We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. Sometimes we think that if someone is really spiritual or really used of God they will live in a constant state of “victory” that means life will always be easy. Many preachers fail on this exact point.
Because of what God accomplishes in us through our ii. 2 Corinthians 4:1-18.HIS PREACHING IS OPEN AND SINCERE, THOUGH TO MANY THE GOSPEL IS HIDDEN. G. Campbell Morgan tells the story of a great young preacher who was impressive early in his ministry. Yet look at the triumph of Jesus in Paul’s life: not crushed… not in despair… not forsaken… not destroyed. Not in an ultimate sense, because, ii.
When a man is brought to recognize Jesus Christ as Lord, and to love and worship him as such, then he becomes like Christ. : This has the idea of “hunted.” Paul was a wanted, hunted man because of what he was for Jesus.
Is it wrong for a preacher to tell a joke or to use a story from his own life?
Once he had the young man to speak at his church, and after the sermon Morgan asked his wife, “Wasn’t that wonderful?” She quietly replied, “Yes, but it will be more wonderful when he has suffered.” Morgan adds: “Well, he suffered, and it : Here is the irony.
Paul’s ministry also had an ultimate goal, that it may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of GodTherefore we do not lose heart. “The preacher should either speak in God’s name or hold his tongue. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Second Corinthians reminds us that even as Christians, we hurt each other and need to forgive those who wrong us (2 Corinthians 2:7). When you compare the two, it isn’t hard to be amazed that God has put such a great : Earthenware vessels were common in every home in the ancient world.
Just because someone twists a truth one way, it doesn’t mean we can twist it the other way to “compensate.” Calvin well remarks of this approach, “being hard pressed by their opponents they were more anxious to refute them than to expound Paul.”iv. They were not very durable (compared to metal), and they were useless if broken (glass could be melted down again). It was easy for Paul’s enemies to claim, “He suffers so much because God is punishing him for his unfaithfulness,” but that wasn’t true at all.2. Present Weakness and Resurrection Life. The King James Version translates the end of verse four: to the glorious gospel of light and salvation in Jesus.is not used of Satan anywhere else in Scripture, but the thought is expressed in passages like John 12:31, John 14:30, Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 6:12 and 1 John 5:19.i. There is a significant and real sense in which Satan “rules” this world. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.
They have the true gospel, but they ii. Only those who are perishing miss the message.i. Therefore, Satan directs his energies into blinding men from ever seeing i.
Knowing this made him Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day is because though all his suffering takes a toll on the 2.
We should ask God to shine His light, to bind the blinding work of Satan, and to give faith to overcome the unbelief that invites the blinding.Paul knew what he was talking about when he wrote this. When we talk about suffering like this today, it is easy to think we are just saying “spiritual things,” because some of us live very comfortable lives and do not suffer much at all. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Some later Christians (like the Manichaeans) promoted a dualistic understanding of God and Satan, and emphasized this phrase . When we try to hoard up the light within ourselves, we will certainly lose it.. God gave us a display, a picture, a representation of His glory: His Son, Jesus Christ. (1-2) How Paul preached the more glorious gospel.Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.
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Nevertheless, we should remember that everything Paul said about suffering, he said as a man who probably suffered more than you or anyone you will ever meet. * [4:13–14] Like the Psalmist, Paul clearly proclaims his faith, affirming life within himself despite death (2 Cor 4:10–11) and the life-giving effect of his experience upon the church (2 Cor 4:12, 14–15). (8-12) The suffering in Paul’s ministry brought forth life.
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(17-18) A coming glory that outweighs any of today’s difficulties. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.
Instead, Calvin gives a good sense of what we should understand by the phrase : “The devil is called the god of this age in no other way than Baal was called the god of those who worshipped him or the dog the god of Egypt.”, then put your trust in who Jesus is and what He did for you.