A Discouragment of Riches

2 Corinthians 4:1–15 NKJV

1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you. 13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

4:1-6 - The veil that keeps the perishing from seeing the light of Gods glory in Jesus. Satan seeks to hide this glory when the world doesn’t, get that, we put the veil on Him. Jesus is the Word Made flesh and we need to see Him for who He is so because when we do, then we might be saved.

4:7-12 - We are who are sharing this incredible light, placed inside this temporary vessel. HIs life in others is worth everything. Crushing, persecution, even beatings, we are the crucified church and nothing can stand in the way of one who lives forever. The gates of hell cant bring us down, “Matthew 16:18”

4:13-15 - the spirit or like faith we have is what God spoke of from the start. That jesus would rise from the dead and we could know beyond doubt, he is going to raise us up. The message of Jesus of the church is do, but done. Because he lives, we can face tomorrow.

Today we will look at “A Discouragement of Riches” in 4:16-18

Series living by Faith - 4:16-5:11

You and I have two great enemies. One is our own personal flesh, the other, is Satan. CS Lewis said,

If Satan’s arsenal of weapons were restricted to a single one, it would be discouragement.

C. S. Lewis

Its powerful and we see the cause of much of it in the previous verses and hear now Pauls encouragement and reminder that its all about what we are living for.

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Lets break it down,

2 Corinthians 4:16 “Therefore we do not lose heart.

we don’t behave well when we lose heart, when we think God has failed us or we have failed Him, again.

lose heart: enkakeo - to act badly. lose courage, give up. The idea is that often people if they feel like they aren't getting their part of the deal like they have been good for god he didn't meet his end and now, we aren't gonna be good anymore or we de-construct the faith that God has built up in us, so that we are free to be slaves again to sin. Discouragement as defined by Cambridge is the state of having lost your confidence or enthusiasm for something. But don’t for one second give up, even if you get dropped, you serve a resurrecting Christ! His life is always there for you. 1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” Paul began this section, 2 Corinthians 4:1 “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.” to those who were struggling Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

We know that God isn't going to give us everything, we know we might suffer for his name then nothing will cause us to stumble and live again like the world. He says

4:16b Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.”

We don’t expect perfect health, because we are dying or progressively decaying. This body is corrupt. It will die and rot. It will get sick. We are just dust, clay pots.

The contrast given is the inner man, the eternal man, is being renewed everyday. Thats that process of sanctification we always talk about. Powerful verse. Because it remind us, the greatest of faith is suffering through this life and praising the Lord in the midst of it, not expecting him to make it all go away. We praise him when he does, and when he doesn't.

Because He has already done the greatest thing for us, in saving us to the uttermost.

When things get difficult, we can rally:

Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.

William Ellery Channing

2 Corinthians 4:17 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,”

Another way to say light affliction is insignificant distress. The suffering that those in the early church experienced was tremendous at times. The things Paul went through was hard to fathom one person who was simply sharing an incredible song of grace to people would be put through, still, he said, Jesus told us where we look for our reward?

Paul instead almost brushes his shoulder and says, “t’wernt nuttin’.” He examined the reward and because he could give it away freely, He lived to do so. He truly grasped the statements of Jesus

Matthew 5:12 “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” 1 Peter 1:6 “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,” Experiencing this affliction nets us a reward not here but in?

Glory: doxes - a quality of splendidness, of God and wonderful name,

Eternal weight. Most of the time they use weight to measure the value or amount of money. Even the word shekel is a weight. The most common Old Testament measure of weight. Equaled approximately 8 grams (1/3 of an ounce). It would become the standard word for coinage in the middle east and especially Israel. What we get is something that cannot be measured in its worth.

One commentator said, “Moorehead observes: “A little joy enters into us while we are in the world; we shall enter into joy when there. A few drops here; a whole ocean there.” There is a pyramid in this verse which, as F. E. Marsh has pointed out, does not tire the weary climber but brings unspeakable rest and comfort to his soul.

Glory

Weight of glory

Eternal weight of glory

Exceeding and eternal weight of glory

More exceeding and eternal weight of glory

Far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory

Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

2 Corinthians 4:18 “while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

We can see certain aspects of the eternal now, when we walk as those that are living the crucified life, where we do things based on the spiritual aspects of things. We look with the eyes of faith - Hebrews 11:1–3 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”

As we will see just a little later - it is quite literally, 2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

If it were just logic and evaluation looking at circumstances, would never do anything but we crash forward, knowing again, that even if we die, we win. Thats why we hold on no matter what. Romans 8:24–25 “For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”

How many things can we experience that can change us?

We started in discouragement, and end in untellable riches.

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Suffering, Response To)

It is clear from Scripture that “rejoicing in suffering” is not simply stoicism. It is not simply a grin-and-bear-it attitude of tough-it-out-and-see-how-much-you-can-take, or just-hang-in-there-until-it’s-over-and-don’t-let-anything-get-you-down, or keep-a-stiff-upper-lip. Many people feel that if they do this, they are obeying God and “rejoicing in suffering.” But they are not.

Several years ago, there was a man going through great physical problems and one of his legs had to be amputated. That did not arrest the course of his disease, and he ultimately died because of it. Just a few days before the man’s death, a minister visited him in the hospital, and the patient said something that perfectly expresses what “rejoicing in suffering” means to a Christian: “I never would have chosen one of the trials that I’ve gone through, but I wouldn’t have missed any of them for the world!” This man had an awareness that his suffering was something of value. He wouldn’t have missed it! He wouldn’t have chosen it either! That is rejoicing in suffering.

What an amazing and truly rich faith we share. The reasons that Paul the apostles and the disciples of the early church continued to follow and flock to Jesus was that they knew they were guaranteed eternity and they had already died to the world.

Thats an amazing gift, to be able to walk through this life, no matter its hills or valley, nothing here compares with what is to come. This isn’t contrasting Real vs Spirit. This is talking about what we really have coming to us. These eternal things are real, more real and everlasting. They are future to us, but no less existent, because of who has promised them to us. There is an end to all this. The bible told me so.

Tozer said if we really see the world as it is, we wouldn't struggle so much to get more of it. 1 John 2:15–17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

What are we living for? The answer isn't this world, but eternity. But an eternity of what? Separate from God? The giver of all good things. Every joy, every blessing, is from Him. To live eternally with no presence of God, is a second death.

To live in Christ, is to live in the midst of all blessings. So thats what we live for. For the one that died for us.

Sing this with me, if its true for you, just a chorus.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!