August 9, 2015
Morning Service

II Cor. 12

 

Two important topics appeared right at the beginning of chapter 11.

1.       How that the church is to be as pure as a virgin, and we are betrothed to Christ.

2.      Another place where Paul places a curse on those that would preach another gospel than the one he preached.

3.      And that this gospel is a simple one, we are complete when we are in Christ.

4.      He warned of false apostles, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

5.      Then he put forth a resume’, that’s what I would call it, of all that he had accomplished, and suffered through.  He called it foolish boasting.  Put’s us ministers today to shame.

Paul closed chapter 11, by describing how he had escaped persecution in Damascus.

 

Let’s see what chapter 12 holds in store for us;  and by the way brother Sam brought the message last Sunday evening, 12-1-10;  and I’ve heard nothing but accolades on his delivery.  Good job Sam.

 

2Co 12:1-21  It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.  (2)  I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.  (3)  And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)  (4)  How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.  (5)  Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.  (6)  For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 

·         As bro. Sam mentioned last Sunday evening, most believe Paul is speaking of himself here.  It was about 14 years ago that Paul was converted, then he went into Arabia to receive the gospel message that Christ wanted him to teach.  The mystery that has been from the beginning of time.  Christ in you the hope of glory.

(7)  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.  (8)  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  (9)  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

·         The sooner we realize that we are sinners saved by grace, the better it will be for us.  We can move on in our walk with God, striving to be the best we can for Him, but still realizing we are nothing without Him.

·         Not who you are, not the talent you’ve been given, not your money, not your status in life, not your failings, not your accomplishments, but, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.   It’s all about what Jesus did for us.

·         Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  (10)  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 

·         You see, it’s when you realize that salvation is a free gift from God, you love Him even more, and your actions will show it.  This is pleasing in His sight.

 

(11)  I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.  (12)  Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. 

·         Paul is saying, “I shouldn’t have to brag on myself, you should be doing it for me.”

·         This is what the early church had grown to see of the Apostles, signs, wonders, and mighty deeds. 

(13)  For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.  (14)  Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you:

·         Paul knows if he can get them consecrated to the Lord, then all they have will be the Lord’s.

for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.  (15)  And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. 

·         Paul feels this way, because of false prophets swaying the people away from his teachings.  Yet, this letter was written to praise them for their lining up with what he had suggested in the first letter.

(16)  But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. 

·         I did not take money from you, but by my knowledge of you, it may be I caught you short on your promise of providing help to the poor.   Just a thought.

(17)  Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?  (18)  I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? 

·         The answer of course is no!  None of us who ministered to you took anything from you.

 

Now listen to this finish in another translation:  Paul sums things up, by saying:

2Co 12:19-21  Do you think that we have been defending ourselves to you all this time? No, we say these things in Christ and before God. You are our dear friends, and everything we do is to make you stronger. 

·         Everything Paul did was to up lift the church, and help them be what God would want them to be.

(20)  I do this because I am afraid that when I come, you will not be what I want you to be. And I am afraid that I will not be what you want me to be. I am afraid that I will find arguing, jealousy, anger, selfish fighting, evil talk, gossip, pride, and confusion there. 

·         In the years I have been a Christian, I have seen this happen in our small community.  Congregations split because of carnal reasons.

·         You see these things are displeasing to God.  He doesn’t want His people acting like this, and they shouldn’t, because they have His Spirit living within them.

(21)  I am afraid that when I come to you again, my God will make me humble before you. I may have to cry over the loss of some who sinned before. Many of them have still not changed their hearts to be sorry for their evil lives, their sexual sins, and the shameful things they have done.

·         You see, God loves the sinner, but hates the sin.  This is why He will help anyone who comes to Him asking for help, He will help them.  You can be an overcomer, it’s just that you must want too.

 

DEAR GOD, STRENGHTEN US SO THAT WE WILL WALK IN THE PATH THAT YOU LEAD US, AND NOT AFTER THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD.   AMEN.