Do not lose heart
Apostolic Defense: 2nd Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 44:15
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We do not lose heart
We do not lose heart
Ever feel discouraged or disheartened? It is easy to get like that when we go through face tough things. Paul had lot’s of reasons to lose heart, but did not, so let’s take some time and look today at how not to lose heart or being discouraged.
Paul’s statement regarding losing heart (2Cor4:1, 16)
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart,
This ministry, this ministry of grace through faith. This ministry of greater glory vs. the fading glory under the Law. More to follow on this as a reminder in a little bit.
the statement, phrase “lose heart” is translated to mean “be discouraged”
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
We know our outer man, our bodies are decaying, but our spirit is being renewed daily. So, don’t lose heart at the temporal, grasp onto the eternal.
Paul’s example given (2Cor11:23-29)
(Insert summary slide 2Cor11_23-29)
Stripes above measure
Prisons more frequently
Forty stripes (x3) minus 1, Beaten with rods
Stoned and left for dead
Shipwrecked x3
Perils (waters, robbers, own countrymen, Gentiles, in the city, in wilderness, in the sea, among false brethren
Weariness, sleeplessness, in toil
Often hungry and thirsty , and finally in cold and nakedness
Paul’s illustration and instructions (2Cor4:8-9)
8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
We have to be honest and admit that Christians then and Christians today can “lose heart” or become discouraged.
Paul’s reminder and encouragement (Gal6:9)
9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
So, this morning we are going to spend some time on this particular topic stemming from 2Cor4:1, 16
Signs of “losing heart”
Situations/reasons some “lose heart”
Secrets Paul offers so not to “lose heart”
Signs of “losing heart”
Signs of “losing heart”
If you were sick you would examine the symptoms and look for an appropriate remedy or cure for the illness or injury. But how about losing heart, how can we see those symptoms? Let’s take a few minutes and look at a just a few symptoms of losing heart.
In our prayer life
(Insert prayer life picture here)
Question: I mentioned a sign of losing heart that is invisible or not seen always is in prayer life. I know it is a subjective question, how do you think your prayer life can impact your heart life for Christ?
Are we having a lack of persistence in our prayer life?
Being haphazard in our prayer life, maybe it is only praying when need instead of in thanksgiving for what we have at times.
Are we praying only for ourselves, for our wants or needs, or for God’s will and for others?
Solutions
We ought to pray always (Lk18:1; Eph6:18)
1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.
Jesus expresses, equates that prayer is a tool so not to lose heart.
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
All prayer, all petitions, all times, and to be on the alert.
Oh, a couple more all, all perseverance, all petition for all the saints.
We need to be devoted (Col4:2)
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
Question: In (Eph6:18) and here in (Col4:2) Paul uses the word “alert” in correlation with prayer, why?
Pray without ceasing (1The5:17)
17 pray without ceasing;
Oh wait, that is not fair, it is a great verse, but only a part of a sentence
16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing;
Do you think that rejoicing and prayer can go together so not to lose heart?
Pray for all men, everywhere (1Tim2:1, 8)
1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,
and add to that
8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.
So, in our prayer life we need to pray always and be devoted without ceasing for all.
(Insert- Feeding on the word picture here)
In our personal study, feeding on the Word
Question: How do you think that not being fed on the word can impact our heart?
Are we only being fed on the word by others or are we feeding ourselves?
OK, a tough one here, where is your bible, do you have it, are you turning to scripture or relying on the screens when we meet? (I know some use bible apps and that would be considered a bible)
Am I only in the word on Sunday, Wednesday or am I feeding myself daily?
Solutions regarding feeding on the word so not to lose heart
Be regular in your being fed and feeding on the word (Act17:11)
11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
We need to be, work at being more noble-minded, to receive the word with great eagerness and the search/examine the scriptures daily.
Question: How can we, personally be regular in feeding or being fed on the word?
Be purposeful (Ps119:11; Rom12:2; 2Pt1:3)
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
Question: What is the reason the Psalmist hid the word in his heart?
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Question: What is the purpose of renewing your mind through the word here in (Rom12:2)?
3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
Question: How are we granted us everything pertaining to life and godliness according to (2Pt1:3)?
Be prayerful (Ps119:18)
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.
Question: What is the prayer for here in (Psm119:18)?
Be actionable (2Tim2:15)
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
Question: What are we to be, and why in looking at (2Tim2:15)?
In a visible way
Question: How do you think it may be apparent to others (visibly) that you may be losing heart, or that someone else is?
Have you stopped attending worship in person or on-line on a regular basis?
Are you still serving the body as you once were? (i.e. visits, calls, cards, etc)
Are you faithful and purposeful in your giving? In your benevolence giving? (both of these are personal but apparent to the body when these things decrease)
Solutions:
Keep His commands (Jn14:15)
15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
His commandments are more than just 10, they are the spiritual principles that Jesus spoke throughout His ministry and conveyed through the Spirit to the writers of the bible.
Start doing good again, or increase it (Gal6:9-10)
9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
Question: Why are we not to lose heart in doing good (Gal6:9-10)?
Be sure not to forsaking the assembly or look how to edify one another (Heb10:23-25)
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Question: Why are we to not forsake the assembly and look how to stimulate one another (Heb10:23-25)?
We need to look to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, to be encouraging one another.
Be willing and be bearing one another burdens (Gal6:2)
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
Question: How do we fulfill the law of Christ according to (Gal6:2)?
In summing this up, keep His commands and keep doing good, coming to the assembly and looking for ways to edify one another and be a burden bearing for one another.
(Transition) Thus far we have seen that we are not to lose heart regardless of circumstance or situation. There are some signs of losing heart that can be both visible and invisible. we have also looked at a few solutions in the areas covered. Now how about we go on to look at reasons we can lose heart?
Situations/reasons some lose heart
Situations/reasons some lose heart
While there is peace that is found in prayer and joy found in doing good, still people can get discouraged or disheartened. Some of the situations or reasons why are what we are going to look at now.
One answer is tribulations
Question: How do you think that tribulations could cause one to lose heart?
Jesus spoke of it (Mt13:20-21)
20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
Question: Why did the seed on the rocky places fall away (Mt13:20-21)?
Paul alluded to it, even when it is of himself. (Eph3:13)
13 Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.
Can you lose heart because of someone else’s tribulation?
So both Christ and Paul reference to Christians losing heart because of tribulation. That could look like ridicule, ostracism, verbal or at times maybe physical abuse. And if we are honest it can even come from within the body when there is a brethren who sins against another.
Now there are some tribulations we cannot avoid that all have to face such as sickness, death, sometimes frustrations at work or at home. These can take a toll on the Christian and bring about losing heart.
I am going to hold off on solutions at this time and bring in ways not to lose heart in the next major point, but don’t worry I won’t forget.
Another answer is lawlessness (sin)
Jesus said lawlessness would happen (Mt24:11-12)
11 “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12 “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
Question: What is the results of increased lawlessness (Mt24:11-12)?
Love will grow cold, so you lose heart.
This can happen when we lose the right attitude toward God’s Word, towards God and God’s will.
Lawlessness breeds lawlessness (1Cor15:33)
33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
Question: What does bad company do (1Cor15:33)?
In this world that lawlessness is a way of living, what God calls an abomination man calls equality. I think more people are losing heart due to lawlessness more so than tribulations.
Paul offers throughout scripture and and lot’s in 2Cor as an example that regardless of the circumstances and the situations he addresses in scripture he did not lose heart and is an example for us not to lose heart either.
(Transition) So what was Paul’s secret to not losing heart, how did he do it, well that is what we are going to look at now for a few minutes.
Secret: Paul offers solutions so not to lose heart
Secret: Paul offers solutions so not to lose heart
From imprisonment, to beatings, from ostracized, challenged and even to stone and left for dead; Paul did not lose heart. He offers some ways to not lose heart.
Know and appreciate the ministry and the mercy you have received (2Cor4:1)
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.
Forgiven people who understand what they have been forgiven, the mercy they have been shown, given, that gave them the grace of God and the work of God to to do is a great factor in not losing heart, not giving up.
Notice it starts with the word therefore, so we have to look back at what came before and see the link to the what he is going to be saying, Therefore is a link. Paul had refered to the Old Covenant, the fading glory of the law and the New covenant and the increasing glory of grace in the previous chapter. Here is a summary of it.
(insert slide old vs new greater glory here)
As you look at those did you see the glory of the new vs the fading glory of the old. The old was good, but the new is better. The old had value and we can still learn from it today.
The old was perfect and had great value (Ps19:7-11)
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. 10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.
Consider this: David wrote that when even the O.T. was still being written. Now today we have the completed O.T. and the completed N.T. the whole counsel of God. This is the ministry that Paul appreciated, the old and the new that had been entrusted to him, and to us today. Of course he did not lose heart, nor should we.
Do we appreciate the nature of the ministry we have in Christ Jesus? If we do, we will not lose heart!
Now time is very limited by now and I have to pick up the pace so here are some other things to consider.
Realize the power of Christ when we are weak, discouraged, dismayed, want to give up or get disheartened.
Paul saw great opportunities of God’s power shown through Christ (2Cor4:7, 10-11)
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
and then
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
Even if there are struggles, or thorns in the flesh that help to prove how strong God is and His grace when we are weak (2Cor12:7-10)
7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.
9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
11 I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.
So infirmities, tribulations can be occasions to rejoice not despair and lose heart.
I wish we had some more time this morning, but that is all we have. I hope this has been helpful in helping us not to lose heart.
If time permits give closing verses
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
(Pray) (Exit)