2 Corinthians - Lesson 1B

• This morning, we are going to pick up with our journey through the second book (or 2nd letter) to the Corinthian Church. Having said that, we won’t be in 2 Corinthians today - but does that surprise you?

• As I began preparing this past week, God led me to another book of the Bible, which gives us more introductory into the church at Corinth. Now, I know you may be thinking, my goodness more introduction, didn’t we do that when we started the book a couple weeks ago?

  • Yes, we did. But this introduction is a little different, for a different reason, and it too is important, because it gives us further insight into the context of the letter. And, as you know by now, context is the key when reading any ancient writing of antiquity. But it’s especially important if you truly want to understand who God is and how He operates.

• Now, if you missed the first teaching, which was all introduction, I highly recommend you go to our website and listen to it. I promise it will serve you well as we take this journey through what is Paul’s second published letter to the Corinthians.

  • There’s a bit of irony to 2  Corinthians and it shows up in the name itself - Second Corinthians. Because as we discovered in the introductory teaching, the letter isn’t actually the second letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians. It’s not even the third. Matter of fact, most Biblical Historians agree it is probably Paul’s fourth letter, and maybe even the fifth letter.

    • But it’s called 2 Corinthians because it’s the second letter that Paul wrote to the Corinthians that God allowed to be placed inside the cannon of scripture. Which means we don’t need to worry about which letter it is, because if God wanted the other letters to be included in the cannon of scripture, then we can rest assured they would be there.

• As I said, I want to give you just a little more insight into Paul’s inaugural journey into this town known as Corinth. What we’ve discovered so far is that starting a church in this town was very difficult, especially in the beginning, where even the Apostle Paul found himself down, depressed, and disheartened at times as he desperately tried to get this church up and running.

  • You see, establishing a church period is tough, but establishing one in this town was extremely tough, because Corinth was unlike any other town Paul had visited. It was a seaport town with lots of sailors. And, as a result, Corinth had widely been considered the sin city of its day. It was a rough place.

    • And so, for that reason alone, it made it extremely difficult for Paul to get anything going.

• Before moving forward this morning I want to give you just a little more background; a little more insight into what Paul was dealing with when he first arrived in Corinth. Specifically, I want us to see how it is that a man of Paul’s calling could experience what he experienced.

  • Not only with the people he encountered in that town (which was expected), but more importantly, how he had to deal with the hand God dealt him. And, for us to do that, we will need to travel into another book of the Bible. A book that Paul didn’t write - the Book of Acts - which was written by Luke the Physician.

  • The background to Lukes’s writing goes like this; Paul has just finished his work in Athens, Greece, and now it’s time for him to move on to the next town. That town is the town of Corinth.

    • Let’s review what Luke said in Acts 18:1-5

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 tent makers.
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.

• So, as I said, the scene is this: Paul arrives in Corinth (Which by the way will be the last European city to ever grace Paul’s presence). Paul arrives in Corinth, and he runs into a married couple by the name of Aquilla and Priscilla. Apparently, these two had been pushed out of Rome because of a dispute that arose between the non-believing Jews and the believing Jews in the city.

  • And so, Claudius the Emperor of Rome decided to settle the dispute by forcing all Jews - both believing and non-believing - out of the city. This is how Aquila and Priscilla ended up in Corinth. While they were there they met up with Paul.

    • Verse 3 says that Paul was in the same trade as Aquila and Priscilla. What was their trade? They were in the tent-making business, which means they were also in the same guild (which was much like the union of today). And we know this to be the case from Roman historical records.

    • Because this is how it worked in the Roman Empire. If you wanted to work, you had to be part of a guild. And so, with Aquila and Priscilla being Jewish (as was Paul) and with them being tent makers (as was Paul), Paul decides to stay with them, which makes sense - right?

• Now, what’s interesting is the scripture says in v4 that Paul had been reasoning with Jews and the Greeks in synagogues every sabbath, trying to persuade them. But the question is, what was he reasoning and persuading them about?

  • That Jesus was the fulfilment of the Old Testament scriptures. That He was the Messiah, the one they had been waiting for, and that they needed to accept Him as Lord and Savior. That was a tough message to deliver, but Paul delivered it anyway.

  • The problem was, things weren’t going so well, which left Paul in a somewhat unfamiliar place. Up until this point, Paul had been successful everywhere he went. But now, no one is responding, and that’s left him in somewhat of a quandary, in a disheartened and depressed state. Which is interesting when you think about it.

    • God is the one who called Paul to Corinth. And Paul answered that call in the affirmative. But despite his best efforts, his message appears to be falling on deaf ears. So, what gives? Did he misunderstand God? Was he not doing something correctly?

• Here’s what you need to know about God. First, rarely (and I do mean rarely) do we see what God is doing in the moment. We might think we know, but we rarely do. Second, if we do happen to figure it out, maybe just a little bit, it’s generally from the benefit of having hindsight.

  • And even then, many times, we still don’t know. But, if we aren’t careful that statement can leave us confused, can’t it? I mean think about it, if we don’t know what God wants us to do, then how in the world can we begin to reconcile decisions we may need to make in our own lives?

  • Well, honestly, it really all boils down to knowing God more intimately. Intimately, meaning, you know how He operates and therefore you have a better sense of what to do. But how do we do that? We do that by knowing His word.

    • You see, inside Paul’s story is your story. Meaning, the way God operated with Paul is no different than the way he operates with you. He’s the same today as He was then, which means you can find peace in knowing God is always doing something. Many times, you simply will not know what He is doing!

• Now this is a hard concept for us to deal with at times, because we are human, and we want the answers. Unfortunately, when we don’t get the answer, Christians many times will create one themselves or sometimes tend to over-Spiritualize things.

  • Many times, Christians, when trying to make decisions, look for signs; a cloud by day or pillar of fire by night, or a burning bush to guide them. But for us, today, that’s not how God works.

  • He left us His word to guide us, and honestly, with God many of the decisions we are faced with aren’t really that hard. Yes, we should pray, and seek God’s wisdom. Ultimately, some of the things we face are just common sense.

    • Example: I don’t have to look for a sign or even pray about helping someone. If I know God’s word, then I know God has already told me to help people. Another example: I don’t have to pray about loving those who aren’t loveable. I don’t have to pray about taking care of someone’s needs, those who need assistance.

    • Many of the decisions we face in life don’t have to be over spiritualized. In fact, many times the answers are staring us in the face. But what about more complicated decisions, such as a job or career change. What then?

  • Once again it all boils down to understanding God’s word. Remember, your job is simply a way for you to feed and clothe you and your family. It’s the instrument God has given you to survive and take care of your basic needs. When you understand it from God’s standpoint then it gets a whole lot simpler.

    • You see, the question isn’t what job fulfills me the most, but rather, what job will give me the ability and the opportunity to glorify God the most. Help me to be a greater asset for the Kingdom. It’s not how I can make the most money, or get better benefits, or even a better retirement. At the center of all decisions lies the question, ‘How can I better serve God in whatever I do?’

  • It’s always about God. And, if you start with that basis, you will always end up in the right place. But what if I make the wrong decision? Well, guess what? God will make the most of it, even in a wrong decision, maybe even more in a wrong decision. God will bring Glory to himself, especially in the way you react to a bad situation.

    • You see, it all boils down to obedience, and no one is better at making lemonade out of lemons than God Himself!

• But what about relationships? This question comes up all the time. Should I date this person or that person? Should I marry this person or that person? Once again, is that person going to help you glorify God, or are they going to pull you further away from God. Is this person asking you to do things that defy God’s word? Are they trying to be an example of obeying God’s word? This is tough I know.

  • But that is the perspective. Who does God want me to be with so I can become stronger and bring Glory to his name? A very different approach here. The world’s approach is about our happiness - our compatibility - our common interest. God’s approach is about Him.

    • And you never want to be unequally yoked with someone. “A hawk and dove don’t light on the same line”. “Light and darkness don’t share the same space”. In every decision we make we should make it through the lens of God’s Glory!

• And so, speaking of God’s Glory, back to Paul. Here he is in Corinth having no success at all to speak of. And then something happens:

  • Well let’s see what happens in Acts 18:6-11

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.

• So right when things seem bleak God shows up, and “the fruit” producing begins. Now, why did I jump into Acts this morning before moving into 2 Corinthians itself? First, for more context, but secondly, as I began studying and preparing for the message this week, I felt God leading me back to Acts to show you something very important about God.

  • Look at V.6

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.”

• Paul is working hard here to be obedient, fulfilling the work of ministry. He’s doing what God called him to do.

  • But the result up is up to God.  They resisted and blasphemed. And what did Paul do? Luke says, 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.”

    • In other words, he moved on, and why? Because we are not responsible for the results. We are to be obedient, and God will handle the rest. Here’s an example from the pages of scripture, how that when you intimately know how God operates you can keep from being frustrated.

    • Look at Paul’s situation. He’s frustrated. He’s doing what God called him to do. He’s being obedient. He’s entered a terrible city, one that caused him to fear and tremble. He’s intimidated. And yet he presses on anyway. And nothing happens. Not only do they not respond, they resist and blaspheme what he is saying.

• Now how does that apply to us? Well, have you ever tried to help someone who reaches out to you for help, and the first thing you do is invite them to church and they don’t show up?

  • So, you invite them again and nothing - yet they continue to complain about their situation - you try and share Christ with them - but to no avail - and the cycle continues. Maybe they are in a destructive relationship. You tell them to get out, but nothing. You are kind to them. You love on them, you help them, you invest in them, and you simply see no improvement and no fruit whatsoever.

  • Well, guess what. Rest assured that God is doing something. You may not be able to see it, but God is doing something. And we are not responsible for the results. We simply put our hand to the plow and God provides the harvest. And sometimes we get to see the harvest, and sometimes we don’t. Either way we must be content with it.

    • But in Paul’s case, when he’s at his lowest point, something does happen.

    • Look at v8

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.

• And so, God showed up. Paul couldn’t see, but God was doing something the entire time. God hadn’t abandoned him. On the contrary, even in the way He sent Aquila and Priscilla, he was giving Paul progressive encouragement. Even though Paul might not have seen it that way in the moment

  • Remember, Paul was all alone in this city and God knew that.

    • But just as the writer of Hebrews said in Hebrews 13:5. “God will never leave us nor forsake us,” God is true to His word. That was true for Paul, and it is true for you and me.

  • So hold on. Hold on.

• And then to drive this point home even further, let’s look one more time at Acts 18:9-10.

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.”

• These are very powerful verses for at least two reasons. First - they further confirm what I was telling you a few moments ago. God is always doing something inside His creation - many times we can’t see it. But, when all effort and hope seem to be lost and Paul begins questioning his decision of going to Corinth in the first place, his Gospel messages penetrate the heart of a leader of the synagogue and he and his household are saved.

  • God puts an exclamation point on this moment. Not just anyone is saved. The leader of the Jewish synagogue is saved.

• Next, for further encouragement, God sends Paul a vision at night and says, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent.” So, obviously Paul was afraid, which once again gives us further confirmation of how he felt at this moment.

  • The Apostle Paul was afraid. Pretty insightful don’t you think! If he was afraid, and it is okay if we are afraid at times, I would say so, and God knows He’s afraid. Just like He knows when we are afraid - right?

  • And that leads us to verses 10&11, and these will be my closing verses of the day. Verse 10 may be one of my favorite verses in all of scripture. Listen to what it says and see if you can figure why this verse might be one my most favorite verses.

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.”

• Listen to what Luke wrote here. For I am with you (that’s for you and me as well). He is with us. Then he says, “no man will attack you in order to harm you.” So, obviously Paul fears being attacked. Pretty comforting. But you know what’s more comforting than that? The end of the verse. And here it is.

  • For I have many people in this city.

  • What does the end of the verse tell us? That God has already paved the way for Paul to walk. That He has people out there for Paul. They don’t know it yet, and Paul doesn’t know who they are, but God does because He has already prepared the path. Before they know it and before Paul knows who they are. How encouraging must that be!

  • And what does that tell us once again? It tells us God is Sovereign over His creation. That’s what it tells us. It tells us God is already at work inside His creation long before we ever arrive. It tells us He knows the plans He has for us. And it tells us He’s got us!

    • By the way, it also tells us that He’s doing what He is doing, with or without us.

    • This is a complete paradigm shift from traditional church thinking. Our whole life we have been told that God needs us to do what He wants to do in someone’s life. But the reality is God wants us to participate, but He doesn’t have to have us.

  • It also tells us that there is work to be done. Based on the people’s responses to Paul in verse 6, many people won’t listen. Some will reject and blaspheme God, and when that happens, based on verse 6, we just simply move on.

  • And why? Because in verse 10, “I have many people in this city.” Another way to say it is we have work to do. Our job is to influence as many people for the Kingdom as we can, not to set up shop for a few people. Not investing everything we have into a select few.

• God has people in this city and our job is to get to as many of them as we can, and when we get to them then what do we do? We do what Paul did in v11:

Acts 18:11 And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

• We teach them the Word of God. And why? Because God’s Word is what saves. And God’s Word is what Sanctifies - matures – and makes disciples. Mature disciples bring more people into the Kingdom.

  • It’s cyclical. This is how it works folks. No magic tricks, no thrills, no frills. Just stick with the program and God will do the rest.

• I’ll close with this, just a highlight on a previous question I posed a few minutes ago. How do I know what decisions to make in my life? You must know God more intimately, which gives you insight into how He operates. And how do you know how He operates? You see it in His word, which is exactly what we did here today!