Deliverance and Intercession
2 Corinthians 1:8-11
Memory Verse: Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 1 Corinthians 3:17
In the mid 1970’s Angel Fire Ski Resort in New Mexico was making a transition from a private ski area to a public ski area. On the front basin there was one chair lift, a couple of rope lifts and a few well groomed beginning to intermediate ski areas. A bus ride was required to get to the back basin and three other chair lifts. For the first two hours after opening the waiting lines to board a bus were long and slow moving. First time visitors would often have an easily recognizable look on their faces screaming out, “Is it worth it?” Once they finally arrived at the back basin they would the see blue chair lift and skiers racing in with a big smile on their faces as they took their place in line to board the lift again. The answer to the question was obvious, “it was definitely worth it.”
The Bible seeks to communicate the same to the Corinthian church as Paul and his cohort had already learned. God’s deliverance through our suffering is always worth it. Someone has said we are either going into a storm of life, in the midst of a storm, or coming out of a storm. The idea of a storm is the idea of difficult circumstances. What Paul most wanted the Corinthian church to be aware of in sharing the story of his afflictions was this, God has delivered them from great
peril and He will continue to deliver in the days to come. He is just as trustworthy in the valley as He is on the mountain top.
Another encouragement of community surfaces in verse 11. Apparently the church at Corinth had agreed to pray for this group of missionaries who had gone to Asia. Because they had shared in the sufferings through intercession, they could also share in the glory of God through answered prayer. If you have participated with others in intercessory prayer you also rejoice with those for whom you have prayed. That is why the intercessory prayer ministry of our church is so rewarding. If you haven’t committed to one hour per week in the prayer room, perhaps this is a good day to give it consideration.
Reflection
What did God say to me from this Scripture reading, devotional, and or prayer time?
What did I say to God?
