DO NOT LOSE HEART: 2 CORINTHIANS 4
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INTRODUCTION: THE DUAL POSITION OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
CHURCH TRIUMPHANT
CHURCH MILITANT - CONTESTING AGAINST THE ASSAULTS OF THE ENEMY AND THIS WORLD:
THE CHURCH LIVES IN BETWEEN THE TIMES: ITS EXISTENCE BRACKETED BETWEEN TWO GREAT ESCHATALOGICAL EVENTS
THE IN-BREAKING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
THE COMING OF CHRIST
ESCHATOLOGICAL CHURCH
in between this world and the word that (the kingdom of God) has has come in the inbreaking of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
PAUL DEFENDING HIS MINISTRY - SUPER APOSTLES
SOMETIMES IS TOUGH:
LIFE’S CHALLENGES
COVID
PAUL USES HIS OWN ENCOURAGEMENT TO ENCOURAGE THE SAINTS:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
I. WE DON’T LOSE HEART BY TRUSTING THE GOSPEL (V1-FF)
I. WE DON’T LOSE HEART BY TRUSTING THE GOSPEL (V1-FF)
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.
This refusal to tamper with God’s Word - this refusal to bring about the element of human wisdom to the solutions to the problems of suffering (in self or in the world)
We refuse to let the hardness of unbelievers change our trust in and proclamation of the gospel as if there is something wrong with it or weak about it.
IT IS THE DYNAMIC AND PURPOSE OF THE GOD OF THIS WORLD TO SEEK TO BLIND PEOPLE’E EYES TO THE GOSPEL SO THAT THEY WILL NOT TRUST IT:
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
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.
WHEN THING ARE NOT WORKING IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE GOSPEL
WE DO NOT LOSE HEART AND THEREFORE LOSE THE GOSPEL IN THE CHAOS OF LIFE AND THIS WORLD -
NO, WE PROCLAIM IT - NOT OURSELVES AND OUR OWN WISDOM (V5) BECAUSE
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.
GENESIS PICTURE
God chose to create order to the chaos of what was before Him by SPEAKING LIFE to the chaos.
Paul is teaching us that the only way to see the CHAOTIC transformed into ORDER is by the gospel alone.
PERSONAL CHAOS TOO!!!
SO, IN THE CHAOS OF COVID AND IN THE CHAOS OF OTHER CHALLENGES TO THE CHURCH AND TO OUR LIVES, WE DO NOT LOSE HEART AND GIVE UP THE GOSPEL - PAUL SAYS
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
II. WE DON’T LOSE HEART BY EMBRACING THE LIFE DISPLAYING POWER OF DEATH (7FF)
II. WE DON’T LOSE HEART BY EMBRACING THE LIFE DISPLAYING POWER OF DEATH (7FF)
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
TO SHOW THAT THE SURPASSING POWER
LOOK AT VERSES 10 AND 11
always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
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.
NOTE THE LANGUAGE PAUL USES
DEATH - LIFE LANGUAGE
VERSE 10
always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
2. V 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.
SO THIS IS THE BIBLICAL PARADIGM THAT SHOULD GOVERN HOW WE UNDERSTAND THE WHY OF OUR CHALLENGES: BOTH PERSONAL AND AS A BODY:
CHALLENGES REPRESENT A DEATH TO SELF SO THAT THE LIFE OF CHRIST MIGHT SHINE THROUGH
IT IS NOT THAT CHALLENGES BRING US JOY BUT THAT WE, IN THE LIGHT OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST - SEE THEM IN A NEW WAY: AS THE WAY THE LORD CHOOSES TO GET WORLDLY THINKING OUT OF US SO THAT THE WORLD CAN SEE HIS GLORY FROM US
THAT’S WHY PAUL SAYS
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
THE ONLY REASON PAUL CAN HAVE THIS MINDSET IS BECAUSE HE UNDERSTANDS THIS REALITY:
OUR SUFFERING IN THIS LIFE IS THE MARK OF CHRIST’S SUFFERING ON THE CROSS,
AND THEREFORE, WHEN I AM GOING THROUGH I DO NOT DESPAIR OR LOSE HEART BECAUSE I KNOW THAT CHRIST’S LIFE IS ON DISPLAY IN MY FAITHFULNESS IN THE MIDST OF THE BATTLE
JESUS IS ON DISPLAY IN OUR SUFFERING IN OUR UNYIELDING ALLEGIANCE TO HIS GLORY AND TO HIS FAME AND TO HIS GOSPEL
THIS IS WHY PAUL SAID IN PHIL 3 9-10...
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
PAUL WANTS TO KNOW THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST, NOT SO THAT HE CAN BECOME RIGHTEOUS - HE WANTS TO KNOW THEM BECAUSE HE HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE RIGHTEOUS IN CHRIST - HE SIMPLY WANTS CHRIST DISPLAYED IN GREATER WAYS IN HIS LIFE
SO (REVIEW OF POINTS)
1. WE DO NOT LOSE HEART BY CONTINUALLY TRUSTING THE GOSPEL
2. WE DON’T LOSE HEART BY EMBRACING THE LIFE DISPLAYING POWER OF DEATH
III. WE DON’T LOSE HEART BY HAVING AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE ( 16-18)
III. WE DON’T LOSE HEART BY HAVING AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE ( 16-18)
PAUL SAYS IN VERSE 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.
THE PHRASE AS WE LOOK CONNECTS WHAT HE HAS SAID IN VERSES 16-17
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
WHAT DRIVES PAUL TO THIS PLACE AND TO THIS BELIEF? THE GOSPEL FOR CERTAIN AND , I BELIEVE, IT IS THE WORDS OF JESUS TO PETER
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
IT IS THE REALITY THAT THE GOSPEL CANNOT BE STOPPED BECAUSE GOD IS UNSTOPPABLE
AND SINCE THE GOSPEL CANNOT BE STOPPED BECAUSE GOD IS UNSTOPPABLE - THE GATES OF HELL WILL NEVER PREVAIL AGAINST THE CHURCH WHICH MEANS:
THE CHURCH ON MISSION CANNOT BE STOPPED
SO, DESPITE OUR
COVID CHALLENGES - WE DO NOT LOSE HOPE
CANCER CHALLENGES
RELATIONAL CHALLENGES
NOT BECAUSE THEY DONT SHAKE US
NOT BECAUSE THEY DONT CAUSE US TO DOUBT AT TIMES
NOT BECAUSE THEY NEVER MAKE US PRONE TO LOSE HOPE
THEY DO NOT TAKE AWAY OUR HOPE BECAUSE THEY ARE LIGHT AND MOMENTARY AND
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.
THAT HOPE FUELS OUR PRESENT HOPE.
THEREFORE, IN DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES AND IN CHALLENGING TIMES, THIS HOPE OF GLORY REMINDS US THAT THE GOD OF GLORY IS ON OUR SIDE - EVEN IN PAIN AND WE CAN CALL ON HIM TO HELP IN THE MOMENTS OF DESPAIR.
ILLUSTRATION: WHEN I WAS 12
HOPE DID NOT RESIGN HIM TO GIVE UP: IT EMPOWERED HIM TO SEEK AFTER THE LORD MORE.