2 Cor 12:11-21 Servant’s Heart

Servant’s Heart

COVID announcement—may have to alter plans…however, we will not cancel services. There will be live in person opportunities to worship each week. You need to make wise and conscientious decisions personally and for your family.

2 Corinthians 12:11-21

Am I primarily a giver or receiver in relationships? What mode do you most often find yourself…self-protection or self-sacrifice?

Crucial and fundamental questions for marriage, families, society, and in particular the church. The church can neither thrive nor survive when it is made of self-focused individuality.

Main Idea: Servants of Christ willingly spend themselves for the sake of others while recognizing the possibility of disappointment and rejection.

The letter moves from Paul’s defense (the fool’s speech) to an explanation of his heart for the church evidenced in his sacrifice on their behalf.

11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. the next verse explains the accusation—the Corinthians perceived that Paul favored them less than the other churches…13 For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

(In what follows), the opponents disappear entirely. Paul is (focuses on his ultimate concern): the Corinthians themselves. (Seifrid 459) He uses himself and his team as examples of what living for Christ among the people of God and the unbelieving world looks like.

Servants of Christ willingly spend themselves for the sake of others.

14 Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you.

He prepares them for his third visit...He is not coming to get anything material from them. He does not expect any financial gain. His desire is for them like a father…spiritual father...

For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. parents are to provide for their children

Problem with the word picture for many…poor parental example—change in parenting all together. Selfish instead of selfless.

Paul is describing his pastoral relationship with the church...

“There is a sense in which any true minister, particularly as he grows older, will have a fatherly feeling for the members of his congregation. And if his was the guiding hand in the foundation of the church, it will be doubly true. (Owens 102)

Paul continues with this crucial statement...

15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls.

The word ekdapanaō is found only here in the New Testament, and means ‘to spend’ or ‘to expend’. (future passive) Applied to a person, as here, it means to expend oneself in the sense of the sacrifice of one’s life.(Kruse 272)

Why is he spending and being spent…for your souls.

If I love you more, am I to be loved less? not simply to be a one sided relationship...

Blog from a pastor this week… “I sometimes feel that the average congregant wouldn’t be surprised to hear an elder proclaim in Schwarzenegger’s accent:  “I’m a cybernetic organism. Living tissue over a metal endoskeleton.” Believe it or not, elders are people, not machines.”

When he makes this statement, it is as if he hears the argument…”you are manipulating us, you are trying to trick us into feeling sorry for you in order to take advantage of us”

16 But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit.(sarcasm) 17 Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you?

The pastor who has spiritual insight and depth will seek people, not their gifts. The souls of people will be his great concern. He will seek to win people to Christ, not just to pad the rolls and enlarge the numbers, but because he has concern for their souls. He knows that if spiritual things become their real treasure, generous giving will follow. (Owens 103)

Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps? did we all not treat you and act the same…It was not a ploy, it is who we are in Christ…notice the language sounds very similar to Paul’s letter to the Galatians.

Galatians 5:16 ESV

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Galatians 5:25 ESV

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Paul and Titus have ministered according to the same patterns and principles because they are empowered by the same Spirit. (Guthrie 616)

Apart from the Spirit, we all walk in the flesh…we do not have a neutral middle ground…just being good people, regular people. No, we are his people, bought with a price and indwelt by the Spirit of the living God. He empowers each of his people live out their faith and to give of themselves for the sake of the gospel to a dying world and to one another.

So we are spend and are spent for the souls of others...

Servants of Christ willingly spend themselves for the sake of others while recognizing the possibility of disappointment and rejection.

19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved.

The purpose of his writing does not center on a defense. Instead, he reveals that his concern centers on their being built up as the body of Christ…the beloved...

in the sight of God(realizing that the Corinthians are not the primary audience, the Lord God is…speaking in Christ(he speak in union with Christ—as his ambassador. Gospel message paired with gospel sacrifice.

As he does so, he recognizes the possibility of disappointment when he arrives in Corinth due to rejection of the message.

20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish— if he finds what follows, the situation will require direct rebuke and church discipline…

Compare v. 19 upbuilding, beloved and v. 20 you may not find me as you wish...People are strengthened and built up in their faith by both encouragement and admonishment. (Kruse 274–275)

repeat 20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, What does Paul fear that he may find...

that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. all have to do with treatment of one another…they are works of the flesh…evidence of unregenerate hearts…reflection of the world apart from Christ.

Galatians 5:19–21 ESV

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Interesting that the lists like you find in 2 Cor. 12, Gal 5 and in similar other places are not identical…Why? Even though sin is sin and similar. No two churches or people for that matter struggle with exactly the same sins. (via Seifrid 470)

21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

many not all…

God may humble me…brought low through mourning. Mourning over sin.

Part of spending and being spent

Remember what Paul has already said to the Corinthians...

2 Corinthians 3:4–6 ESV

4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

through Christ and his work in us we expect to see the Spirit give life.

We speak the truth in love and trust the work of the Spirit in the lives of believers and among those whose eyes are still blinded that they may be opened to see...

5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God

Those who are redeemed and grow are evidence of the work of God…the growth is from him not from us. There is great joy in seeing the work of the Spirit in the lives of others…the joy will come. We are confident in Him.

However, there is also great pain in seeing the Word rejected and sin abounding. The pain of gospel ministry will always be a reality.

So What?

Am I willingly being spent for the sake of others as a servant of Christ?

COVID has and will have all sorts of side effects…one has been the need for more people to regularly and sacrificially serve…this past week working with 3 year olds in AWANA I was reminded of what it means to be spent with 3 year olds and what if means to be blessed by children...

GG leaders and GG members --life together requires being spent…If you are simply looking for a group of friends to hang out with(though that is a part of GG) you are missing what it means to a part of a gospel community where we give and receive…giving of ourselves.

1 Thessalonians 2:8 ESV

8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

Do you have people that you are sharing yourself with for the sake of the gospel?

Illus: Brian Lowe repeated this text time and again to the young people during his time as youth pastor in the early 2000’s and I am sure marks his ministry now among the brothers and sisters at Exodus church.

Follow-up and Prayer

Thanksgiving service

IMO giving

Regular giving.

END