February 23, 2025

RIGHT WAY LIVING: LIFE LESSONS FOR THE CHRIST-FOLLOWER

February 23, 2025

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

There will never be a time in the life of a Christ-follower when we’ve learned it all, can do it all perfectly, never need encouragement, or have conquered all challenges. If you’re in a great season in your life, enjoy it. As Dr. Falwell always said, “You’re either going through a tough time, have just come out of a tough time, or will get a telephone call this afternoon.” One reason is because Satan loves to torment a true believer—he assigns his demons to those who are loving God with all they are. That’s why today’s sermon on 2 Cor. 4:7-18 is so filled with lessons we need to be reminded of, for we all go through times when we feel overwhelmed with tragedy of some type, and need to have someone say, “It’s not about you—it’s about Him. Keep your eyes on Him, not on what’s happening today.”

Focal Passages: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18, Eph. 3:20, 1 Thes. 4:13, Psa. 116.

Lessons we need to learn

We are fragile, but God is not:                                                                                                                 

  • Read 2 Cor.4:7. Who is Paul speaking to as “we”? Who was causing him so many problems? Who causes us problems? What treasure do we have? Read Rom. 15:13, 1 Cor. 1:18 and 7:37. What does the word power indicate for us as humans? If you take a vitamin that gives you strength, ability, moral power, or mighty wonderful-working power, what would you expect to be able to do? We have God’s power!
  • What is an earthen vessel? What was the illustration for the vessels? Read Judges 7: 16, 19-20. What is the similarity that Paul is speaking of? Read vs. 7 in NLT. Why do we have this power available to us? Do you pull on that power to get you through?
  • Last week in the ‘close’ of Group Time, we spoke of the time spent on our exterior, when it is the interior of our bodies that makes the difference. Why is this true?

Our tough days are actually our best days:

  • Read vv. 8-9. In these verses are four opposites. Let’s study these one by one. What is an example in your life of being hard-pressed on every side? What would it mean to be crushed? What would be another word for perplexed? What is an example? What does it mean to despair? Have any of us been persecuted for our faith? Will God ever forsake us? How do we know? Can someone strike us down? Does anyone remember what the original word meant (NT)? Think wrestling. Have any of us been destroyed? Can anything happen to us that will be the end of us? Why not?
  • Why will the tough days be the best ones? What causes trees to grow their root systems down deeper? Is that the picture of these trials?
  • Read vv. 10-12, in the NLT, if possible. Should our life and death be such that God is the one who gets the glory when people hear we have died? How can that be? Read Phil. 1:21. Is this true for you?

Our trials are the best preachers we know:

  • Read verses 13-15. As you look at the heading of this passage, why is this true? If something supernatural happens in your life, or some activity which is out of your control happens, what do you usually do? Why do you want to tell others?
  • If you have been going through severe trials for a period of time, and God grants you an answer or a time of peace, do you share this with others?
  • Read the entire Psalm 116 aloud. Let the group share some parts that really speak to you. How do they encourage your faith?

Our pain is the greatest evidence of our gain:

  • Read 2 Cor. 4:16-18. Why do we not lose heart even if we have a sentence of death in our bodies? Read Matt. 10:28. Is this the reason why we don’t lose heart?
  • Read Psa. 51:10-13 and 2 Cor. 1:4. What is one great advantage of the trials we have? Why does it make such a difference if the person who is encouraging you during a trial has gone through the same thing?
  • Read Job 13:15. Is this really true? In the face of death, if you’ve been there, how did you react?

Take Aways:
1. Quit complaining, start praising.
2. Pray that God will teach you how to leverage your pain.                                                                                                                         3. Keep your eyes fixed on the main thing, not today’s thing.

Close:

In this morning’s service, the pastor asked for a show of hands of those who are currently going through anguish that feels overwhelming. To see the number of hands raised allowed those who did so to realize they are not alone by any means. And although no one’s trial is exactly like anyone else’s, it still helps a little to know others are making it through. If you have just entered a time of pain, it may be you are still in the stage where you can “give thanks in everything.” If you are in the 12th month, or into the second year or even more, it may have become overwhelming and you just wish it would end—or you need God’s power to get through each day. One thing is sure: when you get through this time, you will be able to look back and see how faithful God has been through it all. You will be able to see the sequencing of events, and put them together to grasp how God worked for years, possibly, to make things mesh so that the plans and purposes He had all came about. It is astounding that our God never leaves us or forsakes us, but it is true. Totally.

By Sandy Day
February 23, 2025

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