.

E4 1 Timothy 4:1 NKJV  Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

C4 The word fellowship in 2 Corinthians 6:14

D1 2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

D2 Hebrews 2:14 KJV  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.

D3 Greek words

E1 The Greek word for fellowship in 2 Corinthians 6:14 is μετοχή metochḗ (used 1X) while the verb form is μετέχω (used 8X)

E2 There are 2 words that mean fellowship, partake, share. The difference between the 2 words (in bold above) is explained by Westcott in a comment on the verse: The distinction between it [μετέχω] and κοινωνέω were partakers is correctly stated by Westcott; ‘the latter marking the characteristic sharing of the common fleshly nature as it pertains to the human race at large, and the former signifying the unique fact of the incarnation as a voluntary acceptance of humanity.’

D4 Basically, 2 Corinthians 6:14 warns of the danger of any interaction with unbelievers that would tempt us to drift from the faith.

B7 2 Corinthians 6:17-2 Corinthians 7:1

C1 What are we Christians to come out of?

C2 What is separation?

D1 First, it is separation from the 4 things listed in 14-16.

D2 Second, clean versus unclean.

E1 Clean is those things approved by God, but unclean things are disapproved by God.

E2 The New Testament shows us what is clean and unclean for example: Galatians 5:19-23 NKJV  Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,  20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,  21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

C3 Some verses warning of NOT separating

D1 Psalms 106:34-35 WEB They didn’t destroy the peoples, as Yahweh commanded them, but mixed themselves with the nations, and learned their works.  

D2 2 Chronicles 19:2 WEB Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate Yahweh? Because of this, wrath is on you from before Yahweh.

D3 Proverbs 29:27 NKJV An unjust man [is] an abomination to the righteous, And [he who is] upright in the way [is] an abomination to the wicked.

E1 Another translation: Proverbs 29:27 GNB92 The righteous hate the wicked, and the wicked hate the righteous.

E2 The New English Translation (NET) of Proverbs 29:27 has this footnote: tn Heb “who is upright in the way” (so NASB; KJV and ASV are similar). Here “in the way” refers to the course of a person’s life, hence “who lives an upright life.” Cf. NAB “he who walks uprightly.”

sn The proverb makes a simple observation on life: The righteous detest the wicked, and the wicked detest the lifestyle of the righteous. Each is troublesome to the beliefs and the activities of the other.

C4 In light of the above notes, what should be our attitude and actions towards unbelievers in daily life, witnessing, and social issues?

B8 Be encouraged!

C1 John 15:5 NKJV  "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

C2 Philippians 4:13 NKJV  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

B9 Next week:

C1 Grace for every trial

C2 Theme: The Believer’s Strength

C3 Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10