New World (2)

I - A time I did the right thing and It GOT ME NOTHING

or did the right thing, hoping for something that diddnt happen

did the right thing and it cost me

Y

G

Trans: this question, “How do we live a new kind of life in an old kind of world?” is one that Paul wrestled with throughout his life.

Because by every objective measure Paul’s ‘new life’ was a lot worse than the old one. I bet if you asked Paul’s old friends, his family, and the kids he went to high school with they would all tell you, encountering Jesus was like the worst thing that ever happened to him.

and this question, “How do we live a new kind of life in an old kind of world?” is one that Paul wrestled with throughout his life. Because by every objective measure Paul’s ‘new life’ was a lot worse than the old one.

Before:

Passionate about his beliefs

well educated

respected

A man of influence, authority, and means

an up and coming Religious leader and a citizen of Rome.

well educated

Passionate about his beliefs

well educated

Paul was on track to live a VERY comfortable and successful life, before he met Jesus.

BUT

One day that prominent religious leader was on his way to do his job, capturing and dealing with some heretics.

Everything changed when he encountered God on the road.

And over the course of the next weeks and months Paul’s perspective on the World, God, Himself, and Others was totally and irreversibly changed.

He was a New Person, living in A NEW COMMUNITY, and putting his HOPE in a NEW World.

and his life would never be the same.

Paul dedicated his life to the Gospel, this new way of understanding the world and its story.

That God sent his SON to live, teach, die for our sins, and Rise again so that a NEW world could begin to take hold. That the world as we see it is WRONG, its broken, and its upside down.

we read later in corinthians that thing in his life have not been going well. Despite the

Now instead of capturing

Paul Dedicated his life to introducing people to Jesus and telling them what it means to be saved and made new by the grace of God.

Looking back it is really easy to think about Paul’s life’s mission and work as successful, but at the time it did not look so good.

Later in 2 Cor Paul talks about the some of the many hardships he has faced.

The New International Version Chapter 11

24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28

The New International Version Chapter 11

I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked

Beatings

Beatings

Hunger

stonings

3 shipwrecks

robbed by bandits

persecuted by Jews and gentiles

in danger

Add to that the Churches he planted were constantly doubting him and turning on him. And even other Christians were giving him a hard time.

He would go on to spend the last years of his life under house arrest and eventually be crucified.

Sometimes people will accuse Paul of making up his encounter with Jesus but I cant for the life of me figure out why!

I think Paul knew a little bit about what it is like to live a new kind of life in the middle of an old still broken world. Paul knew what it was like to do the right thing, to follow God, to be faithful, but to find setbacks, hurtles, and trials placed constantly in his path.

In Paul is responding to some arguments his opponents are making in his church.

A group of teachers has come into the Corinthian Church are making the argument we are sometimes thinking.

Paul's opponents are making the argumentbwe are sometimes thinking.

If Paul’s ideas, his gospel is really true. If his perspective on the world is really true. If the message he is sharing is really true, why is his life so hard?

Its the question if we are honest we sometimes ask ourselves when we are trying to spend time in prayer in the mornings. Or when our family member gives us a really good reason not to forgive them. Or when our co-workers act in ways that dont deserve our love or patience. Or when that dream doesn't come true, or that person gets sick again, or whatever.

“God if you really love me. If I am really yours why aren't things easier?”

If Paul's message is really true, why does it seem like he is opposed on all sides?

Paul writes the whole book of 2 Corinthians responding to that and right here in chapter 4 verse 7-17 lets take a look.

Paul writes the whole book of 2 Corinthians responding to that and right here in chapter 4 verse 7-17 lets take a look.

The New International Version Chapter 4

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.

Paul acknowledges their argument and his and own struggles and suffering.

The New International Version Chapter 4

8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

Paul says, when he falls down, he looks like Jesus who died for us. And when he gets back up, it is by the same life and power Behind the ressurection.

Paul rather than hide his troubles instead argues that God is REVEALED in them. Paul’s survival and perseverance through suffering is a testimony not to PAUL’s strength but God’s.

The New International Version Chapter 4

13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” h Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

He in the midst of trouble counts on that promise, that the one who raised Jesus from the dead, will raise us with him as well.

The New International Version Chapter 4

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

So how do you live a new kind of life, in the middle of an old broken world?

Paul says its all about where you FIX YOUR EYES.

Carsickness

when i look at my phone or out the window or at things near by my head hurts i start to feel terrible.

But if I look at the horizon its gets better

Faith is like this

when we fix our eyes on up close things we get SICK. Its just too much sometimes. It makes us want to take a dramamine and just pass out.

But if we fix our eyes on what is unseen it is possible to live in a new way, in an old world

The basic argument Paul, a former opponent and persecutor of Jesus followers, is trying to make is the same one Jesus made, the same one Christians throughout history made, and the same one you can hear today on the lips of faithful Christians around the world who stand on their shoulders. The argument is this...

That the world we live in is upside down. You, me, everyone, and everything not quite right.

But

God is turning it right-side up. God is making you, me, everyone who will follow, and ultimately the whole world NEW.

Y

So WHere are you fixing your eyes?

Is it on the hope that something will happen, a good weekend a new job a dream you have

Is it on that good things bad things scale "things have to work out for me soon"

Is it on the last hard thing that has happend to you?

we get to decide where we are going to fix our eyes

and usually we have to do it again and again

Every day with every decision you make you get to decide which world you believe is true

God's story or something else

God's view of me or something else

God's view of the church or something else

God's view of others or something else

And when you wake up tomorrow you gotta do it again step with the spirit or not

What do you believe today

Are you now in Christ?

How goes your walk?

It's a battle

It's not easy

When you are with your enemies (what perspective will you take?)

When you wake up - What world do you believe is true?

When that person does that

Where you fix your eyes, determines where you Go

1.Remember

2. Draw closer to someone who can HELP you adjust your focus when you are missing the point.

3. Spend time in God's Word.

4. Spend time with God's people.

5. Live like its true

6. Get support.

7. Take time to FIX YOUR EYES on CHRIST

W

the Question is which world do we really believe in.