2 Corinthians 4:13-18 Secrets to Enduring Life

Intro:

The Olympics are coming up

For the last few decades the Kenyans have dominated long distance racing

From the mile to the marathon you will often see several Kenyan racers at the front

The only thing that has stopped complete dominance is that they are only allowed 3 racers to represent their country

So you have seen Kenyans become citizens of other countries so they can compete

What makes them so good at endurance races?

First, it is in the genes. They are blessed with long lean legs

Second, they train at high altitude

Finally, there is incredible competition for very few spots

This all adds up to producing the best endurance runners in the world

This morning, Paul shows us a few secrets on how to run our race of life with endurance

He has endured a lot to get to this point and he shows us what got him thru

Read 2 Corinthians 4:13-16

Transition:

By the time that Paul writes this letter he has endured more than anybody else to take the Gospels to the Gentiles

He doesn’t brag but gives us tips on how to keep going when it seems like everything is going wrong

People have tried to disqualify him from being an apostle because he has suffered so much

Paul, in turn, shows them that his suffering is a sign that God is working

He also tells us that it is in his weakness that God has been able to show his power

Now he shows us what got him through those challenges

I. A Strong Spirit vs. 13-14

The first secret to the enduring life is that you need to develop a strong spirit

Paul says that we need to develop a spirit of faith

Most people associate their spirit with independence, that not what is saying here

Paul learned to put his faith only in Jesus and allowed his circumstances to grow that faith

This is a great principle – that faith creates the testimony.

Paul really believed God had a purpose in his death-like sufferings, and really believed he lived and experienced the resurrection life of Jesus.

Therefore, he wasn’t hesitant to speak about it.

Paul also quotes what King David said in Psalm 116

Psalm 116:10 I believed, even when I spoke: “I am greatly afflicted”

Psalm 116 describes a time when the writer (King David) almost died, but God delivered him from death.

David “believed” that God had delivered him and therefore “spoke”of it (v. 10).

As this statement in verse 10 is the center and pivot of the Psalm, it places faith at its very heart.

The Apostle Paul felt a spiritual kinship with King David because, like him, Paul had been also delivered from death

Paul had likewise believed, and so he also spoke

If you want that enduring spirit you need to grow in your faith

What is faith?

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Faith is putting your trust in a God you can’t see and hope that His Word will come true

II. Extend Grace vs. 15

The second secret to the enduring life is that you need to extend grace

So many people are so angry because they hold things against others instead of extending grace

Paul went into towns he didn’t know anybody and he preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ extending grace to everyone

This was more than just forgiveness

Eph 3:7-8 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

It’s the gift of new life, a fresh start, love to the unloveable

We need to extend the unsearchable riches of Christ to others

Jesus’ grace bring freedom from sin, eternal life, the filling of the Holy Spirit, the love of God poured into our hearts, and forgiving our debt of sin we couldn’t pay

That is extending grace

As grace is extended more and more it increases thanksgiving

III. Daily Renewal vs. 16

The third secret to the enduring life is that you need to be renewed on a daily basis

Over the next couple of chapters Paul is going to use some vivid language to describe our lives

2 Cor 5:1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Here he states our outer self is wasting away

Most of us would say amen to that statement while at the same time spending very little time renewing our inner self

Paul was not suggesting that the body is not important, or that we should ignore its warnings and needs.

Since our bodies are the temples of God, we must care for them

What he is saying is that daily renewal is available to you

We need to be renewing our minds

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Paul tells us not to lose heart because though all his suffering took a toll on the outward man, yet the inward man was being renewed and blessed.

On the outside, we are suffering and taking a beating, but on the inside, God is blessing and renewing us!”

If you spend more time trying to keep the outside up than you do the inside, expect the cares of the world to matter more than Jesus

You are able to endure what life throws at you when you are being renewed by your time in the Word of God and being led by the Spirit

IV. Weight Training vs. 17

The fourth secret to the enduring life is that you need to do some weight training

Light affliction is preparing us for the weight of eternity

I recently joined a gym

The guys in the church office decided to start working out together a couple of times a week

The temple has fallen into some disrepair

To prepare I’ve been going with my youngest several times a week

I wanted them to say “You’re in pretty good shape for a fat guy.”

I forgot how much energy I get from lifting weights, it propels me into the day

Even more than physical exercise is spiritual training

1 Tim 4:8 train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

When you go to gym you have momentary affliction to gain the long term benefits

As a believer you endure the momentary suffering to gain the eternal glory

At the same time it energizes you

1 Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

All of our affliction is for a short period

After that God restores, strengthen, and establishes you

V. Live by Faith vs. 18

The final secret to an enduring life is that you need to live by faith

Paul tells us not to look to the things that are seen, but to the unseen

In the world’s eyes, Paul’s life was an incredible failure.

At the height of a career that would reach much higher, he left it all for a life of hardship, suffering and persecution, with eventual martyrdom.

Paul recognized that the world only sees the outward, not the unseen eternal things.

You may think that you haven’t measured up to expectations

I’ve battled that

Been in Ministry for 27 years, pastor of this church for 15

I’ve heard, “The church should be bigger.” it has been bigger

I am much more content, at peace, and energized than I ever was when the church was much bigger

It’s because I learned that God wants us to be faithful over successful

2 Cor 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.

The one who will inherit eternal life is the one who endures till the end.

Train like it