“We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:8-9, , NIV).

As God’s chosen apostle, Paul had endured more than most people. Yet, Paul was not crushed. Rather, he grew in his praise for God. Read his list of hardships in 2 Corinthians 11:23-29. Now read 2 Corinthians 1:3-11.

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In 2 Corinthians 1:4, Paul states that the reason for receiving God’s compassion and comfort is “so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (NIV). To what extent might suffering be a call to ministry? How could we become more alert to this possibility?

God wants to minister through us to hurting people. This means that He may first allow us to experience the same sort of hurts. Then we’ll offer encouragement, not from theory, but from our own experience of the compassion and comfort of God. This is a principle from Jesus’ life (see Hebrews 4:15).

Paul’s vivid descriptions of his hardships are not to make us feel sorry for him. They are for us to know that even when we’re in the depths, the Father still can intervene to bring His compassion and comfort. We may despair even of our own lives, and even be killed, but fear not, God is teaching us to rely on Him. We can trust Him, for our God “raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9, NIV).

As Paul continues to set his eyes on proclaiming the gospel, he knows that God will rescue him in the future, as well. Paul’s ability to remain firm is supported by three things he mentions in 2 Corinthians 1:10-11. First, God’s proven track record: “He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us” (2 Corinthians 1:10, NIV). Second, Paul’s determination to fix his concentration on God Himself: “On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us” (2 Corinthians 1:10, NIV). Third, the saints’ continual intercession: “as you help us by your prayers” (2 Corinthians 1:11, NIV).

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

Amen!(0)

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Monday’s section of this week’s lesson, reveals the relentless love of God. For me, here is the key verse.

But then I will win her back once again.
I will lead her into the desert
and speak tenderly to her there. Hosea 2:14 NLT 

I am so thankful for parents who understand this. I wish all parents understood this is the way to win their children’s loyalty to God and to themselves

.Several years ago I was preaching for Father’s Day, and I had a few people, young and old, tell us what they liked about their fathers. One young man, about 12 years old, gave a powerful, heartfelt tribute to his dad, even saying, “Nobody reminds me of Jesus more than my father.”

That same Sabbath morning, the son was offered some cookies in his Sabbath School class which he gladly took. His father saw him eating the cookie and starting publicly berating him and telling him how sinful it is to eat in church! (News to me!) The son could not hide his hurt and humiliation. The son definitely was not trying to be a hard-hearted rebel by taking a cookie just like everyone else. I know the father meant well too, but you don’t have to be a parent to know that publicly embarrassing and humiliating your child is not a good thing to do. Remember, Jesus worked His first miracle, turning water into wine for no other reason than to save the host from public embarrassment. It would not have killed them to just drink water, but Jesus is a Savior from public humiliation and embarrassment. Humiliation and embarrassment are not His tools.

Not long after this, the father called me up and wanted me to lecture his son because he was becoming defiant. I came to their home as requested, but the talk did not actually go the way the father expected. The father was accusing the son of being disrespectful. With father and son both present, I asked the son about the beautiful tribute he gave to his father. Both agreed that was very nice and respectful. I then asked the son how he felt when later, his father publicly berated him for eating a cookie just like everyone else. He said it was very hurtful and you could see the hurt in his eyes as he said that. I shared Hosea 2:14 with them both and asked the father if he thought he could be a little more tender when correcting his son. I was not asking him to change his standards, just his approach. But I did share with the father that I was unaware of any Bible teaching against eating a cookie in church.

Being a father is a very sacred calling, and I did not want to distract from that or appear to try to trump him. However I did encourage him to follow 2 Timothy 3:16 and be sure to correct his son according to Scripture.

Tears were in the son’s eyes by now as I explained to the father how much his son loved him, and how hurt he was, when publicly humiliated for doing something he thought was totally innocent, with no rebellious intentions. I assured the father that his son would not have written such a loving tribute if he did not deeply love and respect him. His son nodded in agreement with tears still in his eyes.

I thought the father was going to turn on me now for not ganging up with him on his side, but, instead, he actually thanked me! I know the father had a good heart and really cared about his children. Why else would his son write that no one reminded him more of Jesus than His father?

Parents, please be tender with your children. You may not think they love, appreciate and respect you, but at school and church I hear them say things you may never hear. I always tell kids, “Your parents love you more than you think they do,” and I say the same to parents. “Your children love you more than you think they do.” As a third party observer, I know this for a fact.

If you don’t want to take it from me, take it from God,

But then I will win her back once again.
I will lead her into the desert
and speak tenderly to her there. Hosea 2:14 NLT 

Amen!(3)

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Extreme Heat can produce extreme testimonies. Join the team as they discuss what it takes to make it through make-or-break situations.

Amen!(0)

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Read Job 1:6-2:10. What caused Job’s suffering?

There is something astonishing here. The angels come to see God, and Satan comes with them. God asks Satan where he has been, and Satan replies that he has been “roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it” (Job 1:7, NIV). Then God poses this question: “Have you considered my servant Job?” (Job 1:8, NIV). The question itself is not remarkable; what is remarkable is the One who asks it.

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It isn’t Satan who points out Job as a subject for examination — it’s God. Knowing exactly what is going to follow, God calls Job to Satan’s attention. Down on the earth, Job has absolutely no idea how hot his crucible is about to become. And though it’s very clear that it is Satan, not God, who causes Job’s suffering, it is also clear that it is God who gives His explicit permission for Satan to destroy Job’s possessions, children, and his own physical health. If God is giving permission for Job to suffer, what difference does it make whether God or Satan is personally inflicting the suffering? How can God be righteous and holy when He actively allows Satan to cause Job such pain? Is this situation a special case, or is it characteristic of the way God still deals with us today?

In Job 1:20-21 , how does Job respond to the trials?

It is possible to respond to such suffering in two ways. We can become bitter and angry, turning our backs on a God we believe to be cruel or nonexistent, or we can hang on to God more tightly. Job deals with his catastrophe by staying in God’s presence and worshiping Him.

In Job 1:20-21, we see three aspects of worship that may help when in anguish. First, Job accepts his helplessness and recognizes that he has no claim to anything: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart” (Job 1:21, NIV). Second, Job acknowledges that God is still in total control: “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away”(Job 1:21, NIV). Third, Job concludes by reasserting his belief in the righteousness of God.

“May the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21, NIV).

<–Monday Wednesday–>

Amen!(0)

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Key Thought: This lesson helps us through Biblical examples to understand the “whys” of suffering and the “hows” of overcoming evil and suffering.
July 30, 2022

1. Have a volunteer read Hosea 2:1-12.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What methods does God say He will use to pull Israel back to Himself? What would these experiences have felt like?
3. Personal Application: Ask the Holy Spirit if you have been running from God in any area of your life. If you have, why wait for pain and suffering? Surrender it now. Share your thoughts..
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “How can I believe that trials and trouble might be God’s way of getting me back on the right path? It’s hard to see any good come out of pain and misery.” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Job 1:6 – 2:10.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What caused Job’s suffering? How does Job respond to the trials?
3. Personal Application: How can Job’s response to his trials help us as we go through ours? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why would God let Job go through all that just to prove a point? What about his innocent servants and children who died during this test? Wouldn’t his wife be naturally upset?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read 2 Corinthians 1:4-9.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. To what extent might suffering be a call to ministry? How can we be more alert to this possibility?
3. Personal Application: What can we learn from Paul that can help us from falling into self-pity amid your own struggles? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “Why is it that many people who have gone through a certain trial or overcome a tragedy are the first ones to reach out and try to start programs or give help and counsel to others in the same situation? It seems like once they get through their trial, they wouldn’t want to revisit it in any form again.” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Isaiah 43:1-7

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. List the different ways God assures His people of comfort during times of water and fire. How does this portray God in your mind?
3. Personal Application: What promises or ways of comfort do you look to when you face your trials? Share your thoughts?
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Amen!(0)

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