Fixing Our Eyes On What Is Unseen. @ Corinthains 4:18

Good Morning Church.

Please stand with me and hold up your Bible and repeat after me.

This is my Bible.

I am what it says I am.

I can do what it says I can do.

I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be.

Today I will learn more of the word of God.

The indestructible, never ending, living word Of God.

I will never be the same.

I will never be the same.

In Jesus Name

Amen?

Before you sit down, say good morning to your brothers and sisters.

Turn with me in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 4:18 and say, "Amen" when you are there.

"Fixing Our Eyes on What is Unseen"

It is a blessing to gather here today and to open God’s Word together.

No matter where you find yourself today, whether in joy or in sorrow, know this: God has a word of encouragement and hope for you. Let’s start by reading our key scripture from 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV):

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

The Apostle Paul was writing to the church in Corinth, a people who were undergoing tremendous trials, struggles, and suffering. Paul reminds them—and us—that while our struggles are real, they are also temporary, but the hope we have in Christ is eternal. The unseen is what gives us strength to endure what is seen.

Today, I want to walk with you through this passage, share encouraging stories, and invite you to respond to God’s call to fix your eyes on what truly lasts.

I. The Struggles We See

We live in a world where it’s easy to be consumed by the difficulties around us. Life has a way of confronting us with pain, heartache, and uncertainty. Maybe you are battling illness, dealing with a broken relationship, or facing financial hardship. Perhaps you are struggling with a deep sense of loneliness or confusion about your future. The reality of these troubles is undeniable.

But, Church, I want to ask you: How often do we allow the temporary to define us? How many of us feel overwhelmed by the weight of the present moment, thinking that our struggles are the end of the story? It’s in those times that we need to hear Paul’s words afresh: "What is seen is temporary."

There’s a story of a man named James, who lost everything in the wake of a financial collapse. He had built a business from the ground up, but when the market crashed, he was left with nothing. His debts piled up, and he sank into depression. For months, he couldn’t see beyond the darkness. But then, in his lowest moment, he remembered a verse his grandmother had shared with him years ago: “We walk by faith, not by sight.”

James began to rebuild his life, not from his circumstances, but from God’s promises. He chose to look beyond his financial ruin to the unshakable love of God, the peace that surpasses understanding, and the eternal hope that he had in Christ.

His journey wasn’t easy, but James found that as he fixed his eyes on what was unseen—God’s faithfulness—he could endure the temporary struggles he faced.

Like James, perhaps you find yourself at a crossroads today. The weight of your struggles might seem unbearable. But I want to encourage you—do not let your circumstances define you. Fix your eyes on God, who is eternal, unchanging, and faithful.

II. The Eternal Promise We Can’t See

In contrast to our fleeting struggles, there is something greater, more lasting: the eternal promises of God. Paul teaches us that what we see is temporary, but what we cannot see—the love of God, His peace, His grace—is forever.

Think about the unseen promises of God. These promises often don’t immediately show themselves in the form of visible solutions, but they are always present, always faithful. In fact, the very presence of God in our lives is one of the greatest gifts that we can experience.

Story of Hope:

There’s a woman named Sarah. She was a single mother with two young children, struggling to make ends meet. The bills were overdue, the car broke down, and she felt like she couldn’t catch a break. One evening, after a long day of worry, she opened her Bible and read Philippians 4:19: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.”

In that moment, Sarah had a choice. She could continue to focus on the mounting bills and the uncertainties of her future, or she could focus on the eternal truth that God would meet her needs. Sarah chose to trust in the unseen—God’s faithful provision. Over the following months, Sarah found unexpected blessings. A neighbor offered her help, a job opportunity opened up, and her family’s needs were provided for in ways she couldn’t have predicted.