Sermon Tone Analysis
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!!! 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.
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