We Do Not Lose Heart

“Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, ‘I believed, and so I spoke,’ we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:13-18 ESV)

The apostle Paul had just talked about his and Timothy’s afflictions and how they were being persecuted and struck down for their witness and for their testimonies for Jesus Christ and for his gospel of salvation. He said, “For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh” (v. 11). Not only were they daily denying self and dying to sin and following Jesus in obedience, but they were suffering greatly in order to get out the message of the gospel.

And what was the message that Paul taught? He taught Christ crucified, dead, buried, and risen from the dead on our behalf so that we can now be crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin, but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness. So we are not to let sin reign any longer in our mortal bodies to make us obey its passions, for if sin is what we obey, it leads to death, but if we obey obedience to God, its end is eternal life (see Romans 6:1-23).

See also: [Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Php 2:5-11: Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 9:28; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2]  

So, what was his consolation for all that he and Timothy suffered? It was that the gospel message was being spread and that more and more people were trusting in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of their lives, and were turning from their sins to now walk in obedience to the Lord and to his commands under the New Covenant. And so it was also that more and more people now had the hope of salvation from sin and the hope of eternal life with God provided that they continued in steadfastness of faith in Christ.

[Matt 24:9-14; Rom 8:24; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Jn 8:31-32; Jn 15:1-12; Rom 11:17-24; Col 1:21-23; 2 Tim 2:10-13; Heb 3:6,14-15; 2 Pet 1:5-11; 2 Pet 2:20-22; 1 Jn 2:24-25] 

Even though they were suffering much persecution for their testimonies for the Lord Jesus and for his gospel, they did not lose heart. For, even though their physical bodies were wasting away, their inner selves, which were surrendered to the Lord in death to sin and living to his righteousness, were being renewed day by day of the Spirit of God as they continued to submit to the will of God and to do what the Lord had called them to do. And they knew that one day they would be with Jesus face to face. Oh what glory!

As the Deer 

By Martin J. Nystrom

Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water

 So my soul longeth after You

 You alone are my heart's desire

 And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield

 To You alone may my spirit yield

 You alone are my heart's desire

 And I long to worship You

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZv3jzOTE70

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