Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20010708.htm

2 CORINTHIANS: OVERCOMING WHEN GOD'S SERVANT FACES RESISTANCE
Part VII: Handling Spiritual Fainting Spells' In Serving The Lord
(2 Corinthians 4:1-18)
  1. Introduction
    1. Wherever Christians serve God in making disciples of others, they eventually run into what Charles Haddon Spurgeon used to call "The Minister's Fainting Spells." The urge to quit bites hard, and many regrettably heed that urge.
    2. The Apostle Paul had many such temptations in his ministry: he was stoned and left for dead, was shipwrecked several times, beaten within an inch of his life several times and often verbally assaulted, he would be qualified to talk on dealing with such "fainting spells," 2 Cor. 11:23-30. His remedy given under the Holy Spirit's inspiration is found in 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 as follows:
  2. Handling Spiritual Fainting Spells' In Serving the Lord, 2 Corinthian 4:1-18.
    1. Step One - Paul knew he had received his ministry assignment from God, 2 Cor. 4:1a with 1 Tim. 1:12. This fact kept him functioning in it in the face of hardship as he realized there was a purpose to his efforts from God's eternal perspective, cf. 2 Tim. 1:9; 2 Cor. 2:14a.
    2. Step Two - Paul realized it was God's mercy that kept him effective, and since it was God's mercy and not his own strength that did this, Paul could afford not to faint when facing humanly overwhelming obstacles to success by his continuing to trust God in the trials, 2 Cor. 4:1b. (Ryrie St. Bib., KJV, ftn.)
    3. Step Three - Paul then appealed to righteous methods to disciple with God's blessing for effectiveness:
      1. He renounced shameful, hidden wickedness within his own heart, 2 Cor. 4:2a.
      2. He chose to appeal to the consciences of his disciples as opposed to using deceitful methods, 4:2b.
    4. Step Four - Paul remembered his opposition came ultimately from Satanic forces, 2 Cor. 4:4. Thus, he depended on the Lord instead of trying to manipulate others or circumstances in his own power, 2:24-26.
    5. Step Five - Paul saw his human weaknesses were permitted by God to be seen by those he discipled so they would trust in God and not himself, 2 Cor. 4:6-7. Thus, Paul did not try to hide or deny he had human frailties, but openly admitted them so God alone could be glorified and bless his ministry efforts!
    6. Step Six - Paul looked to certain Biblical truths for encouragement to keep ministering in hard times:
      1. Truth One - Paul saw God allowed his "fainting spell trials" to drive him to higher levels of suffering so he might trust God for help to experience Christ's resurrection power in his ministry, 4:8-9, 10-11.
      2. Truth Two - Paul hence saw such "fainting spell trials" as the essential cost he was to pay so he could see God's power really powerfully work to disciple others around him, 2 Corinthians 4:12.
      3. Truth Three - Paul recalled the final result of his suffering such trials was the victory of his bodily resurrection in Christ's power, a very encouraging truth in the trials, 2 Corinthians 4:13-15.
      4. Truth Four - Paul also knew such suffering worked to mature the inner man which is imperishable, thus making such trials invaluable to his own development in Christ, 2 Corinthians 4:16-17.
      5. Truth Five - Paul knew the perfecting of his inner man was the only part he then possessed that would be worth helping and seeing changed, for all the other possessions he had were external, and hence temporal and vain, 2 Cor. 4:18. Thus, he could face the suffering dished out in such "fainting spells" as a worthwhile endeavor! That would keep him encouraged to continue facing such trials with joy!
Lesson: "Spiritual fainting spells" are a necessary part of Christian service just like the death of a grain of wheat is necessary for the production of a bumper crop of many more kernels of wheat. Thus, we should work in such trials and value what they produce instead of vainly fleeing from serving God that only causes us to miss an increase in the weight of eternal glory they bring!

Application: (1) If we are facing a "fainting spell" trial in serving God right now, we should begin our victory by staring at "Step One" and trust the Lord's leading and provision that the event is very worthwhile in His viewpoint. (2) Then, we G-R-A-D-U-A-L-L-Y can begin to take the following steps in order until we are realigned to God's eternal perspective on the trial issue. (3) If we see others are experiencing troubles in such "spells," we can example the victory we have found by applying Paul's example ourselves and share with them these "steps" as they are ready to apply them. (2 Cor. 4:8-9)