This is What Christians Do!

Theme: Authority over the Ungodly Thoughts

Word for the Week is Spiritual Warfare: The struggle against the forces of evil, which is a constant feature of the life of faith. Scripture locates the origins of spiritual warfare in the rebellion of Satan and his angels against God and affirms the hope of God’s final victory over such forces through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.

Memory verse: 2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God

Essence of the Text in a Sentence:

Sermon Proposition:

Sermon Objective: I want those in attendance to

Sermon Text: 2 Corinthians 10.1-10

2 Corinthians 10:1–10 NKJV

1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. 7 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s. 8 For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed— 9 lest I seem to terrify you by letters. 10 “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”

INTRODUCTION:

TRANSITION:

I. OUR PRINCIPLE

2 Corinthians 10:1 NKJV

1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

Luke 9:23 NKJV

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.

Philippians 2:5 NKJV

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

Be Meek and Lowly like Christ

Matthew 11:29 NKJV

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Minister like Christ

Matthew 20:26–28 NKJV

26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Serve like Christ

John 13:14–15 NKJV

14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

Support like Christ

Romans 15:1–3 NKJV

1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”

Romans 15:5 NKJV

5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,

Love like Christ

Ephesians 5:2 NKJV

2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Suffer like Christ

1 Peter 2:21 NKJV

21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

Walk like Christ

1 John 2:6 NKJV

6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

II. OUR PRACTICE

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 NKJV

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

EVEN THOUGH

PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS WALK IN THE FLESH

THEY DON’T WAR ACCORDING TO THE FLESH

PAUL STATED THE WARRING ACCORDING TO THE FLESH INVOLVED WEAPONS THAT ARE CARNAL OR EARTHL

Romans 8:1 NKJV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:5 NKJV

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:2–3 NKJV

2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Galatians 5:16–25 NKJV

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

5 casting down arguments (PULLING DOWN OR DESTROYING REASONING, IMAGINATIONS, THOUGHTS OR ARGUMENTS) and every high thing (LITERALLY MEANS ELEVATED STRUCTURE, LIKE A CITY WALL, BARRIER, A DEFENSE, EVERY JUSTIFICATION, EVERY SUPPORTIVE STATEMENT) that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

2 Corinthians 10:12–13 NKJV

12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.

(NKJV) 12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us-- (PAUL CONNECTS THE INSTRUCTIONS WITH THE SITUATION PRESENTED “BRINGING EVERY THOUGHT INTO CAPTIVITY TO OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST” a sphere which especially includes you.

The Problem

2 Corinthians 10:2 NKJV

2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

PAUL BEGGED THEM THAT WHEN HE SEES THEM

THAT HE WOULD NOT BE BOLD WITH THAT CONFIDENCE HE INTENDED TO BE BOLD AGAINST SOME

THE SOME ARE THOSE WHO THINK OF PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS AS IF THEY WALKED ACCORDING TO THE FLESH

2 Corinthians 10:1 NKJV

1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

2 Corinthians 10:10 NKJV

10 “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”

2 Corinthians 10:7 NKJV

7 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s.

7 Do you look (SOME TRANSLATE IN THE IMPERATIVE “YOU LOOK” AND OTHERS INDICATIVE “YOU ARE LOOKING” SOME CONSIDER THIS A HEBREW EXPRESSION SIGNIFYING A PERSON ONLY LOOKING AT THE OUTER APPEARANCE AND NOT THE INNER) at things according to (ACCORDING TO) the outward appearance (TRANSLATED “FACE” 2COR3.7 FACE OF MOSES) ?

BEING READY TO PUNISH

6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.