July 26, 2015
Morning Service

II Cor. 10

 

In chapters 8 & 9 Paul has been encouraging the Church at Corinth to be faithful, and liberal, in their offering, to the poor saints in Jerusalem.  In chapter 16 of I Corinthians, they were in the process of gathering this offering, and Paul told them to take it up before he arrived.  He also is using the churches of Macedonia as an example of liberal giving.  The Macedonian churches were not nearly as rich as the church at Corinth, but they gave themselves to Lord first, then they were able to give beyond how they had been prospered by God.  Paul says this is how everyone should give to Lord’s work. 

 

Now let’s continue with chapter 10:

 

2Co 10:1-18  Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:  (2)  But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.  (3)  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 

·         Remember how your Mother, or Dad used to say, “you don’t want me to have to come in there.”  You recognized they would forceful if they did.  This is what Paul is saying to the Corinthians.  “Don’t make me to come to you in force, you won’t like it.”

·         Paul has a lot to say about walking in the flesh in his writings.  This is a very important topic in Christianity.  He says yes, I am in the body, but I don’t walk after the things of the flesh.

·         To the Romans he says:

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.   This is one of the best chapters for this topic.  There’s no judgment to those who walk after the Spirit, and not after the flesh.

·         Gal 5:16-21  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  (17)  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  (18)  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.  (19)  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  (20)  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  (21)  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

·         These are the attributes we must work on putting them out of our lives.  Listen to Paul speak to the church at Colosse. Col 3:5-9  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:  (6)  For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:  (7)  In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.  (8)  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.  (9)  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

·         We need not deceive ourselves, our flesh wars against the things of the Spirit, just as did Paul’s.  However, Once we have been baptized into Christ we should strive to put on Christ, His attributes; Gal 5:22-25  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  (23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  (24)  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  (25)  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

 

·         And in chapter 7 of Romans Paul explains why we do, and feel like we do, sometimes.  The flesh waring against the Spirit.

·         So how does Paul war against the flesh?

(4)  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  (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;  (6)  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 

·         Phil. 4:13; “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.”  This Christ lives in us to help us be overcomers.  1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

·         A lot of the time, we think it easier just to succumb to the temptation, than to do battle with satan.   Our God is much more powerful than satan, and satan knows it.

(7)  Do ye look on things after the outward appearance?

·         There are those that put a lot of stock in the outward appearance, but, God looks on the heart.  This is not to say our outward appearance is not important, because it is.  But, if the heart is right, the outward appearance will be there also.

If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.  (8)  For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: 

·         To the church, our teaching should be one of edification, and not destruction.  For the sinner, it is a call to repentance, the destruction of the flesh, and a new life serving Christ, after the waters of Baptism.

(9)  That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.  (10)  For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.  (11)  Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. 

·         Rest assured friends when I come to you, I will be just as I am in my letters.

(12)  For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 

·         We know this is not wise to compare ourselves to others.  It’s just something you should never do.

(13)  But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.  (14)  For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: 

·         We are staying within our calling, and that is to preach the gospel of Christ.

(15)  Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours;

·         Rom 15:20  Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:

but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,  (16)  To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. 

·         Paul preferred to be the first to preach the gospel, rather than come in after someone else had already established a teaching.

(17)  But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.  (18)  For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

 

ALMIGHTY GOD, HELP US TO WAR AGAINST THE FLESH, THAT WE MIGHT BE COMMENDED BY YOU.  AMEN.