2 Corinthians 4:8-12 

⁸We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹²So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

Global Warming

         Oh no! “Global freezing! Global freezing!” Or is it “Global warming!” No! No! No! It’s “Climate change!” “Climate change!” Whether it’s global warming or global freezing, climate problem is always part of life on earth.

         We don’t want to be bothered by climate problem. We wish to enjoy every bit of the moment. We wish to live in paradise, right? God designed and designated the moment we can live in paradise. Can you believe it?

         Let us seriously reflect on what it declared in Revelation 21:3-4.

            ³I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

         Nobody wants to get sick. It’s sad when loved ones leave this world. What can we do? Jesus Christ resurrected and prepared a place for each of us in heaven. Certainly, he will return and take us into heaven. While we wait for his return, it is wise not to waste away but make sure that behavior and activities will be converted as heavenly treasures for ourselves. How?

         Discover the power of Christ’s resurrection. Apostle Paul declared in Philippians 3:10-11, ¹⁰I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

         What is this power of Christ’s resurrection? The power of Christ’s resurrection pertains to his victory over sin and death. Death is the worst problem of mankind. Eternal death is the penalty of sin. Christ resurrected and defeated sin and death. He can easily solve problems of mankind.

         By faith, Christ saved us from eternal death, and we can explore life in its fullness. Yet most often than rarity, we are distracted by problems in almost all situations. Family, school, work, community, even in the church, problems bother us and instigate us to complain instead of praising God.

         Someone complained about food. They complain about health. They complain about grades. They complain about salary. They complain about politics, economics. Everyone has complaints somehow. There is no such thing as problem-free kind of life in this world, but we can still praise God.

We only need to be filled with the Holy Spirit and explore fullness of life in Christ. We can still praise and thank him despite problem or persecution.

 Christ declared that all his disciples will always be persecuted somehow.

1.  Always Persecuted

⁸We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 

         Apostle Paul and his mission team were persecuted frequently. And the power of God strengthened them during predicaments. They endured and not despaired, instead, they persisted in missions. Were they inspired or encouraged by the promises of God? He testified that in all situations, difficult or simple, God’s grace is sufficient. Explore God’s sufficient grace.

         Together, let us internalize what it declares in 2 Corinthians 12:9.

         ⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

         Have you practically proved the sufficiency of God’s grace? Apostle Paul testified that he endured a thorn in the flesh by God’s grace. Did Paul have health issue? Did he struggle with issues in his mission team? Issues in the ministry are a reality. We will face ministry concerns and complaints whenever we’re devoted to serving the Lord with all our heart. Let’s reflect on 1 Corinthian 12:17-20, ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

Complaint

         A story was told when each part of the body complained. The feet got tired walking. The hands were tired serving. The eyes were tired seeing. All parts complained that the mouth would only eat and drink. As protest, they did not feed the mouth. Then, each part of the body feels sickly and weak.

         The church is the body of Christ. All believers are parts of the church with particular function. If body parts cannot function well, the body suffers also. Apostle Paul suffered for the sake of the church. He gladly testified in

         Colossians 1:24-25, ²⁴I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. ²⁵I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness.

         All Christians are significant parts of the body of Christ, the church. When by faith we believe in Jesus Christ, we become part of the church.

But, why is it needed to be member of a local church, what’s the benefit?

         There are privileges and responsibilities of church members as stated in the church Constitution and By-laws. As Christians, we are responsible.

Driving Practice

         People practiced driving at the church parking lot. But they painted the pavement for parallel parking practice. A church member warned them that they can use the parking lot for driving practices but they should not paint the pavement. They were irritated and argued, “This church belongs to God, and we are Christians. We even attended the church in the past.” Indignantly, they left but they did not apologize for painting the parking lot.

         Truly, the church belongs to God. But responsible church members return the tithes of God for operational expenses, pay taxes and bills. And church members take care of the church properties. Being a member of a local church is an opportunity to practice being responsible Christian.

         We learn from each other. We encourage one another regularly.

         Christians are significant part of the body of Christ. Seriously pray, if it’s time for you to join the church membership. Inform our church leaders to arrange church membership class and interview for you. Prayerfully discover how you may particularly get involved in church ministry activities.

         Apostle Paul exemplified as part of the body of Christ. He served in missions. Missionaries are sent out to start churches. The term “apostle” means “sent out.”Apostles Paul and his team were missionaries. They preached the gospel of Christ and started churches. They were always persecuted because they always carry around them the death of Jesus.

2.  Always Carry

           ¹⁰We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 

         The death of Jesus was the ultimate proof of God’s love for mankind. When we believe that the Lord took and crucified our sins with Christ, we’re saved from eternal torture. Whenever we preach about the death of Jesus, we expect persecution. Persecutions are instrumental for us to realize that Christ transformed us into new person, and our former sinful life has gone.

         Of course, persecution is terribly undesirable. Yet Christ declared that persecution is a mark of his true disciples who abide and teach about him.

         The Lord reminds us in John 12:20, ²⁰Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

         Christ obeyed God the Father even to his death on the cross. He exemplified that obeying God is difficult but also great adventure that could be converted to eternal treasure. Whenever we share the gospel of Christ and we are persecuted, the Lord is reminding us to seek his help.

         The Lord ordained persecution as essential sign that we obeyed him.

Christians are mandated to go and make disciples and teach obedience to everything that Christ commanded. Persecution signifies that we obeyed. Obeying the Lord is challenging adventure that we can venture into,

         Let’s learn from what it narrated in Matthew 14:28-33, ²⁸“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” ³²And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

         The disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, and Peter wanted to experience it also. He asked Jesus, “Tell me to come to you in the water!” With delay, Jesus said, “Come!”Peter actually walked on the water but the wind scared him. We explore much of the power and grace of God when we get out of our comfortable boats and step into the sea of challenges.

         Personally, do you want to explore the power of Christ? Are you also scared by wind of uncertainty? New life in Christ is mysterious adventure. The Lord has designed series of practical challenges. The death of Christ on the cross exemplified his cares for our eternal destiny. He also cares for practical needs. Does the Lord always give practical concerns to pray for?

3. Always Given

        ¹¹For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal                           body. ¹²So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

         Apostle Paul and his team were always threatened by persecution. But Paul testified that he wanted to participate in the suffering and death of Christ to know the power of his resurrection while he preached the gospel.

         Did Paul imply that we are always given problems to endure for us to explore God’s grace? The Lord provides solution to problems, and when we testify about his sufficient grace and love, we’ve got practical proof.

         Concerns and persecutions are always given for us to practice trust in Christ. He always helps us. Everyone has problem. But problems challenge should motivate us to explore more of the power of Christ’s resurrection. We always difficult challenges and even death when we share the good news of salvation, and expect potential believers who listen will live forever.

         Has the Lord tested your faith in him lately? How did you respond? If the most important person in our life gets sick or die, it’s not amusing? Let’s learn from what happened when the Lord declared in  Ezekiel 24:16-18.

¹⁶“Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears. ¹⁷Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.” ¹⁸So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.

         The wife of Ezekiel was preciously delightful in his eyes. Yet, the Lord took her away and instructed Ezekiel not to lament, weep or shed any tears. He can groan quietly but won’t express his sorrow outwardly in the ordinary way of mourning. Ezekiel did as the Lord commanded him.

         It is not easy to hide loneliness when dearest friends die, how much more if loved ones die. Crying and shedding tears are ordinary expressions of mourning. But if we are very sure that loved ones will enter heaven, we can still feel sad to be separated from them. Yet we look forward to that moment when we rejoice and see each other again in heaven.

         Someone said, “When we’ve got no more practical things to rely upon, we experience more of God’s grace if we trust him.” God ordained series of difficult concerns, and if we cannot do anything, we should trust him. And when by faith we seek the Lord to provide for practical solution to our problem, we then, practically prove that Jesus Christ is active in our life.

         May we be inspired by Philippians 3:20-21, ²⁰Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

         Can you imagine how glorious your body will be in eternity? Be sure you received the Holy Spirit of Christ in your life to guarantee that you are citizens of heaven. Don’t just assume. Rededicate your life to the Lord now.

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