TEXT:  2 Cor. 4:1-12

INTRODUCTION:

A.      PAUL'S LIFE ONE OF SACRIFICE AND SUFFERING( 2 Cor. 4:11-12 ).

B.      SOMETHING KEPT HIM GOING.  WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT IT WAS?

I.      "I BELIEVED, AND THEREFORE DID I SPEAK"( 4:13-14 ).

A.      PAUL'S DISCUSSION OF FAITH AS A MOTIVATOR.

          1.       Something is more important than the temporal( 4:16-18 ).

          2.       There is a longing for home( 5:1-8 ).

          3.       Peter speaks of the "love of faith"( 1 Pet. 1:8 ).

          4.       Abraham as an example( Heb. 11:9-10 ).

B.      WHENCE COMETH FAITH?

          1.       Paul saw( 1 Cor. 15:5-8 ).

          2.       Paul preached( 1 Cor. 15:11;  John 20:30-31;  Rom. 10:17 )

C.      FAITH MOTIVATES.

          1.       Consider the reward( 2 Tim. 2:6-8;  2 Cor. 5:1 ).

          2.       Look to Jesus( Heb. 12:1-2 ).

          3.       2 Cor. 5:7.

II.     "KNOWING THEREFORE THE FEAR OF THE LORD"( 5:11 ).

A.      JUDGMENT IS CERTAIN( Acts 17:30-31 ).

          1.       Oour stewardship will be considered( Matt. 25:14-30 ).

          2.       We will be punished if we don't fulfill( Matt. 25:30 ).

          3.       The branch that bears not fruit... ( John 15:2 ).

B.      WHAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY? ( Matt. 28:19-20;  Mark 16:15-16 ).

          1.       God's plan( 2 Tim. 2:2 ).

          2.       What if we fail?( Rom. 10:13-14 ).

          3.       We must obey in all things( 2 Thess. 1:7-9 ).

C.      FEAR OF GOD MOTIVATES IN ALL THINGS( 1 Pet.1:17;  3:15;  Heb.10:31 ).

III.    "THE LOVE OF CHRIST CONSTRAINETH US"( 5:14-15 ).

A.      HOW WAS HIS LOVE MANIFESTED?

          1.       All sin and deserve death( Rom 3:23;  6:23 ).

          2.       Jesus bore our punishment( 1 Pet. 2:24 ) satisfied justice( Rom. 3:23-26 ).

          3.       I am not dead, yet I have died in his dying( 2 Cor. 5:14;  Rom. 6:4, 7 ).

          4.       All have access( 1 Cor. 5:15 ).

B.      HIS SACRIFICE DEMANDS SOMETHING - "CONSTRAINS."

          1.       He appeals to our judgment - do we understand( vs. 14 ).

          2.       His death places obligation upon us( vs. 15 ).

          3.       Other passages( Rom. 12:1;  Gal. 2:20;  Rom. 1:14 ).

C.      APPRECIATION LEADS TO A LIFE OF SERVICE( Rom. 2:4 ).

D.      DO WE APPRECIATE?

CONCLUSION:

A.      PAUL WAS MOTIVATED TO PREACH BY:

          1.       Faith in God to reward as promised.

          2.       Knowledge of great responsibility and judgment.

          3.       An appreciation of the great sacrifice of Christ's love.

B.      WE SHOULD BE SO MOTIVATED.