Brother Ryan Johnson
Perspective in Perseverance
2 Corinthians 4
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
Along side the ministry that God has given to us, He has supplied mercy. Mercy is the act of withholding deserved punishment. With mercy tied in with our ministry, God encourages us not faint but to keep going. In ministry there will be times when you want to give up. Can I encourage you today to not give up. This is not the time to give up. We are on the winning side.
You may have heard it said, "Winners never quit and quitters never win." That may be true, but there are times when winners feel like quitting. What do they do then? You may have heard it said, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." That may be true, but there are times when the going got tough that the tough want to crawl back in bed and hide from the cruel world. What do they do then?
Your ministry can be one of a champion or one of a coward.
Paul will remind us of how perseverance will only take place when our perspective is right. But before Paul helps us with our perseverance, he sets the stage by reminding us of the importance of our ministry.
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
We have something valuable given to us by God to give to mankind. Whether you believe this treasure is your salvation, Jesus, the Holy Spirit or maybe it is the ministry that the Lord Jesus has called us too, this treasure is valuable. I believe to be more precious that gold, silver, rubies, the coolest toys, the best car, the best paying job, etc.
How valuable is your ministry to you?
Your answer is not necessarily given by your words but by your actions.
Paul now gives us four Pictures of Perspectives in our Perseverance that we can consider today just in case we have some here today knowing our ministry but are still on the verge of wanting to give up and throw in the towel.
8 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;
Being disturbed or troubled I believe haunts us all. Sometimes it feels like it can not get any worse. Some days we feel like we are Job and one right after another comes to deliver us bad news. The Bible says, “on every side”, as if we are the quarterback and here comes an all-out blitz.
We can be troubled, and things can worry us to no end, but can we remember today that we are not yet distressed. This trouble should not get us to the point where we think we are washed up and good for nothing. God is not ready to foreclose on us and offer us up for sale. We might be damaged on the outside, but I am here to remind you today that on the inside, we are a new creation and prepared to endure any trouble or disturbance we may have.
IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE!!!
Paul reminds us here that we may not know exactly what is goes on this world and some decisions that are being in today’s world made may cause us to scratch our head. And Satan is very smart (dumb smart), but he is very subtle is trying to distract us from our mission. Paul is saying here even though Satan is throwing all these distractions our way, we are not in despair, we still have hope.
The distractions are only ploys to keep us from reminding ourselves of the hope that is in us. 1 Peter 3:13-15
IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE!!!
IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE!!!
Depression can lead one to discouragement that opens the door to throwing in the towel and become the coward that one does not want to be. A coward that complains about the situation they are in and would rather complain than seek courage and find confidence in the Lord. We can give into the theory that we have not help or help. We might even call out, Help! I can’t get up!! But instead of throwing in the towel and staying down, let’s lift our voice and head to Heaven from where comes our help. Psalm 121
We are not destroyed, we are not lost, we are not ruined. But we are whole, we are saved, we are a workmanship in the Lord that was created to good works. We have this treasure in earthen vessels.
IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE!!!
Lastly, I want to give you the Perspective Passwords. Today we have passwords for everything, so I thought it best to use the terminology of today are share some passwords the keep our perspective active.
And many of you here today that may feel like you need more characters in your password for better security to keep the Government and the identity thieves out of your business, here is your password:
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.
11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Chapter 5
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Today, are you confident that when you become absent from this body, you will be present with the Lord? If you are, let’s act like it. If not, today can be the day when you put your faith and trust in the Lord. And all can begin living in this perspective,
WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT!!!
2 Corinthians 4
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
Along side the ministry that God has given to us, He has supplied mercy. Mercy is the act of withholding deserved punishment. With mercy tied in with our ministry, God encourages us not faint but to keep going. In ministry there will be times when you want to give up. Can I encourage you today to not give up. This is not the time to give up. We are on the winning side.
You may have heard it said, "Winners never quit and quitters never win." That may be true, but there are times when winners feel like quitting. What do they do then? You may have heard it said, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." That may be true, but there are times when the going got tough that the tough want to crawl back in bed and hide from the cruel world. What do they do then?
Your ministry can be one of a champion or one of a coward.
Paul will remind us of how perseverance will only take place when our perspective is right. But before Paul helps us with our perseverance, he sets the stage by reminding us of the importance of our ministry.
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
We have something valuable given to us by God to give to mankind. Whether you believe this treasure is your salvation, Jesus, the Holy Spirit or maybe it is the ministry that the Lord Jesus has called us too, this treasure is valuable. I believe to be more precious that gold, silver, rubies, the coolest toys, the best car, the best paying job, etc.
How valuable is your ministry to you?
Your answer is not necessarily given by your words but by your actions.
Paul now gives us four Pictures of Perspectives in our Perseverance that we can consider today just in case we have some here today knowing our ministry but are still on the verge of wanting to give up and throw in the towel.
8 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;
- A Picture of being Disturbed but not Distressed
Being disturbed or troubled I believe haunts us all. Sometimes it feels like it can not get any worse. Some days we feel like we are Job and one right after another comes to deliver us bad news. The Bible says, “on every side”, as if we are the quarterback and here comes an all-out blitz.
We can be troubled, and things can worry us to no end, but can we remember today that we are not yet distressed. This trouble should not get us to the point where we think we are washed up and good for nothing. God is not ready to foreclose on us and offer us up for sale. We might be damaged on the outside, but I am here to remind you today that on the inside, we are a new creation and prepared to endure any trouble or disturbance we may have.
IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE!!!
- A Picture of being Distracted but not in Despair
Paul reminds us here that we may not know exactly what is goes on this world and some decisions that are being in today’s world made may cause us to scratch our head. And Satan is very smart (dumb smart), but he is very subtle is trying to distract us from our mission. Paul is saying here even though Satan is throwing all these distractions our way, we are not in despair, we still have hope.
The distractions are only ploys to keep us from reminding ourselves of the hope that is in us. 1 Peter 3:13-15
IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE!!!
- A Picture of being Depressed but not Deserted
- a Persecuted, but not forsaken;
IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE!!!
- A Picture of being Discouraged but not Destroyed
Depression can lead one to discouragement that opens the door to throwing in the towel and become the coward that one does not want to be. A coward that complains about the situation they are in and would rather complain than seek courage and find confidence in the Lord. We can give into the theory that we have not help or help. We might even call out, Help! I can’t get up!! But instead of throwing in the towel and staying down, let’s lift our voice and head to Heaven from where comes our help. Psalm 121
We are not destroyed, we are not lost, we are not ruined. But we are whole, we are saved, we are a workmanship in the Lord that was created to good works. We have this treasure in earthen vessels.
IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE!!!
Lastly, I want to give you the Perspective Passwords. Today we have passwords for everything, so I thought it best to use the terminology of today are share some passwords the keep our perspective active.
- Problems are Real
- Power of God
- People’s Need
And many of you here today that may feel like you need more characters in your password for better security to keep the Government and the identity thieves out of your business, here is your password:
- Perspective is the key to Perseverance
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.
11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Chapter 5
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Today, are you confident that when you become absent from this body, you will be present with the Lord? If you are, let’s act like it. If not, today can be the day when you put your faith and trust in the Lord. And all can begin living in this perspective,
WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT!!!