This is from Mark Finley after his hospitalization
for a 2nd time this year from serious injuries.
"Paul gives us four lessons to remember when we're going through suffering or pain.
Now, you may not be going through any suffering or pain right now, but I'll tell you sometime you most likely you will.
We don't get out of this life without going through some suffering, some pain, some heartache.
There are four great principles that Paul gives in 2 Corinthians 4.
There are four great principles that Paul gives in 2 Corinthians 4.
1- We start with verse 7. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of
us. So Paul says this treasure of Christ, this treasure of Jesus that we have is in earthen vessels.
The first thing for us to remember is this -- that in this life, our bodies are fragile. We're always just a few moments away from some accident. We're a few moments away from some sickness, some disease that can afflict our bodies.
The first thing for us to remember is this -- that in this life, our bodies are fragile. We're always just a few moments away from some accident. We're a few moments away from some sickness, some disease that can afflict our bodies.
Q: And so, what does that do?
A: It keeps us from being arrogant. It keeps us from being proud.
2- The second point that Paul makes here is that he says in verse 8 of 2 Corinthians 4, we are hard pressed on every side yet not
crushed. We are perplexed but not in despair. Those are amazing verses. Paul says all this stuff is happening to us. We're pressed down
on every side.
So, you may be confused with what's happening to you right now.
Why? Why? Why? But notice what God says here. Paul says, "We are perplexed, but we are not in despair."
on every side.
So, you may be confused with what's happening to you right now.
Why? Why? Why? But notice what God says here. Paul says, "We are perplexed, but we are not in despair."
Q: Why not?
A: Because we know that Christ is with us.
3- But notice the third principle. When we feel pressed on every side,
when we feel perplexed, notice verse 10, third principle, always
carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may be manifest in our body.
carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may be manifest in our body.
When we go through pain and suffering and we can be powerful witnesses for Christ and share His grace with others, then the life of
Christ is manifest in our suffering.
4- But there's one last point that Paul makes that I think is the most
powerful. He says here he talks about the fact that death works in all of us. But then he points beyond that to this incredible hope. And I think this is what what we can hang our hang on to verses 16 to 18 in 2 Corinthians 4. Therefore, we do not lose heart. We don't lose heart in suffering. We don't lose heart in sickness. We don't lose heart in pain.
Christ is manifest in our suffering.
4- But there's one last point that Paul makes that I think is the most
Q: Why not?
A:Therefore, we don't lose heart even though our outward man is perishing. But he goes on, it gets better. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
So Paul is saying whatever affliction you have,
it's just for a moment in the light of eternity.
It's for a moment.
Look beyond your pain. Look beyond your heartache. Keep your eyes fixed on eternity.
Keep your eyes fixed on the fact that Jesus Christ will come again." Mark Finley