II CORINTHIANS

WAR–II CORINTHIANS 10:1-5

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WAR
II CORINTHIANS 10:1-5
Introduction:
There was no place in which the apostle Paul met with more opposition from false apostles than at Corinth; he had many enemies there. Here he seeks to show those who are false teachers that his weapons are not carnal, but powerful weapons for the God of Heaven.
His many enemies tried to undermine him and make him look weak, however, Paul knew where his strength lay and used the power of God to accomplish God’s will.
I. THE WEAPONS OF THE WORLD TODAY ARE:
A. Learning, education is said to be the secret for curing the ills of society, 2 Timothy 3:7, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
1. We have more education than anytime before.
2. There is less knowledge about the truth now.
B. Personal influence, pressure brought to bear on those that do not conform, John 7:46-52.
C. Impressive credentials, 1 Corinthians 2:1-2, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”
II. THE WEAPONS OF GOD’S PEOPLE
A. Our weapons are NOT CARNAL, vs. 4-5.
1. The weapons Paul used were weapons of DIVINE POWER:
a. The PROCLAIMED Word of God, Ephesians 6:17, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
b. PRAYER to God for the victory, Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
2. These are not fleshly weapons such as men renown, 1 Corinthians 1:26, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:”
3. These are not the weapons of the world, 1 Corinthians 2:1, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.”
B. The effect of those weapons, vs. 4-5.
1. Our sufficiency is in our Lord, 2 Corinthians 4:7, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
2. We can do nothing without Him, John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
3. Our full trust is in Him to win the battle, Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
C. These weapons are frail by worldly standards, but not by God’s standard,
1. They are able to demolish the arguments of the gospel’s foes, 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing, words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”
a. To the pulling down of strong holds, v. 4; Psalm 89:40, “Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.”
b. To the casting down of imaginations (reasoning), 2 Corinthians 10:10, “For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”
c. To the casting down of high things that exalt themselves against God, 1 Corinthians 3:19-20, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.”
2. They are able to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5, “Casting down imaginations , and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
a. He teaches us to rely on Him, Matthew 11:29-30, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
b. He teaches us control in our life, Romans 7:23, “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”
3. Through the power of God He teaches us to war, Psalm 144:1, “Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:”
4. With these weapons we can war a good warfare, 1 Timothy 1:18, “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;”
a. We can endure difficulties, 2 Timothy 2:3, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
b. We fight by God’s rules, 2 Timothy 2:5, “And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.”
5. With these weapons the victory is the Lord’s, Psalm 98:1, “O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.”
a. He gives us the victory, 1 Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
b. Our faith in Jesus Christ is the victory, 1 John 5:4, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
CONCLUSION
Paul didn’t bother arguing with these false teachers, but rather, he preached the truth and let the Lord do the rest. The Corinthians church won the victory, but not without a difficult fight against the lies of the devil.

THANKSGIVING–II CORINTHIANS 4:15

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THANKSGIVING
II CORINTHIANS 4:15,
“For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.”

Introduction:

Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends. I look forward to getting together with the ones I love and share what God has given us, not only the good food, but also His blessings in other ways.

The Scriptures have a lot to say about thanksgiving. I would like to share some of these things with you today. I hope that we may be able to look with a different light on the things, both material and spiritual that God has done for us this past year.

I. BEGINNING THANKSGIVING IN PRAYER

Nehemiah 11:17, “And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.”

A. Praying always, Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

1. Continuing in prayer, Colossians 4:2, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”

2. Instant and earnest prayer without ceasing, Acts 12:5, “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”

B. Praying is vital to the welfare of God’s people, Philippians 1:19, “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,”

1. Being careful for nothing, Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

a. We are invited to come boldly before His throne, Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

b. We come through the blood of Jesus Christ, Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

c. We come make our request in the name of Jesus Christ, John 15:16, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

2. Through prayer God sanctifies the things of this life, 1 Timothy 4:3-5, “Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”

II. SONGS OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

Nehemiah 12:46, “For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.”

A. Let us make a joyful noise before the Lord, Psalm 95:2, “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.”

B. Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving, Psalm 100:4, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

1. For His goodness, Romans 2:4, “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

2. For His love, Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

3. For His faithfulness, Psalm 119:90, “Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.”

III. LET US PUBLISH WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE WITH THANKSGIVING

Psalm 26:7, “That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.”

A. We should love God’s house as David did, Psalm 26:8, “LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.”

B. We should worship with integrity (David washed his hands), Psalm 24:4, “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”

C. We should praise God publicly for what He has done, Luke 19:37-38, “And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.”

CONCLUSION

I hope that this Thanksgiving will mean more to you than ever before. The world is not thankful because they do not know our Savior. So let’s make this Thanksgiving special for the glory of our Savior and God, Jesus Christ.

THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION–II CORINTHIANS 5:16-21

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THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION
II CORINTHIANS 5:16-21

Introduction:

We have heard about SIN and its destruction in the lives of men. Then we spoke of CONVERSION or RENGENERATION and how the Lord redeemed man. Then we spoke of PROPITIATION or the ATONEMENT for sin and how God provided a way for forgiven of our sins.

Now we speak of RECONCILIATION, which supposes a quarrel, or breach of friendship. Our sins have made a breach breaking the friendship between God and man.

I. REGENERATION IS…

A. Weaning from the world, 2 Corinthians 5:16, “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.”

B. A thorough change of the heart, 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

II. RECONCILIATION IS…

A. A privilege, vs. 18-19.

1. Reconciliation means there is a breach of friendship.

a) Sin has made a breach,

1) The heart of the sinner is filled with enmity against God, Romans 8:7, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”

2) God is justly offended with the sinner.

b) Yet there may be a reconciliation, Romans 5:10, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

1) The offended Majesty of God is willing to be reconciled.

2) He has appointed the Mediator of reconciliation, 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

2. He has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:18, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”

3. God is to be considered from first to last in the undertaking and performance of the Mediator, 1 John 4:10, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

a) He has appointed the ministry of reconciliation, 2 Corinthians 5:18, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”

1) It contained the word of reconciliation, 2 Corinthians 5:19, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

2) It shows us that peace was made by the blood of the cross, Colossians 1:20, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

3) It shows us that reconciliation is made, 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

4) And he has appointed the ministry of the preaching of reconciliation, 2 Corinthians 5:19, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

B. Reconciliation is spoken of as our duty, 2 Corinthians 5:20, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

1. As God is willing to be reconciled to us.

2. We ought to be reconciled to God.

3. It is the great purpose of the gospel,

a) To prevail upon sinners to lay aside their enmity against God.

b) Faithful ministers the Word are Christ’s ambassadors, 2 Corinthians 5:20, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

1) They come in God’s name to act in Christ’s stead.

2) They do the very thing he did when he was upon this earth, that is, preach the gospel of reconciliation.

3) By His ministers he admonishes sinners to repent, and accept of the terms he offers, that they would be reconciled to him.

i) To believe in the Mediator, 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

ii) To accept the atonement, and comply with his gospel, Mark 1:15, “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

iii) For our encouragement so to consider the Savior, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

(a) The PURITY of the Mediator: He knew no sin.

(b) The SACRIFICE he offered: “He was made sin;” not a sinner, but sin, that is, a sin offering, a sacrifice for sin.

(c) The END of all this is that “we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

CONCLUSION

As Christ, who knew no sin of his own, was made sin for us, so we, who have no righteousness of our own, are made the righteousness of God in him.

Our reconciliation to God is only through Jesus Christ, and for the sake of his merit: on him therefore we must rely, and make mention of his righteousness and his only.

OUR RESURRECTION GUARANTEED–II CORINTHIANS 4:11-18

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OUR RESURRECTION GUARANTEED

II CORINTHIANS 4:11-18

2 Corinthians 4:14, “Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

Introduction:

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the doctrine that makes or breaks Christianity. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:19, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” The resurrection is our hope for a better life in the future. The Believer yearns for the day when that takes place.

I. IF OUR EARTHLY HOUSE BE DISOLVED

A. We have a building of God, 2 Corinthians 5:1-4, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2- For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3- If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4- For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.”

1. A house not made with hands, Hebrews 9:11, “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;”

2. An inheritance incorruptible, 1 Peter 1:4, “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,”

B. We desire to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven, v. 2, “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:”

1. We desire to be delivered from this body of death, Romans 7:24-25a, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

2. We are waiting for the adoption, Romans 8:23, “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”

3. We are waiting for the quickening of our mortal bodies, Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

II. THE BELIEVER NEVER DIES

John 11:25-26, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

A. The Son gives life, John 5:21, “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.”

1. He is the Life, John 1:4, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

2. Because He lives, we shall live, John 14:19, “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.”

B. Do you believe that?

1. Job believed it, Job 19:25-27.

a. My Redeemer lives, v. 25, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:”

b. “Yet in my flesh shall I see God,” vs. 26-27, “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.”

2. The Apostle Paul believed it, 1 Corinthians 6:14, “And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.”

a. Paul says that Christ is the first fruits of the resurrection, 1 Corinthians 15:20, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”

b. The Lord will bring those who have died trusting Christ, 1 Thessalonians 4:14, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”

C. The Lord Jesus will present every Believer faultless to the Father, Jude 24, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,”

1. He is able to keep you from falling, Ephesians 3:20, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”

2. He will present us without sin to the Father, Colossians 1:21-22, 28, “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:”

CONCLUSION

The Lord is coming back to get His people. Those that have died in the Lord will be resurrected first and then those who remain alive will be raptured out to meet the Lord together in the air. And we will be with the Lord throughout eternity.

 

EXAMINE YOURSELVES–II CORINTHIANS 13:5

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EXAMINE YOURSELVES
II CORINTHIANS 13:5,
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
Introduction:
The Apostle Paul is defending his Apostleship in this chapter by declaring that the very proof of his apostleship is the changed lives of those that are now members of the Church in Corinth.
Paul challenges the brethren to “examine” themselves whether they are in the faith. I believe that many Christians today need this challenge. They need to look at themselves and find the evidence that they are really born-again Christians and whether or not they are serving Jesus Christ according to His will.
I. THE DEMONSTRATION OF YOUR FAITH
A. Did YOU DEMONSTRATE that YOU were in the faith? 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”
B. Did YOU demonstrate that Christ was in YOU by OBEYING His will? Romans 6:16-17, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17- But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”
1. To stand the test was to do what was RIGHT, Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
2. To fail was to be DISOBEDIENT and therefore subject to God’s discipline.
a. The results of disobedience, Romans 5:19, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
b. Death for all men was the result of Adam’s disobedience, Romans 5:12, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
II. THE TEST OF YOUR FAITH
Vv. 5-6, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 6- But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.”
A. It is absurd to imagine that we can be consistent Christians and live in the world, John 15:19, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
B. Paul expresses his concern regarding the consistency of his own testimony, 1 Corinthians 9:27, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
1. Paul was sure of his testimony and thus he says, “Receive us,” 2 Corinthians 7:2, “Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man,”
a. We have wronged no man, 2 Corinthians 1:12, “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.”
b. We have corrupted no man, 2 Corinthians 4:2, “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”
c. We have defrauded no man, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9, “For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 8- Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 9- Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.”
2. You also are sure of where you stand regarding your testimony with the Lord before this world, Romans 8:35-39.
a. God’s mercy is everlasting, Psalm 103:17, “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;”
b. His love is everlasting, Jeremiah 31:3, “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
C. We can be consistent even though we may fall from time to time, the Lord will stay with us, Psalm 37:24, “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. 28- For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off .”
CONCLUSION
The evidence of Paul’s apostleship was the living proof of the born-again Christians in all of the places where he had ministered. God’s people make a difference when they are consistent in their testimony for Jesus Christ.
The world may not like us, but they can see Jesus Christ in our lives when we follow the teachings of the Word of God.