Series: Action [#107]
DON’T QUIT- NEVER LOSE HEART
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
Introduction:
Life is difficult. We all experience many days that we just want to give up- Maybe it is your health or a relationship that you are in; but it causes you to lose heart. I am here to tell you, (just as Paul was telling the Corinthians), don’t lose heart.
2 Corinthians 4:7
Don’t lose heart…
1. Jesus is the treasure.
This is an important thing to understand as a Christian- Jesus is the treasure and you are the vessel that carries Him. Many people use clay jars to hide things in. They will have a shelf with several plain clay jars, (so that no one would suspect something good being placed in it); and they will store their valuables in 1 of them. Do any of you have containers of some sort that have the wrong lid? My coffee mugs are a great example. I have particular coffee mugs that I use; but most of the time I end up using a non-matching lid. Some of my lids are cracked or worn out; but they still function for what the purpose is.
If you look at your skin, or your hands, or your hair, etc…; you will notice that there are cracks and crooked fingers, no hair, etc… We are flawed. Life has broken us down throughout the years; but the beautiful part of this is the fact that we can still be a vessel for the Holy Spirit. The treasure is not diminished by the flaws of the clay jar.
2 Corinthians 4:8-12
Don’t lose heart…
2. God will not give you more than you can handle.
This statement always comes with a reminder- God won’t give you more than you can handle through Him. In these verses, we see all of the bad things that happened to Paul and those that ministered with him- We are hard pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. We often focus on these bad things; but notice the good that is after each of the bad things- We are not crushed, not in despair, not abandoned, and not destroyed.
Christians, we are much stronger than we think. Through Christ, you can make it through tough times and come out of it as a winner. The enemy wants our fragile life to fall apart; but through Christ, we come out of it as winners.
2 Corinthians 4:13-16
Don’t lose heart…
3. God will renew you.
Paul went day to day with challenges and threats upon his life; but he had the power of God renewing him. Like this says, “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” Do you want to be renewed? You have to allow God to do that. Renewal comes through prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers. I heard a quote this week that got my attention- “Knowing better means doing better.” This quote is actually not always true. I know how to exercise; but it does not mean I will.
Isaiah 40:31
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
Don’t lose heart…
4. God will give you a different perspective.
It is easy for our daily troubles to consume our lives. We get focused on the problems and not the victories. We get focused on things that do not matter. Sometimes, we just need to look at things from a different perspective. Look for the eternal and not the temporary. Realize that things will change quickly. When something happens, remember this saying, “That too shall pass”. Fix your eyes on the spiritual. Fix your eyes on Jesus.
Conclusion:
As life happens, don’t forget that things take time. Allow God to renew you each day. Don’t get discouraged and down. Don’t forget what matters the most- Jesus. Fix your eyes on the eternal.
