Wounded-Week 1

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 NIV

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 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.

Life has troubles

Perseverence is the key

We are blessed when we persevere

James 5:10–11 NIV

Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

We usually have a different set of critera when we consider someone blessed.

James says - we count as blessed those who persevere.

Job’s went through a LOT

When’s the last time we genuinely saw trials as blessing? When’s the last time we could say this?

James 1:2–3 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

This process of learning perseverence is so important, that James says, it’s PURE JOY when you learn it.

Reframe what you value

Do you feel blessed when you have a financial windfall? When things work out your way? When you’re feeling comfortable, or strong, or capable?

The bible says - perseverence is a bigger blessing than any of these things.

Why is perseverence such a big deal?

God teaches us real strength when we need to persevere

Context - another man receiving visions from the Lord - paul receiving a thorn in the side.

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 NIV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Key thing paul says - i’ll boast about that guy’s supernatural revelation. But I’ll only boast about my own weakness.

He’s not being falsely humble. He’s saying - visions are amazing. Know what else is amazing? The power of Jesus Christ resting on your life.

God gave him grace - and that’s supremely powerful

We can minimize grace. (Grace is cool. Know what is cooler? God giving me a nice car)

But in Paul’s weakness, God continues to pour out power to finish the job

Any comfort, any rest, any ‘peace of mind’ you receive from not having to experience trials. It’s nothing compared to seeing the power of God work through your life in the middle of the trials.

Paul says - I’ll be glad for my weaknesses, so that I can see even more of that power in me.

This process of learning to persevere is ridiculously important to our faith, BECAUSE

Perseverence is the path from death by ourselves to life in the Spirit

2 Corinthians 4:7–11 NIV

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 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.

Last week, STOP COMPLAINING LOOK AT SHOES

Paul says - when you follow Jesus. You may be hard pressed - but notice, you’re not crushed. Persecuted, not abandoned. Struck down but not destroyed.

The world and the forces of the enemy may be doing something - but they’re not winning.

Paul says - this mirrors the cross.

The death of jesus seemed like just pain, weakness, brokenness, death. But it was the gateway to REAL life, power, and forgiveness of our sins

When we carry around the pain and weakness and brokenness and death when we serve Jesus - we’re making our own way through the cross.

Because of the resurrection of Christ - we know how that story ends

You can say that today. I may be suffering - but so did Jesus. And look how THAT turned out.

Hebrews 2 calls jesus the ‘pioneer and perfecter of faith’.

He went first, and he nailed it perfectly.

Jesus took the path of suffering - to glory.

And his process is not just a pattern for us - it’s a success story.

We look forward to glory - if we persevere

Romans 8:18 NIV

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Not ‘Glory later is better’. It’s ‘Glory later is SO better, it’s not even worth comparing’.

I had an old grey go-cart.

When i got my first car, I wasn’t thinking, OK, let’s compare against this go-cart. Make sure it’s actually more worthwhile a mode of transportation.

There’s not even a conversation there.

If i wanted my main mode of transportation to be a ramschakle bucket of tape and wire teetering on the edge of falling apart, i’d just go buy a ford.

Jesus says - those people who follow him look forward to paradise.

It’s so amazing, that it’s literally not worth even looking at our sufferings now and saying, ya, but maybe getting out of this here and now is better.

Next week, we’ll talk about HOW to persevere. But I want to encourage you how important it is TO persevere.

God has amazing, amazing things - not just in this life, but in the next as well. So amazing, that it’s not even worth looking at this life to try and compare.

Perseverence can be hard. But when you’re finished - you’ll see how much was actually accomplished.

EXERCISE ROUTINE - 100 lbs. 20 reps = 2000 lbs.

The problem is, in that example, we’re the ones doing the lifting. With perseverence through trial, we’re admitting our weakness, and letting Christ do the heavy lifting instead.

Don’t know about you, but i’m PRETTY sure he can do more than me.

We all want to see God move in power - but we also keep getting in the way to do it ourselves.

Rather than try and avoid all the hard times, we can know that in them - we’ll see God move.

But we need to value those times of perseverence. Not saying, ‘i’m glad I suffered!’, but saying, ‘I’m glad that, whatever happens, i’m learning to persevere - so that I can see the real power of God in my life’.

Hebrews 12:2 “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.”

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

James 1:2–4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

2 Corinthians 1:4 “who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

Romans 8:18 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 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.”

James 5:10–11 “Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”

The BLESSED ones are the ones who endured - not really the ones who never had to to begin with

Psalm 34:19 “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;”

James 1:13–15 “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

Proverbs 24:10 “If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!”

2 Corinthians 4:8–11 “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 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.”

1 Peter 5:8–11 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

2 Corinthians 6:3–10 “We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”

Philippians 3:10–11 “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”