Title Don't be discouraged! Do not give up!
Content: We have this treasure in earthen vessels 2 Corinthians 4:5-10
In 2 Corinthians 4, where we have today's text, the word discouraged is used three times (verses 1, 8, 16).
Comes out. The Hebrew word for 'disappointment' means 'to melt, to ruin'.
When we become discouraged, life melts away. Wake up in the morning when we get discouraged
not. When we get discouraged, we are late for work (school).
When we get discouraged, we don't want to go to meetings. If we are discouraged, the promise is
It dissolves like water. When we become discouraged, life is ruined,
Thoughts are ruined, relationships are ruined.
The Greek word for 'disappointment' means 'to be worthless'. when we get discouraged
From then on, the world becomes worthless. There's no reason to sweat like that.
I don't even have to work so hard to protect my family.
There is no reason for me to have to suffer like that to raise my children.
Then we'll be throwing towels away.
Despair is like a germ. So, if you are infected with discouragement, you will become lethargic.
Being infected with discouragement makes the world pessimistic. Seeing everything negatively and sarcastic.
“What are you doing alive? What do you do when you go to work? good job what do you do Children, parents and husbands
to no avail”. Despair is a plague. Despair is contagious.
So when a child becomes discouraged, the heart of the father melts.
When a husband becomes discouraged, his wife's life is ruined. neck
When the priest is discouraged, the church becomes as barren as a desert.
When the boss is discouraged, the morale of the employees melts like water.
If we are discouraged, we cannot go on.
So you end up throwing the towel away.
Somebody wants to throw away a real towel today.
That man's name is Paul.
The difficulties Paul faced cannot be compared to the difficulties we are facing today.
In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, we can see what Paul experienced.
Paul was put in prison several times. I've been sold countless times.
I almost died several times. I was struck five times with forty minus one.
He was beaten three times with a wreath, and once with a stone.
The ship I was on was wrecked three times. I haven't slept for several days.
I was hungry. I was thirsty. There were times when I was cold and naked.
The Apostle Paul lived his life under great stress.
The Apostle Paul must have wanted to throw a towel when he was going through so many difficulties.
But he says this three times in today's text.
Verse 1 says, 'Do not lose heart'' Verse 8 says, 'Do not lose heart'.
Verse 16 says, “I am not discouraged.”
The phrase “do not lose heart” is not something the Apostle Paul barely endures.
Rather, the Apostle Paul was living with confidence and courage.
There are times when you want to quit. when you want to quit
How can we overcome this?
The answer to these questions is in today's Word.
You can learn 3 ways through today's sermon.
First, look up.
When you want to pick up a towel and throw it, look up.
Depending on where you focus your eyes, you might throw a towel,
You can even win a fight with that towel wrapped around your forehead.
When you want to pick up a towel and throw it, you need to look up.
“Look up” means that you have called me a child of God.
It means to remember God. God sent us to this earth.
We are the ambassadors of the kingdom of heaven who spread God's will on this earth.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:1:
“Therefore, as we have received this ministry and have shown mercy, we do not lose heart.”
It says, “God has mercy on me and has entrusted me with this ministry.
I do not lose heart when I think of the God who has given me this office.”
Home, God has given you. Life, God has given.
That job, that school, God allowed it.
There is God's purpose for sending them there, and there is God's expectation.
Do not throw towels. Don't react to the circumstances of your life.
Do not react to the environment, but work in that environment.
Please respond to God. Studying is difficult.
Working at work is not easy. Raising children is difficult.
But studying is a privilege. It is a privilege to work at work.
Raising children is an honor among glory.
We should thank God for giving us that opportunity.
Don't be discouraged. Do not give up. Don't stretch. Towels, do not throw.
When it is difficult and difficult, do not react to the environment, but allow the environment
Please look to God. Look up when you are having a hard time.
Second, look inside me.
When it's too hard and you want to give up, please look inside me.
To look into me means to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit within me.
This is what it says in verse 7.
‘We have this treasure in earthen vessels, for exceedingly great power belongs to God.
that we may know that we do not have” (2 Corinthians 4:7).
We are earthenware. Earthenware breaks easily. We are fragile earthenware.
It is normal for us to give up when faced with small difficulties.
But the people of our God have treasures in earthen vessels.
What is that treasure? It is the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.
Because we depend on the power of the Holy Spirit, we are not forsaken even when we are persecuted.
Even when things are frustrating, they do not become discouraged. Even if I get slapped on all sides
It's not cheap. Even if it is knocked down, it does not perish.
People only look at our outward appearance. Just look at our earthenware.
They do not find this treasure in us.
If you are not conscious of it, you will have no choice but to float away.
If we focus on ourselves, we will be disappointed because of ourselves as earthenware.
But when we focus on our precious Lord, we gain hope.
We must rely on the Holy Spirit within us. Do not give up.
Do not throw towels. Look to the Holy Spirit, the center of gravity within us.
Third, look in front of me.
When it's too hard and you want to give up, please look ahead to me.
To see before me means to see the glory that is before me.
The Apostle Paul says in verse 17:
‘For our light affliction, which is for a little while, is exceedingly great and eternal weight of glory.
to us” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Are you crying right now?
Those tears will make you laugh in the future.
The trials you are facing now, the difficulties you are facing now, the things that weigh you down
This pressure of life is not the end of the story. The story doesn't end like this.
Do not give up. Don't be discouraged. Look forward to the glory ahead of me.
During World War II, to give a congratulatory speech to Prime Minister Churchill at Oxford University's graduation ceremony.
I am standing in this university auditorium. I read the famous speech of Prime Minister Churchill
I'm memorizing the whole thing. Today I will teach you that speech.
I hope you all memorize the entire speech.
Fortunately, the speeches are short.
After Churchill took off his hat on the podium and set his wand,
I opened my mouth to see so many scholars and graduates.
''Never give up'' (Never give up).
People are now looking forward to the next word.
Churchill spoke again. ''Never give up'' (Never give up).
After saying this, Churchill put on his hat, took his staff, and went down from the platform.
No matter how hard, no matter how difficult, there is no way
Never give up even if you think. Do not throw towels.
Lift your eyes and look up. Trust the Holy Spirit within me.
And look at the rich glory that lies before me.