2 Corinthians - Lesson 11B

• Good morning, guys and welcome back. It’s good to see everyone after missing last week due to snow. This morning, we are going to pick back up with our study of 2 Corinthians as we move ever so close to closing out this letter or book.

  • When we last left off, we finished our teaching by studying 2 Corinthians 11:1-6, which left us with roughly two-thirds of the chapter left to finish. In Chapter 11 Paul is still in the mode of working diligently defending his position and authority as an Apostle of Jesus Christ.

    • And of course, as we have learned, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians because the church had lost its way. It had gotten sidelined or sidetracked. All because of one man. One individual who had permeated or eased his way into this Corinthian Church, and this man put in a lot of work, worked hard, to undermine everything Paul established.

    • And so, in an effort to refute or rebut everything this man said, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians, which, let me say, seems a little unfair. I mean, Paul seems somewhat at a disadvantage, doesn’t he? He doesn’t seem engaged in a fair fight, per se.

  • What I mean is, this man, the one trying to undermine Paul’s work, well, he is present with the Corinthian Church. He is entrenched with this fellowship. Whereas Paul on the other hand is far away when he receives the news that his beloved Corithian Church has wandered and drifted away from what he had taught them.

• Instead, in its place, they have begun adopting all sorts of Pagan practices - Asian mysticism, Greek philosophies and such. And so, all Paul can do is write a letter. Can you imagine? Can you imagine trying to write a letter to a body of believers in an effort to dispel someone who had gained a foothold inside this fellowship? Pretty tough, wouldn’t you say?

  • I would say so. No doubt Paul was disheartened as he wrote each and every word. You know he had to be thinking, should I say it this way or present it that way? He probably thought, what if they take what I wrote the wrong way? And once again, that would be normal because he is human.

    • But you know what? He’s not actually at a disadvantage. He has an advantage over this man. But that begs the question, just exactly what kind of advantage does he have? It’s God’s Sovereign and Providential hand, the hand that guides, governs, and protects all His children.

• Now, let me take a minute to expound on what I just said just a little bit more, because if you are a believer, you need to know that Paul’s advantage is your advantage. And so, before we move forward with today’s teaching, let me challenge you for just a minute.

  • I want you to think about how disheartened Paul must have truly been. I mean, seriously.

  • He established this church, and it wasn’t an easy start up by the way. As a matter of fact, he struggled mightily to get anyone to listen or attend his fellowship in the beginning. And we know this to be the case because that’s what Acts 18 tells us. Let me flip over and read it for you really quick.

Acts 18:1 After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. 
Acts 18:2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, 
Acts 18:3 and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tentmakers. 
Acts 18:4 And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
Acts 18:5 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
Acts 18:6 But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
Acts 18:7 Then he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue.
Acts 18:8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized.
Acts 18:9 And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent;
Acts 18:10 for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.”
Acts 18:11 And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

• In this passage we read where Paul was struggling to get anyone to respond. That’s exactly what verse 4 highlights when it said:

Acts 18:4 And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

• Now I don’t want you to blow right by this, because there is a lesson for us to learn when we study Paul’s situation. You see, Paul is trying really hard to persuade people to believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. But evidently, it’s falling on deaf ears. Verse 4 says he was reasoning with them, which means he was using logic and pragmatism, and rationale, trying to explain who Jesus was and why they should follow Him.

  • In verse 4, it also says he was trying to persuade them. The sense here is that he’s pressing in on these people. Leaning in. Working hard trying to convince people to believe. But it’s not working. And just a side note; we know from 1 Corinthians 2:3 that when Paul arrived in Corinth, he did so with much fear and trembling.

  • Basically, he was afraid of going to Corinth because it was a rough town, which is further highlighted by what the Lord told him in verse 10 when he said:

Acts 18:10 for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” 

• But, regardless of his fear, Paul goes anyway. But why? Why does he go? Because he was called to go there. God meant for him to establish a church in that God-forsaken city known as Corinth. But if that’s the case then why is he afraid? And really, more than that, why isn’t he having any success? Why isn’t God blessing his ministry by giving him a few converts?

  • Well, first of all, he was afraid because he was human. He knew the reputation of Corinth, that it was a rough seaport town, so he’s afraid because of this town’s history. But why didn’t God give him any converts? Because He didn’t want to. Because it wasn’t time.

    • And Paul’s entire situation was supernaturally orchestrated by God with multiple purposes in mind. Purposes such as hardship, which is one instrument that God uses to change, bend, and shape us. Which forces us to lean on Him, specifically, to lean on His understanding and not our own.

    • And so, with all this said, what does Paul’s situation tell us? It tells us that God intended for Paul to struggle. But why? For his own good. For his growth. And sure enough, as Paul experiences hardship, God does teach him a few things, such as timing. God’s timing, and what it means to wait on the Lord and His timing.

    • And when we study Paul’s hardship, we learn a few more things. For example, we learn about Paul and his character, his frailties, his weakness, his humanity, and his response to adversity.

  • But we also learn a lot about God as well, specifically about His character and how He operates. Which then gives us the ability to apply what we learned to our own lives.

• And so, if that’s the case, then what can we learn from Paul’s situation here in Corinth? Well, first of all, we learn that even though we may be called to do something, to go somewhere, to speak to someone, to share Christ with someone, to make a career move because God wants us to work somewhere else, because He has something He is going to do with us.

  • Or maybe to give money to something or someone, even though we are not really sure how much to give or even why we are giving. We just know we are compelled to do so, regardless of what we do or do not know. What we can learn from Paul’s situation is that we are not responsible for the outcome or result. We are simply to find peace and rest in the comfort of God’s command and calling.

  • We also learn that many times we are just a piece of a much larger plan, and we see this principal being taught by Paul himself in 1 Cor. 3:5-9, where Paul was trying to (once again) straighten out some of the poor thinking that was plaguing the Church at Corinth. And what was it that Paul was dealing with in 1 Cor. 3:5-9?

• Well, evidently some people were bragging about who had baptized them. They were literally arguing and debating and taking pride over who had led them to Christ, saying things like, well I was baptized by Apollos, and someone else would say well I was baptized by Paul.

  • Essentially, they were arguing over whose baptism or salvation was greater. And in response to that nonsense, Paul said the following:

1 Cor. 3:5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.
1 Cor. 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.
1 Cor. 3:7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
1 Cor. 3:8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
1 Cor. 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

• So, based on Paul’s own testimony, we are clearly not responsible for the growth or result. God is. Which is great, because it takes all the stress out of the situation, right? Because it doesn’t depend on you. It’s not about your oratory presentation or how convincing you are. All we have to do is listen and respond. Be obedient, because it’s all about God all the time.

  • But what else do we learn when we study Paul’s situation? There are several lessons, but how about this. God will never leave you nor forsake you, which (once again), is highlighted by verse 10, where Paul wrote this:

Acts 18:10 for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” 

• What this tells us is, regardless of our current circumstances, with God it’s all about the long game. Just like investing money. And so, if you know this to be the case, then once again you don’t have to stress or worry, even when things are really bad. Just pray and ask God to carry you through the storm. To make you stand and persevere. To give you that Philippians Peace “which is a peace that passes all understanding”.

  • And so, when you take all of this into account, it creates what I call Paul’s strategic advantage. But it’s not only Paul’s strategic advantage. As I stated earlier, it’s the same advantage you have. It’s a peace that comes to you by way of knowing that God is in control.

  • Meaning, regardless of this man who has taken a foothold in this church, Paul can rest easy knowing that God will prevail. And Paul knows this is the case but still he is human. He knows whatever God wants to happen will happen, and if it doesn’t work out the way Paul hopes or the way we hope, it really makes ZERO difference.

    • You see, as believers, all we want out of this life is what God wants. If you can ever wrap your mind around that concept, it is the most liberating feeling in the world. Let me give you a small example of what I am talking about.

• This past week I received a call about a job. A massive job. And when I received the call, I got really excited, because it would be the largest job in our company’s 20-year history. The man who called me said, “Don’t get your hopes up, but I believe I may be able to bring you in on this job”. I said okay.Then I said, well, if it’s the Lords will, we will get it. If not, well, we don’t want it. A couple of days later I called the man to ask him what was up with the job, and he said, man I am sorry. They had another contractor. To which I replied, no worries, I guess the Lord didn’t want us to have it.

  • The guy I was speaking to is a believer. But based on his reaction, I still think he was somewhat surprised by my attitude. Guys, this was a huge job for our company. As I said, bigger than any job our company has ever done probably by 10X, but God didn’t want us to have it. Why? I have no clue.

  • But, because of my perspective on God and His provision for our company and my life, I was at PEACE with it. You see, all I want is what God wants us to have. That’s all. And let me say, I am not perfect when it comes to this type of thinking, but I am getting better.

    • Guys, believe it or not, this type of thinking is what gives us a huge strategic advantage over the troubles of life. That is Paul’s advantage and that is our advantage. I think Paul best summed it up in Philippians 1:21, when he said:

Phil. 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 

• What he was saying was, I am going to press on with what God has called me to do, regardless of my situation or circumstances. No matter if I face imprisonment or death, whatever my plight, I will press forward. And if I live then so be it, I will live for Christ. And if I die, well great, I get to go be with the Father in heaven. And so, it’s a win either way.

  • That mindset is our strategic advantage. It’s a mindset that settles your mind, your spirit, your soul, and your very being. It allows you to say, God, your will be done and not mine. And it’s in that mindset that you will discover the greatest advantage of all, which is PEACE.

• Now, having said all this, when you study Paul’s writings here in 2 Corinthians, you kind of get the feeling that maybe Paul has left that mindset for just a moment as he desperately tries to write and convince these people that they have embraced the wrong path.

  • You get the sense that Paul is taking over. As in, God stand back I’ve got this. But there is no need for that, because God’s Will will be done. Now with this perspective lingering in your mind, turn with me if you will to 2 Cor. 11:7-11. I am going back up to Verse 6 and read it together with Verses 7-11 for context, and here is what Paul said:

2 Cor. 11:6 But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things.
2 Cor. 11:7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?
2 Cor. 11:8 I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you;
2 Cor. 11:9 and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.
2 Cor. 11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.
2 Cor. 11:11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

• I’m going to paraphrase this entire section for you. Before we begin, remember, Paul is trying to regain his rightful position in the eyes of this church, and he uses as proof of who he is the fact that he hasn’t asked them for any type of financial support. In other words, he is saying, one way you can know I am a true Apostle is because I am not asking you for anything, not even financial support!

  • As a matter of fact, I have robbed other churches (which by the way isn’t true. Paul is being sarcastic in that statement, using hyperbole). Anyway, Paul says I am who I say I am. In contrast to this other individual, I minister to you free of charge. I have never asked for a penny and will continue to operate this way. And that should serve as some sort of proof that I am who I say I am.

    • Once again, I feel like Paul is pressing in (in his flesh) as he tries to defend himself and his position. And this is just one example of several examples we have read in 2 Corinthains where Paul is pressing in on them with his words. Trying to convince his readers.

• Now, as my daddy would say, this really brings on more talk, or at least it causes me to pause and ask a question, which is, when do we stop pressing in? When do we know that WE are taking over the situation? That WE are beginning to abandon our dependance on God, and in its place beginning to rely on ourselves?

  • I mean, if we could identify that, wouldn’t that be a huge help in life? Sure, it would be. Well, luckily for you I have the answer. The answer as to how you know when you are beginning to take over in a situation and leaving God behind. And by the way, this is a super spiritual answer. Are you ready for it?

  • How do you know when you are taking over and leaving God behind? How do you know when you are saying to God, Lord, just sit back I got this? The answer is you know. How’s that for a super spiritual answer? You know!

    • You see, we all know. Knowing is not the problem. The problem is pausing long enough to recognize it. That’s the problem. But how do we know? Two words – stress & anxiety. If a situation begins to feel like a burden, full of stress and anxiety, like you are trying to cram a square peg in a round hole, that’s when you know it’s not of God.

  • But wait a minute. How do you know this is truly the case? I know it because when God’s involved it’s not burdensome. It’s not heavy or stressful or weighty. It just happens naturally. But how do I know that? Well, first of all I use logic (some might say common sense).

    • If God purposes something to happen, logically, it’s going to happen. Maybe not the way we want it to, but in the end, it will happen the way He wants it to.

• But that’s not my strongest proof. There is another way you can know that what I am saying is true. Study God’s Memoirs – His Word.

  • Listen to Jesus’ own words in Matt. 11:28-30:

Matt. 11:25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.
Matt. 11:26 “Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.
Matt. 11:27 “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
Matt. 11:28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Matt. 11:29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
Matt. 11:30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

• And there you have it.

Matt. 11:28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Matt. 11:29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
Matt. 11:30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

• The picture here is a simple one. With God your burdens will become easy. Not easy in the sense of what you may be going through. That’s not what it means. But easy as it relates to PEACE, and PEACE as we know is the opposite of turmoil, stress, and anxiety. This concept isn’t hard to understand.

  • It simply means that when the storms of life are raging, when you’re right in the middle of it all, you have PEACE. And I don’t care what you may be going through, if you have PEACE, you can withstand it. That’s the key, and that’s the strategic advantage that Paul has available to him.

  • And by extension that’s the same advantage available to us today. The only question is, will you harness it? Will you pause and recognize it? Recognize when you are leaving God’s provision, and in its place replacing it with your own wants and desires. Will you double down when it’s not seemingly going your way? Will you press in hard for what you want, or will you let God handle it?

    • Regardless of what you may or may not think, this mindset, when fully embraced, is what will allow you to win the battle before the battle ever begins. The only question is, will you pause and take time to identify it, or, as I said, will you press in; all in an effort to get what you want?

    • And by the way, just an FYI to you. If God so chooses to allow you to get what you want most of the time, you will discover you should have left it alone. That God only allowed you to have it to teach you something. And that something is generally not going to be a positive experience. It’s generally a very painful one, so just let it be. 

  • And so, what did we learn today? We learned that God’s hand is always with us. That He is totally in control, which gives you and I a strategic advantage, because it takes the ‘what ifs’ out of life. The ‘I should have done this or that’ out of life. Which then of course takes the stress and worry out of life!