WHY SUCH BOLDNESS

WHY SUCH BOLDNESS

2 Corinthians 7:1-7 (KJV)

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

In verse 4 Apostle Paul told them how he gloried over them in all the churches. 

2 Corinthians 7:4 (KJV)

Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

Verses 5-7 he explains why and why they were a comfort to him in tribulations.

Notice first what I am going to call,

I. HIS CONFLICT

2 Corinthians 7:5 (KJV)

For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

This seems to be based upon his concerns about how they had reacted to his first letter.

You remember that it was very confrontational. 

The church at Corinth was messed up and Paul aimed to correct it.

We ought to be thankful for a preacher who will “hoe the corn” as the southerners express it.

This does not mean that the preacher enjoys doing it. 

You will never know the number of restless nights I have experienced because I was afraid my message would not be well received or because I was broken that someone was upset with me over my position.

Paul said his flesh had no rest, that he was troubled on every side

A. Around him

He was surrounded by enemies, people who were unbelievers 

B. Without him 

Were fightings. 

He struggled to get the gospel to those that oppose themselves

C. Within him

Were fears. 

What if all he had done in Corinth was spoiled?

Galatians  4:11 (KJV)  

I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain 

II. HIS COMFORT

2 Corinthians 7:6 (KJV)

Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

Paul credited God with comforting him when he met up with Titus.

Consider it:

·   He was surrounded by the lost

·   He was burdened with the task of winning them 

·   He was afraid that the believers in Corinth were angry with him, and would reject his message and

He was alone.

Anita and I went to Astoria, together, but alone.

·   We had very little support

·   We could not afford a telephone 

·   We came to town at the invitation of two families, but I knew before we arrived that they would be upset with us.

But God comforted us with two people:

·   The Hockley family

·   Kelly Anderson

The Hockley’s supported us doctrinally

Kelly just wouldn’t let us be alone 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (KJV)

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Notice thirdly, 

III. HIS CONSOLATION

2 Corinthians 7:7 (KJV)

And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

Paul goes on to clarify in verse seven that it wasn’t just the companionship (although that was vital),

It was the news!

Titus comes with three pieces of information that really encouraged and lifted Paul’s spirit:

A. Their earnest desire

I take it that this is a desire to do the right thing.

Far from being upset with Paul for correcting them, they were anxious to get things corrected.

Some things don’t correct in a moment. It is a blessing even to know that the sinner WANTS to get it corrected.

It’s heartbreaking to see a person in sin, with no desire to change.

B. Their mourning

I take that to mean their repentance over sin.

The word mourning means lamentations, wailing, moaning.

This was no petty confession of sin Titus reported.

They were stricken with grief over their sin and its consequences. 

C. Their fervent mind toward him

This the Apostle himself explains was their affection toward Paul.

They had not only complied with Paul’s instructions, wishing to do the right thing, they had zeal and love, and affection for him.

 We ought to never worship a man, even a good one.

But the Bible, I am convinced, teaches us to love, and honor the man God has called to be our shepherd.

When Paul learned that this love for him existed among the Corinthians, he could not help himself but to tell everyone, everywhere about those believers in Corinth.