Sunday, January 11, 2026
2 Corinthians 4 Eternal things
Eternal Perspective for Personal Encouragement by Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey
If anyone could have lost heart it was Paul, who was sorely tried, severely troubled, and shamefully treated (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). Paul provides an eternal perspective for personal encouragement. He begins, "Therefore we do not lose heart" (2 Corinthians 4:16a). Then Paul reminds us of three things.
First, there is the daily renewal. 2 Corinthians 4:16b reads, "Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." Physically we are all dying, but spiritually there is a renewal process for those who are born again. Dr. Thomas Constable explains, "even though physically he was decaying, spiritually he was still developing." Ephesians 3:16 reads, "that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man." As believers we should desire to participate in the process of being renewed each day.
Second, there is the delightful reward. 2 Corinthians 4:17 reads, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Paul explains, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together" (Romans 8:16-17). Sadly, many believers attempt to fit in with the world when we are commanded to stand out and to come out from among unbelievers and to be separate from them (2 Corinthians 6:11-18). We are to be in the world but not of the world. 2 Timothy 3:12 reads, "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." 1 Peter 4:12-13 reads, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."
Third, there is the divine revelation. 2 Corinthians 4:18 reads, "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 is referring to those eternal things only seen through the eyes of faith. These are things we would never know unless God reveals them to us. 1 Corinthians 2:11-12 reads, "For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God."
These days we need to have an eternal perspective for personal encouragement.
Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, Author of Don't Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah and
Sound Biblical Preaching: Giving the Bible a Voice [Both available on Logos and Amazon] January 7, 2023 © All Rights Reserved
If anyone could have lost heart it was Paul, who was sorely tried, severely troubled, and shamefully treated (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). Paul provides an eternal perspective for personal encouragement. He begins, "Therefore we do not lose heart" (2 Corinthians 4:16a). Then Paul reminds us of three things.
First, there is the daily renewal. 2 Corinthians 4:16b reads, "Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." Physically we are all dying, but spiritually there is a renewal process for those who are born again. Dr. Thomas Constable explains, "even though physically he was decaying, spiritually he was still developing." Ephesians 3:16 reads, "that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man." As believers we should desire to participate in the process of being renewed each day.
Second, there is the delightful reward. 2 Corinthians 4:17 reads, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Paul explains, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together" (Romans 8:16-17). Sadly, many believers attempt to fit in with the world when we are commanded to stand out and to come out from among unbelievers and to be separate from them (2 Corinthians 6:11-18). We are to be in the world but not of the world. 2 Timothy 3:12 reads, "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." 1 Peter 4:12-13 reads, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."
Third, there is the divine revelation. 2 Corinthians 4:18 reads, "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 is referring to those eternal things only seen through the eyes of faith. These are things we would never know unless God reveals them to us. 1 Corinthians 2:11-12 reads, "For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God."
These days we need to have an eternal perspective for personal encouragement.
Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, Author of Don't Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah and
Sound Biblical Preaching: Giving the Bible a Voice [Both available on Logos and Amazon] January 7, 2023 © All Rights Reserved
# posted by Groseys messages @ 9:57 PM 
