September 29, 2024
Evening Service

In chapter 3, Paul affirmed the church in Corinth by saying “you are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men.  Written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets, but on your hearts.”  The church was living out the gospel message and that speaks louder than any words on a page ever could.  They, and we, are blessed to have the veil taken away from our eyes much like we talked about this morning of being spiritually blind, but now receiving our sight through Jesus.  Chapter 4 begins with the word “therefore” that points back to the last verse of chapter 3.

2Co 3:17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  (18)  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

            Paul tells us that since we can now see, we are able to let the Spirit work in us to “transform” us into the image of Christ.  Let’s begin chapter 4 and we see again Paul defending his ministry to the church.

 

2Co 4:1-6Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.  (2)  But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.  (3)  But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, (4) 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.  (5)  For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake.  (6)  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.

·        Paul throughout the letter is justifying his ministry because he has been questioned by many in Corinth of the authority he holds.  Christian ministry can be a very thankless work as often it seems that no matter what or how you do something you can’t make everyone happy.  Paul however, does not lose heart as he clings to the marvelous, miraculous way God has called and qualified him to do his work.  He is assured that his ministry, though under scrutiny, is doing the right things the right ways.  He goes on to explain that.

·        He has no hidden agenda as the false teachers do.  They use tools of enticement, craftiness, and trickery to make their teaching appear to be the work of God but they seek to deceive those who listen to them.  They want to hide the truth from them rather than help them understand it.  Paul has no agenda, but to faithfully teach what is true.

·        Paul manifests the truth as “commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”  This commending of man’s conscience is done in two ways.

o    First in teaching that is clear, plain and understandable all aligning with the true will of God.  We are blessed in that we have the written Word of God to determine the truth using our Bible as a filter to expose false teaching for what it is. 

o   Secondly, Paul does this through his ministry by living out what is preached.  By the act of obeying and allowing the Spirit to transform him, Paul was true to his own conscience fully believing so that his faith guided both his words and his actions (creating a powerful ministry).

o   “Imitate me just as I also imitate Christ” (I Cor. 11:1)-Watch me and I will model what it means to follow Jesus.

·        Those who choose not believe him are not of God, but are perishing because of their spiritual blindness brought upon them by the “god of this age;” our enemy Satan himself.  He is the one who blinds from seeing the light of the gospel and deceives them to be content to live in the darkness.

·        Paul declares; “we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.”  His ministry is not about him, but is all about Jesus and serving those he ministers to.  This is the ministry of light that the he preaches sharing the “knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”  It is all about Jesus.

·        These are great guidelines for us to follow as we establish a ministry in at the Bride.  We must keep the focus on Jesus and teaching the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.  We cannot get caught up in entertaining those who attend, but focus on pointing them to Jesus who is able to save their souls from the second death.  We do not teach the pleasant things they want to hear, but the truth that is able to change their lives.

·        Paul now has an awesome description of the hardships he has encountered and the deliverance that has come from the Lord.

 

2Co 4:7-12 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.  (8)  We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; (9) persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— (10) always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  (11)  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.  (12)  So then death is working in us, but life in you.

·        Paul tells us that God has given us this treasure of eternal life while we are in these “earthen vessels” (weak and fragile bodies) so that He can receive the glory for it.  It is not for us that deserves worship, but Christ within us.  An example of this would be for a casket to receive praise more than the treasure it holds or a frame getting glory more than the picture contained within.  The struggles he has endured are not for his glory, but for the glory of God; his weakness shows God’s strength!  I love how he shares his struggles and each of us can identify with what he is saying here.

·        (Read verse 8-9) We so often feel we are pushed to the max and stand only a step from falling off the edge of the cliff, but God stops us just short of plunging to our death (hard-pressed but not crushed). 

o   Have you been there? 

o   Was God faithful in that moment?

·        These struggles, whether physical or spiritual, remind us that we are weak, but He is strong.  We die to ourselves daily to live in Him.  Death works within us as Paul shows us to bring us true life.  In his is preaching this gospel to the church at Corinth it is not for the purpose of personal gain or fame.  He faces death and persecution to share the message of life with them because he is called to do it.  Jesus died for our sins, but Paul suffered to bring us that message.

·        Paul encourages them (and us) to be thankful for this suffering.

 

 

 

2Co 4:13-15 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I BELIEVED AND THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe and therefore speak, (14) knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.  (15)  For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

·        Paul here quotes Psalms 116:10 proclaiming that we have the same spirit of faith as the psalmist in believing and therefore speaking.  He has no choice, due to his calling, but to preach the gospel message despite all the hardship he has to endure to accomplish his call.  This should cause all of us to be thankful and bring glory to God for the sacrifice and suffering of those who have carried the faith from generation to generation.  They have brought glory to God and blessed many including us.  We too must not lose heart to hand it to the next generation regardless of the cost.

·        Paul declares he does not lose heart, but keeps fighting the battle keeping the proper perspective as he continues to minister.

 

2Co 4:16-18   Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  (17)  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, (18) while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

·        Though his body is weak and dying, the “inward man is renewed day by day.”  The eternal reward that lies ahead is far greater than the “light affliction which is but for a moment.”

·        Notice his focus in verse 18 (Read).

·        We all naturally focus upon the things in our lives that are physical; our health, our environment and our well-being as we must.  But we must realize these bodies are but a temporary vessel as one day this mortal will put on immortality and this imperfect sinner will put on perfection and live forever in a home He is preparing for us.  Keep your eyes on the horizon and place your desires on our home to come, not this temporary one.

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the proper perspective of the world we live in.  Instill within us to not focus on the temporary, but the eternal.