Protected

When I was in high school, I walked beans one summer. That meant that I took a hoe and walked up and down rows of the field with the goal of cutting out any and all weeds. A few weeks later that would be unnecessary, but when the beans are in the early growth stages they have to fight with weeds for water, nutrients and sunlight, and if the weeds aren’t dealt with early, they can keep the beans from reaching their full potential or worse killing them. Yet, there comes a stage where beans reach canopy and they will do the job themselves. At the same time, in the growth cycle, that I was hoeing beans the farmer whose beans they were was also providing nurture for them. I lived in Southwest Nebraska and the average rainfall wasn’t all the high, couple that with being situated over an abundant supply of easily accessible water, in the Ogallala Aquifer, and most of the farmers were using center pivots to irrigate their crops when and as necessary. So later in the day, after the bean field had walked the pivot would run and water the crop.

The Apostle Paul seems to be doing much the same thing in the letter that we are going to look at this morning. In all likelihood Paul established the church in 51 A.D. and at writing this, his second or third letter, in 56 A.D., making the church about 5 years old. Therefore, Paul spends about equal amounts of time protecting and correcting the church, with teaching and nourishing them. Seeing this might be a slight bit difficult, and you might think that I am extracting ideas that are not present in the passage we are going to read this morning, but I will connect the dots.

2 Cor 11:1 - 4

2 Corinthians 11:1–4 NASB95

I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me. For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.

I. To Protect

A. False Teachers 2 Cor 11:13 -15

2 Corinthians 11:13–15 NASB95

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

1. Drawing away by steps

2. Make wrong look right

3. Think too highly of themselves

B. Neglect

1. Of their faith

2. Of discipline 2 Cor 12:20 - 21

2 Corinthians 12:20–21 NASB95

For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.

3. Of Distinction 2 Cor 6:14 - 16

2 Corinthians 6:14–16 NASB95

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Trans –

II. To Nourish

A. Teach

1. Preached the Gospel 2 Cor 11:7

2 Corinthians 11:7 NASB95

Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?

2. To build up – 2 Cor 12:19

2 Corinthians 12:19 NASB95

All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved.

3.

B. Remind

1. Devotion to Christ

2. The Jesus the we preached

3. Of previous

a. teaching

b. Rebukes 2 Cor 2:3-4

2 Corinthians 2:3–4 NASB95

This is the very thing I wrote you, so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.

c. 1 Cor 5:1 – 2

1 Corinthians 5:1–2 NASB95

It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.

4. Of love -

Conclusion: The fact that our faith grows like shoots on a plant means that we also need protection and nourishment to sustain healthy growth. This is why we must place ourselves under the protection of a godly church leadership and tutelage of a well-versed teacher and still learn to study the scriptures of ourselves. The godly leadership can protect us from erroneous teaching; the well-trained teacher can provide sustenance for growth; and our own study and growth can make sure we are trusting the right leaders.