King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Friday, December 05, 2025
Chapters: II Corinthians 1-4
Message: II Corinthians: Hope in Suffering
Hello My Friend,
As we begin reading II Corinthians we learn that while suffering comes to all, saved born again Christians rest their hope on Jesus Christ. That is not to say that they do not struggle or feel as though God is no where near at times. It does mean that we understand that since Christ suffered, we will suffer as well but through that suffering we will be strengthened in the Lord. The Holy Spirit in us is our reminder that even in death we live, [2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.]
When I started reading this I wondered why it is all coming up now but then again everything is in God’s time and He knew that I needed to hear these things at this time in my life and I am sure that He is doing the same thing for you as well. Something else came up my feed as well, from Charles Spurgeon.
“As if this were not enough, there is attached to this Hospital of the Cross a wardrobe, and a sinner making application simply as a sinner, may be clothed from head to foot; and if he wishes to be a soldier, he may not merely have a garment for ordinary wear, but armour which shall cover him from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. If he asks for a sword, he shall have that given to him, and a shield too. Nothing that is good for him shall be denied him. He shall have spending-money so long as he lives, and he shall have an eternal heritage of glorious treasure when he enters into the joy of his Lord. If all these things are to be had by merely knocking at mercy’s door, O my soul, knock hard this morning, and ask large things of thy generous Lord. ”
I was listening to a sermon this past Wednesday that talked about this very thing, so God is really trying to ingrain it in my head. He said to make list of the things that you want God to do, make it visible and every time you see say a prayer asking for it. This afternoon I just had a conversation with God, reminding Him that I know that nothing is too hard for Him and asking Him to prove it but in the same sentence asking Him to help my unbelief. Yes, we are allowed to ask those questions, and He certainly knows how we feel and what we are going through. But watch this, [2 Corinthians 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.]
Wow! So, everything we go through, the good, bad, and ugly is used for God’s glory. The Book of 2 Corinthians was written Paul to believers at Corinth, and to all believers. The timeline for this letter took place approximately 60AD, and the purpose of the book was to reestablish his authority as an apostle, and show gratitude and thanks for their faithfulness in Christ. What we are to learn from the book is that human weakness provides an opportunity for the power of God to be revealed through us, [2 Corinthians 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.]
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was one of discipline, this one, written about a year later, is one of encouragement. He had it written when he himself was discouraged and heard how they had turned things around, including the man that he had told them to remove from the congregation. Paul, wanted to let them know how pleased he was that they were living by the true Gospel, and how much of an encouragement they were to him. He points out that there is a reason for the afflictions that we face.
[2 Corinthians 1:1,3-5 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: 3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.]
Notice that Paul always says that it is by the will of God that he was an apostle. Believe it or not, everything that we go through is by the will of God. I do not mean that it is God’s will for us to be hurt by someone or to get some disease, but He did allow it to be used for His glory. When Job lost his entire family, estate, and health, God allowed Satan to afflict him, but through it all he was blessed with twice a much as he lost, [Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.]
The sufferings we face, whether we contributed to them or just handed to us are not always meant to chasten us. They are often meant to renew our faith, to restore our faith, and to actually give hope to others who are struggling with their own faith. Yes, it is not always about us. There is nothing that we are not faced with that the world is not. In fact, everyone is looking for some kind of hope of an end to what they are going through. So, imagine their wonder to discover that Christ gives us that hope. Paul explains.
[2 Corinthians 1:6-9 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. 8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:]
Do you see? Paul, had bouts of despair, wondering what he was going to do, but did what we all do once we realize that God has got this. I am not going to lie, these past few weeks have been harder on me than I ever imagined. I even questioned how the Holy Spirit lives in me. Jesus, had to remind me of what His promise is, [John 14:15-18 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.]
Wow! We think that we are all alone in this, but we are not. This is why the Holy Spirit is here, to comfort us as well as guide us and remind us that God is with us. Of course, if Jesus can come back from the dead after His suffering then surely I can trust Him through my suffering. Before we knew Christ as our Saviour we had a death sentence upon us. Our hope was never in trusting man or ourselves to save us, we are trusting in the living God who will raise us from the dead, just like He did Jesus, [John 6:39-40 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.]
Wow! Did you see that? It is the will of God to save all who believe in Christ. I get it, the thought of suffering as being something that is good for us really does not bring much comfort in our human nature. However, to our spiritual nature, it is the hope that one day all suffering will be over and we will live forever. God never meant for us suffer alone. Paul, reminds us that we as Christians need to lean on one another.
[2 Corinthians 1:11-14 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. 12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. 13 For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end; 14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our’s in the day of the Lord Jesus.]
The one thing that bothers me the most about my mother’s death is that she was in a nursing home an hour and a half away and I could not see her every day. On top of that I turned into a vegetable and was pretty much useless for the month that she was in there. The last thing she said to me was that she felt like she was a burden on everyone and I assured her that she was not, we just could no longer take care her by ourselves. Now, the way her mind was she had no idea what day it was or how long it had been since I had seen her so she probably did not think that I abandoned her. In my mind it was just the opposite, but my husband actually said something that made sense, I was just thinking of myself. Paul, goes on to point out how we can lose sight of the purpose.
[2 Corinthians 1:17-20 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay? 18 But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. 20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.]
Think about it, is the reaction to sufferings that we are going through coming from our own selfish desires, guilt, or the outcome we wanted from God? Or are we using this time to realize that God knows what is best and what He promises by simply trusting in them. This is what Paul was trying to say to them and why he did visit them at the time that he wrote the letter. He felt that his own weariness and doubt would trickle down to them.
[2 Corinthians 2:1-4 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. 2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? 3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.]
I try not to do this, but find myself doing it more often than I care to admit, when someone talks to me about their suffering, I start telling them about mine. It is not really intentional as to compare or make it appear as though my suffering is worse, but to show that we all suffer, but God will see us through. The way we handle suffering actually can bring others to Christ or draw them away from Him. Remember the guy that Paul told them to kick out of the church because he married his step-mother? Well, the man repented. He turned his life around and wanted to be accepted back in the church. Paul, encourages them to forgive the person and allow him back.
[2 Corinthians 2:6-8,10-11 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. 7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.]
When we see others who are uplifted despite their suffering, it gives us hope, and starts encouraging us. If all we do is walk around moping all the time what kind of hope are we going to give? I have been there though and in my sorrows I have walked off jobs, stopped serving in church, stopped talking to friends, all because I tried to handle things on my own. Nevertheless, praise God, He knew that my pain did not cause permanent damage with Him and therefore pulled me through and renewed my hope. Now, in order to overcome any suffering we have to open your heart and give it all to Jesus. Yes, I know that sounds like it will do absolutely nothing when you are in so much pain, but that is the first step. We are not defeated with Christ we triumph through Him.
[2 Corinthians 2:14-17 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.]
Think about it, to those who are saved our continued hope brings live to them while bringing those who are not saved to Christ. You see, the most challenging times in our lives actually become the most rewarding as we discover that we can go to God all day long and find joy through our faith in Christ. Paul reminds us all that, as long as we are saved, we have the power of the living God in us.
[2 Corinthians 3:3-6 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.]
While I do not question my salvation, I just questioned how the Holy Spirit can just appear in your soul just by accepting Christ as your Saviour. This is where God reminds me once more of why and how the Holy Spirit is living in me. I do not know why the thought even came to mind, but that is the devil for you, placing doubts in your mind whenever you are suffering. In other words, the law of Christ was written in their hearts, and the love of Christ is shed abroad through their faith, not written in tables of stone as the Ten commandments were given to Moses but by tables of the heart. Paul explains how their faith has never been in the written word but rather the Word made flesh Himself.
[2 Corinthians 3:7-11 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious? 9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.]
Paul, is referring to these passages, [Exodus 32:15-16 And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. 16 And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables. Exodus 34:29-30 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. 30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.]
When the people saw that face of Moses after he had come down from the mountain it was glowing so bright that he put a veil over his face out of pure fear. Paul, explains this further, [2 Corinthians 3:13-18 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.]
In other words, even today, many see the Holy Spirit shining through us but are spiritually blind to who it is. We do not realize the impact that we have on those who have no hope in their suffering. They see us rejoicing and want to see why we have so much hope. If they see that that hope comes through our faith in Christ, then they will find hope in theirs. We need to understand that without the suffering we will not see that we have so much more awaiting us. You have the living God living inside of you, stop wallowing in your sorrows, and start walking in faith, knowing His promises. And yes, I am preaching to the choir here. Watch what Paul reminds us of.
[2 Corinthians 4:1-4,6 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.]
The god of this world is none other than Satan himself and he is working overtime on me right now. You see, whether we realize it or not, even at our worst, we who are faithful to our faith in Christ impact those around us. At my mother’s wake people began saying just how much she meant to them, even a twelve year old girl said that she was everyone’s grandma. Walking by faith does not mean that we are not going to have moments of despair. It does mean that God knows and understands what we are going through and that despair has nothing to do with our faith in Christ.
[2 Corinthians 4:8-13 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 13 We having the same Spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;]
Boy, what a reminder! The life we live after we are saved becomes a reflection of Christ, the more we endure the suffering that comes on every side with Him the more hope we give to those who are trusting in what they see, [1 Peter 3:14-15 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:]
You see, it is actually not the quantity of work that we do for God that brings the greatest blessings, it is the quality of our work that does. Sometimes the only effort we have in ourselves is to praise God for all that He has done. That is what actually renews our faith, [2 Corinthians 4:16-18 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.]
When we do everything in our own flesh we are dead because we are not physically capable of dealing with everything, but when we come to Jesus, all things are possible, for He brings life into it all as He renews us daily, [1 Peter 2:19-21 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:]
Today’s Prayer: God, When I am suffering I admit the last thing I want to do is minister to others. In fact, all I want to do is hide in a corner somewhere and not talk to anyone. When You bring me to my senses, I know that You are always there, ready to pick me up, and show me how to handle things, and get back to doing the work You called me to do. Lord, there is no one like You, so loving, so trusting, so fearing, just as a Father should be, You may not remove the suffering but Your grace is sufficient enough to help me through and give me the hope I need to keep going. Lord, Walk with me, guide me, and put Your hedge about me, keep reminding me of the hope that I know only comes through my faith in You, and let me be the Light others need to see that You are their hope. I love You Lord and ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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