My sermon notes for Sunday, Feb 17th as we continue our study through 2 Corinthians. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. To see the sermon each week or subscribe to the weekly sermon podcast please visit http://www.fbcap.net
2 Corinthians 4:1–6 – [1] Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. [2] But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. [3] And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. [4] In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [5] For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. [6] For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (ESV)
2 Cor.. 4:1-6 – Living as Lights in a Dark World
What the text/message should encourage us to do:
- Keep a proper perspective on our life/ministry.
- Keep our hopes and focus on Christ.
- Give us confidence to live as lights of the world.
Recognize your ministry – v. 1a
Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God
Do not lose heart – v. 1
we do not lose heart
Stay the course– v. 2
But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God
- By renouncing disgraceful ways (shameful ways)
- By refusing to be cunning
- By rejecting to tamper with God’s Word.
Trust in the work of the Spirit vv. 3-5
[3] And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. [4] In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
GET THE GOSPEL RIGHT – v. 3
Paul’s methodology was in question. His methodology was simple.
- Pour your life into people
- Proclaim the Truth of the Gospel
- 1 Corinthians 2:1–5 – [1] And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. [2] For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. [3] And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, [4] and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, [5] so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (ESV)
- We are heralds – heralds proclaim the truth. THAT IS IT. A STATEMENT OF FACT. THE BRITISH ARE COMING!!!!
- 1 Corinthians 2:1–5 – [1] And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. [2] For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. [3] And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, [4] and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, [5] so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (ESV)
- Persuade people to come
- Not with cleverness, but with clarity
REALIZE IS IT A MIND AND HEART ISSUE – v. 4
Light and Dark
In their case. THOSE THAT ARE PERISHING.
- PERISHING – John 3:16-19 – [16] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. [19] And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. (ESV)
They do what they do because they LOVE DARKNESS.
Satan is against God’s Word. He is the master deceiver. He has blinded the systems of philosophy, psychology, socially, and ethics. Which in turn impacts one’s ideologies, hopes, aims, goals and viewpoints.
Therefore, our battle is not a battle with the tangible and the practical, but the soul and the spirit. Eph. 6:12 – IT IS NOT A BATTLE WITH FLESH AND BLOOD. We fight spiritual battles with spiritual means.
KEEP IT ALL ABOUT JESUS – v. 5
He is Lord!!!!!
Hebrews 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (ESV)
Allow God’s light to shine true – v. 6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ
God has already said…LET THERE BE LIGHT.
We can trust that all God does is based on HIS GLORY and NOT OURS/MANS.
We can let God be God as we let us be us. BE THE LIGHT
Love God – Love Others
Love Truth – Love Evangelism
PRAY, POUR, PROCLAIM, PERSUADE, PERSEVERE
REMEMBER… WE OPERATE IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM – v.4
Light and Dark
In their case. THOSE THAT ARE PERISHING.
- PERISHING – John 3:16-19 – [16] “For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. [19] And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. (ESV)
Satan is against God’s Word. He is the master deceiver. He has blinded the systems of philosophy, psychology, socially, and ethics. Which in turn impacts one’s ideologies, hopes, aims, goals and viewpoints.
KEEP IT ALL ABOUT JESUS – v. 5
Hebrews 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (ESV)
Love God – Love Others
Love Truth – Love Evangelism
Allow God’s light to shine true – v. 6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ
God has already said…LET THERE BE LIGHT.
We can trust that all God does is based on HIS GLORY and NOT OURS/MANS.
We can let God be God as we let us be us. BE THE LIGHT.
2 Corinthians 4:1–6 – [1] Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. [2] But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. [3] And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. [4] In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [5] For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. [6] For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (ESV)