KNOW, LIVE, BE-BE JESUS' CHURCH-2 CORINTHIANS: Promise

 Promise 2 Corinthians 13:5-14 There is a hope in the world that God injected via promise. It is this: That He will show his love, within the world at a high personal cost ultimately and at last, making all things right. Paul knows that God’s love has been demonstrated at high cost, and he knows that God then desires to align people to himself through this high-cost demonstration of His love. However, two things are working against that, they’ll fail, but they’re still working… 1) False apostles desiring to defer attention from God and take it for their own gain 2) People in the church, who aren’t in Christ This letter to the church at Corinth is closing now and he’ll address these two points. And so Paul will pull these two issues into view and make them the center of his closing thoughts to the church at Corinth. Just to make a point and draw everything together? No - because he wants something from them that is ultimately for them. Starting in 2 Corinthians 13:11, Paul will lay the outline for lives lived under Jesus’ kingship. His address in chapters 10-13 has not been directed ONLY at believers, family, and brethren - however here he turns the address to the face of the church. In the first 4 verses Paul is picking up from the defense against the false apostles who try to now make themselves look super spiritual - he turns that and says, I’d have the right to point to spiritual experiences, I was blinded then specifically saw Christ and was trained as an apostle seeing all kinds of amazing things, but that’s not important - and so he turns to tell them what IS important it’s simple and it’s amazing and it should capture us over every shiny thing, over every teacher with amazing oratory skills, over every set design, or large crowd or every good work…: 2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV) 5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! This can be lost on us, Church. That your salvation, you becoming redeemed by Christ and rejoined to God means that you’re indwelled by Christ, that in Him you’re a NEW creation, you’re changed. You aren’t what you were and things have changed in you - Paul wants us to test that, that’s what he wants FROM us. 2 Corinthians 13:6–10 (ESV) 6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. 7  But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. 10 For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down. Paul wants them to consider themselves, to look for evidences in themselves that they’re living not their own life, but the one bought by Jesus’ own blood and now it is not they that live but Christ in them. They live a life where Jesus is Lord, where His desires become theirs, where his affinities become theirs, where His desire to see people redeemed and rejoined to God become theirs - where they love one another. Do you see that in yourself? Are your affections changed for the things of the world around you, and turned to the good of those around you? Do you desire that others know Christ, do you treasure His amazing goodness in the light of the world viewed in the light of Scripture? Do you find evidences of His life lived out in you? He calls the church at Corinth to examine themselves, so that they’d live MORE for Christ. Because we need that Church, We need aim and purpose; we can’t float and think we’ll just drift to God. Like any thing else in this life, we need direction, and so he gives it in this next passage which should be a matter of celebration, even if you look over your life and think man, I’m not seeing what I’d like to - then this is a breath of fresh air because Paul then closes this letter -squarely aimed at the people for whom he wants something. He wants something from them that is ultimately for them, maybe this is for you… 2 Corinthians 13:11 (ESV) Final Greetings 11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Rejoice. Celebrate - live relieved and excited, bathed in the love of God who will make all things right in a world that’s so wrong; one translator expanded this word to ready, live being rejoice full. Not a one time shot of happy, but a life of rejoice, that knows Christ is in me while I live here and I see dimly but I know my redeemer lives and intercedes for me and in the end all things are made right and we have full access to God restored. And so I live indwelled by Jesus who’ll bring His kingdom, those who’ve died and those who are still alive at the time He chooses. His perfection to return and will re-build all things in His perfect love, church rejoice at that. However, our rejoicing isn’t just future facing. God’s kingdom is as much here and now as it is then and there. So to the here and now Paul says: Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Church we’re in a word that’s tough. There is so much going on under the covers, behind closed doors, and in total secret. There are evil forces that work against us, and evil in people who work against one another - church Paul has turned the page and is addressing the brethren, the church of God in Christ indwelled by the Holy Spirit and says you’re to live differently. You don’t seek gain, and benefit, and a leg up, and the demise of others among the members of the church- no you live as if you’re under King Jesus - you aim for restoration. Aim. You don’t aim, in a general since. Aim is specific, aim is a singular goal, aim is zeroed in, aim looks through the crosshairs or aligns cold metal sights for a purpose, connecting with the target. Not close like horseshoes and hand grenades but dead on, accuracy, aim for restoration. Aim for restoration, drive for it, apply skill to it. The making of things to be right and in their proper order restoring people to God, people to the church the body of Christ, and people to each other because as the church we’re to love one another in a particular way that stands out, John 13:35 (ESV) 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” You’re restored, and aiming for that. Never allowing yourself to be divisive about each other and deceitful among one another. IF you entertain negativity about your brother and sister in Christ - stop it, we’re to be aiming for restoration, not allowing behaviors that lead to separation. We comfort each other, we agree with each other, we live in peace … guys - this is the tested life do you find these things and these desires in yourself? Sometimes, we need that testing that Paul encourages us to. Maybe I need to run through my relationships in the church by way of testing like Paul encouraged. Is there anyone in the church with whom I’m not specifically AIMING at his or her restoration and continued rightness? Is there anyone for whom I harbor anger and frustration - testing yourself in that. Imagine if you did - how would we look different? Does your attitude towards others in the church reflect Jesus on desire for their reconciliation? Is John 13:35 pouring from you, because Jesus Christ himself flows through you (2 Corinthians 13:4). Don’t turn to the world and complain about others, specifically those in the church, and feel redeemed when you find agreement and encouragement to be angry - no go against the grain, forgive when it doesn’t seem to make since, and people will be drawn and you’ll find peace. Then… wait for it…. 2 Corinthians 13:12 (ESV) 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. Go out on a limb with me here. There many things in scripture that are enduring, but also when reading, we have to remember it was to a people in a time. In the 80s, we could have talked about a handshake, 90s a high-five, 2000s a fist bump, they’re all familiar greetings. You can great each other with a Holy ALL of those. Paul is concerned that among the church, among the brethren, the Holy transformed life, seeking for each other’s good, is expressed publicly so that the Christ that lives in them, would be known in the entire world. Paul desires something from them (that they’d demonstrate Christ in them), and that they’d then: a) Know that Christ lives through them b) Their communities would be transformed by Jesus love At Transcend, we do lots of outreach and community outreach. I’ve had people ask me, is it working. And I hate that question, because I know what people are asking - …are more people coming to church because of that. And I appreciate their heart in that, but that’s not what I’m called to in the Christian life (growing a church) that’s not what we’re called to as Christians. We’re called to living a transformed life, to living as people indwelled by Jesus own life, and so then we desire to functionally be His love, where we live day-in-and-day-out. We’re called to live as people impacted. Church - does your life, exemplify Jesus heart, does His will flow through you? Paul says, examine yourself for that, it’s important. And what if it doesn’t - what if you’re a believer and you’re not seeing Jesus characteristics in your life, that’s OK - it’s important to know that and now, pray - God grow me. Thank you for showing me areas in my life that need to be submitted to Jesus lordship, and work to grow in those areas. Paul wants you to search your life (that’s what he wants from you), but so that you can grow and God would be known, that’s what he wants for you! That you get to participate in being part of His living-breathing body, the church. Because: God showed his love, within the world at a high personal cost by giving His son Jesus for folks like us - and now Jesus lives through each on of us joined to God in him, and we rejoice because Ultimately and at last, making all things right. Paul wants us to know that life, and he knows the Church is how that’s done and so he desires that the church be pure, so that the mission would be complete, and no one would be confused by false apostles, false messages, and so that the path to knowing God would not be obscured but lived through the lives of those who love God and live Christ’s life, His church. Lets go live the transformed life in community all bundled up together, loving each other specifically seeking to be rejoicing always, and lets be a place for the uplifting and encouragement of others, not squashing our feelings against one another, because guys this is temporary, Christ is worth it, and God will make it all perfect in the end - lets be His kingdom people in this life, and bring more to peace with him - no lets go and be transformed people! KNOW, LIVE, BE – BE JESUS’ CHURCH – 2 CORINTHIANS: Promise Pastor John Weathersby Transcend Church 5 of 5 Sunday 7/30/2017