June 21, 2015
Evening Service

In chapter 3 Paul reminded us that our lives are to be our letter of recommendation concerning our faith.  We are the only Bible some people read.  Are we drawing people to Christ or pushing them away?

He then began to explain a deep spiritual truth about the “fading away” of the OT and the illumination of the NT covenant.  The OT revealed to us that we are sinners and the NT reveals the fact that we can be forgiven for those sins.  We have been “enlightened” to the true gospel message that we need a Savior!  He closed the chapter by saying this:

2Co 3:18  But we all, with our face having been unveiled, having beheld the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are being changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Lord Spirit.

·         The enlightenment we receive from the NT is changing us to into the image of Christ by the Holy Spirit.

 

2Co 4:1 Therefore since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.

·         Paul is confident in that the message of his ministry is the truth.  It is one based on the mercy of God, not upon our righteousness.  Though troubles, trials and persecutions abound, he will not lose heart because he has faith that in the end we win.

 

2Co 4:2  But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor adulterating the Word of God, but by the revelation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

·         Paul’s ministry is not based on gimmicks, tricks or deceit, but upon the pure Word of God given to him by revelation.  That Word speaks truth to everyone and is commended by every man’s conscience.

·          This is the gospel we seek to present here at the Bride with no smoke, mirrors or fireworks only the pure Word of God.  We will not sugar coat it or promise you wealth and health, but we preach a gospel that calls us to a life of surrender.

 

2Co 4:3-6  But also if our gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those being lost,  (4)  in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving ones, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ (who is the image of God) should not dawn on them.  (5)  For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.  (6)  For it is God who said, "Out of darkness Light shall shine;" who shone in our hearts to give the brightness of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

 

 

·         The true meaning of the gospel message is hidden to no one, but some are blinded by their own unbelief.  They do not receive the “light” of the Holy Spirit that illuminates the darkness, thus they are unable to see clearly.  As in creation when God said “Let there be light and there was,” our hearts are enlightened when we open them up for God to speak into them.  Satan’s desire is that we all remain in the darkness and are never exposed to the true “Light of the World.”

 

2Co 4:7-10  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so 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)  having been persecuted, but not having been forsaken; stuck down, but not destroyed;  (10)  always bearing about the dying of the Lord Jesus in the body, so that the life of Jesus also might be revealed in our body.

·         Paul speaks of how his and others ministries that proclaim the gospel message are constantly under attack and are far from perfect.  The messengers are not to out shine the message.  It is only the broken and yielded vessel that relies upon the power of God to shine.  Example of Gideon’s army and the torches hidden under empty pitchers.  When they were broken is when the true light could shine brightest.  It is in a broken state that we are used mightily.

·         Notice it hinders but does not stop the message from being sent out (8-9). Anything worth having is worth working for, knowing it took the death of Jesus to bring us life.  Paul continues by saying:

 

2Co 4:11-12 For we who live are always being delivered to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus might also be revealed in our body.  (12)  So then death works in us, but life in you.

·         C.S. Lewis said “A call to come to Christ is a call to die.”  Christians constantly are spiritually fighting to die to this world and become alive to God.  Paul himself literally faced physical death to proclaim the message of life through the cross.

 

2Co 4:13-15  For we, having the same spirit of faith (according as it is written, "I believed, and therefore I have spoken"); we also believed and therefore speak,  (14)  knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus shall also raise us up by Jesus, and shall present us with you.  (15)  For all things are for your sake, that grace, having spread through many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

·         Paul truly believed what he spoke.  He knew the power that resurrected Christ was also present with him.  He hoped his suffering would lead to the attitudes of grace and thanksgiving abounding for the glory of God.

 

2Co 4:16-18  For this cause we do not lose heart; but though our outward man perishes, 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)  we not considering the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are not lasting, but the things which are not seen are everlasting.

 

·         The perspective of life we are to have as Christians is not one of sight, touch and feel, but one of faith that is unseen.  Faith is defined like this:

o   Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

·         Our hope does not lie in this world that we now see and experience, but in the next that is seen only by faith.  We follow a Savior that we have never seen or touched, yet know without a doubt that He exists.  We are journeying to a land that we have never seen or walked upon, yet we are willing to stake our lives that it is real.  We must give up a world that will not last to lay hold of the one that will never end.

·         Our perspective is not a physical one, but a spiritual one.  

·         Whatever suffering or persecution we endure will seem like nothing at the moment we look into the face of our Savior.  Paul called his suffering “light afflictions,” where do ours rank? 

·         Many times we pray for trouble to pass us by but in reality we should be thankful for it.  Trials remind us that this world is not our home and it also gives us a platform to demonstrate our faith to bring glory to our Creator.  Which story is more powerful, the one of Job before losing everything or the one after?

 

Paul is giving us some true “meat of the Word” to chew on here.  It really boils down to the question “Do you believe in God enough to build your life upon His Word?”