When our fellow Christians lack confidence in us it can hold us back. I think it took too long for the members of my church to have confidence in me. I could have been of more use earlier if trusted sooner.

So do we really want to take pride in the character and achievements of our fellow Christians? Surely that is better than being envious of them!

I suppose several of my fellow Grace Baptists in Suffolk are proud that I gave up work to care for my invalid father. This is something that they will always give me credit for notwithstanding the fact that I could have done the job better. I am proud of my brother Paul and his wife for their unstinting, dedicated, loving service to the church at Courland Grove, Clapham. I am proud of my fellow elder Edward Underwood for doing many things he found hard to do for Christ's sake. I am proud of my friend Pastor John Skull for his intense desire to see young people saved at Pioneer Camp where he was for so many years Skipper. I am proud of Pastor Joseph Hewitt who as he neared his 80th birthday bravely went to Burma to encourage Baptist churches there.

A church that encourages its leaders will get the best out of them. Leaders that encourage their flock will see individuals thrive.

I can remember a colleague telling me that in all the years he taught in a particular school in Haverhill he never received a single Christmas card from his pupils. He was a really decent man - a nicer man than me! I could hardly believe it. He must have found it difficult to give of his best with so few tokens of appreciation.

Some pastors are treated little better than that teacher!

(C) Paul's stress.

(1) He couldn't relax. For when we came to Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest. v5.

We mustn't think that Paul always enjoyed the peace that passes understanding. By the time he gets to Macedonia he is so worked up that he finds it impossible to relax and rest easy.

This is one of the worst states to be in. It is the very opposite of peace. Sadly Christian leaders can worry so much about problems in the church that stress of this kind builds up. It is certainly a very common experience of many schoolteachers!

(2) He was harassed. We were harassed at every turn - conflicts on the outside.

Paul had enemies in the major cities of Macedonia - Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea. His Jewish and Pagan opponents hadn't forgotten about him. Paul's reappearance would arouse the same animosity that had been evident in the past. Spiteful and malicious antagonism is always hard to bear.

(3) He was anxious. .... fears within.

Paul worried about the situation in Corinth. He couldn't wait to see Titus to find out about the reaction of the Corinthians to his letter.

One of the things that concerned me most as a teacher was how a recalcitrant pupil would respond to a telling off and punishment. How would he, or she, be next lesson? Would there be an improvement - or would the battle of wills continue? Would the situation deteriorate further?

There are few situations more troubling than unrest in a church. It is hard not to worry when a potentially very difficult church meeting is in the offing at which differences are sure to surface. Then after the meeting when the issue has been decided on a majority vote there is a tense and anxious period waiting to see how the outvoted minority will react.

I am afraid Christians often lack grace in circumstances like these!

(D) Paul's encouragement.

Titus brought good news. Paul was able to write: But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus. v6.

Titus brought Paul two things that encouraged him:

(1) Expressions of devotion. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me; so that my joy was greater than ever. v7.

It is possible that Paul complained to the Corinthians in the letter carried by Titus of their lack of support when his integrity was impugned by a critic in the church. He may have called into question their loyalty and love. If he questioned their attachment to him this would explain the believer's very strong reaction. They did not affirm their devotion to Paul in a half-hearted fashion. They expressed:

• A longing to see him.

• Intense sorrow for upsetting him.

• The warmest concern for Paul's welfare - his peace of mind and joy.

We should never underestimate the value of expressions of devotion and support to those engaged in Christian work. I have been glad of such from time to time.

(2) Evidence of devotion.

The Corinthians revealed their devotion to Paul not by words only but by deeds - by how they reacted to his letter:

(a) It hurt them. I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while. v8.

A rebuke, however necessary and deserved, will often hurt for a time. A reproof is often quite unexpected and so it catches us unawares. It is invariably a blow to the ego. We have made a mistake!

That, of course, is why Christians are so unwillingly to rebuke a fellow believer. It is a dangerous thing to do. It is like patting a tiger! The ego is quite as fierce as any tiger! However, we do not show love by leaving unrebuked something that needs correcting. I did an awful lot of rebuking as a schoolteacher. It showed that I cared!

(b) They were sorry. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in anyway by us. v9.

The Corinthians were sorry that their behaviour had hurt Paul. Thiers wasn't the weasely sort of regret expressed by the phrase: "I would like to apologise for any offence caused." There is always a hint in these apologies by public figures that because no offence was intended none should have been taken.

The believers in Corinth were sorry because they realised they were in the wrong and Paul was justified in feeling upset.

I can remember accusing a girl of writing her name, Anne, on her desk. Her reaction was violent. She cursed her teacher, walked out of the classroom and went home. Her father phoned the headmistress and said his daughter would not return to school unless Mr Reed apologised. By the time I was summoned by an apprehensive headmistress to her study I had realised my mistake. The girl's name was Ann! I was sorry to have made an unwarranted accusation. I was sorry to have upset the girl. I was happy to apologise to the girl publicly.

(c) They repented. Yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led to repentance .... . Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. vs9and10.

Worldly sorrow is being sorry for the consequences to yourself of your actions. So many people in prison are sorry for their crimes because of the punishment they incur. They are sorry to have been found out. They are not necessarily sorry for their victims or how much money their actions cost the state. They are sorry for themselves.

I think Judas was sorry for himself when he went to the chief priests and threw down the money they paid him for betraying Jesus. He knew he had betrayed an innocent man - one who had no intention of leading a revolt against the Romans. All Judas' schemes had come to nothing and he was sorry for the time he had wasted in a lost cause. Judas, unlike Peter, was not sorry for the great sadness he had caused Jesus. He went to the wrong people to express his remorse. Godly sorrow and true repentance would have taken him to the cross to beg for forgiveness.

Godly sorrow results in doing what it takes, as far as you can, to remedy the wrong you have done someone else. That is what repentance is. Zacchaeus repented and offered to repay anyone he had defrauded four times what he had cheated them out of. Peter repented and remained with the eleven. He ran with John to the empty tomb.

One day a colleague was very unlucky. She came into my classroom when I was fuming over a thoughtless decision she had made. I tore into her in front of the sixth formers that I was teaching. Now my colleague needed speaking to about her behaviour but not in the way I did that morning. She also went home! Well I was sorry! I had to wait all through half-term before I could do anything about the situation. It spoiled my half-term. Doubtless I deserved it! The next time I taught the same group of sixth formers I sent for Mrs B and made a fulsome apology. I was sorry for the wrong I did her and tried to put things right. I had no regret - and I saved our relationship because Mrs B was generous enough to forgive me. That is what Paul said godly sorrow would do: it brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.

Paul links salvation with repentance. When we are genuinely sorry for the wrong we do God there is always the possibility of forgiveness.

(d) They acted. What readiness to see justice done. v11.

It seems likely that the members of the Corinthian church acted to discipline the person who slandered Paul. They were keen and precipitant in acting as they did: What earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern ... . v11.

Paul's description of their behaviour leaves little doubt that they were very eager and concerned to deal with anyone who questioned Paul's probity and integrity. The little apostle's CHARACTER was not something the Christians at Corinth wanted anyone to have reservations about. They might make snide remarks about his appearance and skill as a speaker but at least they realised his character was of sterling worth.

True repentance is ALWAYS expressed in action. John the Baptist made this clear. The alcoholic might say - on numerous occasions - he is sorry for the misery he causes his wife and children - but unless he does something about it he has not repented.

I was interested to read in the obituary of the artist Matthew Carr in the Daily Telegraph that: His decision to kick his alcohol and heroin habit was an act of love for his wife and child, and once he had succeeded he never looked back. His was a true repentance.

(e) In the end they were without blame. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. v11.

If we act to right a wrong we are no longer involved in that wrong. We are innocent of it. That is the problem of letting something wrong go unchecked because, then, we do participate in it.

So Paul concludes that the Corinthians have shown by their repentance and action that they are devoted to him. Indeed, he says that the whole incident has shown them how devoted they are to him. Something like this happened to me once. I received some unjustified and cruel criticism from outside my church. The members rallied round and defended me against my critics. They probably discovered a little of what I meant to them during this unpleasant time.

Any church leader who finds it necessary, like Paul, to rebuke his flock will discover how truly devoted they are to him. It is the acid test!

(E) Paul's delight.

Paul was delighted at three things. He was delighted:

(1) At how happy the Corinthians had made Titus.

We were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.

The time Titus spent with the Corinthians had been better than a tonic; it had really raised his spirits.

One of the great experiences of my life was to go with my friend Tommy on a bird-watching trip to Japan. During our holiday we were entertained by Japanese families. We were treated with respect. Teachers are honoured in Japan! We were treated with much generosity. Nothing was too much trouble for our hosts. Two young ladies got up at 4am to take us into the local forest to search for tree creepers and woodpeckers! But above all else it was very evident the Japanese we stayed with were extremely pleased to see us. That trip really raised my spirits.

When I retired I spent a week in London each year with my brother Paul and his wife Ruth. This was another holiday that refreshed my spirit. I enjoyed doing London walks with my brother - but I also found it uplifting to meet the many visitors to Paul and Ruth's home and to attend the 'drop in' at his church where several jolly black ladies made me more than welcome.

We should never underestimate the importance of raising a person's spirits. Every year I receive a Christmas card from Smicker Smith. About 55 years ago my mother looked after him for a week while his parents went on holiday. He has never forgotten that week. It made a huge impression on him. Year after year he corresponded with my mother at Christmas. When my mother died he continued to do so with me.

I shall never forget my wonderful trip to Japan and the hospitality of its people.

(2) That the Corinthians lived up to his expectations.

The Corinthians justified Paul's confidence in them. He wrote: I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. v14.

One of the occasions the headmaster of Debenham High School where I taught was able to congratulate the pupils for living up to expectations was after an open evening. Open evenings were events organised to promote the school to parents with children about to embark on secondary education. Lots of pupils came into school for open evenings to show prospective parents round, answer questions and take part in various demonstrations. They were always excellent ambassadors for their school. They exceeded expectations!

We are surely glad whenever a fellow Christian lives up to or exceeds expectations. Jesus left his disciples with a daunting commission. They did not always promise well during his earthly ministry. But Jesus must have watched with immense satisfaction as the apostles went about their business and the church grew.

(3) At the obedience of the Corinthians.

Paul would undoubtedly have written a letter of some sort for Titus to take to the church at Corinth. In it he would have asked the Corinthians to show Titus respect. This is what they did because he was able to write: And his(Titus') affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.

There is nothing quite like obedience for imparting confidence. Sometimes during my teaching career I had a student teacher to mentor. The student was allocated some of my classes to teach. I would stress to my pupils that I expected them to behave towards the student as they did to me. What a pleasure when they obeyed. What confidence I had in them when the student was treated with respect.

It is so encouraging, reassuring and confidence boosting when church members obey the teaching of their leaders. Conversely, nothing is more depressing for a pastor than an unresponsive congregation: one who receives the word but never does it!