2 Corinthians Ch10v1-18 - Standing Strong

If you could please turn in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians chapter 10, which is on page 1165 of your church Bibles.

2 Corinthians 10 · chapter mention

! So 2 Corinthians chapter 10, and starting in verse 1.

2 Corinthians 10 · chapter mention

By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you.

I, Paul, who am timid when face to face with you, but bold towards you when away.

I beg you that when I come, I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be towards some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.

On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,

and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience once your obedience is complete.

You are judging by appearances.

If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.

So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down,

I will not be ashamed of it.

I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters.

For some say his letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.

Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.

When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.

We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits,

but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us,

a sphere that also includes you.

We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you,

for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ.

Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others.

Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow,

our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand,

so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you.

For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else's territory.

But let the one who boasts boast in the Lord,

for it is not the one who commands himself who is approved,

but the one whom the Lord commands.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Well, good evening. Nice to see you.

Hello.

Good evening.

That's good.

Glad there's someone there.

Well, let's pray and ask for God's help.

Father, thank you.

Thank you for your grace,

your kindness,

and your love.

Thank you that you give to us all that we need

to live the Christian life.

And help us now as we listen to your word,

that you will speak to us afresh,

and that you will strengthen us individually,

and strengthen us together as your people.

For we need you.

And it's in Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

Amen.

Sorry, just a sec there.

It's Monday morning,

and you arrive at work.

Despite working through the weekend,

you are the first one in the office.

Such is your dedication,

your commitment,

and your concern.

At coffee break,

your boss calls you into the office.

But you know that by his tone,

things are not good.

No need to sit down.

I've come to the conclusion

that you're not up to the task.

You're far too weak.

You're very unimpressive.

You don't measure up.

You're just too ordinary.

What we need are people

who are self-assured and self-sufficient.

There's no place for you here.

How would you feel?

Small?

Inadequate?

Embarrassed?

Well, that's not unlike the situation

the Apostle Paul finds himself in

that we come to in chapter 10.

Having brought the gospel to Corinth,

having seen a church being planted,

having cared for them for many years,

having loved them deeply,

it seems that there is a push

to get them out of the church.

In chapters 1 to 7,

there was pushback against his message.

And then in these closing chapters,

in chapters 10 to 13,

it seems there is a pushback

against the messenger,

Paul himself.

You see, new leaders had come into town

and they had been influencing the church.

Don't bother with that Paul character.

He's on his way out.

He's far too weak.

Look at verse 1.

I, Paul, who am timid.

He's all bark and no bite.

And he doesn't seem to be very impressive.

Look at verse 10.

This is Paul writing about

what these people say about him.

For some say his letters are weighty and forceful,

but in person,

he is unimpressive.

And his speaking amounts to nothing.

He's a terrible preacher.

Or look at verse 15.

Where they're saying he simply doesn't measure up.

It seems to be that they were

fighting amongst themselves

as to all the different places

they had been to share the gospel

and the great work they'd done.

But Paul responds, verse 15,

neither do we go beyond our limits

by boasting of work done by others.

They were simply saying

his ministry influence

wasn't up to scratch.

In fact, some don't even think

that Paul is a Christian.

Look at verse 7.

You are judging by appearances.

If anyone is confident

that they belong to Christ,

well, they should consider again

that we belong to Christ

just as much as they do.

Now, we mightn't face

the same kind of level of pushback,

but I think we all have experienced

being criticised.

Our Christian values and our opinions

aren't always accepted,

but rejected.

It can be hard to live

the Christian life

in this world,

especially when we go to work

or mix with our friends.

We can feel weak.

What could I ever do?

We feel unimpressive.

What do I have to offer?

We might feel we lack influence.

What difference can I possibly make

in my sphere of friends?

In fact, even in our down days,

we can feel, verse 7,

that we don't even belong to Christ.

So what's our answer to this?

What's your response?

What can we say?

Well, for the most part,

we can say,

it's actually true, isn't it?

We are weak.

We are unimpressive.

We are lacking influence.

We don't always measure up

as a Christian.

You see, we are following

the way of Christ.

Look at how Paul responded

to these accusations

and criticisms.

Verse 1.

By the humility

and gentleness of Christ,

I appeal to you.

How would you respond

if you were faced

with such criticism?

Would you get your back up

and respond with anger

and aggression?

No, he says,

we are Christ people.

It's with humility

and gentleness

that we respond.

You see,

we don't live

as the world does.

Look at verse 2.

I beg you

that when I come,

I may not have to be

as bold

or as forceful

as I expect to be

towards some people

who think

that we live

by the standards

of this world.

For though we live

in the world,

we do not wage war

as the world does.

Yes,

we live in the world,

but our standards

are not the standards

of the world.

We don't strive

for self-sufficiency.

We strive for humility.

We don't aspire

to be self-assured.

We aspire

to be gentle.

This is the way

of Christ

who said,

you can see it there

on the screen,

what Jesus said,

take my yoke upon you

and learn from me,

for I am gentle

and humble

of heart

and you will find rest

for your souls.

That's Jesus.

What's he like?

He's gentle

and humble

of heart.

The prophet Isaiah

spoke of Christ

in this way.

He will not shout

or cry out

or raise his voice

in the streets.

He's humble.

A bruised reed

he will not break

and a smouldering wick

he will not snuff out.

He's gentle.

You see,

this is the way

of Christ.

And when Christ

came into the world,

he faced opposition,

he faced accusation,

and he came

in weakness.

He wasn't

very impressive.

He lacked influence.

He walked

to the cross

humbly

and prayed,

not my will,

but your will

be done.

He looked upon

his enemies

from the cross,

gently

praying,

Father,

forgive them.

He died

a death

of shame

and scorn,

but yet

it was through

his death

that we find

forgiveness

of all of our sin,

a new life

and eternal joy.

You see,

we live

in this world,

but as Christians,

we don't live

by the standards

of this world.

We respond

to every injustice

with humility

and every rejection

with gentleness.

we follow

the way

of Christ

amidst

criticism

and judgment.

We go

his way.

However,

being humble

and being

gentle

does not

mean

hopeless

and helpless.

You see,

we have been

given all

that we need

to stand

strong

in the face

of all

pushback

that we

may face.

Three things

from this text

we're going to see

that we have been

given by God

to enable us

to stand

strong

every time

we face

pushback,

every time

we're criticized,

every time

we are judged

wrongly.

We have been

given

divine power,

gospel authority

and the

Lord's

commendation.

everything we

need

to be able

to stand

strong

in the face

of accusation

and opposition.

So first,

we have been

given

divine power

to fight

the enemies

of Christ.

Divine power.

Verse three.

For though

we live

in the world,

we do not

wage war

as the world

does.

No,

the weapons

we fight

with

are not

the weapons

of the world.

On the

contrary,

they have

divine power

to demolish

strongholds.

Now this

isn't a

physical battle.

It isn't

fought with

suicide bombers

and gun

attacks.

No,

this is a

spiritual

battle

fought with

the word

of God

and the

spirit of

God.

It's a war

that sets

people free

from strongholds.

It releases

those who are

enslaved in

unbelief

to trust

in Christ.

You see,

this war

isn't about

us.

It's about

those who are

opposed to

Christ,

those who

are enemies

of Christ.

So how

do you

and I,

as we face

this new

week,

and we go

to work

or spending

time with

friends,

how do we

fight this

spiritual

battle?

Well,

we must

know where

the battle

is.

Verse 4,

pay attention

and see where

the battle

is.

Verse 4,

the weapons

we fight

with are

not the

weapons

of the

world.

On the

country,

they have

divine power

to demolish

strongholds.

We demolish

arguments

and every

pretension

that sets

itself up

against the

knowledge of

God,

and we

take captive

every thought

to make it

obedient

to Christ.

You see,

the battle

lies in

the hearts

and in

the minds

of people.

People

don't

believe the

gospel

because they

have believed

the devil's

lies.

Back in

chapter 4,

verse 5,

you might

remember it

says,

the God

of this

age,

who's the

God of

this age?

But Satan

has blinded

the minds

of unbelievers.

They're in

his

stronghold.

They listen,

verse 5,

to the

arguments

of this

age.

The

argument

that will

say,

no,

you're

God.

It's

your

life.

It's

your

body.

It's

your

choice.

You

decide

who you

want to

be,

and you

decide to

be the

person you

want to

be.

You

live however

you please,

as long

as you're

happy,

and it

makes you

glad.

you live

that way.

It's the

cult of

self.

And yet,

surprisingly,

we're the

most lonely

and insecure

people

possible.

They've

been

entrapped.

They've

listened

to the

lies.

Look at

the end

of verse

5.

We take

captive

every

thought

to make

it obedient

to Christ.

every

idea

that we

hear,

every

philosophy,

every

thought

that sets

itself up

against

Christ,

we seek

to win

over so

that they

become

obedient

to the

gospel.

That's

where the

battle is.

It's in

people's

hearts

and in

their

minds.

So how

do we

change

people's

hearts

and minds?

Think of

the people

who we

mix with,

the people

that we

know,

who are

in that

stronghold

of

unbelief.

How are

we going

to change

their hearts

and change

their minds

to think

differently?

How do

we fight

this war

and convince

people of

the truth?

Well,

we know

where the

battle is.

It's in

hearts and

minds.

We've

got to

know what

our

weapon

is.

Verse

4.

The

weapons we

fight

with are

not the

weapons of

the world.

On the

contrary,

they have

divine power

to demolish

strongholds.

Divine

power to

demolish

arguments.

Divine

power to

take people

captive for

Christ.

What is

this divine

power that

we've been

given?

Well,

it's not

by being

clever and

sophisticated.

It's not

by being

bullish and

arrogant.

It's by

the humble

gospel message

with the

spirit's

gentle

work.

Those are

our weapons.

The humble

gospel message

and the

spirit's

gentle

work.

As people

hear the

truth that

Jesus Christ

is God,

as we

proclaim the

victory of

Christ over

sin by his

death, as we

declare Christ

triumphant over

death by his

resurrection, as

we humbly and

gently speak of

Christ, so

hearts and

minds are

set free from

the stronghold

of unbelief.

Everyone here

this evening

who is a

Christian has

been won

over by

God's divine

power at

work in

your life.

If you're

not yet a

Christian,

you are still

in that

stronghold of

unbelief,

believing the

lies, the

false

arguments.

Now, none

of us have

power to

change anybody's

heart or

mind.

Remember, we're

weak, we're

unimpressive, we

don't measure

up.

But, go

back to

chapter 4 with

me a minute,

chapter 4,

verse 7.

A similar

argument was

here, we're

weak, we're

unimpressive, we

don't measure

up, but,

chapter 4,

verse 7, we

have this

treasure in

jars of clay

to show that

this all

surpassing

power is

from God,

not from

us.

jars of

clay,

cracked

pots,

we're

fragile,

we're

disposable,

but within

us we have

this treasure

from God,

the treasure

that is the

simple,

humble,

gospel

message,

and the

gentle work

of God's

spirit.

That is

God's all

surpassing

power in

our lives

so that

as we

speak his

truth,

lives are

changed.

We may be

humble and

gentle,

but we're

not hopeless

and helpless.

We've been

given divine

power to

fight the

enemies of

Christ.

Christ.

So when

you go to

work tomorrow

morning or

wherever you

are and

whatever you

do, go

with confidence.

God has

given you

divine power

in the

gospel message.

Second,

what do we

have second?

We have

gospel authority

to strengthen

the church of

Christ.

gospel authority

to strengthen

the church of

Christ.

You see,

being in this

battle can be

tough.

In fact,

as we face

resistance to

the gospel,

it can shake

our confidence.

And all of us

here need to be

strengthened.

And the

encouragement in

this section is

we have all the

resources to

encourage one

another as we

follow Christ.

Christ.

But first,

we must know

where the

struggle is.

Look at

verse 7.

Back to

chapter 10.

Chapter 10,

verse 7.

You are

judging by

appearances.

If anyone

is confident

that they

belong to

Christ,

they should

consider again

that we

belong to

Christ just

as much

as they

do.

Let me

ask you a

heart-searching

question.

If you're a

Christian,

have you ever

doubted that

you belong to

Christ?

Have you ever

doubted that?

I do.

On most

days, I

feel my

weakness.

I struggle

that I'm not

very impressive.

I look at

my so-called

successes and

I know I

don't measure

up.

And then I

have a look

inside.

And I

look at my

sin and my

failure.

And I

wonder if I'm

a Christian

at all.

And I say

this not

because I'm

unique,

but because I

think it's how

we can all

feel at times.

But look

what it says,

verse 7.

you're judging

by

appearances.

The

accusations and

the criticisms

against Paul

were all

external.

You see,

a lack of

results,

or even of

great successes,

is not the

measure of

where you

and I

belong to

Christ.

Whether we're

struggling with

sin, or we're

faithful in

obedience, that

isn't the

measure of

whether we

belong to

Christ.

You see, we

can so easily

fall into the

trap of

thinking as

the world

does.

No, we

don't judge

by appearances.

The Christian

life isn't

based on my

performance.

Our ministry

life isn't

assessed by

success.

We live by

something better

and greater.

We know

the struggle,

we know

where we're

weak, and

so we know

where we go

to, to the

source, to be

strengthened.

We can be

confident that

we do belong

to Christ, no

matter what

anybody might

say, or

however I

might feel.

Look at

verse 8.

So even if I

boast somewhat

freely about the

authority the

Lord gave us

for building

you up, rather

than tearing

you down, I

will not be

ashamed of

it.

Paul is

saying, look,

we need to

go back to

the authority

of the

gospel.

Paul had

received a

message, but

it wasn't

something that

he had made

up himself to

make us feel

good about

ourselves.

As if we're

going to

counsellor

Paul and

told, sit

down here on

the therapy

chair and

let me tell

you things

that you'll

feel better

about yourself.

No, he's

saying, I've

received gospel

authority,

authority from

the Lord, and

that authority

was the

assurance and

the confidence

of the

gospel.

Look at

verse 8.

The gospel

builds us

up.

It doesn't

tear us

down.

A wrong

understanding

of the

gospel will

break us

and destroy

us.

Living by

performance,

trying to

strive to

meet expectations

will crush

you.

Instead, he's

saying, I

want you to

go back to

the gospel

that I

told you

about,

where we

hear the

simple

truths that

through our

faith in

Christ,

through our

union in

Christ, we

are saved

and secure

forever.

Christ is

now our

stronghold.

He holds

us fast

and he

will not

let us

go.

Have a

look with

me to

chapter 1,

verse 21.

As we

remind

ourselves

of the

gospel truth

that we

need to

hear time

and time

again when

we struggle

in our

Christian life

and feel we

don't measure

up and I

don't belong

to Christ,

hear these

words.

Chapter 1,

verse 21.

Now it

is God

who makes

both us

and you

stand

firm

in Christ.

He

appointed

us,

set his

seal of

ownership

on us

and put

his spirit

in our

hearts

as a

deposit

guaranteeing

what is

to come.

Let's

go back

to chapter

10.

You see

we live

by the

authority

of the

gospel.

What

matters

is not

how I

feel

about

myself

or what

anybody

else

says

about

me

or

what

the

world

thinks

of

me.

What

matters

is what

the

gospel

says,

what

Christ

has

done

for

me

on

my

behalf.

Therefore

we can

say,

verse 7,

if anyone

is confident

that they

belong to

Christ,

they should

consider

again that

we too

belong to

Christ just

as much

as they

do.

So if

you're

struggling

today and

you're

wondering,

am I a

Christian?

Struggling

with sin?

Struggling

with criticism?

Hear the

word of

the gospel.

It is

what Christ

has done

for you

that

assures

you and

gives you

confidence

that you

are his

forever.

And so

we gather

and we

point each

other back

to Christ.

We

remind

one

another

of all

that Jesus

has done.

We build

each other

up.

We don't

tear each

other down.

We

strengthen

one another

with the

gospel as

we go

to battle

together.

We may

be humble

and gentle

but we

are not

hopeless and

helpless.

We have

gospel

authority

to strengthen

the church.

Third,

and I'm

going to

summarize this

quickly because

I know

time is

going and I

want to

get to

an application

or two.

But third,

we have

God's

commendation

to continue

the work

of Christ.

Now in

verses 12

to 18

it seems

that they

were arguing

amongst

themselves of

all the

different places

they'd been

and all the

effect and

influence they

had had and

they compared

themselves to

Paul and

thought well

Paul isn't

up to much

and look at

what we've

done and

look at the

churches we've

planted and

look how many

people have

been baptized

in our church

and all

these things

were going

on.

What does

Paul say

verse 12?

We do not

dare to

classify or

compare ourselves

with some

who commend

themselves.

When they

measure themselves

by themselves

and compare

themselves with

themselves,

they are not

wise.

Verse 18

For it is not

the one who

commends himself

who is approved

but the one

whom the Lord

commends.

You see if

you're a

Christian today

it's the

Lord who has

given you

approval.

It's the

Lord who

saved you

and equipped

you.

It's his

commendation

that we

stand on

and we go

forth in

confidence.

And what's

our calling?

Well look at

the middle of

verse 15.

Our hope is

that your

faith continues

to grow,

our sphere

of activity

among you

will greatly

expand so

that we can

preach the

gospel in

regions beyond

you.

That was his

simple way of

life, his

simple way of

thinking,

that God had

commended him

and approved

him to go and

preach the

gospel.

You don't

need anybody's

permission.

You don't

need your

boss's

permission.

You don't

need your

neighbour's

permission.

You don't

need the

government's

authority to

go and bring

the word of

God.

We keep

our head

down, we

live our

life simply

and we

continue on

the work

of Christ

as we

bring the

gospel to

others.

We have

God's

commendation,

we have

gospel

authority

authority and

we have

divine power

to do all

that God

has called

us to do.

Now let me

just make two

short comments

as we come

to a close.

You know

that we as

a church

are beginning

the process

of looking

for a new

pastor and

you may be

wondering,

well what kind

of person

should we be

looking for?

who could

be pastor?

Well I

think we

would be

very good

to pay

attention

to chapter

10 and

ask ourselves

the simple

question,

does this

man come

with humility

and gentleness?

Verse 1.

Is he

gentle?

Is he

humble?

Is he a

raging bull

who will

stamp you

down and

crush you?

Or will

he encourage

you and

support you?

Humble and

gentle.

Will he

come depending

on himself,

his cleverness,

his sophistication?

Or will

he come with

divine power?

Depending on

the gentle

gospel and

the humble

work of the

spirit.

Will he

depend on

divine power?

Will he

come with

gospel

authority?

Giving people

assurance and

confidence that

in all our

struggles,

in all our

life,

he will

bring you

back again

and again

to the

simple gospel

reminding you

of what

Christ has

done.

Will he

preach the

gospel to

you?

God

will

and does

he come

with the

Lord's

commendation?

Not

living a

life or

a ministry

of comparing

himself with

this church

or that

church or

this person

or that

person and

what they've

done and

what we

should be

doing.

But does

he come

approved by

the Lord

who keeps

his head

down and

continues to

preach the

gospel to a

community that

we live in

that are in

a stronghold

who have

listened to

lies and

false arguments?

That is the

kind of

pastor you

need.

At the

very least

that is what

you need.

But it's

not just

about a

pastor,

it's about

us as a

church.

Are we

humble and

gentle?

do we

live by

divine

power?

Are we

resting in

gospel

authority?

And are we

living with

the Lord's

commendation?

That is what

makes a

church,

that is what

makes a

pastor,

and that is

what gives

glory and

honour to

God.

Let's pray.

Amen.

Amen.

Lord, thank

you that you

do not

leave us

alone to

walk the

Christian life

or to

continue in

in our

ministry

individually

and as a

church.

But you

have given

us all

the resources,

your divine

power,

with gospel

authority and

the Lord's

commendation.

We go in

your strength

and in your

ability,

for we know

our weakness,

we know our

struggles,

and therefore

we depend

upon you.

Father, would

you please

provide the

right person

to pastor

this church,

and will

you continue

to shape

and mould

us to be

the kind

of church

you call

us to be.

In Jesus'

name,

Amen.