2 Cor 10

Review & Overview

1. Previous Study’s Review

The book of 2 Cor. deals with 3 major areas:

1. Ministry: chp.1-7

2. Money: chp.8-9

3. Motive: chp.10-13

We have finished up chp.8-9: that deal with Money or Giving: we looked at 3 different aspects of Giving…

1. Power for Giving: chp.8:

2. Principles about Giving: chp.9:1-7

3. Promises in Giving: chp.9:8-15

2. Current Study’s Overview

This brings us to chps.10: as we begin the final section of the Book dealing with the area of Motive:

Because Paul’s 1st letter to Corinth was very hard hitting... he exposed the fact they were Divisive...

Sexually Immoral... Unethical... Idolatrous... problems in the Worship Services... they were messed up...

So he wrote 1 Cor. to straighten them out as it were... but there were many who were Critical of Paul for that... & they questioned his Motives & Authority for writing that letter... so here in chp.10-13 Paul deals with it...

So let’s pick up our reading in vs.1 reading down through vs.6 in our study today... Read... 2 things:

1. Accusation against Paul: vs.2b.

2. Apostolic authority of Paul: vs.1-6.

Vs.2b 1. Accusation against Paul: ...

in chp.7:8-16 we know many believers in Corinth accepted Paul’s Authority... because their Godly sorrow produced repentance unto salvation...

But there was a small group of Corinthians who were critical of Paul & questioned his Authority... they said he was walking in the flesh... that he had the wrong motive for writing those things...

Let’s face it when we see people who refuse to give up their sin... it’s easy to get in the flesh...

It’s easy to become harsh... hard... heavy handed... we just want to smack them upside their pointy little head... ya know not us but people at other churches...

This is something we all need be aware of...

This brings us to the 2nd thing we want to look at: 2. Apostolic authority of Paul: vs.1-6.

Paul deals with his Apostolic authority in 2 ways: 1. Example of Christ: vs.1-2. 2 things;

Vs.1 1. His Actions: ...

When Paul wrote 1 Cor. he was absent from them so he was very bold... 1 Cor.4:21 shall I come to you with a rod

So it’s easy to see why his critics accused him of walking in the flesh... operating in the flesh...

But I love how Paul responds to his critics... his accusers... his attackers...

He pleads with them by the Meekness & Gentleness of Christ...

Meekness: prah-o-tas, 9, mild, gentle... so a meek person doesn’t seek revenge when wronged... he is gentle or mild when responding to his critics... to his accusers...

Gentleness: epi-ki-ah, 2, moderate, lenient... when it’s used of someone with authority like Paul it carries the idea of not exercising your power or authority even though you have it...

What a beautiful picture of Jesus... Matt.28:18 all authority has been given to Me... yet in Matt.11:29 take My yoke upon you & learn from for I am gentle & lowly in heart...

How important it is that we all respond to those who come against us & attack us with the meekness & gentleness of Christ...

Matt.5:44 love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you...

Vs.2a 2. His Attitude: :

Paul’s attitude was one of love & compassion, desiring for them to repent... & to get right with God...

Because he did not want to drop the hammer on them... Paul’s attitude was that of Jesus...

2 Peter 3:9 the Lord is slack... the Lord’s attitude toward us is one of longsuffering...

Even through He has the power & authority to zap us... He doesn’t... He puts up with us...

Setting a great example for us to follow...

2 things in dealing with the Apostolic authority of Paul: 1. Example of Christ: vs.1-2.

2. Example of Spiritual Warfare: vs.3-6. 3 things.

Vs.3 1. War we’re In: ....

As humans we all walk in the flesh... in these physical bodies we have legs & feet & that’s how we walk...

So we all walk in the flesh... but as Christians we don’t walk or live our lives by the power of the flesh.

The same is true regarding the war we’re in... we’re all in a war, a battle... it’s a spiritual battle...

Eph.6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places...

The problem comes when we try to fight this battle in the flesh... in our own power or strength...

That’s right where the enemy wants us to be... using our fleshly resources to fight a spiritual battle.

Vs.4a 2. Weapons we Have:

So the weapons we have for fighting this battle are Mighty in God... not in our flesh...

We see this example throughout scripture...

Eph.6:10 be strong in the Lord & the power of His might... 2 Tim.2:1 be strong in the grace of our Lord J.C...

Col.1:11 be strengthened with all might according to His glorious power... Zech.4:6 not by might...

So what are the weapons of our warfare:

Word of God: Heb.4:12 the word of God is living & powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of & and spirit, joints & marrow, is a discerner of the thoughts & intents of the heart.

Armor of God: Eph.6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil... Rom.13:14 put on the Lord Jesus Christ... because He is the whole armor of God...

Prayer to God: 1 Thes.5:17 pray without ceasing... Eph.6:18 praying always...

the Example of Spiritual Warfare: 1. War we’re In: 2. Weapons we Have: 3. Way we Use Them: vs.4b-6 4 things.

Vs.4b 1. Pulling Down Strongholds: ...

Pulling Down: 3, to destroy, demolish... Stronghold: only here, wall of a fortress or castle...

We all have spiritual walls or enemy strongholds in our lives that need to be pulled down or destroyed.

Point: we can’t do it in & of ourselves... we need God’s help... but praise the Lord we have it... like the Israelites...

Josh.6: Jericho, they marched around once a day for 6 days. 7 times on the 7th day, 13 total.

Vs.5a 2. Casting down Arguments & High Things: ..

Casting down: is the root word from Pulling Down in vs.4. to destroy, demolish...

Arguments: 2, thoughts, ideas, philosophies that are against God... & anything or anyone who exalts themselves higher then God...

Point: we have the tools or weapons we need to demolish those who think that way...

Vs.5b 3. Bringing Thoughts into Captivity: ..

The world is continually putting thoughts into our head that are well, less then Godly...

With God’s strength & might we can bring them into captivity... cast them down... throw them out...

Vs.6 4. Punishing all Disobedience: ..

It was God’s Might & Strength that empowered Paul to patiently wait for the Corinthians to repent...

And when they did there was a clear line drawn in the sand between those got right with God & those did not... & for those who didn’t repent... punishment...

Point: in, through & because of Jesus Christ we have all the resources we need to be able to do what’s right against those who criticize us... & against the enemy who wants to destroy us...