Enduring Faith
(2 Corinthians 4)
By Bro. Aaron Bryan
Paul not only was known to write about endurance, he lived it. In 1 Corinthians 9:24, it was a race to run, in Galatians 6:7-10, a field to sow, Ephesians 6:10-20, an armor to withstand, Philippians 3:12-14, pressing towards the mark, 2 Timothy 2:3-13, it was enduring hardness as a good solider. If there was a common thread to Paul¡¦s ministry it was to ¡§continue in the faith¡¨ (Acts 14:22, 1 Corinthians 16:13, Colossians 1:23, 2:7) which is to say, have a faith that endures.
The easiest thing in the world to do is to quit. Discouragement is lethal because it is ¡K
„h common, in the fact that it happens to everyone,
„h continuous, in that it can¡¦t be stopped or suppressed without help
„h contagious, in that being around those who are discouraged will soon rub off on you.
One of the ways that has helped me in my endurance is to realize Paul¡¦s reasons for endurance. Paul had some very convincing, physical and emotional reasons to quit (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). ¡§¡KIn labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice I was beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; I journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, inperls by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the eas, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.¡¨
He faced the shame of being chiefest of sinners,
the scrutiny of being, challenged by saints,
the suffering at the castigation of saboteurs.
What kept Paul going? Paul had his faults (Romans 7:23-25; 2 Corinthians 10:10), yet he counteracted them through his faith (2 Corinthians 13:3; Galatians 2:20). How did this man, who was just a man, turn his pains in life into praises for his Lord?
Paul¡¦s Ability To Endure Came From A ¡K
#1.) Sense Of Duty: (v1) ¡§Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not.¡¨
He realized that how he received mercy was a great price paid by his Savior. Like the woman who washed Jesus¡¦ feet with her hair and tears, Jesus stated ¡§Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.¡¨ (Luke 7:44-47) Paul saw Christ¡¦s sacrifice, knowing he was ¡§cheifest of sinners¡¨ (1 Timothy 1:15), and was compelled by that mercy not to give up. This ministry Paul had the privilege to suffering in was from the payment of all his sins at Calvary¡¦s cross. Realize all that Christ has done for you daily, and you can¡¦t help but serve Him.
#2.) Sincerity On Display: (v2) But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully: but by nanifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man¡¦s conscience in the sight of God.¡¨
Notice the end of this verse ¡§in the sight of God¡¨. People are not always watching, but God is. He is not only looking at your means and method of service, but also your motivation. Psalms 11:4 says, ¡§¡Khis eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.¡¨ Do you know God is watching? Do you know that He knows your heart, even better than you know it? (1 John 3:20.) Things done for man¡¦s approval are not rewarded by God (Matthew 6:2,5,16) Yet things sincerely for God, ¡§He will reward openly¡¨ (Matthew 6:4,6,18) If you have lost the true reason for your service is to please God, than come back and give him your heart and regain your sincerity in service.
#3.) Struggle With The Devil: (v3-4)
¡§But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of Go, should shine unto them.¡¨
We can take a vacation from God, but the Devil never does. This ¡§father of lies¡¨ (John 8:44) is relentless, even more today, knowing his time is growing shorter till he is chained for a thousand years. People think they can out fox the Fox. If Adam, who only had one commandment, one opportunity, and full brain capacity couldn¡¦t do it, who are we who have many opportinites, and use less than 10% of our brains, think we could be successful? Most think that if you resist the devil, he will flee, but the is heresy. The key phrase is to ¡§submit ourselves to God¡¨ then is the rest of that verse a given victory (James 4:7). God gave inspiration to Paul to write that we submit ourselves to God by ¡§fully putting on his Armor¡¨ not our own (Ephesians 6:10). This is to withstand, thus endure. No armor is mentioned for the backside. Have you turned your back on the Devil thinking he¡¦s not a threat? Then you have been fooled. The Devil cannot lose except through the power of God being a stronghold in your life. This takes enduring faith.
#4.) Spiritual Determination (v5-9) ¡§For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus¡¦ sake. For God, who commaded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.¡¨
The spiritual determination comes from being a servant. All you hear of today are seminars and meetings about overcoming debt, depression, divorce, etc¡K These being important issues in the Christian life for sure, but most can be aided or solved by knowing how to be a servant for Christ. Servants who know there Master is watching out for them have no worries, wondering, or wandering. There not ¡§distressed, despaired, or destroyed¡¨ When you are a true servant your Master handles the defeats you would have faced if on your own. Paul wrote about a servant Onesimus. He was a run away, but Paul said to his master that ¡§he might have run away for a season, that thou shouldest receive him forever.¡¨ (Philemon 15) Onesimus, ran taking his Master¡¦s treasure with him, yet he had changed, he would now endure the role of a servant. We don¡¦t know what kind of master Philemon was, but we do know our Masters love and care for us. Have you run from your Master? Repent and return to serve Him forever. (2 Corinthians 7:20-24)
#5.) Sacrificing Devotion (v10-12) ¡§Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus¡¦ sake, that the life also Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.¡¨
Death and life are mentioned six times in these three verses. Paul was saying that he had crucified his flesh as far as his affections and lusts. (Galatians 5:24). Having conflicting goals in life guarantees that none will be met. You cannot have two masters (Luke 16:13). The Christian walk is filled with inner turmoil only when one is fooled into thinking they can straddle the fence between faith and flesh. If you truly give yourself as a sacrifice, you don¡¦t have a life to go back to. (2 Corinthians 5:15-17). Many today feel that their sacrifice is their time on Sunday, tithe from salary, and talents in service. It is an honor and privilege not a sacrifice to get to do these for the Lord. Our sacrifice is each day in the every day decisions, duties, and deadlines to choose Christ over ourselves. That¡¦s more difficult than just reading your Bible, attending your church, and giving your money. This sacrifice must be made daily (1 Corinthians 15:31). Which leads us to our next point.
#6.) Strength Given Daily (v16) ¡§For this cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.¡¨
If the Lord is going to have you lay yourself down to serve Him, know that He will pick you up again. In verses thirteen and fourteen, Paul expresses that we have the same Spirit that raised up Jesus dwelling in us. This is the ¡§riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man¡¨ and the ¡§earnest of our inheritance¡¨ (Ephesians 3:16; 1:14). If someone gives you a gift that is highly useful, doesn¡¦t it improve your life? Why do so many just limp from Sunday to Sunday in their Christian life? They are not in tune with the Spirit of life, leadership, and liberty. The four biggest reasons people give up are: fatigue, frustration, failure, and fear. But they don¡¦t stand a chance when you are walking the Spirit that provides strength, stability, success, and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
#7.) Sure Destiny (v17-18)
¡§For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the thing which are seen, but at the thing which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the thing which are not seen are eternal.¡¨
In (Romans 15:13) it says ¡§the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.¡¨ Hope is very important in our endurance. Being at the end of your rope doesn¡¦t mean the end of your hope. The Bible says our hope is the ¡§¡Kanchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast¡K¡¨ (Hebrews 6:19). It¡¦s not if, but when the storms hit your life, what will be your focus? If your faith doesn¡¦t point to anything, it¡¦s foolishness. Hope is the destination of our faith. What good would it be to spend time throwing darts with no bulls eyed target or, running a race with no finish line? None. Our target and finish line is ¡§for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.¡¨ If you have settled for today rather than serving for eternity, align your focus as Paul said he did at the end of his days ¡§I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (2 Timothy 4:7)
The Bible is true that in Luke 9:62 ¡§And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.¡¨ yet that sounds like a negative motivation to endure, The positive is that the Lord will say to those who endure, ¡§Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.¡¨ A person is worse off for not enduring (2 Peter 2:20-22). All of us will suffer. The just and the unjust. That¡¦s a given in world of sin. Isn¡¦t it better and more rewarding eternally to suffer for Christ¡¦s sake? (1 Peter 3:17)
¡§Behold, we count them happy which endure¡K¡¨ (James 5:11)
