“Do Not Grow Weary and Lose Heart…”
Five Reminders to Encourage the Hearts of Christians in Such a Time as This
“Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in trickery nor distorting the word of God, but by the open proclamation of the truth commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4: 1-4
1) Whose You are—not who you are.
BC, you found your identity in what you or others thought about yourself. Your esteem, low or high, came from the world. You believed the lies—good and bad. But now that you are in Christ, you have died to the old self and are becoming a new creation—just like the butterfly.
“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8: 44
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2: 20
2) Greater is He Who is in you than he who is in the world.
“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them (evil spirits and false teachers); because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. “ 1 John 4: 4
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:1; 31-32
3) We are called to suffer with Christ (even if you are a rapture believing pre-tribber!)
“The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” Luke 9: 21-23
We know how Jesus died.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8: 18 Paul was beheaded.
“For you have been called for this purpose (suffering for doing good) , because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps,” 1 Peter 2:21
It is said Peter was crucified upside down.
“that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;” Philippians 3: 10
Can this be said of you and me? If not, we need to surrender that part of our lives that keeps us from our Savior.
4) We have the presence of Jesus and Power of the Holy Spirit to overcome—anything!
“For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”” Hebrews 13: 5b, 6
(Jesus just told them it was not yet the end of the world nor would they know the appointed date and time) “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1: 8
5) We win!
But the lost lose, so we must keep telling people the Good News about Christ as the only way to salvation so it can never be said to us, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” Matthew 24: 29-31
Some final words of encouragement…
“Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12: 1-3
To the seeker, lost and without real Hope…bad news and great news.
The Death Penalty for Sin Never Went Away
More Signs of the End Times
“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” 2 Timothy 4: 3-4
This describes our culture today and, sadly, even the teaching in some churches. But make no mistake about it.
God did not change His mind—about loving us to the point of sending Jesus to save us from our sins
OR
giving us over to ourselves to the point of death, and that, eternal death Jesus called Hell.
I beg you consider the words of our risen Christ that alone can speak truth and life to you.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. “ John 3:16
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14: 6
For Christ’s sake,
