The Challenges of Life

II CorinthiansChapter 4

with Jeff Carden

Chap 4:1:Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

Therefore . . .

Chap 3:7, 87 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?

29 Now when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand—when he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to approach him.

31 But Moses called to them, so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and Moses spoke to them. 32 After this all the Israelites approached, and he commanded them all that the LORD had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses finished speaking with them, he would put a veil on his face. 34 But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil until he came out.

Superiority of the New Covenant

Old• Death• Condemnation• Temporary• No hope• Veiled• Ceremony• Will of Man• Superficial

New• Life• Righteousness• Permanent• Everlasting• Clear• Christ• Holy Spirit• Transforming

Chap 4:1:Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

Paul defends his (the) ministry

• Ministry is a “mercy”, a “grace”, a gift• II Timothy 1:

“called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,”

• A gift that Paul:– accepted– appreciated– gladly suffered for

False Teachers after Paul

Chap 1:88 …regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living. 9 Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.

Do not lose heart . . .

Chap 64 in persecutions, in difficulties, in distresses, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in hunger . . . 6 through slander and praise; regarded as impostors, and yet true; 9 as unknown. . .as those who are scourged and yet not executed; 10 as sorrowful . . . as poor . . . as having nothing

Necessity of a pure heart

Chap 4:22 But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God.

Paul says, “We

• don’t do shameful acts that must be kept secret.”

• don’t try to fool anyone or twist God’s message”

• have God as our witness”• speak only the truth so we can be trusted”• have nothing hidden”

No veil – no secret life

Chap 4:3-43 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, 4 among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.

The god of this age

• blinded the minds of unbelievers• prevents them from seeing the light

The light is the new covenant that reveals God

Not about Paul or us!

Chap 4:5-6

5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.

We too are servants

• God commanded light to shine in the dark

• Light shines in our hearts – why?

To show us that God’s glory is seen in Christ

New Covenant

• Life• Righteousness• Permanent• Everlasting• Clear• Christ• Holy Spirit• Transforming

• Superiority of the New Covenant• Ministry is a “mercy”• Necessity of a pure heart

• Superiority of the New Covenant• Ministry is a “mercy”• Necessity of a pure heart• Personally insignificant

Chap 4:7

7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.

Personally insignificant

• What is the treasure?• In what is the treasure stored?–Earthen vessel–Clay Pot–Clay Jar

Clay Pot

• Breakable• Unattractive• Disposable• Used for refuse – II Timothy 2

II Timothy 2:20

20 Now in a wealthy home there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also ones made of wood and of clay, and some are for honorable use, but others for ignoble use.

What is of significance?

• The message• The gospel• The glory of the new covenant

• The power comes from God• This is NOT about us

• Superiority of the New Covenant• Ministry is a “mercy”• Necessity of a pure heart• Personally insignificant

• Superiority of the New Covenant• Ministry is a “mercy”• Necessity of a pure heart• Personally insignificant• Benefit from suffering

Chap 4:88 We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed,

God provides . . .

• We often suffer butwe are never crushed!

• Even when we don’t understandwe never give up!

• In times of troubleGod is with us!

• When we are knocked downwe get back up again!

Chap 4:10-1210 always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body. 11 For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal body. 12 As a result, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

Why do we suffer?

• So others can see what Christ’s death was like• So his life can be seen in us• Life is working in you because Christ

suffered

Chap 4:13-14

13 But since we have the same spirit of faith as that shown in what has been written, “I believed; therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak. 14 We do so because we know that the one who raised up Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence.

SPEAK!

• We have the same faith so we must also speak, teach, lead, suffer• Why must we speak?

Chap 4:16-1816 Therefore we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison 18 because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

Never give up!

• Our little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory• Our troubles will seem like nothing• Focus on the things which cannot be

seen