Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share WE FAINT NOT -- II Corinthians 4:1-6
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
WE FAINT NOT -- II Corinthians 4:1-6
The book of II Corinthians is a book of encouragement. Paul certainly had reason to get discouraged. In II Corinthians 11:23-28 he tells us: “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. (25) Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; (26) In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; (27) In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (28) Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” If you want to get discouraged, try pastoring a church (At least I don’t have “the care of ALL the churches” upon me, just this one.) As we get closer to the Lord’s return, we are going to need more and more encouragement. But I have good news for you. Our God is the God of ALL encouragement. II Corinthians 1:3 says. “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort . . . ” COMFORT (paraklesis) speaks of imploration, solace, (ex)hortation (encouragement). The theme of chapter 4 is “We faint not.” (It is repeated in vs. 16.) Trials in Asia had brought Paul almost to the point of despair, but he didn’t quit. Listen to II Corinthians 1:8: “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life . . . ” The picture of "Out of MEASURE" (from huperballo) is "to surpass, or to throw beyond the usual mark." ABOVE STRENGTH speaks of beyond one's ability. (Did you ever feel that what was going on was beyond your ability to handle it?) And DISPAIRED means "to despond; to be utterly at a loss." Have you ever felt that way? Paul is experiencing it due to his stand for Christ. But look at what he says in 4:8-10: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair (9) Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; (10) 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.” It’s too easy for people to quit serving God today. Many are like Demas, they love this present world -- II Timothy 4:10. Some get angry with and out of fellowship with a brother/sister in Christ and refuse to follow the Biblical instructions to get it settled quickly and in love. (They like to hold a grudge.) Still others get offended (usually by some small matter) or get their feelings hurt. As we set about to serve the Lord we especially need the encouragement that is offered here, for it is:
I. ENCOURAGEMENT IN OUR WORK -- VS. 1.
II. ENCOURAGEMENT IN OUR WALK -- VS. 2.
III. ENCOURAGMENT IN OUR WITNESS -- VV. 3-6.
View all episodes
By JWHThe book of II Corinthians is a book of encouragement. Paul certainly had reason to get discouraged. In II Corinthians 11:23-28 he tells us: “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. (25) Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; (26) In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; (27) In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (28) Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” If you want to get discouraged, try pastoring a church (At least I don’t have “the care of ALL the churches” upon me, just this one.) As we get closer to the Lord’s return, we are going to need more and more encouragement. But I have good news for you. Our God is the God of ALL encouragement. II Corinthians 1:3 says. “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort . . . ” COMFORT (paraklesis) speaks of imploration, solace, (ex)hortation (encouragement). The theme of chapter 4 is “We faint not.” (It is repeated in vs. 16.) Trials in Asia had brought Paul almost to the point of despair, but he didn’t quit. Listen to II Corinthians 1:8: “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life . . . ” The picture of "Out of MEASURE" (from huperballo) is "to surpass, or to throw beyond the usual mark." ABOVE STRENGTH speaks of beyond one's ability. (Did you ever feel that what was going on was beyond your ability to handle it?) And DISPAIRED means "to despond; to be utterly at a loss." Have you ever felt that way? Paul is experiencing it due to his stand for Christ. But look at what he says in 4:8-10: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair (9) Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; (10) 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.” It’s too easy for people to quit serving God today. Many are like Demas, they love this present world -- II Timothy 4:10. Some get angry with and out of fellowship with a brother/sister in Christ and refuse to follow the Biblical instructions to get it settled quickly and in love. (They like to hold a grudge.) Still others get offended (usually by some small matter) or get their feelings hurt. As we set about to serve the Lord we especially need the encouragement that is offered here, for it is:
I. ENCOURAGEMENT IN OUR WORK -- VS. 1.
II. ENCOURAGEMENT IN OUR WALK -- VS. 2.
III. ENCOURAGMENT IN OUR WITNESS -- VV. 3-6.