"For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus´ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body."

Introduction: We often say we are dying, when we mean to say we are suffering from great trouble. When we talk to someone who is going through great difficulty, he or she will say, "I am on the verge of death." The Bible says that we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus´ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.


1. Why should we be given over to death for Jesus´ sake?
    1) When the shadow of death is thickening, the light of Jesus´ life will be revealed.
        - I met Jesus because I was at death´s door with a lung disease.
    2) People do not seek hope until they fall into despair.
        - The story of seeking Jesus because of thyroid, liver, and laryngeal cancer.
    3) When we are hard pressed on every side and crushed, we need Jesus who
        delivers, and when we are perplexed and in despair, we need Jesus who has the
        key to the solution for our problems. When we are persecuted and abandoned, we
        really need the comfort of Jesus, and when we are struck down and destroyed, we
        need Jesus who shows us the miracle of restoration.
    4) When we experience the life of Jesus through trials, we will be able to give life to
        our neighbors with great confidence in grace and testimony (2Co 1:2-5; 4:12).

2. Blessings that come from trouble (2 Co 4:17).
    1) Rough minerals will turn into precious metals in the fire of a furnace (Job 23:10).
    2) Our troubles are light and momentary, because through trouble, we are achieving
        an eternal glory that far outweighs our trouble (Ro 5:3-4).
    3) The purpose of our lives are changed by trouble (2Co 4:18).
        ⓛ It helps us to give up our momentary falsity and to receive eternal peace and joy
            with the blessing of heaven.

3. God´s grace that enables us to bear all temptations (1Co 10:13).
    1) Temptations are for the glory of God.
        - The test at the Red Sea was a stage to show forth the glory of God
            (Ex 14:15-16, 31).
    2) Jesus was handed over to death to have an opportunity for His life to be revealed
        (1Pe 4:12-13).
    3) When you are tempted, do not lose heart, but look at the work of the life of Jesus
        with positive prayer and thanksgiving (Jas 1:12; Php 4:6).


Conclusion : 2Co 1:8-10, "We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us."