“I am pressed, but not crushed, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed, I am blessed beyond the curse for His promise shall endure…”
The above words are pulled from a Christian praise song that was very popular several years ago in many churches. It is a song of promise, a song of hope and was the combination of several scriptures being packaged together. The song itself is scripturally sound, but in an attempt to alleviate personal discomforts, I have seen this song, other scriptures, and teachings, PULLED OUT OF CONTEXT to meet our personal needs or desires. The improper application of scripture or song is leaving many crippled and immature in their Christian growth. The combination of our “quick fix society”, and improper teaching from many pulpits is helping to feed this growing weariness.
2 Cor 4:5-11 “For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bond servant for Jesus sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shown in our hearts to give light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken: struck down, but not destroyed, always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus Christ, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus sake, that the life of Jesus maybe manifested in our mortal flesh.”
Paul is telling us that the ministers of the gospel, as well as all believers are weak and frail creatures in their own strength. That we have like passions and infirmities and can easily be broken if our circumstances and discomforts become our focus. From what Paul speaking here, it sounds as if he is near the end of his stamina and endurance. This also lets us know that this is much more an internal spiritual pain than an external trial. While there were certainly external discomforts, he at other times speaks as though this is just his normal Christian lifestyle, almost discounting the shipwrecks, the beatings, being stoned, nakedness, snake bites, hunger and, being imprisoned ect.(v10)
In the Greek verse 8 reads “we were heavily burdened, but not suppressed by opposing forces, we have uncertainties, but not without hope. We are harassed constantly, even too injury, but not desolate, afflicted with disastrous blows, but not brought to total defeat.” He continues with the same mindset in 2 Cor 7:5 & 6 “For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus…” Obviously anguish was pulling at his body as well as his heart and soul. He was also fighting the fear that his flock would be turned from the truth, to the point of even opposing him. ref (Tim 4:10-17)
We can easily equate our daily struggles and difficulties of life to what Paul has described in the previous passages. You may ask how would I know this? Just look about us and see if this not a potential problem for most Christians today. Go to any Christian bookstore and count the number of books dealing with human hurts—such as depression, fear, rejection, unworthiness, divorce, remarriage, loneliness, isolation, anxiety, ect. Attend nearly any seminar or crusade, and you will hear so much insight on how to cope with personal pain and distress. Yet how little is written or taught about the sharing in the sufferings of Christ. My comment may sound harsh, and I am not minimizing or marginalizing the conditions of man. If there is help available do everything in your power to take advantage of all the help you can get, but I am convinced that most of our heartaches come from the “selfish, self-centered society”, that is also prevalent inside the church. God help us to get our focus away from ourselves and own hurts and focus on others and the call that God has place in us.
Paul clearly tells us in 2 Cor 7:5&6 that it is God who strengthens the downcast, and it is through fellowship and encouragement of other believers that we are built up. So, the Holy Spirit and the sharing of one another’s burdens is how we can steer clear of the weariness that could hinder us.
If we bend to this weariness, we can become vulnerable to falling prey to the “let’s just alleviate this pain and discomfort” temptation. We can easily then attach ourselves to out of context promises bending them to our circumstance. It is during this time of temptation that we must go to God for that specific, fresh word (rhema). It is this rhema that will give us the focus, the strength, the stamina and endurance to not only pursue the promises that God has given us, but also the patience to wait on them. It allows us to rest in the timing of God instead of our own manipulations and strengths.
Phil 4:13 says “We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” I have heard many speak as if this gives us some superhuman strength to take on more task, more responsibility (both physical and spiritual), only later to find ourselves confused, discouraged and honestly just flat worn out. This can leave us with doubts and questions about why everything that we touch does not prosper. ref(3 John 1:2) Phil 3:14 actually translates “I can do all things that God has called me to do!!!! ref(Eph 2:10) this does not mean all things that I want to do, need to do, or desire to do!!! Busyness does not guarantee effectiveness, nor does weariness directly equate to Godliness!! Running outside your lane, or outside of your calling leads to burnout and personal disaster. Our Christian “duties” can easily become more of a chore or burden, rather than the blessings that they are meant to be to ourselves and to others!! We can easily find ourselves working out of a slave mentality relying on our own strengths, obligations and abilities: which lends itself to doing church, instead of being the church!! But if we operate from a son ship position, it leads to continual refreshing, guidance and direction from the Holy Spirit!! I do not know of a scripture that says “where the Spirit is, there is obligation and weariness” …
Paul’s sufferings were all part of the consequences for being a follower of Christ. And it is the same for you and I today!! The key for us to overcome our circumstances is to know what is our calling, to focus on the end goal or goals along the way, to prepare ourselves for the task, to perfect our effectiveness, increase our knowledge or skill set, and to study the word of God to guard ourselves against easily being led astray from the truth of the word!!
Heb 12:1-3 says “Therefore we also, since we are by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin that so easily ensnares us, let us run the race that is set before us, 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 throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, LEST YOU BECOME WEARY AND DISCOURAGED IN YOUR SOULS.”
The previous verses are so full of preparation, focus, knowledge, discipline and study. It holds the key for an athlete, a businessman or woman, a father, a mother to always be successful in every endeavor. It brings continual victory to every Christian man or woman!! 1.) FOCUS- The first part of focus is preparation. Which says that we lay aside every weight and sin that so easily wears on us, bringing distraction, fears and doubts. An athlete must first know his objective, his strengths and weaknesses, and stay focused on the finish line. Perfection is the training, the discipline, the fine tuning of your skill set and or calling, the building up of endurance and stamina. The good news is that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith…IF HE HAS CALLED YOU, HE WILL EQUIP YOU!! Verse 3 clearly warns us that if our focus shifts away from the source, which is Jesus, all that we have left to hold onto is weariness. We all must asked ourselves, am I LAYING aside every weight for the knowledge of knowing Christ and His sufferings??
2) KNOWLEDGE- for it is knowledge that sustains our hearts and guards us against fainting in our task. Gal 6:8-10 says “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!! Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are in the household of faith.”
In other words, let us not lose focus, knowledge or heart (stamina and endurance) Kind of a scary thought to wonder how much we may have missed out on, whether it be a promise, a desire or a victory, simply because WE did not persevere to the end…..and even more important how this could affect the fellowship of the believers. SCRIPTURE CLEARLY TELLS US THE IMPORTANCE OF everybody part supplying what is needed for the body to properly function. So never say or allow yourself to isolate from what supplies life. A disconnected body part dies and dries up period!! 3.) STUDY- 2 Tim 3:16&17 say “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” We just talked about good work and doing good, and here again it says equipped for every good work!! So obviously one of the keys to being able to do good work is to have an accurate ongoing knowledge of scripture. I believe many read, but few study!! 2 Tim 2:15 says “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Other versions say “study to show thyself approved (tested)….. This is my observation, opinion and personal experience, but this is a major area where believers leave themselves open for attack, easily led into misinterpretations, and honestly see little growth and consistency in their lives. This is not due to lack of a heart for God, a love for the body, or a lack of desiring to do good works. It is just a lack of discipline and understanding!! They leave their scriptural knowledge and biblical nurturing in the hands of the Pastor, Elders or other leaders. Just a question, how can a man or woman of God, who is studied and well versed in the scriptures be easily led astray?? I WOULD SAY IT WOULD BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE!!! It tells us that the added benefit is that they will be found accurate and unashamed before God and man!! So, a spiritual benefit as well as a physical benefit!!
The Bible is defiantly a book full of promise, but all promises are not generic, and they all come with conditions. God is always consistent in honoring His side, but commands and compels us to conform our will, wants and actions to receive them. I do not want to downplay the tremendous trials that we all face, nor do I want it to sound as if God is only concerned with our spiritual discomforts… But God is a God of specifics and details and yes conditions: A promise fulfilled are realized five years ago is now only a faith builder, and likewise a promise in the word taken out of context, molded and manipulated to ease your current discomforts holds no redemptive power. It leads only to weariness. When trials, disappointments, heartaches come, and they will; and the need for stamina to wait on God’s timing, WE must know that our strength and stamina, focus and diligence can only be renewed in and through the power of the Holy Spirit!! God has given us the church, and hopefully a church body to help and encourage each other in this journey!! There should never be a “self-made” Christian in the body of Christ. Let us build the body of faith together!!
Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run, and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Do not grow Weary!!
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