A Sermon For Mama

How To Hang In There!

“For which cause we faint not;” 2 Cor. 4:16a; 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Keeping on doing what God has called you to. I don't suppose there is anyone more qualified to teach us how to "hang in there" for the Lord than Apostle Paul. Here is a man who endured some of the greatest hardships possible for Christ. He was hated by both Jews and Gentiles. He was misunderstood and attacked even by other Christians. He was eventually executed for nothing more than preaching Jesus Christ. And yet, at the eve of his life, he was able to record, “I have fought a good fight I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.”

And I believe 2 Corinthians 4 tells us how he did it.
I. PAUL ACCEPTED THE MINISTRY GOD GAVE HIM. 2 Cor 4:1
Paul's was not an easy ministry. He was not accepted by the other Apostles for several years. He was constantly challenged and questioned even by the other Apostles throughout his ministry. He suffered shipwrecks and beatings and stonings and jailings, on a regular basis. But he accepted the ministry God gave him. The context of this verse is in view of the trials he faced because of his ministry. And yet, despite all that, he simply writes, seeing we have this ministry... we faint not. We would do well to learn from this to accept whatever situations we have!
Sometimes all of us get to looking around and wishing we had it like someone else has it! If we want to continue for the Lord, the first step has to be, to accept the position that God gives us in the work of the Lord! We need to come to the place where we accept whatever ministry God chooses to give or not to give us personally. The truth of it is whatever position we have in the plan of God for the church and for His ministry, IS A MERCIFUL POSITION!

II. PAUL HAD A PROPER PERSPECTIVE OF HIS PROBLEMS verses 8-9
Paul makes four contrasts here;
A. Troubled - not distressed; The word troubled means to be crowded, pressured. The word distressed means to be in calamity. If I can, He is saying that he is squeezed, but not squished!
B. Perplexed - not in Despair; The word perplexed means "at a loss" The word despair means "completely lost"
C. Persecuted - not forsaken; The word persecuted means "hunted" The word forsaken means "deserted."
D. Cast down - not destroyed
What Paul is saying is, "Sure, I got problems, but I am not defeated!"
"I have fallen a few times, but I have always been able to get back up!"
"I have had some times when I wasn't sure which way to turn for a while, but I have never been so lost that I couldn't eventually get out of it!"
I was thinking Troubled, but not distressed. That looks to me to be the in the soul. Perplexed, but not in despair appears to me to be in the mind. Persecuted, but not forsaken is in the body. Cast down, but not destroyed is in your very life. In every aspect, of humanity, while there were trials, Paul recognized that the trials had not completely overwhelmed him.

If we are going to hang in there. We too, must come to the place where we recognize that the trials we face are not totally devastating!
They may hurt. We may not enjoy them; We might have wished we hadn't had to go through them. But there isn't a one of them that has to destroy us! In fact, for the Christian, even the ultimate trial, that of losing our life isn't really a defeat, but a victory!

The third thing I saw in 2 Corinthians was
III. PAUL HAD HIS EYES FIXED ON THE RIGHT THINGS.
Verses 10-18 There are three things I want to point out to you in these verses, in reverse order from how they are listed in the chapter:
We need to
A. Look at the Eternal, not the Temporal.
Verse 18 So many of our troubles could be resolved if we had our eyes on heaven, not earth.
I understand how difficult that is. I struggle with it every single moment of my life.
Paul said in Romans "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us."
And all he was saying was that we ought to look for the heavenly/eternal things, not the earthly/temporal things!

Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal.”

What he was saying was that we ought to look for the heavenly/eternal things, not the earthly/temporal things. Much of the reason we struggle with the Christian life, and one of the reasons some give up on their course, is that they get their eyes fixed on how things are today, Right now.
If that is how Paul looked at things,
***He wouldn't have been willing to give up his career in the Pharisee's religion for Christ.
***And he wouldn't have been willing to give up his Pastor associate pastor's position in Antioch to be a missionary church planter.
***And he wouldn't have been willing to give up his freedom to be a blessing to the poor saints in Jerusalem
***And he wouldn't have been willing to give up his life, to keep his testimony for Jesus Christ!
Paul could hang in there because his eyes were fixed on heavenly/eternal things, not earthly/temporal things! He was content to suffer some losses here in order to have more rewards waiting in heaven!
We need to

B. Look at others, not self
Verse 12 Paul was willing to go through the trials that he did, and hang in there for the Lord, because he was concerned more for others than he was for himself. Paul was the one who went so far as to say that he could wish himself accursed from Christ that his kinsmen, the Jews would be saved. Paul said he became all things to all men that he might by all means save some. Paul's concern in life was not for himself and how he faired physically, but for others and how they faired spiritually! He was willing to suffer any trial, any hardship, any difficulty so long as he was still seeing souls being saved and given eternal; life in Jesus Christ!
I understand that is the opposite of what every thing in this world tells you. But joy comes from putting Jesus first, other next, and ourselves last! That helps us keep our problems in perspective too, when we see how others are doing! THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO HAS IT TOUGHER THAN YOU DO! Find them, and help them, AND YOU WILL FIND NOT ONLY JOY, but the strength to hang in there and finish the course God gave you.
And finally, we need to

C. Look at Christ's Living, not dying.
Vs 11 One of the differences you'll find between us and the Catholics is that they use a cross with Christ still hanging there. We use a cross with Christ come off it. While we do not want to minimize what Christ did when He died on the Cross we also don't want to get stuck there. Christ not only died and was buried... HE ROSE AGAIN HE ROSE TRIUMPHANT, HE ROSE VICTORIOUS, and HE ROSE GLORIFIED and His triumph translates to our triumph today, His victory translates to our victory today, And his glory works for our glory too!
"Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there he any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8.

If all we picture, when we picture Christ, is Him hanging on the cross... We will have a dead and defeated religion. But if, whenever we see Christ, IN HEAVEN AND STANDING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD! Now, we have a faith that is alive powerful, and filled with promise and hope!
Thinking on these things helps you to see God, and seeing Him, makes us aware of His Spirit all around and through us. Conclusively those who think on these things are blessed with God's presence bringing; assurance, certainty, and a profound confidence.

Thinking on these things helps you to see God, who, in patient hours of quiet thoughts and prayer, come to understand the words "Be still and know that I am God."

Thinking on these things helps you to see God and say, "I know that my Redeemer liveth."

Think about the omnipotence of the God who rules the entire universe. And be thankful that He can right all the wrongs of men.
For In the twinkling of an eye, God can transform mortal man into an infinite, immortal being.

In a fleeting moment, God can provide water in dry places, and food in a barren land,

In an instant, God can turn hopeless defeat into glorious victory.

In the space of a heartbeat, God can make an insurmountable mountain into a level pathway.

In the swiftness of a passing thought, God can remove seemingly invincible barriers and obstacles, and prepare the way for believers.

In the speaking of a word, God can close the curtain of' time, and open the unending day of limitless infinity.

In the exhaling of a divine breath, God can blow away the dark clouds of opposition and the dust of oppression.

In the rapidness of a lightning flash, God can heal a broken heart and restore a wounded soul.

And that, my beloved, is the number one tool to keep you, Hanging in there!


Thank you, Mama for helping me to "Hang In There"

Prayer This Day

Heavenly Father, today I praise your Holy name, for you have brought forth wonders, majesty, and grace. I pray, God, you allow our hearts and minds to be calmed and ready us for the days to come. Help us, Lord, to honor you in all we do. We seek your protection and guidance over our new leader, his family, his staff, and this nation. Give us victory over our obstacles. We also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Born of God; Simple as A, B, C, D

Jesus said, "I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3 NET).

The Bible teaches us that we become a child of God only through the new birth.
Those who believe on Jesus Christ become God’s children. “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).
It is not a physical birth, but a spiritual birth, and it is something that is received by the person who believes in Him (1 Pet. 1:23). The start of the new birth is with God.
It is the teaching throughout the New Testament (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 10:9-10).
Without Christ we are spiritually dead in trespasses and sin (Eph. 2:1-3).
We need divine life, and that is what God provides through the new birth.
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36, 16; 1 John 5:13).

How do we not become a child of God?

There is absolutely nothing that man can do to add to his spiritual birth. This is made very clear in John 1:13, “who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
No amount of human,religious activity, or moral teaching can change the essential nature of man.
Therefore, it is imperative that man’s deepest need is to be born again.
You do not become a child of God by anything you say or do.
You do not become a child of God by being a member of a church.
You do not become a child of God by being sincere.

The Bible teaches we are saved by grace through faith in Christ and not of works.
It is the free gift of God. “What must I do to be saved?”
The Bible says “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:31).
You must believe in Jesus alone;
You must trust Him alone;
You must accept Jesus' sacrifice for your sins alone and nothing that you do in any way.

We become a child of God when God gives us His life.

By whose authority do we become the children of God? Jesus. “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right . . .” It is the authority of Jesus Christ. Those who believe on Him have the right to become the children of God.

It is an act of God. We receive that life the moment we believe on Christ.
It comes from God and is received only on the basis of God’s grace.
Those who believe become God’s children.
Only by receiving Christ do we gain the right to become a child of God.
There is nothing in our human nature or character that can bring about a spiritual birth. All human effort is ruled out and incomplete.

We are “born of God.” There is no other way to become a child of God. It is life in Christ and is divine in origin. The whole emphasis in this verse and in John chapter three is the activity of the Spirit of God, "not human effort, works or merits.” The Holy Spirit gives us a new spiritual nature.
When He gives us this new nature we are "born again" (2 Pet. 1:4).

Here are four steps as simple as A, B, C, D

Admit
The first step is to admit that we have ignored God and therefore need a Saviour. As the Bible puts it, we are all sinners. We have broken God's laws, and not even lived up to our own ideals. Part of the seriousness of sin is that it separates us from God. God is all-holy and absolutely pure. He hates sin. He cannot dwell with it. He cannot even look at it. We are cut off. : "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). So we need a Saviour. We cannot save ourselves. We must humbly and honestly admit this. Jesus said .."he had come to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Believe
We must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died on the cross and rose again on the third day to be the saviour of the world. John 1:12 says, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (NIV).
What we have to believe is:
• Believes that there is a loving, personal all powerful God who has created the universe, loves and cares for humanity.
• Recognizes that they have ignored God, either intentionally or unintentionally, and so has turned away from him. They are a rebel.
• That Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, uniquely divine, who came down from heaven and became man.
• That he deliberately went to the cross to die for the sins of the world.
He bore them in his own body. He "was made sin for us".
In his immense love for us he took upon himself the penalty that our sins deserved. That as the perfect man, death could not contain him. On the third day he rose to life. Because he lives, we may live also.
Jesus is the Son of God, who died and rose for us.
• Believes that Jesus, God's Son, by his death on the cross, has bridged the separation between God and man. He has taken the punishment our rebellion deserves. Also, Jesus, by his resurrection, has guaranteed our new life now and in the age to come.
• Believes God's call to repent and has turned from rebelling and submitted to his Son.
• Has put their complete trust in Jesus for forgiveness, direction in life and fulfillment of all God promises. It starts and stops with Jesus.

Consider the Cost
We must consider this fact. If we commit our life to Jesus Christ, he will be our Lord as well as our Saviour. He offers us salvation, but he demands our thoughtful and total commitment. Receiving Christ will mean a willingness to turn from everything we know to be wrong. He will become master of:
Our ambitions and our career;
Master of our time, money and talents;
Master of every area of our life.
This is what he asked of his disciples. This is what he asks of us. He told them, as he tells us, to count the cost of following him.

Do
What is there to do? The first steps have been in the mind, not the will. It is not enough to intellectually believe that he died to be the Saviour of the world and rose to be the Lord of the Universe, we must ask him to be our Saviour and our Lord. "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matt. 3:8, NIV) It is this act of personal commitment which so many people miss. As Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it", Mk.10:15.

“ Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it” (Matthew 16:23-24)
"I am the way, the truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father but by Me" (John 14:6).
"Therefore if any man is Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new thing have come" (2 Cor. 5:17).