2 Corinthians 3:4-5

2 Corinthians 3:4-5  Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God.  Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.  He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant — not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Paul's competence as an apostle came from the Holy Spirit within him.  The Holy Spirit used all of Paul's talents and his personality for the purposes of God.  Paul was a man of great zeal; he persecuted the church out of that zeal, but once he found Christ, he also used that zeal to spread the gospel.  Paul was literally an instrument of God, a creative being, placed in the hands of God to fulfill God's will on Earth.  We also are instruments, better known in the Bible as servants of the Most High.  Some Christians try to ignore this fact.  They take a cursory inventory of their skills and abilities and assess that they are not competent, that they don't have anything of worth within them to use for God.  They know they don't have a voice like an angel or the talent to play an instrument well or even the ability to teach, so they just sit back and claim they cannot be used by God in any effective way.  BUT GOD HAS GIVEN EVERYONE TALENTS TO DISPLAY HIS WORK, HIS PERSONALITY, HIS CREATIVE POWERS.  We are all instruments of God in some way.  For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  (Ephesians 2:10)  If we die to our own personal insecurities, desires, and wants, we will be HIS WORKMANSHIP for his glory.  

Paul says, He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant — not of the letter but of the Spirit.  Christ has made us through His Spirit that works within us instruments of honor.  Otherwise, we are capable of displaying God to a sick and dying world.  We have the spirit of the family of God within us; we have the talent of the family residing in our bodies.  Now, how does all that manifest itself?  Well, first of all it manifests itself through the gifts of the Spirit.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  (Galatians 5:22-23)  These wonderful attributes should be in abundance in our lives.  People should know that we are different and NOT JUST RELIGIOUS or people who follow the letter, THAT WE ARE TRULY PEOPLE OF THE SPIRIT.  Of course these attributes will be ours if we die to our own passions and self-willed behavior, and God will give us many opportunities for the Spirit to shine through our lives.  We will be gifted in these spiritual areas if we die to ourselves and live for Christ.   

Secondly, God gave each of us (all mankind) special talents.  As Christians God wants us to use these talents for him: our abilities in art, music, teaching, administration, business, building, caring for others, ministering, parenting, serving, and so much more.  These are all special talents that God will use to display his nature to the world through our actions.  If we use our talents effectively and with zeal, the world will see the attributes of God here on Earth.  They will see the music of God, the art of God, the creativity of God lavishly and lovingly arrayed.  They will see God here on earth through our creativity and daily choices.  If we work hard in our jobs, using the talents He has given us, the world will see the behavior and heart of God.  They will know God through our efforts.  In everything we do, we should strive to do well.  We should be good fathers, good mothers, good papas and grannies.  We should be like God in all of our efforts.  Paul said follow me as I follow Christ.  This was an encouragement not an audacious boast.  We don't do anything out of law or out of necessity, we do it out of love, out of the Spirit.  We discipline our minds and spirits, so that God's attributes might shine forth in our lives, for we are ambassadors of his kingdom of light and love.  Therefore my friends, in everything we do, may we do it with earnestness, with creativity, with love under the unction of the Holy Spirit, for God is worthy to be praised and to be served.

2 Corinthians 3:1-3

2 Corinthians 3:1-3  Are we beginning to commend ourselves again?  Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?  You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.  You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 

What kind of letter are we?  Sometimes I am not a very good letter.  In those troubling times, I don't want anyone reading my letter (life), for it contains too much of me and too little of Christ.  Then it seems to be loaded with a lot of my handwriting and not enough of Christ's delicate script.  The content skews towards worldliness, criticism, anger, depression, sinfulness, laziness, waywardness, and on and on.  I find my letter containing more negative thoughts than positive thoughts, more destructive words than constructive words.  When these kinds of sentences (experiences) are written, I don't want to talk to anyone; I don't want to have any interactions.  I just want to be left alone to stew in my own juice of failure.  And not surprisingly the devil quickly becomes my close companion, saying, "Tsk, tsk, what a letter you are!  I just wish everyone could read you now."  And with other wonderfully destructive words, he interferes with my thoughts.  He is more than happy to abide with me to condemn me.  

But then another voice enters the room, a still, small voice.  "Cliff, I am here.  I am with you."  Then I remember the words, For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  (John 3:17)  During those many times when I just want to crumple up the letter and throw it away, Jesus' voice comes to my rescue.  He tells me, "This is not your letter, it is mine.  I always complete the letter.  I am not finished with you yet.  Read on."  This, of course, is our hope.  He is the letter writer--He is the letter.  Paul was telling the Corinthians they are letters, they are the results of his ministry, which has allowed Jesus Christ to give them a new life, a new letter, a new story.  Paul tells them that the Spirit of God is using the transforming spiritual ink from God's fountain of grace to change their lives.  Even though their lifestyles and worshipping practices troubled Paul at times, he understood full well that God was doing a metamorphic miracle in the Corinthians.  He knew they were leaving the desires and conformities of the dark world of sin and entering the heavenly light of God's grace and mercy.  

What about you this morning?  Are you disappointed in yourself?  Do you expect more from yourself than you are capable of producing?  Is your letter straying to the unprofitable, to the worldly?  If so, I want you to hear the words of Jesus: He is not finished with you.  I want you to hear him say, "I am with you.  You are not lost, for I am here."  Remember the above scripture: we are saved THROUGH HIM.  Through your human efforts, YOU will never be enough.  YOU will never be accepted in the Beloved because of your own righteousness.  YOU NEED CHRIST AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS!  That is the gospel.  As a Christian you are a letter of love.  He has planted in your heart HIS LOVE, and you reciprocate with a great love for him, with a longing for his presence.  He alone makes you right with God.  Should you sin or continue in your funk to show God's great mercy toward sinners?  No!  Out of love you bring your LIFE and your THOUGHTS under his control.  BECAUSE OF HIS WORK IN YOU, you discipline your life out of love for Christ.  

Paul says he dies daily.  Otherwise, he brings his life under the authority of God.  When he fails, he goes back to Christ with repentance, realizing that Christ alone is the fountain of REAL LIFE.  The disciples understood this, learned this:  In him was life, and that life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness.  (John 1:4-5)  Therefore, our letters are written out of love by the hand of God, through the working of the Spirit in us. Consequently, let not our hearts be defeated by our personal disappointments or our human failings, but let us rise up in faith, for He is WORTHY to be praised.  Even though your letter hasn't been completed, it is finished in heaven by the blood of Jesus Christ, for He has overcome the world and death.  The one who calls you is faithful and he (Christ) will do it.  (1 Thessalonians 5:24)  When your letter (life) seems extremely disappointing, and maybe or for sure, not worthy, lift your head up, open up your spiritual ear, for He is near.  Feel the loving touch of his hand on your shoulder; listen to the whispered words of Christ: "I love you.  YOU ARE MINE!"

2 Corinthians 2:14-17

2 Corinthians 2:14-17  But thanks be to God,  who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.  For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.  To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.  And who is equal to such a task?  Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God. 

Do we spread everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him (Jesus Christ) or do we spread the acrid aroma of a wild beast, unable to be tamed even by God, expressing our will, doing our own thing, even though we have been a Christian for many years?  In our personal lives are we still unable to say I am sorry in a dispute?  Are we still unable to take the role of a servant, one who is under the complete authority of our Lord?  Do we as Christians not know that our lives have been purchased by the blood of Christ, and as believers our commitment is to follow Christ (our beloved brother) and HIM ALONE, NOT ALLOWING OUR OWN LIVES TO SUPERSEDE HIS LIFE IN ANY DECISIONS WE MAKE OR IN ANY INTERACTIONS IN WHICH WE PARTICIPATE?  Paul is telling the Corinthians that God always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ when we spread the knowledge of Christ to the world, when we portray his likeness in everything we do.  Paul is saying when we are obedient to GOD'S WILL, we give off a sweet aroma of sacrifice just as Jesus, God's son, gives off that fragrance.  The smell of Jesus Christ is pleasing to the nostrils of the Father God.   

Notice, Paul states that some Christians live for Christ for their own sake.  They live Christian lives for personal gain, for profit, and sometimes for their own EGOS.  These Christians are bringing the gospel of Christ under THEIR OWN AUTHORITY for their own purposes, not bringing their lives under the authority of God, for HIS PURPOSES.  Paul says, he is not like those, for he brings the gospel of Christ with sincerity, as if sent THAT VERY DAY directly from the throne of God as his personal ambassador.  Paul is telling us always to be sensitive to our mission.  We also are CHRIST'S AMBASSADORS.  We carry the very words of God to people; we are God's living message, his epistles to the world.  When we claim to be ambassadors but live lives of derision, discord, hatefulness, or negativity, we bring a Christ of reproach to people.  We bring a Christ of anger and darkness.  However, when we bring hope, long-suffering, concern, kindness, and peace to people, we bring a Christ of love and light, one who can heal the sickness and sin of the world.  

We are the fragrance of God when we obey his command, for we display HIS CHARACTER, HIS BEAUTY, HIS PERFECT WILL.  However, when we are uncontrollable and wayward Christians, unable to captivate and to control our passions and desires, we are like untamed animals, wandering the deserts of this world for their own purposes and gain.  Paul asks us, who is equal to such a task of bearing the fragrance of God?  WELL, WE ARE, IF OUR LIVES ARE HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD!  If we daily die to our own self-will and seek God's will in everything we do, THEN WE ARE UP TO THE TASK.  We will carry His fragrance of life to a sick and dying world.  We will bring hope and strength to people who desperately want a change in their lives, but to those who are contented with their lives without God, WHO DEFINE LIFE AS EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY, we bring the fragrance of death for we will remind them there is a God, and someday they will have to give an account of their willful lives.  Today, thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ.  May we give forth the sweet fragrance of our Lord and bring many souls to life in him.  Love, Dad (Cliff)

(It is good to be back after a break.  Our son, Doug, told my wife that he was hungry.  I pray the Lord blesses you in this study of his Word.  You are all a blessing to me, and I appreciate your continued support and encouragement.)

2 Corinthians 2:1-11

2 Corinthians 2:1-11  So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.  For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved?  I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice.  I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy.  For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.  If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent — not to put it too severely.  The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him.  Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.  I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.  The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.  If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him.  And what I have forgiven — if there was anything to forgive — I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us.  For we are not unaware of his schemes.

In this passage Paul refers to a letter that is not in the Bible in which he recommended a disciplinary action for a man who was bringing a reproach on the church by his willful activities.  Paul said he wrote the letter so I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice.  He wrote this letter of severity out of great love for the man and out of his love for the Corinthian church.  Paul says the punishment inflicted on the formerly recalcitrant man is enough, and now the church should forgive him and COMFORT him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.  Definitely the man was repentant; he was no longer standing in defiance of the church's actions.  Paul is now telling the church to restore this person to fellowship and to forgive him as Christ constantly forgives them for the sake of his body.  

I believe the above passage is a template of how to react to a friend who has wronged you or for approaching a child after discipline: forgive, comfort, reaffirm your love.  The latter should be done more with actions than words.  Otherwise, with an adult there should be hugs and even a kiss, a meal together, and letters of affirmation exchanged.  With a child hugs, kisses, and treats, such as cookies and milk.  Words alone sometimes get in the way of restoration, for the child especially might perceive anger or condemnation in them.  Punishment when necessary should be quick, definitive, and with anguish.  I don't agree with anyone who punishes out of anger or a spirit to get back at the child or to teach him a "good" lesson by being harsh.  Punishment should never be easy on one's emotions.  Paul said his letter of severity brought tears to his eyes, for he did not want to be harsh with his beloved Corinthians.  We also should have a broken heart and tears when we punish or when we confront a difficult problem.  

I once taught with a teacher who rejoiced over telling parents about their child's bad behavior in the classroom.  He enjoyed getting his students in trouble with their parents, for then they would be "paid back" for all the problems they caused him in the classroom.  I told him that was the wrong spirit.  He should not want to see his students hurt because he was mad at them.  We should not want to see a friend or child hurt because we are mad.  If we discipline this way or treat each other this way, we are giving room for Satan to work his wiles in the situation.  Many Christian parents lose their children to the world emotionally because of their harshness and lack of forgiveness.  Children oftentimes hold a standing resentment against their parents even into adulthood because they were mistreated as young, vulnerable children.  If we fail to restore to fellowship a believer who has sinned, we have given that person over to sin and frustrated the grace of God, saying there is no hope for the healing and restoring power of God's grace.  

Even under the best of circumstances, judgment, criticism, or discipline wrongly applied can be dangerous tools for correcting behavior.  We must bring correction sensitively and well.  Pushing hard against someone usually causes the offender to push back.  Humans are made that way; it is a survival technique evident in the very youngest of us--to defend our territory.  A baby that feels mistreated will cry for hours.  As Christians we have experienced love and forgiveness that boggles the mind.  While we were yet sinners, God loved us.  While we were in the midst of rebellion, He loved us.  When we deserved to be wiped off the face of the earth because of cancerous sin, his Son died for us.  Yes, even now in our imperfect lives, He tells us, "I abide in you."  Yes, sometimes his love is expressed towards us in discipline, for we are not bastards, but the greater story is that we are strongly bonded to him by unremitting love.  The wooing of the Spirit is always deep within our hearts.  This is the story of a good parent, one who is closer than a brother: forgive, comfort and reaffirm your love BY ACTIONS.  Love Dad (Cliff)

(I am taking a respite for the next week.  Please use this time to go to the Word and eat of the bounteous feast the Lord has provided.  See you soon.)

2 Corinthians 1:16-22

2 Corinthians 1:16-22  I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea.  When I planned this, did I do it lightly?  Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?  But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.”  For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.”  For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.  And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.  Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.  He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Some Corinthian discontents accused Paul of being fickle because he had promised to go to them at a certain time but failed to fulfill his promise.  Of course, unforeseen difficulties prevented Paul from fulfilling his intended schedule.  Nevertheless, his accusers questioned his message, for if Paul as a man of God did not carry out his promises, perhaps his message was suspect.  Was his yes really a yes or was it a no as with any fleshly man?   By questioning Paul's ability to fulfill his promises, they were bringing confusion to the church in Corinth for Paul was their spiritual father.  In this passage we see Paul reaffirming that God's promises are true and steadfast, not capricious.  They are not like man's promises.  

Unfortunately, men sometimes make promises and then fail to carry them out.  Even this morning, I already missed a meeting because I forgot about it.  But God does not forget.  He is not fickle: when he tells you something, He will do it.  He does not say in the same breath, “Yes, yes” and “No, no.”  He says what He means and holds to it.  He is steadfast and dependable.  As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.  (Isaiah 55:10-11)

Paul is telling the Corinthians the message God gave to him is steadfast too.  But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.”  For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.”  For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.  Men might not be able to implement a promise fully, but God through Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, will completely fulfill HIS WORD.  What He says will be done.  Paul says, we should say amen to that for it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.  He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.  What a wonderful promise: He anoints us, places his stamp of approval on us, places his Spirit in our hearts, and sets us on the road to heaven.  We not only have a covenant with God, we also have a place in his heart.  As stated in John's gospel, He in us, we in him.  Now we are definitely on a different plane (geometrically speaking).  Our vector is pointing straight home.  Our destination is certain; Christ Jesus is guaranteeing what is to come.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for the victory is ours.  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I (Jesus Christ) have overcome the world.”  (John 16:33)  Pray that in your heart you might see this victory regardless of your circumstances this day.  Know that God is faithful, and He keeps his promises.

2 Corinthians 1:12-14

2 Corinthians 1:12-14  Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God.  We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace.  For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand.  And I hope that, as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus. 

2 Corinthians 2:12-14  For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.  For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand.  Now I trust you will understand, even to the end (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Paul was an apostle, a founder of churches, a spiritual father.  He was the Corinthians' spiritual father.  Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.  (1 Corinthians 4:15)  As their  spiritual father, Paul wanted the Corinthians (his children) to emulate his life.  Therefore, he lived in a forthright, pure way.  He desired the Corinthians to seek his lifestyle, to imitate his spiritual walk.  In the above scriptures, Paul essentially says, my life is an open book: what you see is what you get; what I say is what I mean.  His intentions towards the Corinthians were without guile or hypocrisy.  He wanted their lives to be spiritually successful, and as their spiritual father, he wanted to take pride in their success.  He wanted to be able to boast about them, especially before Jesus.  However, at this time the Corinthian church was unruly, out of control, even allowing sin in their midst.  They were not children a father could boast in.  Their waywardness brought a reproach on Paul and on the gospel of Christ.  Paul tells the Corinthians, see how I conduct my life, how I act, how I talk to you.  I am not hiding anything from you.  I am candid with you, yet my words are full of grace and mercy.  He does not deal with them with worldly wisdom that would bring harsh consequences to his wayward children.  He desires to restore them, rather than to discourage them.  Consequently, Paul deals with them honestly, but with the grace (unmerited favor) of God.

As parents, friends, fellow workers, we should deal with each other in the manner Paul illustrates.  Sometimes, we need to say something difficult to others.  Sometimes we have to be the responsible and "good" parent, friend, or fellow worker and bring a corrective word to someone who displays destructive behavior.  These are usually trying times.  But in these situations, we should be as much like Paul as possible.  Paul says, "Follow me as I follow Christ."  Otherwise, look at my life, my demeanor--judge my behavior.  If our personal lives are so messed up with sin that we are struggling, we are not likely to lead others to the light.  If we are obsessed with lying, we cannot with integrity tell others not to lie.  If we tell people to avoid pornography, yet we are consumed by it, we definitely will have trouble pointing the way to deliverance.  If we often explode in anger, we cannot easily calm the spirit of anger in others.  Darkness does not beget light.  If we speak of light but reflect darkness, people will see our hypocrisy and reject our testimony.  Paul says confidently, look at my life, emulate it.  

Now for parents especially, we have to be examples to our children, the best we can.  If we tell our children to clean their rooms, our rooms should be clean.  If we tell them not to watch so much television, we should not be watching a lot of television.  If we tell them not to talk negatively, then our speech should be seasoned with grace.  If we are fathers and mothers of integrity, our children will naturally gravitate towards that behavior.  Parents usually tell their children not to swear, drink, smoke, and so on, but the child sometimes sees the parents doing those things.  Children always read between the lines: these behaviors must be okay because my respected parents do them.  They will get the "REAL MESSAGE," NOT THE ONE YOU HOPED THEY WOULD RECEIVE.  Paul said,  Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God.  If we truly want our message of correction or guidance to be heard and followed by anyone, our lives should be lived as much as possible in holiness and sincerity, for people will always read our lives before they will hear our words.  By God's mercy and grace may we conduct ourselves today in such a way as to bring glory to God!

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.