2 Corinthians 6, 1-12

"1As God’s partners, we beg you not to reject this marvelous message of God’s great kindness. "1As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain." (NIV) 2For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation. 3We try to live in such a way that no one will be hindered from finding the Lord by the way we act, and so no one can find fault with our ministry. 4In everything we do we try to show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. 5We have been beaten, been put in jail, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. 6We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, our sincere love, and the power of the Holy Spirit. 7We have faithfully preached the truth. God’s power has been working in us. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves. 8We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. 9We are well known, but we are treated as unknown. We live close to death, but here we are, still alive. We have been beaten within an inch of our lives. 10Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything. 11Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you. Our hearts are open to you. 12If there is a problem between us, it is not because of a lack of love on our part, but because you have withheld your love from us." (2 Corinthians 6:1-12, NLT)

“In vain” κενός [kenos /ken·os/]

·       When spoken of things, it means, “empty” when something was designed to be full, as of a cargo ship that is empty.

·       When spoken of men, it means, “empty-handed” in a situation where you’re supposed to have a gift.

·       When spoken of Christians, it means, “talk without walk”, as one who boasts of his faith as a possession, yet has no fruit or evidence of that faith in his life.

"1As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain." (NIV) 2For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, God is ready to help you right now.

BUT IF YOU ARE RECEIVING GOD’S GRACE IN VAIN:

·       WHAT DOES YOUR LIFE LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF ACTIONS ACCORDING THE WORD BELOW?

·       WHAT ARE SOME OF THE JUSTIFICATIONS THAT YOU MIGHT USE IF SOMEONE CONFRONTED YOU WITH THE TRUTH OF THE SCRIPTURE BELOW AS LIVE YOUR LIFE IN DISOBEDIENCE?

Today is the day of salvation.

ACTIONS: 

·       PRIORITIZING THINGS ABOVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

EXCUSES:  ?

3We try to live in such a way that no one will be hindered from finding the Lord by the way we act, and so no one can find fault with our ministry.

ACTIONS: 

·       YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE ON YOUR OWN TERMS.

·       EVERYTHING REVOLVES AROUND YOU. 

·       NO REGARD FOR THE DAMAGE YOUR ACTIONS CAUSE IN OTHERS.

EXCUSES:

 4In everything we do we try to show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.

ACTIONS:

·       YOU COMPLAIN, RAGE OR WHINE ABOUT THINGS WHEN THEY DON’T SEEM TO GO YOUR WAY.

·       WHEN THINGS AREN’T GOING YOUR WAY, PEOPLE GENERALLY CAN’T COUNT ON YOU IF THEY NEED TO.

EXCUSES?

5We have been beaten, been put in jail, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.

ACTIONS:

·       YOU HAVEN’T FACED DRAMATIC OPPOSITION FOR YOUR FAITH.

·       YOU HAVEN’T SACRIFICED FOR YOUR FAITH BY GIVING OF YOUR TIME WHEN YOU WERE EXHAUSTED.

·       YOU HAVEN’T SACRIFICED FOR YOUR FAITH FINANCIALLY.

EXCUSES:

·        

6We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, our sincere love, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

ACTIONS:

·       YOUR LIFE IS NOT CHARACTERIZED BY PURITY.

·       YOU DON’T DEMONSTRATE REAL SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING.

·       YOU AREN’T “LONG SUFFERING”  WHEN PEOPLE HURT OR OPPOSE YOU.

·       YOU’RE NOT KIND.

·       YOU MAY [OR MAY NOT] PRETEND LIKE YOU’RE ACTING IN A LOVING WAY, BUT IT ISN’T REAL.

·       YOU TRUST YOUR OWN ACTION, POWER AND INFLUENCE IN SITUATIONS, NOT THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

EXCUSES:

·        

 7We have faithfully preached the truth. God’s power has been working in us. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves.

ACTIONS:

·       YOU DON’T PREACH ANYTHING.

·       YOU DON’T PREACH THE TRUTH.

·       GOD HASN’T BEEN WORKING IN YOU.

·       YOU AREN’T RIGHTEOUS.

·       YOU USE SOMETHING OTHER THAN YOUR RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD TO ATTACK OR DEFEND YOURSELF.

EXCUSES:

·        

8We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors.

ACTIONS:

·       YOU DON’T ORDER YOUR LIFE IN SERVICE TO GOD.

·       YOUR SERVICE TO GOD WEAKENS OR STOPS WHEN PEOPLE SLANDER YOU YOUR PRAISE YOU.

·       YOU AREN’T HONEST.

EXCUSES?

 9We are well known, but we are treated as unknown. We live close to death, but here we are, still alive. We have been beaten within an inch of our lives.

ACTIONS:

·       YOU’RE TREATED AS A CELEBRITY.

·       YOU TAKE NO RISKS FOR YOUR FAITH.

EXCUSES:?

10Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

ACTIONS:

·       WHEN YOUR HEART ACHES, YOU DON’T HAVE TRUE JOY ANYWAY.

·       YOU DON’T ENRICH LIVES WITH SPIRITUAL THINGS.

·       YOU BELIEVE YOU NEED MORE.

EXCUSES?...............

 [[[[REFLECTION of the KING STORY]]]]

How am I doing with the grace God has given me?

1.      Pray.  Ask God to reveal HIS heart about how HE sees you in each area.

2.      At the unction of the Holy Spirit, mark the following evaluation.  “5” means that you are EXACTLY where God would have you in regard to your obedience / performance of the item.

3.      When you’re done, review what you and the Spirit of the Living God have identified.  If you desire His action in your life to improve, pray along the lines of the prayer written below in repentance and desire to change, then sign it—your “seal” signifying your submission to God and desire for real change.

4.      Tear the prayer off at the dotted line and bring it to the altar in your life.  Publicly acknowledge this before this congregation by bringing your signed prayer and placing it in the offering basket.

“Father, thank you for uncovering these places in me that need work.  I’m growing in learning to want ONLY what You want.  Your Word says that you discipline those whom you love (Heb 12:6).  I KNOW you love me. I’m thankful and I receive your love AND discipline with Joy!  Father, I repent.  What I mean by that is that I purpose to turn from these weaknesses—toward maturity as a Christian.  Your Word teaches that this transformation in me begins with the renewing of my mind (Rom 12:1-2) and continues, and with your help, in my heart and actions.  Your Word says that I can change my heart by changing my treasure (Mat 6:21).  In these areas, I’m making a change today by putting my treasure—my ATM[1]—on what YOU want!  I treasure You and your GENUINE, active grace in my life.”

______________________________________________________
                  signature                                                  date

----

[1] ATM=Attention, Time and Money