Beyond the Gloom, Behold the Glory

1. Beyond the Gloom…
Behold the Glory!
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Why We Should Not Lose Heart?

2. Introduction
 Most of the dictionaries give the meaning of
“lose heart” as “get discouraged” or “give up”.
 To lose heart is to lose our courage or lose the
will to go on. It means to be utterly spiritless
and worn out. It is not just discouragement.
It's discouragement to the point of quitting
the race before it is over.

3.  But what causes a person to lose heart? What
makes a person want to give up?
 Why do we ever entertain fantasies of running
away? What causes us to have little enthusiasm
for what we once found very motivating?
 What should be our perspective in life and how
should we deal with what we see, with what
we hear, and with what we feel?

4. THREE WONDERFUL TRUTHS
WHY WE SHOULD NOT LOSE
HEART

5. Truth No. 1
VALUE THE INNER MAN OVER
THE OUTER MAN
(v. 16)

6. I. Value the Inner Man Over the Outer Man. (v. 16)
 Paul’s death-like trials made for more
effective, life giving ministry for Corinthian
Christians
“Therefore, we do not lose heart”, Paul began the
chapter (2 Corinthians 4:1) by declaring ”since we
have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we
do not lose heart.”
Take note that in chapter 4, Paul describes all the
death-like sufferings he has to endure in the
ministry.

7. I. Value the Inner Man Over the Outer Man. (v. 16)
 Paul’s sufferings take a charge on the outward
man, yet the inward man is being renewed
and blessed
The phrase outward man has the same idea
as earthen vessels in 2 Corinthians 4:7 and mortal
flesh in 2 Corinthians 4:11.

8. Our Response
• Understand the nature, the purpose, and
the glory of the ministry
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto
you"
(Matt. 6:33).
"In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of
the angels of God over one sinner who repents.“
(Luke 15:10)

9. Truth No. 2
Value the Eternal Glory
Over Momentary
Troubles
(v. 16)

10. II. Value the Eternal Glory Over Momentary Troubles (v. 16)
 Our afflictions are light and not heavy
• "Our PRESENT light (burden of) affliction" (Mt 11:30),
• "The lightness of affliction" (he does not express "burden" after
"light"; the Greek is "the light of affliction") contrasts
beautifully with the "weight of the glory.“
• So, when Paul writes our light affliction, we can know what
God intended to convey to us, it means our light affliction. If
Paul could say his affliction was light, then what is ours?

11. II. Value the Eternal Glory Over Momentary Troubles (v. 16)
 Our afflictions are just momentary
• "now for a season . . . in heaviness" (1Pe 1:6).
• One word that we should take notice is the word eternal.
This stands in contrast with the affliction that is for a
moment
• The one is momentary, transient; so short, even in the
longest life, that it may be said to be an instant; the other
has no limits to its duration. It is literally everlasting.

12. II. Value the Eternal Glory Over Momentary Troubles (v. 16)
 Our affliction is the very process which
creates glory
• a far more exceeding and--rather, "in a surpassing and still
more surpassing manner“ and more exceedingly"
• Greek, "in excess and to excess."
• The Scriptures are clear: if indeed we suffer with Him, that we
may also be glorified together (Romans 8:17).
• The glory exceeds beyond all measure the affliction.

13.  But how do afflictions achieve glory?
 Afflictions help us see and understand what this
world really is. Is not perfect and everything here are
temporary.
 This insight leads us to look for the perfect and
permanent.
 It is only in this kind of thinking or attitude that we can
begin to see the eternal glory of Christ.

14. Our response:
 Consider afflictions as opportunities
 Our troubles should not diminish our faith nor disillusion us.
 We should realize that there is a purpose in our afflictions.
 Problems and human limitations have several benefits: (1) they remind us of
Christ's suffering for us; (2) they keep us from pride; (3) they cause us to
look beyond this brief life; (4) they prove our faith to others; and (5) they
give God the opportunity to demonstrate his power.
 So why not see your troubles as opportunities!

15. Truth No. 3
Value the Future Over the
Present
(v. 18)

16. III. Value the Future Over the Present (v. 18)
 Look at the things which are not seen
 When we look at the things which are seen, all we see
is our light affliction, and it doesn’t look very light
then!
 But when we look at the things which are not
seen, then we see and appreciate the eternal weight
of glory.

17. III. Value the Future Over the Present (v. 18)
 Look at the things which are not seen
 Christians should set their affection "on things above, not on
things on the earth" (Col. 3:2).
 "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" (2 Cor.
4:18)

18. III. Value the Future Over the Present (v. 18)
 Remember that God’s presence always
restores us and makes us strong
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have
suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and
steadfast. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.” ( 1 Peter 5:10)
There are things that we should realize about why we need to value the
future.
 First, God is the God of all grace which means that God is sufficient.
 Second, God is the One who cares for you which means that you are the object
of His affection and,
 Thirdly, after you’ve suffered a little while, I believe that your situation will
change.

19. Our response
 Trust God’s Word and look at the
future glory
 Our minds take the level of the things on which our thoughts dwell, and if we
think upon earthly things, we shall fail to see of that which is heavenly.
 We would be greatly benefited by contemplating the mercy, goodness, and love
of God; but we sustain great loss by dwelling upon those things which are earthly
and temporal.
 We allow sorrow and care and perplexity to attract our minds to earth, and we
magnify a molehill into a mountain.

20. Our response
 Trust God’s Word and look at the
future glory
 "And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other
things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful" (Mk. 4:19).
 We are warned that "the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that
doeth the will of God abideth forever" (1 Jn. 2:17).
 "heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
(Matthew 24:35)

21. Conclusion
 While it is our duty to seek for perfection in
outward things, it should ever be kept in mind that
this aim is not to be made supreme. It must be
held subordinate to higher interests. Remember
that what is seen and transitory are just
momentary.
 God values the unseen and eternal. What is seen is
of worth only as it expresses the eternal.

22.  According to one writer, “Temporal things are not to
engage our whole attention, or engross our minds
until our thoughts are entirely of the earth and the
earthly. We are to train, discipline, and educate the
mind so that we may think in a heavenly channel, that
we may dwell on things unseen and eternal, which will
be discerned by spiritual vision. It is by seeing Him
who is invisible that we may obtain strength of mind
and vigor of spirit.” (BC1099-1100)

23. Remember this:
 The reason why we lose heart is because
we tie our hope to the wrong things.
What are you waiting for? To what have
you tied your hope?
 Psalm 27:14 says, "Be strong and take
heart and wait for the Lord.”