Our Light Affliction Which is But for a Moment (2 Corinthians 4:17) – Develop an Eternal Perspective

Paul said, "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17). It sounds like Paul is minimizing our trials by calling them light momentary afflictions. Could you imagine saying this to someone when they’re going through something painful: “Hey, this trial you think is terrible and excruciating is only light and momentary.” If we were counseling people how to counsel others, we would tell them NOT to say this. The obvious question is, how could terrible suffering be described this way? Developing a spiritual, eternal perspective is the key to understanding how trials can be viewed as light, momentary afflictions. https://youtu.be/lzSQ7UpZ7fQ "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment" (2 Corinthians 4:17). An eternal perspective is the key to viewing trials this way. Table of ContentsLessons for Our Light Affliction Which is But for a MomentFamily Worship Guide for Our Light Affliction Which is But for a MomentSermon Notes for Family Worship Guide for Our Light Affliction Which is But for a MomentLesson 1: (part one) every trial is a light momentary affliction…Lesson 2: light momentary afflictions (part one) are discouraging.Lesson 2: light momentary afflictions (part two) can give us eternal perspectives.Lesson 2: light momentary afflictions (part three) strengthen our spirit.Lesson 2: light momentary afflictions (part four) increase our heavenly blessings.Lesson 1: (part one) every trial is a light momentary affliction (part two) when viewed in light of eternity. Lessons for Our Light Affliction Which is But for a Moment Lesson 1: (part one) __________ __________ is a light momentary affliction (part two) ________ ____________ in light of eternity (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Hebrews 11:1, 10, Genesis 13:8-10, Philippians 3:14 CF 2 Corinthians 4:14). Lesson 2: light momentary afflictions: (part one) are ____________ (2 Corinthians 4:16a). (part two) ______ ________ us eternal perspectives (2 Corinthians 4:16b, Philippians 3:20). (part three) ________ our spirit (2 Corinthians 4:1c, Romans 8:18). (part four) ____ our heavenly blessings (2 Corinthians 4:17, Matthew 19:29). Family Worship Guide for Our Light Affliction Which is But for a Moment Day 1: Read 2 Corinthians 4:8-16 and discuss: do you feel like Paul is minimizing your suffering and trials by calling them light momentary afflictions? Why or why not? After reading 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 and seeing how much Paul suffered, how can he say that his, and by extension our, trials are light momentary afflictions? Why is physical suffering so discouraging? Why is it so easy to lose heart? Day 2: Read 2 Corinthians 4:16, Philippians 3:20, Romans 8:18, Matthew 19:29 and discuss: how does the wasting away of our bodies encourage us to develop eternal perspectives? What can we do to ensure we are developing eternal perspectives, versus becoming bitter, angry, or depressed? How do light momentary afflictions strengthen our spirit? How do they increase our heavenly blessings? Day 3: Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Hebrews 11:1, 10, Genesis 13:8-10, and Philippians 3:14 and discuss: what does it mean that we see what is unseen? Why did A.W. Tozer say the spiritual world is the only real world? What did Pastor Scott mean when he said Lot was looking for a physical city while Abraham was looking for a spiritual city? How does an eternal perspective allow every trial to become a light momentary affliction? How does Philippians 3:14 encourage you to have an eternal perspective? How does 2 Corinthians 4:14 prevent us from losing heart? Sermon Notes for Family Worship Guide for Our Light Affliction Which is But for a Moment The title of this morning’s sermon is, “Light Momentary Afflictions.” Go ahead and open your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 4. I’m preaching a few sermons about our bodies breaking down as we get older. As I shared last week, when I was lying on my back in bed for a few weeks I started keeping track of different things God was teaching me, because I had so much time to reflect. I decided to write those things down so I wouldn’t forget them. Then I decided to share those thoughts with you, because all of our bodies break down. This chapter contains the verses that came to mind more than any others. Quick question… Do any of you listen to the comedian, Brian Regan? Katie and I really like him, and we have seen him in person. Over the last few weeks I saw quite a few doctors, and there’s a joke Brian makes about doctors. He says they can be very rude. They walk in and the first question they ask is, “What SEEMS to be the problem?” As though there is nothing wrong, it just seems that way to you. The question minimizes your suffering. The reason I mention this joke is it comes to mind with these verses. Let me read through them, and you see if it sounds like Paul is minimizing our suffering… 2 Corinthians 4:16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction (in other words, “What seems to be the problem?”) is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. Did you catch what sounds like Paul is minimizing our suffering? He said our trials are light momentary afflictions! They’re not that bad. They’re no big deal. And this brings us to lesson one… Lesson 1: (part one) every trial is a light momentary affliction… We will deal with part two later. Could you imagine saying this to someone when they’re suffering? “Hey, this trial you think is terrible and excruciating is only light and momentary.” If we were counseling people how to counsel others we would tell them NOT to say this. It sounds terrible, but here’s the thing… It’s not some insensitive, oblivious, ignorant counselor saying it. It’s God saying it through the apostle Paul! So you say, “Well maybe this is only about trials that are light and momentary…versus trials that are terribly painful and difficult?” No, this is about trials that are terrible, painful, and difficult. Look back at verse 8… 2 Corinthians 4:8 We are AFFLICTED IN EVERY WAY (they are suffering every way you can imagine), but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 PERSECUTED, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always BEING GIVEN OVER TO DEATH FOR JESUS' SAKE (they are living on the verge of death), so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us (they are so close to death they say it is at work in them…that’s close to death when it’s working in you), but life in you. Paul uses the word we, because he’s also referring to his traveling companions. To be with Paul was to go through trials. So Paul and his companions suffered terribly, but he could still say they experience light momentary afflictions. The obvious question is how could terrible suffering be described this way? That’s what we’ll answer in the rest of the sermon. Look with me at verse 16… 2 Corinthians 4:16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. At the beginning of the verse, he says we do not lose heart…and this brings us to lesson two… Lesson 2: light momentary afflictions (part one) are discouraging. There are many ways to suffer: Mentally Emotionally Spiritually However, because Paul says our outer self is wasting away, we know he’s referring to physical suffering. Not to minimize other kinds of suffering, but there is something unique about physical suffering. We talked about this last week when we saw that Satan took everything from Job, but told God that Job would finally curse Him when he afflicted him physically. Again, please believe me when I say that I don’t think my suffering was worse than anyone else’s. But with that said I do feel like the few weeks in bed gave me some appreciation for how bad it is for people when they experience chronic pain. Hopefull,y this will make me a better counselor. If people ever come to me and they’re suffering with chronic pain I will tell them that I believe it is as bad as they’re describing. And like Paul said, how tempting is it to lose heart when we suffer physically? These words are appropriate, because it can be very discouraging and even depressing: You can feel hopeless and despair You can think, “If I’m going to feel tomorrow like I feel today, I don’t want to go through tomorrow.” But now for the encouragement! If you look back at the verse, Paul says our outer self, or physical bodies, are wasting away…and believe it or not this can do some wonderful things for us…and this brings us to the next part of lesson two… Lesson 2: light momentary afflictions (part two) can give us eternal perspectives. The words wasting away are a good description of how we feel when we get older and our bodies break down. We talked about this last week, so I don’t think I need to focus on it again. But I do think it’s important to consider one of the wonderful things that can happen when our bodies waste away: It can encourage us to remember our bodies are temporary and this life is not our home It can lead us to focus on the next life versus this life It can cause us to long for our glorified bodies. No more: Aches and pains Diseases Disabilities Degenerative disc disease Sciatica issues Someone sent me an email this past week about the recent serm