2 Corinthians 4 We Should Not Lose Heart
2 Corinthians 4 -We should not lost heart
This theme today is somewhat like last week about getting a new perspective at the feet of the Cross, at the burning bush, and with the death of a long-reigning King having a vision of the True King high and lifted up. " Since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we 'faint ' not ( do not lose heart)" & we try and not hide our "gospel....( then) it is hid to them that are lost."
" We have received mercy" ---" We do not presume to come to this Thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under Thy Table. But thou are the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy..." BCP 1928, p. 82
This is the same gospel in the Old Covenant as well as the New. We have received mercy at the hands of God. It is He that saves us, not we ourselves. Jonah prayed out of the belly of the fish, " I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and He heard me..."
How true it is that we have received God's Covenantal and Blessed Mercy every day of our lives.
2. We do not faint, or lose heart...
Thayer's Greek Lexicon from Biblehub.com
STRONGS NT 1573: ἐκκακέω
ἐκκακέω, ἐκκάκω; (1 aorist ἐξεκάκησα); (κακός); to be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted
HELPS Word-studies
1573 ekkakéō (from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 2556 /kakós, "inwardly bad") – properly, to be negatively influenced with the outcome of experiencing inner weariness.
We need strength from God and continual feeding upon His Word, His Sacraments and encouragement from others who love us in Christ to not grow weary of well-doing. Galatians 6:9 same Greek word. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 ( " But , ye, brethren, be not weary in well-doing.")
3. why? " if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost." 2 Cor 4:3
" Covered over" is the meaning. If our news about God is covered over because of our faintness, lack of heart , weariness, it is covered to all who are perishing ( Present tense vb).
We are not sharing ourselves really. We are sharing the gift of grace and mercy which we have received at the hands of Almighty God. It is His love and compassion that is covered.
Did I tell you that I had two such ex. of that this last week? Hugging is not my suit, but I am feeling it more. Two people who needed an embrace got one after a long chat with both. One has dialysis every other day, 3 days a week and the other you know broke her wrist. I got a lot more out of those visits than they did.
Fanny Crosby wrote the hymn, " Rescue the Perishing" published in 1870,"
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.
Refrain:
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.
Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,
Waiting the penitent child to receive;
Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently;
He will forgive if they only believe.
Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.
Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them;
Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died."
This theme today is somewhat like last week about getting a new perspective at the feet of the Cross, at the burning bush, and with the death of a long-reigning King having a vision of the True King high and lifted up. " Since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we 'faint ' not ( do not lose heart)" & we try and not hide our "gospel....( then) it is hid to them that are lost."
" We have received mercy" ---" We do not presume to come to this Thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under Thy Table. But thou are the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy..." BCP 1928, p. 82
This is the same gospel in the Old Covenant as well as the New. We have received mercy at the hands of God. It is He that saves us, not we ourselves. Jonah prayed out of the belly of the fish, " I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and He heard me..."
How true it is that we have received God's Covenantal and Blessed Mercy every day of our lives.
2. We do not faint, or lose heart...
Thayer's Greek Lexicon from Biblehub.com
STRONGS NT 1573: ἐκκακέω
ἐκκακέω, ἐκκάκω; (1 aorist ἐξεκάκησα); (κακός); to be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted
HELPS Word-studies
1573 ekkakéō (from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 2556 /kakós, "inwardly bad") – properly, to be negatively influenced with the outcome of experiencing inner weariness.
We need strength from God and continual feeding upon His Word, His Sacraments and encouragement from others who love us in Christ to not grow weary of well-doing. Galatians 6:9 same Greek word. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 ( " But , ye, brethren, be not weary in well-doing.")
3. why? " if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost." 2 Cor 4:3
" Covered over" is the meaning. If our news about God is covered over because of our faintness, lack of heart , weariness, it is covered to all who are perishing ( Present tense vb).
We are not sharing ourselves really. We are sharing the gift of grace and mercy which we have received at the hands of Almighty God. It is His love and compassion that is covered.
Did I tell you that I had two such ex. of that this last week? Hugging is not my suit, but I am feeling it more. Two people who needed an embrace got one after a long chat with both. One has dialysis every other day, 3 days a week and the other you know broke her wrist. I got a lot more out of those visits than they did.
Fanny Crosby wrote the hymn, " Rescue the Perishing" published in 1870,"
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.
Refrain:
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.
Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,
Waiting the penitent child to receive;
Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently;
He will forgive if they only believe.
Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.
Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them;
Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died."
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