Messy Spirituality | Part 2

(2 Corinthians 7:4 – 13 NASB95) Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction. For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within. But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus; and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more. For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it – for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while – now I rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you; what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but that your earnestness on our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God. For this reason we have been comforted. And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.

1. Life is messy.

(2 Corinthians 7:4 – 5) I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride

in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds. For

when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every

turn: conflicts on the outside, fears within.

(John 16:33) In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome

the world.

(John 10:10 NASB95) I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

2. We do not have to face the messiness of life alone.

(2 Corinthians 7:6 – 7) But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the

coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given

him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern

for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

(Hebrews 13:5) Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.

(Ecclesiastes 4:12) A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

3. Not all “negative” feelings are bad.

(2 Corinthians 7:8 – 9) Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it.

Though I did regret it – I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while – yet

now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led

you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not

harmed in any way by us.

(Hebrews 12:6) The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he

accepts as his son.

(2 Corinthians 7:10 NASB95) For the sorrow that is according to the will of God

produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the

world produces death.

4. We should not let our messy condition keep us from pursuing God.

(2 Corinthians 7:11 NASB95) For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly

sorrow has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what

fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you

demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.