Outwardly We Are Wasting Away, But We Do not Lose Heart (2 Corinthians 4:16) Finding Blessings in Trials

In 2 Corinthians 4:16 Paul wrote that, "Outwardly we are wasting away." When you feel like your body is wasting away it’s understandably very tempting to focus on the trial. I would like to encourage you, as difficult as it can be at times, to look for the blessings. I think you’ll be surprised by two things: The number of things you can find to be thankful for even in the midst of trials. How much better you will feel after thinking about these blessings and giving thanks for them. https://youtu.be/_utlRYgdos0 "Outwardly we are wasting away." (2 Corinthians 4:16) When you feel like your body is wasting away try to look for the blessings instead of focusing on the trial. Table of ContentsSermon Lessons for Outwardly We Are Wasting Away Family Worship Guide for Outwardly We Are Wasting Away Sermon Notes for Outwardly We Are Wasting AwayWhen our bodies waste away (lesson one) God is taking things from us.When our bodies waste away (lesson two) look for blessings.When our bodies waste away (lesson three) give thanks for the blessings.When our bodies waste away (lesson four) God wants to be our security. Sermon Lessons for Outwardly We Are Wasting Away When our bodies waste away: Lesson 1: God is ____________ ____________ from us (2 Corinthians 4:16, Job 1:20, 2 Samuel 21:15-17, 1 Kings 1:1). Lesson 2: ________ ______ blessings. Lesson 3: ________ ____________ for the blessings (1 Thessalonians 5:18, Philippians 4:6, Ephesians 5:20). Lesson 4: God wants to be ______ ________________ (Job 2:4). Family Worship Guide for Outwardly We Are Wasting Away Day 1: Read 2 Corinthians 4:16, Job 1:20, 2 Samuel 21:15-17, 1 Kings 1:1 and discuss: what was taken away from Job during his trials? What was taken away from David when his body wasted away? What are some of the things you can see God taking away from us when our bodies waste away? Try to give examples from your own life: what has God taken away from you as your body is wasting away? Day 2: Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Philippians 4:6, Ephesians 5:20, and discuss: why should we look for blessings when our bodies waste away? What are some blessings you have experienced as your body has wasted away, or what are some blessings you can imagine experiencing as your body wastes away? Why should we give thanks for the blessings we can see when our bodies waste away? God is worthy of our thanks and praise regardless of what we are experiencing, but why does it benefit us to give thanks for blessings when our bodies waste away? Day 3: Read Job chapters 1 and 2 and discuss: what do you see people putting their security in? Be honest: what do you put your security in? How would you respond if God takes away whatever your security is bound up in? Why did Satan think Job would curse God when his body was afflicted? In other words, what is so bad about physical suffering, versus mental or emotional suffering? Sermon Notes for Outwardly We Are Wasting Away The title of this morning’s is, “When Our Bodies Waste Away.” 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 down my thoughts so I wouldn’t forget them. Then I decided to share those thoughts with you, because this has been such a trying year for so many people. Last week I didn’t talk much about the trials I’ve experienced recently, but I plan to this morning and I want to ask one favor… I was concerned about sharing so much about myself, because it could sound as though I think what I experienced is worse than what others have experienced. So I want to be clear up front, and I’m trusting all of you to believe me when I say this: I don’t think my trials compare with, or are worse, than the trials that others have experienced. They are simply trials God allowed in my life, and I wanted to share how he has used them for my good, so it might help others. This chapter contains the verses that came to mind more than any others. I will introduce the verses this morning, but we won’t finish them. 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. 17 For this light momentary affliction 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. In verse 16 the ESV says outer self. Other translations say outward man or outer person. It’s referring to our physical bodies. And like we read about last week in Ecclesiastes 12, they are wasting away: The New King James says perishingThe NASB says decaying And this brings us to lesson one… When our bodies waste away (lesson one) God is taking things from us. If you think about trials for a moment, what are they? Aren’t they basically God taking something from us? Think about Job. God allowed Satan to take away: His animalsHis servantsHis houseHis children Ad this was only day one! On day two God allowed Satan to take away: His healthHis physical comfortHis sleep Then how did Job describe what happened to him? Job 1:20 [He] said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and THE LORD HAS TAKEN AWAY; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job understood that God was taking things from him. This is what trials do. In our lives they take away: Our financesOur healthOur comfortOur ability to do certain thingsOur jobsOur loved onesEven our lives Listen to what happened with David. We don’t know how old he was, but we know his body was wasting away, and as a result something was taken from him… 2 Samuel 21:15a There was war again between the Philistines and Israel, and David went down together with his servants, and they fought against the Philistines. David learned from his mistake 10 chapters earlier when he didn’t go to battle with his men, but stayed behind in Jerusalem. This time he went to fight, but listen to what happened… 2 Samuel 21:15a DAVID GREW WEARY. 16 And Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giants, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze, and who was armed with a new sword, thought to kill David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid and attacked the Philistine and killed him. Then David's men swore to him, “You shall no longer go out with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.” David went out to battle like he had done countless times before, but something was different. His mind told his body what to do, but his body wouldn’t respond like it used to So what happened? God took away David’s ability to fight. Later as David’s body wasted away further he lost his good circulation… 1 Kings 1:1 King David was old and advanced in years. And although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm. When you get older it’s harder to stay warm. Now let me give you a little background, so you can understand what I feel like God took away from me… Some people can tell you horror stories about their college roommates. Fortunately, all my roommates were wonderful. I want to focus on my roommate my freshman year: Bill Neller. If I had to describe Bill in three words it would be: Smart – he was an engineerNice – I can’t imagine anyone ever having a problem with him.Muscular – he was really into working out and he taught me how to work out. I know this isn’t beginning as the most spiritual sounding story, but I’m getting to a point. This is when my bodybuilding journey began. And of course by journey I mean obsession. Even after becoming a Christian, my obsession didn’t really change. I was a schoolteacher for most of my Christian life before becoming a pastor. I would teach summer school whenever I could, but it wouldn’t last the whole summer. So I would still be left with about four weeks of free time. I wanted to take mission trips, and I’m ashamed to say this, but my biggest concern was being able to work out and get in my meals. A friend of mine went on a mission trip to China and she said how hard it was to get meat there compared to the US, so I decided I wouldn’t take a mission trip to China b/c I knew I wouldn’t meet my protein requirements. Katie told me to share two stories: First, when Katie and I got together after high school I took her to the gym before going to dinner for our first date…so I guess the gym was our first date.Second, an older sweet woman in our church invited us to a fancy Christmas dinner at her house. I was afraid she wouldn’t have much meat…and she didn’t. But fortunately I came prepared. I brought a chicken breast with me. I was pulling it apart under the table to eat it very subtly…but she caught me…and got really mad. Apparently, she didn’t care about my bodybuilding efforts. Basically, from my freshman year of college I worked out religiously for the next 15 to 20 years, including my first few years here. And I feel like God took that away from me. When you have degenerative disc disease you can’t lift very much. But when our bodies waste away, there are still many blessings…and this brings us to lesson two… When our bodies waste away (lesson two) look for blessings. When you feel like your body is wasting away it’s understandably very tempting to focus on the trial. I would like to encourage you, as difficult as it can be at times, to look for the blessings. When we were going over the sermon Katie wanted to share something encouraging with the pregnant and postpartum women. She said… “You may feel as though your body is wasting away,...