Adequate Foundation

2 Corinthians 4:8–9 NASB95

we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

ELASTIC RESILIENCE

in materials science, refers to a material's ability to absorb energy when deformed

and release that energy upon unloading,

without permanent deformation. 

It's essentially the capacity to "bounce back" to its original shape after being stressed.

Bless others, even when they have hurt you

The source of our ELASTIC FAITH is God, not yourself

Intro: Yo-Be vs Frisbee

Things aren’t going well in the church Paul planted

they are questioning his authority

He goes on in the rest of chapter one and the begining of chapter 2 to explain why he isn’t coming to visit them

2 Corinthians 1:15 NASB95

In this confidence I intended at first to come to you, so that you might twice receive a blessing;

Ancient travel could be complicated

Paul’s unexpected change of travel plans had disappointed the church

and apparently exacerbated criticism

2 Corinthians 1:17 NASB95

Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I? Or what I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that with me there will be yes, yes and no, no at the same time?

Considering the high importance put on hospitality in that culture

Paul could be seen as robbing them of the privilege of showing an apostle hospitality

They are using his apparent fickleness to accuse him of dishonesty

2 Corinthians 12:16–18 NASB95

But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit. Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps?

Paul is emphasizing the integrity of his conduct towards them

2 Corinthians 2:12 NASB95

Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord,

For Paul’s excuse to be valid, he then has to convince them of the integrity of his ministry

He has to establish a raport

2 Corinthians 1:18–22 NASB95

But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

Their doubts even goes as far as to ask for a letter of commendation,

and Paul basically laughs at them and says that THEY are his letter

2 Corinthians 3:1–5 NASB95

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,

Our Adequacy is from God

Our confidence comes through Christ

God doesn’t call just those who are competent

he makes us competent through His Holy Spirit

He helps us grow

He prunes our inadequacies

More than that, we find new authority in Christ

2 Corinthians 3:12 NASB95

Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech,

2. Moses and Public Speaking

Moses famously protested his call from God: “I’m not eloquent… I’m slow of speech and tongue.” Yet God replied, “Who gave human beings their mouths?... I will help you speak.” (Exodus 4)

Exodus 4:10–12 NASB95

Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? “Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.”

Point:

God didn’t choose Moses because he was eloquent—but because God would show His sufficiency through Moses.

——————

Back to Paul, and the criticisms and hardships he faced and is addressing in 2 corinthians:

Reguarding his first letter

That he had not come in person to execute discipline with his first letter undoubtedly contributes to accusations that he is too soft

in contrast to harsher leadership models

2 Corinthians 2:9 NASB95

For to this end also I wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.

2 Corinthians 10:9–11 NASB95

for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.” Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.

-nature of an epistle

Honestly, many of the complaints that the Corinthian church had against Paul were valid

However, Paul didn’t let it bother him too much because his foundation was set on Christ

We cannot be moved when our Foundation is set in Christ

His ministry is reliable not because his plans never change but because the God who established his ministry is reliable

God keeps his promises

Setting your feet

Matthew 5:11–12 NASB95

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

A foul word doesn’t always need a response

There is no point trying to reason with someone who will not listen

escalated people cannot hear reason

veil over their hearts

2 Corinthians 3:15–18 NASB95

But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

The Hospital Emergency Room

Illustration:

Imagine someone with a serious injury walking into the ER,

but instead of going to the desk or calling for help,

they sit quietly in the waiting area and try to manage the pain on their own.

The staff won’t know they need help unless they look to the right place and ask.

Point:

When you need help, you have to go to the source.

Hoping things will get better on their own won’t fix it.

-Garbage disposal-

Spiritual Parallel:

We must look to God and actively turn to Him in prayer, Scripture, and surrender—not just sit passively, hoping things improve.

We cannot be moved when our foundation is set on Christ

Matthew 7:24–27 NASB95

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

Refrain:

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:

all other ground is sinking sand;

all other ground is sinking sand.

1 My hope is built on nothing less

than Jesus' blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:

all other ground is sinking sand;

2 When darkness veils his lovely face,

I rest on his unchanging grace;

in every high and stormy gale,

my anchor holds within the veil. [Refrain]

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:

all other ground is sinking sand;

3 His oath, his covenant, his blood,

support me in the whelming flood;

when all around my soul gives way,

he then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain]

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:

all other ground is sinking sand;

What does it look like to make Christ your rock, your foundation?

When things go wrong, where do you look?

Driver in a ice Skid

Illustration:

When a car hits ice and starts skidding,

new drivers often make the mistake of looking at the ditch or the tree they’re trying to avoid.

And what happens?

They steer right into it.

In driver’s ed, they teach you:

“Look where you want to go.”

That’s how you regain control.

-Learning to drive-

mario kart

look ahead

Point:

Where you look determines where you go.

Focusing on the danger will only lead you into it.

Spiritual Parallel:

In crisis, we have to keep our eyes on Jesus, not the chaos around us.

Like Peter walking on water—when he looked at the waves, he sank.

Matthew 14:25–33 NASB95

And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”

Oceans