Not Growing Weary in Doing Good

Introduction:

In 2 Thess. 2:13 Paul urges the Thessalonian Christians not to grow weary in doing good. They needed an admonition to keep on keeping on.  Stay the course; don’t give up! What’s the point of going through the early history of the church at Thessalonica? Many Christians today wholeheartedly embrace the gospel. Then…burn out; slow down; progress wanes; stagnation begins to set in. Let’s talk about ways we can lose heart & how to combat that.

I.  The failure of others can cause us to lose heart.

A.    2 Thess. 3:10-13.

1.     Nothing more discouraging than to see people serving the Lord in mere pretense.  Seems that was going on here.  Note 3:10-11

B.    2 Tim. 1:15- how discouraging was it for Paul for all who were in Asia to turn away from him?

1.     Can you imagine the ONLY record being made about you is that you turned away from a friend; or forsook the true path of religion?

2.     Demas – 2 Tim. 4:10.

C.   Paul never quit.  He never gave up.  See 4:6-8

D.   In reality – it doesn’t matter what everyone else does – but what we do individually! Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:9-10

II. Constant temptation can cause us to lose heart.

A.    Temptations come from within.  Devil seeks to destroy our soul.

B.    Here are some verses to help us as we battle temptation so we will not lose heart.

1.     1 Cor. 10:13 – But we must choose the way out of temptation.

2.     Look to Jesus! Heb. 2:17-18

3.     We can be the conqueror instead of the conquered – through Christ!  4:14-16

III. A lack of faith can cause us to lose heart.

A.    Faith is – Heb. 11:1, 6.  It is necessary to please God!

B.    Faith involves keeping our eyes on Jesus.  Peter literally learned this!  Mt. 14:28-30

IV. A lack of visible results can cause us to lose heart.

A.    Think of Elijah – 1 Kings 19:4, 10, 14-18

1.     19:18 – still 7,000 in Israel who had not left God.

B.    Here’s what we must keep in mind.

1.     God is mindful of our work.

2.     Still expects us to do work – even w/little visible results.

3.     Why?  Because he gives the increase – 1 Cor. 3:6

4.     God works on his timetable.  We must sow the seed.  That’s our job!

5.     Never give up!  Believe in power of God & in the power of the gospel!  Rom. 1:16

Conclusion:

A.    1 Cor. 15:58 - Don’t give up!  Never quit!

B.    Keep your focus upon Jesus!  Phil. 4:13