A Sincere Confession Pt. 5 • 2 Cor 4:1-18
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Review & Overview
Review & Overview
1. Previous Study’s Review
1. Previous Study’s Review
We are in the middle of the section titled: A Sincere Confession
This is where Paul gives an explanation for:
His Change of Plans
His Philosophy for ministry
and his exhortation to the Church
We are in the middle of Paul explaining his Philosophy for Ministry, which will go on until ch. 6.
So far we have learned that:
Christ gives us Victory or Triumph in Ministry
Christ gives us Approval or Commendation for Ministry
Paul did not need letters of commendation or approval from man...
His commendation or approval was from God... & Paul used a series of comparisons to drive that point home...
2. Current Study’s Overview
2. Current Study’s Overview
This brings us to chp.4:... & our study for today that deals with the Results, the byproduct, the outcome of God’s Commendation or Approval for ministry. Read...
As you can see in our quick reading of today’s scripture. The outcome of God’s Approval for ministry is: A Proper Attitude.
What is the byproduct for receiving God’s approval for ministry? A Proper Attitude.
Look at vs.1a... Therefore since we have this ministry, there will be a change in our lives… we will have a proper attitude.
When we truly understand God’s plan for our lives, when we truly understand what we are to do for God in this life: We ought to have a proper attitude.
So, who we are, our Character, our attitude in Ministry is outlined here...
If you are taking notes there are 10 elements regarding the Proper Attitude while in Ministry.
1. We Don’t Lose Heart Vs. 1 & 16
1. We Don’t Lose Heart Vs. 1 & 16
Since we are approved by God for Ministry, we don’t lose heart... we’re not faint or weary even though difficult times will come...
In vs.11 Paul said he’s always being delivered to death...
In fact turn to 2 Cor.11:25-28 because anytime we think we’ve got it rough we to take a look at Paul’s life.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
In all of that Paul did not lose heart... he did not grow weary... he did not grow weak...
APPLICATION: If we lose heart... if we’re burned out... & feel like dropping out...
Chances are we’re either in the wrong ministry... or we’re ministering in the flesh...
And look, that’s not to say we don’t get tired in the ministry... but we’re not tired of the ministry...
If we’re living in light of God’s Approval and by His Spirit we won’t lose heart...
& we like Paul can say, 2 Tim 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2. We Renounce Things of Shame Vs. 2
2. We Renounce Things of Shame Vs. 2
If we have the Ministry of the Spirit our desire will be to renounce evil... flee from evil... get rid of evil...
Gal.5:16 to walk in the Spirit so we won’t fulfill the lustful desires of the flesh...
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
APPLICATION: It’s sad that many today are crafty & deceitful in manipulating the Word of God for personal gain... or evil...
3. We see the Work of Satan Vs. 3-4
3. We see the Work of Satan Vs. 3-4
In chp.3:15 Paul said the Jews have a veil over their heart... here it includes the Gentiles...
But there is a difference because with the Jews God put the veil on them because they rejected Jesus...
Here it’s Satan: or the god of this age... or this world...
Eph.2:2 prince of the power of the air...
When God created the world He gave it to Adam & Eve because of their sin they forfeited it to Satan...
Satan veils the gospel to those who are perishing, which is all of us apart from Christ, in a couple of ways:
1. By appealing to the Flesh: 1 John 2:16 all that is in the world, lust of the flesh, eyes & pride of life...
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
Everywhere we turn the world is trying to appeal to the flesh... to entice us to satisfy the flesh...
2. By us Not Shining the Light of the Gospel: Matt.5:14 you are the light of the world. Matt.5:16 let your light.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
APPLICATION: Our lives can shine bright for the gospel of Jesus Christ in what we say... & in what we do...
4. We Preach Christ Jesus Vs. 5-6
4. We Preach Christ Jesus Vs. 5-6
If we have the Ministry of the Spirit we’re not going to preach ourselves or promote ourselves... but J.C.
It would have been easy for Paul to talk about himself: all of his travels... all the churches he started... all the books he wrote... all the people he healed... but he didn’t... He preached Jesus...
2 Cor.1:9 he didn’t trust in himself...
2 Cor.3:1 he didn’t commend himself...
here he didn’t preach himself...
APPLICATION: It’s so important that we always lead others to Jesus & not ourselves...
Because only Jesus can bring true Hope... Help... & Healing... only Jesus has the answers to life...
5. We have Power from God Vs. 7
5. We have Power from God Vs. 7
We are the earthen vessel... we are a clay pot... Rom.9:21 God’s the potter we are the clay...
21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
And the treasure in us is the Holy Spirit... the moment we get saved God gives us His Holy Spirit...
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
And now that we have the Holy Spirit... we have Power... Acts 1:8 you shall receive power...
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
APPLICATION: Now for a vessel to receive anything it must first be empty... we must empty ourselves... humility... we must humble ourselves before God and say, God I can’t do it... God says I know... now let Me help...
6. We have Victory in Christ Vs. 8-9
6. We have Victory in Christ Vs. 8-9
Here Paul talks about 4 things that most of us have or are experiencing in our lives right now... & If you’ve not yet experienced any of these things... be patient because you will...
But the good news is that in all of that we have Victory in Christ...
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
7. We have Life because of Christ Vs. 10-12
7. We have Life because of Christ Vs. 10-12
7.1 We Die & We Truly Live Vs. 10-11
7.1 We Die & We Truly Live Vs. 10-11
Living for Jesus should bring death... people die because of their faith in Jesus... just like Jesus died.
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
But just like Jesus came back to life... so too shall we... at the resurrection...
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
7.2 Paul’s Death Brought Life Vs. 12
7.2 Paul’s Death Brought Life Vs. 12
Here the apostle sums up all that he has said by reminding the Corinthians that it was through his constant suffering that life came to them.
Paul had to suffer hardships for him to go to Corinth to preach the Gospel. But it was worth it all, because they had trusted in the Lord Jesus and now had eternal life. Paul’s physical suffering and loss meant spiritual gain to others.
APPLICATION: Oftentimes we have the tendency to cry out to the Lord in sickness, asking Him to deliver us from it, so that we might serve Him better. Perhaps we should sometimes thank God for such afflictions in our lives, and glory in our infirmities that the power of Christ might rest upon us
8. We Speak Because We Believe Vs. 13-14
8. We Speak Because We Believe Vs. 13-14
If we are doing ministry by the Holy Spirit... we believe, thus we will speak.... what will we speak of...
Poor me... woe is me... I’m hard pressed... perplexed... persecuted... NO...
We’re going to speak about the Glory of the Resurrection...
Because no matter what we’re going through or dealing with... We Believe that one great, grand & glorious day we’ll be raised from the dead... we’ll be resurrected...
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—
9. We Give Thanks Vs. 15
9. We Give Thanks Vs. 15
Ya know all things are for our sake... for our benefit... weather we put them in category good or bad...
God is allowing it to happen... or He’s making it happen... & when we receive His Grace it will cause thanksgiving to abound to the Glory of God...
ILLUSTRATION: About a tough time in life...
So clearly God’s Grace not only saves us, Eph.2:8-9, Rom.3:24... but it also causes thanksgiving...
But it doesn’t stop there:
Acts 20:32 (NKJV)
32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up...
Romans 1:5 (NKJV)
5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience...
Romans 5:2 (NKJV)
2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand...
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
As you can tell we really need God’s Grace... so how do we get it?
Humility...
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
10. We Focus on the Eternal Vs. 17-18
10. We Focus on the Eternal Vs. 17-18
10.1 Vs. 17
10.1 Vs. 17
Whatever we’re going through is a momentary light affliction... but Pastor Anthony it’s been so long!
In God’s economy that’s a blink of an eye... 2 Peter 3:8 with the Lord 1,000 yrs is as 1 day...
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
But it’s not happening for nothing... it’s working for us... vs.15 it’s for our sake...
10.2 Vs. 18
10.2 Vs. 18
What’s seen is temporary... it won’t last forever... but what’s not seen is eternal...
So if we’re living in light of the Ministry of the Spirit, our focus will be on the Eternal not the Temporal.
It’s keeping that eternal perspective... understanding that God is on the throne...
And knowing that one day it’s all going to be ok...
Now, that day might be when we get to heaven, I don’t know... & I really don’t care...
We just need to keep our eyes on Jesus... Heb.12:2 author & perfector of our faith..
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
ENDING.....