BUT IT IS FOR A MOMENT
IT IS BUT FOR A MOMENT – EXCEEDING GRACE
2Co 4:14-18 KJV 14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 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.
In our country we are facing turbulent times economically, the cost of feeding and transportation is high. Even corps members are barely enough for survival.
In the course of fulfilling his ministry, Paul went through a lot of trials, temptations and troubles. How was Paul able to scale through? How was he able to encourage himself? How was he able to maintain a positive mental attitude? For instance he told the Philippians church to rejoice. What were the motivating factors that helped Paul?
Paul says our light affliction, which is for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
The word rendered “light” ( elaphron ) means that which is easy to bear, and is usually applied to a burden; Mat 11:30, compare 2Co 1:17.
Afflictions are issues of life, challenges, persecutions because of our faith and not due to our wrong attitude and behaviour.
Affliction is “thilipsis” in Greek and it means: a pressing, pressing together, pressure, anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble. metaphorically oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits.
But Paul call them light. What were those afflictions that Paul was calling light afflictions? Because someone might say my own is not light at all but very heavy.
Let us see those things that Paul calls light affliction:
2Cor 11:23-29 KJV 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
Phi 4:12 KJV I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
These are things that Paul calls “light affliction” But i am sure that none of us here is passing such “light affliction”. Whatever any of us is facing here cannot be compared with what Paul passed through and yet he called them light affliction.
Many Christians have not gone through one tenth of those things listed and they have stopped coming to church, abandon faith, are not interested in the things of God and are discouraged already. We carry faces up. I could understand and relate but Paul, a man subject to the passion like ours says they are light afflictions.
Misconception and lies of the devil
The Devil may suggest that the reason we face such challenges may be because of one sin or the other, family or generational issues but I tell you that even a righteous man can and will suffer affliction.
2Ti 3:12 KJV Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Joh 16:33 KJV These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: Psa 34:19 KJV Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
The Lord know how to deliver the just: 2Pe 2:9 KJV The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
A just man falleth seven times: Pro 24:16 KJV For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
We live in a fallen world. You don’t have to be in sin before terrible things happen. Jesus said anyone who will live godly in this world will suffer persecution. He said in the world you shall suffer tribulations. He was talking to the disciples.
We are in a war. Peter said your adversary is the devil, so we have an enemy that is against us.
1Pe 5:8 KJV Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
What gave Paul such an attitude?
1. He saw them as things that are temporary and not permanent. It means that whatever we are facing now has expiring dates like normal drugs by NAFDAC. It will soon come to an end. It will not last forever.
2Co 4:17 KJV For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
They are temporary and passing, they are transient. They are not permanent.
2. Paul saw them as normal. They are not unique to him alone. He is not the only one facing such afflictions and challenges.
1Co 10:13 KJV There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1Pe 5:9 KJV Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
It is only when somebody insists that they are unique and peculiar to him only that you automatically exclude yourself from the solutions already made available.
God is not the author of our problems. He is not chastising us or correcting us with sickness and diseases. He is the author and finisher of our faith. It is a lie of the devil for us to think that God is behind our troubles.
3. That he is not alone in it. God is ever with us in whatever we are facing. As a matter of fact He passes through those things with us. If you are insulted He is insulted too.
Isa 43:2 KJV When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Psa 91:15 KJV He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
Isa 63:9 KJV In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
He identifies with His people.
Act 9:5 KJV And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
If anyone gives a cup of cold water to these ones henhas done it unto me.
4. That God has not forsaken him. There could be thoughts here and there that it could be that God has forgotten and abandoned us.
Isa 49:13-15 KJV 13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. 14 But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. 15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Heb 13:5 KJV Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
The Greek word for “never leave” is “ou me”. never, certainly not, not at all, by no means. a double negative strengthening the denial; not at all : – any more, at all, by any (no) means,
5. The outcome is already determined. The fact is that you will always come out victorious.
2Co 2:14 KJV Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
1Jn 5:4-5 KJV 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
It may be hard and tough but you are coming out victorious.
What should be our attitude?
1. Have this type of Paul perspective towards issues and challenges. See them as passing. They come to pass.
2Co 4:17-18 KJV 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 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.
Paul viewed his problem in the light of eternity, that compared with the time in eternity, the problems of 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15 years are nothing. We will spend longer time with the Lord where such problems don’t exist. He speaks of them as the lightest conceivable thing when compared with that eternal glory which awaited him
He compares the light, momentary and transient problems with the weight of eternal glory. When you compare what we pass through now with what awaits us, we will rejoice. The apostle opposes things present to things future; a moment to eternity; lightness to weight; affliction to glory
There is time for everything.
How do we look at the things not seen? That sounds unintelligent and ambiguous. But Paul says what we see are temporal, we may be seen some challenges and trouble here and there but we should take our eyes off those things and see by faith, See with the eyes of our heart Eph 1: 17 that the eyes of your understanding be enlightened and flooded with light.
In the wilderness after the snake bite they hung a bronze shake on the pole so that anyone who looked at it would be healed and saved. If you look at your wound you may die. Heb says looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of faith.
It is what you see that you get. Can you see yourself victorious, married, having the desired job, getting property, travel out, buy a car and have your own ministry and apartment? Can you see the big picture? Whatever the mind can conceive you can achieve it.
Paul saw the weight of glory and it diminished the challenges
God told Abraham in Gen 13:14, as far as your eyes could see, he saw by faith the whole world.
2. Count it all joy. Is it possible to rejoice in tribulation? Paul wrote to the Phillipian church from Roman’s prison that they should rejoice always.
Phi 4:4 KJV Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Jas 1:2-3 KJV 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
1Pe 1:6 KJV Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
Rom 5:3 KJV And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Therefore do not let them make you moody, depressed, sad and frustrated. Isaiah made a statement:
Isa 12:3 KJV Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
3. They are advancing us and the gospel of Christ
Phi 1:12-14 KJV 12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Most times Christians are unable or not willing to talk about the good news, we cannot preach because we think that it is not easy. Little wonder he said to the Romans:
Rom 8:28 KJV And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Whatever we may be passing through now is also to our advantage. They are working for us.
Jacob when he received the news that Benjamin, his last born son was needed in Egypt in Gen says all things are against him.
Gen 42:36 KJV And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.
Unknowingly to him, all things were working together for his good. He later testified. After this encounter we will testify in Jesus name.
Most time challenges are stepping stones to greater height, next step and level in life, without test there cannot be promotion. You are being promoted. Challenges open our mind to see better opportunities. Some people will not build their own houses unless they are molested by the landlord.
Our problems should push or drive us to God.
4. Continuing in prayers. Many people allowed the devil and people to discourage them in prayers. But each time we pray we add petrol to the fire, we are topping the incense and God is working behind the scene to effect our deliverance.
confront what is confronting you in prayers. we have been equipped to face the adversary
Use the word too.
Act 19:20 KJV So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
The moment you stop praying you give room to the devil and stop the process with doubt and unbelief. James said let not that man think he will receive anything from the Lord.
Therefore always be available for prayers, join yourself with people that can pray for and with you, disturb them and seek for their intercessory prayers. Prayers change things.
Heb 5:7 KJV Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Phi 4:6 KJV Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Why thanksgiving? Because you are coming out. Give God thanks always not for the affliction but because you know you are coming out stronger, better and higher. Give Him thanks because there is a way out. Give Him thanks because you are a winner.It will turn to your testimony.
Is 12:3 says with joy shall ye draw water from the well of salvation.
Prayers
Everydemonic affliction around my life and destiny breaks by fire in Jesus name.
Every power introducing problems, challenges into my life receives fire.
Power of affliction wither from my life now in Jesus name.