Corinthians 10 — 2 Corinthians 10

0:00 Good morning. Good morning. Second Corinthians chapter 10. And before we read the chapter, we'll just ask the Lord's blessing. Our God and our Father, we're thankful that we have your word.

0:18 We pray that the Holy Spirit might speak to us. As we read and review it and try to apply it to our lives, We pray that he might impress upon our minds first and then our hearts. The truths of the scriptures. That it might make a difference in our lives this coming week. For we ask it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

0:44 Amen. Second Corinthians chapter 10 and verse one. Now I, Paul, myself, am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. Who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent and bold towards you. But I beg you that when I am present, I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

1:23 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

1:56 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ, let him again consider this in himself. That just as he is Christ, so also we are Christ. For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction. I shall not be ashamed, unless I seem to terrify you by letters.

2:31 For his letters, they say, are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible. Let such a person consider this, that while we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be indeed when we are present. For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which god appointed us.

3:20 A sphere which especially includes you. For we are not overextending ourselves as though our authority did not extend to you. For it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ. Not boasting of things beyond measure, that is in other men's labors, but having hope that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere. To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you and not to boast in another man's sphere of accomplishment.

3:59 But he who glories, let him glory in the lord. For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends. Now as we look at this chapter, it's beginning the third section, major section in second Corinthians. The first seven chapters were one section. Chapters eight and nine that we just finished last week are the second.

5:16 In this chapter, they're adding many other accusations that we'll be looking at. And there's two major sections to this chapter. The first 11 verses, Paul in his apostolic humility is speaking about warfare and his authority. His vindication against his accusers. In verses 12 through 18, it's Paul's apostolic service and it's limited according to the will of God.

5:59 As he begins the chapter in verse one, it's a different aspect than he's used so many times because it's a very personal statement. Now I, Paul, myself. And he's pleading or exhorting them. And he does so by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. And you could say, well, if he's trying to vindicate himself, why doesn't he do it by the power and by the authority that's been given him?

6:44 But he says, it's by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. We remember that the Lord Jesus, when he was taken prisoner, And at his crucifixion, it was all the pain, the agony, the shame, the torture he was going through. He said, father, forgive them. They know not what they do. The meekness and gentleness of Christ.

7:27 In first Peter chapter two and verse 23, we read concerning the Lord who when he was reviled, did not revile in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but he committed himself to him who judges righteously. In Matthew eleven and twenty nine, the savior could say, as he had invited those to come to him that were weary and heavy laden and he would give them rest. He said, take my yoke and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart And you shall find rest for your souls. And so Paul is imitating his savior and lord.

8:25 And in verse two, he says, but I beg that when I am present, may not be bold toward you. In verse one, he had been charged that in present, he was lowly. And that word really is a very derogatory word. And so we find that they were really calling him cowardly. You that write so boldly in your letters Paul, when you come, you're a coward.

9:08 You don't really have the... Any boldness. And he said, but I intend to be bold against some who think that we walk according to the flesh. They're saying, he walks in a way that tries to puff himself up. He's trying to present himself as better than the rest of us.

9:34 And instead, they were actually trying to present themselves better than Paul. Verse three, he said, though we walk in the flesh, we do not war in the flesh according to the flesh. He said, our warfare is spiritual. It's not material. It's not with swords and spears, but it's also not with carnal weapons such as eloquent words, cleverness, trying to glorify ourselves.

10:18 He said, our warfare is spiritual. And as you remember what he wrote into the Galatians five. Walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh, these are contrary to one another. And so we...

11:27 They resisted God and his authority because they closed their minds. You know, things haven't changed. We have that same issue today in a very real way. There are so many in the world, And when you run into them, then get into a discussion with them. Let's say, well, that's okay for you.

12:00 But we look at things different. We don't think we really are responsible to God. We're our own God. We set our own standards. The knowledge of God is something they don't want to face.

12:26 Because if there is a God, then they're responsible to a God. The way they live their lives. And people today do not want... I'm making a general statement. There are some that are really searching.

12:45 I don't want to be dogmatic that everybody is against the knowledge of God. But the general tone of this country, and we've seen it for so many years. We're thankful that there are some that are truly trying to get back to God. We're thankful even that president Trump said today should be a day of prayer for the state of Texas, and particularly the city of Houston, Corpus Christi. A couple years ago, we never would have had the press...

13:25 Former presidents make that statement. But he's... What did Paul is saying? We are not our own. In first Corinthians six, he said, for you are not your own, for you were bought with a price.

13:53 Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. In verse seven he says, do you look at the outward appearance of things? They were used to looking at their speakers. Did they have a commanding presence? Did they have eloquence?

14:24 Or did they have inward reality? Paul is saying, what you want is the reality, not the appearance. In first Samuel 16, when they were trying to choose which of Jesse's sons would be anointed as the future king. Man, look at that the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. In verse eight, they were minimizing...

15:01 I'm talking about the minority. The minority was minimizing God's servant. But he says, I have what they don't have. And he was not bragging. He had God's authority for edifying the church.

16:00 But in this verse, he said, our authority which the Lord gave us and our authority. He's speaking about those that labored with him. He was not trying to put himself on a pedestal, but he was speaking about all that were laboring with him. In verse 10, he answers some more of their charges. For they were saying for his letters are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible.

16:51 His letters are weighty. They're very impressive. They can't be overlooked or neglected. That's what his enemies were saying. His writings are so powerful, we can't overlook them.

17:15 But when we come to his physical presence, he's weak. He doesn't have an impressive physique. Now, as we consider Paul's appearance, and we don't know what it was, But we do know from chapter 12 that he had a thorn in the flesh. Some affliction that God had given allowed to... Paul to have.

17:47 That was very, very, very difficult for him to to deal with. But also whoever takes the next chapter, chapter 11. Paul speaks about some of the suffering and some of the torture that he went through for the sake of the gospel. He said, five times I was whipped thirty nine nine stripes. Three times, I was beaten with rods.

18:24 I was stoned. At Lystra, he was stoned and dragged outside the city and left for dead. All that suffering had to take its toll on his body. And in Galatians six verse 17, he said, from now on let no man trouble me for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. And that word marks really means brand marks.

19:01 The marks of ownership, like they would brand a cow so no one else could take it. Paul said, I bear in my body the brand marks. What I've suffered for the sake of the one that owns me, for the sake of the one that I serve, and that has sent me to preach the gospel. They said his speech is contemptible. In first Corinthians two in verse one, he said, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom.

19:50 A couple of verses later in verse four of that chapter, my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit and of power. Not human wisdom, but a demonstration of the holy spirit and the power that he gives. In verse 11, That such a person consider this, though while we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will be indeed when we are present. Paul is saying, when I come, you who say that I'm so weak and contemptible, I'll be just as powerful when I get there as what I have written. And then as we come to verse 12, and you start reading verse 12 and you're saying, themselves, themselves, themselves, to themselves, and you go through.

22:02 They had a boastful spirit. And they looked at Paul with scorn. He said, he doesn't measure up. But they were using the wrong standard. Because in verse 13, Paul says, we will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us.

22:33 And this word for sphere is the field of service that God appointed. And Paul says, it includes you Corinthians. It especially includes you because we came with the gospel. We preached the gospel and we labored among you for months. You turned to God.

22:57 The assembly was formed. I spent time teaching you and I've written to you in my letters to help you understand. But we find that these men that say, we have no business coming and teaching you because we're false teachers. And say Paul's not a true apostle. He's a false apostle.

23:35 He said, how can you say that? Because you know that in verse 14, Paul was saying, we're not over extending ourselves to come to you. You've been our field of labor. I've made my missionary trips. I've spent time in your midst.

23:57 And we are not trying to extend beyond what God has given us for a field of labor. And in verse 15 he says, we're not boasting of other men's labors. I'm not trying to take credit for what others have done. He said in first Corinthians three, I have planted, apostle watered, but God gave the increase. And so we find that Paul is able to commend other brethren that labored there as well.

24:44 In verse 16, to preach the gospel in regions beyond you. He said, that's my sphere as well. Not just to stop at Corinth, but to go beyond. He had a pioneer gospel spirit. He didn't want to just come and preach where others had already preached before.

25:17 And just keep your finger here and turn to Romans 15, please. In verse 18 of Romans 15. Paul says, for I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me. In word indeed to make the Gentiles obedient. In mighty signs and wonders by the power of the spirit of God.

25:58 So from Jerusalem and roundabout to Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. And so I made it my aim to preach the gospel, now where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation. So from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum. You say, well, where where's Illyricum? It's modern day Albania.

26:31 In other words, Paul had gone through Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Lebanon, Turkey, crossed over into Greece, gone down the coast of Greece, gone up the Western Coast, and gone to Albania preaching the gospel. But he also says that he was really intending to take the gospel to Rome and then to Spain. He had a tremendous gospel spirit taking the gospel to those that had not heard it. In verse 17, he has a verse that he also wrote to the Corinthians in the first epistle. First Corinthians one and thirty one has the same verse.

28:06 He was the weeping prophet. But I ran across these two verses and it made such an impression. Jeremiah nine and twenty three, thus says the lord, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom. Let not the mighty man glory in his might. Nor let the rich man glory in his riches.

28:32 But let him who glories, glory in this that he understands and knows me. That I am the Lord, exercising loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight, says the Lord. Let him that glory, glory in the Lord. Then he says, for he who commends himself is not approved, but whom the Lord commends.

29:09 In other words, self commendation is just as bad as self glorification, self righteousness. For whom the Lord commends. When Paul was writing his final letter, the one to Timothy in second Timothy four in verses six through eight. He tells Timothy, the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight.

29:49 I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Therefore, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day. And not to me only, but to all who love his appearing. The time of my departure is at hand and Paul's evaluating his life.

30:18 And he's doing it in an honest appraisal. It's not puffery. I have fought a good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.

30:35 May these words burn within our conscience and be the goal that we would seek for. Now, with every interpretation, there should be applications in our life today. What's going to change for how we live in this coming week? The first question I would have us look at is, how do we react to false charges? Paul could have reacted in righteous indignation because the charges of those false teachers, the minority, were total fabrication.

31:24 He reacted in a way that says, where it reflects upon the honor of Christ, I will answer. And he was writing what we have is an... The second epistle. It's part of the canon of scripture. And he had to defend himself for the honor and glory of God.

31:48 But we also looked at the fact that the savior on the cross. Father, forgive them. Pilate said, you've heard all these charges. What do you have to say in your defense? He was silent because he knew he was fulfilling the will of God.

32:52 I'm a soldier for the Lord. I'm in a spiritual warfare. He used prayer. He used the word of God. He refers several times in his letters to the old testament.

33:16 And as we already looked at, Galatians five, walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. But I also warn them, don't concentrate on external appearances. Concentrate on the message. And you know, are are three of the Lord's servants that I've heard through the last several years that were very handicapped. One brother confined to a wheelchair and even preached from a wheelchair at the front of the auditorium.

34:05 Another brother, and I really appreciate his ministry. It's powerful. It's searching. Walks with a tremendous limp. And the third brother is in glory right now.

34:25 For a number of years, he walked first with one cane, then with two canes, and it was painful to watch him walk to the front. But he had a powerful message. It's not the physical, it's the message. And if we could only understand and get past the externals and listen to what God is saying through his word, it's searching, it's edifying. But what I'd like to focus on the last few minutes is Paul was preaching by the direction and with the knowledge, the will of God was exactly where he was laboring.

35:25 And you know, we all struggle sometimes with the... Trying to know the will of God for our lives. Because God's word has several principles, but it doesn't have all the specifics. For the younger ones, God has principles concerning a life's partner. That is to be a believer.

36:02 And hopefully, a believer that's a spiritual believer because it makes life so much easier. But it doesn't say she's the one or he's the one. Sometimes finding a job or choosing which university to go to, God doesn't say, I want you over there. Or this is the company to work for. But, you know, there are principles.

36:41 And some... It's been often compared to trying to come into a channel to the harbor. At night, we're in a fog. And you're trying to figure out where's the channel, but there are the marker lights. And if you get the first marker, the second, the third, the fourth, all lined up.

37:10 You know where the channel is. And the first light has been compared to God's word. Because God's word and God's will will never be in conflict. God's word gives guidance, gives principles. But the second light has been compared to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and prayer.

37:43 So often when we're praying, we need to stop asking. We need to listen. And sometimes that's hard to do. Sometimes for a younger one, it might even be a shock. If we stop praying and still in the attitude of prayer and say, Lord, what do you want me to hear?

38:11 Guide me. And the spirit of God will bring things to your mind. The third light has been compared to the counsel of mature Godly Christians. Sometimes if you're wanna just ask someone. What do you think?

38:38 I've... Or what did you do when you were my age? I've had that question asked. And you know, as you think of it, it puts a responsibility on the older mature Christian. The fourth flight is circumstances in the event events of life.

39:04 You know, sometimes though, we try to make that the first light and we can sometimes get way off the channel. That should be the last one because circumstances sometimes could even be dictated by demonic forces and warfare against the believer. So we need to be sure that if that light of circumstances lines up with the others, That's what we should be saying. That's another fleece that the Lord has answered. But it shouldn't be the first one.

41:00 He was exhausted so many times. He was in repeated dangers, suffering abuse and torture, criticized unfairly. But he didn't allow... He did not allow that to sidetrack him. My authority is from God to preach the gospel and to build up the assemblies.

41:32 And father, we're so thankful for the fact that we have recorded for us his labors and his words for our study, for our imitation. May we go in for what Paul says as he finishes the chapter. It is the Lord's commendation that matters. Father, help us to go in for it, we pray. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

42:02 Amen.