Paul's desire was to know the Lord more deeply, even the fellowship of His sufferings (Phil. 3:10). The Lord answered His prayer with many sufferings (Acts 9:16). He overcame them all to the glory of God, and we shall also if we always keep in mind the "treasure" that is in us (II Cor. 4:7). It is Christ - the Holy Spirit - God Himself (Col. 1:27). We are to follow the Lord in His sufferings and death - bearing about in our bodies the dying of the Lord ( the dying to our own will to do His) that His life might be lived out in ours, and seen by all, that life might work in them (II Cor. 4:10-12). 

It is our calling to suffer, an honor and privilege given to us by the Lord (I Pet. 2:21, Phil. 1:29). Paul could glory in his tribulations because the love of God was given to him by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:3-5). Paul was receiving the consolation of the Spirit in all his tribulation, and this carried him to the highest joy, peace, and contentment possible in this world. 

If we aren't receiving the comfort mentioned in II Cor. 1:3-5, there are three reasons why found in the scripture. We are either grieving, quenching, or resisting the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30, I Th. 5:19, Acts 7:51). 

We quench Him when we don't consider His continual working in us, giving us grace to will and to do the will of God (Phil. 2:13). We quench Him when we do not consider Him by faith as the immediate Author of all our gifts, assistance, and relief, thanking Him accordingly for His love and kindness towards us. 

We resist Him when we do not obey the word as preached to us by His ministers that have been given gifts by Him for our good. 

We are to love the Spirit and worship Him as we do the Father and the Son. This is the triune God that is our Savior and Redeemer. He, as Christ, in His own great love and infinite condescension, willingly came forth from the Father to be our Comforter. A lack of considering His love weakens our obedience. 

We neglect Him, are disobedient and unthankful, yet He continues to do us good. Let us consider His love more, and we will find more strength, joy, and peace in our sufferings (Rom. 15:30, II Cor. 6:4-6). 

The results of not receiving the comfort and consolation of the Holy Spirit are these, according to John Owen. 

1. Sin will harden us and we will neglect the remedies provided to fight against it such as prayer, reading and meditating on the word, and public worship. 2. We will not use afflictions to our profit or faint under them. 

3. We will be filled with pride because we bore with our sufferings in our own strength, which left us without any sweetness received or shown to others. 

4. Prosperity will make us carnal and sensual and we will find our contentment in the things of the world leaving us weak to face the trials of adversity. 

5. The comforts of our relations will separate us from God, and the loss of them will make our hearts like Nabal's - hard, selfish, angry, and greedy (I Sam. 25:10-11). 

6. The troubles of the church will overwhelm us, and the prosperity of the church will not be any concern to us. 

7. We will not have any wisdom for the Lord's work, peace in any condition, strength for any duty, success in any trial, joy in any state, comfort in life, or light in death. 

Let us value the consolation of the Spirit. He makes the love of the Father known to us. Compare that with all the other causes and means of joy and consolation in this world, and you will discover their emptiness - its fullness, their nothingness - its being all. 

No wonder Paul considered the sufferings of this present time not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. If we suffer with Him we shall also be glorified together (Rom. 8:17-18). 

Oh, glorious day!!!