This next chapter in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians is like a vow or a Christian Constitution. It would be wonderful if ALL Christian pastors and preachers would adhere to it, but, alas, they don’t. The Roman Catholic Church certainly doesn’t. They’ve lied to and deceived their parishioners for centuries. I did an in-depth research project on where the Catholic Church went wrong. You can check it out here.
This is a powerful chapter. Read it a few times. Listen along with the podcast. The link will be on the right.
2 Corinthians 4
Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. 2 We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.
3 If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
5 You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. 12 So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.
13 But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” [Psalm 116:10] 14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. 15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.
16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
2 Corinthians 4 NLT
Election Night Disappointments
As of this time, we still don’t know who will be the next president of the United States. Several states are still counting ballots, including Arizona, and there are rumors of voter fraud. There’s nothing much we can do now, other than pray that the ballot counters and officials work with integrity and honesty and good moral character and that any evil schemes be thwarted and revealed.
I moved to Arizona 16 years ago from Florida. It was here that I was born again and baptized. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit convicted me and showed me that the Democratic party, of which I was a diehard member, was in favor of killing babies and same-sex marriage. Both of those are sins and abominations to God. I switched parties and have grown even more conservative. I am heartbroken that Arizona, in the last 4 years went from red to purple to solid blue. It seems that the California transplants brought their politics with them. They don’t realize that they’re still supporting everything that they fled from in California, including higher taxes. I pray for God to open their eyes to the truth.
Whatever happens in the U.S. will affect many countries worldwide like Israel, Iran, China, Canada, Mexico, Europe and others. Keep in mind, however, that no matter who ends up in the oval office, God is still in control and this world is NOT all there is. We have the promise of God’s glory in heaven and eternal life in paradise with Jesus our savior.
All that we see now will be gone. So, it’s up to us to keep our focus on God — our joy and confident hope! Watch the music video embedded below based on this chapter. Enjoy!
Do You Have the Assurance of Salvation?
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
Invite Jesus into Your Heart and Receive the Gift of Grace, Joy, Peace, and the Confident Hope of Eternal Life…
Weeping may last through the night,
Psalm 30:5 NLT
but joy comes with the morning.
Lyrics:
I’m trading my sorrows.
I’m trading my shame.
I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord.
I’m trading my sickness.
I’m trading my pain.
I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord.
And we say yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Amen
I am pressed but not crushed persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I am blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure
And his joy’s going to be my strength.
Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning.
I’m trading my sorrows.
I’m trading my shame.
I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord.
I’m trading my sickness.
I’m trading my pain.
I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord.
And we say yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Amen
And we say yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Amen
