Don't Lose Heart

Scripture:  II Cor. 4:7-18 - But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

In these last and evil days, we see more and more believers become discouraged and even impatient.  It seems that the world is surpassing the church as well as believers and even those who are preaching false doctrine seem to be progressing.  It can be hard to see these things happening; and if we are not careful, we will lose heart.  Some have been praying for things and they have not come to pass; and if we are not careful, we can lose heart.  Many have turned and walked away because of losing heart.

When we look at our text today, we see that if anyone should have been discouraged, it should have been Paul.  In II Cor. 11:23-29 there is a list of things that he suffered yet in this text he says, don’t lose heart!  It is not uncommon, however, for believers today to lose heart.  Losing heart could result in loss of blessing.  Gal. 6:9-And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Due season is one of the reasons that we lose heart.  We want to reap now, but due season is God’s business.  It is also God’s timing.
There are several signs of losing heart.  We first begin to lack a persistence in prayer.  Jesus equated prayer with not losing heart, Luke 18:1.  One of the first signs is that my prayer life becomes irregular.  Fervent prayer keeps me close and it keeps me sharp.  Eph. 6:18- Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end.  I Thess. 5:17 – Pray without ceasing.  The second sign is I grow weary in my call.  I have lost my desire to tell others about Jesus and forsaking the assembling of myself with other believers.  In other words, my church attendance drops off.  Heb. 10:25. The third sign is I begin to neglect the Word of God.  That includes reading and hearing it preached.  What wood is to fire, the Word of God is to your Christian life.  Psalm 119:50b – Your Word has given me life.  The fourth sign is you lose your joy.  Serving the Lord becomes a duty instead of a passion.  Worry and fear replace your joy.
 
There are other ways also, but these are the main signs.  If you see this in your life, ask God to reignite the fire and the passion.  Psalm 51:12-Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. 
Prayer:  Father, first we want to ask for forgiveness.  Sometimes we do get inpatient and sometimes we do allow what we see around us to steal our joy. There are some that even doubt You.  Restore the joy of my salvation, and help me to pursue You with a passion and zeal we once had.  Thank you for answering this prayer according to Your will.  In Jesus Name, Amen

(by Min. Rob Mosley)