2 Corinthians 1:8-11

2 Corinthians 1:8-11  We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia.  We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.  Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death.  But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.  He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us.  On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers.  Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

2 Corinthians 6:4-10  Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.   

Paul informs his brethren in Corinth that his journey in Asia was one of great suffering, even to the point of fearing for his life.  In fact, he states that it was FAR beyond his ability to endure.  However, he felt his perilous hardships were necessary because they taught him to depend entirely on the Lord: But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.  What a hard lesson for all of us to learn, for we  usually seek desperately for a way to deliver ourselves out of difficult situations.  Paul knew God had placed him in circumstances where he had no ability to deliver himself.  But Paul is saying, if God doesn't come through, we are most miserable, for in the final analysis, even our very breath is determined by him.  However, Paul says, God did come through for him in Asia and he will deliver us (me) again in other places.  At times Paul's deliverance did not come as quickly as we would want, for we know Paul experienced many horrendous things in his life as indicated above.  Most of us would have become quite discouraged after the first beating, the first jailing, the first abandonment.  We would probably question God's purpose for our lives.  We might have a difficult time rejoicing in our difficulties.  

Nonetheless, Paul, through the grace of God and the insight of the Holy Spirit, knew these experiences were good for him and good for the church.  He knew God was giving him lessons in perseverance and faith.  But, Paul still exclaims that these hardships were FAR BEYOND his ability to endure.  Do you have something "far beyond" your ability to endure, even if by faith you can see some good in it?  I think most of us reach that point numerous times in our lives.  And when we do, we usually become so frustrated with the situation that we don't even know how to attack it, how to solve it, how to bring peace to it.  This is where Paul was many times.  Paul mentions two things that helped him in these struggles.  First, On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us, a statement of faith that is necessary in every situation.  Secondly, Paul says, I am able to stand in faith as you help us (me) by your prayers.  Paul understood well that salvation comes through faith; therefore, he also knew that God's help, his deliverance, comes through putting our trust in God through faith and the prayer support of others.  

Now as finite beings, we might not always understand what is good for us, but God does.  Paul EXPERIENCED many difficult trials, but God considered them good for Paul.  Because of these experiences, Paul could comfort others as he was comforted.  Paul also relied on the prayers of others in the body.  This indicates the importance of the prayers of the saints.  We might not be able to deliver people from their trials, but we can strengthen them through their trials as we pray.  THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PRAYER.  No matter how difficult our particular situations are, God is asking us not only to pray for ourselves, but TO PRAY FOR OTHERS AS WELL.  As with all things spiritual, prayer is a statement of faith.  We must believe that God changes things; otherwise, we won't pray.  If we half-heartedly believe, we will not pray often or fervently.  We chime in with the world, believing all situations will continue as they have in the past, so why pray?  Of course the world doesn't believe there is a God, or if there is a God, that he will not intervene in the affairs of men.  They don't believe in anything supernatural, beyond ourselves.  But Christians are commanded to pray, to believe that GOD CHANGES THINGS.  So, Paul's trials were endured through his faith and the faith of others, and he saw the hand of God in his life.  Today, many of us need to stand by faith, and we need to be lifted up by the faith of others.  Therefore,  brethren, as member of the church of the living God, full of the Holy Spirit, stand and pray.  Rely on God.