Knocked Down But Not Destroyed

2 Corinthians 4

​“The grief down here is nothing compared to the glory we’ll know up there.” Harold Wilmington
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 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.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV)

In 2 Corinthians 4, we see the Glory of salvation, service, and suffering. Despite how that sounds, according to the Apostle Paul, there is not only Glory in service, but suffering for the sake of Jesus Christ and His kingdom.

Like many in the ministry there is sacrifice, struggle, and sometimes much suffering. Paul experienced this firsthand.

What I have learned is that no one is writing books on the suffering in service or ministry that Paul experienced; what every ministry leader knows all to well—the difficulties in leading and leaving a church, the struggle of sacrificing your family for another family in crisis, or working obscure hours and sleepless nights. Only blogs and social media posts are now beginning to be written of fallen, destroyed ministry leaders due to the stress, strain, and wear on the body and mind caused by everything in you being laid down and invested everyday so that a few might come to know Jesus and His promise of eternal life.

Very little is said about daily battles being fought with Satan himself, the wear on mind, body and soul caused by battling the principalities and powers of this present darkness in the power of Christ; yet, the outside, our bodies, still being torn down each passing day. No one is discussing the experience of those you love most turning their backs on you or the ministry you have deeply invested because of preferences or positions on a specific passage of Scripure. But, it’s the life many are called too, much like Paul and his calling on the Damascus road. It’s what Jesus experienced throughout His ministry. Not much is shared about that pain. Not much is said about how many in ministry experience deep wounds and even death in their calling. But, every ministry leader worth their salt will tell you that the call is not just inescapable, but the greatest path one could walk. There is nothing greater than suffering for the Glory of Jesus, the One who surrendered and sacrificed His life for those He loves. There is no greater love than this!

Jesus, in not so many words said, “Come follow me, suffer and die.” Not a real appealing career choice for the faint at heart. But, this was the calling Paul had on his life. This is the call I have on my life, and maybe you do too.

Like Jesus, Paul paid a great price for his ministry, but the legalists of the day went about the church collecting honors. As believers and followers, we are vessels; and the treasure of the gospel life within us is of utmost importance.

As vessels, we must be clean, honorable, and faithfully available for His use for whatever the calling as a great testimony for the work of Christ and His Spirit residing in us as repentant believers.

“Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” 2 Tim. 2:20–21 (ESV).

As an example for Paul and the other Apostles, Jesus suffered and turned that suffering into glory. By faith, we can do the same thing. It is not wrong to care for the outward person, so long as we recognize that it is perishing.

Like Paul, we must allow the Holy Spirit to transform us and to demonstrate God’s power and presence in our weak and decaying body.
Today, may we concentrate on the inner person—our faith, hope, joy; our heart and Spirit; and a character that bears much fruit. Here, Paul reminds us that “it is the invisible that is imperishable.”
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“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” 2 Corinthians 4:7–11 (ESV)

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