How we can avoid losing heart

Text:

2 Corinthians 4 ESV

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 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. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 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. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 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. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 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. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. 13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 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.

Intro:

In the section of Scripture we are examining this morning Paul is writing to a church that is near and dear to him. He has planted this church on his second missionary journey and as is the case with most baby churches, there is much work to be done and much instruction to give. Many of Paul’s detractors wanted to strap the church at Corinth with religious burdens from the law of Moses. He wastes no time highlighting the contrast between the two messages. Paul’s message was centered on the person of Jesus Christ which was a stumbling block to many who had encountered it. They had a veil over them so they could not see the truth. Their eyes were blinded by the “god of this world”.

These Christians were encountering opposition to their faith. Opposition that was multifaceted and extremely oppressive. In light of this opposition Paul reminds them “we do not lose heart”. He says this at the beginning of the chapter and at the end like book-ended thoughts that he wants us to remember.

It’s very easy when faced with difficulty in the Christian life to “lose heart”

What is meant by “lose heart”

It could also be described as discouragement

Luke 18:1 NKJV

1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

Galatians 6:9 NKJV

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Ephesians 3:13 ESV

13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Question: How can we avoid losing heart? or How can we get back on track if we have “lost heart”?

I think if we pay attention to Paul’s writing we will learn how to say like Paul “we do not lose heart”

Notice first....

2 Corinthians 4:5–6 ESV

5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 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.

A. The treasure’s source - “…not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord”

Paul was reminding them of the source of the message - it can be easy to forget this as the world is noisy place full of many voices and distractions. Paul is calling his readers back to the heart of the matter. A valid motivation considering how easily we forget!

B. The treasure’s significance - “ to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”

The glory that was on Moses’ face could not be seen but the power of the gospel allows us a look into God’s glory through Christ

Question: Have we lost sight of the significance of the message and how God has revealed it to us?

We looked at the treasure of the “light of the gospel” now lets notice....

II. The Tabernacle

2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

2 Corinthians 5:1 KJV 1900

1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

A. The delicate nature of the vessel

It’s interesting to think about the location of this treasure. Here is Paul’s letter our bodies are referred to as “jars or clay” and “our earthy house of this tabernacle”

Question: If you had something of immense value where would you put it?

B. The dynamic power of God

The vessel is fragile but the treasure that God has inside is not. In fact it’s the greatest source of power because it is God himself!

We have looked at the Treasure - the “light of the gospel”, the tabernacle - the “jars of clay” that hold the treasure now I want us to notice....

III. The Trial

2 Corinthians 4:8–12 ESV

8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 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. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Afflicted - the word has the idea of being crushed like a crowd pressing in on someone

Perplexed - to be at a loss or to be puzzled

Persecuted - to be followed or chased down - in hot pursuit

IV. The Transformation

2 Corinthians 4:13–18 ESV

13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 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.

In spite of what is happening to us in this life, in order to not lose heart we must keep a few important truths in mind. There is a target for us to fix our focus and in these verses Paul reminds us of what that target is.

A. The target is in the presence of Christ - “will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence”

The end of this life is the presence of God - Think about that for a moment

B. The target is an inward renewal - this is a day by day (vs16)

Our outward man is perishing “though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day”

Our prayers and thoughts are often focused on our outward circumstances but possibly we should be more concerned with what is taking place within

C. The target is our looking to

Conclusion