2 Corinthians 4:1-18 “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self[d] is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
This last Sunday, Pastor Obie continued in our church sermon series through the Pauline Epistle of 2 Corinthians. He opened with the biblical story of David and Goliath, found in 1 Samuel chapter 17. The entire Israelite army feared the Philistine giant warrior, but young David stepped forward to take him on in battle. Why? Because David viewed the problem of Goliath through a different perspective. When the army of Israel looked up at the giant problem, David looked down at Goliath and saw a giant opportunity. Look how big this Philistine is, so how can I miss hitting such an easy target and take him down. David looked at the problem from the perspective of victory and thought “my God has already defeated him and will deliver him over into my hand”. The dangerous issue was there, but the difference was the perspective that the problem was viewed from. In our lives, we are going to face problems, and some of them will be giant problems. What will make all the difference in the world is viewing the problem with the proper perspective. Your prospective matters.
Problems in life will come, but do not lose heart. The Apostle Paul’s Christian church planted in Corinth was proof that he was legitimately sent by God for ministering the Gospel to the people of Corinth and since he has received the mercy of God and has a ministry established there, they do not lose heart. He repeated the phrase “we do not lose heart” in verse 16. In the Greek, the word for the term “lose heart” (or faint not – KJV) is “ekkakeō”, which means to be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted; to lose courage, wilt, wane, languish or faint and carries the idea of a physical, emotional or psychological depletion that leads to one giving up or giving into evil deeds. So, the phrase “do not lose heart” can be better translated as “do not grow weary in doing good”. Through the troubles and trials that you face in life, do not grow weary in doing the godly “right” thing.
In 2 Corinthians 4:2 the Apostle says, “But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word.” False teachers of the Word of God were handling Holy Scripture in a disgraceful way; professional traveling orators peddling false teachings of prosperity for reputation and profit for speaking. The Apostle was explaining that he was not proclaiming was not themselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord. The truth is this: there will be hard times in a Christians life. In John 16:33 Jesus told us, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” In this Christian life, a child of God will face troubles and hardships. Following Jesus is not a guarantee that you are going to avoid of pain and problems, but believing and following the Lord will give you the strength to endure through whatever trouble and hardship that may come, and be able to get through it to the other side or it with a deeper heart of praise and faith for Him. James 1:12 states, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.”
Let's continue Pastor Obie's message on the proper perspective in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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