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Home » Bible Study » Men's Bible Study » 2 Corinthians 4 [ Gospel and its work] (2 Corinthians 4 [ Gospel and its work])
2 Corinthians 4 [ Gospel and its work] [message #932] Wed, 13 January 2021 00:33 Go to next message
john.svk is currently offline  john.svk
Messages: 297
Registered: October 2017
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Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor [a]handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Cast Down but Unconquered
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-- 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.

13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Seeing the Invisible
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Re: 2 Corinthians 4 [ Gospel and its work] [message #933 is a reply to message #932] Tue, 19 January 2021 19:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mohandoss is currently offline  mohandoss
Messages: 198
Registered: February 2017
Location: Virginia Beach
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OBSERVATIONS:
- Paul writing to the Corinthian church speaks of the great and awesome privilege of having been given the ministry of carrying the Gospel to the lost. This ministry of bringing light to darkness was and is a work of God's Power through His Spirit. His focus was to present a clear message of truth shining all light on the Light of the World Jesus Christ. However, regardless of how bright the light of the Gospel is there are those who are blind to the truth. To them the gospel is hidden. How does such brilliant light become so veiled or hidden that men see not the Light?.

- Note that Satan blinds the mind of men; not the eyes of their bodies, but of their understandings. As a result, they may hear the gospel and see its power and still not see or hear. Note that Satan blinds the mind of men; not the eyes of their bodies, but of their understandings. As a result, they may hear the gospel and see its power and still not see or hear. Matthew 13:13b "...seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand

Focus on the Invisible Hope : -Paul reminds us that although struggles come, do not give up hope. Our bodies are subject to sin and suffering, God never abandons us. Though our bodies are perishable containers, focus on the priceless contents (Jesus in our hearts).Trials are opportunities to demonstrate Jesus' power and presence. Our responsibility is to let people sin Christ through our lives.
Romans 5:3-4 but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope.
I. Our Spiritual Strength (16) For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. In order to properly prepare, we must understand the strength we have in Christ.

APPLICATION :
How we approach daily life and ministry for Christ will be affected by our perspective. ?
We need to focus on eternal life and invisible things which is God prepared for us and move on towards the path
Jesus will strengthen us whenever we go through difficult situation and he will provide provide strength to overcome.
Re: 2 Corinthians 4 [ Gospel and its work] [message #934 is a reply to message #932] Tue, 19 January 2021 20:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
cpchellaa is currently offline  cpchellaa
Messages: 209
Registered: January 2017
Location: Halifax
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Scripts:

2 Corinthians 4

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor [a]handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation
of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest
the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. 6 For it is the God who
commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Cast Down but Unconquered
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed-- 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that
the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.

13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus,
and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Seeing the Invisible
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.


Observation:

we need gods mercy to do his work. Only then we can walk on his way and away from worldly deceitful way.
If you believe in god then veil is taken out from your heart and you can see the light/knowledge/glory of the god through jesus christ.

We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; This is our hope on christ.

so we do not lose heart, lose your hope , even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day, which is more exceeding and more glorious.
so do not look at the things which are seen in this world, but start look at the things which are in not seen, the eternity.

Application:

we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, we are bondservants for Jesus
we are ready to do gods work for christ jesus sake


Prayer

Lord god help us not to look at temporary things of this world but to see you and the eternal things after you.
Re: 2 Corinthians 4 [ Gospel and its work] [message #935 is a reply to message #934] Tue, 19 January 2021 21:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
john.svk is currently offline  john.svk
Messages: 297
Registered: October 2017
Senior Member
Observation:
Paul acknowledges that because of the mercy of LORD and then the truth entrusted in them they preached the gospel by presenting Word of God. Some people walk in the darkness even though Paul preach the glory of Lord who is Christ himself. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. [John 3:19]

In 1 Thessalonians 1:5 Paul says, for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. Since they operate in the power of Holy Spirit, irrespective of their situation like persecution and forsakenness life of Christ was being manifested in their life. Through Faith and Love for the people by the grace of LORD they presented themselves as a testimony before them.

Though they were going through lot of bodily struggles, they knew that their inner man grows day by day through the power of God. By faith on eternal glory they are ready to endure the suffering for the glorification. 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [Hebrews 12:2]

Application:
1) We need to know Christ and through the knowledge of Word of God and by the power of Holy Spirit only we can present Gospel clearly.

2) Faith and the understanding of the heavenly glory that are waiting for us will help us to go through the light affliction and suffering of this world because of gospel and Christ.
Re: 2 Corinthians 4 [ Gospel and its work] [message #936 is a reply to message #932] Tue, 19 January 2021 21:24 Go to previous message
isaac is currently offline  isaac
Messages: 45
Registered: January 2018
Member
Observation :
Paul clearly states that he has got rid of the hidden things of shame which many believers could be. They would be still living in hidden sins which could cause shame to them if revealed but Paul is saying he has got rid of those things. In addition he mentions about not walking in craftiness and not handling the word of God deceitfully but nowadays we see these things more common so we need to be careful about this.
Paul talk about veil where Gospel is veiled to those who are perishing so we should thank God for we have been revealed the Gospel. Also Paul talk not preaching ourself but Jesus Christ alone.
From verse 7 to 9 he talks about the persecutions he went through due to preaching the gospel but still willing to spread the Gospel which is a great example. Another key verse is verse 16 which talks about even though our outward man is perishing yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

Application :
We need to get rid of any hidden shameful things if we might have and also we should not walk in craftiness but walk with openness especially handling the word of God carefully. If we go through hardships due to Gospel we should remember this is momentary trouble but we have a greater life waiting for us in heaven for which our inner man should get transformed day by day
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