Be Encouraged (2 Corinthians): God Can Turn Your Trials into Triumphs

By Warren W. Wiersbe

The road of spiritual growth can get bumpy. From the new believer to the seasoned disciple, we all experience frustrations and setbacks in our pursuit of God. And perhaps no one understands spiritual struggles better than the apostle Paul. In the book of 2 Corinthians, Paul shares a revealing look at his own challenges, and offers a profound message of encouragement for every believer.

Part of Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe's best-selling "BE" commentary series, Be Encouraged has now been updated with study questions and a new introduction by Ken Baugh. A respected pastor and Bible teacher, Dr. Wiersbe shares words of hope for your own journey of faith.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David C Cook
• Release date: Jan 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781434700940

Warren W. Wiersbe

Warren W. Wiersbe, former pastor of the Moody Church and general director of Back to the Bible, has traveled widely as a Bible teacher and conference speaker. Because of his encouragement to those in ministry, Dr. Wiersbe is often referred to as "the pastor’s pastor." He has ministered in churches and conferences throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Central and South America, and Europe. Dr. Wiersbe has written over 150 books, including the popular BE series of commentaries on every book of the Bible, which has sold more than four million copies. At the 2002 Christian Booksellers Convention, he was awarded the Gold Medallion Lifetime Achievement Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Dr. Wiersbe and his wife, Betty, live in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Book preview

BE ENCOURAGED

Published by David C. Cook

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Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.

David C. Cook Distribution Canada

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David C. Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications

Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England

David C. Cook and the graphic circle C logo

are registered trademarks of Cook Communications Ministries.

All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes,

no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form

without written permission from the publisher.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version

of the Bible. (Public Domain.) Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New

American Standard Bible, © Copyright 1960, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by

permission; NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright

© 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights

reserved; TLB are taken from The Living Bible, © 1971, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton,

IL 60189. Used by permission; PH are taken from J. B. Phillips: The New Testament in

Modern English, revised editions © J. B. Phillips, 1958, 1960, 1972, permission of Macmillan

Publishing Co. and Collins Publishers; and NKJV are taken from the New King James

Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

LCCN 2009934570

ISBN 978-1-4347-6633-5

eISBN 978-1-4347-0094-0

© 1994 Warren W. Wiersbe

First edition of Be Encouraged published by Victor Books® in 1994 © Warren W. Wiersbe, ISBN 978-0-88207-620-1

The Team: Karen Lee-Thorp, Amy Kiechlin, Sarah Schultz, Jack Campbell, and Karen Athen

Series Cover Design: John Hamilton Design

Cover Photo: Veer Inc.

Second Edition 2010

Dedicated with much appreciation

to Galen and Jeanette Call,

Robert and Wilma Montgomery,

and Cedric and Jean Whitcomb

… in years past, faithful associates in

ministry; today, friends who are an encouragement and a joy to know

CONTENTS

The Big Idea: An Introduction to Be Encouraged by Ken Baugh

A Word from the Author

1. Down—but Not Out! (2 Corinthians 1:1–11)

2. You Don’t Have to Fail! (2 Corinthians 1:12—2:17)

3. From Glory to Glory (2 Corinthians 3)

4. Courage for the Conflict (2 Corinthians 4:1—5:8)

5. Motives for Ministry (2 Corinthians 5:9–21)

6. Heart to Heart (2 Corinthians 6—7)

7. The Grace of Giving—Part 1 (2 Corinthians 8)

8. The Grace of Giving—Part 2 (2 Corinthians 9)

9. Ministerial Misunderstandings (2 Corinthians 10)

10. Father Knows Best (2 Corinthians 11)

11. A Preacher in Paradise (2 Corinthians 12:1–10)

12. Three to Get Ready! (2 Corinthians 12:11—13:14)

The Big Idea

An Introduction to Be Encouraged by Ken Baugh

The Energizer battery company is best known for its commercials featuring the Energizer Bunny. This pink battery-operated bunny marches tirelessly, beating a bass drum while sporting cool sunglasses and blue sandals. The source of his endless energy is the Energizer battery. The commercial’s tagline states that the Energizer Bunny just keeps going and going and going.

If you want to compliment someone’s boundless energy, you refer to him or her as an Energizer Bunny—it truly is a compliment. I believe the apostle Paul was the Energizer Bunny of the first century, and in this second letter to the church in Corinth, he reveals what gave him a seemingly endless amount of energy and encouragement. Let’s take a look at the things that powered Paul.

The first thing that encouraged Paul was God’s personal comfort for all who believe. Paul calls God the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (2 Cor. 1:3–4 NIV). Paul was encouraged to have a relationship with the God who cares so much that He knows all of His children’s troubles and brings them comfort.

The second thing that encouraged Paul was the presence of God’s Spirit within all who believe. 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 (1:21–22 NIV). Paul drew encouragement to live life to the fullest, regardless of the difficulties, because he knew that the best was yet to come.

The third thing that encouraged Paul was the transforming work of God’s Spirit in the lives of all who believe. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (3:18 NIV). The moment a person believes in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and accepts His payment for sin, that person is born again spiritually. From that moment on, throughout the rest of the person’s life, the Spirit of God is transforming him or her increasingly into the likeness of Jesus. Theologians call this the process of sanctification. It is a wonderful source of encouragement, because it means that God is continually at work in your life. You are never stuck in one place unless you choose to be.

The fourth thing that encouraged Paul was to know that all those who die in Christ will be resurrected to live forever with Jesus. We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence (4:14 NIV). Not only will we be resurrected one day, but we will also receive glorified bodies that will never again experience pain, sickness, or death (1 Cor. 15:51–52). Then we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Cor. 5:10 NIV). You can think of this judgment as an award ceremony for all the things you did in service to Christ after being born again. This is not a judgment to determine your salvation; it’s accountability and reward for your service to your Savior. Paul was greatly encouraged to endure whatever hardships came his way in this life, knowing that his faithful service to the Lord would be rewarded one day for all eternity.

The fifth thing that encouraged Paul was to know that heaven is real. Some think weak-minded people who need something to live for beyond this life have fabricated the concept of heaven, but Paul knew different: He knew heaven was real because he saw it! In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul refers to himself as a man who was taken up into heaven. While he was there, he heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell (12:4 NIV). Can you imagine? What do you think Paul saw? It must have been wonderful. And this confidence about heaven encouraged him for the rest of his life. No wonder Paul was able to endure any hardship that came his way. No wonder he could say with such confidence, For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (4:17 NIV). Paul knew with absolute certainty that this life is not all there is, that the best is yet to come. This knowledge encouraged him through thick and thin.

Is it any wonder why Paul was able to endure such adversity in his life (11:23–28) with so many elements of encouragement at his disposal? And here is the one thing, the Big Idea of 2 Corinthians that I don’t want you to forget: Every element of encouragement that Paul had at his disposal is yours too in Christ. So be encouraged.

***

Dr. Wiersbe’s commentaries have been a source of guidance and strength to me over the many years that I have been a pastor. His unique style is not overly academic, but theologically sound. He explains the deep truths of Scripture in a way that everyone can understand and apply. Whether you’re a Bible scholar or a brand-new believer in Christ, you will benefit, as I have, from Warren’s insights. With your Bible in one hand and Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary in the other, you will be able to accurately unpack the deep truths of God’s Word and learn how to apply them to your life.

Drink deeply, my friend, of the truths of God’s Word, for in them you will find Jesus Christ, and there is freedom, peace, assurance, and joy.

—Ken Baugh

Pastor of Coast Hills Community Church

Aliso Viejo, California

A Word from the Author

Discouragement is no respecter of persons. The seasoned saint as well as the beginning believer can suffer periods of discouragement. The mature minister, for that matter, may have more to be discouraged about than the youthful pastor who is just getting started.

The message of 2 Corinthians has been an encouragement to me over the years, and now I want it to be an encouragement to you. Some of this material was taught as a part of my ministry over the Back to the Bible radio broadcast, and the response from listeners led me to believe that what Paul wrote centuries ago is still appropriate today.

I want to thank my good friend Jim Adair for his help and encouragement in the production of another BE book. It was a great delight to work with Jim and his Victor Books staff over the years, producing the first editions of these books.

If the message of this book encourages you, then be sure to go out and encourage somebody else!

—Warren W. Wiersbe

A SUGGESTED OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF 2 CORINTHIANS

Theme: God’s encouragement

Key verses: 2 Corinthians 4:1, 6

I. Paul Explains His Ministry (2 Corinthians 1—7)

A. Triumphant (2 Corinthians 1—2)

B. Glorious (2 Corinthians 3)

C. Sincere (2 Corinthians 4)

D. Believing (2 Corinthians 5)

E. Loving (2 Corinthians 6—7)

II. Paul Encourages Their Generosity (2 Corinthians 8—9)

(He was receiving an offering for the Jewish saints.)

A. Principles of grace giving (2 Corinthians 8)

B. Promises for grace givers (2 Corinthians 9)

III. Paul Enforces His Authority (2 Corinthians 10—13)

A. The warrior, attacking the opposition (2 Corinthians 10)

B. The spiritual father, protecting the church (2 Corinthians 11:1–15)

C. The fool, boasting of suffering (2 Corinthians 11:16—12:10)

D. The apostle, exercising loving authority (2 Corinthians 12:11—13:14)

Chapter One

Down—but

Not Out!

(2 Corinthians 1:1–11)

You seem to imagine that I have no ups and downs, but just a level and lofty stretch of spiritual attainment with unbroken joy and equanimity. By no means! I am often perfectly wretched and everything appears most murky."

So wrote the man who was called in his day The Greatest Preacher in the English-speaking World—Dr. John Henry Jowett. He pastored leading churches, preached to huge congregations, and wrote books that were best sellers.

I am the subject of depressions of spirit so fearful that I hope none of you ever get to such extremes of wretchedness as I go to.

Those words were spoken in a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon whose marvelous ministry in London made him perhaps the greatest preacher England ever produced.

Discouragement is no respecter of persons. In fact, discouragement seems to attack the successful far more than the unsuccessful; for the higher we climb, the farther down we can fall. We are not surprised then when we read that the great apostle Paul was pressed out of measure and despaired even of life (2 Cor. 1:8). Great as he was in character and ministry, Paul was human just like the rest of us.

Paul could have escaped these burdens except that he had a call from God (2 Cor. 1:1) and a concern to help people. He had founded the church at Corinth and had ministered there for a year and a half (Acts 18:1–18). When serious problems arose in the church after his departure, he sent Timothy to deal with them (1 Cor. 4:17) and then wrote the letter that we call 1 Corinthians.

Unfortunately, matters grew worse, and Paul had to make a painful visit to Corinth to confront the troublemakers (2 Cor. 2:1ff.). Still no solution. He then wrote a severe letter, which was delivered by his associate Titus (2 Cor. 2:4–9; 7:8–12). After a great deal of distress, Paul finally met Titus and got the good report that the problem had been solved. It was then that he wrote the letter we call 2 Corinthians.

He wrote the letter for several reasons. First, he wanted to encourage the church to forgive and restore the member who had caused all the trouble (2 Cor. 2:6–11). He also wanted to explain his change in plans (2 Cor. 1:15–22) and enforce his authority as an apostle (2 Cor. 4:1–2; 10—12). Finally, he wanted to encourage the church to share in the special relief offering he was taking up for the needy saints in Judea (2 Cor. 8—9).

One of the key words in this letter is comfort or encouragement. The Greek word means called to one’s side to help. The verb is used eighteen times in this letter, and the noun eleven times. In spite of all the trials he experienced, Paul was able (by the grace of God) to write a letter saturated with encouragement.

What was Paul’s secret of victory when he was experiencing pressures and trials? His secret was God. When you find yourself discouraged and ready to quit, get your attention off of yourself and focus it on God. Out of his own difficult experience, Paul tells us how we can find encouragement in God. He gives us three simple reminders.

1. REMEMBER WHAT GOD IS TO YOU (1:3)

Paul began his letter with a doxology. He certainly could not sing about his circumstances, but he could sing about the God who is in