November 17, 2024
Evening Service

In chapters 8 & 9, Paul has talked about the New Testament teachings and the principles of giving.  The OT law designated specifically the amount you were to give to the Lord in almost every single circumstance.  It varied from the giving of the very first of your crops to 10-20% or your earnings.  Paul sums up what we teach now in verses 6 and 7 of chapter 9.  This is the scripture to send anyone who ask about giving to read, pray over it, and then decide on what to give and to do it with the attitude described here by Paul.

2Co 9:6-8 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  (7)  So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  (8)  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

            Paul first reveals to us the principal of giving in that you can’t out give God showing the more you sow the more you reap.  Next he shows that “he purposes in his heart,” which mean you pray over the decision, commit to it, and follow through with it on a regular basis.  He then reveals the attitude needed to please God.  We must be a “cheerful giver” in that it is an act of worship to give our gift to God.  Finally, is the promise that when we do this in the right way, God promises us that we will always have what we need and sometimes more than we need.  Putting first things first, God will reward us.

 

            Today as we enter into chapter 10, Paul again will address those who are criticizing him for his letters sent to address problems within the church.  They questioned his authority to even criticize them as well as question the powerful letters he sent to them in his absence compared to his perceived weakness when he was with them.  They felt like he was “lording” over them or even “bullying” them into listening to him; which of course was wrong.

 This is another one of these segments that you have to read a few times to drill down into what Paul is trying to say.  With the Spirit’s help we will do our best to do just that.

 

2Co 10:1-2 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 am bold toward you.  (2)  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.

            Paul takes a humble approach here to them as he reintroduces himself to them.  He is reassuring them that this is the same man who lived among them for a time giving of himself to them through teaching and investing in them.  He is not a stranger to them, but a mentor.  He then set the tone that he indeed is not “lording over them of bullying them” as he states he comes not as a dictator demanding their attention, but “pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.”  I often feel in my preaching that I am “pleading” out to those I am speaking to heed the message God is sending to them.  I know exactly what Paul is saying and feeling here.  Presenting the truth and pleading those who are listening to hear it!

            He confronts the criticism of his boldness in his absence.  They accused him of being one person to their face and another behind the curtain of a letter.  Paul was a small unintimidating man of stature, but he was not speaking to them through the strength of his flesh, but by the power of the Spirit in him.

 

2Co 10:3-7 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  (4)  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, (5) 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, (6) and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.  (7)  Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ's, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ's, even so we are Christ's.

            Paul reminds the church that we are not fighting a physical battle using swords, guns, or military tactics nor do we use carnal powers such as wealth, power or influence to gain victory.  We fight with spiritual weapons such as faith, prayer, and obedience to the Word of God to win our battles.  It is those spiritual weapons that are able to “pull down strongholds.”  Paul sees himself as a soldier warring against proud arguments which oppose the truth.  An example of this would be the debate today we have over abortion being what we see it as, murder, or what the world wants to tell us that it is women’s healthcare.  We must be the voice of those who have no voice in this situation and others like it.  We cannot “tolerate” sin just because it fits an agenda; we must be able to recognize when the truth is being compromised.

 We often allow ourselves to “overthinking” things justifying them in our mind using man’s reasoning, not God’s.  Paul warns us to not go there.  He challenges us to “bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”  Wow, I have some work to go with that one.  We must train ourselves to look at everything through the spiritual realm, not the physical or “outward appearance” as Paul puts it.  It is too easy for us to judge a book by its cover rather than take the time and effort to look through the eyes of Jesus at others.  Paul continues answering those who question him.

 

2Co 10:8-11 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— (9) lest I seem to terrify you by letters.  (10)  "For his letters," they say, "are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible."  (11)  Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.

            Paul was called by God and given authority to edify (build up) the churches under him, not to destroy them.  God has directed him to do what he is doing.  Paul does not apologize for his strong letters calling them out to their mistakes, and promises he will bring the same strength with him when he speaks again to them face to face.  Paul continues:

 

2Co 10:12 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.

            It appears his critics compared him to others and tried to portray him as an outsider or outcast trying to fit in with them.  The city of Corinth was a proud city holding themselves up above the rest of the world.  That attitude had apparently filtered into the church as well.  We must be leery of doing the same thing thinking that only we have it all figured out.  The church is universal and we are all part of that same body of Christ.  Paul continues:

 

 

 

 

 

2Co 10:13-18 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.  (14)  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; (15) 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, (16) to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's sphere of accomplishment.  (17)  But "HE WHO GLORIES, LET HIM GLORY IN THE LORD."  (18)  For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

            Paul again emphasizes that his ministry only extends to what God had “appointed” to him.  He was called uniquely by God for the purpose of setting up churches as he did here in Corinth.  He did not come in and build on someone else’s work but began at ground zero and brought the gospel of Christ to them.  His mission was to get thing rolling and see their faith increase and the church grow so he could move on to his next task God would set before him and “preach in regions beyond you.”

            He summarizes this by verse 17 (read).  No matter who God is using to do the building of His kingdom, the Lord is the only one who should receive glory for it.  We are only tools in His hand, how can we take credit for how beautiful the completed house looks?  We are only tools in the Master’s hands.  When we work for the Lord, we should not have to commend ourselves, as it is the Lord that does that.

            Paul will continue this thought into the next chapter in which he gives us a glimpse into the cost of his discipleship.

 

Heavenly Father, help us to imitate Paul in deferring all glory to You who has called us to follow, and empowers us to do all that we do.  Help us to be able to see everything through our spiritual eyes and to bring every though into captivity to the obedience of Christ.