2 Corinthians 4:13-18

So, I really think it’s a God thing that we’re looking at 2 Corinthians 4:13-18 tonight right after our brother, Bitrus, has shared about the persecution going on in Nigeria.

We hear this and, I think sometimes we ask, “How on earth do they keep going? How do they stay faithful and persevere?” And, look, even though you and I aren’t facing the level of persecution our brothers and sisters in Nigeria are, we do face trials and troubles that, if we’re being honest, sometimes makes us doubt. Makes our faith grow weak and ask ourselves, “Is it really worth it?”

Remember what we talked about last week. Paul’s apostolic authority is coming under attack from this group that called themselves the “super apostles.” They are trying to discredit him. One of the things they were attacking Paul over was the fact that he suffered.

Last week—we are jars of clay/fragile vessels. God uses ordinary means to manifest/display His glory.

2 Corinthians 4:13–18 ESV

Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

So, what is it that keeps Paul faithful? What is it that keeps us faithful to Jesus and to the gospel mission through our trials and troubles?

Confident Hope

(vv. 13-14)

“We”—Paul is talking about himself and his co-laborers.

We have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written…

He quotes Psalm 116—the Psalm we read at the very beginning tonight.

As we saw, the Psalmist is writing from a place of suffering. And, yet, he is confident in the Lord. His circumstances are terrible but His faith is a confident hope in the goodness of the Lord.

Paul’s CONFIDENT HOPE:

In the Gospel

In the resurrection of the dead

Conduit of Grace

(vs. 15)

Paul believes that his suffering is somehow playing a role in the glory of God.

As he is traveling from city to city and church to church he is doing so for the purpose of encouraging and building up the believers.

He’s saying, “If me suffering is what it takes for you to experience the blessing of God…so be it.”

Courage and Conviction

(vv. 15-18)