"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT NOT GIVING UP"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT NOT GIVING UP"

2nd Cor 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.

2nd Cor 4:14knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.

2nd Cor 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

2nd Cor 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

2nd Cor 4:1while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Some explanatory thoughts, application, and a prayer:

1. Please notice that Paul repeats himself about not losing heart, or giving up. ( See 4:1, and 4:16 ) And, if ever there was a man who had his share of troubles, and could have given up, and quit, it would have been Paul. He went through so many things. For example, here's how he described the things he went through in the ministry. Please read through the 4 verses below for an explanation of what he faced in his life and ministry for Jesus Christ. ( by the way, he will elaborate on the things he experienced latter on in this letter, there was a whole lot more then what's listed below ) But, he did not quit, he did not give up.

2nd Cor 4: We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit.

2nd Cor 4:9 We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.

2nd Cor 4:10 Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

2nd Cor 4:11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be obvious in our dying bodies.

2. So, what was his secret, what kept him going through all the difficulties he faced. And, To make it more personal, what can keep you going through what You may be going through? If God did it for Paul, He can and will do it for You also. Let's look then, at Paul's secret if you will, and make it your own. God will give to You, what He gave to Paul.

(1) Paul had received mercy. See 4:1, and so have You.

(2) Paul knew that God who raised up Jesus, would one day raise him up, See 4:14, and, God is going to raise you up also.
In other words, Paul was looking forward to the resurrection to come. And, that he would be presented to God. This is our hope.
Paul even states in 4:16, that this is why he never gave up, never quit. Because He was looking forward, he had hope. And, You can look forward in Christ, You can, and ought to be living in this same hope, of what God is going to do, in spite of what You may be going through right now.

(3) Paul had the right view regarding his troubles. Here is it. Cor 4:17 For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! NLT He knew that though he had troubles, they would not last very long. And, that eternal glory was coming, and it would last forever. He compared the present with the future. The present was short, the future is eternal. Same for You and Me as believers in Jesus Christ.

(4) Lastly, and here it is in the NLT Cor 4:18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. So, he did not focus his life on his present troubles, or the temporal visible things, but rather he looked forward to the invisible, eternal things. This is what Moses did also. Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. Moses endured, and so can You. But, the secret if you will, is to keep Your eyes on the Lord.

3. You may be facing many troubles right now. You may be going through things that are nearly unbearable, or seem that way anyways. But, here's the good news. It has to do with believing what God has given you, i.e Mercy, and by keeping Your eyes fixed on the eternal things of God. Don't allow Yourself to get caught up in looking at Your present troubles, just lift your gaze up and above them if You will, and You will see Jesus. And, He will keep you, preserve you, protect you.

A prayer:

Father, we thank You that there is more to this life then what we can see with our eyes. Troubles abound, but they are short lived, when you compare them to the eternal glory awaiting us. Help us Lord to keep our eyes fixed where You want them to be fixed. There are things temporal, and things eternal. The one is short lived, the other is forever. You promise to get us through, and when it's all said and done, to present us to the Father. And, with brand new bodies, raising up these corrupt ones into glory.
Thank You Lord. We pray for those who are going through it right now, and are reading this, may You find strength and grace today through the truth of God's Word. In Jesus name, amen

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.