Dont Lose Heart The reason I am retiring is very simple. My desire - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Don’t Lose Heart

The reason I am retiring is very simple. My desire to exit the game is greater than my desire to remain in it. - Barry Sanders

2 Corinthians 4 (1) Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.

(1) connects us with a transforming God

(1) connects us with a transforming God (2) frees us from manipulating outcomes

(1) connects us with a transforming God (2) frees us from manipulating outcomes (3) heals spiritual blindness

(1) connects us with a transforming God (2) frees us from manipulating outcomes (3) heals spiritual blindness (4) gives clarity for our suffering

(1) connects us with a transforming God

2 Corinthians 4 (1) Therefore… since we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.

2 Corinthians 3 (18) And we who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever- increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3 (18) And we who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever- increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Exodus 34 The veiled face of Moses

2 Corinthians 3 (15) Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.

2 Corinthians 3 (16) But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away

2 Corinthians 3 (18) And we who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever- increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

You have been trying half your lifetime to cure faults and make yourselves stronger. Try this other plan. Cease from self and fix your eyes on the Savior until His image imprints itself on your whole nature . - Maclaren

(2) The gospel frees us from manipulating outcomes

2 Corinthians 4 (2) Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.

Acts 20 (27) For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.

2 Corinthians 4 (2) On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God

Colossians 1 (21) Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. (22) But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight,

(3) The gospel heals spiritual blindness

2 Corinthians 4 (3) And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

2 Corinthians 4 (4) The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

John 3 (19) This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

2 Corinthians 4 (5) For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake

2 Corinthians 4 (6) For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12

John 1 (29) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 1834 -1892

Isaiah 45 (22) “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other

Then I had this vision—not a vision to my eyes, but to my heart. I saw what a Savior Christ was.… I did believe in one moment.

And as the snow fell on my road home from the little house of prayer, I thought every snowflake talked with me and told of the pardon I had found, for I was white as the driven snow through the grace of God.

(4) The gospel gives clarity for my suffering

2 Corinthians 4 (7) But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

2 Corinthians 4 (8) We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; (9) persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed .

2 Corinthians 4 (10) We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (11) For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. (12) So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

2 Corinthians 4 (13) It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”

Psalm 116 (3) The cords of death entangled me…(4) Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!”

Psalm 116 (9) the land of the living

Psalm 116 (15) Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants. (16) Truly, I am your servant Lord

2 Corinthians 4 (10) We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (11) For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. (12) So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

2 Corinthians 4 (13) Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, (14) because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.

2 Corinthians 4 (15) …that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 4 (16) Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4 (17) For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.