Church On The Rock-Abilene
Recovery at the Rock - 5/7/2026
  • Graves Into Gardens
  • Mighty Name of Jesus
  • Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

      • Romans 7:18NKJV

      • Philippians 2:13NKJV

      • Romans 12:1NKJV

      • Lamentations 3:40NKJV

      • James 5:16NKJV

      • James 4:10NKJV

      • 1 John 1:9NKJV

      • Luke 6:31NKJV

      • Matthew 5:23–24NKJV

      • 1 Corinthians 10:12NKJV

      • Colossians 4:2NKJV

      • Galatians 6:1NKJV

  • 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 NKJV
    16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
    Prayer:
    Introduction:
    Do not lose heart.
    That is easier said than done.
    There are seasons in life when the pressure becomes intense, the emotions become heavy, and the process becomes exhausting. There are moments when we feel like giving up, walking away, or surrendering to discouragement.
    Yet the Apostle Paul says:
    “Therefore we do not lose heart.”

    The question becomes:

    How do we not loose heart?

    We do not loose heart by waiting on The Lord.

    Psalm 27:14 NKJV
    14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!
    Psalm 31:24 NKJV
    24 Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord.
    The Hebrew word for “courage” in Bible Psalm 31:24 comes from the root אָמַץ (amats), which means “to be strong, courageous, bold, or firmly resolved,” carrying the idea of an inward strengthening of the heart that enables a person to stand firm in faith despite fear, pressure, or adversity.

    Despite fear, pressure, or adversity.

    Fear

    Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Fear

    4: to be afraid of: expect with alarm 〈fear the worst〉 verb intransitive: to be afraid or apprehensive 〈feared for their lives〉—fear•er noun

    Pressure

    Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Pressure

    1 a: the burden of physical or mental distress

    b: the constraint of circumstance: the weight of social or economic imposition

    Adversity

    Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Adverse

    2 a: opposed to one’s interests 〈an adverse verdict〉 〈heard testimony adverse to their position〉 especially: UNFAVORABLE 〈adverse criticism〉

    Even though the outward man is perishing.

    The Apostle Paul here is talking about the fading. when we get to the point where we are focusing on improving our own relationship with the outside world; when this happens we start to feel like we are loosing our lives and we are. However, that's what we have come here for, to loose the old life and gain the new.

    Yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

    Our Apostle definitely knows what it is to suffer.
    Physical Beatings and Torture 
    39 Lashes: Five times he received 39 lashes from the Jews (2 Cor. 11:24).
    Beaten with Rods: Three times he was beaten with rods (2 Cor. 11:25).
    Stoned: He was stoned and left for dead in Lystra (Acts 14:19).
    Imprisonments: Frequently imprisoned for his preaching, such as in Philippi (Acts 16:23) and Rome (Acts 28:16). Bible Charts +4
    Perils and Natural Disasters
    Shipwrecks: He was shipwrecked three times and spent a night and a day in the open sea (2 Cor. 11:25).
    Dangers in Travel: He faced dangers from rivers, robbers, false brethren, and in both city and wilderness settings (2 Cor. 11:26).
    Snake Bite: He was bitten by a poisonous snake in Malta (Acts 28:3). Crossway +3
    Physical and Mental Exhaustion
    Deprivation: He often experienced hunger, thirst, cold, nakedness, and lack of sleep (2 Cor. 11:27).
    "Thorn in the Flesh": He suffered from a "thorn in the flesh" (likely a physical illness or intense opposition) that he described as a messenger of Satan (2 Cor. 12:7-10).
    Mental Anxiety: He carried the heavy daily pressure of concern for all the churches (2 Cor. 11:28). Robert J. Morgan +2
    Persecution in Acts
    Escape by Basket: He was forced to escape Damascus by being lowered in a basket (Acts 9:23–25).
    Mob Violence: He was often attacked by mobs, such as in Jerusalem (Acts 21:27–30).
    Interrogations: He was frequently arrested and brought before tribunals and rulers (Acts 25). Theology of Work 
    Titus 3:4–7 NKJV
    4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
    We are renewed by controlling our thought life: this week I am going through some things personally and professionally. The way we find peace is realize the process of this will be done—
    remember what God is doing in your life

    Conclusion

    Do not quit before the harvest comes.
    Do not allow fear, pressure, adversity, exhaustion, or disappointment to convince you that God has abandoned His work in your life.
    What you see is temporary.
    What God is doing is eternal.
    The outward man may be struggling, but the inward man is being renewed day by day.
    So wait on the Lord.
    Be of good courage.
    And He shall strengthen your heart.

      • 2 Corinthians 4:16–18NKJV

      • Psalm 27:14NKJV

      • Psalm 31:24NKJV

      • Titus 3:4–7NKJV

Church On The Rock-Abilene
churchontherockabilene@gmail.com
3256725446
https://church-on-the-rock-abilene-tx.faithlifesites.com
12 members • 14 followers