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Can We Survive?

2 Corinthians 4:7-11

Introduction: When people face severe trouble and there is no way out they say, "We have come to a dead end." At that time, they may be encouraged to hear, "There is a way out of every situation." What can we believers say at such a time?

1. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed
혻 1) When armies were surrounded by their enemies on every side and had no way out
혻혻혻혻혻 ??The British armies of Dunkirk during World War II
혻혻 2) Life surrounded by sin, the devil, sickness, poverty, and death (Ro 7:24)
혻혻혻혻혻 (1) Jesus cried out, "It is finished."
혻혻혻혻혻 (2) All those surrounding us have been destroyed. (1Pe 2:24, Ro 8:2, Gal 3:13, 1Co15:55)
혻혻 3) The material realm can't besiege the spiritual realm
혻혻혻혻혻 - There is a spiritual heaven in us. (Lk 17:21, Ro 5:3-4, 1Jn 4:4)

2. Perplexed, but not in despair
1) The testimony of a mother of swimmer Jinho Kim who devoted herself to her son?셲 education even when he was an혻autistic child, and helped him to win a gold medal during the Paralympics
혻혻혻혻혻 (1) Her life had no way out - if she had been a child, she would have run away from home.
혻혻혻혻혻혻혻혻혻 She had a bad husband and would have sought a divorce. However, her son was혻
혻혻혻혻혻혻혻혻혻 an autistic child, and she had no way out.
혻혻혻혻혻 (2) Suicide together or believe together? - When she was in despair after she prayed for four
?€?€years, she heard the voice of God, "Love your child" ( a mother who lives to love).
혻혻 2) The One who loves me is in heaven
혻혻혻혻혻 (1) The love of God has been demonstrated (Ro 5;8, 1Jn 3:1)
?€?€(2) Life with God - In the time of my favor I will hear you, and in the day of
?€?€salvation I will help you (2Co 6:2,9-10)

3. Persecuted, but not abandoned
혻 1) The Jews were persecuted
- Both Israel and Judah were destroyed by Assyria and Babylon, and they were혻severely persecuted, wandering without their own country for 2,000 years, but they were not혻abandoned.
(Jer 25:11, 30:17-18, Heb 13:5)
?€?€2) The Church suffered severe persecution
(1) The ten emperors of Rome persecuted the Church continually
- They persecuted the Church with their national power, but the Emperor
Constantinus혻accepted Christianity as their national religion. (1Jn 5:19, 2Tim 3:12)
(2) Christians were persecuted in Korea - during the reign of the (Ro 8:17-18)
Emperor Kojong?셲 father, under the혻Japanese rule, and communist control.
혻혻 3) The more persecuted, the nearer God is (Mt 5:10-12, 2Co 12:10)

4. Struck down, but not destroyed
혻혻 - Struck down symbolizes being killed, and destroyed symbolizes perishing.
1) Jesus was struck down on the Cross, but not destroyed, and He was resurrected혻
(Ro 1:4, 8:34, Ac 2:23-24)
혻혻 2) A person who has accepted Jesus has both death and resurrection
혻혻혻혻 - The person may die physically in any way, but has the life of resurrection.
?€?€?€?€?€?€?€?€(2Co 5:1, 4:14, 1Pe 5:10)
혻혻 3) Unbelievers in Jesus will be destroyed, and believers will be resurrected, taken to heaven,
혻혻혻혻혻 and seated in heaven with Christ. (Eph 2;6, Rev 3:21, Ro 8:35-39)

Conclusion: The Cross is a stepping-stone between death and resurrection. The more we take up the Cross, the more we will overflow physically and mentally with resurrection life.