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Scripture Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
In 2 Corinthians 4, the Apostle Paul was facing, by all appearances, deep affliction. Yet, he was a man who lived above see level; his perspective shows us how to live in faith in times of trouble.

“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...” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

First, we must recognize the reality of the unseen, spiritual world; what is not seen is more real than that which is seen.

Hebrews 11:3 explains that the invisible world was here first. God spoke and made the visible out of the invisible. The invisible world will be here last, as 2 Corinthians 4:18 continues: “For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

According to Scripture, the unseen world is a vital resource. Knowledge of the unseen world helps us when we’re going through times of trouble, fear, or temptation.

As Believers, we are not immune to suffering, but we have the power to smile through it because we know God is with us. He offers supernatural strength to those who fix their gaze on what’s unseen.

We must release the power of the unseen spiritual world in our own lives. There are three great enemies of our faith that exist in the material world.

Appearance, or what we see. We are called to hope in what we don’t see.
Adrian Rogers says, “Hope means anticipation that is joined with assurance, which is based on divine promise.”

Emotion, or what we feel. God doesn’t do His deepest work in the shallowest part of our emotions.
Reason, or what we think. We cannot let our hearts be limited by our logic.
Adrian Rogers says, “Faith is not contrary to reason, it goes beyond reason.”

When a man lives above see level, he will see the invisible, therefore, he will tap into the unknowable and do the impossible. 

Apply it to your life
Are you going through a time of trouble, fear, or temptation? Fight to live above see level and have hope in what is unseen. Pray that God will open your eyes to see He is with you and will give you supernatural strength to face your afflictions.

If you’ve ever faced difficult times—and who hasn’t?—then the next Grace to You could provide the much-needed word of encouragement you’ve been looking for. In remembrance of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, be here for an interview with John MacArthur that originally aired just days after September 11th, 2001.

As a secret service agent, Darin Kinder was trained to handle emergencies. As a Christian, he was gifted with compassion for others. Hear his eyewitness account of the collapse of the Twin Towers in New York City on 9/11/2001 and how he was able to serve other people and make it out alive.

Receive a copy of "Bury Me in a Dirty Suit" and an audio download of "Serving and Surviving in New York on 9/11" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.

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Nothing has caused more animosity between the Church and the culture than issues surrounding sexual freedom, gay rights, and transgenderism. Guest teacher Aaron Pierce explores how we can engage people on these sensitive subjects with unconditional love, without compromising the truth.

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Guest Speaker Bio

Aaron Pierce is the International Mission Director of Steiger International, a rapidly-growing, worldwide mission organization that is called to reach and disciple the Global Youth Culture for Jesus. Steiger is active in over 100 cities around the world within the regions of Europe, Eurasia, Central Asia, the Middle East, East Asia, South America, Australasia, and North America.