Do Not Lose Heart
Main points from lesson by Bennie Johns
Introduction
I. Our lesson this morning is entitled, “Do Not Lose Heart”.
A. This is an important subject.
1. Nothing is more important for the Christian than remaining faithful.
2. You give up and you lose all.
B. There are several scriptures that clearly teach and admonish us on this most
important matter.
II. Sports are big in our country and the world.
A. It takes a lot of heart to be really good.
1. By “heart” I mean, determination, will, grit, fortitude, resolve.
2. Those who come in first are the ones determined to “not lose heart”.
a. Winners do not quit - even when they get far behind.
b. Winners do not quit when they get tired.
c. When the going gets tough the tough keep going.
B. The goal of the best of athletes is to make it to the Olympics.
1. In a long distance race…..it is honorable to just finish.
2. However, when it comes to living the Christian life, which is compared to a
race, some never finish.
Gal. 5:25-6:9 - "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us
not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren,
if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who [are] spiritual restore such a
one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks
himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each
one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and
not in another. For each one shall bear his own load. Let him who is taught the
word share in all good things with him who teaches. Do not be deceived, God
is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows
to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will
of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good,
or in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
III. Indeed, the Christian life is a race and it is important that we do not lose heart.
A. But some are going to, it just does not have to be you or me.
B. What causes some to lose heart?
Body
I. Lack of Faith.
A. Let us look at some passages:
1. Hebrews 11:6 - "But without faith [it] [is] impossible to please [Him],
for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a
rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
2. Hebrews 10:35-39 - "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which
has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have
done the will of God, you may receive the promise: For yet a little while,
[And] He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall
live by faith; But if [anyone] draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.
But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who
believe to the saving of the soul."
3. Matt. 14:28-31 - "And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it is You,
command me to come to You on the water. So He said, "Come." And when
Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
But when he saw that the wind [was] boisterous, he was afraid; and
beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me! And immediately
Jesus stretched out [His] hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of
little faith, why did you doubt?"
B. These passages are plain enough and need not be explained.
1. We can see from this reading that “lack of faith” is the reason we fail.
2. On the other hand, we see from these passages that the building of faith
(confidence) will help us to “not lose heart”.
II. Trials of Life (causes some to lose heart)
A. Passages:
1. 1 Peter 4:12 - "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;"
2. 2 Cor. 12:7-9 - "And lest I should be exalted above measure by the
abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a
messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might
depart from me. And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My
strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather
boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
B. There are going to be trials, problems, and difficulties.
1. They happened to Jesus, and to the apostles and they will happen to us.
2. We must deal with them - we must “not lose heart”.
III. Restraints of truth (cause some to lose heart)
A. Some do not like to be limited in what they can do.
B. There are matters that we cannot alter to suit our own desires.
1. 2 John 9-10 - "Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine
of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has
both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this
doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who
greets him shares in his evil deeds."
a. There are people who are not teaching the doctrine of Christ.
b. While we may be kind to them and try to teach them the truth, we must
treat them differently.
2. John 8:31-32 - "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, If you
abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the
truth, and the truth shall make you free."
a. Those Jews who DID NOT believe on him were not willing to be
constrained by the teachings of Jesus.
b. But to those who did believe on him, Jesus assured them they would
know the truth and the truth would make them free.
IV. Failures of brethren (cause some to lose heart)
A. Passages:
1. Gal. 2:11 - "Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his
face, because he was to be blamed;"
a. The apostle Peter did something that resulted in Paul rebuking him.
b. Thus, we cannot expect our brethren to be perfect.
1) Sometimes I may say something or do something for which you may
need to rebuke me.
2) I’m not perfect and you should not let my mistake or anyone else’s
mistake cause you to LOSE HEART.
2. 3 John 9-12 - "I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have
the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I
will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with
malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the
brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting [them] out of the church.
Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is
of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has a [good]
testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness,
and you know that our testimony is true."
a. In this passage we find mention of a person who did evil deeds and was
not a good influence upon the church.
1) Diotrephes was one who could cause others to be discouraged and
turn away from the Lord. To lose heart.
2) He utterly failed to be the kind of person he should have been.
b. But also in this same passage we find mention of one who Paul spoke
highly of.
1) Paul took the focus off of Diotrephes and focused on Demetrius.
2) The idea was to prevent people from being discouraged by the poor
example of one but be encouraged by the good example of another.
3. Hebrews 12:2 - “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of [our]
faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
a. Any time we fear we are about to lose heart because of the failures of
brethren we should simply remember the example of our Lord -
remember the things he did.
b. Jesus was not a failure - rather, he was victorious and makes it possible
for us to be victorious.
B. When we see other brethren fail, we see that they have a problem.
1. We may be able to help - in some cases we can’t.
2. No matter who fails or how many brethren fail let us never allow ourselves to
loose heart because of their example.
V. Unjust Criticism (causes some to lose heart)
A. Passages:
1. Matt. 11:18-19 - "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they
say, He has a demon. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they
say, Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!
But wisdom is justified by her children."
2. Acts 17:16-18 - "Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit
was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.
Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the [Gentile]
worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be
there. Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And
some said, "What does this babbler want to say?" Others said, "He seems to
be a proclaimer of foreign gods," because he preached to them Jesus and
the resurrection."
B. The apostles received criticism everywhere they went, yet they did not lose heart.
1. We too are going to be unjustly criticized for the stand we take in defending
Jesus as being the divine son of God.
2. We must learn to not allow unjust criticism to distract us from our goal.
3. Indeed, unjust criticism can, if we will allow it, cause us to lose heart.
VI. Lack of Growth (can cause one to lose heart)
A. Passages:
1. Hebrews 5:12 - "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you
need [someone] to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of
God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food."
2. 2 Peter 3:18 - "but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. To Him [be] the glory both now and forever. Amen."
3. 1 Cor. 3:6 - "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase."
B. It is natural for Christians to want to see growth in the church.
1. Often we get discouraged when there is not the growth that we would
like to see.
a. What should be the course of action?
b. Should we allow such to discourage us - cause us to lose heart?
2. If you want to see growth, and feel you may be discouraged if we do not
grow, consider what YOU can do to help.
a. We could all do more than we are doing.
b. I’m encouraged by the efforts of some in this congregation to do things
that will help us to grow.
Conclusion:
I. Remember:
A. Winners do not quit - even when they get far behind.
B. Winners do not quit when they get tired.
C. When the going gets tough the tough keep going.
II. If you want to be a winner:
A. Work on building your faith.
B. Endure the trials of life.
C. Love and obey the truth.
D. Try to help brethren when they appear to be failing in living the Christian life.
1. Reject their example and follow the example of others who are successful.
E. Realize there will be unjust criticism but take it in stride.
F. Be concerned if there is not as much growth as you might expect, but rather
than lose heart, work to help the church to grow.
III. The Christian life is a race that we all are (or should be) running in.
A. We must not lose heart.
B. We must press on no matter what gets in our way - and finish.
Gal. 5:25-6:9 - "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us
not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren,
if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who [are] spiritual restore such a
one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone
thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But
let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself
alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load. Let him who
is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. Do not be
deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows
to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary
while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
Invitation
I. If you are not a Christian, don’t you think it is time to make the change in your life?
Obey the gospel of Chrsit.
II. If you are a Christian and feel you may be losing heart, recognize the source
of the problem and conquer it - do not let it conquer you.
III. If you need the prayers of the congregation we will be happy to pray with you
and for you.
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