"Integrity That Reflects Jesus." 2 Corinthians 1:12–2:11.

2nd Corinthians chapter 1 Tonight we'll move into chapter

2, just so that you know. So the slides will be up there

and they should just be kind of the main points that I will move

through. So that can just help you Orient

yourself. Where is he at?

What's he talking about right now?

And then second, you'll notice that we would ordinarily have

the Scripture verses as I'm reading them up on the screen.

They're not going to be there anymore.

And that's to encourage you to read your own Bible in your lap,

whether it be an analogue, version, paper, or digital.

But you need to be immersing yourself in your own Bible and

not sort of coming and sitting and just looking at the screen

and trusting that. Well, I hope that's the

Scripture, but it needs to be something that you're a student

and diligently working through yourself.

And I think that that many of you are.

That's why that you're here the second time on a Sunday to hear

God's word taught. And that's what we're here for.

We want to hear from the Lord God Almighty through His word as

a revelation to us that the Holy Spirit would guide us and teach

us through it so that we might live for the glory of God and

for the good and benefit of ourselves and others.

And that's really what we're looking at tonight.

The title of the message is integrity that reflects Jesus

Christ. John F Kennedy in his book

Profiles in Courage once wrote great crisis producers, great

men and great deeds of courage. And whilst that's true, and

whilst crisis does sort of mould us and shape us in many ways,

that does not just make a person.

Often crisis reveals what's already within a person, the

character that we do or don't possess.

It's like a cup that when it's agitated or when you shake it,

when you tip it, what's revealed is the contents that were inside

that cup. And you've probably seen it.

You've seen people who encounter crisis, some kind of difficulty

in their life and and they explode.

Anger comes out or pain and, and it's displayed in frustration,

in perhaps panic or blame of other people.

You know, why have you done this?

And why is this happening to me? And why now?

Whereas others, that same agitation, that same

disturbance, that same crisis can come to them.

And there's a response of seeming calmness, a response

that almost like a noble character is revealed in the

midst of the circumstance and what's going on and all sorts of

accusations maybe that are falsehoods that are levelled

against them. And what shines through is

integrity, integrity. And that's really before us as a

subject matter. You see, Paul the apostle, he is

writing here to the church in Corinth in the midst of a

personal crisis. He has written to the church

here. And there are some within the

church who have been attacking Paul's character, saying that

he's not dependable, he's fickle, he's unreliable at best,

he's duplicitous at worst. He says one thing and all

together does another. And, and they questioned his

integrity, namely the implications behind this were

that, well, if you can't trust Paul and his character and his

attributes, then can you trust his message?

That's why Paul goes into defence mode here.

And for some of us it might sound a little petty because

really it's a question of Paul had said he would make some

travel plans and come to visit them and they didn't quite

eventuate how he had said that they might.

And so people were levelling that.

Well, Paul said he was coming and he hasn't come.

And so then they were moving and beyond that attacking his

apostleship as a consequence. And we might say, well, it's a

bit petty of them. Is that really they're taking an

issue over that with him. But it, it went to the heart of

this. You see, if, if Paul could not

be trusted to do what he said or what he would promise, how could

his message be trusted? It led to his apostleship being

in question. And then therefore the message

of the gospel. If people couldn't trust Paul

the messenger, they would reject Christ, the message.

That's what sits underneath all of this and why it's important.

You see, it was a matter of, you know, if you don't trust the

personality, then you won't trust the preaching of the

fellow. And that's really why Paul goes

into this, as I say, defence mode.

It's not for ego's sake, but it's about the gospel.

Now just like Paul, if we were to put our hands up and say,

have you ever been misunderstood or attacked, especially while

serving the Lord, I think a lot of our hands would go on up.

Don't you love to be misunderstood?

Now that's my favourite. Last time we talked about

suffering and we talked about how it is that we're comforted

by God and in light of that we're to flow on out with the

comfort that we've been given by God on into others.

They had been attacking Paul's apostleship, suggesting that if

he truly was one, then he wouldn't be suffering like he

is, even to the point of death. And he addressed that for us as

we studied it. But another aspect of suffering

is what we look at tonight, and that is when we verbally suffer,

when we're maligned, when our character is attacked.

And haven't you found that often verbal wounds are more painful

than physical ones? The old adage, you know, that

kids would say or that well meaning adults towards kids say

sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt

me. But they do, don't they?

In fact, those words cause internal bleeding of the kind

that goes on for years and years and years.

Ask the employee that gets daily berated by his or her boss in

front of their Co workers. Ask the wife or the husband that

deals with this daily. Ask the child who gets this

dished up with every meal. We've all, I think, experienced

attacks against maybe our actions, what we haven't done,

or our words, what we haven't said or our motives, what we

didn't mean. And this is what Paul now faces

with the Corinthian church. So how do you deal with false

accusations? Some might plant the flag of

passivity and just take it and, well, you know, that's my lot in

life and become a little virtual Eeyore moping around with the

cloud, you know, remember Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh and just a

little woe is me sort of despondent attitude and response

to everything. Whereas others plant the flag of

aggression and lash out. How dare you say that about me?

And it's on How do we respond when we're misunderstood, when

we're misrepresented, when our character is maligned?

What do we need to stand against malicious slander?

So what this passage, when we read it in a moment will reveal

is that integrity is not just about us, it's about you and I

accurately reflecting the faithful, trustworthy character

of Jesus. And again, that's what is at the

heart of Paul. His character is attacked, but

it goes beyond that to an attack against Jesus Christ in the

message of the gospel. And so the answer to how do you

deal with it? How do you cope with it?

There are some spiritual resources that Paul presents for

us that we'll pull out of our texts and the responses in three

parts. Three things that Paul had that

you and I can have when we are maligned.

And if you haven't been, it's just probably because you were

born yesterday and you haven't lived long enough on the planet,

you will be maligned. There will be things said and

accused against you that aren't true, and you'll need to know

how to deal with that. Three things Paul had was a

clear conscience, a loving concern, and a forgiving heart.

Let's read from verse 12 of chapter 1 again.

I'm reading from the New King James Version for our boasting.

Is this the testimony of our conscience that we conducted

ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity,

not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God and more

abundantly toward you? For we are not writing any other

things to you than what you read or understand now I trust you

will understand even to the end, as also you have understood us

in part, that we are your boast, as you also are ours in the day

of the Lord Jesus. And in this confidence I

intended to come to you before that you might have a second

benefit to pass by way of you to Macedonia, to come again from

Macedonia to you and be helped by you on my way to Judea.

Therefore, verse 17, when I was planning this, did I do it

lightly? All the things I plan, do I plan

according to the flesh that with me there should be yes, yes and

no, no, but as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and

no. For the Son of God, Jesus

Christ, who has preached among you by us, by me, Sylvanus and

Timothy was not yes and no, but in him was yes.

For all the promises of God in him are yes, and in him Amen to

the glory of God through US. Verse 21.

Now he who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed

us is God who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our

hearts as a guarantee. Now if you didn't understand any

of that, let's explain it, let's go through it.

How should we respond to criticism?

You know, the verbal attacks that people bring against us,

the the verbal crisis. There's a saying, blessed is the

man or the woman who has nothing to hide.

Quite simply, it's easy to defend yourself when your

conscience is clear. This is Paul's first defence

Paul here begins his defence. Those accusations false that

were levelled against him by appealing not to popularity.

Now you guys know me, I'm Paul, you know, and and we're tired

and and not to the results and you guys know and you've seen

the work that I've accomplished here and how the church has

grown. None of that but to conscience

was his first appeal. Paul says for our boast is this

verse 12 the testimony, the witness of our conscience.

That's integrity, that's character and it's character

that is under the scrutiny of God Almighty.

That's that's who his conscience is clear before and it flows on

out to others. And there's three ways that he

presents that his conscience is clear in his character.

Verse 12, he says we're we're marked by simplicity and that

doesn't mean that he was absent of intellect, that he was a few

screws loose upstairs and, you know, a couple of slices short

of a loaf. That's not what he means by

being simple in this regard here.

What it means is that I was singularly minded in my devotion

to glorify God. That's where my heart's at.

That's why I was doing what I was doing.

In other words, he says everything I did was simply

seeking to be done to and for the glory of God.

There's no hidden motives with me, nothing about what I did.

There was no hidden agenda, nothing duplicitous in the way

that I came before you. And then he builds on that and

says that my character was marked by godly sincerity.

Literally, that means this. Judged by the light of the sun,

Paul invites divine inspection here.

There's no hidden agenda again in in what I did, in what I

said, and how I presented myself.

Godly sincerity is what I'm all about.

Literally. It's judged by the sun, SON.

And there's a play on words here that Paul is using in his

presentation of the word sincerity.

And with the preface, godly before that.

You see, I think we've explained it numerous times from the

pulpit here of what the word sincere was in Greek back then.

It was in reference to those that were artists or were

sculptors. And when they would craft a

statue or when they would build an implement, if they made a

mistake and it was just a a little one, then they would

often if it was made out of clay, they would utilise wax

that had been melted down. And and like a putty they would

mark over that that Fisher or that area where they chiselled

something off that they shouldn't have.

And then that would be sold on. But it wouldn't be marked as

sincere as a consequence, because literally sincere means

without wax. And so if something was sold

that was said to be sincere, it meant that it could be held up

to the light of the sun, SUN and be found to be without wax.

Nothing inferior within it, nothing duplicitous in nature,

but singular, all made of that same substance.

And, and this, you know, wonderful masterpiece of this

creation. So that was a common practise

back then. And so Paul says this and it's a

pretty bold claim and it's something that I would hesitate

to suggest about myself. And maybe you're of the same

that is this Paul said, you can hold my life, you can hold my

motives, you can hold my character up to the light of the

SON, the sun, and find that there's godly sincerity, nothing

duplicitous about me, what I did, what I said, how I

conducted myself, and how I continue to do so.

Can you make that statement? Can you make that claim?

Hey, you've levelled accusations or challenges against me.

You can hold my life up to the sun, Jesus Christ.

And my conscience is clear there.

There is a godly sincerity to the way that I've conducted

myself. That's integrity.

It's a strong statement. Paul lived in simplicity and

godly sincerity because his life was rooted in Christ, the one in

whom there is no duplicity. And he builds on this with his

conduct. He mentions that in verse 12

that the way that I lived was consistent both in the world and

in the church and and the way that I delivered was it was

grounded not in cleverness, but in the grace of God.

That's what's wrapped up when he says in verse 12 in the second

part that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and

godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace

of God and more abundantly towards you.

In fact, there was even more that was present and evident in

my interactions with you people. And then he builds and talks

about his words, his communication in verses 13 and

14. What I wrote, what I said,

there's no double meanings. There's no cryptic messages to

it. What I wrote is what I meant.

He said Paul's writings. He says here in verse 14 what

you read. And Paul's words acknowledge

they had no hidden meanings and it brought about a a mutual

rejoicing as a consequence of that.

You see, some were saying in light of what Paul had had

promised with the the journey and so on.

Oh, really, Paul, you say you've got a clear conscience, do you?

Well, what about your supposed plans to come and visit us?

You promised and yet. And yet it seems you broke it.

Where's your simplicity and sincerity now, Paul?

And again, if you can't trust a man to keep his promise, how can

you trust him to be an apostle? So let's look at how Paul

answers this. And if you turn left with me in

your Bible or just flick swipe in your digital Bible to 1

1 Corinthians 16:5–7

Corinthians chapter 16, verses 5 to 7, you'll see Paul's actual

promise that they're referring to.

In one Corinthians chapter 16, verse five, he says this.

Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia, for I am

passing through Macedonia, and it may be that I will remain or

even spend the winter with you, that you may send me on my

journey wherever I go. For I do not wish to see you now

on the way, but I hope to stay a while with you if the Lord

permits. Now notice something about what

he said there. You can turn back to 2nd

Corinthians. He uses certain phrases in his

declaration of what he intends to do.

He says it may be, he says, I hope, he says if the Lord

permits. Did you catch that in his

promise to them? So now his response is in what

we read already from verses 15 to 22, he says I'm not a yes or

no man. It's not that I said yes, I'm

going to do this and then no, I didn't deliver.

But what you need to understand, Paul, and I'm paraphrasing here

for you now, is Paul is saying you need to see my heart and you

need to see God's hand at work in this matter.

He says I had intended to come and visit you just as I said in

my letter, if I may, if God permits.

But know this, I am also guided by God.

I'm open to the sovereign direction and leading of the

Lord. And then he, he appeals to the

fact that he teaches about Jesus the Christ who is not a yes and

no God, and that he is yes, rather and Amen.

Or so be it. When Jesus says something, it's

as good as done. And so in other words, Paul's

argument in this is how can I teach the message of Jesus

Christ and I as the messenger, not be impacted by it to be

accordingly, He says, even building on that verse 22, I, I

even have the Holy Spirit residing in me and verse 23, God

is my witness in all of this. And so here really what what

he's summation is this you can accuse me all that you want, but

my conscience is clear before God in my life.

Paul says there's no hidden motives in his words.

There's there's no hidden meanings in what I say.

And really it's such a a bold claim and statement by Paul

here, but is one that immediately presents as a

wonderful defence of that accusation as false as it was

against his integrity and his character and begs the question,

how about you? How about how about I about us

as a church body corporately? Do we live lives of integrity?

The word integrity comes from the word integer.

Maybe you've heard of that. And for those of you that are

mathematically oriented, you know it to be as a whole number.

Undivided. Integrity means being the same

then undivided, whether it be in public or in private.

Who you are is who you are. There's a wonderful story about

Billy Graham. You know him, he's known

globally. And there's a famous simple

statement that he made when once he was asked about what it was

that he feared the most. His answer was this, that I

might do something to bring dishonour to the Lord. 2018

Barnard study found that 85% of Gen Z believe hypocrisy in

Christians is a major reason that they distrust Christianity.

Why? Because integrity matters.

So how do we keep a a clear conscience?

We've seen the importance of it in Paul's life.

We've seen the importance of it in in others estimation.

But how can we have that sink in to be a part and component and

aspect of our lives? Those with a clear conscience

live in light of Christ's return.

Verse 14. So the fact that Jesus is

returning soon and that the Lord's day is is is is is very

imminent is a reminder for you and I to function and act in in

accordance with that, that well, the the time is short.

My days need to be focused upon living life right before God

because he can return any moment.

Verse 14. Those with a clear conscience

live to glorify Jesus. Verse 20.

It's all about the glory of God. And then those with a clear

conscience live in step with the Holy Spirit, verse 22.

That's how we do it. So practically, what might that

look like for you this week? Students, school age, You might

be at school, friends gossiping about others or some cheating,

going on an assessment, you know, the panic buttons hit and

they're freaking out about, Oh no, how am I going to pass this

and so on. You can be in that moment

choosing to be the same person when no one's watching, when

that that temptation to be something altogether different

is there. Integrity is about trust and

about character in the marriage relationship.

It's about being honest with our time, with our our money, with

our emotions. Secrets can kill trust, can't

they? Whereas transparency strengthens

intimacy. Families, you can create a a

culture of integrity in the home, in the household, by

praising truth telling and your children.

And it was difficult and it was hard for you to tell me the

truth in that moment, but it's it's good, it's right to say you

were wrong and to mean it and and to work together.

Now let's let's enhance it, let's improve that.

Paul knew he had a clear conscience before God and that

was his first offence when these accusations came may be true of

you and I secondly presents a loving concern.

Now we see that in verses 23 of chapter one through to verse 4

of chapter 2. But before I read it was a

pretty long first point, wasn't it?

We'll move through these next two a little more quickly.

I promise. He says verse 23.

Moreover, I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare

you, I came no more to come. So here's the second reason why

he he didn't follow through with the promise to come and visit.

Verse 24. Not that we have dominion over

your faith, but our fellow workers for your joy.

For by faith you stand. But verse one, I determine this

within myself, that I would not come again to you in person in

sorrow. For if I make you sorrowful,

then who is he who makes me glad but the one who has made

sorrowful by me? In other words, I didn't want to

come under the circumstances that I would have come if I'd

visited with you, because it would have been a very tearful,

difficult experience. It goes on.

I wrote this very thing to you, lest when I came, I should have

sorrow over those from whom verse three, I ought to have

joy, having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of

you all. For out of much affliction and

anguish of heart, I wrote to you with many tears.

So I wrote what I wrote, and it was difficult for me to write.

There were tears pouring from me as as these hard words.

And when we started, studied it, weren't they hard?

And there was some serious topics and subject matter that

he had to deal with. And we'll look at a specific one

in a moment. But I didn't want to come to you

under those circumstances. Not that you should be grieved,

verse 4, but that you might know the love which I have so

abundantly for you. So remember this, Paul had

delayed his visit. And so Paul now wants to explain

with a bit more detail why he had delayed his coming and was

firstly because in verse 23 he wanted to spare them to spare

them, spare them the the tone and the spirit with which

physically he would have been present with them under.

You see, he'd written in First Corinthians chapter 4, verses 18

1 Corinthians 4:18–21

to 21, about some in the congregation who were puffed up

with knowledge who thought they were the ants pans to

paraphrase. And they had been challenging

and questioning again the authority of Paul's apostleship.

And he says this. Now some are puffed up as though

I would not come to you, but I will come to you shortly, if the

Lord will and will know not the speech of them which are puffed

up, but the power. We'll find out if there's any

substance to to who thereof. There's false bravado.

They're they're all saying these big things in my absence, but

let's see what they're like if I'm present.

For the Kingdom of God is not in Word, but in power.

What will you, shall I come unto you with a rod or in love and in

the spirit of meekness? So I don't want to come as a

heavy handed disciplinarian, but if I have to, I will.

But I'd rather not. I'd rather not.

He wasn't here shirking his responsibility as their

spiritual father, but he would prefer not to come to them all

the time. It seemed like Paul's

relationship with Corinth was one where he was coming in all

guns blazing and having to sort out mess.

He says, I don't like doing that all of the time.

The delay was for them to change so that he could come with

joyous love and affection. Any parents here relate with

Paul's heart and that Why does it always seem like I'm having

to tell your kids off? We hate doing that.

And isn't that a point of conflict often between husband

and wife? Why am I always the one who's

made to look like the bad guy? That's Paul's heart here for

them. It's a loving concern.

And 2nd in that flying out from that, he wanted them to grow

spiritually. And so the delay and, and the

response to take Paul's words from his, his letter written in

First Corinthians and to then work through it and apply it and

correct. That's his heart in verse 24.

And then thirdly, he didn't want to come in in, in heaviness

verses one through to 4 of chapter 2.

So what was all of this in reference to?

What's what's he on about? What's he talking about here?

And we'll explain as we get to our last point tonight.

But here in this Paul, he wasn't reactionary.

He was pastoral. He delayed his visit to spare

them, not because he was afraid, but because he was waiting,

hoping, desirous of praying for what?

Repentance in them, an opportunity for joy when he

would visit and for reconciliation, as Paul says in

verse 24 of chapter 1. Not that we Lord it over your

faith, but we work with you for your joy.

And that's a striking statement about leadership and about

spiritual leadership. You know the heart for anyone

over a body of believers here. His heart was grieved to them,

not because of the personal offence, not because of what was

being said about the about him by by members in the group, but

that he loved them. And verse 4 shows that Paul

wrote with many tears in chapter 2 to call them back.

And so he delayed his visit not out of fear, but out of pastoral

care. He didn't want to cause more

pain, but rather create room for repentance and joy.

And in this way, what what Paul patents here for you and I is

the patience and kindness of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is told in John chapter 10 to be the Good Shepherd who

John 10 · chapter mention

walks with his flock for their joy.

His delays. We read in John Chapter 11 the

John 11 · chapter mention

very next chapter with Lazarus. Remember he'd he'd been dead for

four days before Jesus came. Wasn't out of neglect on Jesus

part, but out of a purposeful, loving desire for God's glory

and joy to be fulfilled. So in our lives we know it to be

true. This is how it works.

Sometimes we might hold off as parents in an area of

discipline. We're in times past, we know,

no, I, I need to sort that out. I need to handle that directly

and deal with that. But then on another occasion,

it's not indifference, but it's a strategic point of love where

where we're, we're holding off correction in the hope that our

child will self correct having, you know, learnt from the last

time, right. There's, there's different ways

that we handle that. Sometimes the most loving thing

to do is, is to give some space. And, and that's what Paul was

doing here. He wanted to use words to build

up. And sometimes we do that instead

of coming heavy handed all the time.

It's like, man, I feel like I'm constantly just being being

heavy in my tone, in my words. I'm going to try a different

tack here and try and encourage and build up and direct them.

And so, you know, haven't you found that people of every age

need encouragement sometimes more than criticism?

Or it's, it's tactful in the way that we do that.

That's Paul here, that's his heart.

And that's that's a wonderful thing for us to glean and to

learn and to apply in our lives. So there's a loving concern.

And then lastly, A forgiving heart in verses 5 to 11.

But if anyone has caused grief is not grieved me, but all of

you to some extent not to be too severe.

This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is

sufficient for such a man, so that On the contrary, you ought

rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a 1 be

swallowed up with too much sorrow.

Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.

But to this end I also wrote verse 9 that I might put you to

the test whether you are obedient in all things.

Now, whom you forgive anything, I also forgive.

For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that

one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan

should take advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his

devices. What's Paul on about here?

Paul moves now from confrontation to restoration.

What he's addressing is likely the area, the matter of church

discipline that was brought up back in First Corinthians and it

was a pretty heavy issue and matter.

Remember in chapter 5, they had a situation where a man through

his conduct, Paul said you're tolerating his behaviour of a, a

sexual nature that's not even named amongst the pagans and

you're, you're almost celebrating it in the church and

you're boastful of how tolerant you are as a group.

He he told them specifically in chapter 5, you need to get him

out of the church for his benefit and for the benefit of

the body that it not contaminate the church, but that that he

learn the judgement and be given over to the enemy Satan, so that

he comes to his senses. And so it seems that Paul's

words back in One Corinthians chapter 5, that they'd actually

listened and obeyed, that they had kicked this fellow out of

the church. He'd actually been sleeping with

his stepmother. It kicked him out of the church,

and it led to him repenting, turning away from his sin.

But you know what They had done? Instead of welcomed him back

into the church with forgiveness, they continued to

excommunicate him, so to speak. And Paul says don't do that.

If he's repented, let forgiveness flow and allow him

back, and allow him back so that verse 7, he's not swallowed up

with sorrow to the point where the grief just overwhelms him,

where is just constantly a sense of guilt overwhelming and

pressing heavy upon him in such a way.

And then forgive him and welcome him back so that it confirms

your love for him verse 8. And so that then in verse 10,

you can represent Christ's forgiveness that you've received

out to him. And then in verse 11 that you

outsmart Satan as a consequence. For if we left him out, Satan

would have his way and it would be a point where Satan would

take advantage of not only him, but you and think of all of the

damage that could be done as a consequence of that.

So he says, forgive, welcome him back.

Enough is enough. Paul essentially says in verse

6, the punishment worked, it woke him up.

Ecclesiastes 3, verse one to everything there's a season, a

purpose. It served its purpose.

Now welcome him back, restore him under fellowship.

It's time to forgive. It's time to let God's grace

flow. It's time to see him grow and

for that to be worked out in his life.

Warren Weirsby says it clearly. He says this unforgiveness gives

Satan a foothold and Paul knew that the broken fellowship that

was going on here, if it wasn't going to be healed, could become

like a spiritual quicksand for them in the church.

And so he says, forgive that forgiveness flow.

And in that it's a reminder to you and I of, of what Christ

taught and what Christ example that that forgiveness is very

much to be a part of our interactions with one another.

When Jesus was talking about forgiveness, Peter said, Jesus,

how many times should I forgive my brother if he wrongs me?

The common level that the rabbi's were teaching was a good

level of forgiveness was three times.

And Paul said, and Peter said at that point in time, well, I'll

give you another three and I'll raise it.

How about 7 times? Lord thinking he was pretty

good. And Jesus response back to Peter

was what I tell you 70 * 7 Peter.

In other words, inexhaustibly let forgiveness flow, allow

grace to come in. Now Paul's example here in in

light as we close of, of what he has been dealing with, what he's

been addressing with the church at Corinth.

It offers a map for you and I for a life of integrity when

we're in crisis, when we're under fire, whether it be

through false accusations, through verbal things said about

us, whatever the case might be. And it really reinforces this

simple truth about you and I as Christians, and that is this

expect criticism, expect difficulty in that way.

Jesus faced it, Paul faced it, and so will you and I.

And you can be serving the Lord with a right heart, with a, with

a good attitude and, and proper motives.

And you know, you can still be attacked by others who will say

things that hurt, that are lacking in truth, unfounded.

And they might attack your words.

They might attack your, your works, they might attack your

motives. Serving the Lord often brings

hardship. Don't give up and throw in the

towel and that difficulty comes. Three things that Paul did here

will help you keep going. Have a clear conscience.

You can say what you will. You can level what accusations

you want, but I know that that before God, I've conducted

myself in simplicity and godly sincerity.

I've got a clear conscience. None of what you say holds true.

None of what you're thinking is real.

I know who and what I am before God Almighty.

My conscience is clear. And secondly, have a loving

concern, a loving concern. And, and that can be difficult

in light of criticism, can't it? In light of how we're, we're

feeling and, and how our heart and our minds and our emotions

are going. And that's why we need to dig

into God's word. That's why we need the Holy

Spirit to help us. God man you, you know where my

heart's AT and I'm I'm full of hate.

I'm full of anger right now. It hurts what they've said and

what they've done. I give you my heart, help my

heart to be 1 of love and and may that love come from you and

it flows on to the third having a forgiving heart.

And so we need to wait on God in that.

Don't seek revenge. The Bible says God, it says,

vengeance is mine. I will repay, says the Lord.

I'll take care of it, trust me, I'll look after it.

Seek his vindication, but trust him.

With that, let me finish with this story.

The story is told of a judge in a town who had been frequently

ridiculed by a conceited lawyer. And when asked by a friend why

it was that the judge wouldn't rebuke this assailant when again

and again these accusations would be levelled, he replied,

In our town lives a widow who has a dog, and whenever the moon

shines, it goes outside and barks all night at the moon.

Having said that, the judge then moved on, shifting the

conversation to another subject matter.

And finally someone frustrated by the lack of answer asked, But

judge, what about the dog and the moon?

Oh, he replied. The moon went on shining, that's

all. In other words, when you live

with integrity, no matter what people might bark at you shine

like the moon. Psalm 139 verse 23 to 24 Search

Psalms 139:23–24

me, oh God, and know my heart lead me in the everlasting way.

And so Paul, his character, his integrity, it mattered here

because it mirrored Jesus trustworthiness.

So what it was all about and that's why he he defends

himself. It's not that Paul really was

worried about what they were saying about him, but how it

impacted the gospel. His loving concern mattered

because it mirrored Jesus shepherd heart.

His forgiving spirit mattered because it mirrored Jesus mercy.

It all flows out from verse 19 and 20 of chapter one for the

Son of God. Jesus Christ was not yes and no,

but in Him it is always yes. All the promises of God find

their yes or their Amen in Him. And so when we live in and with

integrity, you know what we're doing?

We're in agreement. We're saying yes to God's truth.

When we show loving concern, we're in agreement.

We're saying yes to God's compassion, and when we forgive,

we're in agreement. We're saying yes to God's mercy.

And so, like the moon in the old judge's story, we shine not, not

because of ourselves, not because of anything within us,

but because listen to this. We reflect the light of the sun,

SON. That's what the moon does.

The moon has no light of its own.

The moon is a reflection of the sun.

SUN you and I, our lives are to what reflect Jesus Christ.

That's what Paul's addressing and writing and that's what his

reminder for you and you and I is.

We're we're to live as Christians lives of integrity

because we reflect Jesus Christ.