2Corinthians 4:16-18, 5:1-10 How Christ Transforms Your Present Troubles

 Don't Lose Heart, Be Of Good Heart   Get a Great Heart.    4:16 ἐγκακοῦμεν, So we do not lose heart.

5:6, 8 We are of good courage  (θαρρουμεν).

The Past Tells Us Troubles cause a loss of heart.

 We could lose heart.  A Tenting Life  Οἴδαμεν γὰρ ὅτι ἐὰν ἡ ἐπίγειος ἡμῶν οἰκία τοῦ σκήνους καταλυθῇ, For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, 

A. A Tenting Life Is Testing. We Are in Perishing Condition   Though our outer self is wasting away,

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, "I have no pleasure in them";2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed,4 and the doors on the street are shut---when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low---5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets---6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.

B. A Tenting Life Is Tormenting We Are in a Painful Condition  affliction  5:3 we groan, being burdened-

C. A Tenting Life Is Temporary We Are in a Passing Condition  For the things that are seen are transient

D. A Tenting Life Is Traumatising  We Are In A Perplexing Condition.. we cannot see it all yet. Why did I think tents ?

BUT! 4: 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.

The Present Tells Us The Lord Jesus Is Bigger Than The Troubles What we can see is Jesus' resurrection. For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed ὀστρακίνοις σκεύεσιν  earthen vessels

What we can feel and Understand  is the Spirit's assurance.

5:5He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 4:16 our inner self is being renewed day by day.

The Future Encourages   That The Lord Jesus Transforms All Troubles We Can Gain Heart  

But death leads to a greater life. 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.

Our Mortality Will Be Swallowed Up By Life4. καταποθῇ τὸ θνητὸν ὑπὸ τῆς ζωῆς.  what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Our Temporary Home Will Be swallowed Up By The Eternal Home.  Absent from the body and Present with the Lord.

Our Formality Will Be Swallowed Up By Intimacy at home with the Lord. we make it our aim to please him.

1 Face to face with Christ, my Savior,  Face to face- what will it be When with rapture I behold him, Jesus Christ who died for me?

\: Face to face I shall behold him, Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all his glory,      I shall see him by and by.2 Only faintly now I see him With the darkened veil between,
But a blessed day is coming When his glory shall be seen. \3 What rejoicing in his presence, When are banished grief and pain; When the crooked ways are straightened  And the dark things shall be plain       

2 Corinthians 5:10

FIVE THINGS IN OUR LIFE WILL BE EVALUATED.

A.Our love for God and others.

1 Corinthians 14:1 "Let love be your greatest goal."

B. How faithful we were with what God gave us.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 " [2] Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."

C. The motives we had for serving God. I Cor 4:5 "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God."

D. The purity of our life. Matthew 16:27 "For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done."

Matthew 12:36 "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken."

E. Our faithfulness in sharing Christ with others.

Acts 20:26-27 "Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. [27] For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God."