Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] I'm going to have us turn in our Bibles today to the final chapter of Second Corinthians. We're going to finish this book.
[00:00:06] And probably one of the greatest impediments or barriers for people coming to faith in Christ are those who profess a faith but don't live like the follower of Jesus. How many know that's a little disconcerting. And people are watching this, and many times that's what turns people off from the gospel.
[00:00:26] Sometimes there's a disconnect between what we say and what we do. And of all the people that Jesus addressed in his ministry, one group stands out amongst all the others. This group actually, for the most part, opposed Jesus and probably drew Jesus greatest condemnation. I mean, you know, Jesus is not a condemning person. But the one thing that probably irks God the most is, is when we think we're better than we really are.
[00:00:54] Because God is really about, you know, he resists the proud, but he gives grace to the humble. And, you know, you say, well, what is humility, Pastor? Humility is simply a recognition of our poverty apart from God, a desire to depend fully upon God and to lean into him and to trust that he's going to help us live out this Christian life. You and I can't do this alone. And I would even argue, as we're going to continue through this message today, that we don't just do this alone. We do it with one another. And it's a very powerful thing that we do it in community.
[00:01:28] So listen to what Jesus had to say to the majority of Pharisees. Now, we know there were exceptions. We know Nicodemus was an exception. We know Josephus.
[00:01:36] Joseph was an exception of Arimathea. But the problem was the Pharisees.
[00:01:41] They're actually. The name of that group means purity. They were the purists, and they were the ones that said to the people, hey, follow us. We'll take you to God. When in reality, they were living a life of duplication.
[00:01:52] They had a double standard. They weren't doing what they were saying. And so Jesus says this. He said to the crowds and to his disciples, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees actually sit in Moses seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you, but don't do what they do. In other words, they're telling you some right stuff, but they're also not behaving in that way. Don't copy their example. They're not practicing what they preach.
[00:02:18] He says they tie up heavy, cumbersome loads they put it on other people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. In other words, they just really lack compassion. Everything they do is for people to see. They make their phylacteries wide and their tassels on their garments long. In other words, they're trying to show people, hey, I'm a religious person. They love the places of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues. They love to be greeted with respect in the marketplace and to be called rabbi or teacher by others.
[00:02:48] Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees. You what hypocrites. You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. In other words, they were impeding, they were barriers for people to come into a meaningful relationship with God.
[00:03:11] He says. He goes on to say, woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees. You travel over land and sea to win a single convert. And when you have succeeded, make them twice as much a child of hell as you are. That's a pretty strong indictment.
[00:03:25] So how can we see through the lies and the deception that come our way?
[00:03:30] We might immediately think of how others come across. But the deeper question we need to ask ourselves is simply this, and this is the question I'm raising.
[00:03:41] What are we communicating with others by our lives? In other words, are we living an authentic life? There's probably nothing worse than living a life of self deception. And how does God then view our lives?
[00:03:57] So we're going to do a little probing here today. How's that? We're going to do a little examining. You know, we're coming to the close of the letter. We hear Paul's final exhortation, his prayer, and his appeal to the Corinthians to respond to a message of correction.
[00:04:12] He calls them to examine themselves.
[00:04:16] You know, in Plato's apology, he quotes Socrates in his defense because he was charged of impiety. In other words, he didn't believe in the ancient gods of Greece and corrupting the use of Athens.
[00:04:28] And this was in 399bc. This is before 400 years, before the time of Jesus. And this is what Socrates is reported to have said, that the unexamined life is not worth living.
[00:04:41] It's a very interesting statement. In other words, you know, we sometimes have to take a pause, we have to step back, we have to take a look at what are we really about, what are we doing while the intruders had challenged Paul's life and ministry in Second Corinthians. Here in chapter 13, Paul now is actually going to put those people on trial. He's going to charge them. He's got some things to say to them.
[00:05:08] But I think it's also a challenge to each of us to examine the kind of life we're leading. Is it a life of integrity, authenticity, and piety?
[00:05:18] Or is our life one where self deception and justification have eroded our lifestyle to such a degree that what we profess to believe is not what we live? In other words, we're living a hypocritical lifestyle that may have sobering, eternal consequences. In other words, we're living a life of self deception. And if we don't awaken to our true condition, we could be in jeopardy. And that's a little bit of a challenge. And here I think we're going to have and look at three elements that should help us live an authentic life. You know, God wants authenticity. Do you know our society wants authenticity? People want to, you know, they want to see the real thing. Right? You know, how many know we're tired of con artists. We're tired of having something pulled over us. You know, we're tired of, you know, being sold a bill of goods. That's not what we're going to get. And so we don't want that. We want reality. We want, you know, what's true and valuable. So let's take a look at these elements, and the first one is simply to listen to the exhortation that we would examine our life.
[00:06:26] Do we desire authenticity? Do we walk with integrity and godliness?
[00:06:33] Do we do the necessary work to put our lives into scrutiny? In other words, we're willing to be scrutinized. Do we have a mirror? That's the best way of saying it. That will reveal the condition of our soul. How many know?
[00:06:49] If you don't know what you look like, you're gonna. You have no idea until you look in the mirror and you go, who's that? But once you look in the mirror, you go, really? Is that me?
[00:06:57] I know sometimes as we age, you go, I thought I saw a younger person there, but here's an older person now.
[00:07:03] That can happen. We're in the mirror. We want to have a true, authentic look at what's happening here. Now, I think James explains how the Bible is a mirror into our soul.
[00:07:14] So we're not talking about just, you know, what we look on the outside. We're talking about what do we look like on the Inside, what do we look like spiritually? What do we look like on the inside?
[00:07:25] We can move from. I think James talks about how this mirror works in our soul. I think this is so important. So what does he say?
[00:07:34] I think we're going to move from information gathering to application of the scripture. We have to be obedient to Scripture. This is the evidence, I think, that we have true faith. You know, James is really good about this. He says, you know, a lot of people say they have faith, but if they don't, there's no evidence of it, then you're just fooling yourself. And he comes right out and says it here in James 1:22. He says, do not merely listen to the Word Word and so deceive yourselves. Now, why would he say, merely listen to the Word? Well, in the first century, most people didn't read number one. Number two, those that did, you know, books were very scarce. They had scrolls and they were expensive. So most people heard things being said. He said, don't just be listeners. He says, what you need to do is move beyond that. Otherwise you're just deceiving yourselves.
[00:08:26] Do what it says. In other words, apply it, do it, act on it.
[00:08:31] He says, anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and what happens and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. In other words, what difference does it make to look? If you don't, you're not. It's not having any. You can't even remember what you look like. It's not having any impact on your life. But he says, but whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, which is the perfect law that gives freedom, the law of love, Christ's law, the royal law. As a matter of fact, James will talk about that in the next chapter in his book, talks about the royal law of love, that you and I are practicing this, he goes on to say, he says. Then he says, and they hear it. They're not forgetting what they're hearing or what they've heard, but they're doing it. He says, they will be blessed in what they do. How many here would say, I want to be blessed?
[00:09:30] Anybody want to be blessed? I got my hand up. I like being blessed. You know, I want to receive every blessing that I can possibly have. I want to be blessed. And so all you need to do is just do what God says. God says, if you live the life I'm calling you to, I'll bless you if you honor me. He says in 1st Samuel 2:30. I'll honor you.
[00:09:50] You know, if you disregard me, well, I'll disdain you. I'll look away, you know, so there's people right now. God's resisting you say, who are those people, Pastor? The proud. He's resisting the proud. He says in James and First Peter. He's resisting the proud. You say, well, who are the proud? The proud are people who can say, I don't need God. That's the proud people. That's the people say, I don't need anybody. I can just do it myself. Well, listen, we need God.
[00:10:16] We're not designed to live this life apart from God.
[00:10:20] That's the way it works.
[00:10:22] You know, people can also be a mirror in your life, reflecting to us what kind of person you are. Isn't that interesting? And, you know, this is why you have a church family, a believing community in which to build healthy relationships with other believers. You know, how many know if you live in isolation, you'll never see yourself clearly.
[00:10:40] I'm going to say something. You know, when you're married to somebody, you're getting a mirror coming back at you.
[00:10:48] Sometimes you may not like what you're hearing.
[00:10:52] I'm just pointing this out. You know, when you're single, you can just live and be bliss. You can just say, I'm a great person. And, you know, you got people that are at further distance. But when you're married and you're that close to a person, you may hear things you don't want to hear. I'm just pointing this out, you know. How do you know this stuff, Pastor? Because I've heard things I didn't want to hear.
[00:11:14] That's how I know, you know, that's a mirror, you know, Isn't that true? No. Sometimes that mirror says nice things about you. Now other times they say some things that you have to straighten up and change.
[00:11:28] Yeah, a few of you are agreeing with me. Yeah, that's true. You know, and you know, I'll say this. You know, a lot of people say, well, I believe in God and I can serve God, but I don't need the church. I'm going, well, first of all, that's erroneous.
[00:11:40] That's not even true. That's not even biblical. That's anti biblical. That's antichrist. How's that?
[00:11:47] That's an anti Christian statement. That's an antichrist statement.
[00:11:51] No, we need one another because they're a mirror to us and we see how we fit into A bigger body of believers. We're part of a community.
[00:12:00] Now. Who were the witnesses that Paul is going to establish his credibility. Let's pick up the verse here. Chapter 13, verse 1. This will be my third visit to you. First visit, he established the church. Second visit was short lived because they attacked him. The third visit Paul's now about to embark on. He says every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. So Paul begins by citing the Old Testament text regarding the prosecution of a person. Do you know under the Mosaic law, every indictment or charge had to have the testimony of two or three witnesses? Witnesses in order to convict someone.
[00:12:38] Listen to what it says here. He's quoting Deuteronomy here. One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense that they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. As a matter of fact, you know, you can't make a charge against an elder in the church except for by two witnesses. You know, Jesus tells you in Matthew 18, you got to bring a couple of witnesses. You know, a lot of times people say things, that's just one individual. You know, sometimes I've had people make charges against somebody, one person, but it's got to be more than one. It should be two or three. You have to establish this.
[00:13:16] Notice, David Garland says this. The assumption behind the law is that it's better for someone who's guilty to go unpunished because of a lack of the requested number of witnesses than to harm an innocent person's reputation with reckless charges.
[00:13:32] This principle is applied elsewhere in the New Testament. I've already given you Matthew 18. But how does Paul's third visit relate to the rules of evidence?
[00:13:41] Well, by saying that no one can be condemned without the testimony of two or three witnesses, Paul is tipping his hand that he has every intention to bring charges against them on the next visit. Isn't that interesting? So Paul is warning them in the second letter. I'm coming the third time and I'm going to address the problem.
[00:14:02] And you know what? He's warned them. He's given them. You know, in a sense, between his second visit and these letters, he's been warning them. So who were the witnesses that Paul was bringing against? The Corinthians. Again, David Garland says Paul will take disciplinary action according to the biblical principles governing a judicial proceeding.
[00:14:24] He will call three witnesses against them. Titus and Timothy, for example, and even God. Can they call three legitimate witnesses against them? Because you remember, they've been accusing Paul of All kinds of stuff. And they haven't supported those charges whatsoever.
[00:14:40] So he's kind of showing them that, you know, what you guys have been doing is not even biblical. You've been attacking him. Paul says, you've been attacking me in my gospel message.
[00:14:50] But you've had no witnesses that can substantiate your charges.
[00:14:56] They should remember that the law also warns that malicious, dishonest witnesses will be punished in the way they intended for the falsely accused to be punished. If you read Deuteronomy 19, you continue reading that text, it says, if you are going after somebody and you want this to happen to them and you are false witnesses, and they find that out, what you've desired for them to have happen to them will happen to you. You. How many know that kind of curtails false accusations?
[00:15:24] And it ought to, right? Because we can ruin people's lives if we do these things. Okay. In his third visit, Paul warns that he's going to take disciplinary action. I've already given. I've already. I have already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent on my return. I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others. Since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me, he is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. See, the accusation was, you know, Paul went the second visit, he never really did very much. You know, he just left. He didn't, you know, pursue it. He didn't get aggressive with him. He wasn't dominant enough for them. And so they were basically saying, he's meek, he's weak, you know.
[00:16:13] And Paul now is going to make an argument that's very fascinating.
[00:16:18] First of all, he's warned them, I'm coming. I will discipline you. And then he says, for to be sure, then he start now he's going to talk about Christ. He was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power.
[00:16:33] Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power, we will live with him in our dealings with you. So what is Paul basically saying? He's saying, yeah, we come across as being meek, we come across as being gentle, we come across as not dominant, domineering and any of those things.
[00:16:51] So they had demanded proof that Christ was speaking through Paul because of his meekness among them. Paul's response is that this is the very nature of Christ.
[00:17:01] He came to earth in weakness, and his power was manifest through his sacrificial death.
[00:17:08] Yet that death and resurrection was actually the vehicle of God's power. So in other words, you guys need to understand something. You know, the values of our culture are inverted. They're upside down compared to God's values. What human beings in our culture highly esteem and value God usually despises. And that which God highly esteems and values, usually our society despises. And that's what Paul is warning these Corinthians about. And we have to be very, very careful that we don't get so seduced by the values of our society and we begin to evaluate ourselves based on those values rather than on God's values. That's what he's getting across here.
[00:17:48] So David Garland says the Corinthians confusion about Paul comes from their failure to see proof that the crucified and resurrected Christ is working in him in his weakness. They find his weakness actually distasteful. Paul's weakness actually fits the paradigm of Christ's crucifixion. If this displeases or mystifies them, then there is some serious flaw in their faith.
[00:18:14] They don't understand the full implications of the cross and the resurrection. So what is Garland really trying to get at here? He's trying to help us understand that God's power was demonstrated through his humility, his humbling of himself even to death, just like what was now occurring among the Corinthians. Mockers were taunting Paul and the faithful believers. But isn't that what happened to Jesus? And Garland continues. The crucifixion displayed an apparent helplessness that caused the spectators to taunt Jesus, to show them some miraculous display of power or pull off some miraculous escape that would finally convince him that he was the Son of God.
[00:18:55] Remember the taunts. If you're the Son of God, come down from that cross, Right?
[00:19:00] Save yourself.
[00:19:02] How many know that if Jesus came down from the cross at that moment, yeah, he could have saved himself, but he certainly wouldn't have saved our world.
[00:19:11] Jesus knew he had to die on that cross in order to save us.
[00:19:16] And that's the power of God, the willingness to give himself up like that.
[00:19:21] He goes on to say here, a spectacular show of worldly power on the cross, the kind they wanted to see, would have only proven that Jesus was some sort of a superman. But not the Messiah, the Son of God. Just as his tormentors suspected, nothing happened. His eyes closed, his head went limp, the breath spasms stopped.
[00:19:43] The bystanders could not see that his weakness came from his voluntary sacrifice to give his life for others in absolute obedience to God. They could not believe that God would deliver one whom they dismissed as so contemptible. The resurrection showed the power of God working in a most abject human weakness. Death, even death on a cross. You have to remember, you know, we have elevated the cross as something beautiful in Jesus hour.
[00:20:14] The cross was something contemptible.
[00:20:16] Only criminals were crucified and Jesus was crucified as a criminal. We keep forgetting that. And secondly, the Jewish scriptures themselves taught that God curses everyone who hangs on a tree. And so Jesus was considered by Jewish people as accursed of God. And Paul had to correct that thinking and saying, yes, you're right, he was cursed of God, but not because of something he did. He was cursed of God because of what we did.
[00:20:45] He took our curse upon himself. He became a curse for us who knew no sin that you and I might become the righteousness of God. What an amazing exchange that he did on our behalf that's so powerful.
[00:20:58] It goes on to say here, it also revealed that the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength and that God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
[00:21:11] Now, like Jesus in his weakness, we understand the natures of Paul's apostolic credibility. This amazing paradigm of weakness, revealing power.
[00:21:20] Now the great reversal is about to happen. They have demanded proof that Paul is sufficient for his task as an apostle. But Paul's going to turn the tables on them and demand proof that they're truly in the faith. The important question is not whether Christ is speaking in Paul, but whether Christ is living in them.
[00:21:38] That's a very interesting twist of things. But you know, I'm going to say this. We're going to read a passage that I've never really fully understood and it really spoke to me this week, and it's this one. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.
[00:21:54] Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you? Unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.
[00:22:04] Now, he's not suggesting here that they are not believers. See, I never really understood this text, but let me explain it in its context. This is the beauty about looking at the whole text of Scripture in a context. Do you know what Paul is basically saying to them? He's saying, listen, you guys are in the faith, and because you're in the faith, I'm an apostle.
[00:22:31] Because if you're not in the faith, I'm not an apostle, or I'm an apostle because you are in the faith. I've preached the Gospel and you're now believers. That actually brings credibility to who I really am.
[00:22:46] He's trying to explain to them, how can you tell me that you're in the faith and I'm not an apostle? Who do you think brought the gospel to you?
[00:22:55] You see, he's trying to tell them this now when he says, examine yourself to see whether you're in the faith.
[00:23:01] I'm sure there were people there that thought they were in the faith, and maybe they were not in the faith because of the diplostic lifestyle they were living. And let me tell you, the Corinthians struggled. This was a congregation that had all kinds of problems. You cannot read these two books and go, wow. And these guys say they're Christians, you know, but. But Paul doesn't say that they're not. He's just telling them, you need to examine yourselves.
[00:23:25] So how does this testing themselves relate to Paul passing the test? Well, the two are obviously intertwined in his mind. If they pass the test and know that Christ is in them, then their apostle passed the test as well.
[00:23:38] Paul is the one who betrothed them to Christ. In other words, he's the one that helped them get connected to Jesus as a bride. And they are the seal of his apostleship in the Lord and his letter of commendation in Christ for all the world to read. And then he goes on to say, if they fail the test, then all of Paul's work among them has been in vain.
[00:24:01] If they pass the test, it confirms he's a genuine apostle. So Ralph Hanson says, a Christian's conduct then is a very good, ready reckoner for determining his relationship to Christ and a much better one than his religious experience or even his profession, I would say. Now the test of faith is evidenced, number one, by what? A changed life.
[00:24:22] That's what should happen when we become a Christian. You know, we've repented, which means that we're turning from our sin. It's not just I feel bad that I've sinned. It's not just I feel bad that I'm caught. It's not just that I feel bad that I'm in shame. No, I'm turning from my sin and turning away from it. I'm turning to God and allowing God's presence, power, and spirit and grace to fill my life so that it enables me to have victory over what once dominated me.
[00:24:49] As a matter of fact, if we want to take a look at the test of who are Christians, you know, Jesus kind of gave us one. This is how all men shall know that you are my disciples. This is. I'm quoting Jesus now. What did he say?
[00:25:01] Well, that if you love one another.
[00:25:07] So what is he saying? He's saying the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, by the way. Look at what Paul's saying. Galatians 5:22. And the fruit singular of the Spirit is love, joy, peace. Then he goes on to list nine things there. But actually I think all of them are expressions and manifestations of love. And so what is God saying to us? He says, listen, you know, you're a believer when all of a sudden your heart has been changed so that those you formerly hated you now have a heart of compassion and love and forgiveness towards, and that you have a love for people you never knew you had before. All of a sudden it doesn't become just about us anymore. One of our great problems is our self centeredness. I don't know if you know that a sign of immaturity is that you can't get past yourself.
[00:25:53] And you know, the people I think that are the most unhappy are the ones that are focused on themselves. It's all about me. It's all about my life. It's all about what I want.
[00:26:01] But once you get past all of that, there's a freedom that comes into your life and you have a freedom to serve other people. You're free to lay down your life and give your life away. And as you're in the process of laying down your life and not exerting your rights and giving your life away to other people, you're going to discover something. The spirit of Jesus is actually filling your heart to do that. He's changing you. You're being changed in the process.
[00:26:26] So what is fascinating is that Paul is part of the test. If they fail, then he has failed. We see that in verse six that he includes himself. And if they are in the faith which I believe Paul believes that they are, then they will have passed the test. However, Paul realizes that there are some who are not genuine and will certainly fail. And therefore they are those who are merely professors of faith because genuine believers do ultimately turn from their sin. Let me move on to the second point.
[00:26:58] How do I have an authentic life? Well, the first one is simply, I'm going to obey the exhortation.
[00:27:04] I'm not living an unexamined life. I'm examining my life. I'm saying, hey, do I really love people? Am I really laying down my rights? Am I really serving people? Number two is the answer to the prayers of the saints in order for us to be Obedient to the truth.
[00:27:22] I don't think we have discovered how powerful prayer is yet.
[00:27:26] See, how do you know that, Pastor? Because I think we'd pray more.
[00:27:29] It's true, you know, discover the need for mutual intercession, for the spiritual growth of one another in the faith. Listen, I pray every day. I pray every day and I'm praying for people and I'm praying for their faith to grow. I'm praying for people to serve God with their whole hearts. I've prayed that faith for you, that you will serve God wholeheartedly. Paul generally begins his letters to the churches, have you noticed, with prayer and prays for them.
[00:27:57] He mentions his continuous praying for their spiritual growth. And in the conclusion of this letter to the Corinthians, his prayer is that they will not rebel against God and pass the self examination test, which means that they're doing what is right.
[00:28:11] Paul also mentions that what he has done is truthful and only for their betterment.
[00:28:18] Listen to the prayer now. We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong.
[00:28:24] You know, that's a good prayer. Lord would you'd help the people not do anything wrong. Help them not to make stupid decisions. Help my family not to do that, help my grandkids not to do that, help my staff members not to do that, my fellow staff members not to do that. How many of you know? And we do stupid things, sinful things, selfish things. We're hurting other people and we're violating God's moral law and we're disappointing to ourselves. You know, we don't want to see that. So we need to be praying for each other.
[00:28:55] He goes on, here we are glad whenever we are weak, but you are strong and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. Interesting.
[00:29:05] We're going to talk about what does that word really mean? That is why I write these things. When I'm absent and when I come, I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority.
[00:29:15] The authority the Lord gave me for building you up and not for tearing you down.
[00:29:20] So Paul says, listen, yes, I have authority, but I don't want to be tearing you apart. I don't want to be disciplining, I don't want to be excommunicating you. He says, I want to be building you up. I don't want to be correcting you. You know, the hardest part of my job is when I have to correct somebody. I take no joy in doing that. You say, well, why do you do it, Pastor? Because I love people and I don't want to see them destroy themselves.
[00:29:42] And if I don't warn them, that's part of my job. I have to warn people, hey, look, this is what's going on in your life. You don't change. This is going to be self destructive. And I don't want that for you and you don't want that for you and you don't. It's going to affect many other people in a negative way.
[00:29:56] Then he goes on, he says, but my job, I really want to build you up. The fun thing I get to do is preach. I'm trying to build you up. I want to encourage you, I want to stimulate you, motivate you, inspire you to do the right thing.
[00:30:08] It's a prayer for restoration and redemption from rebellion and worldliness.
[00:30:15] Does everybody understand what worldliness is? Do you have an understanding when the Bible talks about what worldliness is? Let me explain worldliness. My wife wrote a thesis on worldliness when she was in Bible college.
[00:30:25] It really means that we actually substitute the values for this world and we embrace them and then we take God's values and we discard them.
[00:30:34] We're switching the price tags. Basically, you know, don't go after what the world is pursuing.
[00:30:41] I'm going to tell you what's going to happen at the end. It's promising you a whole bunch of stuff and you're going to end up empty.
[00:30:46] You're going to be spiritually bankrupt.
[00:30:49] And you know, here's the kicker for me, I just love this. I'm a brand new Christian. I don't have anything. So it's not hard to give up anything when you don't have anything.
[00:30:57] But I got one verse of scripture that drove me. Matthew 6:33. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. All these other things will be added to you. I just made it a goal in my life and it hasn't left. That's my pursuit. God, you and your kingdom above everything else. And you know what I discovered? I kept doing that. All these other things started coming my way.
[00:31:20] It wasn't that I was seeking those things, they came my way because I put God's kingdom first.
[00:31:25] I want to encourage you, you will never go wrong over a lifetime. If you put God first in your life every single day of your life, you'll be fine. You'll be finding out that you know what. All the things you need in life, God will provide for you. He'll take care of you. We worry about the wrong things.
[00:31:43] I think we need to be focused on the Right things, you know. Scott Heffernan says Paul's desire is that he will not be forced to exercise his authority harshly when he comes to Corinth.
[00:31:54] For in fulfillment of Jeremiah's promise that God will one day build his people, Paul's ministry under the new covenant, in contrast to Jeremiah under the old covenant, was really, he warns. He says, God's not only going to build you up, but if you're not doing the right thing, he's going to tear you down.
[00:32:11] Paul intentionally ends the final section of his letter by recalling the pastoral purpose from which he began. In order to put his third visit in perspective, he viewed the necessity and purpose of his exhortation. That exhortation means his words to them, like all else in ministry through the lens of redemptive history and scripture. This means that his primary goal as an apostle of Christ is the building up of the church in fulfillment of the promise of the new covenant.
[00:32:40] Listen, in loving people, we do not want to tear down anyone, but we want to address the issues that is tearing themselves down, namely sin.
[00:32:53] If we do not address those issues, the problem does not go away. It only intensifies and complicates life later on. How many know that that's true? How many know even physically? I'll give you the analogy. If you neglect yourself physically and there's something wrong with you, but you don't go to the doctors, you just decide, I'm going to tough it out, blah, blah, blah, what happens when you finally go and it's gotten worse is it's harder to treat later.
[00:33:18] And what I've noticed with people is this, and this is true spiritually too. The longer you wait to address your problems, the harder it is to deal with them later.
[00:33:27] And so if you're a young person right now and you're struggling with something, let's deal with it, because this is a chance so that you don't have to build a lifetime of bad habits that have to be broken later. How about that? And if you're an older person, I would still say, listen, there's, there's still hope, you know, I know there's an old saying, you can't teach old dog new tricks, but let me tell you something. With God, he can teach you anything. And I don't care how young or old you are, if you humbled yourself before God and asked for help, he'll teach you how to break things in your life that are self destructive. He can do that for you. You know, I think we need to address those things in Our lives that are sinful, selfish and self defeating. How many say amen to that?
[00:34:10] I believe that. Let me move to the final one. And it's a call for victorious Christian life. In Paul's closing remarks, we discover the heart of a true apostolic leader and the desires that he wants to see occur in their lives. His desire is to see them come to full maturity.
[00:34:28] Do you know why I get excited about that little picture of my grandson? Because I go, he's got all the potential in the world. I don't know how he's wired, what's going to be his predisposition, what his challenges are going to be, but also the things that God is going to do and use his life. That's all exciting to me. You know, it's fun watching people develop. It's fun watching children develop. It's fun watching new Christians develop. And you begin to see the gifts and the desires and the talents in their life. And you have no idea what God's going to do with a person's life once he gets that journey going with you. It's exciting to see it happening. And, you know, I feel like, you know, sometimes, I know, Pastor Martin, you may feel this way, or Pastor Darren and others on staff. It's just a delight to work with people and watch them develop.
[00:35:13] It's so affirming and it's so encouraging. I go, wow, look at, look at what they're doing now. It's, you know, go for it. You know, I feel like sometimes I'm the biggest cheerleader on the sidelines saying, hey, go. You know, let's go. This is awesome. I'm cheering you on.
[00:35:30] I think we need to realize that this congregation had problems. They were fractured. They were broken. Sin abounded. Factions and divisions were evident. Love was absent. They were filled with arrogance and pride. They were gifted, they were knowledgeable, but they were near sighted. They reflected the society around them. Rather than expressing the life of Christ, Paul is calling them to spiritual health.
[00:35:54] I like that. You know, I'll be honest, I'm proud of the church that I pastor, you know, I was proud of you. Wednesday. I'm going to be honest with you. It's so delightful to watch you serve people and the way you love people and care about people and, you know, make it better for other people. I'm going, I'm proud. These are, these are the people that I've been, you know, speaking to for a long time. I think we're getting through, you know, we're getting through, Lord. You know, Paul says here in chapter 13, verse 11, he says, finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss, and all God's people here send their greetings.
[00:36:40] It begins by learning to live with gratitude and delight. I want to just.
[00:36:46] I just can't say enough about this.
[00:36:49] I could preach a whole sermon on this. I might have to preach a sermon on this just because I think we need to understand we have to choose joy as an attitude. We have to make it our aim in life to have the right thinking about life, that we don't walk around looking at all the problems and all the challenges, and we just walk around grumpy and saying how bad things are. And we're just on that frequency.
[00:37:13] It's not a good thing, folks. I'm telling you, you don't want to end up being a grumpy.
[00:37:17] You know, it's true. You don't. You know, who wants to be a grumpy old person?
[00:37:24] Not me. You know, I want to be a celebrant. I want to be a little hallelujah. I want to be praising God at all times. You know, I believe that God has good things in store for us.
[00:37:36] All things work together for good man, even the bad things. God's going to use this. I don't know how he's going to use it. Don't ask me how he's going to use it, but I just know he's going to use it. I have to have the right attitude. He says, rejoice.
[00:37:49] Paul writing to the Philippians, he says, let me say it again. Rejoice. You have to tell us this. Mark Seinfeld writes, paul's call to rejoice is thus intended to lift the eyes of the Corinthians above their present contention with the apostle to see the unconditional good that God has given to them in Christ. In this respect, Paul calls to the Corinthians to rejoice parallels his repeated calls to the church in Philippi to do the same. In that context, he seeks to turn their attention from their immediate circumstances of his imprisonment to the greater work of God that's taking place in and through that imprisonment. In other words, God's even using the negative thing to further his kingdom.
[00:38:32] That's how the book starts. In the book of Philippians, how are we currently responding to our present circumstances? Are they defining you or me? Are we choosing an attitude of thanksgiving and gratitude? Is our focus on challenges and hardships in life in which we grumble and complain? Or is our eyes upon Jesus causing us to delight and rejoice in him?
[00:38:56] We have a choice.
[00:38:58] So if you're a grumpy person, knock it off.
[00:39:02] You know, you got to leave here saying, okay, I got to make a decision now. Forget this nonsense. No point complaining. Who wants to listen to complaints all the time?
[00:39:11] Nobody. I'm being honest. Somebody goes, I don't have a lot of friends. Stop complaining. That's probably one of your problems right there.
[00:39:19] You know, I'm just telling you. I'm trying to help you out. I'm trying to help you to have friends here, guys, you know, just start thanking God. You know, I'm serious about this, though. Why can't we be thankful? Why can't we find things to thank God for? Amen. That's one of my great pet peeves. You can see that. I just. I'm on this topic here. I'll move off. I'll move off. Let me put your house in order is the second one. You know, the NIV translates it strive for restoration.
[00:39:47] You know, I looked it up. Literally, the Greek word means put to order.
[00:39:52] How critical is it is to put to things right, particularly in relationships? Make right things happen. The tragic situation in Corinth was all the factions, schisms, and the broken relationships. Disunity and conflict were raging and criticism abounded. It was an unhealthy situation.
[00:40:14] Paul was calling them to address the issues and come to a place of healing and restoration.
[00:40:20] What should have been a place of peace and love was anything but that. And the witness of the gospel was compromised.
[00:40:28] And they were now to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit, be of one mind, and live in peace.
[00:40:33] When this happens, God's love and peace would be with them. Think about this.
[00:40:39] Be of one mind. Da Carson says this third injunction probably means more than get along with one another.
[00:40:47] Rather, Paul wants the members of the Corinthian church so to work through their differences of opinions, bringing them to the test of the apostolic gospel that they be of one mind.
[00:41:00] What does it mean to be of one mind? It means you're in agreement. What are we in agreement upon? Well, he says. Listen, earlier in this first letter, he says, I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there'll be no, no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
[00:41:19] So here's how you get united.
[00:41:22] Do you know how if you were to help, try to mediate a labor dispute, you know what you do as a mediator? You bring them down to the lowest common denominator where they agree.
[00:41:35] Do you know what the Bible does? It elevates us to the highest possible level. He says, let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus. In other words, we need to have the mind of God.
[00:41:47] So what is the mind of God? Who thought it not robbery to be, you know, to lay aside his divine attributes in some ways everywhere present at one time, having all power, all knowledge? No, he laid those aside.
[00:42:03] He laid aside his rights to be equal with the Father in order to humble himself and to become a servant, even to obey the Father to the point of dying a criminal's death. How many go, that's humility.
[00:42:17] Is that amazing?
[00:42:19] See, so what is he saying is, if you and I will walk in humility, esteeming each other better than ourselves, honoring one another, caring for one another, loving one another, you're actually showing the mind of Christ.
[00:42:33] That's the mind that Paul wanted the Corinthians to get to.
[00:42:37] They were busy bickering and fighting amongst themselves. He said, no, no, no, don't do that. And then we finally have this closing trinitarian benediction. You know, I love it. It says, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. How many know grace comes through Christ?
[00:42:52] Grace is God's favor to you. You have. God will show you favor when you come to Christ.
[00:42:59] How many want favor from God? I got my hand up. Well, you have to come to Christ to get favor. Then he says, and the love of the Father, love of God.
[00:43:08] God commanded his love toward us and that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Isn't that beautiful? God is demonstrating his love for us. And then finally it says, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit with you all. So what is Paul's desire but to see the church flourish? And when the church is overcome by the values of society, we live defeated lives.
[00:43:29] It tarnishes our witness. But when we embrace and live out God's values, we will have a profound influence and impact on our society. It begins with self evaluation.
[00:43:40] Are we living an authentic life?
[00:43:43] Meaning that we're living with single hearted devotion to God? As Jane points out, the problem is that we can become double minded and therefore unstable in all our ways. So I'm going to have a stand as we pray the prayer of the psalmist. I love the psalms. This is the Old Testament prayer book. Listen to his prayers.
[00:44:02] He says search me. Psalm 139.
[00:44:05] Search me, God, and know my heart. Who knows the inside of you better than God?
[00:44:12] I would argue you don't even know yourself fully. Nor do I. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
[00:44:25] And then I love Psalm 86.
[00:44:28] Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness. Give me an undivided heart.
[00:44:36] You know what that means? Unite my heart. Another translation. Unite my heart to fear your name.
[00:44:42] What does it mean to have a united heart? Integrated.
[00:44:46] And that's the word we get integrity from.
[00:44:49] How many want to be a person of integrity? You know what it means to be a person of integrity? You're whole, you're single minded. You're not all over the map.
[00:44:58] I'm going to tell some people are struggling with instability because they're double minded.
[00:45:04] God wants you to be single minded.
[00:45:08] You got to settle this stuff. What a wonderful prayer. Unite my heart, Lord, don't give me a divided heart. Unite my heart to faith. Fear your name.
[00:45:17] And I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart. And I will glorify your name forever.
[00:45:25] You see, Socrates said it. The unexamined life is not worth living.
[00:45:32] So, Father, today as we come before you, we recognize.
[00:45:36] This is a great prayer. I'm going to pray it. I pray it for myself often.
[00:45:40] It begins, Lord, I pray. Psalm 51. Cleanse my heart, O God, renew a right spirit within me. Restore unto us, O God, the joy of our salvation.
[00:45:53] And then, Lord, seek.
[00:45:55] We ask you, Lord, search us to know and know our hearts. Test us and know if there be anxious thoughts.
[00:46:05] See if there be any offensive way in me. And lead me into the way everlasting. So teach me your way, Lord, that I might rely on your faithfulness. And give me an undivided heart that I might fear your name.
[00:46:18] For I will praise you, Lord, my God, with all my heart. And I will glory in your name forever.
[00:46:25] Amen. God bless you as you leave.
