THEN VS. NOW 2 CORINTHIANS 4:14-18
2 CORINTHIANS 4:14-18 14 We know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and present us with you.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:14-18 15 Indeed, everything is for your benefit, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to increase to God s glory.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:14-18 16 Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:14-18 17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:14-18 18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:7-11 7 Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:7-11 8 We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair;
2 CORINTHIANS 4:7-11 9 we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:7-11 10 We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:7-11 11 For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh.
2 CORINTHIANS 11:23-28 23 Are they servants of Christ? I m talking like a madman I m a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, near death many times.
2 CORINTHIANS 11:23-28 24 Five times I received 39 lashes from Jews.
2 CORINTHIANS 11:23-28 25 Three times I was beaten with rods by the Romans. Once I was stoned by my enemies. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea.
2 CORINTHIANS 11:23-28 26 On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the open country, dangers on the sea, and dangers among false brothers;
2 CORINTHIANS 11:23-28 27 labor and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and lacking clothing.
2 CORINTHIANS 11:23-28 28 Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my care for all the churches.
QUESTION: What made it possible for Paul to persist in the face of suffering? Why didn t he give up?
1. DUE TO HOW IT BENEFITED OTHERS
2 CORINTHIANS 4:15 15 Indeed, everything is for your benefit, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to increase to God s glory.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:8-12 8 We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair;
2 CORINTHIANS 4:8-12 9 we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:8-12 10 We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:8-12 11 For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:8-12 12 So death works in us, but life in you.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:8-9 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don t know why things happen as they do, but we don t give up and quit.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:8-9 9 We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:12 12 So death works in us, but life in you.
WHAT WAS THAT FRUIT? Spiritual life was brought to people.
WHAT WAS THAT FRUIT? Spiritual life was brought to people. Growth and maturity of believers.
PHILIPPIANS 1:21-26 21 For me, living is Christ and dying is gain.
PHILIPPIANS 1:21-26 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don t know which one I should choose.
PHILIPPIANS 1:21-26 23 I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ which is far better
PHILIPPIANS 1:21-26 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.
PHILIPPIANS 1:21-26 25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
PHILIPPIANS 1:21-26 26 so that, because of me, your confidence may grow in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.
WHAT WAS THAT FRUIT? Spiritual life was brought to people. Growth and maturity of believers. Confidence that they could endure suffering for Christ.
2. BECAUSE IT BRINGS GLORY TO GOD
2 CORINTHIANS 4:15 15 Indeed, everything is for your benefit, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to increase to God s glory.
ROMANS 15:7-9 7 Therefore accept one another, just as the Messiah also accepted you, to the glory of God.
ROMANS 15:7-9 8 For I say that the Messiah became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God s truth, to confirm the promises to the fathers,
ROMANS 15:7-9 9 and so that Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy.
ROMANS 15:9-11 9 As it is written: Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles, and I will sing psalms to Your name.
ROMANS 15:9-11 10 Again it says: Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people!
ROMANS 15:9-11 11 And again: Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; all the peoples should praise Him!
3. BECAUSE OF HIS PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE
THREE IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVES: a. Spiritual development was taking place through suffering.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:16 16 Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.
ROMANS 8:29 29 For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.
COLOSSIANS 3:9-10 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices
COLOSSIANS 3:9-10 10 and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator.
THREE IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVES: b. Suffering will come to an end.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:14 14 We know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and present us with you.
PHILIPPIANS 3:21 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:14 14 We know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and present us with you.
MALACHI 4:2 2 But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall.
THREE IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVES: c. Suffering for Christ now produces eternal rewards.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18 16 Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18 17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18 18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 CORINTHIANS 11:23-28 23 Are they servants of Christ? I m talking like a madman I m a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, near death many times.
2 CORINTHIANS 11:23-28 24 Five times I received 39 lashes from Jews.
2 CORINTHIANS 11:23-28 25 Three times I was beaten with rods by the Romans. Once I was stoned by my enemies. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea.
2 CORINTHIANS 11:23-28 26 On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the open country, dangers on the sea, and dangers among false brothers;
2 CORINTHIANS 11:23-28 27 labor and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and lacking clothing.
2 CORINTHIANS 11:23-28 28 Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my care for all the churches.
ROMANS 8:18 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
APPLICATION 1. Don t waste your pain on things that won t last.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:18 18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
APPLICATION 1. Don t waste your pain on things that won t last. 2. Live with eternity in mind.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:18 18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.