1. DEALING WITH SPIRITUAL BURNOUT
2CORINTHIANS 4:1-18

2. DEALING WITH SPIRITUAL BURNOUT
Remember the Importance of What You Are Doing
To glorify God
To preach the gospel of Christ
To preserve souls
5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.
2 Corinthians 4:5 (NASB95)
Paul says, “Our work is too important to give up now.”
“I see that I have failed to impress you with the bigness of the cause I represent.”
Our purpose is to glorify God (Ecclesiastes 12:13- 14).
We are to preserve as many souls as possible (Matthew 5:13-14).
Our work is to preach the gospel of Christ (Matthew 28:19-20).

3. DEALING WITH SPIRITUAL BURNOUT
Remember the Importance of What You Are Doing
When we shift the focus from our work to ourselves we inevitably struggle.
5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.
2 Corinthians 4:5 (NASB95)
When we shift the focus from our work to ourselves then we inevitably will struggle.
Even in our suffering our objective is to magnify Christ (I Peter 3:15).

4. DEALING WITH SPIRITUAL BURNOUT
Remember the Grace of God
Spurs us on to service
Teaches us how to live
Dissolves egotism
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart
2 Corinthians 4:1 (NASB95)
When we spend time considering the grace of God it should only spur us on to greater faithfulness to God.
Jesus said any man having put his hand to the plough and looking back is not fit for the kingdom of heaven.
The love of Christ “constrains us” (2 Corinthians 5:14-17; Ephesians 2:1-10 – “But God…”
The grace of God teaches us how to live (Titus 2:11-15).
A man that spends time considering the love, grace and sacrifice of Jesus Christ cannot live with himself were he to rebel against God.
All egotism is lost in Calvary (Philippians 2:5-11)

5. DEALING WITH SPIRITUAL BURNOUT
Keep a Clean Conscience
2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
2 Corinthians 4:2 (NASB95)
Guilt can destroy a person
Repentance removes the burden
We must manifest the truth
Keep a Clean Conscience (4:2, see also).
Guilt can destroy a person if he does not allow him to godly sorrow and repentance (2 Corinthians 7:7-11).
We must entirely commit ourselves to “manifesting the truth.” I Thessalonians 2:1-11

6. DEALING WITH SPIRITUAL BURNOUT
Focus on Jesus…not Self
“Death works in us, but life in you”
“Life of Jesus might be made manifest in our body”
“We bear about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus…”
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
2 Corinthians 4:7 (NASB95)
“Earthen vessels” were the apostles.
Frustration, Disappointment and Persecution (4:8-12). (Paradoxes intermingled contextually to emphasize point)
Difficult circumstances in life (Philippians 4:11- 13); brethren who fall short of our expectations (2 Timothy 4); those who reject the truth, etc. must not cause our zeal, love and faith for and in God to fail (See Psalm 73).
Barclay comments, “We are sore pressed at every point but not hemmed in. There are all kinds of pressures on us, but we are never so tight in a corner that there is no way out. It is characteristic of the Christian that there is always an escape route for his spirit in the spaciousness of God.”
We are knocked down, but not knocked out. Persecuted by men, but never abandoned by God. I would rather be abandoned by men and alone with God!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, But the Lord will take me up.
Psalm 27:10 (NASB95)

7. DEALING WITH SPIRITUAL BURNOUT
Focus on Jesus…not Self
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
2 Corinthians 4:7 (NASB95)
The source of your faith must be God not man
Do not forget the source of your faith – God—not man! (4:13-14).
I Corinthians 2:5 – faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Faith is produced by God’s word (Romans 10:17).
Hebrews 11:13-16;

8. DEALING WITH SPIRITUAL BURNOUT
Distinguish between the Inner and Outer Man
Outward man perishes - inner man is renewed
Light Affliction, Eternal Weight of Glory
Things which are Seen, Things which are not Seen
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16 (NASB95)
Don’t Give Up Because of What Is Ahead of Us! Draw a line of distinction between the inner man and the outer man (4:16-18).
Note paradoxes:
Outward man perishes, whereas, inner man is renewed daily.
Light affliction vs. Eternal Weight of glory
Moment vs. Eternal
Light vs. Weight
How does suffering work such things for us? Forces us to rely on the Lord (4:18).
We do not give up because of what is ahead of us!

9. DEALING WITH SPIRITUAL BURNOUT
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart …
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:1-16 (NASB95)
Don’t Give Up Because of What Is Ahead of Us! Draw a line of distinction between the inner man and the outer man (4:16-18).
Not e paradoxes:
Outward man perishes, whereas, inner man is renewed daily.
Light affliction vs. Eternal Weight of glory
Moment vs. Eternal
Light vs. Weight
How does suffering work such things for us? Forces us to rely on the Lord (4:18).
We do not give up because of what is ahead of us!