Second Corinthians 4 Part 5 God's Good Purposes For Us Worked Out By Afflictions

2 Corinthians 4:7-10  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. 

God's Spirit guided the apostle Paul to teach us a lot about suffering for Christ. He helps us remember that we carry the gospel like treasure placed in a clay pot.

God knows our strengths, our tendencies and our weaknesses. We must learn this lesson because our flesh will battle against our new man in Christ.

We must endure and be persistent in choosing to live according to the gospel of Christ, and tell others about Jesus when we have opportunities.

Suffering goes along with service for Christ. Hardship accompanies pursuit of holiness. God ordered it this way so that we live by faith and that no flesh can glory in His presence.

Salvation, spiritual growth and maturity, faithfulness in loving and serving God are all the mighty work of God's Spirit in us.

Under threat of persecution and death from those who are unsaved. 

2 Corinthians 4:11-12  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. 12)  So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 

Christ's apostles lived under the constant threat of persecution and death. Many Christians today in certain nations also live under a severe threat of persecution and death.

The manner in which America is falling into moral decay and depravity may mean that one day, Christians here will also live under a constant threat of persecution or death.

There is an ongoing battle between believers in Christ and unbelievers.

Galatians 4:28-29  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29)  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 

Yet, none of us are surprised by these things. The Bible contains a very detailed record of unsaved people persecuting and hating the redeemed people of God.

Paul gives this truth as a principle that we must be well aware of. 

Those who are born after the flesh, those who are dead in trespass and sins, will persecute those who have been born or regenerated by the Spirit of God.

This relentless persecution of those who put their faith in God began right after Adam and Eve chose to sin and disobey God's command. 

Eve's son named Cain rose up and murdered Abel his brother. This is a graphic picture of the world hating believers in Christ.

Cain's downfall was that he brought an offering to God that was rejected because it did not meet the requirement God gave for sacrifice.

Abel brought a lamb from his flock and killed it, applying its blood as God told him to do and his offering was accepted.

Jesus warned us that this is what we will face when we follow Him.

John 15:18-21  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19)  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20)  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21)  But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. 

Jesus taught us that the world is going to hate Christians because it hated Him. If we were just like the world in our thoughts, words and actions, then the world would love us.

Take note: Much church ministry today has been patterned after a marketing model. 

This is how the world's ungodly music entered Christ's church.

This is how people make professions of faith in Christ but their lifestyle remains unchanged.

Thus, many churches today look and sound and act like the world does, and they are accepted by large numbers of people.

Each believer in Christ is not greater than our Master. Jesus suffered many things for our sakes, and we will suffer many things for His sake.

In all cases, suffering precedes glory.

We face internal battles between our new man and our old man.

Galatians 5:16-17  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17)  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 

Paul refers to the sin nature we inherit from Adam as our "old man" and God guided Paul to consistently show us the old man ways that we must put off or discard. 

Therefore, we face external hatred from the world and we face our own internal struggles. 

Resurrection hope shapes us into usable servants for Christ our Master.

2 Corinthians 4:13-14  We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 14)  Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 

Faith keeps us from fainting. We have the same spirit of faith which is the operation of the Spirit. We have the same faith by which the saints of old were mightily used of God and who suffered many things. 

The grace of faith is a sovereign, effectual antidote against fainting in troublous times. The spirit of faith in Christ will bear up our new man in Christ from our infirmities. 

We have King David's example to imitate, who said (See Psalm 116:10), I have believed, and therefore have I spoken, so he leaves us his example to imitate 

We also believe the gospel and the scriptures, and therefore we speak its truth to those who do not know God. 

As we receive help and encouragement from the good examples of others, so we should be careful to maintain a good example for others to follow.

Resurrection hope keeps us from sinking such that we cannot love and serve God as we ought. 

The apostles knew that Christ was raised, and that His resurrection was an earnest assurance of their future resurrection. 

Paul expounded about the glories of resurrection power in First Corinthians 15. This is where our hope must be firmly attached and well grounded. Our Father who raised up Christ will also raise up all believers in Christ. 

Resurrection hope will encourage us during times of suffering and it will remove the fear of death. 

We have no reason to fear death because Christ's resurrection certifies that we will be raised up (See John 5:24-29).

Paul and the apostles gladly suffered for the sake of the gospel.

2 Corinthians 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 

All the things that Paul has been helping the churches see about suffering are things that he experienced during his ministry.

As we suffer God sends His grace to sustain us and to help our eyes be riveted upon our Lord Jesus Christ. 

When Paul suffered for the cause of Christ he also experienced more of God's grace in his life that he did prior to his afflictions. 

Thus the apostle and many Christians since then, can testify that one benefit of suffering is knowing God's beautiful grace.

Suffering now cannot compare to glory we will receive later.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17)  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

We have every one of us an outward and an inward man, a body and a soul.  If our body perish, there is no remedy and we know that it was made to perish. 

We are blessed if the inevitable aging process of our body helps us seek renewal of our inner man. 

External afflictions such as when our body is sick or weak, can make our soul vigorous and prosperous. Each of us has a need to have our new man in Christ renewed every day. 

Since our afflictions are overruled for the good of others, and the glory of God, we are not discouraged by them. 

Our spirit does not sink under the weight of them. We do not cease from the work of the ministry because of them, but we proceed cheerfully.

Our outward circumstances are often very difficult and we often are distressed through hunger, thirst, nakedness, or lack of the basic necessities of life. 

As we age, our bodies wear out with fatigue, labour, and sorrow and our earthly tabernacle may totter at times.

Yet, our inner man is renewed continuously. Our new man in Christ is in good health and the work of God is carried on in us. 

We enjoy sweet and repeated experiences of the love of God as we grow in His grace, and the knowledge of Christ. 

We are in some degree similar to the children of Israel in Egypt, where the more they were afflicted the more they grew.

Such is the beauty and efficacy of God's grace toward us when we suffer or are afflicted.

Our affliction is represented as "light" which though it is often very grievous and heavy to be borne. 

Yet is light when the saint is supported by the arm of the Lord, indulged with His presence, and favoured with the discoveries of His love. 

The afflictions of God's people are light, when compared with wandering in the desert or with the sufferings of Christ. 

The joys of heaven are a weight of glory in us and to us that exceeds any temporal affliction. 

Affliction is a common experience for believers in Christ and they are designed by our Father for our eternal good and spiritual growth.

Afflictions last for a little while, at most for the present time of life. They are like a morning fog which appears for a little while, and then vanishes away.   

The good work that God began at our conversion to Christ continues.

Philippians 1:6-7  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7)  Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. 

The good work that God began to do in us the moment of our conversion to Christ, is going to continue until He calls us home.  

With wicked men things grow worse and worse every day but in the life of a born again Christian things incrementally grow better and better.

Paul was in a Roman prison when he wrote to the Philippians, yet his letter is filled with rejoicing over what God is doing. 

God's grace was sufficient when Paul was in a jail at Philippi. 

Acts 16:25-34  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26)  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 27)  And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28)  But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29)  Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30)  And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31)  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32)  And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33)  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34)  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. 

His hope was in the LORD (as ours must be) and he knew that the gospel was being preached even while he was in a jail cell.

God gave Paul much grace while he was in chains in prison. We saw this early in Paul's ministry when he first preached the gospel at Philippi and was arrested and put into jail.

He and Silas sang praises to God and an earthquake opened the prison doors and their shackles fell off.

Yet, Paul made sure that all the prisoners stayed in place and did not flee. 

When the jailer came in, he was ready to commit suicide because he thought they had run away.

The jailer was so moved by Paul's leadership with the other prisoners, that he released Paul and Silas, treated their wounds and asked "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

That man and his family were born again as additional proof of God's grace being manifested during Paul's affliction.

It is by faith that we see God, who is invisible (See Hebrews 11:27). 

It is by faith we look to an unseen heaven because faith is the evidence of things not seen. 

There are unseen things, as well as things that are seen. There is this vast difference between them: unseen things are eternal, seen things are temporary only. 

We discern these things and the great difference between them. By faith we set our attention and focus upon unseen things. 

By faith we hope to receive future good things that are unseen yet very real, and certain, and eternal (See Hebrews 11:1).

Without faith it is impossible to please God (See Hebrews 11:6).

Set our eyes upon the unseen things of God that await us. 

Colossians 3:1-2  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2)  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

Paul is teaching the Corinthians the same truth that he communicated to the church at Colosse. 

If you are born again then seek the eternal things of God which are above where Jesus Christ is enthroned in heaven.

If you are born again then set your attention, your focus and your keenest desire upon heavenly things.

Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

We must learn to do as Jesus commanded. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God" because our Father knows all of our needs and every burden that we bear. He will supply our needs (See Philippians 4:9; 13).

Bob