A teaching by Rev. Barbara Williams, President of the Ministry of the Watchman International
Week of January 8-12, 2024
MONDAY
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
The Apostle Paul was acquainted with adversity. He spoke of light afflictions, which could not be compared with the glory that would be revealed in us while we look at the things that are not seen instead of the things that are seen.
Things that are seen are temporal, or but for a moment (as in the light afflictions), but the things that are not seen are eternal. Eternal things are the unseen things. Paul tells us to look at these things instead of the seen, or temporal things. How can we look at that which is unseen? How can we keep our focus on the eternal or unseen rather than the temporal, temporary, or seen?
This takes a discipline of focus that is available only to those who believe, really believe in the promises of God. What are some of the unseen, eternal things that we should look to?
If you are in need of healing, there is good news! Proverbs 4:20-22 SAYS:
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
So there is life and health in God’s word. Since God’s word is medicine, we must take it like we would a prescription. I suggest three times a day, like you would your food. Remember, healing is the children’s bread. Consider this your “dose” for today. Remember, read, and meditate three times a day the following:
Rx: Psalm 103:1-3 ~ Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases…
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
If you’ve never studied the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, we invite you to join us as we read through the Bible in a year. Read and meditate on these chapters this week:
January 8: Genesis 8, Matthew 8, Ezra 8, Acts 8
January 9: Genesis 9-10, Matthew 9, Ezra 9, Acts 9
January 10: Genesis 11, Matthew 10, Ezra 10, Acts 10
January 11: Genesis 12, Matthew 11, Nehemiah 1, Acts 11
January 12: Genesis 13, Matthew 12, Nehemiah 2, Acts 12
January 13: Genesis 14, Matthew 14, Nehemiah 3, Acts 13
January 14: Genesis 15, Matthew 15, Nehemiah 4, Acts 14
TUESDAY
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
If you are lonely or feeling alone, there is an unseen focus that will make light work of the affliction of loneliness. This does not entail keeping oneself busy with frivolous or meaningful things to do, but it is a matter of focus. Focus on the eternal truths of God’s many remedies for loneliness. He has said He will never leave you or forsake you. Focus on that until it is real to you, and you feel the reality of that word.
The Word of God is very much alive, you know. Focus on the fact that He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Ask Him to explain to you what that means and He will manifest the reality of that statement to you. He is better than any human company you might have. To be alone from the company of man and to draw nigh to Him is the best thing.
The light affliction of the feeling of loneliness is not to be compared to the glorious reality of allowing Him to be your all in all. Focus on his presence, which is eternal; don’t focus on you loneliness. It is only temporary.
WEDNESDAY
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
If you are sick, it is only a temporary condition if you will accept Jesus, (who is eternal), as your healer. Perhaps they have not yet diagnosed your symptoms. If you will focus on Jesus the healer and meditate on the word that says, “Himself took your infirmities and bear your sicknesses (Isaiah 53:3,4)”, soon He will manifest Himself as your healer, and your next visit to the doctor will render a good report.
Meditation in the word always produces the result of the word. Sickness is of the world and is therefore only temporary. It can be a momentary and light affliction if you will focus on healing and perfection, which are in Christ, who is eternal. Healing is pure. Whatever is pure and holy is eternal. Sickness was nailed to the cross with Jesus, and atoned for by His blood. He bore stripes to pay for healing for all who believe.
These truths are eternal because they come from God’s Spirit of Truth. Focus on this eternal truth: Jesus healed all who came to Him believing.
THURSDAY
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
What else do you see in your life that is troublesome to you? Some people are stuck in a job that they dislike. I remember praying with a woman at a church where I was on the ministerial staff. The Lord told me that He would soon put her in a job (she was unemployed at the time) and that she would find joy in her work. She took the job, and immediately began to find fault with the job, and was angry with me because she was unhappy. How we feel about things is often a matter focus. She decided to focus on all the negative things about the job instead of being thankful that the Lord had found a job for her. She even began to insist that this was not the job for her.
When I asked the Lord about this, He told me that we could find joy and contentment in any situation if we will focus on Him and His goodness to us. Her unhappiness was an indication of a wrong focus. How we feel about anything is largely up to us. To focus on the eternal keeps us in the fruit of the Spirit of God.
That fruit will manifest in our situation and surroundings if we will continue to focus on God. The eternal things will always replace the temporal.
FRIDAY
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
The fruit of God is an eternal thing. If you are discouraged (a temporary state) then do as David did. He encouraged Himself in the Lord his God (1 Samuel 30:6). Though the word does not specifically tell us what David did, it would seem that he may have sang psalms and hymns to himself and worshipped the Lord.
The bible tells us that a merry heart is medicine to us. It does us good. I believe that David meditated on the goodness and power of God either through singing or rehearsing the mighty deeds of God in his own ears. It is evident that David knew how to do this, because he encouraged himself in the Lord before he went out the meet Goliath of Gath.
Before we meet any giant or problem that seems too big for us, we need to take on the fruit of God’s spirit. If we take on joy and faith, we will have the confidence to meet any temporary affliction. Focusing on the attributes of God allows us to take on these very qualities in our spirit. We become bigger than our problems.
Eternal things are bigger than temporal. Focus on the eternal things.