He comforts us in all our tribulations

 

He comforts us in all our tribulations

 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercy, and the God of all comfort (Paracleseos); who comforts us in all our tribulations (thlipsei), so that we may be able to comfort (Paracleseos) those who are in any tribulation with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (Paracalein)."

 

Paracleseos (παρακλήσεως) means exhortation. The word for Counselor in Greek is Parakletos. In other words, the Counselor is the one who exhorts. The one who exhorts is none other than Jesus Christ. The base form of thlipsei is thlipsis. Thelpsis means being pushed (push). When facing difficulties while evangelizing, He pressures us to enter the temple within our hearts. Therefore, Jesus exhorts them with various words. Parakalon, Parakalein, and Parakleseos all mean "to exhort."

 

Because Paul suffers tribulation while preaching the gospel, he is pushed into the Most Holy Place. The Lord is pushing Paul to devote himself more to the gospel. The reason God does this is to exhort the believers of the Corinthian church and lead them to salvation.

 

The Lord also pushes the saint who preaches the gospel to enter the Most Holy Place within his heart. The Lord pushing the saint into the Most Holy Place where He is present within their hearts is ultimately so that God may speak to that saint about the gospel of the Kingdom of God. Therefore, they listen to that word and carry out God's will. Although that carrying out is difficult, enduring it with a joyful heart is not mere suffering, but passionate tribulation. Paul points this out because the members of the Corinthian church had experienced many spiritual gifts but had not performed hypomones well.

 

Paul suffered many tribulations while preaching the gospel of God in Asia. Therefore, the Lord is telling them to enter the Most Holy Place within the heart. The Lord has a message to convey to Paul. While evangelizing, they grew weary, and because Paul and his companions were so exhausted, the thought of giving up crossed their minds for a moment. The reason the Lord pushed them in this way was to make them rely not on themselves, but solely on the Lord.

 

Although the gospel ministry was so exhausting and difficult that they wanted to give up, they worried that if they did, they would be drawn back into sin. Therefore, the Lord made them steel their resolve and advance in the gospel. Believers, too, can enter the Most Holy Place and become true workers of God through hypomone. By doing so, Paul helps the believers of the Corinthian church in the ministry of the gospel together. 2 Corinthians 1:14-16: “For you have known us in part (metous), but on the day of our Lord Jesus you will be our boast, and we will be your boast. With this conviction, I planned to come to you first, then pass by you to Macedonia, and then come from Macedonia to you, and with your help go to Judea, so that you might receive grace twice (deuteran).”

 

The day of Jesus refers to the day when Christ appears through revelation. Revelation carries the meaning of “unveiling.” On that day, hidden secrets are revealed. The revelation of secrets signifies that the Logos (Ho Logos) comes into the heart of the saint in Christ and manifests Himself. The purpose of receiving Christ’s revelation is for the ministry of the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

 

The day of Christ is the day when the Kingdom of God is established within the heart of the saint. The saint continues to expand the Kingdom of God in this way. The reason the Kingdom of God must be expanded in this way is that it is God's will, and that believers must break free from the dominion of Satan, establish the Kingdom of God, and lead all sinners to God. This is what happens in Jesus Christ.

 

Deuteran (δευτέραν) means "second." The first grace is receiving baptism. Baptism signifies the death on the cross and the resurrection. It is being born again of water and the Spirit. Romans 6:5-6 states: "If we have been united with him in a death like his, we will also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be slaves to sin."

The second grace is that the saint hears the Word and receives comfort from the Lord, the Counselor, who dwells in the temple within the heart.

 

Regarding the fact that Paul planned to go from Macedonia to Corinth but was unable to do so, the members of the Corinthian church thought that Paul had acted out of carnal thinking. However, Paul states that he did not act rashly out of carnal thinking. He explains that in the ministry of the Gospel, one does not say "yes" to some things and "no" to others based on carnal thinking. Regarding the Word of the Logos within the heart, there is only "yes," not "no." Paul is saying that for the ministry of the Gospel, one must unconditionally obey the Lord's Word.

 

2 Corinthians 1:20-22: "For all the promises of God are 'yes' in Christ, through him we say 'Amen' to the glory of God. And it is God who has strengthened us together with you in Christ and has anointed us; and He has also sealed us and given us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee in our hearts."

 

Regarding the Word of God, there is only "yes." His servant unconditionally obeys His Word. When you do this, you become a person who glorifies God. Anointing with oil signifies using someone as a minister. Sealing signifies sealing them as an heir. As a guarantee, the Holy Spirit is given.

 

Acts 6:3-4: "Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and who are well respected. We will entrust this task to them, and we will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word."

 

The criterion for appointing church leaders is that they are filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom. It means that the twelve apostles devote themselves to prayer (proseuche) and the ministry of the word. Proseuche is prayer in the Holy of Holies. It is a prayer of approaching the Ho Logos, who dwells in the Holy of Holies within the heart, to seek God's will.

 

It is hearing the word from the Ho Logos and proclaiming it. The prayers offered by ministers today are mostly worldly, and the word they speak is not received from the Ho Logos but is based on the content of the Bible mixed with their own thoughts. A minister filled with the Holy Spirit becomes one who hears the word of the Ho Logos and proclaims it.