Jonathan Falwell
2 Cor. 4:7-18 (NKJV) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—10always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12So then death is working in us, but life in you. 13And 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, 14knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 16Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18while 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.
Lessons we need to learn
1. We are fragile, He is not
Vs 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us
Vs 7 (NLT) We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
- We spend a great deal of time concerned over the state of the “vessels” when it is what’s inside that makes all the difference
- Our bodies begin to die the moment we take our first breath
- Hudson Taylor once said, “All God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on Him being with them.”[1]
2. Our tough days are actually our best days
Vss 8-12 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—10always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12So then death is working in us, but life in you.
- Notice the contrasts presented in this passage:
- “hard pressed…yet not crushed”
- “perplexed, but not in despair”
- “persecuted, but not forsaken”
- “struck down, but not destroyed”
- This is a picture of how God takes us THROUGH our most difficult circumstances
Vss 11-12 (NLT) Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. 12So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.
- 1:21 For me to live is Christ, to die is gain
3. Our trials are the best preachers we know
Vss 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, 14knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
- How we respond to the pain we experience has a direct impact on our ability to shine the light of the Gospel
- Understanding we have nothing to lose and everything to gain dramatically changes our perspective in life
Psalm 116:3 (NKJV) The pains of death surrounded me, And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow.
Psalm 116:15 (NKJV) Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints.
4. Our pain is the greatest evidence of our gain
Vss 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. 17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18while 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.
- Again, Paul reflects back to the “jars of clay” reference from earlier in this passage –
“outward…is perishing – inward…is being renewed day by day” - Simon Kistemaker said, “We hold the gospel as it were in clay jars to exhibit the phenomenal power of God, so that everyone may see that not we but God is its source.”[2]
- Our view of the eternal changes everything
Vs 18 (NLT) So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
Action:
1. Quit complaining, start praising
2. Pray that God will teach you how to leverage your pain
3. Keep eyes fixed on the main thing, not today’s thing
[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 642.
[2] Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (2002). New Testament commentary set. Baker Academic.