New World (3)

I

I grew up in the church

Growing up, I believed in Jesus. I believed I was saved, made new, all that stuff. But I had a really hard time finding Joy, Peace, and REST. In that. I was still working just as hard, feeling just as guilty, and just as inadequate.

I wrestled a lot with anxiety and I was constantly looking for things to make me feel better.

Distractions, books to read, things to keep my mind busy because silence was tough for me.

Y

Trans: I believed in Jesus. I believed I was saved, made new, all that stuff. But I had a really hard time finding Joy, Peace, and REST. In that. I was still working just as hard, feeling just as guilty, and just as inadequate.

I dont think I’m the only one. In fact I know I’m not.

because for every person who seems to be at ease no matter what the circumstance there are five more people who believe they have been made new, who believe in Jesus. But are wracked and hit by those same doubts, those same problems, those same worries, those same troubles, guilt, failures, regrets, and misstep.

People who REALLY believe, that God is good, at work, who are being made new, but for whom things are still so hard. For whom peace seems always out of reach.

We believe we are new, we believe in Jesus but why are things so hard?

What are some of the things that are heavy on your heart. The things that cause you anxiety. The things that prevent you from peace (SLIDE)

Ideas:

Anxiety, about the future, about others, financial things, physical things, emotional things, relational things, pain of others, illness of others, worry about worry, about our faith, about the faith of others

Worry, worry about worry,

Trouble, pain, illness, loss, regret, failures, Work

Doubt

dreams unfulfilled, hopeless hopes,

pain of others, illness of others

trouble at work

Guilt/Regret

Unfilled Hopes and Needs

etc.

What are we supposed to do with that stuff? Most of us try and cover it, ignore it, or solve it

Some people try to Ignore it

How do we live like it?

Grit our teeth

or are we supposed to just pretend everything is good?

Some pretend its not so bad?

Some compare with others “they have it worse.” or “Why cant my life be like theirs!”

look for the next quick fix or greener pasture.

Distract ourselves

walk away?

But at the end these strategies dont work… But what else can we do.

So

G - Where we fix our eyes

TRANS: Fortunately for us. the bible was written by tons of people who knew about *these* things. Its full of their wrestling with these questions. Full of people trying to figure out how to live live in light of the Promises of God and the Realities of daily suffering and struggle. People trying to live new lives in an old painful world.

We have been talking about Paul and how he understood the world through this idea of New Creation. (new prespective, on me, new perspective on others, and new perspectives on the world)

Its full of their

...

Our text today is how he dealt with being new in an old world.

Paul spends much of 2 Corinthians talking about the trouble he has faced and how it doesn’t discount the Gospel that he believes. This comes at the conclusion of a long argument.

The New International Version Chapter 4

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.

Light and Momentary troubles

Paul actually outlines some of them towards the end of 2 Corinthians. Lets take a look.

The New International Version Chapter 11

23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 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.

Here are some of Paul’s “Light and momentary troubles.”

write them up next to ours.

How does Paul do this? How does he keep going? How does he have faith?

When I have one stress or unresolved issue, one setback one worry it sometimes shuts me down. But how does he not lose heart?

Is he Crazy? Is he using drugs? Meditation? Self delusion? Is it some kind of spiritual superpower.

Perhaps he uses some of the strategies we use today? Numbing, self distraction, ignoring the problems, comparing them with others, disengaging?, Perhaps he is just a Resiliant person?

What does he do about this?

…

...

Well according to verse 18

Paul says he, “fixes his eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal.”

How does he keep going?

Paul says its all about where you fix your eyes, your PERSPECTIVE.

What Paul is saying here seems odd

Paul (a man who…) says if you change your reference point, you can change the meaning of your experience.

If I told you that last week I paid someone to spend an hour sticking their fingers in my mouth you might be worried about me until I told you it was the dentist.

If I told you yesterday I spend 2.5 hours in silence with a bunch of people in a giant room staring at a wall you might wonder about me until I told you it was a movie theater.

If I told you tonight I was going to let someone take a detailed 3d scan of my body and let them rifle through my things later today you might be worried until I told you I was flying somewhere.

Perspective is everything.

Where does paul Fix his eyes? What determines his perspective and what can shape ours?

but this isn’t a mental excercise for paul. check out a couple of verses earlier. Paul says he and those like him go through all this stuff...

verse 14 (SLIDE)

“Because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.”

(SLIDE)

Paul puts his life, all this stuff, all his experiences in light, from the perspective of God’s story of a new world.

He puts everything in light of the story of Jesus living, dying, rising again and promising the same for all who follow.

and when you make that your prespective, your refrence point

If your eyes are fixed on this world and its trouble you will never make it long. Only by fixing your eyes on the Resurrection can you be new in an old world.

(SLIDE) Ressurection

For Paul the “ressurection” is the biggest possible perspective shift. IT MAKES HIS WAY OF LIFE POSSIBLE

If you believe like Paul in the Story God is telling about the world, and you belive in the ressurection. EVERYTHING CHANGES.

If death is not the end… Then NO MATTER WHAT life thorws at you the story is not over.

It’s all about where you fix your eyes.

When you fix them on the Resurrection on the NEW WORLD.

Beatings, Shipwrecks, poverty, and hunger BECOME light and momentary troubles.

Daily stresses, worries and inconveniences BECOME opportunities to see God work

The sin, failure, shortfalls, and regrets of your past BECOME a story of God’s love and grace.

Your failures today BECOME marks of tomorrows growth.

Death, pain, and loss in our bodies and the lives of others BECOMES Resurrection, restoration, and new life in the NEW WORLD.

If Paul didn’t believe in the Resurrection. If he didn't believe God was making everything new. If he didn't believe the old world was passing away. There is no reason for hope

It is only when you take your eyes off the now, the daily, and even the lifelong OLD WORLD and place them on the NEW ONCE marked by Resurrection that you have enough perspective.

Only when we fix our eyes on the BIGGER story will will find our deepest losses, greatest fears, and most crippling insecurities becoming Light and Momentary troubles that achieve for us an eternal glory that FAR OUTWEIGHS them all.

Its all about where we FIX our Eyes

Y - Changing our focus - Reference Point.

We have GOT to adopt a new perspective...

It’s not easy

But it doesn't happen on accident and we are prone to lose focus all the time, and have to RE-Fix Our eyes.

Strategies to Re-Fix our eyes - I hope this isn’t too cheesy\

Re-turn to God’s word.

Re-turn to prayer.

Re-connect w/ other believers.

Re-join the community of faith.

Re-member times God worked.

Serve, listen, share with someone.

Re-tell God’s story.

Remember

W

Living like New PEOPLE in the OLD world is hard. we are called to do crazy things

love ENEMIES, Give generously, offer hospitality, forgiveness, love, service. The CALL is not easy.

In our workplaces and lives we are called to put others first. to lay ourselves down for the good of someone else.

reconciliation, forgiveness, trust, humility, dependence

We face trouble all the time . Regular stuff AND a life that is harder because of being new in an old world. The gospel calls us to live in ways that dont make sense in this world. BUT they do make sense in light of the next one.

(SLIDE)

So may we FIX our EYES on what is unseen, because what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is ETERNAL.

lets pray.

OR

Other option

If you are suffering and stuggling right now, know that your “brief and momentairy trials” your prayers and praises in the midst of them.

Reveal God’s glory.

They encourage others.

and they preach the gospel

lets pray togetehr