My sermon notes for Sunday, April 28th 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 6:3–10
[3] We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, [4] but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, [5] beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; [6] by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; [7] by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; [8] through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; [9] as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; [10] as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. (ESV)
Big picture of the text:
- Paul’s Ministry – Living as Ambassadors of Christ
- Living life when life is not easy
- Endurance and Consistency in Christlike living
Paul’s Desire was to truly by an AMBASSADOR FOR CHRIST- v. 3-4a
[3] We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, [4] but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way
- Put no obstacle
- No fault found
- Commend ourselves – give proof
The key to Paul was his LIFE (His impact, legacy, His purpose and meaning).
A LIFE of consistency and endurance – v. 4b
by great endurance,( hypomonē – WHO.pom,ona)
- SEE TEXT
- steadfastness, constancy, endurance (patiently steadfast)
- Not swerved from one’s purpose, Loyal to the faith and piety of life… regardless of the circumstances faced.
Endurance and Consistency
- To continue, to last, stand firm
- To overcome, triumph, conquer
- To have hope. (to KNOW you are going to finish)
GREAT ENDURANCE – Paul kept on with the keep on. He was willing to KEEP THE END IN MIND. He knew WHO he was in Christ and WHAT God had asked him to do. HE WAS AN AMBASSADOR FOR CHRIST
We too SHOULD AND CAN embrace this LIFE… this passion… this mindset. THIS CALLING.
As we live life – v 4c-5
(the norms of living this side of heaven)
General Trials (pressures from the world)
- Afflictions
- Hardships
- Distress
Suffering from people
- Beatings
- Imprisonments
- Riots
Complications of just living life
- Labors
- Sleeplessness
- Hunger
In our character and behavior (Who we really are)– v. 6-7
JUST BE REAL! (STAND FOR SOMETHING)
- Purity
- Knowledge
- Patience – with people (makrothymia – ma.kro.thy.mia)
- Kindness
- The Holy Spirit
- Genuine love
- By truthful speech
- The power of God
- Weapons of righteousness
Weapons he depended on
- Truthful speech (in love Eph 4:15)
- Power of God
Right and Left hand
(Spiritual Armor – Eph. 5:10)
- Total dependence and confidence
Regardless of the worlds response – vv. 8
- Dishonor/Honor
- Slander/Praise
- Impostors/Yet true
As we remember our standing before God – vv. 9-10
- Yet always Rejoicing – our worship
- Yet making people Rich – our impact
- Yet Possessing everything – our inheritance
TEXT FOR ENDURANCE
1 Thessalonians 1:2–3 – [2] We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, [3] remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)
2 Thessalonians 3:5 – May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. (ESV)
James 1:2–4 – [2] Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, [3] for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. [4] And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (ESV)
2 Peter 1:3–8 – [3] His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, [4] by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. [5] For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, [6] and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, [7] and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. [8] For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)
Revelation 14:9–12 – [9] And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, [10] he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. [11] And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” [12] Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. (ESV)