In Second Corinthians 7 Paul writes the Corinthians concerning his present situation and the emotional swings he has been enduring. Paul and his ministry team had just left Ephesus after
being driven from the city by a riot after three years of teaching daily in city. While writing from Macedonia, Paul speaks of having "no rest," being "harassed at every turn," dealing with
"conflicts on the outside," and "fears within." What would people say if a minister today
admitted such things? Or, what would a minister say to a believer today if they admitted such
things? Would anyone be willing to admit that their Christian service was creating conflicts and
they were being harassed while they constantly dealt with lack of sleep and fear? Would we
question their faith? Would we question the validity of their ministry?

Paul writes that in the midst of this external opposition and internal fear God did provide comfort
when Titus was reunited with Paul's ministry team in Macedonia on his way from Corinth intending
to return to Paul in Ephesus. Titus had previously been sent to Corinth with a letter from Paul. This letter that Titus carried is a letter we do not have a copy of today. Timothy was sent to Corinth with the letter we call First Corinthians. But, things did not improve in Corinth after Timothy arrived with First Corinthians. In fact, things got worse, and Timothy returned to Ephesus as a failure in ministry, leaving a disaster behind in the Corinthian church. That is when Paul ripped of the letter that we do not have a copy of and sent it with Titus. We can read in our text above that this was a letter that hit the Corinthians hard and Paul's words left a mark on the church. Paul goes on to describe this letter:

"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." - 2 Cor. 7:8-9

Before being reunited with Titus unintentionally in Macedonia, Paul had been deeply concerned
about Titus and his ministry in Corinth. The Corinthians had chewed Timothy up and sent him back
to Paul in a package of broken frustration (possibly referred to in 2 Tim. 1:4). But, to Paul's delight Titus had managed to break through to the Corinthians and they repented and were willing to
receive Paul and his teaching back into their church. Paul says that Titus' report about the Corinthian's desire to restore fellowship with Paul gave him joy that was "greater than ever":

"He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me,
so that my joy was greater than ever.

Besides saying "my joy was greater than ever," when Paul heard Titus' report he also says that he was "comforted" by Titus, "now I am happy," "by all this we are encouraged," and "we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was." Indeed, quite a mood swing simply because God brought Paul a good report through an unplanned reunion with Titus in Macedonia!

"The only way to keep a broken vessel full is to
keep it always under the tap."
- Billy Sunday

In 1521 church leaders denounced Martin Luther's rebellion and put him on trial. Luther responded by demanding that the church provide scriptural support to prove his rebellious teaching was in error. (Indeed, Luther's teaching was "rebellious" towards church practice, but was it rebellious towards scripture?) Luther said the Bible was the authority and not the pope or any other church leader.

"I am bound by the scriptures...and my conscience is captive to the Word of God," Luther would say at his trial.