THE SPIRIT OF FAITH

TEXT: II CORINTHIANS 4:7-18

INTRODUCTION

The world says “ believing is Seeing”. The Bible says “Believe and you will see”. In the midst of affliction (v.17) and troubles, Paul  urges the believers in Corinth to walk by faith and not by sight. Troubles are not our greatest enemy. God has given us resources to overcome the troubles in life. Therefore, the absence of faith  is believer’s bigger problem.

Let us learn:-

I.  TRIUMPH IS YOURS IN CHRIST TO CLAIM (II Cor.4:7-12)

• With the Spirit of faith active in our lives (V.13) Troubles are merely an opportunity for God’s presence, power and provision to work in our lives.
• A clay pot sitting in the sun will always be a clay pot. It has to go through the furnace to become a porcelain.
• Jars of clay (v.7) are pretty, but treasures are priceless.
• If you have never experienced troubles, you will never experience treasures.
• “Jars of clay” is “earthen jars”, clay by itself has no value, it has to be placed in the fire or in an oven to become useful, so must we.
• Treasures and clay jars are a contrast to each other.
• The last place you want to put your treasure is in a earthen jar ! But God has done so, so that His all surpassing power may be manifest in us.

• God’s power is seen in our weakness, meekness and limitations.
• With faith we are hard pressed on every side but not crashed.
• We are perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down, but not destroyed.

II.   THANKSGIVING IS YOURS IN CHRIST ( 2 Cor.4:13-15)

• Life is not about avoiding troubles but about surmounting difficulties and overcoming obstacles.
• Those who have never faced problems have never lived.
• Practicing the Spirit of Faith causes troubles to be an occasion for thanksgiving.
• The resurrection is the greatest power at work and the greatest promise in life.
• God conquered sin, death and Satan by raising Jesus from the grave.

III. TRANSFORMATION IS YOURS IN CHRIST       (II Cor. 4:16-18)

• Never lose heart “The greatest tragedy is heart’s death”.
• Loss of hope, not the lose of health, is the greatest killer in life.
• Loss of hope kills a person faster than any disease, disaster, distress and discontent.
• Our greatest hope is in God, who specializes in internal renewal (v.16) not external change.
• Outwardly we are wasting away, but a renewal is taking place inside us day by day (v.17-18)
• In Christ Jesus we are renewed, not ruined, we are resolved, not restless, we are refocused, not regressing.
• God’s work in us is continual, comprehensive and complete in Christ.

• Our troubles for now a light and momentary in contrast to the eternal glory which outweighs them all (v.17)

CONCLUSION.

• The Greek philosopher, Heraclitus said “ It is not good for all your wishes to be fulfilled. Through sickness you recognize the value health, through evil the value of good, through hunger, satisfaction, through exertion the value of rest”.
• Are your troubles working for you or against you ?
• Are you traumatized or transformed by troubles ?
• Let us thank God in advance and in faith for His grace that is ever increasing.