Light Affliction
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 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.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18(NLT) 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.
Introduction: We thank God for His Mercy and the gift of life to witness another week of Speaking Scriptures.
I pray that we and our families will not be set aside from eternal glory when our Saviour arrives.
During family Bible studies on benefits of afflictions, my heart questioned why there are afflictions at all, if the Bible describes the afflictions as light, then there must be heavy afflictions, are all afflictions of Christians permitted by God?
Let us look at Light afflictions in our Bible study this week.
Afflictions are troubles that give physical and mental suffering.
Afflictions can come from “Persecution” as a result of being disciples of Christ when there is goodbye to the world of sin.
John 15:19-20(NLT) The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.
▶️ Afflictions can also come in form of “Reproach” as a result of obeying God’s words. Reproach usually brings mental suffering due to insulting spoken words or actions against someone.
1 Peter 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye ; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
1 Peter 4:14(NLT) If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.
🛑 Afflictions can come as a result of wrong doing even as a Christian. In this end times with abounding iniquity, many Christians suffer for sins such as masturbation and other sexual perversion and disobedience to God’s words, then they claim to suffer afflictions for Christ. Human nature will not admit responsibility for suffering from wrong doing.
1 Peter 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
▶️ Therefore, any affliction received as a result of being disciples of Christ or genuine Christian indeed, will be found to be “light affliction” by Christians “indeed” NOT Christians “in need”. That affliction will become light burden to the bearer.
Jesus Christ affirmed this in Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:30(NLT) For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
▶️ Afflictions that is received as a result of Christian’s wrong doing will surely be found to be “heavy afflictions” by such Christians.
🛑 Any Christian that imbibes worldly system of living will carry heavy afflictions. I can see many Christians celebrating Valentine with excitement alongside unbelieving world. End result will be physical and mental suffering to be borne alone by disobedient children.
Jesus Christ made a call to all that carry heavy burdens or afflictions in Matthew 11:28-29
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
🛑 Righteousness will not exclude disciples from afflictions, in fact it attracts Satan to attack true believers. The joy is that God will surely deliver the righteous and that afflictions become light to carry without stress, regrets or complaints from the afflicted.
Psalm 34:19-20 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
Hear NLT version of Psalms 34:19-20; The righteous person faces many troubles, but the lord comes to the rescue each time. For the lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!
🛑 Believers or chosen ones are not excluded from troubles in this world, the joy is the assurance of God’s love and support to come out of troubles without scratches like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego who remained faithful to God in the face of death.
Isaiah 43:1-2 But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Hear the NLT version Isaiah 43:1-2(NLT) But now, O Jacob, listen to the lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
▶️ All genuine Christians have the knowledge that whatever forms of afflictions they go through in righteousness will work for their own good. Therefore afflictions become light.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
▶️ Genuine Christians find Grace to remain joyful in afflictions because they only talk to the Lord who solely gives sufficient grace, and not complaining to man for pity party. Therefore, such afflictions become light to carry with joy in Christian journey.
Hear Apostle Paul during his afflictions when he sought God to know why he was passing through suffering.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NLT) even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
▶️ There is hope for any Christian who is passing through afflictions as a result of wrong doing, as long as we are still alive, we can take advantage of His Mercy through repentance in order to move from our night time of “heavy afflictions to the morning of joy with “light affliction”.
Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
✍ Finally brethren, you may be passing through strange afflictions that is not expected for Christians, after realistically checking or examining yourself that such afflictions are NOT as a result of wrong doing, then know that it will end up in glory.
1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
🛑 The heart receiving God’s word must be fertile NOT stony, because stony hearts are always offended during afflictions as God’s word is not rooted in them.
Mark 4:16-17(NLT) The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.
Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those afflicted for righteousness sake.
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
✋ Maranatha
