Released to Follow Christ

Our theme for 2024 is “Possessing the Land”

Last year I preached a series on 1 Corinthians entitled “The Spirit-filled church.

It was about this church in the Gentile world living at the intersection of spiritual reality and one of the darkest places on earth.

A year later, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church again.

Paul’s encouragement to the Corinthian church is to not just be filled with the Spirit, but to release the Spirit.

In this series we learn that we carry the Presence of God with us to change the atmosphere wherever we go.

Released to Comfort - 2 Corinthians 1-2.

Released to Shine - 2 Corinthians 3-4.

Released as Ambassadors - 2 Corinthians 5-6:11

Released as Sons and Daughters -2 Cor 6:12-7.

Released to be Generous - 2 Cor 8-9.

Released to Engage the Darkness - 2 Cor 10-11

The church is released to bring the kingdom of God into the world.

We are representatives of Jesus Christ.

And as His representatives, we live and act in ways that specifically show the world who Jesus is.

1 John 2:6 NLT

6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

“Live like Jesus” its so simple and yet so profound.

What if those who claim to follow Christ simply sought to live like Jesus.

That means giving your all.

Last week I mistakenly covered all of chapter 11 when I was supposed to stop at verse 15.

So the first part of this message are the same as last week, but put in the context of this theme of following Christ.

It also means that we need a personal revelation of who Jesus is, not just what people say about Him.

And it also means that we learn to live our lives not only for Christ, but in Him and through Him.

It is His power, His adequacy and His grace that enables us to live like Him.

So first, lets review a bit from last week.

Give Christ your all

Throughout Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he is put in the position of having to defend his ministry.

In chapter 3, he responds to someone asking for his credentials or a letter of recommendation.

He says, you are my credentials and my letter of recommendation.

In chapters 4-6 he seeks to address those who see his suffering as indicating that he is doing something wrong- as if personal prosperity were a sign of God’s approval and blessing.

Paul has to convince them that the message that he is bringing is counter to the way this world operates and that we are contending to bring heaven to earth.

Then in chapters 8-9 they wonder why Paul doesn;t ask for money for himself, why he doesn’t boast about himself or act like a big shot.

This drives Paul to do some pretentious bragging, but about his suffering and all that he has endured for the sake of the gospel.

Paul’s greatest defense of his own ministry is that he has not held back in terms of what he is willing to do for the sake of the gospel.

He is 100 percent devoted to Christ and he has demonstrated it over and over again.

That is what makes Paul a true follower of Jesus Christ.

Like Jesus, he lays his life down for those he is sent to reach.

Get over yourself.

2 Corinthians 11:16–22 ESV

16 I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19 For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20 For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I.

Paul is resorting to a bit of sarcasm here - he calls it “foolishness.”

First of all, he points out that the Corinthians are allowing themselves to be intimidated and manipulated by people who are claiming some level of superiority.

Paul says are calling him “weak” because he refuses to dominate or manipulate them.

If someone asked you what makes you a true follower of Christ, what would you boast about ?

Would you talk about your church attendance, your family history or your denominational affiliation.

Paul said he could brag about that too, but that is not what counts.

In fact, nothing you can say about yourself or your supposed qualifications means anything.

Do you know what does mean something? - Jesus!

It’s all about Him.

And what matters is not who you are, but who you are in Him!

Cultivate resilience.

2 Corinthians 11:23–28 ESV

23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

We see people being celebrated for their successes and their contributions to the church or to society, but we are rarely ever made aware of what it took to get there.

Everyone else brags about their honors; Paul brags about his suffering.

For Paul, that is the real proof of his character and his ministry.

The early church measured devotion to Christ by peoples willingness to suffer and die for Christ.

Don’t you wish we lived in the early church?

How did they do it?

Remember that the key to resilience is perspective.

If you have the bigger picture in mind, it makes it possible to get through the obstacles.

You have to know that you are serving a purpose much bigger than yourself.

It’s worth suffering for.

It would even be worth dying for.

It doesn’t matter what you have to endure or even how you feel.

Whatever it takes; it is worth it!

Find strength in weakness.

2 Corinthians 11:29–33 ESV

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

We mentioned briefly last week that many people come to Christ because they believe that Christ will make their life better.

Jesus does make our lives better, but not always in the way that we might think.

Sometimes people are surprised when they come to Christ and it seems like all hell breaks loose.

That’s called spiritual warfare - we talked about that last week.

The good news is that you are equipped for it and you can rise above it.

It helps if you have the right expectation.

The Christian life is not easy - its hard.

You are not alway going to feel great or powerful.

Just like Jesus - sometimes it may look like you are loosing.

But, just like Jesus, sometimes that is how we win.

The bottom line is - don’t be afraid of feeling weak or appearing weak.

Think of Jesus Christ as your example.

Philippians 2:5–9 CSB

5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,

Following Jesus means that the way up is sometimes down.

It doesn’t make sense to our natural minds.

That is why we need a revelation from God.

Get a revelation of Christ.

When did Jesus become more than just a name to you?

Sure, many of us grew up gong to Sunday school.

Most Americans know who Jesus is.

But when do you realize that Jesus was more than just and idea or a character in a story?

When Jesus asked His disciples about what people say about him, Peter came back with a historic confession:

Matthew 16:16 MSG

16 Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Where did that realization come from?

Jesus told him where it came from.

Matthew 16:17 MSG

17 Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am.

Anyone can know about Jesus, but really knowing Jesus only comes by revelation and a supernatural encounter.

Following Christ comes from an encounter.

2 Corinthians 12:1–2 ESV

1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.

Paul talks about an anonymous person (which was probably himself - writers who want to remain humble or to appear objective will talk about themselves in the third person) who had a revelation of heaven.

Paul talks about the third heaven.

The first heaven is the realm of earth - the earths atmosphere.

The second heaven is the outer atmosphere - the realm of angels, demons and other spiritual beings.

The third heaven is the place where God dwells - the throne of God - the place of God’s perfect will.

Paul is saying that he (or someone he knows) got an undistorted glimpse of the supernatural reality of God.

The timing fits with the time that Paul spent in the wilderness after his conversion.

He had seen Jesus on the road to Damascus.

His whole world was turned upside down.

Everything he thought he was fighting against turned out to be fighting against God.

I can imagine that Paul spent that time in the wilderness really, earnestly seeking God.

God, I thought I knew you… but I was wrong!

I need you to show me who you really are!

God’ ways are beyond understanding.

2 Corinthians 12:3–4 ESV

3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.

So Paul had a revelation of God - a true revelation!

What did God say? What did He look like!

“I can’t even tell you!” Paul would say.

Even if I could, you wouldn’t understand.

It’s beyond words.

That is why we need revelation - some things just aren’t expressed in words.

We know that God is beyond our comprehension.

Isaiah 55:8–9 NLT

8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

So what is the benefit of getting a revelation of God if you can’t understand it?

We just came through an election. Do I need to know everything there is to know about government to be able to vote? Does the person that I vote for need to know everything there is to know about government?

Probably not. I just need to know that the person I am voting for has the right people around them who together know everything there is to know about running the country.

It is the same thing about knowing God.

I don’t need to know everything there is to know about God.

That is not the purpose of divine revelation.

I just need to know that God knows everything there is to know about me and my circumstances and that he is capable of running the universe.

Whatever Paul (or Paul’s friend) saw, it was enough to convince him that God knows a lot more than he does and that He is capable of managing the universe.

Get used to different.

2 Corinthians 12:5–6 ESV

5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— 6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.

“Get used to different” is a line from the last episode of the first season of “The Chosen” a fresh take on the life of Jesus.

The statement became the motto of the show, appearing on T-shirts and in Season 2 trailers.

I even have a counseling client who proudly wears the T-shirt because it summarizes her testimony and her encounter with Jesus.

An encounter with Jesus changes everything.

Things that used to seem so important, aren’t important anymore.

The people that we used to idolize as “cool”, don’t seem so cool anymore.

Everything that we used to work for and strive for to “be somebody” - none of it really matters.

It’s all about Him - always has been - always will be.

All that matters is what He says about us and who we are in Him.

Let Christ be your sufficiency.

Sufficiency - that’s a big word.

It means to be enough.

A few years back there was a campaign called “You are Enough.” It was a crowdfunded effort to put the slogan on signs, billboards and social media to raise awareness of the mental health crisis in America. The affirmation that “you are enough.” Resonated with a lot of people who suffer from anxiety and depression and the movement helped them to realize that they are not alone.

I have a pastor friend who took issue with the message, however. From a Christian perspective, it appears to convey the message that you are your own savior, perhaps even your own god. Sure, its a positive encouraging message, but it doesn’t account for sin or the places where each of us fall short.

He produced his own lawn signs saying “Jesus is enough!” “I’m not enough.” You’re not enough” But Jesus is enough!”

That is actually a more positive message if you think about it.

You don’t have to be enough - Jesus Christ is sufficient.

You are enough because you are in Him.

He is enough for you, for me, for all of us!

So what does that mean practically?

Your problems are not a problem for God.

2 Corinthians 12:7 ESV

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.

So Paul, we presume it was Paul because if it we really “Paul’s friend” why would he become conceited?

But while Paul is contemplating his amazing revelation, he also discovers a corresponding weakness.

A “thorn in the flesh” - he calls it.

Basically, all that tells us is that is was a source of pain and irritation ( thus a thorn).

It could have been a physical ailment. (flesh meaning the body)

It could have been a persistent temptation. (flesh meaning the carnal nature)

Or it could have been some unwanted, uncontrollable circumstance. (flesh meaning the mortal realm as opposed to the heavenly vision).

Some commentators remark that it is fortunate that Paul doesn’t tell us what the problem is because we are likely to identify what he is saying with whatever our own problem may be.

We all have problems which cause us pain an irritation.

But the point is that the problems do not invalidate the revelation.

If anything they help us to put the revelation in perspective.

This is about God and His all sufficiency - it’s not about us.

My problems and your problems are not a problem for God.

You can have problems and still be enough - because He is enough.

They are not solved by trying harder.

2 Corinthians 12:8–9 ESV

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

OK. Nobody said that problems are good - just that they don’t detract from God’s sufficiency.

It’s OK to ask God to take them away.

Paul did - three times!

I get the impression that Paul is used to seeing answers to prayers, because he seems surprised that God didn’t take it by the third time asking.

Then Paul gets another revelation - God speaks to him about his request.

Can God take the problem away - absolutely.

Does God want you to be happy, healthy and prosperous - sure, He is good!

Then why doesn’t He just do it!?!

Because there is something else that He wants you to know.

His grace is sufficient.

You don’t need everything to be OK in order to be OK.

There is so much more to life and being OK than what we see, feel or even think.

John 16:33 NLT

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Peace isn’t what you may think it is.

Peace is not the absence of conflict - it is the presence of God.

Peace is not the absence of problems - is is the sufficiency of Christ.

Wholeness is not when everything is OK, it is knowing that everything is OK even when it seems like it is not OK.

That only comes by revelation, by getting a glimpse of the true nature and the boundless grace of God.

I can be weak because it is not up to me to hold the world together.

I can be distressed, because distress is a normal part of life in a fallen world, but this fallen world is not all there is to life.

Romans 8:18 CSB

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

I can suffer and be in pain and still be OK because I know that pain is inevitable and suffering is temporary

and there is nothing that I will ever go through in this world that God is not able to more than make up for in eternity.

When you realize this, you become invincible.

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 ESV

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

It is important to consider carefully what it means to follow Christ.

If you think that following Christ means that everything is only going to get better, you may be in for a shock.

And even more profoundly, if you are living your life the same way everyone else is, pursuing the same things and measuring your life by the same standards, how does that show anyone the difference that Jesus Christ makes?

But when you are living your life in a way that totally goes against the current of this world.

When you are like a fish swimming upstream (another image associated with The Chosen)

When people see that the odds are totally against you and yet you still find a way to move forward - that get their attention.

That is when people can see the difference that Jesus Christ makes.

And if going through tough times shows people the difference that Jesus makes, then (at least according to Paul) it is totally worth it!

It makes you invincible.

Nothing can take you down.

Whatever happens, you can roll with it.

You can rise above it.

It doesn’t mean you have to like it - you just have to put it in perspective.

Hebrews 12:2 MSG

2 Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.

We are released to follow Christ, and follow we will - through suffering and into joy.

Questions for reflection:

What does it mean to you to follow Jesus? Were you expecting only blessings? Or has it occured to you that following Him may also mean following in His suffering? How does this realization help you stay on course?

What is your thorn in the flesh? What are you going through that keeps you grounded in the reality of life in a fallen world? How has God’s grace been sufficient for you?

How has God revealed Himself to you? Have you had a glimpse of heaven? What have you seen that gives you eternal perspective? Would you be so bold as to pray for a greater revelation of God?