RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-08-17	How Do I Honor God in Pain? (2 Corinthians)
		How do I magnify the gospel in my everyday life in the midst of suffering so others see Christ's glory? The epistle of Second Corinthians reads much like an autobiography for the life of Paul. We can learn much from Paul how to handle life, when life does not go the way we think. HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR FAITH IN SUFFERING 1. Christ Has Secured For Us All the Promises of God (2Co.1:20) 2Co 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. All the promises find a “yes” in Him (2Co.1:20). 2. It iS God's Purpose That We Rely on Him (2Co.1:8-9) 2Co 1:8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 2Co 1:9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, The details of this are not known. It appears to be in or around the city of Ephesus. Notice Paul says he was so utterly burdened beyond his strength and life was a despair (v.8). So every horrible thing that comes into our life is meant to cause us to fall on Christ who raises the dead (v.19). These should help us to increase our confidence and reliance upon Him. 3. Suffering Is Preparing Us For an Eternal Weight of GLory (2Co.4:16-18) 2Co 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 2Co 4:18 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. Paul says, “but for a moment” (v.17) can be for some a lifetime of suffering. For those who have chronic pain Paul says it is building an “eternal weight of glory” (v.17). More suffering down here means more glory in heaven (v.17). Take heart. Everything we walk through is working and increasing a weight of glory in the ages to come. WHAT THINGS YOU MAY SAY OR DO IN SUFFERING 2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 2Co 12:8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 2Co 12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Embrace Paul's experience. When he asked God to take away the thorn in the flesh, God answered, no. Paul's response was to glory in the all sufficiency of Christ. He could boast in his infirmities, because through it the power of Christ is seen (v.9). Paul learned to be content even though he had ailments, humanly speaking, he wished he did not have. We must learn to exalt Christ in our times of weakness. 1. Do Not Murmur Against God (Ph.2:15). Php 2:15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. If we do not have murmuring in our lives when hard things come we are like “lights in the world.” 2. Give Expressions of Praise For The Goodness of God. When we have chronic pain and we express praise to Him, it is a powerful witness of God in your life. 3. Live Your Life Focused on Others (Ph.2:5). Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus The essence of Christ's thought was for others in this passage. Do not draw attention to your own ailments. Even when everything inside cries out “I hurt, pity me”, instead say, “Praise ye the Lord” from the heart. When you are going through difficult times, read the verses above slowly, and prayerfully, and watch God turn it into something wonderful. Sufferings should positively impact our lives. And for those who may not be going through physical pain, we have at least that reason to praise the Lord. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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