Introduction

Sometimes many of us forget. We forget about some important aspects of following Jesus. Discovering and following the truth is not just a matter of “better” life or being good to someone else. Many of us, including myself, often forget that we were drawn into a different realm once we accepted Christ in our life: the realm where the devil wages an incredible war against the follower of Christ. 

Moses said in his last sermon: the Word of God is your life (Deut. 30:20). The function of the Word of God is not just giving life. The Word Itself is Life. Without the Word is death. Apostle Paul wholeheartedly knew this with all his entirety that the Word was his life as well as life for all followers of Christ. Because he has experienced the Word of God as his life, he poured out his heart for the Corinthian Church in 2 Corinthians 4.

Any ministry can pose a tremendous challenge – even for apostle Paul. One of the most challenging ministries took place in Corinth for Paul – also the sheer length of the letters to the Corinthians partly reflects the difficulty associated with the ministry in Corinth. Paul wanted to lead them to Christ, yet, many factors were hindering the goal, one of which was the continual presence of the false teachers and false teachings. 

This chapter came to me as a declaration of war. War against who? Against any person, being, or realm that opposes the truth, the truth of Christ. However the difficult ministry had been for Paul, he was pouring out his heart to tell that he and his fellow ministers to “not lose heart.” In the New Living Translation, the same phrase is stated in a more proactive stance, “we do not give up.” Yes, Paul and his companions did not give up because they knew the monumental consequence for the Corinthians if they retreated. 

Three Statements

The entire chapter can be summarized into three sentences. 

1. We (Paul and his fellow companions) are fragile human beings. 
2. We do not give up no matter how hard this ministry becomes. 
3. We will continue to preach Christ. 

The next three subsections summarize the chapter, not necessarily in the order. 

First: Weak, Fragile Vessels

Paul knew how weak and how fragile he can be. He knew that he was of an earthen vessel, afflicted in every way, perplexed, persecuted and struck down (2 Corinth 4:7-10). Also, he was carrying about in the body the dying Jesus (v11). He admitted that death was working in him. 

In other words, Paul and his companions were severely buffeted by the outside trials to render them weak both physically and mentally. Paul never denied his weaknesses. Paul fully accepted the weakness and limitation of his ability. This was the point where Christ began to shine – inside out. 

Second: Strong Inside and Heart 

However weak Paul may be, he knew his identity and what he had in him. In Verse 1, he knew that he received mercy. In verse 7, in contrast to his weak physical body, it was stated that he knew that he had “this treasure.” He knew that he and his companions were bond-servants for Jesus’s sake. 

Because of this strong awareness of his identity in Christ, he made a courageous confession that although he was struck down, he was not in despair, nor forsaken, nor destroyed. Although carrying about the death of dying Jesus, the life of Jesus was manifested in his body. 

The inner strength empowered Paul to maintain this proactive mindset: “We do not lose heart.” In other words, “we do not give up,” repeated twice in verse 2 and verse 16. “We do not lose heart.” Paul’s action did not just stop at the heart level. 

Third: Fight and Preach!

The ministry did not just stay at the heart level. Paul and his companions mustered the last ounce of their strength to engage in active offensive tactics. 

The first action that they took was to reject any message that does not align with God (verse 2). An emphatic rejection of those craftiness that adulterates the Word of God. This was accompanied by defensive tactics by manifesting the truth.

The second action was to continue to preach Christ (verse 5). This was the very act by Paul to continue to engage offensively to enlarge the Kingdom of God. 

Conclusion

Therefore, admit that you may be weak, but continue to cling firm to your true identity in Christ, and translate that into action of rejecting falsehood and continuing to preach Christ. 

May God bless you.