Sermon Tone Analysis

*Do not Loose Heart - 2 Cor 4:1-16*

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

*Secular:*

We need lots of reminders to Hang in there…

“When you get to the end of your rope… tie a knot and hang in there…”

Parenting /can be/ like that… /We can get to the end of rope/

* If we lack focus on the task /(About us!)/

* If we loose track of the future of children /(Now ~/ Hope)/

* If we loose track of the love /(Reaction ~/ Correction)/

* If we loose track of the purpose /(Chattel ~/ Grow)/

* We can loose hope…

Christian Faith is like that…

Zest of a New Believer… who still remembers why…

vs. a stale Christian.

* We have a God given task

* We know the future of his children

* /Redeemed/

* /Condemned/

* We know the love /(Saviour… and ours)/

* We know his purpose for us… /(Call to him)/

* We have hope… /(Not about us now… but about God forever)/

* We do not need to loose heart…

*Biblical:*

2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, *we do not lose heart*, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man'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 whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake.

6 For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

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; 8 /we are /afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 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.

12 So death works in us, but life in you.

13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.

15 For all things /are /for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

16 Therefore *we do not lose heart*, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

*Personal:*

For some… mortgage payments are easier… because a day will come when they can burn the mortgage papers

For some… a day at work is easier… because it’s one day less till retirement

For some… school is easier… because summer does eventually come

For some… summer is easier… because back to school eventually comes

 

For Paul… suffering, service, persecution are easier… because he has Hope in Jesus Christ…

*We do not lose heart*, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day

*Bridge:*

Verse 1 & 16 - Do not loose heart….

We need to be reminded to Hang on…

To0 often we just let go…

* Loose track of hope…

* And find despair…

* Loose track of Faith

* And find ourselves lost…

* My question is why would you want to…

* Be lost

* Be in despair

* Be luke-warm

* Be anything but sold-out for Christ

We need to be strong…

We are being renewed day by day… made more like our Saviour… everything we lay on the line is given to the glory of our Saviour!!

*1)      **Not without trials…*

*2)      **How do we make it…*

3)      *Get a perspective… the Priority!!*

* *

Hang in there!!

 

*Body:*

*Not without trials…*

It is not about us… or our fancy words… great schemes… /“//not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.”/

1 Corinthians 1:27 …God has chosen the *foolish* *things* of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak *things* of the world to shame the *things* which are strong.

Not our result…

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake.

We have been called to preach a gospel… that is humanly impossible to believe… No wonder we have to be prepared for trials… because it is not rooted in our ability or capacity… but the people we are to preach to can only be enlivened to the message of God by his spirit…

(Some things are out of our control… doesn’t mean we have the right to disobey!!)

v.8 & 9 – /“We are /afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing, persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed …”

Afflicted in every way…

* What was Paul talking about…

* Shunned

* Ignored

* Beaten

* Lied about

* Robbed

* Shipwrecked

* Face injustice

* Afflicted…perplexed… persecuted…struck down

* Yikes…

* But they were not crushed

* But they were not despairing

* But they were not forsaken

* But they were not destroyed

* They were not faking it…

* Right out there in their faith… (belief in action)

* On the front lines…

* Not on the bench but in the game…

* They have been blitzed all afternoon and NO SACKS

* Not faking it… but living well in Christ (afflicted but not crushed)

* Are we facing our trials… people of faith on a mission…

* Or are we avoiding our trials… people without faith with no mission?

* God tells us to go… God tells us there will be challenges…

* Battlefield… imagine today… W.W. I or II

* It’s time to go… the time is right… some will not return… (heroes!!

For the here and now… Heroes for eternity)

* What made them go…?

* What made Paul Go…?

* How has he made it…

* How do we make it…

* We don’t loose hope…

 

*How do we make it…*

v.6 - For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.