Do Not Lose Heart

Not Losing Heart: Finding Strength in Our Service and Suffering

I. Introduction

Tonight: ONE — FAVORITE PASSAGES

✨Topic: FIGHTING DISCOURAGEMENT

Connection: WE ALL WRESTLE with DISCOURAGEMENT in SOME AREAS of OUR LIVES...

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Transition: TONIGHT—I’D LIKE to LOOK @ 2 COR. CH. 4...

PAUL— SHOW US 2 REASONS NOT to BE DISCOURAGED:

IN SERVICE to GOD

W/ HUMAN FRAILTY

BEGIN— READ V1-6

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I. Finding Hope in Our Service

2 Corinthians 4:1–6 (ESV)

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Context: PAUL JUST FINISHED (CH. 3) — TALKING ABOUT GLORIES of NEW COVENANT

⭐ Focus: “WE DO NOT LOSE HEART” (V1)

NOT BECOMING DISCOURAGED/

LOSING MOTIVATION/ENTHUSIASM

#1 Reason: MINISTRY is BY MERCY of GOD!

IT’S a PRIVILEGE

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#2 Reason: IF PEOPLE DON’T GET IT—SATAN HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES

Connection: WE QUICKLY FORGET WE’RE in a SPIRITUAL BATTLE in THIS LIFE...

=> MINISTRY OUTCOMES AREN’T in OUR HANDS—BUT GOD’S <=

Challenge: NUMBERS AREN’T a GREAT METRIC for SUCCESS

SOME = FAITHFUL & NO NUMBERS

SOME = UNFAITHFUL & LOTS of NUMBERS!

ULTIMATELY: SALVATION = GOD’S WORK

GOD NEEDS to “LET THERE BE LIGHT” in THEIR HEARTS as HE HAS OURS!

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Transition: THEN—PAUL WILL SHARE MORE— GOSPEL TREASURE (KNOWLEDGE of GLORY of GOD—FACE of JESUS CHRIST)

READ: V7-15

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II. Finding Hope in Our Suffering

Treasure in Jars of Clay

2 Corinthians 4:7–15 (ESV)

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;

9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak,

14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.

15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

GOSPEL-TREASURE = FOUND in CLAY JARS

Background: CLAY JARS = COMMON, EXPENDABLE, FRAGILE

GREAT, ALMIGHTY GOD—HAS CHOSEN to WORK THROUGH FINITE PEOPLE...🤯

Connection: INCREASINGLY REMINDED HOW MUCH—CLAY JAR— I AM!

=> YET GOD INVESTS US WITH HIS TREASURE!!

SHOWS “SURPASSING POWER” is HIS! HE GETS GLORY

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Paul’s Examples of “CLAYNESS” (V8-10)

Afflicted, but not crushed.

Perplexed, but not in despair.

Persecuted, but not forsaken.

Struck down, but not destroyed.

CONCLUSION: BEARING JESUS’ DEATH — ALSO to BEAR JESUS’ LIFE!

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Transition: WITH THIS HOPE of RESURRECTION/BEING WITH CHRIST— PAUL OFFERS CONCLUDING REASON NOT to BE DISCOURAGED...

READ: V16-18

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Solution: Fixing Our Eyes on Eternity

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (ESV)

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

✨Reality: LIFE is HARD

JARS of CLAY

OUTER SELF—BODY—WASTING AWAY...

BUT INNER-SPIRIT is RENEWED & GROWING STRONGER...

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Exhort: PAUL CALLS TRIALS of THIS LIFE “LIGHT (INSIGNIFICANT), MOMENTARY AFFLICTION”

Challenge: CONSIDER PAUL’S TRIALS… 🤔

STONED

SHIPWRECKED (3X)

DAY & NIGHT ADRIFT!

BEATEN W/ 39 LASHES (5X)

IMPRISONED AGAIN & AGAIN

OFTENTIMES NEAR DEATH

😮=> PAUL CALLS THIS “LIGHT, MOMENTARY AFFLICTION!”😮

IN COMPARISON TO: ETERNAL WEIGHT of GLORY

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Exhort: ALL SUFFERING HERE is INSIGNIFICANT & TEMPORARY

👀THERE is COMING a “WEIGHT” — NOT INSIGNIFICANT— of GLORY — THAT is ETERNAL!!

GK Background: 2X HYPERBOLE

Meaning: “state of exceeding to an extraordinary degree a point on a scale of extent”

😮PAUL SAYS—IT’S OFF the CHARTS, IMMEASURABLE!😮

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Illustration:

IMAGINE TRYING to MEASURE OCEAN in HOUSEHOLD WATER MEASURING CUP!

IMAGINE TRYING to MEASURE the HEAVENS W/ TAPE MEASURE

=> the SCALE is INSUFFICIENT!

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PAUL SAYS: THAT’S WHERE WE’RE HEADING.

SO WE DON’T LOSE HEART.

(V18) SECRET: LOOK to the UNSEEN 👀

PARADOX!! —LOOKING @ UNSEEN???🤔

REMEMBER—THERE is SO MUCH MORE to LIFE THAN MEETS the EYE...

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III. Conclusion:

OUR SERVICE to GOD = GREAT PRIVILEGE…

IT MATTERS… & RESULTS = IN HIS HANDS...

PRESENT DISAPPOINTMENTS/SUFFERINGS of THIS LIFE— PALE in COMPARISON to ETERNAL WEIGHT of GLORY that is COMING!!

App: FIX OUR EYES on THAT— & WE CAN HAVE HOPE—NO MATTER HOW DISCOURAGING THIS LIFE MIGHT BE.👣

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Discussion:

I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU—BUT MY PROBLEMS FEEL SMALL COMPARED to PAUL’S WHEN I READ HIS LIST.

(Q) ANYONE HAVE ANY TOOLS THEY USE to KEEP PROPER PERSPECTIVE?

JAR of CLAY

LOOKING @ UNSEEN

Close in Prayer