THE FAITHFUL LIFE
Series: From Easter to Pentecost
II Cor. 4:1-18
Paul uses four terms to describe the circumstances.
1."I'm hard pressed on every side, but not crushed
2. "I'm perplexed but not in despair."
3. "I'm persecuted but not abandoned
4. "I'm struck down but not destroyed"
SEVEN KEYS TO A FAITHFUL LIFE
1. REMEMBERS GOD’S MERCIFUL ATTRIBUTE
v. 1 "Since therefore, through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart."
2. REQUIRED to MAINTAIN ACCOUNTABILITY
v. 2 "Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God. We commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God."
3. A RIGHT MOTIVE ALWAYS
v. 5 "For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake."
In 1 Cor. 11 "Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes minus one, three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a day and a night in the open sea, I've been in constant danger, without food, without sleep -- thirst, hunger, food, cold. Besides this, I've faced the daily pressures of concern for all the churches."
Col. 3:23 says "Whatever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord and not as unto men."
4. REALISTIC MEASURE OF ABILITIES
v. 7 "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show the all-surpassing power is from God and not ourselves."
Exodus 23:29-30 "God said to Joshua, `When you come to the promised land, I'm not going to give it to you all at once. But I'm going to drive out the giants little by little so you can handle it."
5. RIGHTEOUSNESS IS the MAIN ATTRACTION
v. 15 "All this is for your benefit, so that the grace of God that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God."
6. REJOICES IN THE MIDST OF AFFLICTION
v. 16 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."
"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint."
Psalm 119:50 "Your promises renew me."
7. RECOGNIZES that we will be MADE ANEW
v. 17-18 "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
