“Don't Loose Heart"

2 Corinthians 4:1-18

1. (V1) Having this ministry by the mercies of God

a) Paul did not deserve to serve in ministry, but God is rich in mercy

He did nothing to earn the ministry God has given HIM

Paul is thankful, thus don’t lose heart

b) Do not lose heart

The ancient Greek word lose heart has a twofold meaning, “Faint hearted coward so a person with lack of courage, plus bad behavior and evil conduct

If someone is being used by God, the enemy will come to stop the work

The bullseye on you’re back can be wearing from the constant problems

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Application: Maybe you’re thinking, “I do not have a ministry,” be faithful to be a witness for Christ where ever you go

2. (V2) Renounced the disgraceful underhanded ways in the ministry

a) Paul is staying true to the Lord through preaching truth and resisting the tactics of false minister, such as, manipulation

b) He teaches the truth with boldness, he doesn’t compromise the truth to appease people

Application: People often think we pastors talk about hell to scare or manipulate people into believing

The reality is there is a hell and if you don’t have a personal relationship with Him that is where you will end up

3. (V3-4) The gospel is only veiled to those who are perishing, the god of this world has blinded them

a) Satan wants to deceive as many people as possible

He hates us because he hates God and we are made in the image of God

Tactics of Satan:

Doubt in the reliability of the Bible

False teachers to twist the Word of God, so people follow after a lie

He makes people think, as long as they say they have faith in Christ you can live in whatever manner you desire and still go to heaven

Hell does not exist

4. (V7) We are fragile jars of clay, to show the power of the Holy Spirit

a) We deal with problems and we are afflicted in every way, but never destroyed

Sometimes our problems seem completely overwhelming

b) Jesus suffered and as we suffer for Him, we identify with Him in His suffering

Hebrews 5:8 “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.”

Through our suffering we identify with Jesus

Suffering for His name sake (eg. You loose friends because you are being obedient to Christ)

5. (V17) Our suffering doesn’t compare to the eternal glory we receive when we enter into heaven