If you could please turn in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians chapter 10, which is on page 1165 of your church Bibles.
! So 2 Corinthians chapter 10, and starting in verse 1.
By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you.
I, Paul, who am timid when face to face with you, but bold towards you when away.
I beg you that when I come, I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be towards some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.
On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,
and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience once your obedience is complete.
You are judging by appearances.
If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.
So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down,
I will not be ashamed of it.
I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters.
For some say his letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.
Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.
We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.
When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits,
but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us,
a sphere that also includes you.
We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you,
for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ.
Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others.
Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow,
our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand,
so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you.
For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else's territory.
But let the one who boasts boast in the Lord,
for it is not the one who commands himself who is approved,
but the one whom the Lord commands.
Thank you.
Well, good evening. Nice to see you.
Hello.
Good evening.
That's good.
Glad there's someone there.
Well, let's pray and ask for God's help.
Father, thank you.
Thank you for your grace,
your kindness,
and your love.
Thank you that you give to us all that we need
to live the Christian life.
And help us now as we listen to your word,
that you will speak to us afresh,
and that you will strengthen us individually,
and strengthen us together as your people.
For we need you.
And it's in Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
Sorry, just a sec there.
It's Monday morning,
and you arrive at work.
Despite working through the weekend,
you are the first one in the office.
Such is your dedication,
your commitment,
and your concern.
At coffee break,
your boss calls you into the office.
But you know that by his tone,
things are not good.
No need to sit down.
I've come to the conclusion
that you're not up to the task.
You're far too weak.
You're very unimpressive.
You don't measure up.
You're just too ordinary.
What we need are people
who are self-assured and self-sufficient.
There's no place for you here.
How would you feel?
Small?
Inadequate?
Embarrassed?
Well, that's not unlike the situation
the Apostle Paul finds himself in
that we come to in chapter 10.
Having brought the gospel to Corinth,
having seen a church being planted,
having cared for them for many years,
having loved them deeply,
it seems that there is a push
to get them out of the church.
In chapters 1 to 7,
there was pushback against his message.
And then in these closing chapters,
in chapters 10 to 13,
it seems there is a pushback
against the messenger,
Paul himself.
You see, new leaders had come into town
and they had been influencing the church.
Don't bother with that Paul character.
He's on his way out.
He's far too weak.
Look at verse 1.
I, Paul, who am timid.
He's all bark and no bite.
And he doesn't seem to be very impressive.
Look at verse 10.
This is Paul writing about
what these people say about him.
For some say his letters are weighty and forceful,
but in person,
he is unimpressive.
And his speaking amounts to nothing.
He's a terrible preacher.
Or look at verse 15.
Where they're saying he simply doesn't measure up.
It seems to be that they were
fighting amongst themselves
as to all the different places
they had been to share the gospel
and the great work they'd done.
But Paul responds, verse 15,
neither do we go beyond our limits
by boasting of work done by others.
They were simply saying
his ministry influence
wasn't up to scratch.
In fact, some don't even think
that Paul is a Christian.
Look at verse 7.
You are judging by appearances.
If anyone is confident
that they belong to Christ,
well, they should consider again
that we belong to Christ
just as much as they do.
Now, we mightn't face
the same kind of level of pushback,
but I think we all have experienced
being criticised.
Our Christian values and our opinions
aren't always accepted,
but rejected.
It can be hard to live
the Christian life
in this world,
especially when we go to work
or mix with our friends.
We can feel weak.
What could I ever do?
We feel unimpressive.
What do I have to offer?
We might feel we lack influence.
What difference can I possibly make
in my sphere of friends?
In fact, even in our down days,
we can feel, verse 7,
that we don't even belong to Christ.
So what's our answer to this?
What's your response?
What can we say?
Well, for the most part,
we can say,
it's actually true, isn't it?
We are weak.
We are unimpressive.
We are lacking influence.
We don't always measure up
as a Christian.
You see, we are following
the way of Christ.
Look at how Paul responded
to these accusations
and criticisms.
Verse 1.
By the humility
and gentleness of Christ,
I appeal to you.
How would you respond
if you were faced
with such criticism?
Would you get your back up
and respond with anger
and aggression?
No, he says,
we are Christ people.
It's with humility
and gentleness
that we respond.
You see,
we don't live
as the world does.
Look at verse 2.
I beg you
that when I come,
I may not have to be
as bold
or as forceful
as I expect to be
towards some people
who think
that we live
by the standards
of this world.
For though we live
in the world,
we do not wage war
as the world does.
Yes,
we live in the world,
but our standards
are not the standards
of the world.
We don't strive
for self-sufficiency.
We strive for humility.
We don't aspire
to be self-assured.
We aspire
to be gentle.
This is the way
of Christ
who said,
you can see it there
on the screen,
what Jesus said,
take my yoke upon you
and learn from me,
for I am gentle
and humble
of heart
and you will find rest
for your souls.
That's Jesus.
What's he like?
He's gentle
and humble
of heart.
The prophet Isaiah
spoke of Christ
in this way.
He will not shout
or cry out
or raise his voice
in the streets.
He's humble.
A bruised reed
he will not break
and a smouldering wick
he will not snuff out.
He's gentle.
You see,
this is the way
of Christ.
And when Christ
came into the world,
he faced opposition,
he faced accusation,
and he came
in weakness.
He wasn't
very impressive.
He lacked influence.
He walked
to the cross
humbly
and prayed,
not my will,
but your will
be done.
He looked upon
his enemies
from the cross,
gently
praying,
Father,
forgive them.
He died
a death
of shame
and scorn,
but yet
it was through
his death
that we find
forgiveness
of all of our sin,
a new life
and eternal joy.
You see,
we live
in this world,
but as Christians,
we don't live
by the standards
of this world.
We respond
to every injustice
with humility
and every rejection
with gentleness.
we follow
the way
of Christ
amidst
criticism
and judgment.
We go
his way.
However,
being humble
and being
gentle
does not
mean
hopeless
and helpless.
You see,
we have been
given all
that we need
to stand
strong
in the face
of all
pushback
that we
may face.
Three things
from this text
we're going to see
that we have been
given by God
to enable us
to stand
strong
every time
we face
pushback,
every time
we're criticized,
every time
we are judged
wrongly.
We have been
given
divine power,
gospel authority
and the
Lord's
commendation.
everything we
need
to be able
to stand
strong
in the face
of accusation
and opposition.
So first,
we have been
given
divine power
to fight
the enemies
of Christ.
Divine power.
Verse three.
For though
we live
in the world,
we do not
wage war
as the world
does.
No,
the weapons
we fight
with
are not
the weapons
of the world.
On the
contrary,
they have
divine power
to demolish
strongholds.
Now this
isn't a
physical battle.
It isn't
fought with
suicide bombers
and gun
attacks.
No,
this is a
spiritual
battle
fought with
the word
of God
and the
spirit of
God.
It's a war
that sets
people free
from strongholds.
It releases
those who are
enslaved in
unbelief
to trust
in Christ.
You see,
this war
isn't about
us.
It's about
those who are
opposed to
Christ,
those who
are enemies
of Christ.
So how
do you
and I,
as we face
this new
week,
and we go
to work
or spending
time with
friends,
how do we
fight this
spiritual
battle?
Well,
we must
know where
the battle
is.
Verse 4,
pay attention
and see where
the battle
is.
Verse 4,
the weapons
we fight
with are
not the
weapons
of the
world.
On the
country,
they have
divine power
to demolish
strongholds.
We demolish
arguments
and every
pretension
that sets
itself up
against the
knowledge of
God,
and we
take captive
every thought
to make it
obedient
to Christ.
You see,
the battle
lies in
the hearts
and in
the minds
of people.
People
don't
believe the
gospel
because they
have believed
the devil's
lies.
Back in
chapter 4,
verse 5,
you might
remember it
says,
the God
of this
age,
who's the
God of
this age?
But Satan
has blinded
the minds
of unbelievers.
They're in
his
stronghold.
They listen,
verse 5,
to the
arguments
of this
age.
The
argument
that will
say,
no,
you're
God.
It's
your
life.
It's
your
body.
It's
your
choice.
You
decide
who you
want to
be,
and you
decide to
be the
person you
want to
be.
You
live however
you please,
as long
as you're
happy,
and it
makes you
glad.
you live
that way.
It's the
cult of
self.
And yet,
surprisingly,
we're the
most lonely
and insecure
people
possible.
They've
been
entrapped.
They've
listened
to the
lies.
Look at
the end
of verse
5.
We take
captive
every
thought
to make
it obedient
to Christ.
every
idea
that we
hear,
every
philosophy,
every
thought
that sets
itself up
against
Christ,
we seek
to win
over so
that they
become
obedient
to the
gospel.
That's
where the
battle is.
It's in
people's
hearts
and in
their
minds.
So how
do we
change
people's
hearts
and minds?
Think of
the people
who we
mix with,
the people
that we
know,
who are
in that
stronghold
of
unbelief.
How are
we going
to change
their hearts
and change
their minds
to think
differently?
How do
we fight
this war
and convince
people of
the truth?
Well,
we know
where the
battle is.
It's in
hearts and
minds.
We've
got to
know what
our
weapon
is.
Verse
4.
The
weapons we
fight
with are
not the
weapons of
the world.
On the
contrary,
they have
divine power
to demolish
strongholds.
Divine
power to
demolish
arguments.
Divine
power to
take people
captive for
Christ.
What is
this divine
power that
we've been
given?
Well,
it's not
by being
clever and
sophisticated.
It's not
by being
bullish and
arrogant.
It's by
the humble
gospel message
with the
spirit's
gentle
work.
Those are
our weapons.
The humble
gospel message
and the
spirit's
gentle
work.
As people
hear the
truth that
Jesus Christ
is God,
as we
proclaim the
victory of
Christ over
sin by his
death, as we
declare Christ
triumphant over
death by his
resurrection, as
we humbly and
gently speak of
Christ, so
hearts and
minds are
set free from
the stronghold
of unbelief.
Everyone here
this evening
who is a
Christian has
been won
over by
God's divine
power at
work in
your life.
If you're
not yet a
Christian,
you are still
in that
stronghold of
unbelief,
believing the
lies, the
false
arguments.
Now, none
of us have
power to
change anybody's
heart or
mind.
Remember, we're
weak, we're
unimpressive, we
don't measure
up.
But, go
back to
chapter 4 with
me a minute,
chapter 4,
verse 7.
A similar
argument was
here, we're
weak, we're
unimpressive, we
don't measure
up, but,
chapter 4,
verse 7, we
have this
treasure in
jars of clay
to show that
this all
surpassing
power is
from God,
not from
us.
jars of
clay,
cracked
pots,
we're
fragile,
we're
disposable,
but within
us we have
this treasure
from God,
the treasure
that is the
simple,
humble,
gospel
message,
and the
gentle work
of God's
spirit.
That is
God's all
surpassing
power in
our lives
so that
as we
speak his
truth,
lives are
changed.
We may be
humble and
gentle,
but we're
not hopeless
and helpless.
We've been
given divine
power to
fight the
enemies of
Christ.
So when
you go to
work tomorrow
morning or
wherever you
are and
whatever you
do, go
with confidence.
God has
given you
divine power
in the
gospel message.
Second,
what do we
have second?
We have
gospel authority
to strengthen
the church of
Christ.
gospel authority
to strengthen
the church of
Christ.
You see,
being in this
battle can be
tough.
In fact,
as we face
resistance to
the gospel,
it can shake
our confidence.
And all of us
here need to be
strengthened.
And the
encouragement in
this section is
we have all the
resources to
encourage one
another as we
follow Christ.
Christ.
But first,
we must know
where the
struggle is.
Look at
verse 7.
Back to
chapter 10.
Chapter 10,
verse 7.
You are
judging by
appearances.
If anyone
is confident
that they
belong to
Christ,
they should
consider again
that we
belong to
Christ just
as much
as they
do.
Let me
ask you a
heart-searching
question.
If you're a
Christian,
have you ever
doubted that
you belong to
Christ?
Have you ever
doubted that?
I do.
On most
days, I
feel my
weakness.
I struggle
that I'm not
very impressive.
I look at
my so-called
successes and
I know I
don't measure
up.
And then I
have a look
inside.
And I
look at my
sin and my
failure.
And I
wonder if I'm
a Christian
at all.
And I say
this not
because I'm
unique,
but because I
think it's how
we can all
feel at times.
But look
what it says,
verse 7.
you're judging
by
appearances.
The
accusations and
the criticisms
against Paul
were all
external.
You see,
a lack of
results,
or even of
great successes,
is not the
measure of
where you
and I
belong to
Christ.
Whether we're
struggling with
sin, or we're
faithful in
obedience, that
isn't the
measure of
whether we
belong to
Christ.
You see, we
can so easily
fall into the
trap of
thinking as
the world
does.
No, we
don't judge
by appearances.
The Christian
life isn't
based on my
performance.
Our ministry
life isn't
assessed by
success.
We live by
something better
and greater.
We know
the struggle,
we know
where we're
weak, and
so we know
where we go
to, to the
source, to be
strengthened.
We can be
confident that
we do belong
to Christ, no
matter what
anybody might
say, or
however I
might feel.
Look at
verse 8.
So even if I
boast somewhat
freely about the
authority the
Lord gave us
for building
you up, rather
than tearing
you down, I
will not be
ashamed of
it.
Paul is
saying, look,
we need to
go back to
the authority
of the
gospel.
Paul had
received a
message, but
it wasn't
something that
he had made
up himself to
make us feel
good about
ourselves.
As if we're
going to
counsellor
Paul and
told, sit
down here on
the therapy
chair and
let me tell
you things
that you'll
feel better
about yourself.
No, he's
saying, I've
received gospel
authority,
authority from
the Lord, and
that authority
was the
assurance and
the confidence
of the
gospel.
Look at
verse 8.
The gospel
builds us
up.
It doesn't
tear us
down.
A wrong
understanding
of the
gospel will
break us
and destroy
us.
Living by
performance,
trying to
strive to
meet expectations
will crush
you.
Instead, he's
saying, I
want you to
go back to
the gospel
that I
told you
about,
where we
hear the
simple
truths that
through our
faith in
Christ,
through our
union in
Christ, we
are saved
and secure
forever.
Christ is
now our
stronghold.
He holds
us fast
and he
will not
let us
go.
Have a
look with
me to
chapter 1,
verse 21.
As we
remind
ourselves
of the
gospel truth
that we
need to
hear time
and time
again when
we struggle
in our
Christian life
and feel we
don't measure
up and I
don't belong
to Christ,
hear these
words.
Chapter 1,
verse 21.
Now it
is God
who makes
both us
and you
stand
firm
in Christ.
He
appointed
us,
set his
seal of
ownership
on us
and put
his spirit
in our
hearts
as a
deposit
guaranteeing
what is
to come.
Let's
go back
to chapter
10.
You see
we live
by the
authority
of the
gospel.
What
matters
is not
how I
feel
about
myself
or what
anybody
else
says
about
me
or
what
the
world
thinks
of
me.
What
matters
is what
the
gospel
says,
what
Christ
has
done
for
me
on
my
behalf.
Therefore
we can
say,
verse 7,
if anyone
is confident
that they
belong to
Christ,
they should
consider
again that
we too
belong to
Christ just
as much
as they
do.
So if
you're
struggling
today and
you're
wondering,
am I a
Christian?
Struggling
with sin?
Struggling
with criticism?
Hear the
word of
the gospel.
It is
what Christ
has done
for you
that
assures
you and
gives you
confidence
that you
are his
forever.
And so
we gather
and we
point each
other back
to Christ.
We
remind
one
another
of all
that Jesus
has done.
We build
each other
up.
We don't
tear each
other down.
We
strengthen
one another
with the
gospel as
we go
to battle
together.
We may
be humble
and gentle
but we
are not
hopeless and
helpless.
We have
gospel
authority
to strengthen
the church.
Third,
and I'm
going to
summarize this
quickly because
I know
time is
going and I
want to
get to
an application
or two.
But third,
we have
God's
commendation
to continue
the work
of Christ.
Now in
verses 12
to 18
it seems
that they
were arguing
amongst
themselves of
all the
different places
they'd been
and all the
effect and
influence they
had had and
they compared
themselves to
Paul and
thought well
Paul isn't
up to much
and look at
what we've
done and
look at the
churches we've
planted and
look how many
people have
been baptized
in our church
and all
these things
were going
on.
What does
Paul say
verse 12?
We do not
dare to
classify or
compare ourselves
with some
who commend
themselves.
When they
measure themselves
by themselves
and compare
themselves with
themselves,
they are not
wise.
Verse 18
For it is not
the one who
commends himself
who is approved
but the one
whom the Lord
commends.
You see if
you're a
Christian today
it's the
Lord who has
given you
approval.
It's the
Lord who
saved you
and equipped
you.
It's his
commendation
that we
stand on
and we go
forth in
confidence.
And what's
our calling?
Well look at
the middle of
verse 15.
Our hope is
that your
faith continues
to grow,
our sphere
of activity
among you
will greatly
expand so
that we can
preach the
gospel in
regions beyond
you.
That was his
simple way of
life, his
simple way of
thinking,
that God had
commended him
and approved
him to go and
preach the
gospel.
You don't
need anybody's
permission.
You don't
need your
boss's
permission.
You don't
need your
neighbour's
permission.
You don't
need the
government's
authority to
go and bring
the word of
God.
We keep
our head
down, we
live our
life simply
and we
continue on
the work
of Christ
as we
bring the
gospel to
others.
We have
God's
commendation,
we have
gospel
authority
authority and
we have
divine power
to do all
that God
has called
us to do.
Now let me
just make two
short comments
as we come
to a close.
You know
that we as
a church
are beginning
the process
of looking
for a new
pastor and
you may be
wondering,
well what kind
of person
should we be
looking for?
who could
be pastor?
Well I
think we
would be
very good
to pay
attention
to chapter
10 and
ask ourselves
the simple
question,
does this
man come
with humility
and gentleness?
Verse 1.
Is he
gentle?
Is he
humble?
Is he a
raging bull
who will
stamp you
down and
crush you?
Or will
he encourage
you and
support you?
Humble and
gentle.
Will he
come depending
on himself,
his cleverness,
his sophistication?
Or will
he come with
divine power?
Depending on
the gentle
gospel and
the humble
work of the
spirit.
Will he
depend on
divine power?
Will he
come with
gospel
authority?
Giving people
assurance and
confidence that
in all our
struggles,
in all our
life,
he will
bring you
back again
and again
to the
simple gospel
reminding you
of what
Christ has
done.
Will he
preach the
gospel to
you?
God
will
and does
he come
with the
Lord's
commendation?
Not
living a
life or
a ministry
of comparing
himself with
this church
or that
church or
this person
or that
person and
what they've
done and
what we
should be
doing.
But does
he come
approved by
the Lord
who keeps
his head
down and
continues to
preach the
gospel to a
community that
we live in
that are in
a stronghold
who have
listened to
lies and
false arguments?
That is the
kind of
pastor you
need.
At the
very least
that is what
you need.
But it's
not just
about a
pastor,
it's about
us as a
church.
Are we
humble and
gentle?
do we
live by
divine
power?
Are we
resting in
gospel
authority?
And are we
living with
the Lord's
commendation?
That is what
makes a
church,
that is what
makes a
pastor,
and that is
what gives
glory and
honour to
God.
Let's pray.
Amen.
Lord, thank
you that you
do not
leave us
alone to
walk the
Christian life
or to
continue in
in our
ministry
individually
and as a
church.
But you
have given
us all
the resources,
your divine
power,
with gospel
authority and
the Lord's
commendation.
We go in
your strength
and in your
ability,
for we know
our weakness,
we know our
struggles,
and therefore
we depend
upon you.
Father, would
you please
provide the
right person
to pastor
this church,
and will
you continue
to shape
and mould
us to be
the kind
of church
you call
us to be.
In Jesus'
name,
Amen.