Shining in Darkness
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Introduction
Introduction
How many of you know who this man is?
Breaking news: Benny Hinn says that he renounces the “prosperity gospel”
“Televangelist Benny Hinn has admitted his teachings on prosperity “got out of hand” and “damaged a lot of people” and said he wants the remaining years of his ministry to focus on evangelism and the Gospel — not the “health and wealth” theology that made him millions.”
What is the prosperity gospel?
The false idea that if you give your life to God and serve Him, he will make you rich and wealthy and prosperous.
You have these prosperity gospel preachers that say, “send me all your money, and God will bless you in return with wealth!”
That’s convenient for them isn’t it? They get rich and everyone else gets poorer but they say, “look at me, I’m wealthy, so it must be true!”
It seems that at least a some point, the Christians in Corinth bought into this idea that if you were really with God, then you would be well off.
When you accept Jesus, you won’t have suffering.
This is something people still believe today. Many ask, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”
The reasoning/assumption is, if you’re a good person, shouldn’t God reward you with good things?
We’re going to look at a passage in Scripture today that shows us how the true gospel gives us so much more hope than any false, prosperity gospel ever could.
By the way, Benny Hinn is still preaching the prosperity gospel
When you accept Jesus, you won’t have suffering.
This is something people still believe today. Many ask, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”
The reasoning/assumption is, if you’re a good person, shouldn’t God reward you with good things?
We’re going to look at a passage in Scripture today that shows us how the true gospel gives us so much more hope than any false, prosperity gospel ever could.
We are going to see how, contrary to he popular prosperity gospel, trials and persecution do not mean that God has forsaken you, but rather persecution proves the purposes of providence
Pray
Pray
Main Passage
Main Passage
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.
We see light, shining into our hearts, and shining out of darkness.
What is this light?
What is this light?
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
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.
:
The light is the gospel
What is the gospel?
Gospel - “euangellion”
Compound word - 2 in 1
Eu = good + angellion = message
3 angel’s message
What is the good news message about?
The good news is about the glory of Christ, who is in the image of God.
What is the glory of Christ?
and 34 tell us the story of when Moses asked God to show him His glory, and when God did, Moses described His character!
The good news is about the character of Jesus. The gospel is about who God is.
As you come to know who God is, the light of His goodness shines into your heart, changing you from the inside out.
Satan wants to keep people in darkness by preventing them from having the light.
Background
Background
His opponents were undermining his work, claiming that his suffering proved he was not a true apostle.
2 Corinthians 11:24–28 NKJV24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
Paul was known for being poor, humble, and suffering.
Paul responds that his suffering highlights or proves his dependence on Christ.
The Corinthian believers were exposed to other more “successful” leaders that were not humble, poor, and suffering like Paul was known for.
It seems that at least some of the Christians in Corinth believed in a sort of prosperity gospel.
What is the prosperity gospel?
The false idea that if you give your life to God and serve Him, he will make you rich and wealthy and prosperous.
You have these prosperity gospel preachers that say, “send me all your money, and God will bless you in return with wealth!”
That’s convenient for them isn’t it? They get rich and everyone else gets poorer but they say, “look at me, I’m wealthy, so it must be true!”
It seems that at least at some point, the Christians in Corinth bought into this idea that if you were really with God, then you would be well off.
When you accept Jesus, you won’t have suffering.
This is something people still believe today. Many ask, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”
The reasoning/assumption is, if you’re a good person, shouldn’t God reward you with good things?
They were exposed to other leaders that were well off, were great public speakers, and then they looked at Paul, and something didn’t add up.
They would compare these other leaders with Paul and there was a big difference. Was Paul wealthy and rich?
No. Paul was humble and simple and besides that, his life was filled with trials and hardship!
Paul was known for being poor, humble, and suffering.
To make matters worse, Paul’s opponents were undermining his work, claiming that Paul’s suffering proved he was not a true apostle.
They would say, “Look at Paul, what a mess! How can anyone believe that he is really an apostle! Clearly God has forsaken him.”
So how does Paul respond to these accusations?
Did Paul deny that his life had trials? No, instead he confirmed it did!
What kind of trials did he have? We don’t have to guess because he tells us directly.
From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—
besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
We see this idea that there were people who were opposed to Paul’s ministry that were trying to discredit him.
Letter of recommendation/references
As a pastor I get asked to fill out letters of recommendations or reference forms a lot.
Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you?
You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men;
clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.
We see this idea that there were people who were opposed to Paul’s ministry that were trying to discredit him.
We see this idea that there were people who were opposed to Paul’s ministry that were trying to discredit him.
Letter of recommendation/references
As a pastor I get asked to fill out letters of recommendations or reference forms a lot.
Paul is saying, I don’t need a letter of recommendation, I started this church (Acts 18).
We see this idea that there were people who were opposed to Paul’s ministry that were trying to discredit him.Letter of recommendation/referencesAs a pastor I get asked to fill out letters of recommendations or reference forms a lot.Paul is saying, I don’t need a letter of recommendation, I started this church ().I’m the one who taught you everything you know about Jesus. I brought you into the faith.You want a recommendation? Look in the mirror.
I’m the one who taught you everything you know about Jesus.
I brought you into the faith.
You want a recommendation? Look in the mirror.
Observe the Facts in
His opponents claimed that his suffering proved he was not a true apostle, but rather that he was forsaken by God.
Paul responds that his suffering highlights and proves his dependence on Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—
always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
When Paul said, “We are troubled on every side,” did he know what he was talking about?
Troubled on every side, perplexed, persecuted, and cast down.
Would you rather follow someone who is poor and always going through problems, or would you rather follow someone who is seemingly successful, wealthy, and has their act together?
The Corinthians were tempted to believe these false teachers that were saying that Paul was not truly on God’s side.
But Paul responds in chapter 4, and he is basically saying:
My life may be filled with challenges, trials, adventure, but that doesn’t mean God has forsaken me! It means that God has chosen to use hardships in my life as an opportunity to attract others to Him! Instead of proving that I am forsaken, my hardships actually prove the exact opposite, that I am being used by God!
Paul was essentially saying this: To suffer for Christ is not shameful. To suffer for Christ is an honor, it is a privilege.
persecution proves the purposes of providence
A complete flip in perspective.
If you have Jesus and if you have mission, Satan’s attacks fuel the fire instead of quench the flame.
What would hold you back pushes you forward.
2 Purposes of Trials
2 Purposes of Trials
1. Trials Grow Character
1. Trials Grow Character
Trials help you not be lukewarm.
You either go hot or cold.
Trials will either make you bitter, or they will make you better.
You either run away from God or you run to Him.
I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
Trials are God’s cure for Laodicea
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
2 Purposes of Trials
2. Trials Reveal Character
2. Trials Reveal Character
Trials Grow Character
Trials Reveal Character
always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
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.
Word Study
Word Study
What would hold you back pushes you forward.
Paul responds that his suffering highlights and proves his dependence on Christ.
Trials help you not be lukewarm.
phanerao -> phaino -> phows
You either go hot or cold.
1 Corinthians - Uniting with each other
Trials will either make you bitter, or they will make you better.
2 Corinthians - Uniting with him in his ministry
You either run away from God or you run to Him.
Literally means to shine forth
Subjunctive = potential
Literally neans
“that the life of Jesus might shine forth”
1. Trials Grow Character
1. Trials Grow Character
Trials Reveal what’s inside!
Trials reveal your character.
When you’re going through a difficult time, that’s when your true character really shines, whether good or bad!
It’s revealing isn’t it?
When you have Jesus in your heart, when the light of the gospel has shone in your heart, then trials reveal Jesus!
2 Purposes of Trials
Trials Grow Character
Trials Reveal Character
persecution proves the purposes of providence
persecution proves the purposes of providence
When you choose to let the light of the gospel shine into your heart, the persecution that the enemy brings into your life becomes repurposed for good.
Trials are God’s cure for Laodicea
Maybe the enemy has been persecuting you.
- Finances
- Family
Instead of proving you are forsaken, it can prove the purpose of providence in your life!
- Health (Mentally, Physically, Emotionally or otherwise)
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
- Faith
Ministry of Healing The Discipline of Trial
It is because God is leading them that these things come upon them. Trials and obstacles are the Lord’s chosen methods of discipline and His appointed conditions of success. He who reads the hearts of men knows their characters better than they themselves know them. He sees that some have powers and susceptibilities which, rightly directed, might be used in the advancement of His work. In His providence He brings these persons into different positions and varied circumstances that they may discover in their character the defects which have been concealed from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunity to correct these defects and to fit themselves for His service. Often He permits the fires of affliction to assail them that they may be purified.
The fact that we are called upon to endure trial shows that the Lord Jesus sees in us something precious which He desires to develop. If He saw in us nothing whereby He might glorify His name, He would not spend time in refining us. He does not cast worthless stones into His furnace. It is valuable ore that He refines. The blacksmith puts the iron and steel into the fire that he may know what manner of metal they are. The Lord allows His chosen ones to be placed in the furnace of affliction to prove what temper they are of and whether they can be fashioned for His work.
When you choose to let the light of the gospel shine into your heart, the persecution that the enemy brings into your life becomes repurposed for good. Instead of proving you are forsaken, it can prove the purpose of providence in your life!
“You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.”.
God’s Creative Power
God’s Creative Power
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.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
Genesis 1:1-3
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm
Purpose Statements
Purpose Statements
Did you find any purpose statements?“hina” - that, so that, in order that. (not pronoun)
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.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
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.
KJV 19007 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
KJV 190010 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
Trials Reveal Character
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
- Finances
- Family
- Health (Mentally, Physically, Emotionally or otherwise)
- Faith
Ministry of Healing The Discipline of Trial
It is because God is leading them that these things come upon them. Trials and obstacles are the Lord’s chosen methods of discipline and His appointed conditions of success. He who reads the hearts of men knows their characters better than they themselves know them. He sees that some have powers and susceptibilities which, rightly directed, might be used in the advancement of His work. In His providence He brings these persons into different positions and varied circumstances that they may discover in their character the defects which have been concealed from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunity to correct these defects and to fit themselves for His service. Often He permits the fires of affliction to assail them that they may be purified.
The fact that we are called upon to endure trial shows that the Lord Jesus sees in us something precious which He desires to develop. If He saw in us nothing whereby He might glorify His name, He would not spend time in refining us. He does not cast worthless stones into His furnace. It is valuable ore that He refines. The blacksmith puts the iron and steel into the fire that he may know what manner of metal they are. The Lord allows His chosen ones to be placed in the furnace of affliction to prove what temper they are of and whether they can be fashioned for His work.
Acts of the Apostles Chapter 51—A Faithful Under-Shepherd
Trial is part of the education given in the school of Christ, to purify God’s children from the dross of earthliness. It is because God is leading His children that trying experiences come to them. Trials and obstacles are His chosen methods of discipline, and His appointed conditions of success. He who reads the hearts of men knows their weaknesses better than they themselves can know them. He sees that some have qualifications which, if rightly directed, could be used in the advancement of His work. In His providence He brings these souls into different positions and varied circumstances, that they may discover the defects that are concealed from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunity to overcome these defects and to fit themselves for service. Often He permits the fires of affliction to burn, that they may be purified.
Appeal
Appeal
Maybe the enemy has been persecuting you.
- Finances
- Family
- Health (Mentally, Physically, Emotionally or otherwise)
- Faith
How many of you want to say, “help le to be encouraged, strengthened t trials”
How many of you want to say, “help me to be encouraged, strengthened through trials”
Help me to see your providential purpose in the midst of my pain.
Allow the trials in my life grow my character to be more like you, and let the trials in my life be used as a tool to reveal Christ in me.