Podcasts about 2 Corinthians 4

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ Listen to our other podcasts: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 4:3–6 - And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. [4] In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [5] For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. [6] For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖~ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.

Courageous Hope - 2 Corinthians 4

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This episode is a study from the book of 2 Corinthians, with Pastor David Rosales of Calvary Chapel Chino Valley. This message was taught on December 21st, 2025. Support us by checking out our other social media platforms! Youtube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@CCChinoValley⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠www.calvaryccv.org⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/CalvaryChapelChinoValley⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/calvaryccv⁠⁠

Send us your feedback — we're listening2 Corinthians 4:8–9 — Strength For Believers Who Are Pressed, Persecuted, and Standing Firm in Hidden Places From London to Cairo, from Seoul to Lagos, from São Paulo to Islamabad — this is the 9 A.M. global Faith Under Fire prayer within the DailyPrayer.uk 24-Hour ARC. Scripture (NIV): 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 — “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed… persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” Hebrews 13:3 — “Remember those in prison as if you were together with them…”Across the world, secret believers are whispering prayers under threat, surveillance, and violence. Global searches rise today for “strength under pressure” and “prayer for persecuted Christians.” God sees every hidden room, every silent cry, every brave act of faith. Prayer  Father, we lift the Persecuted Church, the Underground Church, the Whispering Church, and the Secret Church across the world. Strengthen believers who gather quietly, who worship in fear, who read Your word in silence. Lord, we intercede for Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, and Somalia — where imprisonment, torture, and surveillance threaten Your people daily. Cover pastors, families, and hidden communities with supernatural courage. Let prison walls shake with hope, let fear be replaced with boldness, and let Your presence surround every home-church and gathering. Protect those at risk, deliver those in chains, and empower every believer with unwavering endurance. Lord, shine light in the darkest pressure zones and strengthen faith that refuses to bow. Prayer Points: prayer for persecuted believers, prayer for secret gatherings, prayer for imprisoned Christians, prayer for supernatural courage, prayer for protection, prayer for endurance, prayer for gospel strength Life Application  Pause today and pray intentionally for one persecuted nation. Let Hebrews 13:3 reshape your compassion and deepen your daily intercession. Declaration: I declare the persecuted church will stand, endure, and shine with unbreakable faith. Call to Action: Share this global intercession moment. Visit DailyPrayer.uk for worldwide prayer resources.2 Corinthians 4:8–9 prayer, persecuted church prayer, christian prayer for courage, reverend ben cooper, dailyprayer.uk, global prayer podcast, daily prayer podcast, prayer for persecuted believers 24-Hour ARC Connector:Previous Episode: 5 A.M. — Stability for Emotional OverloadThis Episode: 9 A.M. — Faith Under Fire (Persecuted Church)NextSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

Welcometo Pastor's Chat. Today, there are just four days left—including today—until abrand-new year. I've been talking with you about preparing for a new year,about making sure we are living a life that is different from the world aroundus (Ephesians 4:17). A life of significance, not just trying to survive anotherday. The way we live that kind of life is by being focused on eternity—lookingat the things that are eternal rather than the things that are temporal (2Corinthians 4:16-18). We intentionally take time to think on things that arelovely, kind, of good report, and virtuous. We take time to meditate onJesus—thanking Him for who He is, for what He has done for us, for thesalvation He has granted us, and for the fact that He is ever-present with us. Whenyou meditate on the good things of God, you develop an attitude of gratitudeand thankfulness. That kind of heart enables you to face each day withconfidence instead of fear, worry, and anger—three emotions that can destroyyour life and damage the lives of those around you, especially therelationships that should be the dearest to you. So I encourage you: take timewith God every day. In fact, don't just make God a priority—make Him the centerof every aspect of your life (Matthew 6:33). TheBible tells us that to fear the Lord is to hate evil (Proverbs 8:13). But whatdoes that really mean? It means you live with confidence and assurance. You believeand trust that His presence is with you at all times. You're continually awareof His nearness. He is there to help you, to guide you, to warn you, toencourage you, to lift you up, and to give you grace. These are things that arevitally important to the Christian life. We experience this wonderful presenceof the Lord by taking intentional, special time to be alone with Him every day! Thinkabout it this way: if you didn't take time to spend alone with your wife, yourchildren, or other relationships that are dear to you, those relationshipswould deteriorate. They would lose their influence, and you would lose theinfluence you should have on them. In the same way, our relationship with theLord requires time and attention. So,my friend, take time with the Lord in His Word. I encourage you to do thatfaithfully. We produce two Bible reading calendars—Plan A and Plan B—that makeit possible to read through the Bible at least once a year by taking just 15minutes a day. (Plan A takes a little longer). You can listen to Scripturewhile driving to work, while getting ready in the morning, or by sittingquietly with your Bible open as someone reads God's Word aloud. There are somany Bible-reading apps available today that you can download right to your phone—manyof them don't even require an internet connection. Iwant to encourage you to make a commitment to read the entire Bible in 2026, bythe grace of God. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by everyword that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4). But not only readthe Word—meditate on it. Take a verse or a thought from the passage you readand let it settle into your heart. Myfriend, I encourage you this year: have a plan. Our Bible reading calendars areavailable on the Pastor Mike Impact Ministry website. Get into God's Word—andlet God's Word get into you. Some people say, “I don't feel like I get anythingout of it when I read it that way.” But I'm convinced, my friend, that it'sgetting something out of you. Water running through a strainer doesn't stay inthe strainer, but it sure cleans what's inside. In the same way, the Word ofGod cleanses us daily. Jesus even said, “Now you are clean through the Wordwhich I have spoken to you” (John 15:3). The psalmist said, “Thy word haveI hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). 

Living In Eternity NOW | 2 Corinthians 4:16–18What if the way we enter a new year isn't about trying harder—but about seeing differently?In this message, Living In Eternity NOW, we explore 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 and the Apostle Paul's call to live with an eternal perspective in a temporary world. As we reflect on identity, suffering, renewal, and what truly lasts, we're reminded that lasting change doesn't begin with self-improvement—it begins with who God says we are.This sermon challenges us to:Stop losing heart when life feels heavySee suffering through the lens of eternityFix our eyes on what is unseen, not just what's temporaryAnchor our identity in Christ before chasing improvementLive today in light of foreverWhether you're entering a new year, walking through hardship, or feeling stuck in cycles that don't last, this message invites you to lift your eyes and live from eternal truth—not temporary pressure.

Send us your feedback — we're listeningWelcome to Christmas Week Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper, recorded live here in London, England, where the world gathers for five minutes of faith, hope, and strength. We go straight into prayer. 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 — “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed…” Psalm 27:1 — “The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” Across the world today, persecuted believers enter Boxing Day whispering their faith, meeting in secret, and clinging to Jesus under nations of hostility. Global searches for “persecuted Christians” surge as awareness rises this week. Father, in Jesus' name, we lift the Underground, Whispering, Secret, and Persecuted Church across the world. Strengthen your people in North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, and Eritrea today. Cover hidden gatherings. Protect pastors who lead in silence. Guard families threatened for following Christ. Let hope rise in prison cells, refugee camps, border villages, and safe houses. Give courage where worship is forbidden. Let the light of Christ pierce the fear imposed by governments and extremists. Surround every believer with angelic protection. Let your Word burn brighter than oppression. Uphold your Church with supernatural endurance and unshakeable joy. Today we stand with them — one body, one Spirit, one hope. prayer for persecuted christians, prayer for north korea church, prayer for somalia believers, prayer for hidden church, prayer for endurance, prayer for courage, prayer for protection, prayer for secret worship, prayer for global church Carry these believers in your heart today and pray their strength will not fail. I declare that Christ defends His persecuted Church with power, courage, and unbreakable hope today.Share this prayer and visit DailyPrayer.uk for global devotional resources. 2 corinthians 4 prayer, psalm 27 courage, persecuted church prayer, faith under fire, underground church, whispering church, reverend ben cooper, dailyprayer.uk, global prayer podcastThank you for praying with us today. For more daily devotion, follow us on all social platforms at DailyPrayer.uk.Support this listener-funded ministry for £3 a month:https://buymeacoffee.com/reverendbencooperPrevious: 5 A.M. — Healing for Stress Symptoms & Racing ThoughtsThis Episode: 9 A.M. — Faith Under Fire (Persecuted Church)Next: 12 P.M. — Strength for Emotional Fatigue & Midday WearinessSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." 2 Corinthians 4:7  

This episode is a study from the book of 2 Corinthians, with Pastor David Rosales of Calvary Chapel Chino Valley. This message was taught on December 14th, 2025. Support us by checking out our other social media platforms! Youtube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@CCChinoValley⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠www.calvaryccv.org⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/CalvaryChapelChinoValley⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/calvaryccv⁠⁠

Even in weakness, suffering, and death, God's resurrection power shines through us like treasure in jars of clay. Hope is not found in what is seen, but in the unseen promise of glory.

Walking in Weakness: Walking When You Can't See Where You're Going

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2 Corinthians 4-7

November 30, 2025 Steve Barbee

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NLT) God loves you. Those words are so simple and so familiar that they might be mistaken for a cliché if they weren’t also so profound. The fact that God loves you gives you immeasurable worth. It also gives you context for your entire life. Nothing in this world, good or bad, can begin to compare to God’s love for you. No grief or trouble can overwhelm you because God loves you too much to let it happen. No difficult circumstance can defeat you because God loves you. No struggles are too difficult for you because God loves you. So, when grief, trouble, difficult circumstances, or struggles come, you can put them in perspective by remembering and being thankful for God’s love for you. The apostle Paul wrote, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NLT). God’s love lasts forever. Paul also wrote, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love” (Romans 8:38 NLT). Because God loves you, He is always looking for your eternal benefit. God is wiser than you are. So, if He tells you to do something or not to do something, He does so for good reason. The devil doesn’t want you to believe that. He will whisper in your ear, “God hates you. God wants to ruin your life. All those rules in the Bible are just there to make life miserable. You Christians serve an oppressive God who doesn’t want you to have any fun.” What a bunch of nonsense. I’ve lived apart from Christ. I’ve had the so-called fun this world has to offer, and it wasn’t fun at all. I’ve also found that a life with Christ is a life of fulfillment and purpose. Let us never lose our spirit of thankfulness for the fact that God loves us and is always looking out for our eternal benefit, even if what we’re presently going through is difficult. Reflection question: How can you keep the devil from interfering with your relationship with the Lord? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake...FAITHBUCKS.COM

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.2CO.4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.2CO.4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.2CO.4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;2CO.4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;2CO.4:10 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.2CO.4:11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.2CO.4:12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.2CO.4:13 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;2CO.4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.2CO.4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.2CO.4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.2CO.4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;2CO.4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.FEAR IS A SIN! Let's move our lives into God and receive His rest and peace on all sides no matter how much of a drama queen the Enemy is. BUY MY SUPERNATURAL NOVEL!https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Romance-Episode-1-ebook/dp/B07ZRJV6SHDOWNLOAD THE APP!fringeradionetwork.com DON BASHAM MINISTRIES 1,000,000,000 GIVE SEND GO:https://www.givesendgo.com/bashamPAYPAL:spiritforce01@gmail.comBITCOIN:3H4Z2X22DuVUjWPsXKPEsWZmT9c4hDmYvyVENMO:@faithbucksCASHAPP:$spiritforcebucksZelle:faithbucks@proton.mePATREON:Michael BashamHOME BASE SITE:faithbucks.com

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Today, we are joined by Michael White, lead pastor of Freedom Church (a fellow church in The Pillar Network). This standalone sermon is based on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.1. The problem of pain (v16)…he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 2 Corinthians 4:14The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 6:52. The purpose of pain (v17)God has cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes. I cry to you for help and you do not answer me; I stand, and you only look at me. You have turned cruel to me; with the might of your hand you persecute me. Job 30:19–21I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn't know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. John 15:15…he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” John 14:21“If, however, you are privileged enough to be taken by one of the high-ups into the magnificent electrical signal-box that lies athwart platforms 7 and 8, you will see on the longest wall a diagram of the entire track layout for five miles on either side of the station, with little glow-worm lights moving or stationary on the different tracks to show the signalmen at a glance exactly where every engine and train is. At once you will be able to look at the whole situation through the eyes of the men who control it: you will see from the diagram why it was that this train had to be signalled to a halt, and that one diverted from its normal running line, and that one parked temporarily in a siding. The why and the wherefore of all these movements becomes plain, once you can see the overall position.” - J.I. PackerEvery millisecond of your pain — from fallen nature or fallen man — every millisecond of your misery in the path of obedience is producing a peculiar glory you will get because of that suffering. - John PiperOne thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4“…to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it.” - C.S. LewisAnd we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. 2 Corinthians 3:183. The prescription for pain (v18)If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above… Colossians 3:1We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10Life Group Discussion Questions: lifechurchnc.com/standalonesermons2025Life Church exists to glorify God by making disciples who treasure Christ, grow together, and live on mission. Salisbury, NCFollow us online:lifechurchnc.comFacebookInstagramYouTubeTwitter

On today's Quick Start podcast: NEWS: Newly released Jeffrey Epstein emails mention Donald Trump several times — but offer no evidence of criminal ties. Trump's team is calling the release a smear attempt as Congress eyes a broader Epstein document dump. FAITH IN ACTION: Greg Laurie brings a massive Harvest Crusade to Utah Valley University — the same campus rocked by Charlie Kirk's assassination — to deliver a message of hope and healing. MAIN THING: A new U.S.-Israel deal to deport Hamas terrorists trapped in Gaza hits a wall: no nation will take them. Now, the Trump administration could be sending troops to the border. LAST THING: 2 Corinthians 4:6 — “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts…” PRAY WITH US! Faithwire.substack.com SHOW LINKS Faith in Culture: https://cbn.com/news/faith-culture Heaven Meets Earth PODCAST: https://cbn.com/lp/heaven-meets-earth NEWSMAKERS POD: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/newsmakers/id1724061454 Navigating Trump 2.0: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/navigating-trump-2-0/id1691121630

God's Big Picture Unit 8: 2 Corinthians 4 by St Clement's Church Manchester

"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." 2 Corinthians 4:16–18

Lamentations 1-2; Psalms 79-80; 2 Corinthians 4-5

The Eternal Perspective of Christian Suffering - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - Bro. Scott Autry - 11/2/2025

Treasure in Jars of Clay - Matt Charette 2 Corinthians 4:6-14

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT) It’s a day like any other. You get out of bed. You take a shower. You brush your teeth. You eat breakfast. You read your Bible and pray. You commit your day to the Lord. And then it happens. A visit from a police officer who tells you there’s been an accident. A call from a doctor who informs you that you need to come in immediately because of something he found in your test. A note from your spouse who says they’re done with your marriage. A pain in your body that you’ve never felt before. Crisis hits hard and fast. Job’s world came crashing down in one day. An impulsive act by his brothers changed the course of Joseph’s life. When crisis hits, the natural tendency is to look inward and ask, “How am I going to get through this? Is there any hope for me?” But a better—and, admittedly, much more difficult—option is to look for opportunity in the midst of crisis. God allows adversity and crisis in our lives for important reasons. If we focus on those reasons, we can grow spiritually, even in the worst of circumstances. One reason God allows adversity is to keep us humble. Prosperity and success tend to make people proud and self-sufficient. We lose sight of our need for God. Adversity and crisis remind us just how much we need Him. God allows adversity to teach us eternal truths that we would not otherwise learn. The faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted. God wants us to toughen up and mature as believers. Adversity helps accomplish that. Adversity gives us a new compassion for others who are in pain. Paul wrote, “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT). When you endure adversity, you’re positioned to help others endure it. You can help them navigate the difficult terrain. You can offer specific encouragement. You can say, “I’ve been through this. Here’s what I did. Let me pray for you.” It’s essential that we keep our adversity in perspective. Paul wrote, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT). Instead of focusing on the troubles we see now, we must focus on the joys to come that will last forever. God’s people are better off eternally because they suffer temporarily. Adversity ultimately brings us closer to God. Psalm 46:1–3 says, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!” (NLT). No matter what shape our adversity takes, God will walk with us through it. Reflection question: When have you experienced God’s presence in the midst of a crisis? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Synopsis:C. S. Lewis brought a biblical expression from Paul into the broader evangelical world in his influential 1941 sermon “The Weight of Glory,” based upon 2 Corinthians 4:17.  Lewis points out that glory, as used by Paul, is a not a ‘flimsy” thing, but something substantial and abiding.  Unlike the shadows of affliction, the denseness of heavenly glory is something real and solid.  Since his sermon was widely read and discussed, Lewis made the phrase “the weight of glory” one of the most significant and well-known themes in 2 Corinthians, along with other well-known phrases from Paul, such as “jars of clay” and “he made him who knew no sin to be sin.”  The former is Paul's description of human weakness (which we covered last time), while the latter is tied to Paul's discussion of Christ's reconciling work upon the cross–a matter which we will address next time (2 Corinthians 5:21).If our bodies are mere jars of clay or tents, as Paul puts it, then our outer selves (our bodies) are destined to grow old and eventually fail–as a clay jar crumbles and as a tent wears out.  Paul uses Greek categories (which his audience would understand) to speak of an inner and outer self, yet without the dualism typical of Platonic philosophy.  Paul sees such things through the lens of Christian eschatology–this age and the age to come, as well as through the categories of seen (our current existence) and the unseen (our heavenly existence).  The unseen remains just over the horizon where we cannot see nor experience it until we enter the Lord's presence.While we experience all sorts of afflictions and troubles in this life, Paul's point in our text for this episode (2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10) is that our inner self is simultaneously being renewed in anticipation of the weight of glory–even as our outer self wastes away.  Despite what Paul has been through in his dealing with the Corinthians, the difficulties he has faced throughout the Gentile mission must be seen in light of the glory yet to come.  Since the Christian knows that our faith is grounded in the fact of Christ's cross and empty tomb, so the Christian hope is immediate entrance upon death into the presence of God (ensured by the indwelling Holy Spirit) followed by our own resurrection from the dead at the end of the age.  So even as we live this life in the midst of death, we anticipate the “weight of glory” yet to come since we are given a foretaste even now through the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit.For show notes and other recommended materials located at the Riddleblog as mentioned during the Blessed Hope Podcast, click here: https://www.kimriddlebarger.com/

2 Corinthians

Episode Synopsis:In chapter 4 of 2 Corinthians, Paul addresses a subject no one likes or wants to talk about–the frailty and weakness of the human body.  We have all seen images of great athletes with robust and fit bodies–the Greeks and Romans idolized the human body in their art and sculpture.  But think of those magnificent bodies at their peak (say in their 20-40s) in contrast to those instances where we see the same person much older–with weight gain, joint and muscle deterioration, baldness, crepey skin and wrinkles, and the onset of illnesses and various maladies.  That is what Paul is getting at here.  We are all “jars of clay” destined to die.  This is the inevitable outcome of Adam's fall into sin.  Given his experience as an apostle, preaching the cross of Christ (as unpopular a message as one can find in the ancient world), Paul knows what it is like to suffer for Christ's sake, as well as sacrifice his own body and health in the service of Christ's church.  Paul is not a masochist nor a whiner.  But he has suffered greatly for the cause of Christ, especially in his work in Corinth–a church where many now belittle his work because of his physical weakness.  We get hints in this letter of the emotional toll this took on Paul, as well as the impact of illness and bodily trauma.  Paul recounts these matters to explain to the Corinthians why things have taken the course they have.  Paul is not a stoic who strives to “keep calm and carry on.”  He is not a peddler of God's word.  Paul trusts in God's providence through the power of the resurrected Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit to bring about deliverance from the source of all of these problems–human sin.  Paul reminds the Corinthians (and us) that eternal things are indeed ultimately far more important than temporal things.  The cross is a divinely-revealed message which speaks to these ultimate concerns, whereas Greek and Roman paganism is a mere figment of the sinful human imagination and does not–indeed cannot.  In fact, Paul attributes the latter to the work of Satan–the blinder of minds and the thief of souls. In response to the challenges he faces in Corinth, Paul does not stress fitness, diet, supplements, or exercise as we are apt to do and which are, no doubt, important to our quality of life.  Knowing that bodily frailness will eventually overcome us all–Paul directs the Corinthians (and us) to the sure and certain hope of the resurrection and entrance into the glory of God.  We may be afflicted and suffer now, but the glories of Christ and eternal life in his presence is our future.  For show notes and other recommended materials located at the Riddleblog as mentioned during the Blessed Hope Podcast, click here: https://www.kimriddlebarger.com/

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

❖ Follow along with today's reading: www.esv.org/2Samuel11;2Corinthians4;Psalms62–63;Ezekiel18 ❖ The English Standard Version (ESV) is an 'essentially literal' translation of the Bible in contemporary English. Created by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors, the ESV Bible emphasizes 'word-for-word' accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning. ❖ To learn more about the ESV and other audio resources, please visit www.ESV.org