2 Corinthians 1:8-24 When God Changes Your Plans

Intro: Shaving my Beard

As I was driving back from vacation I started to think about the future

I was excited that our D-groups were going to start

I was excited that we were going to meet inside

It made me start thinking about a fresh start

I decided that I was going to shave my beard

I started growing it at the beginning of COVID and it was a new day

Plus I was getting tired of maintaining it

So the night I got home I shaved it off

It was nice to have that fresh shaven feel

Afterwards I walked out to show my wife and let’s just say the response was less than enthusiastic

A couple of days later she said “Yeah, I don’t like it. I liked the beard better because you looked more rugged.”

So you’re saying that I am ruggedly handsome with a beard

To which she replied “We will stick with rugged.”

So things have changed

We are still meeting inside and d-groups are launching tonight but I grew back my beard

How do you react when God changes your plans?

Paul teaches us a lot on how we can carry ourselves when those changes come

2 Corinthians 1:8-14

Transition

Have you had a person in your life where you can do nothing right?

No matter what lengths you go to they will always find something wrong

For Paul, it was the church in Corinth

There was a faction that nitpicked on everything he did

Paul called them False Apostles in 2 Cor 11

Why did they do it?

Corinth was a wealthy influential city that the false prophets wanted as their own

This is sad because almost everyone in the church had been led to the Lord by him

They attacked him by claiming that he was secretly wicked and that all of the suffering he was enduring was God’s chastening

Part of the criticism towards Paul is that he didn’t keep his word

He was supposed to travel to Corinth and was unable to make it because God changed his plans

The troublemakers tried to use this as proof he wasn’t an apostle

Through this process we see how Paul handles the situation when God changed his plans

I. Set Your Hope on Jesus vs. 8-11

The first thing Paul did was set his hope on Jesus

Almost everywhere Paul went he experienced affliction

In Asia, which we know as Turkey, Paul was weighed down like an animal with a load too heavy too bear.

But God knew just how much Paul could take and He kept the situation in control.

We do not know what the specific “trouble” was, but it was great enough to make Paul think he was going to die.

vs. 8-9 Utterly Burdened

That’s why Paul says he was so utterly burdened he felt like he was going to die

When God puts His children into the furnace, He keeps His hand on the thermostat and His eye on the thermometer

1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

These trials made Paul put his focus on Jesus

Even though they felt like they had been sentenced to death, it was to make them rely on God

God will often throw change into your life to get to you refocus and rely on Him

vs. 10-11 Delivered by God

Paul was delivered through those trials by God

Because he had seen the deliverance, Paul set his hope on Jesus

1 Tim 4:10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

II. Go with a Clear Conscience vs. 12-14

The second you need to do when God changes your plans is to go with a clear conscience

Conscience is that inner faculty that “knows with” our spirit and approves when we do right, but accuses when we do wrong.

Conscience is not the Law of God, but it bears witness to that Law.

Paul was being blasted because he didn’t visit when he said he would

Paul replies to that charge by saying that his confidence was in his testimony of his holiness and sincerity

He was boasting, not in himself, but in God who was doing a work through him

His conscience was clear because he knew his actions were pure

vs. 12 Behavior was Holy & Sincere

The ESV translate the word simplicity but it is the Greek word for Holiness

Paul never doubted his behavior or his heart

He knew his actions were pure

The word sincere refers to holding up something to the light

Potters would often fill in cracks in their pots with wax before selling them

Careful buyers would hold the pots up to the sun which would expose the cracks

Paul was telling the Corinthians he was without cracks

1 Thess 2:10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.

When God changes your plans don’t worry about other’s comments

Go with a clear conscience

vs. 13-14 Coming to an Understanding

Paul finishes up this section by telling them that they only partially understand right now but they will come to o full understanding

That on the day of the Lord they will all boast in each other

III. Let Your Yes be Yes vs. 15-24

The final thing when God changes your plans is to let your yes be yes

The false apostles had convinced the people in the church that Paul didn’t keep his word

Paul reiterates that he wanted to come to them first but it just didn’t happen

vs. 15-17 I wanted to visit

He reminds them of his plans

Was he vacillating?

He didn’t make his plans according to his flesh

Then he repeats a well used saying “Yes, yes, and No, no.”

This is referring to those people who tell you what you want to hear but never intend on fulfilling it

Paul wanted to be with them but he was prevented by God from going

Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you

Since he wasn’t allowed to go he wanted them to understand

vs. 18-20 Don’t waver

Matt 5:37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil

vs. 21-22 Let God establishes you

1 John 2:20,27 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you