God, in His wisdom, committed the ministry of the gospel to a few poor fishermen and, furthermore, permitted them to be so treated by the world as to give every hope to the enemy that their witness would not continue long. This He did that the glory of their continuance amidst such trials might be His alone. 

The afflictions and the consoling grace that supported them amidst the afflictions are what Paul speaks of in these concluding verses of chapter 4.

I. THE TRIALS WHICH SURROUNDED THE EARLY CHURCH

These trials centred upon the apostles particularly.

1. They were very severe. Verses 8-9. Centred chiefly on apostles. Four aspects of the trials. 

(1) Troubled = pressed as grapes. 

(2) Perplexed = know not what to do. 

(3) Persecuted = put to flight. 

(4) Cast down = thrown to the ground. Acts 4:3; 5:18,40; 2 Cor 11:23-27.

2. But it was the common lot all believers. Acts 8:1. Grace drew  the fire of enemy, Acts 9:2.

II. IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES THE POWER OF CHRIST WAS ALL THE MORE CONSPICUOUS 

Verse 10-11-that the life of Jesus might be made manifest. 

1. The treatment that brought about the Saviour’s death faced them. Gal 6:17, I Cor 15:31, 2 Cor 11:23.

2. In the midst of such death, Christ manifested His life and power. Verse 8-9 — Not distressed, not in despair, not forsaken, not destroyed. As the healing of the sick and the raising of the dead showed Christ’s power, so the keeping of His church in the midst of trial shows His life-giving power.

3. The hearer of the gospel benefits from these trials Verse 12, fruit of the ministry.

4. It was faith in this merciful preservation that sustained Paul. Verse 13-16. The glorious outcome (14-15) of it all upheld the apostle. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day, 16.

III. PAUL FURTHER EXPLAINS THE SOURCE OF HIS CONSOLATION AMIDST TRIAL

1. Paul saw something that transformed the terrible afflictions, the constant state of death he endured, into a light thing. Verse 18. Paul looked, fixed his eyes upon, contemplated. 

2. Furthermore, it transformed his afflictions into glory. It took a little dross of affliction and turned it into an exceeding weight of the gold of glory. He saw things very differently after looking.

3. That which he gazed upon was the unseen eternal world. Christ and His heavenly realm. Heb 11:27, I Tim 1:17, Col 1:15, Rom 1:20. Thus Paul was kept by the grace of God.

There is a world that is eternal and all have a part.

Eternal bliss for the saints. 

Eternal misery and suffering for the sinner.