Untitled Sermon (2)

Title: Christian’s sight and strength

2 Corinthians 6:3–10 (NIV) 3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

哥林多后书 6：3–10 (和合本) 3 我们凡事都不叫人有妨碍，免得这职分被人毁谤； 4 反倒在各样的事上表明自己是神的用人，就如在许多的忍耐、患难、穷乏、困苦、 5 鞭打、监禁、扰乱、勤劳、警醒、不食、 6 廉洁、知识、恒忍、恩慈、圣灵的感化、无伪的爱心、 7 真实的道理、神的大能；仁义的兵器在左在右。 8 荣耀、羞辱、恶名、美名；似乎是诱惑人的，却是诚实的； 9 似乎不为人所知，却是人所共知的；似乎要死，却是活着的；似乎受责罚，却是不至丧命的； 10 似乎忧愁，却是常常快乐的；似乎贫穷，却是叫许多人富足的；似乎一无所有，却是样样都有的。

It is an understatement to say that these are extraordinary and very difficult times. The apostle Paul describes in 2 Cor. 6:3-10 the challenging times that he and other Christians experienced during the time of the early church:

Let me give you some background of Paul’s situation.

The map of Paul’s missionary journey.

After sending Timothy off from Ephesus to deliver the letter of 1 Corinthians, Paul, in his concern for the Corinthian church, he quickly visits Corinth. Afterward, Paul returned to his work in Ephesus, where he wrote a sorrowful letter to the Corinthians that has not been preserved (see 2 Corinthians 2:1–11; 7:8).

Then the riots happened in Ephesus. Paul then go to Macedonia. In Macedonia, possibly in the city of Philippi. Paul received a good report from Titus regarding the Corinthians (7:13), which led Paul to write another letter to them, which is titled “2 Corinthians” in the Bible.

Analysis:

In a summary, Paul experienced:

Difficult circumstances: Troubles, hardships and distresses (v4)Physical sufferings: Beatings, imprisonments and riots (v5)Exhausting situations: Hard work, sleepless nights and hunger (v5)Negative opinions of others: Regarded as impostors and as unknown (not famous) (v8,9)

Your and my circumstances may not be the same as Paul’s. but I know your situations are still very real and challenging. How will we be able to cope within the uncertainty, isolation, fear and financial pressures of this time?

Paul knew where to find his strength:

From the Holy Spirit (v6)From the power of God (v7)

1 Corinthians 2:3–5 (NIV) 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

哥林多前书 2：3–5 (和合本) 3 我在你们那里，又软弱，又惧怕，又甚战兢。 4 我说的话，讲的道，不是用智慧委婉的言语，乃是用圣灵和大能的明证， 5 叫你们的信不在乎人的智慧，只在乎神的大能。

This impacted his daily behavior. When times are uncertain and difficult, it is a temptation to give in to fear, to a short temper, self-pity and anger. Living from the strength that God provides through his Spirit, Paul describes that he was able to live as follows in the midst of life threatening circumstances:

With great endurance (v4)In purity, understanding, patience and kindness (v6)With sincere love (v6)Speaking the truth (v7)Doing what is right (v7)

Finally, Paul states the wonderful result of living by God’s power in the midst of terrible circumstances:

Always rejoicingMaking many richPossessing everything (v10)

Application:

Bro &Sis, Through Paul’s life and his ministry, we know as a follower of Jesus Christ, in our daily life:

1) We may face trouble from the outside world

2) We may face trouble from other Christian

3) We may face doubts from within

How do we cope these situations, please remember Paul’s strength is from the Holy Spirit (v6) and from the power of God (v7).

Please see verse 9&10 again, there are seven pairs of contrast list by Greek structure

ὡς … καὶ (or δέ) (as …yet…)

We know the number seven is complete number of Biblical thinking.

Here Paul list seven things, did he saw everything through two perspectives?

In other passage, Paul says,

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV) 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

哥林多前书 1:18 (和合本) 18 因为十字架的道理，在那灭亡的人为愚拙；在我们得救的人却为神的大能。

As Jesus is regarded as criminal and savior.

Here is a brilliant idea, let me read for you.

We could look at the world things from two different views:

First is the view that the world sees through the media where everything is negative and bitter.

But there’s another view also, which can be seen through the church. In this perspective, you will find peace, hope and strength.

I want share my experience to testify these views.

In the summer 2016, my wife and I have an opportunity to do a short period ministry in the West Asia. But we should go to Turkey to attend a conference. One month before our departure, do you know what happened? Istanbul international airport was attacked by terrorist, and 42 people dead. This news made me so pressure, some of our trip members return the ticket immediately. I wondered should I give up our plan. According the reports of different media, this area is very dangerous. So, I prayed for a month, and prayed to God, asked Him to give me some words. I prayed, Lord if you want me go there, please continue supply the money I need in this trip. Because in that time, we only bought the tickets. In the following days, God really moved some people to support our travel expenses. One month past, but two day before we leave, another challenge happened. The Turkish military staged a coup like the political event happened in Myanmar these days. The difference is after a day the coup was control by their president. I don't know the politics issues of that country. But I want to know the public situation there. When I search on the internet, the report of media is all about how many people dead, march, rebellions, media’s commentary and the prediction about the future. The only positive thing is the military cope was controlled. I think it will be the best decision to give up the plan. However, when I pray, I wondered that my heart was filled with a great peace. I only know God already provided everything I need. So we walked in faith and arrived that country. Three weeks’ journey, it’s so wonderful, the situation is totally different with the report of media. We seeing that people of that area is open to the gospel, church are active, many people from across the land are thirsty for the Truth, thirsty for Christ, thirsty for Love.

Another clear example is the pandemic of COVID. At the beginning of last year, I followed a media of Taiwan and CNN of US. Since I think Taiwan and America is proud for their democratically system, so I think maybe the news is more transparent and more truthful. But do you know the result, I feel so depressed after I watched their reports every time. Yes, Media is important, we can get some information from that. We also cannot ignore or deny the fact of some aspects. When we do the epidemic prevention, we have to follow the guidance of government through media. We have to wear mask, and sacrifice some freedom. Yes, that is right. But don’t forget, the media only give you the information from human. Human’s wisdom, human’s judgment, human’s standpoint, human’s value. Christians, however, there is other important things waiting for us to do, to follow, and to insist.

Praise the Lord, we see the COVID through the church. In last whole year, BICC did not stop the service every week. In China, there are many church trainings hold online. Many Christians testified they are knowing Jesus more than before. As the testimony that you heard in our BICC.

Let’s see our situations/ troubles through the perspective of God. And find the strength from the Holy Spirit (v6) and from the power of God (v7)

Paul says, we have this treasure in jars of clay… (the features of jar shows our human nature is full of weakness, easy to broken)

2 Corinthians 4:7–9 (NIV)

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.

哥林多后书 4：7–9 (和合本)

7 我们有这宝贝放在瓦器里，要显明这莫大的能力，是出于神，不是出于我们。

8 我们四面受敌，却不被困住；心里作难，却不至失望；

9 遭逼迫，却不被丢弃；打倒了，却不至死亡。

As a jar of clay, let’s pray to God, to see our life in his perspective (as…yet…), rely on his Spirit and power, and share the treasure in us.

Prayer