11-22-2015
"Thankful for the Blessings of God's Comfort"
2 Corinthians 1. 3-11

THANKFUL FOR THE BLESSINGS OF GOD’S COMFORT 2 CORINTHIANS 1. 3-11 I.  HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH YOUR TRIALS OR TROUBLES? A.  Look for a cat to kick, or someone else to take out your frustrations on? B.  When life is hard, remember we are not the _____ to ask “is there another way?” II.  PAUL (APOSTLE OF JESUS) SHARES SOME ENCOURAGEMENT HERE: A.  ________ are going to come.  Why? B.  So that we may learn to trust- not in ourselves- but in God who ______ the dead. C.  How do most of us gain and grow in our faith?  D.  Happy (blessed) THANKFUL- are those who are taught, even through despair, to set their ______ in God! III.  CAN YOU EXPERIENCE ________  IF YOU NEVER HAVE TROUBLES? A.  When we bear that Heavy LOAD- we need one of 2 things:                                                   i.  Either we need it to be taken away, or                                                   ii.  We must learn how to _______  it. B.  Without the Trials and Sorrows that are a part of our Christian Journey, we will never know God’s Comfort. IV.  GOD IS THE ________ OF COMFORT: A.  God knows our needs and our tribulations… B.  He has ________ lessons in mind for us… V.  GOD HAS A ___________ FOR AFFLICTION: A.  That we will learn to seek comfort from Him B.  God Also desires that we learn to comfort __________                                                   i.  Our Example                                                   ii.  Our __________ of how God has “been there for                  us.”  May be of comfort to others.                                                   iii.  Our EXAMPLE and OUR TESTIMONY OF                  FAITH show an encouraging spirit- which is a                  comfort to others. C.  One more way you can HELP others…BY YOUR ____________