2 Corinthians 4:12-18: Suffering For The Glory Of God
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
It’s inevitable to see how Paul constantly shows the contrast between suffering and the power of God
He always takes his great suffering into consideration along with the great God he serves
We can and should learn from Paul and how he viewed life
His way of seeing problems and his ministry can be a great encouragement to us
Paul never gave up because he always had the resurrection of Christ in mind and what that meant to the child of God
We should use our lives to preach the gospel because it will all result in God receiving glory
Our Faith Through Suffering v. 13-14
Our Faith Through Suffering v. 13-14
Paul wasn’t referring to a specific spiritual gift of faith
Instead he was referring to the attitude of faith that every believer should have
Paul had nothing to fear
He believed, he spoke, he knew
This is the most important part
He has the same faith as the psalmist
This is the faith that saved the psalmist from his suffering and would also save Paul from his suffering Psalm 116:10
10 I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:
Paul has been rescued from so many trouble that he is able to have faith enough that God will take care of him 2 Corinthians 1:8-10
8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
He is carried from victory to victory 2 Corinthians 2:14
14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
God always gives him the victory when he suffers in the ministry 2 Corinthians 4:7-11
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 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.
The faith that Paul mentions in v. 13 isn’t one of “I declare victory”
It’s a faith that is shared with others
It is preaching the word of God 2 Corinthians 2:17, 4:5
17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
True faith results in a true “knowing” which results in a true “speaking”
Paul wasn’t “hoping” that the resurrection was true
Paul “knew” the resurrection was true
And if the resurrection was true then he could e encouraged about his own resurrection as well as the Corinthians
Paul was able to keep his eyes on eternity because he had faith
Paul had all the confidence in the world
He had nothing to fear in life or in death
2. Our Suffering Impacts Others v. 15
2. Our Suffering Impacts Others v. 15
Paul always saw his suffering in light of the benefit it would bring his brothers in Christ
He always considered that his suffering and service only had value if others could grow from it
Paul is saying that the experiences that brought him death actually brought life to others
False teachers don’t do that
Our suffering is a testimony of our service and faithfulness to the Lord
Paul says that “all things” is because he loves them
His purpose with everything he did was to help his brothers and sisters in Christ
Paul wasn’t “selfish” with his suffering
Paul says that his “speaking” is for the wellbeing of his brothers and sisters
He wants others to see the grace of God in their lives and that they could thank God
What Paul is saying is that if the grace of God abounds then many more will join the worship choir in thanking God
Paul says this many times throughout his epistles Philippians 2:17; Colossians 1:24; Acts 20:20-21
17 Y aunque sea derramado en libación sobre el sacrificio y servicio de vuestra fe, me gozo y regocijo con todos vosotros.
24 Ahora me gozo en lo que padezco por vosotros, y cumplo en mi carne lo que falta de las aflicciones de Cristo por su cuerpo, que es la iglesia;
20 y cómo nada que fuese útil he rehuido de anunciaros y enseñaros, públicamente y por las casas,
21 testificando a judíos y a gentiles acerca del arrepentimiento para con Dios, y de la fe en nuestro Señor Jesucristo.
Paul wants the church to experience God’s grace so that others can be a part of it as well
Paul knows that while the gospel is preached, more people will hear and more people will believe
This means that more people will thank God for what He has done in their lives
All of this results in more glory
3. The Coming Glory v. 16-18
3. The Coming Glory v. 16-18
Paul ends his discourse with “we faint not”
These are the same words that he begins the chapter with 2 Corinthians 4:1
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
There is so much material that we could see only in this passage
We could find a great challenge and encouragement for difficult times only in these few verses
But Paul finishes this chapter speaking of the glory we will see in heaven
Paul’s greatest motivation was seeing the glory of God
He wanted to glorify God with his life and knew that the glory we would see in heaven would be much much greater than his earthly afflictions
Paul takes God’s perspective
He weighs his suffering on God’s scales
He discovers that his suffering is “light” when it’s compared to the weight of glory that God has for us in heaven
His days and years of trials and suffering are absolutely nothing in comparison to an eternity full of glory
We must live with eternal values before us
Life takes on a new meaning when we see things through God’s eyes
We have to continue learning to live by faith and not by sight
We walk by faith and not by sight 2 Corinthians 5:7
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
The things that this world lives and dies for are temporal
But the things of God are always eternal
The child of God recognizes that his body will slowly wear away
But what does that matter when our spirit is renewed daily?
It’s a daily renewal that we can experience in our inner man
If we could just see the world around us as God sees it, we wouldn’t be attracted to the things of this world 1 John 2:15-17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Great men and women of God of the past were only ale to accomplish what they did in life through faith Hebrews 11:13-14
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Paul can put up with afflictions in this life because he has his sights put on the eternal world
It’s obvious that Paul’s suffering wasn’t light or temporary in themselves
They were actually very heavy and difficult to go through
But when they are compared to the weight of an eternal glory, there was no comparison
Where is our perspective?
How do we view life?
Are we truly living a life of faith in God?
Are we concerned with reaching others with the gospel?
Do we have our eyes placed on Jesus and on heaven?
When we see things through this lens, our earthly life has meaning
We can live, serve and suffer all for the glory of God