Bible Study - Suffering (7) - How Can I Honor GOD in My Suffering - 2 Corinthians 4:6-18 - February 23, 2020

Bible Study – Suffering (7) – How Can I Honor GOD in My Suffering? – February 23, 20202


This is our seventh and final lesson in our series entitled “When Life Gets 
Hard: Big Questions About Pain and Suffering.”


Our focus scripture is 2 Corinthians 4:7-18.


Every part of life – including difficulties – is an opportunity to glorify GOD.


When we project something bad forward that we might face in life, that has not yet taken place, it seems unbearable. Thinking of losing a child or your spouse seems unbearable when you think about such an event. When I/we received the phone call that our eldest son was deceased, it was at first unbelievable. I thought at first it was a scam until I realized the call was legitimate. I was in a store and questioned the caller closely but soon realized he was legitimate and ran from the store to our car where my wife was waiting for me. My phone quickly connected to our car phone system and my wife and I received the details of the news. Such an event leaves an indelible mark on you for life. Immediately you want to know what happened and then your mind races to, who do we have to let know what has happened. There seemed to be an avalanche of things that flood through our minds. We had the blessing of knowing that our son was in Heaven with JESUS. The hurt of our sudden departure was there but the sweet assurance of knowing that all was well with him in JESUS brought peace.


In such times as these, we realize the brevity of life and how fragile life is. Eternity is but one heartbeat away.


This series of study on suffering has been thought provoking. In our first lesson I stated that “I hate pain and suffering.” But quickly we realize that sin is the result of pain and suffering. We live in a fallen world and life upon earth is but a sojourn. Life upon earth is the opportunity for every person to have a genuine encounter with GOD through faith in JESUS and to live eternally. But there are requirements.


I know this statement brings many questions. What about children conceived but never born, those who have never heard about JESUS and the list goes on. GOD is not out to see how many HE can send to Hell. HIS love compels HIM to appeal to all. Oh, good then everyone is going to Heaven? NO! Some will choose to reject JESUS as their Savior and go to Hell, the place GOD made for Satan and his followers.


To me, no person will be surprised that he or she is in Hell. GOD chooses to appeal to every person that loves HIM. That person has a choice. How do you choose?


Consider the Apostle Paul. We have studied that even though he suffered much, he remained committed to share the Good News of JESUS where ever he went. Why? Paul was in right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. Paul knew the truth. Paul had experienced GOD’S power in his life as he served HIM. Paul knew that GOD and JESUS were ONE. He knew that he was living and teaching truth. He knew that GOD would protect him from all harm until he had completed his life upon earth. It mattered not to Paul whether he was alive upon earth serving GOD or alive in Heaven serving GOD. GOD would make that choice at the instant HE chose where Paul was to serve, earth or Heaven. GOD makes that choice in the lives of all who choose to accept JESUS into their lives, as well. Let’s explore!


Let’s read 2 Corinthians 4:6-11:

⁶ For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.

This is the key why Paul was committed to serving GOD with abandon. Paul saw, without a doubt, JESUS as the true light coming from GOD as the One and Only Savior for mankind, through faith in JESUS. JESUS paid, in full, the price for sin and through faith in JESUS every person who places his or her faith in JESUS experiences the miracle of Spiritual rebirth of being born-again into GOD’S Family. The Spiritually reborn person will never be Spiritually unborn. Every Spiritually born-again person will be in Heaven but some may be there ‘as if escaping through a wall of fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:15)

So, how did Paul look at the human body?

Treasure in Clay Jars

⁷ Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. ⁸ We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; ⁹ we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our body. ¹¹ For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’s sake, so that Jesus’s life may also be displayed in our mortal flesh.

The Apostle Paul considered the human body as a clay jar. In his day, clay jars held important items to sustain life. They held spices, oils, herbs, seeds, etc., which were used for healing, cooking and other useful reasons to improve and sustain life. Paul was amazed that GOD chose humans in which to invest HIS eternal message of salvation and redemption from sin and eternal death.

Scripture reveals in Isaiah 64:8:

But now, O Lord,
You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand.

Humans are the most unlikely vessel for GOD to house the born-again Spirit. The human body is so fragile and can take on some many different forms and shapes. The born-again Spirit can be contained in grumps who have to be molded into Saints. The human body is subject to the peril’s life brings. The human body is deteriorating. Once a person is born, he or she will eventually die. Life is fragile and so is a jar made from clay. Once a clay jar was broken it was good only to be tossed away. They did not have superglue in that day. GOD is the only Superglue to piece back a broken vessel.

Christians are constantly dying to self as they encounter both physical and Spiritual life upon earth. Why? So, JESUS can be made visible to others. It is no longer us but CHRIST Who lives in us as Paul recorded in Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Life in JESUS is for our perfecting and to serve.

Let’s read 2 Corinthians 4:12-15:

¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life in you. ¹³ And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke,^[b] we also believe, and therefore speak. ¹⁴ For we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you. ¹⁵ Indeed, everything is for your benefit so that, as grace extends through more and more people, it may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God.

So, what did the Apostle Paul mean when he wrote “death is at work in us, but life in you?” Paul and his missionary team suffered many hardships as they ministered to others. It took its toll on them but because of the hope and joy that was in them, JESUS, and the joy of seeing others come to know JESUS as their Savior, offset their suffering.

The joy of ministering truth far exceeded any hardship they had or would experience.

I have often thought about, “What was going through Paul’s mind as he was chained to a Roman guard?” It became clear as I studied this lesson. Paul was serving GOD in whatever position or circumstance he was in. GOD would deliver him physically or if HE did not then he would be in Heaven. Paul stated it best in 2 Corinthians 5:1-8:

5 For we know that if our earthly ^[a]house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our ^[b]habitation which is from heaven, ³ if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. ⁴ For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as ^[c]a guarantee.

⁶ So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. ⁷ For we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

In essence, the Apostle Paul was saying when we give our all to JESUS, we witness the fruit of the Spirit being manifested in those who receive JESUS as their Savior. Such joy spreads like wildfire among the community and in turn produces unspeakable joy and thanksgiving within those who have participated in such a magnificent awaking.

Let’s read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18:

¹⁶ Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. ¹⁸ So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

The Apostle Paul is revealing truth to us. Yes, we humans get tired. Ministry is hard work but the rewards are beyond our wildest dreams. Satan, will attempt to discourage and destroy the ministry we are working in but Paul begs us not to give up because the rewards far out strip anything the world has to offer. All Christians need to have a Heavenly vision. Why? Paul explains it in verses 17 and 18:

¹⁷ For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. ¹⁸ So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

So how can we honor GOD in our suffering? NEVER EVER GIVE UP ON HIM.

Deuteronomy 31:6 New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Blessings!!!