Sermon
delivered on October 2nd, 2016
By: Pastor Greg Hocson
Scripture Text: II Corinthians 4:8-18
2
Corinthians 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not
distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9: Persecuted,
but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10: Always bearing
about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus
might be made manifest in our body. 11: For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life
also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12: So then
death worketh in us, but life in
you. 13: We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is
written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and
therefore speak; 14: Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus
shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with
you. 15: For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace
might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of
God. 16: For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man
perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17: For our
light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh
for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18: While
we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:
for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen
are eternal.
Introduction
We
all know that this world is full of trouble and life is full of sorrow. In
a world full of trouble and a life full of sorrow and suffering we have
questions and we need some answers. We need a solid and substantial answer to
the question about suffering. We need a more sure word of comfort than
"Everything's going to be ok" or "Que
sera sera" "Whatever will be, will
be." or "Hakuna matata"
or "Don't worry be happy." These may be cute sayings but they do not
bring comfort.
But I
am glad that God gave us the Bible and He gave us answers regarding our
pressing questions about sufferings and afflictions. This morning, consider
with me, three basic things about our present afflictions.
I -
The Certainty of Affliction
Benjamin
Franklin said, "There are only two things certain in life: death and taxes."
I
would like to add the third certainty - Afflictions. Even our Lord declares
this...
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the
world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world.
Here
on earth we will have trouble, we will have many trials and sorrows.
1
Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to
man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye
are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may
be able to bear it.
Despite
all that we can do - all our learning, knowledge and wealth, advanced
technology, gadgets and toys, life is still a weary pilgrimage, and is filled
with burdens.
Job
understood this.
Job
5:7 Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
Affliction
is natural to man. It is as naturally as the sparks of fire fly upward. It is
like a burning coal that naturally raise themselves to fly.
Job
14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
Affliction
is part of being born of a woman. It is transmitted to us mankind from our
first parents. Suffering is our constant inheritance; God having allotted this
portion to mankind for their sins.
So we
should not then be surprised at our afflictions.
1
Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
II -
The Universality of Affliction
2
Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory.
Not
only is suffering is certain, it is also universal. Everyone suffers in some
way or the other. Affliction touches every one of us. Some are troubled
more than the others, yet no one is exempted from trouble.
You
may be a godly person or a wicked person, it matters not.
Psalm
32:10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
Psalm
34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
Affliction
is the common experience of the children of men, even of the children of
God. Being a child of God does not exempt us from afflictions. Goodness,
godliness, holiness, and faithfulness will not shield you and me from
afflictions.
Even our Lord was not exempted from trouble.
Isaiah
53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with
grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we
esteemed him not. 4: Surely he hath borne our griefs,
and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and
afflicted. 5: But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our
iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we
are healed. 6: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the
iniquity of us all. 7: He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened
not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before
her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8:
He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his
generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the
transgression of my people was he stricken. 9: And he made his grave with the
wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence,
neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10: Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him;
he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his
soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and
the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11: He shall see of the
travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my
righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12:
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the
spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he
was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made
intercession for the transgressors.
It is
true that God promises in...
Job
5:19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil
touch thee.
He
promises to sustain us but He does not promise that either six or seven trials
shall be kept off from you.
Even
if you and I cry to God to help us, He will help us through the trouble, but He
will probably not remove it from us. He will deliver us from evil, but He may
still lead us into trial.
III - The Realities about Afflictions
Three
things in this text that I pray would sustain us as we face afflictions in
our lives.
1.
Afflictions are Minuscule
2
Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a
moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory.
If
you don't know anything about the Apostle Paul, you may say he is out of touch,
that he is downplaying afflictions, specially if you
are going through a Job-like affliction.
Paul
was not downplaying afflictions. He was not looking the Christian life in a
plastic or artificial way. He was also familiar with suffering. In fact, I
believe aside from Christ and Job, Paul is one who suffered much in this life.
2
Corinthians 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more;
in labours more abundant, in stripes (beatings) above measure, in
prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24: Of the Jews
five times received I forty stripes save one. 25: Thrice was
I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I
suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26:
In journeyings often, in perils of waters,
in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils
by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils
in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27: In weariness and painfulness,
in watchings often, in hunger and thirst,
in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28: Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the
care of all the churches.
Many
of our afflictions are not light. They are grievous and serious. To lose a love
one, father, mother, husband, wife, son, daughter, brother or sister, is not
light, to lose a job is serious, to have terminal disease (cancer, heart
disease ...) these are serious and heavy afflictions.
So
what did Paul mean by these words?
Again,
understand that Paul is not minimizing our afflictions, what he is saying is
that our afflictions in this present life are light comparatively!
1.
They are light when compared with the sufferings of the Lord Jesus
Whatever
affliction we face in life, whether losing a loved one, having a cancer, losing
a job, they are light compared with Christ's sufferings. What are our sufferings
compared to the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ? The sinless Son of God
suffered much when He was on earth. A Man of Sorrow and acquainted with grief.
He is known as the Suffering Servant. He endured the pain and mocking that He
did not deserve. Our sufferings are nothing compared to what Christ endured
when He was on earth.
2.
They are light compared to what we really deserve
What
we all deserve as sinners is eternal torment in Hell. Yet, if you by the grace
of a God are save today you won't have to experience extreme pain and agony
that awaits those who die in their sins. It is light compared to the
torments of the lost in hell.
3.
They are light compared with the weight of glory that is awaiting us in Heaven
It is light compared to the joys of heaven.
Romans
8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Suffering
here but glory there in Heaven. Glory: perfect body, we will be like Christ, we
will be translated into a perfect place, and we will live with God forever,
perfect spirit, no more sin.
I
wish I have time to talk about the glory that awaits those who have been
redeemed by blood of Jesus Christ.
1
Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them
that love him. 10: But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the
Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of
God.
2.
Afflictions are Momentary
2
Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,
worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory.
Even
if we suffer all our lives and get to live as old as Methuselah who live for
969 years, still they are short compared to the eternal glory that awaits us.
Our present life afflictions are like smoke that appears for a little while and
then vanishes away. Life is short and so is our afflictions compared to the eternal
glory that awaits us.
Job
14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
This
is God's mercy! Life is full of trouble but thank God life is short! This
implies afflictions are momentary.
Revelation
21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the
first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2: And I John saw
the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a
bride adorned for her husband. 3: And I heard a great voice out of heaven
saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them,
and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their
God. 4: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall
be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more
pain: for the former things are passed away. 5: And he that sat upon the
throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for
these words are true and faithful.
3.
Afflictions are Means (Instrument,
Vehicle)
2
Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a
moment, worketh for us a far
more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
Our
afflictions work for us. They are for our benefit and good. God is preparing us
for glory. Many times we see afflictions as inconvenience that makes us sour,
rebellious and discontent. But we need to remember that afflictions are sent by
God to conform us into the image of His Son.
James
1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3:
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh
patience. 4: But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and
entire, wanting nothing.
"God
sends afflictions not to make us bitter but to make us better."
Affliction
helps us to have a looser grip on the things of this world and helps draw
closer to the Lord and long for Him and for His coming.
"The
winter prepares the earth for the spring, so do afflictions sanctified, prepare
the soul for glory."
They
are always for our good, spiritual and eternal.
May
God enable us to examine our trials in their true perspective.
IV -
Conclusion
To
the Unbelievers
These
comforting words are for the children of God. If you are not a child of God
this morning, these glorious truths do not apply to you, but it can be. How?
You must be born again. You must be born into God's family.
John
1:12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He
power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.
Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.
Isaiah
55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and
let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God,
for he will abundantly pardon.
Go to
the One who was smitten of God and afflicted. He suffered and died for you. He
was wounded, bruised, chastised, oppressed and afflicted.
Hebrews
12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the
joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set
down at the right hand of the throne of God.
To
the Christians
Christians
I have declared to you things about afflictions that I hope would comfort and
sustain you in this troubled world.
One
second of glory will outweigh a lifetime of suffering. One second of the glory
will wipe away the remembrance of our lifetime suffering on earth. The glory
will compensate for all the tears and groans of earth.
1
Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to
try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13: But rejoice,
inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall
be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
The
Bible says in God's presence is the fullness of joy, at His right hand there
are pleasures forevermore. But until then let us be faithful and trust our
Father who is too wise to be mistaken and too good to be unkind.
AMEN!