Trials and Suffering

Alright, 2 Corinthians 4, really just a goldmine of text, isn't it? This is really, I think, one of the highlights of the Word of God. I've spent a lot of time here over the years and it's been just a privilege to prepare for today and just kind of sinking my teeth deeper into what I think is some of the most uplifting and encouraging text that we have before us. What I'd like to do today is go back to verse 6, and we're going to read down through verse 16, and we're going to really, I think, consider this the penultimate of what I think is really the ultimate part of this text, which is next week. So I'll be with you next week again covering verses 17 and 18, which I think really, in a conclusive manner, really kind of give us that rest and peace that really sets the rest of this text in the truth in which it was written. Let's start with verse 6, Hal covered 6 through 12, I believe, with you last week.

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. We're troubled on every side, yet not distressed. We're perplexed, but not in despair. persecuted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed, always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us but life in you.

Okay, now verses 13 through 16 is really the text for today. And I've labeled this, our faith gives rise to God's glory. Not that our faith is initiated by us necessarily, but the way we respond by faith ultimately is an opportunity for the revelation of God's glory to be seen in our lives. Verse 13, we having the same spirit of faith according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken. We also believe and therefore speak, knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

For all things are for your sakes that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God, for which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." So the idea here, I think in context, is that the sufferings and peril that really is reviewed in the verses that lead up to today's text is really an endorsement of our faith.

Goodness, if these trials and tribulations come our way and we in fact act as the world acts, What distinguishes us from the people who walk around us? Remember, we're in the world, but not of it, right? But unfortunately, I think the unbelieving world measures us with yardsticks. And unfortunately, we all have the capability of responding, as verse 16 would indicate, either with the outward man or, in fact, with the inward man.

So the opportunity here is that these trials really allows our faith to be seen for what it really is. With, I think, a wrong theology in terms of how one lives the Christian life, I think failure is ultimately before each and every one of us, because the old man ain't got it in him to probably respond in this way.

Can anybody relate to that? You know, I mean, the world, sometimes, are you amazed by the world sometimes, the way they react to tragedy in their lives? I mean, they seem sometimes to carry themselves better than believers. What's that all about? How can, how's this happen? Anybody have a thought? Looking at the self-righteousness in yourself, of course, it kind of, though you may be shocked and depressed inside, you're still displaced on the outside. But the believer is more dependent and therefore they are often more broke because God let them down, so to speak. And I don't know, maybe that's the way I see it.

Okay, let's take two people. Let's take a believer and let's take an unbeliever. And let's say it's a 40-year-old woman who just lost her sister in an automobile accident. and the non-believer seems to carry herself with confidence that everything's alright, but the believer, in fact, is really distraught. And so if you look at this, measuring it with a yardstick, the unbeliever actually looks like she's responding better to this incident than the believer. What's going on here? I think the unbeliever thinks that, you know, oh, my sister was a good person, so she's going to be in heaven, and we're not going to worry about that. But the believer, maybe this person that died is an unbeliever, and is distraught because They're not going to see him again.

Yeah, that's a good answer. Any other thoughts about that? Well, I was just thinking, sometimes a believer thinks, I think, thinks that the Lord's going to protect him, not that any harm comes to him, you know, or to those he loves. Not taught very well, but at least he's a good believer nonetheless. Sometimes I think that way. Anybody else?

I just think a lot of times, too, we respond in the old man just like a non-believer. We're not focusing on the Lord and trusting Him that the circumstances, whatever those circumstances are, we don't understand the bigger picture, but the Lord has a plan in mind. And what is the bigger picture? What's the bigger picture, despite what the outward appearance may be?

Yeah, that's so true, and we're going to get to that. Let's pursue this and see what we might have here. 2 Corinthians 4.13, we having the same spirit of faith. Now notice, the unbeliever has no spirit of faith, but yet this woman has responded, quote, more admirably in a situation in which a major trial has entered her life than maybe we would. But keep in mind, God's not in the business of providing a yardstick to our response. I mean, we're new creations in Christ Jesus.

And you would have to admit that each and every one of us that walks in these perishing bodies of ours, in fact, are different personalities. Are we not? I mean, some people are shy and reluctant and kind of laid back and type B personalities. No matter what comes, they seem like they're walking through it, although down deep, we know that there's not a spirit of rest. But in fact, other people are very animated, very outward, and very influenced by the things around them, and are very unwilling to, in fact, allow anything to get in their way. And so the responses may be very different just because we have two different people.

God saves all kinds. I don't think God's in the business of changing our personalities. There's nothing sinful about who we are. But the question is, in whom are we placed? Ourselves or in the Lord Jesus Christ? So response is, don't look horizontally. You may be disappointed. The relationship is a vertical one, is it not?

So Paul says, we have in the same spirit of faith according as it is written, I believe and therefore I have spoken. Turn to Psalm 116 verses 8 through 10. And whoever gets that, please go ahead and read it for us. Psalms 116, verses 8 through 10. Anybody?

For thou hast delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from fall. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I believed, therefore have I spoken. I was greatly afflicted. So David responds to this affliction and really, I think, has no doubt why in he responded and was maintained to the affliction the way he was. And he said, I believe, therefore I've spoken. So this whole ability to reflect or to speak on, in fact, what our faith reveals really relates to an acknowledgment of faith.

Let's go back to basics. What's faith? What is faith? I want it to be simple now. Don't turn me to Hebrews 11-1, although that's an acceptable text. Simplify it. One kind of short thought about what faith is. We believe in the things we cannot see. Well, I could think of a lot of earthly things like that, right? That potentially could be. You're reflecting the things of the Lord, correct? Right? Okay. Other comments? If you're looking for a one word answer... Not a one word, but that's okay. You can try that if you want. Trust is a part of it. I mean, you can't really give a one word answer.

Is it a blind trust? Is our faith a blind trust? I mean, Kierkegaard had this idea that this was a leap of faith, right? There's this huge valley before us, and we just kind of leap across it, believing that we're going to reach the other side without, in fact, falling and injuring or killing ourselves. Is that what we're talking about, faith?

I think Schofield has really narrowed it down very beautifully. Believing and receiving what God has revealed. Can you make it any simpler than that? Faith is believing and receiving what God has revealed. And you know, the neat thing about that definition is if we look at Adam or Abraham or Joseph, their faith was equally based on what God has revealed as what our faith is today.

We have such a tremendous advantage, don't we? Doug, what do we have different today than, say, Joseph did in the days of early Israel? The Word. Right. Of course, you could say Abraham had a good deal. God spoke to him directly, right? That's a pretty good deal, too. But God spoke to a lot of people directly and not necessarily had the impact that maybe we have today. So here's what God has revealed. So this same spirit of faith that Paul talks about is really the revelation of his written Word that we have to be such an advantage.

Now the question is that comes up in this context. Let's turn back to 6 through 12, the text for today. So God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, etc., etc., down to verse 8, or verse 7, we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, not of others. We're troubled on every side, yet not distressed, perplexed, not in despair, persecuted, not forsaken, cast down, not destroyed, always bearing about.

Do you believe this? I mean, this is really essential, I think, in terms of trials and tribulations. Do we believe that what God says is true? And if we believe it, then should our response be worked upon so it can improve? I mean, are we supposed to try harder so that we can look more like a Christian when these trials come our direction? What is our belief based on?

Faith, rest. I'm sorry? Faith, rest. Faith, rest. Okay. You want to elaborate on that, Doug? What's faith, rest? When you rest, The Word tells us what the Bible says and what we've been taught. The rest don't have to rest on the back of the cross. It's in control. I can control it.

So what's the eternal truth of this faith based on? What do we claim that would allow us to believe God and what he says here when it says we're persecuted but not forsaken? Carol said that they were all things put together for good, but it wasn't one way. But it's over when he goes back to God himself. In the covenant in the ages. His own veracity. He cannot deny himself. What happened on the cross too. He was crucified for our sins, but then the Lord said he would be resurrected. He was.

Okay, what's this earthly walk all about anyway? You're in the right class. Okay, so we're all here because we're interested in knowing a little bit more about what the response we should have to trials and tribulations and suffering. But what is that response? Believe in God? We see what he has for us here. Carol? That his glory will be revealed through us. And how's that happen? Okay, I'm not going to answer this now, but we're going to answer it before we have these buzzards go off here this morning. All right.

Now notice Paul says in the second part of verse 13 that not only do we believe, but therefore we speak. And I think this is in context quite interesting because As we look at a couple of texts that use this Greek verb, laleo, it talks about speaking rather than remaining silent. That's kind of interesting. I mean, speak comes in about five or six different Greek terms, but this one implies that we speak because we're not kept silent. It's kind of an imperative, if you will, So we believe and then we express what we believe. An example is in Acts 18, 9 and 10, and just kind of part of that verse I put here, be not afraid but speak and hold not thy peace for I am with thee.

And this is at the time that Paul was establishing the first church at Corinth. Another example of this is in Romans 8, 14, and 15, where it says, for as many are as led by the Spirit of God, da-da-da-da, they're sons of God, right? Joint heirs. For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage, da-da-da-da-da, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

The Greek verb for crying out is kind of like speaking, expressing ourselves, and here's kind of a natural way of, in fact, not keeping silent, but in fact, praising God for who He really is. So I think in context here, we're seeing Paul kind of saying, you know, I believe this, Lord, and I'm going to just share this. Now, we've got to decide why Paul is so confident here about not wanting to keep silent about this. It's not because Paul, I think, has decided that he's got the right track here, and he's been triumphant over trials and tribulations, and he just wants to brag about it.

Is that what we're talking about here? What happens when we get cocky in a self-righteous manner? What's a good biblical verse on that one? Oh boy, we spent a lot of time there, couldn't we? What's that? It's always a good one to reflect back on, isn't it? Okay.

So I think Paul's confidence in wanting to speak out about this reflects the fact that through the power of the Spirit, he really believes this to be true. And boy, Paul's life reflected that, did it not? The trials and tribulations that he faced? Let's go ahead to verse 14, knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus.

You know, the Greek for know is about three different forms, and this is an interesting note. This isn't gnosis, kind of an experiential kind of thing. or it's not epinosis, this, if you will, ultimate aspect of knowing from a experiential perspective. This is iaido, or seeking or perceiving from a head knowledge perspective. This is like knowing that Holly Hill's Bible church is on holly. Or knowing when the traffic light turns red, you don't go through it. I mean, we're talking about perceiving and seeing.

So I think that's an interesting use, knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus So Paul is basing this statement on what he's revealed in great detail where in the Bible? Where is the great detail of the resurrected Christ portrayed? If you had to give one chapter other than the gospel accounts where the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ is laid out for you in great detail, where would you turn? Correct. And we have 58 verses that deal with nothing but the resurrection. and the first 11 verses of 1 Corinthians 15 are nothing but the eyewitness of the fact that Christ was resurrected.

And so I think that's what Paul's reflecting on here, knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus. Everybody's seen this. Christ is no longer in the grave. He's witnessed as alive from the grave. Now keep in mind, this has a lot to do with trials and tribulations. same person who raised up Christ from the dead shall also raise us up and shall present us with you."

Now I've got a couple of questions here. How does this verse relate to our trials and sufferings? And to carry that forward a little bit further, is this a hope only or does this have deeper truths in the terms of identification. What are your thoughts about this?

What is Paul really addressing here when he talks about being risen by Christ and presenting us with you, meaning the body? How are we to be presented and how does that relate to trials and suffering? And the identification is? That we're identified in his resurrection. Obviously we have to go back to being identified with him in his death, which means we have to be identified with him in his preference. Buried with him with baptism unto death, risen with him in newness of life, right?

And where positionally are we right now? Right, we're with him, and so when we're lifted up we in fact expect to have the promises of Scripture become true. Let's look at a couple texts. First Thessalonians 2.19, For what is our hope, our joy, or our crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ that is coming? The hope, if you will, of when Christ comes in the clouds that we will in fact be with him.

First Corinthians 15, 20 and 22, again that text that deals exclusively with the resurrection. but now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." So again, the great hope, but also, I think, a truth of identification. But this particularly, I think, the text that follows the chapter we're in right now, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we're the building of God, a house not made with hands, Now he that hath wrought us for the very same thing as God, who has also given us the earnest of the Spirit." So I think that all of these verses speak to not only hope, but the fact that we are truly identified with Him as He is as we are.

We are certainly in a position now to have the Lord Jesus Christ be bonded to us in trials and sufferings, as he will in fact place us in himself at the time of our ultimate resurrection. And he's going to present us, it says. And the question I might ask now, in what manner are we presented?

Is it going to be based on the way we respond to our trials and tribulations and sufferings? Let's take the believing woman before whose sister had just been killed in an automobile accident. Her response is one that we would, if anything, say doesn't reflect her faith. Is her presentation going to be any different than someone who would respond in a more faith-based and mature manner?

So how are we going to be presented when we, in fact, are delivered to the Lord Jesus Christ? Well, Colossians 1, 27 and 28 says, to whom God would make known the glory of this mystery, that Christ in you the hope of glory, warning and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, right? Is that something that we're going to be kind of working on through our trials and sufferings to be made perfect?

All right. So this doesn't reflect on anything that we have to do other than believe. This being presented perfect in Christ Jesus is an accomplished act. So here is the rest, Doug, that you've mentioned a few minutes ago. Jude, chapter 1, 24 and 25, Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to resent you faultless before the presence of his glory, done with exceeding joy to the only wise God." So again, this presentation of the believer is already a done deal. He or she is presented perfect, complete, mature.

The pressure's off everybody, right? It's not how we respond to trials and tribulations, it's whether we believe that this completeness that we have in the Lord Jesus Christ is in fact manifested because of what God has revealed. Comments? Is there any room for doubt here? This is a tremendous encouragement of our faith. It's already a done deal. Why should we doubt the fact that God is true to his promises?

Nancy, were you going to say something? I was just thinking that so often when we see believers struggling with things, We forget that they are still present. I mean, enough of ourselves that we wonder about our own position sometimes when we see that our position doesn't match that. But sometimes we look at other believers when they're struggling with faith and we go, well, why aren't they just trusting? It's okay. Their position is still there. That's right. Yeah, I mean, our condition doesn't always match our position, but our being presented as mature in Christ Jesus hasn't changed one iota.

I mean, this could take us into this whole aspect of rewards that, in fact, are there for us. But how many of you have a list on your refrigerator door about your rewards? Glory of the Lord, I mean, you look at the way you behave reflects that. It's like having a fish on your car and driving like a maniac. It's not a good representation of being, you know... Yeah, that's why I don't have a fish on my car. You know, you react to things and there is almost like this ideal Christian response. And like, you know, if I could say that I am devastated, it would seem as though I'm not glorifying the Lord in that. What do you think the greatest witnesses in that regard to the world around us as believers? A little off track here, but I think we have room for this. What's one of the greatest witnesses as believers that we have in a lost world?

Peace? Yeah, there's a peace, but we all carry an old man, and at times we're not at peace. But what happens when we're not at peace? We're anxious. Alright, but so what's the witness to an unsaved world? Our conduct. Our conduct has something to do with this, but how might we present ourselves in Christ Jesus to an unsaved world around us? And keep in mind, that's the only Lord Jesus Christ that the world may see, is how you walk.

Don't you think that an atmosphere of humility and in fact admission of wrong when in fact we're wrong is a great witness? skirting around the truth or trying to make an apology or saying that this is just some sort of a mistake and just belittling it, I think is not what Paul's talking about here. Trials and suffering, if we in fact respond like the world would respond, we in fact, the Spirit would convict us to say that this isn't really the Lord Jesus Christ working out within us. I think having the world see our humility and our apologies and our admission of wrongdoing You know, what a great opportunity to share the Lord Jesus Christ with people. I mean, to say I'm wrong, this is, you know, not who I am, is sometimes an open door. Any other thoughts about this? that yardstick being applied by somebody else, not yourself.

Okay. Let's go on to verse 15 then. It says, for all things are for your sakes. Now keep in mind, we're in the context of trials and tribulations and sufferings. So they're all for our sakes. How's that? Our sakes? I thought this was all about God's glory.

Well, we're going to get to that in a second. But, you know, there's a growth curve for us too. In 2 Corinthians 1, and Hal, remember, dealt with this very early in our class back in January, blessed be God who comforts us in all tribulation, for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, Nancy, there's that identification you mentioned, for your consolation and salvation. So, you know, these sufferings are to our benefit in that we feel God's tremendous and precious comfort in our lives.

And what's that based on? Why should we feel that we benefit through his comfort here? I mean, why didn't he say, goodness, you're saved, but I want you to really get to work down here in terms of how to respond to these things. Is that the way God works?

No, we're precious heirs of God, sons of God, positioned at the right hand. Where's our citizenship? In heaven. Do you look at this walk here as your business address? This isn't our home, but yet God in his great grace and love gives us comfort through these trials. And that comfort's based on what? Yeah, but what's it based on? And how does that relate to us? How do we benefit from that? Okay, and we're identified, but take me on, take me on to greater heights. Take me up.

This is not our home. So even while we're separated from him in person, the comfort is that Winnie, I've got you at my right hand forevermore. And I want to be comforting you in that aspect, that this earth is just for a time. You know, these trials are just for a lesson. But my great empathy on where you're at and my great love for you is to comfort you at this time period. There's the rest of you're talking about, right?

We're part of eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ. This is just 50 to 70 to 80 years of our life down here by his grace. And I often think of my wife going home at 45 and, gee, you know, the Lord was done with her then. That was all he needed of her. I had a lot more to teach me.

But yet that comfort really is something that really provides an opportunity to reflect on who we really are. And that's for our sake. So these trials are for our sake, to be comforted by the great grace in which he's placed us. Neat. That's really neat. Carol, back to your verse. The other thing for our sake is the fact that we need to recognize that all things work together to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose.

The good that comes out of trials and tribulations is what good? Did you ever try to figure out what that good is when you're in the midst of trial and tribulation? So what is this good that the Lord promises us? Anybody? Nobody can think of any good that comes out of trials and tribulations? 29 and 30. You want to read those?

You got them before you? For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to become conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brethren. And those whom he predestined, he also called. And these whom he called, he also justified. And these whom he justified, he also glorified." Thank you. We can't stop at 28 there, although I did here. I think it's a bait to see if you carried on to the next verses.

What's the purpose of the Christian life? What, Dave? Conformity. Exactly. I don't want to be too much of a reductionist today, i.e., what is faith? I like Schofield, so I want to share that with you because it helps me a lot, believing and receiving what God's revealed. I mean, that's really a very good, I think, definition of faith. But what's the purpose of the Christian life?

I think Dave has said it is to be conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. Is that something we work at? But what's the result of this great comfort that God gives us through trials and tribulations? Isn't that conforming us? Also revealing His glory, because as we're conformed, then through those trials, and that's what Hal's been talking about so much, then we reveal His glory. That's really what's happening. By the conforming of us. But what if we say, God, I'm tired of being conformed, what's this deal all about, right?

Don't get too comfortable down here, everybody, right? How many people are security blanket kind of people? You know, I can fit into that group. Nice place to lay your head at night and a meal and an income and all that kind of stuff. But boy, that's not where true comfort comes from, is it? I mean, the true comfort comes through the trials and tribulations, knowing His great promises are really lived out in us. And that's not something we work at. It's something we believe. Right? It's a belief. It's not an act.

It's a response. goes on in verse 15 to say, for all things are for your sakes, that's where we just stopped, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. That's King James English, forgive me. But as we think about that in more detail, this idea of this abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God is kind of like being multiplied through the many. In other words, this idea of grace is so infinite that it never quits working. And it makes more through more. So as grace is portrayed and reflected in the lives of believers, boy, it's like the SARS virus. Something that's more epidemic, if you will.

And I think the ultimate outcome of God's grace is bringing glory to Himself. Remember the purpose of God is really to reflect His glory and He does it through believers. So as His grace is extended into our trials and sufferings and tribulations, ultimately it's not only for our sakes, but it's to manifest His glory in the life of a believer. So the purpose is God's glory is revealed through trials. a tremendous witness. Now this woman who responded in a way we would think would not reflect her Christian faith is ultimately being conformed through this. If she's saved, which we believe she is, she will be conformed through this process, not to try harder, but to recognize God's great comfort and rest is there for her too. And that as she reflects more on her faith, ultimately God's glory will be revealed.

First Peter says it well, but the God of all grace who has called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you've suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you, to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever." This is growth. This is trust. This is rest in terms of the way God works through these trials to bring glory unto Himself. This matter of the trial being an occasion for God's infinite grace to be more manifested, is that construed as one of the reasons for our trials and tribulations? For God's glory to be revealed? Absolutely. You were saying, and I hadn't thought of that before, making more through more and that more his grace is the more he uses it, the more there is available. And why do you think that is?

But think about the life that's lived by law versus the life that's put under grace in terms of how God's intent for the believer is manifested. What about a life that's lived as a self-righteous life, or a person who's a believer but has got this refrigerator list of things to do? Alright, so there's plenty of grace manifested in that life too, but this idea of grace building upon itself is reflected how? Do we all accept the fact that grace abounds and is infinite in nature? The more we come to depend upon Him, that's one of the foundations of trials and sufferings. And how is that manifested in terms of the kingdom here, the body of Christ?

Do you know grace when you see it? When you interact with fellow believers, do you recognize grace for what it is versus a self-righteous approach to the Christian life? And what's your response to that when you see somebody responding in grace? Yeah, where's the glory go? Do we give credit to that individual in terms of the way they've responded?

There's no way that person could be manifesting that grace. I mean, there's no way in the flesh, or the old man, that that can happen. And the person who's self-righteous, that's all coming from the flesh. You know, I often say this, and it may be not totally correct, but the life of Christ lived out within us is not a life that in fact we even notice.

Put that on, see how it fits. Does that fit? The idea of our paying attention to how what we're doing, isn't that a legally based kind of set of principles? And if you thought you saw something in yourself, you'd immediately pat yourself on the back. So I think that reflects an atmosphere in which God's grace builds on itself, does it not? Because as we smell the new man in people. And as you see grace, you don't think about the grace, you think about the giver. That's right. And to where goes the glory? Right. It goes to the giver, doesn't it?

In the next few minutes, verse 16 is packed, and I think it's got a lot to chew on here. Let's take a look at this. Paul goes on to say, "...for which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." I think the interlinear Greek is better here. "...wherefore we faint not, but if indeed the outward of us man is being disabled." yet the inward of us is being renewed day and day.

Now, let's reflect a little bit on this in terms of what this means. Wherefore relates to what? The first word in this particular verse. What does wherefore relate to? All things, all those trials and tribulations. Okay, and where did all things lead? What was the end of verse 15? What's the last thought in verse 15?

Okay, the glory of God. Wherefore? We're talking about God's glory being reflected in our trials and tribulations. His glory. It says, we faint not. Who's we? Who are we talking about here? We faint not. The believer. I pose the question, is it our outward man who faints not? What chance do we really have anyway, this outward guy?

Now I don't necessarily think that this is reflecting so much on the atom nature. I think the term anthropos for man is a broad term and I think literally reflects on the body that we're carrying the spirit around in, right? How does your body compare to what it was like 10 years ago? Now, there are a few people in here who don't need to ask that question.

David said it nicely in Psalm 73, 26. My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Yeah, his flesh is failing. How's yours doing? We're not talking about flesh in a spiritual sense. We're just talking about this body that ultimately wears out and crumbles.

Second Peter 3.9, the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, da-da-da-da-da, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. The perishing relates to what? Well, it can be implied salvation, but it's also the idea that that before somebody perishes, their ultimate body crumbles, that they come to salvation. I mean, it can be implied more broadly than that. But I think this verse is really written as it intends to be stated, is that the inward man is in fact who the we is.

Romans 7.22, For I delight in the law of God after the inward man. What's the law of God? I thought that we left behind at the cross. What's this law of God in the inward man? Yeah, it's Christ and his righteousness. It's perfect identification. The law of the inward man is the Christ nature in each and every one of us. Beautiful, isn't it?

In Ephesians 3.16, that he would grant you according to his riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man. The Holy Spirit is not in the business of activating the atom nature, despite what you might think. The Holy Spirit's business, the God's glory, is the sustenance and the portrayal of the new man in Christ.

Now it says we're renewed day by day. The only thing I could think of putting here was wow. I mean, this is one of these great promises of God that I think provides tremendous rest, is it not? The idea that every day we're being renewed, day by day, never ceases. And that renewal isn't to make us smile more brightly or to be nicer to our neighbor. But being renewed is in the truth of who we are in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3.10, the new man that is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. To God be the glory.

Titus 3.5, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration. And look at this, and renewing of the Holy Spirit. This isn't a dead deal or a done deal. 1 Peter 3-4, but let it be the hidden man of the heart, or the inward man, in that which is not corruptible, of a meek and quiet spirit, which is the sight of God at a great price.

So this idea of the inward man being renewed day by day is perfect for our trials, is it not? Because if we're not reminded of our identification with the Lord Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection, and are positioning at the right hand with him, we can get very depressed about this earthly existence, can't we? I mean, how else would you respond if you didn't have this trust and faith?

And I would contend that even much of the body of Christ, who doesn't really reflect on identification, are kind of, to some extent, at a losing ballgame when it comes to these trials and tribulations. Because there's no rest. There's no belief. in what the Christian life is all about. I don't know about you.

When I got saved, I was glad to hear my sins were forgiven, and I also was really glad to hear I had eternal life. But then I asked the next question, how do you live the Christian life? And I didn't know how to go about doing that. And ultimately, over the early years, I tried to pay God back by doing everything possible. And I got worn out.

And then finally, I realize that there's no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, right? And there's a rest that begins, a whole new existence. And it's really something that, unfortunately, I think most of our fellow members of the body really, really miss. So let's ask a couple of questions here.

How's your outward man doing through all these trials and tribulations, this perishing flesh we all carry? How's it doing? Well, it's doing kind of crooked up there right now, isn't it? The concepts keep looking up. Do we need to continue to look up to God to say, God, help me through my trials and tribulations? Is that where we're at here? How many people are looking up? George is nodding his head. George, you keep looking up, huh? I'm going to give you an alternative this morning. How's that? You ready for an alternative? Oh, OK. All right. George is ready for an alternative. How's your inward man doing? Where's your inward man placed? At the right hand.

How about keep looking down, right? You know, Miles shared this a number of years ago, and boy, I think there's a lot of ownership in that statement, to keep looking down. You know, when I tell, you know, there's somebody at work, a nurse who worked in the clinic a few years ago, lost her husband suddenly, and she, claims to be a believer, and I'm not entirely sure, but at least she has some expression of faith behind her, and when I wrote her a letter and told her to keep looking down, she went to her pastor to ask what I meant, and they couldn't figure it out. They couldn't. Because it doesn't make any sense, does it, from an earthly perspective. I think one of the things that people do is keep looking past. I don't know what that's called, too.

Oh, looking for the rapture. Looking for the return of the Lord. Yeah, as if they're going to be taken away from all these trials and tribulations. How many people want the Lord to come for that purpose? We've probably all been there at times, haven't we? We've said, Lord, I wish you'd come, take me out of this situation. And that's wrong. That's so wrong. Because it doesn't reflect what the purpose of the trials and tribulations really are.

The Lord did it, don't you think? The Lord Jesus did that in the garden? Paul did. What? That the Lord would come? No, that he would be taken and he asked for the thorn in the flesh. Oh, absolutely, yeah. But Paul moved on, didn't he? And the Lord Jesus Christ's concern was his separation from his Heavenly Father, I think. Not to belittle the cross. I mean, if you've seen the film Passion, you're overwhelmed with the human suffering that he went through. However, I think the movie stops far short. because his separation from his Heavenly Father, I think, is really a very important message that was not reflected upon.

So this idea of looking down really reflects very nicely 2 Corinthians 3.18, but we all with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord. Notice the glory of the Lord, right? Remember, trials and tribulations is our faith being endorsed so that his glory is revealed, and if we're hanging out upstairs, we're experiencing that glory day in and day out. So, when we're looking in the mirror and this glory of the Lord is perceived, we're changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. This isn't something we wish on or hope for. This is in fact true, and it relates to where we hang out, whether it be here looking up, George being there and looking down. That's where the great grace really comes from.

Now this idea of position in terms of the response to trials and tribulations, I've got something I wanted to share with you. This is something that I was privileged to receive from Myles before he went home to be with the Lord, and I have it posted above my desk, and I kind of go through a routine each morning with some weights and things, and I kind of just look at this constantly, and it's really, really uplifting.

So let's look at this. Live positionally, crucified, risen, and seated. Live positively, fully persuaded. How about this one? Live possessively, all things are yours. That's nice. And finally, live triumphantly more than conquerors. Can you put this into perspective with the kinds of trials and sufferings that you have in your life?

Is there any hint of the lack of sufficiency in this little series of phrases? Any comments at all? I think sometimes if you don't call on the Lord, you know. You know, being thirsty and not going for water. It's there. Why not go and get you a drink of water? He's there all the time that you forget to call on him or you don't want to do.

But don't you think it begins with right theology? I mean, we come to this church all because I assume we share at least to some aspect these truths, which are not our idea what the truth is. It's clearly written in the Word of God. But I suspect the frustration of the Christian life comes from one in which we're not really reflecting on things above, but simply on the circumstances that surround us here. Other thoughts? Okay, well next week, take a look at 17 and 18 next week because I think it really summarizes very nicely the foundation that was laid below for our light affliction. which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal way of glory. While we look not at the things that are seen, but the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are what? Temporal. And the things that are not seen? Eternal.

Okay, let's close with prayer. Heavenly Father, we're thankful for the fact that the word is true and that you've given us the opportunity and capability of believing what you've revealed. We're thankful that our faith is not dead, it's not a leap. It's based on a series of facts as to the Lord Jesus Christ and who he is, and also the fact that we're all sinners needing salvation. And we're thankful through your word that you continue to build on that truth that we can experience on a day-to-day basis and see the Lord Jesus Christ provide all we need in the way of strength and sufficiency. And we pray in his precious name. Amen.