Don't Lose Heart: I'm Sinking
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Don’t Lose Heart: I’m Sinking!
2 Corinthians 4:1-6
There are times in our lives when we feel like we are sinking, and there at times when we are sinking. When we feel like we are sinking, we become discouraged. When we feel like we are sinking we want to give up.
I am sure that the apostle Paul had many of experiencing when he felt like he was sinking. In fact, three times Paul was really sinking due to shipwrecks. He spent a day and a half floating at sea. Yet, no matter what, Paul did not give up. He persevered.
Over the next few Sundays, we are going to talk about perseverance. We are going to learn how to keep on going when our heart says give up. Notice what Paul says in verse one of chapter four, “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.” Notice verse sixteen of this same chapter, “So we do not lose heart.”
The Greek word that we translate “lose heart” is “enkakeo.” It means to lose motivation to accomplish a valid goal, or a desirable pattern or activity. It means to become discouraged and lose enthusiasm. Paul speaks of this lack of motivation in the context of Christian living and ministry, and the two are not separate.
How do we persevere in our walk with the Lord, and our service to the kingdom? Paul gives us several reasons why he does not lose heart, but perseveres instead. First, remember your purpose.
1. Remember your purpose
1. Remember your purpose
“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.” Paul is speaking about his personal ministry, and how the Lord called him into the ministry. Of course, the ministry he is speaking of is the ministry of the Spirit, or the ministry of the New Covenant.
The presence of “therefore” at the beginning of the verse takes us back to the previous verses. In chapter three, Paul is contrasting the difference between the old and new covenants. The new covenant is far more glorious because it removes the veil from hard hearts, gives freedom in the Spirit, and transforms lives from glory to glory. This is the experience of all who place their faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Paul did not become discouraged because God had entrusted him with the life-changing message of Jesus. Notice again what Paul says, “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God.” You could translate this verse “having this ministry as we have received mercy.”
In Acts chapter nine, we have the record of Paul coming to Christ. Before the apostle Paul came to Christ he was a zealous Jew persecuting followers of Jesus Christ. On his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, Paul was literally blinded by the light of Jesus Christ. He was able to see the risen Lord Jesus Christ, and he placed his faith in Jesus Christ. On that Damascus road, Paul received mercy from the Lord, and was saved from his sins. He also received a ministry from the Lord. The moment he came to Christ was the moment that God called him and entrusted him with the ministry of the new covenant.
Every member of the church of Jesus Christ has this same purpose. When you come to Christ you are not only called to salvation, but you are also called to service. Ministry is not something that we volunteer for, it is something that we are called to when we come to Christ.
The wonderful purpose of ministry given to every believer enables us to be a part of something that is bigger than ourselves. The privilege of ministry enables us to be a part of the most important thing in the world. It enables us to be a part of a story that is much bigger than our own personal story.
Are you sinking at work? Realize that God has you there as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Are you struggling as a mom? Remember that being a mom is a calling that enables to minister the gospel of Jesus Christ to your children. Are you struggling as a volunteer at church? Just remember that you are a part of something big. Don’t lose heart! Don’t give up! You are one of the few that has the privilege of serving the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember this: your purpose inspires your perseverance. Next, live for the approval of the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
2. Live to please Jesus.
2. Live to please Jesus.
“But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or 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.” Paul is addressing some of the accusations that were being brought against him from the false teachers. Therefore, Paul defends how he lived his life and conducted his ministry.
Paul never tried to put forth a false perception of his life and ministry. He didn’t use trickery to try to get results, nor did he add or water down the truth of God’s word to try to reach people. Paul lived in such a way that he could commend his life and ministry to the people that he ministered to. The reason is found in this phrase, “in the sight of God.” You see, Paul understood that his motives and actions were all in plain sight of the Lord and that he would have to give an account to him on the day of judgment. Therefore, he lived for the approval of one: Jesus Christ!
Paul says that he lives his life by “the open statement of the truth.” This means that the word of God was the foundation for his life and ministry. He didn’t try to please man, but the Lord Jesus Christ. That is how Paul was able to persevere. He wanted to hear Jesus say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant” not just in the future, but everyday he lived this side of heaven.
An essential ingredient for persevering in the Christian life and ministry is living for the approval of Jesus alone. This means we conduct our lives according to the word of God with our primary audience being Jesus Christ. Your practice sustains your perseverance. Another key ingredient for not losing heart is found in verses three and four. You must know the strategy of Satan.
3. Know the enemy’s strategies.
3. Know the enemy’s strategies.
“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only 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.”
Another accusation that the false teachers were bringing against Paul’s ministry is dealt with in these two verses. The false teachers were saying that people were not responding to the message that Paul preached, as if he had control over the decision people make.
I have people ask me quite often if I get discouraged when people to respond to my messages by coming to Christ. I would probably become discouraged if it was up to me, but it’s not. I understand that when people are invited to follow Jesus, either privately or publicly, there is a battle taking place. It is important that we know the strategy of Satan with unbelievers.
Also, Satan is constantly attacking Christians. He is called the “accuser of the brethren,” and he is our “adversary.” But his primary focus is trying to keep as many unbelievers from seeing the light of the gospel.
The veil that Paul speaks of is not over the gospel, but the heart of unbelievers. And, as you will see, Only God can remove the veil over hard hearts. Satan’s goal is to keep the veil covering the hard heart of unbelievers. Therefore, he does all he can to keep people in their blinded state of men. We need to realize that as ministers of the gospel we are in a spiritual battle.
Even as I preach, there is a world that we don’t see that is very active in this room right now. Have you noticed how easy it is for you to be distracted while I preach? When I give the invitation in a moment notice how your thoughts will drift away from the challenge. When I give the gospel invitation notice some of the things that will happen. Phones will go off. People will get up. What’s behind the distractions? The god of this world, Satan, is trying to keep unbelievers blinded to the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I have so many stories of how Satan distracted people while I was sharing the gospel, privately and publically. One Sunday evening, at my first church, a drunk visitor started yelling “2 Chronicles 7:14” while I was giving the invitation. I had to stop and have someone pray, and by the time he finished, I was standing next to the guy taking him outside. I thought we were going to get in a fight. Afterward, one of my deacons said, “I guess I should have come out to help you.” One Sunday morning I was giving the invitation and a man had breathing problems. It sounded like he was having a heart attack. I had to stop the invitation and get him immediate help. Another occasion, I had a man approach me as I was giving the invitation and said he was demon possessed. My point is this: Satan will do all he can to keep people blinded to the truth of the gospel. Knowing Satan’s strategy will help us persevere. Your perception informs your perseverance.
But more importantly, when we know the weapon we have for the battle, it will help us persevere in the battle. At the heart of all Christian living and ministry is the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ our Lord.
4. Proclaim the gospel.
4. Proclaim the gospel.
“For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.” The only way we can to battle spiritual blindness is with the light of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
A person can only receive sight and be saved through Jesus. The Bible says, “If we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved.” Only faith in Jesus can save. And only through hearing the gospel can people come to faith. Therefore, we need to proclaim Jesus with our walk and our words.
Notice what happens when someone is saved, “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.”
Paul speaks about two significant events: creation and salvation. Paul refers to Genesis chapter one when God spoke during chaos and darkness and said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Paul uses the creation account to illustrate the salvation experienced in Christ Jesus. Just as God spoke and there was light in the beginning of creation, he still speaks into hearts and the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ turns sinners into saints.
Before we come to Christ, our lives are in chaos and darkness. It is in that chaos and darkness that the Lord speaks “let there be light,” and at that moment it free us from Satan’s blindness and we can see the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. At that moment, when our chaos and darkness is turned into a new creation in Christ, we can sing, “I saw the light, I say the light, no more darkness, no more night. Now I’m so happy, no sorrow in sight. Praise the Lord, I saw the light.”
If you believe in Christ Jesus, you have seen the light! And now, God has given you the privilege of sharing the light with others in darkness. It is so easy to become discouraged, but don’t lose heart. Let God’s power that changes lives invigorate your perseverance. Don’t lose heart. Keep serving! Keep sharing!
You’re here today, and you’re seeking, or maybe you’re a skeptic. You’re not sure if you believe all this stuff about Jesus. If that is you, will you entertain the thought that maybe there is an evil force that is trying to keep you from seeing the light? The only solution for your darkness is to turn to Jesus so that the Spirit of God can open the eyes of your heart and enable you to see the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.