Episode Transcript
[00:00:01] And, you know, I recognize in our lives there's always a challenge. You know, sometimes we look at someone else and we say, well, maybe they have a perfect life, but I've got problems. But I found out a long time ago most people have challenges, and many times we're not even aware of them. So what we're going to do this morning is we want to just lift our hands to God. We're just going to lay aside our burdens today, the things that we carry. And a lot of times we don't even realize we're carrying weight. We got concerns about people we love. We got concerns maybe about our world in which we're living, living in the nation, our nation, nations of our world. And so, Father, as we lift our hands today, we're just entrusting all of these challenges, these deep concerns, these cares, these things that, you know, invade our space, Lord, that are causing us now to look up. We recognize you're the answer to our broken world. You're the answer to the hurting heart. You're the answer to the people struggling in addiction. You're the answer people in broken relationships. You're the answer, Father, for. For whatever situation we find ourselves in. And we commit our hearts to you.
[00:01:09] And Lord, we open our heart now even as we're lifting our burdens. We're opening our heart right now because you want to speak into our soul, Lord, we want to hear your voice today. We want to have a new glimpse of you. Maybe we've walked with you for many years. Maybe we're relatively new. Maybe we don't even know you. But I pray today, right now, as we open our hearts to you, that we're going to get a glimpse of you and your power and in your glory. And we thank you for that. In Jesus name and God's people said, amen. Amen. You may be seated. We're going to have you turn in your Bibles. We're continuing our series from Paul's Letter to the Corinthians, the second letter, and we're in chapter 10.
[00:01:48] It's probably the most autobiographical epistle of Paul's, all of his letters.
[00:01:56] And we're going to learn some things today, so hopefully. So how do we. My title is how do we handle criticism directed that is designed to undermine our walk with God. And so I think so often in our lives, we take a text of scripture, if we're a Christian, and maybe we apply that truth in a personal manner in our life. But then once we understand it, maybe in a broader context, in that actual biblical context, we discover an even greater reality. And so let me make a little confession that, you know, as I was coming up to these verses, I've quoted them many times. I've quoted them applying them to myself. I've shared them with other people.
[00:02:37] And I believe what I shared is true, but I don't believe that that is actually the whole extent of the story. As a matter of fact, I've actually never studied Second Corinthians in all of my training. I mean, I went to Bible college. We never studied this book. I did two postgraduate degrees, I did a doctorate degree, never studied Second Corinthians. Just letting you know now, have I ever taught from this book before? No, I've never done that. Have I preach from this book before? No, I've never done that. Have I preached sermons from this book? Yeah, once in a while I've preached a text here or a text there. But, you know, I was startled by looking at Second Corinthians, chapter 10, because I discovered something that was very, very powerful. And I'm going to tell you the verse that I have looked at, and I thought, oh, this is going to be easy this week working on this text because I've, you know, I've said this verse a lot, and it's found in Second Corinthians, chapter 10, and it's talking about spiritual warfare. And it says in verse three. Now, I've taken a course on spiritual warfare, and of course, this was quoted for though we live in the world, or another translation says, though we live in the flesh, though we're part of this society, we don't wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds, and we demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought and we make it obedient to Christ. Now, I simply took this to mean that we need to submit our thoughts that are contrary to God's word and we make them obedient to Christ. Now, is that true? Well, yeah, of course it's true. We need to do that. It seems to me that the spiritual warfare is primarily in our minds. I think that is true as well. It's a battle. The real battle in life is up here. It's in our minds.
[00:04:30] We're fighting a battle. Our thoughts, our attitudes, temptations, it's all coming inside of our heads. It's primarily there.
[00:04:39] But understanding exactly what Paul meant from this Text and their context extends way beyond that premise. Isn't that interesting? So Paul is actually using this to say something far more than just that.
[00:04:54] So in Second Corinthians, Paul is actually defending himself against the criticisms directed at him regarding his life and ministry because of a distorted understanding of the gospel. Now, how many know that it's possible that we could actually have a distorted understanding of the gospel? How many say that's probably true? People can have distorted understandings of the gospel, and we need to know that. Now, this distortion actually was led by a group of outsiders to the church in Corinth, and they had affected a minority group in the church who were now being led astray.
[00:05:31] Now, if you're a shepherd and you got wolves coming in among your sheep, what's a good shepherd going to do?
[00:05:38] Well, he's going to deal with the wolves. He's got to address the wolves, because if he doesn't, they're going to destroy sheep. How many say that's true? Paul is being a good shepherd here. He's going to defend you say, well, why is he defending himself? Because as we're about to see, they're discrediting Paul the messenger in order to discredit Paul's message. Message. Because these characters, these wolves, have a distorted understanding of the gospel. And that's why Paul is going to say the things he's about to say in this area. So, first of all, two things come to my mind. What were these false ideas that needed to be corrected? That's a good question, right? Like, what were they saying that was wrong? Number two, when and how should we defend ourselves to others who are verbally attacking and criticizing us in regard to our understanding of the gospel? Now, how many know we maybe need to know some things so that we can speak on behalf of what the truth is.
[00:06:39] We better understand the truth in order to do that. So that requires a little understanding on our part, and that's important.
[00:06:47] And then the question I raise also is, how does this idea fit into Jesus remarks on the Sermon on the Mount when he says, we need to turn the other cheek, you know, so Jesus said it in Matthew 5:39, but I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.
[00:07:06] Now, is Jesus telling us here that we're not to protect ourselves or defend ourselves? Or is he speaking of the issue of retaliation and basically allowing God to vindicate us? Sometimes, you know, we have to have wisdom to discern how to respond to what's being done to us. How many know that takes wisdom. That's what we're going to look at.
[00:07:29] But is there ever a time that you and I need to stand up and speak against evil? That's a great question. Is there a moment that we need to do that? Now, someone might argue that Jesus is speaking about not defending ourselves.
[00:07:43] We know that Jesus certainly attacked the teaching and the hypocrisy in the lives of many of the religious leaders in his day. All I don't know if you can read Matthew 23 and not get the sense that Jesus is nailing the majority of Pharisees. What do you think? You ever read that? He's got some scathing remarks. He calls them brood of vipers. He said, you guys are whitewashed sepulchers. You guys are, you know, look good on the outside, but on the inside, you're corrupt.
[00:08:10] You're just a bunch of dead men's bones. You advocate life, but you're death itself. How many think that's pretty strong language? Anybody say that Jesus doesn't stand up? How about the time he goes into the temple and flips the tables and, you know, tells them, this is my house. This my father's house is a house of prayer. You've made it a den of thieves.
[00:08:30] So there are moments that we need to stand up and say things. When you're getting the picture, I think we have to. I think there are moments like that.
[00:08:39] However, in Second Corinthians, Paul's dealing now with a personal attack in the form of criticisms that was personally directed at him to undermine his credibility, his ministry among the Corinthians. So one of the issues that we need to understand during times of criticism is what's at stake.
[00:09:01] Paul is defending himself in his ministry because the very essence and nature of the gospel is being attacked and distorted. And outsiders are trying to discredit both Paul and God's messenger, who he is. He's God's messenger and the message that he is actually bringing.
[00:09:20] So how does what was transpiring in that time?
[00:09:24] Because I mean, that. That's the history, everybody following the story.
[00:09:27] So how does that apply to us today? Isn't that the more important question? I mean, is this happening today? Do you think the gospel is ever being distorted today? Do you think people are developing an improper balance or an understanding of what the gospel is all about?
[00:09:43] Well, and I think when people have a distorted understanding of the gospel, they're actually leading people away from the truth. And by the way, the truth is a person I don't know if you know that truth is Jesus. So when people have a false understanding of who the message of Jesus is all about, they're actually moving people away from Christ. And you know what, a lot of people, they think that they're following Jesus, but in reality, when they have a wrong understanding, are leading people away from Christ. And that should be a little bit of a concern.
[00:10:13] Kent Hughes, in his commentary on this text of Scripture, is warning us not to go to extremes. I don't know if you notice, but as human beings, we have. Some of us maybe have a greater tendency to do this, but we tend to be extreme by nature. Does anybody know what I'm talking about? We tend to embrace one side or the other and we go all in and we think that's great. And I'm going to try to create a sense that the Gospel is quite balanced in its understanding, and we'll look at that. He says as Christians, we live in the now and the not yet of the kingdom. What does he mean by that? Well, you know what, Jesus came. He's the king, he brings the kingdom in. But it's a spiritual kingdom. But how many know? Not everything in the kingdom has actually happened yet. Some of it is still to come. We need to understand there's a tension between what's happened and now in the kingdom and what is about to happen in the kingdom.
[00:11:07] First of all, he says Christ's death, his resurrection, his ascension and his exaltation have introduced the kingdom. Those of us who trust in Christ as the Messiah king are in him and are members of the kingdom. Being in Christ, we are seated with God in the heavenly places. In Christ Jesus, both the seating and blessings are now in the present, though the full realization will happen at Christ's return. So the future is really when Christ comes back.
[00:11:37] The rest of the stuff that we are to experience will happen then.
[00:11:43] So this now, he says, creates an ongoing tension in the now of today. As Christians, we presently have eternal life, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, forgiveness of sins, fellowship in the body of Christ, the blessed hope of Christ's return. And at the same time, we do not have all the blessings that will come. There's more to come.
[00:12:06] And he goes and says it this way.
[00:12:09] We do not have new bodies. How many know my body is not getting renewed day by day? My inner man should be getting renewed day by day. But how many can all of you already now realistically testify that your body is slowly diminishing over time?
[00:12:26] And when you're young you don't believe it, but talk to the seniors and they'll tell you, my body's betraying me. They'll tell you that, okay?
[00:12:35] We have not seen the face of God. We haven't seen God face to face yet. Perfect love and holiness and fellowship are not ours. How many know there's still things to be worked out in our lives. You know, we still experience sin, we still experience pain. Death still comes physically, we see people dying. We're not in a state of denial, folks. As God's children, we're called to balance the realities of now and the not yet over emphasis on the not yet of the future kingdom can lead to a speculative mind.
[00:13:06] We have date setting, eschatology, in other words. Isn't it interesting when people read Revelation, they're actually looking to figure out how the end is going to happen, and they totally miss the message.
[00:13:18] We're going to get back to what's the real message in Revelation?
[00:13:21] It's Jesus. And if you miss him, you've totally missed the message. Okay?
[00:13:26] A minimizing of the graces that we already have.
[00:13:30] On the other hand, an overemphasis of the now of the Kingdom can lead to a loss of focus on Christ's return.
[00:13:38] I think, you know, sometimes people are, you know, just so focused in on the victories that we have in Christ that they forget that, you know what, we're not going to have all the victories on Earth. And, you know, some people think, well, that's a heretical statement, Pastor. I go, no, it's not. Jesus is going to come back and fix the broken place.
[00:13:55] You think human beings are going to fix what we've messed up for the last, you know, how many thousands of years we actually need God to come back and rescue us? How many know we need a rescue plan? You know, I don't know about you, but, you know, as much as we should be praying for our leaders, and we're hoping they're doing their best, I actually know that there's only one that's going to fix the problem ultimately, and that's Jesus. And we should be looking forward to that day. And as we see many of the troubling signs in our world today, instead of panicking and getting upset and carrying on about it, why don't we lift our heads and say, lord, I'm not living in denial, but I recognize these are signs of youf coming. And that's where my hope is. It's in youn. And so my. My focus now becomes more directed towards, hey, you know, What I want to be about the kingdom business today while we still have time. Because when Jesus comes back, people weren't going to be getting saved anymore. Their eternal future is now sealed. And so we should have a deeper sense of urgency in this hour to bring people to faith in Christ that we've ever had before. That's what I believe we should be doing.
[00:14:58] And then just to go on to say, here he goes on. On the other hand, the overemphasis of the now of the kingdom can lead to a loss of focus on Christ's and the delusion that promises reserved for future fulfillment are ours in the present. Do you know, a lot of people act as if we should be retaining and receiving all that God promises in the not yet, as if it should happen in the now. When you get that confused, you get into trouble. So what does all of this mean? Simply that we have two distinctly different aspects of the Gospel, which I believe are a counterbalance. And let me just read what I mean in the book of Philippians when he says, I want to know Christ, yes, To know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings. How many know that? That's two sides of the same coin.
[00:15:47] Think about it. Here's the one side. I want to know the power of God. I want to experience the miracles of God. I want to experience these amazing things of God on this side. But on the other side, I also want to participate in the sufferings of Christ. Now, how many God. I don't necessarily always pray for that, but how many recognize that it's usually the difficult, challenging things in your life that have brought you closer to God. It's the struggles that cause you to pray. It's the struggles that cause you to trust God. And let's face it, you and I become far more empathetic, far more compassionate, far more concerned about other people because we've experienced difficulties in our lives and we get where they're coming from and we have a deeper heart for that stuff, okay? And then we become like him in his death. And so somehow attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Now, notice, he says, somehow attaining, you know, not that I've already obtained all of this. So there's the not yet part. Some people act as if we've got everything. No, but not yet. We haven't attained everything. Paul says we've not attained everything. But he says, or have already arrived at my goal. But I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
[00:16:54] Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself as yet to have taken hold of it. So Paul is describing the mystery of the spiritual life as being one that has spiritual power, but may be suffering real challenges and sorrows and sicknesses in this life, not because they don't have enough faith, but many times because of their faith. How's that? You know, some people are suffering persecution. It's not because they don't have enough faith. It's because of their faith.
[00:17:23] Some of them have suffered beating. Some of them have lost properties. Some of them. You know, right now, in our world, in our world today, people who are following Christ are losing their homes. Did you know that? Just like they did in the book of Hebrews, there's people today being beaten, there's people today being in prison. There's people today, you know, losing their lives because of their faith in Christ.
[00:17:43] I think we got to have a little check in with reality, you know? Yes. We may not be facing that at this moment. Here we're facing other types of things. Here we're facing total distraction. We're facing a lot of false teaching. We're facing a lot of other subtle things that are coming to diminish our relationship with God. So how do we handle those who focus wrongly on either side of this counterbalance?
[00:18:10] And often those who are immature criticize those who they see that are not experiencing in their mind all that they think God has promised in the gospel or some aspect of the gospel is not fully. But in reality, some of it's not being fully realized until Christ comes back. And we need to understand that. So I'm going to look at two ways in which we determine what our response should be towards the criticisms of our lives.
[00:18:34] Because maybe we're not doing what some other people are doing. Okay, so let's take a look at it. First, we have to determine how to answer or should we answer our critics.
[00:18:44] We need to understand what will help us is what's at stake.
[00:18:49] The issue is, should I say something, and if so, what should I say and how should I say it? It kind of reminds me of two proverbs that seem almost contradictory until you examine them a little closer. You know, I actually wrote that book, who Owns yous Heart? Well, I had to deal with these two verses here in chapter 26 of the book of Proverbs. And this is how it goes. It says here, do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Then the very next verse, answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
[00:19:27] Huh?
[00:19:28] You ever read that? You go, what's being said here? You know, that's a little perplexing. Well, I'm going to tell you something about proverbs and this will help us. Proverbs reveal the time, context and circumstances should determine the approach that is fitting or is appropriate to take. Okay? Now, it takes wisdom and discernment to know how to respond to a fool. You say, well, who's a fool, Pastor? A person who doesn't fear God? A person who is morally deficient. How do I respond to this person?
[00:20:01] Dr. Lahman, he says this about these two proverbs. And I think this is an important element to teach us the nature of proverbs as what we would call a literary form. In other words, proverbs tends to promise more than it can deliver.
[00:20:16] When people make book of proverbs promises, they get themselves into all kinds of trouble. That's not what the book's designed to do. You say, well, what is it designed to do? Well, proverbs are not universally true laws, but circumstantially relevant principles. What he means by that, the wise person has to assess whether this is a fool who will simply drain one's energy with no positive results.
[00:20:39] How many know this person's talking? You're going, they're not getting it. I'm not wasting any more breath. I'm not going to say anything. You know, listen to some people talk and you go where they're coming from. If I said something now, they would never get it. I can tell their headspace is wrong. I'm not even going to say anything. I don't feel it's my job.
[00:20:58] This is freeing. I don't feel it's my job to straighten everybody out.
[00:21:02] How's that? You know how freeing that is.
[00:21:05] I don't have to straighten people out. It's not my job. I let them think what they want to think.
[00:21:10] Isn't that great?
[00:21:11] It's pretty liberating.
[00:21:13] So you got to figure this out. Okay, then. There are times that it's important that you say something because you go, well, this is my son or my daughter or, you know, somebody that I'm responsible for. Our congregant member that's causing havoc with somebody else. I need to talk to them and straighten them out and maybe they'll get it. Maybe I'll save this person from foolish behavior.
[00:21:36] Or somebody else will overhear what I'm saying and they'll pick up on the cues. Right? The wise not only know the proverb, but they can also Read the circumstance and the people with whom they are in dialogue with. And I think that's important. So context determines if we should respond and then how to respond. Okay, so Paul now is going to make his appeal.
[00:21:56] Beginning in Second Corinthians, chapter 10, verses 1 and 2, he says, by the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you. I, Paul, who am timid. Now, he's being a little bit sarcastic, and there's a little irony in this because he's being accused of being, you know, heavy handed when he writes letters, but, you know, he's a wimp when he shows up in public.
[00:22:16] You know, so he's writing to them. He's saying, I'm going to speak to you now.
[00:22:23] I, who am timid when face to face with you, but bold towards you when I'm away, I beg you that when I come, I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be towards some people.
[00:22:35] These are the false teachers and maybe some of those that are being sucked in who think that we live by the standards of this world. In other words, they're accusing Paul of, you know, being worldly. He's not a spiritual person.
[00:22:50] Okay?
[00:22:52] They're basically saying, you know, Paul's inconsistent when he's absent, he's bold and direct, but when he's among them, he's gentle and feeble.
[00:22:59] Yeah, but Paul's response is simply that he was acting consistently with the nature and spirit of Jesus. His desire, as he explains, is to simply, gently and graciously bring them back to God.
[00:23:13] However, seeing that some of them have been seduced by the teaching of these false teachers, Paul becomes more direct and forceful in his letter.
[00:23:23] Paul is still trusting that they're going to repent, turn to God, move away from their inconsistent and sinful ways. Yet not all were convinced. Some embrace the messaging from the self promoters rather than understanding the humility that is found in Christ. So he's going to address this false understanding of the nature of the Gospel. And Ken Hughes writes this. At present, a small, unrepentant minority of such detractors and interlopers. That's the people from the outside oppose Paul and Corinth. Guided by their inverted values, they judge Paul's ministry to be fleshly. His unimpressive Persona. You know, Paul was not physically impressive, I'll just tell you that. His lack of rhetorical skills. Now, you have to understand, these guys are Greeks. Greeks are into rhetoric. And Paul is not an orator. Okay? So he's not going to wow, you with his communication ability. That's not where he's coming from.
[00:24:21] His meek and humble demeanor, his poverty. Because I mean, listen, this guy's working with his own hands. Do you know the Greeks? What they would do is go out there and solicit and tell people how great they are. Then they would get students. I had to pay them big salaries. Here's Paul not doing any of that. He's giving information out for nothing. And he has to support himself. Man, he's doing this all backwards.
[00:24:40] See, you have to understand where they're coming from. This is the Greek mindset. And Paul is this little Jewish guy, you know, and he is not impressing them one iota. He's working with his hands. And then the absence of ecstatic experiences and visions, his incessant trials and difficulties rather than success were to his opponents incontrovertible evidence that his ministry is of the flesh and not of the spirit. Can you see what they're doing? They're looking at him and they're going, this guy is nothing. He's a nothing guy. What would you want to follow this guy for? Look, look at his messed up life. You know, that's what they're kind of pointing out.
[00:25:21] Paul's enemies obviously suffer from a values deficient because they regard humility not as a grace but as a weakness.
[00:25:32] Now, I want you to understand something. Why would they do that? See, you and I have been influenced by Christianity for two centuries. We think humility is important.
[00:25:41] Not in that society. As a matter of fact, you know, think about it.
[00:25:47] These people were influenced by the classic Greek tradition that regarded great men as anything but humble.
[00:25:54] They weren't humble. In fact, classic literature couples meekness and humility with servility, which stands opposite to nobility and dignity.
[00:26:04] Now, you may not know this, but I have a habit of taking courses. And I'm working out on my elliptical and I'm listening to lectures on, you know, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. So they're explaining their philosophies. So this is really amazing to me. That's why this is so meaningful. I'm getting the mindset of the Greek thinking. And Paul is literally flying in the face of a lot of their thinking. That's why he's being written off. But how many know humility is not only seen as a grace and virtue, but it's only seen that in the Christian faith. People outside the Christian faith don't see humility as a great thing. You know, you and I look at people boasting and they think, what's Wrong with those guys.
[00:26:46] That's a terrible thing to be doing.
[00:26:49] It is off putting at times. Well, let me move on to what Carson says in his book A Model of Christian Maturity. He says, doubtless the intruders think of themselves as gifted and spiritual. But their criteria for assessing both themselves and Paul have received their imprint from judaizing Christianity, from Hellenistic standards of rhetoric and leadership, and from visionary enthusiasm.
[00:27:13] Paul's response, by insisting in effect that these perspectives dominate the resulting judgments are sub Christians. In other words, if these are the things that are shaping your approach to life, these are not even Christian ideas. That's what Paul's going to argue Judaid is will try to prove their spiritual superiority by making much of their racial and covenantal pedigree. In other words, hey, look, I was born of this tribe. This is who I am now notice later on Paul's going to bring out that hey, this is who I am. And his pedigree is even probably better than most of those guys. But listen, it goes on. Sophists will judge a person's right to lead by the competence or otherwise. His rhetoric sophists are a group of Greek philosophers. So that's what he's talking about here. And by his ability to command a considerable income.
[00:28:04] Isn't that interesting? These people, literally, that's how they made their money. And he's, they're basically saying Paul's poor and he's a tent maker and you know, he's not even a good speaker. Look. What, no, he's got no, you know, they're chiding him.
[00:28:18] And visionary enthusiasts will judge a potential leader by the number and vividness of his alleged spiritual experiences. In other words, these people always get up and tell you what, you know, what's going on in their life. You know, God's always saying something. They're always having a vision, you know, angels always showing up to them. These are people that are saying this stuff. And it really impresses a lot of people.
[00:28:38] You know what, I'm gonna say something shocking. It's still true today.
[00:28:42] You get somebody up here and they start telling you all the things God's doing in their life. And they have all these visions and stuff going on all the time. Everyone's going, wow, I never get that, wow, I don't have that experience.
[00:28:52] And so they're minimizing what Paul's doing.
[00:28:56] What's Paul doing?
[00:28:57] Well, by all such criteria, Paul perceives and depreciates Christ in their minds, but it is an essential element of true spirit.
[00:29:09] If an essential element Is true spirituality is either your race, then it's not Christ's cross if work and our consequent relation to him that are determinative.
[00:29:22] In other words, if we think it's because of who we are that we're in good with God, he said, you're making this not about grace anymore.
[00:29:30] If standards of rhetoric and the ability to command a purse are prime conditions for leadership in the church, then a servant's mentality is depreciated.
[00:29:40] But even though Christ himself displays such an attitude, what he humbled himself and culturally bound standards of oratory usurp the place of unchanging culture, transcendent truth. And if a display of the visionary's enthusiasm is the sine qua non, in other words, the way to advance leadership, not only is the church vulnerable to fraudulent claims, but are likely to glory more and more in their esoteric and not in the sufficiency of the grace of Christ. In other words. I don't know if you ever noticed this, but some people are so busy telling you about how great they are and how God's working in their life and they're doing all these amazing things, but you hear very little about the grace of God and how God is sustaining them through trial and challenge and ordinary life and the difficulties and the sufferings they're experiencing.
[00:30:34] You know, they make that seem like you guys don't have enough faith over here. Now, if you had enough faith, you'd be over here with us rather than down here over there.
[00:30:43] I'm just pointing these things out. This is very relevant right now. We need to hear this message, you know.
[00:30:50] Now listen what he goes on. He says the heart of the intruder's criteria is triumphalism.
[00:30:59] And in each case, he says the criterion is grounded on something neither good nor evil in itself, but that is fundamentally evil when it's serves to display Christ or camouflages the true characteristics of spiritual leadership. In this sense, the criteria of evaluation proposed by the Intruders were essentially non Christian. Principally, they were pagan. The clash between Paul and the Intruders were a clash of worldviews.
[00:31:29] Paul's worldview was shaped by the Gospel. Theirs took its form from what was praised in the segment of society whose honor they cherished.
[00:31:38] Ironically, they were charging Paul with living according to worldly standards that were not up to their own level of spiritual worth, whereas in reality they were so they had so misunderstood the gospel that their own values were actually worldly.
[00:31:52] In other words, they were according to the flesh. In the customary Pauline sense, they were egotistical.
[00:31:58] Or egocentric, sinful, and rebellious against God and the revelation that he had graciously given. So what's Carson saying?
[00:32:07] Well, I know he's a little heady here, but let me just say it really simple. So we all kind of get it. They basically are busy trying to impress other people with how spiritual they are.
[00:32:18] Paul was busy preaching the gospel and making Christ great, not himself.
[00:32:24] So you have to ask yourself the question, what is this person's agenda?
[00:32:28] Are they trying to make themselves great or are they making Christ great?
[00:32:33] That's what we need to understand. So Paul now defends his defense, and he's defending his spiritual authority in verses three to six. That's why Paul says these words, for though we live in this world, we don't wage war as the world does. In other words, we're not focusing on their standards, is what he's saying. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of this world. We're not. We're not not going down that track. He says, no, on the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. What's he talking about there? He's going to basically argue that the preaching of the Gospel is so powerful that even though it appears to be foolish in the eyes of most people, that actually brings conviction of sin into the hearts of some and they come to faith in Christ.
[00:33:13] That's what Paul is going to get across to us. And how many know that that's true? It's really amazing. You know, it's not the messenger we should be impressed with.
[00:33:22] It's the message of the messenger and it's the person that we're preaching about Christ and him crucified.
[00:33:30] That's what's important. And that what Jesus did for us is save us because we were incapable of saving ourselves. That's what's important, and that's the message that we need to hear. Not being impressed by all these other things that we hear so often, he says we demolish arguments. Every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.
[00:33:51] We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience once your obedience is complete. In other words, Paul is saying, listen, let's get on the right page here, guys. This is what it's about. This is the gospel, and we have to come back to that simple gospel.
[00:34:08] You know what the great need in the church today is? We need to get back to Jesus.
[00:34:13] It's just that simple. We got to get back to Jesus. You know, I was just reading this week and so absolutely, the Spirit of God just so impressed me with this thought. The early church, when they were filled with the Spirit, it says that they were devoted to the apostles teaching and to prayer. And that word prayer struck me with such impact. It's not the function of prayer. It's the idea that prayer is communion with God and that you and I now have a deep love and devotion towards Christ, that we want to have deep communion with him, that there's a hunger in our heart for Jesus, that we're hungering and thirsting after righteousness. This is what it's all about. This is what the church needs to come back to and not get caught up in a whole bunch of other stuff that's really not going to bring about any sort of transformation in our lives or the people that we are convinced being around.
[00:35:09] So here, what Paul is actually saying then is simply this. While I stated, while I earlier stated, is that we can understand this in a singular sense. But what Paul is saying is the message of the Gospel transformed lives. The context is speaking to a contrast between what Paul is preaching and what these false apostles are propagating as the Gospel.
[00:35:33] They have a totally different message. That's what he's saying. And their message doesn't change people's lives.
[00:35:38] It impresses people, but it doesn't change them. Can I tell you what real change is?
[00:35:44] I'm going to say it this way. I believe when the spirit of God is working, it's a change from the inside out.
[00:35:49] That God works inside of your heart and my heart and he changes our hearts, which leads to a change of behavior. There's a transformation coming from within.
[00:35:59] And we're going to find that out because in the next few chapters he's going to expose these guys because what they're trying to do is make change from the outside in. They're trying to impress people. They're masquerading.
[00:36:10] It's not transformation.
[00:36:13] They're trying to get people to conform. They're trying to pressure people into a mold. They're trying to make people do certain things that they say are spiritual.
[00:36:21] No, I think it has to be the work of the Spirit. It has to be work of God changing the human heart. And the Gospel does do that.
[00:36:30] Philip Kent Hughes says the conventional warfare as conducted by the false apostles will be fought with dazzling flourishes of rhetoric imposed, voiced by imposing men whose esoteric preaching was laced with personal accounts of their visions and ecstatic experiences and spiritual exploits. If you listen to them, it's all about them. Okay? The intended effect would be to overwhelm their listeners with their confident, charismatic, which means giftedness, strutting, carriage as supposed great men. But Paul's method of warfare was utterly unconventional. Not according to the flesh. This Paul had made memorably clear in his first letter to the Corinthians. But passages in 2 Corinthians suggest that the weapon Paul employed was actually the proclamation of the Gospel. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants. For Jesus sake.
[00:37:25] I'm going to tell you right now, one of the distinguishing characteristics. What are people preaching?
[00:37:30] Are they preaching themselves or are they preaching Christ? Are they preaching the gospel or are they preaching something other than the gospel?
[00:37:37] And what is the gospel? That Jesus Christ died for our sins, that you and I can't save ourselves. That we need a Savior. That he is the only one that can set us free, free from our issues in our lives. He's got the power to deliver us from our sin and our shame. He has the power to raise us from the dead and give us new beginning, an eternal life so that you and I can overcome even physical death one day. And we're going to spend eternity with Almighty God.
[00:38:06] Da Carson says when he tells us that his weapons demolish arguments, therefore he does not simply mean that he can out debate any opponent and drive him shameful face from the stage. He means something far more.
[00:38:18] His weapons destroyed the way people think, demolished their sinful thought patterns, the mental structures by which they live their lives in rebellion against God. In his own words, his spiritual weapons tear down every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. The astonishing thing about Paul's preaching of the gospel in the first century is that although his message was a stumbling block to Jews and nonsense to Gentiles, both Jews and Gentiles were being converted. The Gospel may be a scandal to some and folly to others, but it's powerful enough to capture representatives of this proud and unregenerated race. Many who cherish their freedom and dismiss the crucified Christ with scorn come in time to embrace his lordship, cherish his cross, abandon self promotion and exchange it for self denial and obedience.
[00:39:10] Wow.
[00:39:12] What's he saying?
[00:39:14] He's saying when you're hearing the gospel, it can change you.
[00:39:17] When you're hearing the Gospel, it makes you embrace and be willing to suffer for the sake of Christ.
[00:39:23] And that's why people in other parts of the world right now who have just come to faith in Christ are willing to lay down their lives for him because they recognize they've been saved from their sins and they recognize that truth of the message. But let me move on quickly to point number two. We answer our critics by our actions.
[00:39:40] Rather than remain solely in a war of words, Paul moves to show his from his activities. What is the real biblical model of leadership and where it comes from? It's not just mere words. It's a result of laboring among people. We cannot judge by mere words. He says to them, you're judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. See, they're basically saying, paul, you don't belong to Christ. He's going, yes, I actually do. So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for the building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. So Paul says, leadership is about building people up. I do not want you to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters.
[00:40:26] For some say his letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he's unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing. Such people should realize that we are in our letters when we are absent. We will be in our actions, when we are present. And what I just put down, simply this.
[00:40:46] This is more than mere flattery. You know, these false teachers, they're very good at flattering. They tell people what they want to hear. It leaves people's lives unchanged. It leaves them living in a life of self destruction. Do you know when we don't correct sin in a person's life, do you think we're loving them?
[00:41:02] Absolutely not. We're allowing them to continue on in a life of self destruction and they will perish for all of eternity. I'll tell you, you don't want to do that. The corrective words of Paul were designed to help people grow and develop in their faith. We need to remember the words of Jesus in identifying false messengers. This is what he said. Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you'll recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. These are strong words. This is, by the way, Jesus saying these things thus by their fruit you will recognize them.
[00:41:52] And then he says, not everyone who says to me, lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven.
[00:41:57] There should be a warning to us. Just because people are saying that Jesus is their Lord. He says, the person is not what you say, it's what you do. He says, only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. That's the action part.
[00:42:12] Are we doing God's will? This is the measure of a true believer. Listen, many will say to me on that day, lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? That's preaching. And in your speaking and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles. And what did Jesus say? I tell them plainly, I never knew you away from me, you evil doers.
[00:42:32] Wow, that's intense.
[00:42:34] Jesus is identifying the true from the false by the results in a person's life. The true state of a person is seen by what they ultimately produce. Though often there's an outward pretense of spirituality, the effects of one's life is seen, how they live and the impact their lives have on others people. And then he goes on to say, but making comparisons is not wise. We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. What's he saying? Stop looking at each other. Stop judging one another.
[00:43:09] You know who your measuring rod is?
[00:43:12] Jesus.
[00:43:13] Just look to him. If you're not hitting that mark, don't worry about the rest of them. Just you got a ways to go. Same with me. He says, we're not here to compare ourselves how great or good we are. No, we're not. To measure our lives by other people. How many know? We all have different abilities, different gifts and different assignments. We need to be faithful to do God's will that he's called each and every one of us to do in our lives. So we need to make a proper assessment of our lives based on the work God has called us to look at. Verse 7, verse 13. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us.
[00:43:50] A sphere that includes you. We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you. For we did not get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. What is he saying? He's saying, you are my assignment. You are my assignment. You. And I always say to every young person, every Old person, know God, know His will, do his will, Understand your assignment and finish it. How's that?
[00:44:19] That's simple, isn't it?
[00:44:21] Real simple. Just do what God's telling you to do. Don't worry about what somebody else's assignment is.
[00:44:28] Stay in your lane, finish your assignment.
[00:44:32] And lastly, let us boast of our Lord.
[00:44:36] Let us boast of our Lord, but let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. I'm going to just say this in closing. I want to read some verses in closing. I think we need to be reminded from time to time that all boasting is self directed. How many say that's true? We're all guilty of it in varying degrees.
[00:45:01] We can cheer each other on, encourage each other on, but in what they're doing. But the reality is that we all, all that we are and all that we ever hope to be, we owe it all to Him.
[00:45:14] And when we get to heaven, folks, there won't be no boasting.
[00:45:19] We will be saying, you alone are worthy.
[00:45:22] You alone are worthy. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you.
[00:45:26] There is no boasting. Let me just close with these verses from Revelation, chapter 4, verse 11. You are worthy, our Lord and our God. Let's stand.
[00:45:37] I want to read this. So beautiful. You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power.
[00:45:45] For you created all things, and by your will they were created, and they have their being.
[00:45:52] Then I saw on the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll? But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside.
[00:46:12] I wept, John says, and wept, because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.
[00:46:20] Then one of the elders said to me, do not weep. See the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David has triumphed. He's able to open the scrolls and its seven seals. And then I saw a lamb looking as if he had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and elders. The lamb had seven horns and seven eyes. This is very figurative language. We already know that.
[00:46:43] And it says, whom God has sent out into the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people. And they sang a new song, saying, you are worthy to take the scroll, to open its seal because you were slain. And with your blood you purchased for God and persons from every tribe, language, people and nation you are to make. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God. And they will reign on the earth. And then I looked and heard the voice of many angels numbering thousands upon thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand. And they encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. And in a loud voice, they were saying, worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive the power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and power. And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea and all that was in them, saying to him who sits on the throne to the Lamb, be praised and honor and glory and power forever and ever.
[00:47:53] And the four living creatures said, amen. And the elders fell face down in worship. And I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals.
[00:48:03] There's only one who's worthy.
[00:48:06] His name is Jesus.
[00:48:08] You want to be impressed?
[00:48:10] Seek Jesus.
[00:48:13] Seek Jesus.
[00:48:18] I want to pray.
[00:48:19] You know, I was just so caught up with this yesterday. I just said, lord, I'm going to pray right now that when you leave today, there'll only be one name on your lip.
[00:48:30] And his name is Jesus.
[00:48:33] And only he is worthy.
[00:48:35] Only he is worthy.
[00:48:37] Only he is worthy.
[00:48:40] Only he is worthy of all honor and all of power and authority. Only he is worthy. And so, Father, as we come before you right now, I pray, Lord, that we would see Jesus, that we would experience your amazing grace and power in our lives.
[00:49:00] Lord, help us to despise anything less than you.
[00:49:04] Help us to begin to realize the great sacrifice that you brought to make us free.
[00:49:10] Help us to surrender our lives anew and afresh to you.
[00:49:14] To recognize, Lord, that all that we are and ever hope to be, it's all because of you.
[00:49:22] And as we lay our lives before you right now, even as these beautiful pictures of angels and saints are bowing down before you, Lord, may we join this heavenly throng right now in worshiping you this morning and delighting in you because you alone are worthy. And help us to recognize the amazing price you paid so that there's good news in our world, Father, help us to stop focusing in on all the things that do not matter and to focus in on that which really does.
[00:49:55] And may you speak into our spirits.
[00:49:58] May we have a new hunger rising within our innermost being. May there be a hunger and a thirst. For you, Jesus, for your righteousness, for your kingdom, that we might see your will be done on earth, earth as it is in heaven. And may it be done inside of each of our hearts that we will hear clearly. Okay, I got my assignment.
[00:50:19] I know what it is.
[00:50:21] And now, Lord, help me to be faithful to the very end, to pursue and fulfill exactly what you've called me to do. And we thank you for that. In Jesus name, amen. God bless you. As you leave.
