HIGHLANDS GRACE REFORMED CHURCH

514 N. Pine St.

Sebring, FL 33870

Telephone 863-385-3787   email: esager@strato.net

 

January 2008

 

 

“Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not 
(do not lose heart).”
                                           2 Corinthians 4:1

In the fast paced world we live in it’s refreshing and instructive to reflect on the 
secrets to long term spiritual vitality. Someone once said that people don’t plan to 
fail, they fail to plan. Paul teaches us here how to plan spiritually to prosper in 
service. The temptation is to begin at a sprinters’ pace and zoom along for a bit until 
reality hits and struggles and heartaches take their toll. Spiritual life has some tragic 
casualties. Among them are people who have indeed fainted or lost heart. Ministry 
begun well and in earnest has been sadly interrupted or halted altogether by this 
serious malaise. We can learn essential lessons by turning a watchful and believing 
heart to the example set before us here. 
Paul faced many setbacks and concerns. Things were not going well in many ways at 
Corinth. And he bore the burden of care for many churches in addition to that one. 
How did he manage? Why could he continue to have a vibrant faith and ministry 
that was not at least interrupted by fainting, or stuck in a rut of ritualism and 
familiarity? How could he maintain such freshness, fruitfulness and zeal for God 
with such consistent devotion to Christ? Here he mentions ‘seeing we have this 
ministry’. Mark this ‘we’. He was not alone, but shared in this with his beloved 
co-workers in the gospel. Paul was never a ‘lone ranger’ or thought he was the only 
one left who was being faithful to God’s kingdom. He knew he was called together 
with brothers and sisters in Christ who were complementing his gifts and calling. Then
 he said that ‘we have this ministry.’ It was clear to Paul that what he was engaged 
in together with others was ministry. The word he uses indicates his practical 
subservient position to Christ and his people. He was Christ’s servant and what he 
was doing was in order to serve His church. He was not looking for a good time or for 
people to make him happy. He was engaged in serving others under Christ’s headship. 
The moment you forget that fundamental truth, discouragement gets hold of you. God 
is glorified when his people take a humble servants’ position in ministry rather than
aspiring for greatness or personal ambition, or being lazy and waiting for somebody 
else to do something. Paul had a real ministry. He wasn’t just planning on it 
somewhere in the future or daydreaming about it. He had a genuine ministry that was
 reaching souls with the gospel and equipping saints in vital ways as the churches 
were being edified. This is something that you do well to recall this year to prevent 
fainting and maintain freshness and vital fruitfulness. What ministry are you doing 
for his honor? Coupled with this vision of ministry is Paul’s reception of God’s mercy.
 The mercy is clearly gospel mercy. Paul did not lose sight of the mercy he received 
from the Lord as a needy sinner. From the first steps to reach out in ministry he had 
known God’s mercy. It had never failed him. The great preventive for losing heart is 
God’s mercy. Matthew Henry observed, “The best men in the world would faint in 
their work, and under their burdens, if they did not receive mercy from God…And that 
mercy which has helped us out, and helped us on, hitherto, we may rely upon to help us
 even to the end.” Don’t reach within yourself for this mercy. It has to come from the 
Lord himself. He has not used up his bountiful supply of mercy. The mercies of our 
Lord are new every morning – Lam. 3:21-23. During this year be sure to receive his 
mercies daily directly from his loving hand. He won’t forget you. He won’t leave you 
faint. These basic spiritual truths will enable you to be vibrant, spiritual, and 
fruitful in the coming year as you serve the Lord Jesus. They will also keep you 
merciful and prevent you from being harsh and severe. This is the way to move 
onward together and not merely exist, but flourish and grow as he calls us to. At the 
end of this year, if the Lord tarries, let’s plan to have this testimony for the glory of 
Jesus. Don’t fail to plan on it.

 

                                           Your pastor receiving mercy,

                                                             Ed Sager