glory > suffering

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At the end of the Summer Olympics, athletes will be participating in a special event, retracing the long distance run from which the Olympic event got its name. In 490 B.C. A man by the name of Pheidippides, ran 26 miles to warn of the impending attack of the Persians upon his country. The route began in Marathon Greece and ended in Sparta. Soon after he reached Sparta, Pheidippides died.

Analyzing lunar records, astronomers at Texas State University believe the cause of his death was due to heat stroke. Their research indicates the runner may have raced in temperatures reaching 102 degrees. (Modern runners begin in the evening.) The New Scientist quotes researcher Russell Doescher as saying: "It seems plausible that someone running for all he's got, trying to save his fellow citizens, could keel over and die."

The Apostle Paul gave a Pheidippides-like effort. Looking back on his life he was able to say: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).

We hear this story this morning, and does anyone watch the Olympics? Yeah, I think we’re just about a month out from the games. Anyone have a particular game you enjoy doing the summer Olympics?

I’ll be watching. Especially basketball… I’m kind of riding this Basketball win streak that started earlier this week with the Celtics…

But in all seriousness. If we go back to this runner. In the face of adversity, and exhaustion, he ran the race, which was required of him at the time… Although he was exhausted at the end of the race, he completed the race, and it led to a key victory for his country.

But what about us? Does anyone feel tired this morning? As the heat of summer has lingered, emotionally, physically, in day-to-day life, does anyone feel exhausted? Maybe overwhelmed… Maybe burdened. Feeling despair of some sort?

If you’ve been here the last several weeks, you know we’ve been in the book of Romans. And the plan was to go there this morning… and ill let you know… Typically, Wednesday is sermon prep… God is birthing the idea within me… He’s giving me a general idea, of where we’re headed that week… Then by Thursday, I’m putting, ideally 2/3 of the sermon down on paper… so that by Friday morning… I come in, wrap up the sermon... .run through my notes, and a PowerPoint together, and make any final changes that God wants me to make…

Well, this week, went nothing like that… in fact, by Thursday afternoon… it was like I was hitting a brick wall… God hadn’t giving me the word for this morning. But as I went to see my chiropractor,on Thursday afternoon. God gave me a word… he showed me where we are this morning. He brought me to a point of encouraging you… (Se we’ll most likely come back to Romans…)

Some of us need encouragement right now… We’re going through hardships. Others, burdened by the loss of a loved one, others feeling anxious… (life is hard right?) But God is God over all of it.

If you have your Bibles, turn with me to the book of 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

And so, our sermon points this morning are this. In your troubles: 1. Do not lose heart. 2. Troubles are achieving eternal glory 3. Fix our eyes on Jesus.

So, we’ll discuss these in more detail, verse by verse- 1. In your troubles (suffering) Do not lose heart

1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

As we look to this scripture this morning, we find Paul addressing the Corinthian church, from Macedonia around A.D. 55 or 56. Which would have been roughly a year after he wrote 1 Corinthians and a year before he wrote his letter to the Romans.

And there are several reasons for writing this letter. On one hand, Paul is writing to confront false teaching in the church… Teachers who had set themselves up in opposition to Paul, and to the gospel. Paul also writes to discuss instruction within the church, including regarding the collection of the poor believers in Jerusalem. But the main central theme is the relationship between suffering and the power of the Spirit in a believer’s life.

You see Paul knew what it was to suffer… In 2 Cor 11:

24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

Paul was well acclimated with Hardships and difficulties in life… and yet, he could say with Confidence. 1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.

He would go on to say, in verse 5 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

You see for Paul there was light at the end of the tunnel. There was hope, in the face of hardship, in disparity in difficulty… Ultimately, because His hope was in Christ.

I wonder about us this morning. Wherever you are in your season of life… Do you feel siphoned? Do you feel drained?Do you feel exhausted, do you feel hopeless? Friend the Joy of the Lord Is your strength. Friends we can learn from Paul… that in the midst of hardships, we can press on. Philippians 3:7-14

7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

You see I’m reminded of a story from the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, as the world watched a parable of the father's love played out on international television.

As the gun sounded for the 400-meter race, Great Britain's Derek Redmond knew that his lifelong dream of winning the gold medal was in view. But as he entered the back stretch, Redmond was sent sprawling by the ripping pain of a torn hamstring. By an act of sheer will, he struggled to his feet in excruciating pain and began hopping toward the finish line.

Suddenly Derek's father bounded out of the stands, past a security guard. He threw his arms around his son. In a voice choked with emotion, he whispered, "Come on, Son, let's finish this together." The crowd cheered and wept as they watched the father half-carrying his wounded son jerkily down the stretch and across the finish line.

Church, life has trouble, life has difficulty… Jesus is greater than it all. Do not lose heart. He is with you this morning. He is for you this morning. He is good.

2. Troubles are achieving eternal glory

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

As we continue with the scripture, we see Paul discuss Jars of clay in verse 7.

Which by the way, Jars of clay at the time or some of your translations say earthen vessels. And this word jars of clay or ostrakinos. Refers to baked clay. Which at the time, were just common pots, that were cheap, breakable, easy to replace and practically worthless.

And here’s what’s interesting, here’s what we miss at a quick glance… but if we look at the culture of the time… these pots were often used for waste, whether it was waste… like the trash can in your home… but in other instances, It was used for human waste. At the time, and it was very common to use these clay pots for human waste and then to carry it off outside of the home.

But here’s what’s interesting. These same ordinary pots, we’re also used on occasion to hide valuables, such as gold, silver or jewelry. And then often times, would be buried in the ground.

Romans 9:21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?

And in the same way, you and I this morning… are the earthen vessels.

Here’s where I want us to go for a moment… you see as we go through life… and we encounter… other people other “pots” if you will. They may look like us… physically… but they’re dead inside…

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

So unlike the rest of the world… which verse 4 says… 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

So, unlike them… we have a special purpose this morning. We’re a a clay pot… but Vs 10 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

That’s good news this morning

Life is full of trouble. But Unlike the empty vessel, which has no hope… There’s something special about you this morning. We can endure hardship.

You see, 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

I.You see when we look at the words hard pressed this morning, it’s the Greek word: thlibō. to press (as with grapes) or press hard upon. Also means 2. To trouble, or to afflict.

So, here’s the question, when life squeezes you… what comes out? When you’re put through the fire, how do you respond?

17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all

3. Fix our eyes on Jesus

2 Cor 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

As we conclude chapter 4, we see vs 16 revisits the idea of losing heart. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

The older I become, the more I realize, I’m not as young as I used to be… and in talking to my dad a couple of weeks back, he said the same sort of thing… He was talking about dieting and losing and weight and told me he had a much easier time in his 30’s and 40’s with losing weight than he’s had in his 60’s.

The truth is… life has a way of aging us.

In fact, my wife likes to remind me of my grey hair that is already, visibly clear on my beard, and even if you look closely… coming in on my forehead. And it’s true, outwardly we are wasting away… but inwardly, in our soul, the part that is forever, we are being renewed day by day. This word renewed meaning: 1. New strength and vigor. And also 2. to be changed into a new kind of life as opposed to the former corrupt state

So, we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. Goes on to say

17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. And here’s the key… 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Here’s the point. in the midst of suffering, and hardship and difficulty, we fix our eyes not on what we can see around us… but on things above.

Colossians 3:1-4 tells us: 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your heartson things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Here’s the question… what has your attention this morning? What has your heart? What are your eyes looking at?

You see I’m reminded of a story I came across this week. It explains that Researchers have now identified some of the common mental processes that mark out elite athletes. And one of the most intriguing aspects identified is the “quiet eye.” The quiet eye is a kind of enhanced visual perception that allows athletes to eliminate any distractions as they plan their next move.

Intriguingly, “quiet eye” appears to be particularly important at times of stress, preventing the athlete from “choking” at moments of high pressure. It may even lead to the mysterious “flow state.” The same laser-sharp focus can help doctors maintain their focus as they perform surgery, and it is of increasing interest to the military.

Kinesiologist Dr. Joan Vickers began to suspect the secret of extraordinary performance lay in the way that elite athletes see the world. She hooked a group of professional golfers up to a device that precisely monitored their eye movements as they putted. She found an intriguing correlation: the better the player, the longer and steadier their gaze on the ball just before, and then during, their strike. Novices, by contrast, tended to shift their focus between different areas of the scene for shorter periods of time.

The general idea is this…. that you should “keep your eye on the ball”

Church, for these golfers, and pro-sport players, they have a quiet eye. They have a keen ability to focus in on their target… what about us this morning? What are we looking to?

Hebrews 12:1-3 tells us: 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Call the worship team up at this time.

Talk to you if you’re struggling.

In a season of life… Drought spiritually…

Maybe hurt…

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