Sticking with It

Sticking with it

2 Corinthians 4:1-15

Introduction:

Last week we compared the Old Covenant under the Law and the New Covenant through faith in Christ

This week as we move on to chapter 4 we are going to look at Paul’s ability to stick with it in the midst of the hard times

Illustration:

The New York City Transit Company was missing a bus and a driver some years ago. For over a week, authorities searched for the man but couldn’t find him. Finally, ten days later after the man had disappeared, he was found, bus included. IN MIAMI, FLORIDA!

The driver said, "I’d had it with the cold weather, the passengers, and my family! One day after I got off work, I thought, ‘I WONDER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I JUST TOOK OFF FROM DRIVING!’"

So, that’s what he did! He took off for Florida where he enjoyed the sun and surf for over a week, ALL BY HIMSELF!

HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE THAT? Haven’t we all felt like that bus driver at times? We get so frustrated and/or aggravated about life that we either want to pull our hair out or run away!

There are many things that can get us frustrated and down:

            Things not going well at work

            Things not going well in our families

            Things not going well financially

Even when it comes to ministry and serving the Lord at times it is frustrating.

That is what Paul is talking about.  We looked a few weeks ago at Paul’s list of sufferings.  Not only had he suffered at the hand of the authorities, he had also suffered at the hands of those he was serving in ministry.

            v. 1 “we do not lose heart.”

            vv. 8-9 shares some of his hardships

            v. 16 again refers not to losing heart

            vv. 17-18 looks at Paul’s affliction

This morning we want to look at three things that kept Paul going:

1.      He remembered the ministry that he was called to

2.      He developed a sense of resiliency

3.      He looked ahead to what God had promised him

I.                   He remembered the ministry that he was called to vv. 1-6

1.      He remembered who called Him to ministry: v. 1

Another way to read verse 1 = “Since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.”

Paul’s way of saying, “I remember who called me into this ministry.”

      “It is God that I serve and not men.”

Paul often took the time to remember that it was God who called him:

Romans 1:1

 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God….”

1 Cor. 1:1

Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God

Galatians 1:15-16

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles….

2 Timothy 1:9

who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began

I believe this morning that if God saved you then God called you to be involved in ministry.  God wants you to serve Him in some way.

What ministry has God called you to?

Teaching, preaching, serving physical needs of Church, working with young people (AWANA, SS), singing and music ministry, ministry of encouragement, etc.

Many today have quit serving, or are ready to.  Paul took time to stop and remember who it was that he was serving. 

2.      He remembered the importance of the message vv. 2-6

1)      It is the truth v. 2

Must be handled as the truth

      *Not with craftiness

      *Not deceitfully

2)      It is preached to those who are blinded to its truth 3-4

               *Those who are veiled are perishing

               *They are blinded by the enemy

3)      It’s focus is the Lord Jesus Christ v. 5

               We do not preach ourselves

               We preaching Jesus

               Much preaching today is “me” focused. 

               The purpose is to tickle ears and attract people

               Paul’s preaching focused on Jesus

4)      It’s power v. 6

               It is God who is able to make the light to shine in darkness

It is God who is able to bring people out of the darkness to the light of Himself

We are due to start our AWANA program this week, to apply the things that we are saying this morning:

   *Remember who we are serving:  It is not ourselves, it is the Lord

*Remember our message:  We preach Christ who alone is able to change lives!

II.                 He developed a sense of resiliency vv. 7-15

Resiliency is the ability to bounce back and keep going

1.      Note Paul’s resiliency vv. 8-9

Hard pressed but not crushed

Perplexed but not in despair

Persecuted but not forsaken

Struck down but not destroyed

We know what it is to be “hard pressed,” perplexed, persecuted, and struck down; but how do we respond to it?

Many Christians just quit, they give up!!

Paul did not give up, he bounced back and kept going.  How did he do that?

2.      How Paul bounced back:

1)      He recognized that he was a vessel and that his power to continue came from the Lord v. 7

Vessel = clay pot

How much can a clay pot do on its own?  Nothing

It can have a flower planted in it, but cannot do it on its own

It can hold water, but it cannot get there on its own.

The only way that the pot is any good is if it is under someone’s power

Paul recognized that he was the pot, God was the power

We can get down, discouraged, etc. but we need to remember that we can keep going but the power of God!!

AWANA:  When we feel like giving up, that little guy/gal has pushed our buttons one to many times.  We can continue on because it is God’s power in us that carries us.

2)      He had the right perspective on what was important vv. 11-15

Paul’s perspective here is that he may suffer and have hardship, but God is using on behalf of those in Corinth.

Same attitude that gives Paul joy as he writes Philippians from prison. 

God is using his hardship to accomplish salvation or spiritual growth in someone else.  To Paul it was worth it.

We many have hard times, but we can bounce back quickly knowing that is some way God is using that hardship to accomplish something of spiritual value.

III.              He looked ahead to what God had promised him vv. 16-18

He looked at:

            *God’s renewal day by day

            *God’s working that which brought eternal glory

            *God’s plan for eternity

At times it is important for us to look ahead

Like a runner in a race who in his mind looks ahead to the finish line

When we stand before the Lord our affliction now will seem like “light affliction” as we stand in His glory.

Keeping these things in mind we can continue on and not give up when things get tough.

1.      Remember who we serve

2.      Remember to be resilient

3.      Remember to look ahead and see things from God’s perspective