WEBVTT

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 power of God to then Paul, who in his recent reversals in not visiting Corinth as he promised,

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 and that he was run out of Ephesus, and with his message of a crucified Messiah,

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 well he was a sorry figure. He was a defeated figure.

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 Paul was the embodiment of weakness compared to the self-sufficient power ministry of the super-apostles.

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 So how would you feel if you were Paul?

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 How do you think you'd feel?

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 Well, it's not like there's some sort of moral scandal going on here.

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 He's preaching the true gospel, and he's being treated as if he is a common criminal.

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 You see, I think the Corinthians are a little embarrassed,

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 because the gospel that Paul preached doesn't seem to produce the same sort of results of that of the super-apostles.

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 I think the sort of criticism the super-apostles are making would be like,

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 if he's truly God's apostle, and if he was preaching the true message,

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 well, in fact, our churches would be filled, or his churches that he was preaching to would be filled,

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 instead of he himself being kicked out of town after town and being put into prison.

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 And so at the end of chapter 1 and beginning of chapter 2,

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 and I want you to take your Bibles up, you need to be following me with this.

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 At the end of chapter 1 and beginning of chapter 2,

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 Paul is dealing with the criticisms of the super-apostles,

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 some of the criticisms that he's thrown at him.

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 One of the big problems is that Paul did not visit Corinth when he said that he wouldn't visit them,

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 and Paul's last visit with them was a fairly painful visit.

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 He even refers to that as a painful visit.

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 But he indicated that he would try and visit again on his way through to Macedonia,

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 but he didn't, and instead he wrote them a letter.

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 And this gave ammunition to the super-apostles.

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 Paul responds to the accusations of the super-apostles

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 by expressing his love and his care and his concern for this church at Corinth.

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 He says at the end of chapter 1 that his conscience is clear.

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 However, you can throw all the stones at me you like.

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 You can look on the surface and say,

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 I've disappointed you, I let you down,

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 but there was no evil intent in me not coming to visit at Corinth.

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 His reason for not visiting was actually far from evil intent.

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 He didn't visit because he thought it would be better if he didn't visit.

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 So chapter 1, verse 23,

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 I call God as my witness that was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.

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 Or in chapter 2, verse 1,

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 So I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you.

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 His earlier visit didn't go so well,

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 so he thought that he would write a letter rather than a personal confrontation.

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 He didn't visit in order to get revenge, but because of love.

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 Chapter 2, verse 4,

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 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart,

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 and with many tears,

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 not to grieve you, but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

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 Do you think there's any evil intent there with Paul when he decided not to visit?

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 Paul expresses here a deep love and concern for this church.

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 The issues brought a deep level of distress and anguish to him.

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 He even refers to a member of the church who has caused particular grief,

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 but whom he forgives.

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 And he mentions here that in fact the whole church,

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 it's a very significant thing he says,

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 it's actually the whole church got together and dealt with this issue.

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 It wasn't just Paul up against this one difficult person.

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 It wasn't just Paul dealing with it himself.

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 He says the whole church came together and we dealt with this difficult issue.

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 And I reckon he wants them to do the same now to deal with these super apostles.

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 He wants the whole church to band together and deal with these false apostles

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 who are causing him grief and doing significant damage in this church.

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 This is a major issue for Paul and it needs to be dealt with.

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 He is very distracted and distressed by it.

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 So much so that when he went to Troas and he didn't find Titus there,

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 he moved on.

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 It seems that Paul arranged to meet Titus at Troas

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 to hear how the Corinthians had responded to the letter that he'd written.

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 But when he found that Titus wasn't there, he moved on.

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 His zeal for preaching the gospel actually brought him to Troas,

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 but his passionate care for the Corinthians actually kept him from staying there.

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 Seems like an odd thing really,

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 because doesn't it appear that God brought him to Troas?

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 And then Paul says,

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 I had no peace of mind.

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 I was in great distress when Titus wasn't there

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 and so I moved on.

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 I moved on.

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 It's a kind of a strange sort of thing that Paul would even raise this really,

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 because what he's doing here is again revealing his weakness.

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 It would seem that he's playing straight into the hands of the super apostles.

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 Isn't this just another case of Paul getting it wrong?

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 Another example of his weakness?

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 Another example of him running away from his problems?

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 Well, you'd think so.

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 On the surface anyway, you'd think so.

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 Paul is actually revealing his weakness.

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 And in revealing his weakness, he's mustering his defense.

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 This is where something very interesting happens in 2 Corinthians.

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 You see, he could have just told us the whole story of what happened

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 after he left Troas, but he decided not to.

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 So if you've got your Bibles there, I need you to see this.

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 Flick over to chapter 7, verse 5.

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 Because here's the rest of the story.

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 For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest,

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 but we were harassed at every turn.

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 Conflicts on the outside, spheres within.

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 But God, who comforts the downcast,

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 comforted us by the coming of Titus.

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 You see, he could have just actually continued on the story.

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 He could have said we had no comfort because Titus wasn't there.

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 And so we moved on to Macedonia.

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 And Titus was there.

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 And we were comforted.

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 And God was sovereign.

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 And he reigned.

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 And he could have just told a story of God's triumphal intervening

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 in a difficult situation.

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 And his ministry in his ministry.

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 And he would have played straight into the hands of the super apostles.

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 He could have just traded blows with the super apostles

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 on whose ministry was more triumphal,

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 who was more powerful,

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 whose ministry had God intervening.

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 He could have done that.

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 Because clearly God was at work in that situation.

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 But he didn't.

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 Why didn't he do that?

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 Because he's not like the super apostles in one very important way.

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 Flick back to chapter 5.

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 This here, I think, is one of the key aspects of 2 Corinthians.

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 We see here in chapter 5,

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 where Paul outlines his perspective on life and ministry.

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 Chapter 5, verse 7.

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 We live by faith, not by sight.

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 And this is contrasted to the super apostles,

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 who a couple of verses later, in verse 12,

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 we are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,

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 but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,

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 so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen,

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 rather than what is in the heart.

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 That's the contrast between Paul and the super apostles.

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 It's taking pride, which is what is on the surface,

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 the superficial aspects of ministry,

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 rather than what is at the actual heart of ministry.

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 And so from this point on until,

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 so back into chapter 2.

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 So from this point on,

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 in chapter 2,

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 right up until chapter 7, verse 6,

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 Paul takes,

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 Paul takes, if you like,

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 a diversion.

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 A kind of diversion.

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 It appears to be a diversion.

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 But he takes us right into the heart,

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 in these next 80-something verses,

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 into the heart of gospel ministry.

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 He takes us below the surface,

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 superficial things,

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 to the things that the world cannot see,

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 to the things that the world doesn't want to see,

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 to the things that the super apostles couldn't see,

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 and he takes a look at what is authentic gospel ministry.

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 Paul wants this church to know that this conflict is not because he's messed up,

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 but because of the effect that the Christian message has on people.

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 And that is the irony of it all.

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 In the midst of all this antagonism and divisiveness,

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 God is actually leading a triumphal procession,

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 because the conflict is actually a sign that the gospel is at work.

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 It says it there in chapter 2, verse 14,

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 but thanks be to God,

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 who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ,

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 and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

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 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved

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 and those who are perishing,

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 to the one we are the smell of death,

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 to the other the fragrance of life,

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 and who is equal to such a task.

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 What Paul is saying here is that despite the appearance of weakness,

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 it was God who always and everywhere led Paul in triumphal possession.

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 This was not the triumphal language of Paul's opponents.

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 They declared themselves to be superior to Paul in missionary success,

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 as well as experiences of God.

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 Success and strength were the marks,

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 as well as the objects of their ministry.

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 They wanted to see significant numbers,

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 and they wanted to see this church come under their influence.

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 Christian triumphalism,

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 although can I say a contradiction in terms,

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 has always had its appeal.

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 Through the Middle Ages,

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 it was believed that God was glorified through soaring church buildings

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 and spectacular church ceremony.

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 Even in our own time,

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 triumphal language has been used by some in the church growth movements

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 and the development of the so-called megachurches.

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 It's partly because we have brought this idea that the world has sold it

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 and we have taken it on,

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 the church has taken it on,

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 that it's effectively the growth fetish of our culture,

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 where if it's growing,

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 it must be good,

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 and bigger equals better.

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 The number of times I've heard people say,

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 oh, they must be doing something right,

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 purely because they look on the surface

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 and see multiple programs

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 and people being drawn together.

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 But I don't want to throw too many stones out there.

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 There are clearly those who are in the triumphal language category.

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 You've only got to turn on the Australian Christian Channel

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 and you see a number of them.

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 But can I say,

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 I think that Sydney Anglicans fall into the same category as well at times.

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 Our own diocese.

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 It seems to me that you get your article or your picture in Southern Cross

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 when there's a success to be told.

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 I'd be surprised if actually, in fact,

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 that Paul would get an article in Southern Cross.

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 The stories that are told about how many people have gathered,

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 what churches are growing,

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 what programs are effective,

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 where are the failures,

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 where are the setbacks.

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 That's what I want to know.

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 Where are the failures and where are the setbacks.

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 Isn't that authentic gospel ministry too?

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 I even heard a diocesan official one day,

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 a few years ago,

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 say that the churches that are growing

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 are the ones that will get the money from the diocese.

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 That's triumphalism.

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 Paul consistently uses anti-triumphalist language

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 to describe his ministry.

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 He describes himself as a servant of the Corinthians,

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 a dying man,

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 he's weak,

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 a fool,

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 his ministry,

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 like his Christ,

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 was characterized by crucifixion.

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 Paul understood clearly

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 that what is important to God

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 is not

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 bigness

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 of church buildings

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 or the number of who are gathering,

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 but faithful and sacrificial service

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 based on the example of Christ himself.

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 And so,

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 to describe this

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 anti-triumphal language,

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 Paul tries to come up with an illustration

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 about what sort of thing he's meaning.

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 And so he comes up with it there.

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 It's there in verse 14.

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 It's like

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 when the Romans

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 come through town

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 just after they have had a big war

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 and they have this triumphal procession

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 parading through the streets.

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 And what they do

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 is they get the prisoners

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 that they have captured

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 in their enemy towns

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 and they pluck out

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 the eyes of the leaders,

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 they chain them to chariots

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 and they drag them

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 through the streets

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 so that all the empire of Rome

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 might know

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 how powerful and mighty they are

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 and what they've done

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 to their enemies.

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 And Paul says,

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 he uses this illustration,

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 he says in verse 14,

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 thanks be to God

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 who always leads us

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 in triumphal procession in Christ.

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 I heard someone

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 on Australian Christian Channel

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 actually talk about this verse

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 and he quoted it,

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 he said,

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 thanks be to God

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 who always leads us in triumph.

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 And then went on to talk about

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 the triumphal Christian life.

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 life of success and prosperity.

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 No, actually,

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 you didn't quote the whole verse.

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 It's not a life of triumph,

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 it's the triumphal procession in Christ.

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 He says that the great thing is

00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:34.240
 that when I preach this gospel

00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:35.519
 from place to place

00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:37.299
 and I get kicked out of town

00:14:37.299 --> 00:14:38.439
 from place to place,

00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:40.460
 it is God who is leading me.

00:14:40.679 --> 00:14:41.740
 There is a great victory

00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:42.679
 that has been won

00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:44.419
 and it is Jesus' victory.

00:14:44.419 --> 00:14:48.039
 And I am his captive.

00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:50.779
 I am not the triumphal one,

00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:51.259
 he says,

00:14:51.299 --> 00:14:53.019
 it's Jesus who is the triumphal one.

00:14:53.259 --> 00:14:54.479
 I am the sorry one

00:14:54.479 --> 00:14:56.339
 who's chained and tethered

00:14:56.339 --> 00:14:57.379
 behind him

00:14:57.379 --> 00:14:58.399
 and yet,

00:14:58.539 --> 00:14:59.719
 at the same time,

00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:01.339
 I am caught up in this procession

00:15:01.339 --> 00:15:02.240
 in a positive way

00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:02.919
 because Jesus,

00:15:03.059 --> 00:15:03.579
 my king,

00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:04.419
 is on display.

00:15:06.219 --> 00:15:07.059
 Not me,

00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:08.779
 but Jesus,

00:15:08.919 --> 00:15:09.319
 my king.

00:15:09.320 --> 00:15:10.840
 Paul says,

00:15:10.920 --> 00:15:12.140
 don't be embarrassed by me,

00:15:12.520 --> 00:15:13.379
 by my rejection

00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:14.460
 for the sake of the gospel.

00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:15.480
 I might be weak,

00:15:15.540 --> 00:15:15.800
 in fact,

00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:16.540
 I am weak.

00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:17.740
 I am a nobody.

00:15:17.920 --> 00:15:19.020
 I might be unimpressive

00:15:19.020 --> 00:15:20.980
 but I've been taken captive

00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:22.879
 by an impressive king.

00:15:23.060 --> 00:15:24.400
 I am dead to myself

00:15:24.400 --> 00:15:25.800
 and now I'm enslaved

00:15:25.800 --> 00:15:26.460
 to this king,

00:15:26.640 --> 00:15:26.960
 Jesus.

00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:28.840
 And it doesn't get

00:15:28.840 --> 00:15:29.680
 any better than that.

00:15:31.260 --> 00:15:32.060
 The great victory

00:15:32.060 --> 00:15:32.860
 has been won

00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:34.000
 as the procession

00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:34.740
 moves forward.

00:15:35.060 --> 00:15:36.160
 The fragrance of Christ

00:15:36.160 --> 00:15:37.140
 is spread everywhere

00:15:37.139 --> 00:15:38.240
 and to some

00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:39.519
 this victory through Christ

00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:40.759
 is the smell of death.

00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:41.580
 To them,

00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:42.480
 the gospel,

00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:43.500
 its message

00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:45.000
 about this crucified Jesus,

00:15:45.139 --> 00:15:46.759
 about a defeated dead man

00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:47.860
 which they reject,

00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:48.699
 they reject it

00:15:48.699 --> 00:15:50.399
 and they move away from it

00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.240
 as they would

00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:51.980
 from the odour

00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:53.299
 of a decomposing body.

00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:55.139
 These people,

00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:55.639
 it says,

00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:57.340
 as they hear the gospel message,

00:15:57.460 --> 00:15:58.379
 they are perishing

00:15:58.379 --> 00:16:00.159
 as dead in principle

00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:02.159
 as they perceive Jesus to be.

00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:03.899
 The gospel to them

00:16:03.899 --> 00:16:05.559
 is cyanide gas.

00:16:07.139 --> 00:16:09.059
 And that's why Paul

00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:09.819
 has been kicked out

00:16:09.819 --> 00:16:10.740
 from town to town.

00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:13.379
 And the Corinthian church

00:16:13.379 --> 00:16:14.279
 was so quick

00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:15.720
 to walk back

00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:17.779
 and wipe their hands

00:16:17.779 --> 00:16:19.019
 because they were embarrassed

00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:20.860
 by their apostle.

00:16:22.779 --> 00:16:23.639
 Paul is saying

00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:25.559
 the nature of true gospel ministry,

00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:27.779
 nature of the true gospel itself

00:16:27.779 --> 00:16:29.960
 is that it will bring rejection.

00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:32.700
 To others though,

00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:33.620
 the message is about

00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:34.620
 a risen Christ

00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:36.019
 which they perceive

00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:37.779
 in the way a person receives,

00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.000
 sorry,

00:16:38.060 --> 00:16:39.159
 in the way that a person

00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:41.279
 welcomes Chanel number five.

00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:43.299
 These people are being saved

00:16:43.299 --> 00:16:45.159
 and they are alive in principle

00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:46.980
 as they perceive Jesus to be.

00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:51.279
 It would be no surprise

00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:52.580
 then that Paul

00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:55.600
 could have felt embarrassed

00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:56.379
 by a message

00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:58.100
 that proved to be so divisive.

00:16:59.220 --> 00:17:00.460
 Those who turn away

00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:01.340
 from the message

00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:02.920
 inevitably turn away

00:17:02.920 --> 00:17:03.780
 from those

00:17:03.780 --> 00:17:05.259
 who bear the message.

00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:09.019
 We don't need to seek out

00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:09.500
 rejection

00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:11.059
 and unpopularity.

00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:13.420
 The nature of the gospel

00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:14.600
 means it will find us.

00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:16.840
 It will find us.

00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:18.460
 The gospel of our Lord Jesus

00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:19.799
 polarizes people.

00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:22.100
 It is either cyanide gas to them

00:17:22.100 --> 00:17:24.200
 or it is Chanel number five.

00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:26.960
 That's the nature of gospel ministry.

00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:28.860
 I expect people to get offended

00:17:28.859 --> 00:17:30.299
 and turn away in anger.

00:17:30.419 --> 00:17:32.000
 I expect people to smell Jesus

00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:33.979
 and I expect them to want Jesus.

00:17:34.599 --> 00:17:36.039
 I expect both things to happen.

00:17:36.439 --> 00:17:37.019
 Either way,

00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:38.879
 it is our lot to suffer hardship

00:17:38.879 --> 00:17:40.839
 as a result of faithful gospel ministry.

00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:44.899
 What a task.

00:17:46.619 --> 00:17:47.699
 What a task.

00:17:48.359 --> 00:17:49.979
 To think that as I stand up

00:17:49.979 --> 00:17:50.899
 week after week

00:17:50.899 --> 00:17:53.559
 that I am polarized

00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:55.419
 because the gospel polarizes

00:17:55.419 --> 00:17:57.659
 and the bearer of the gospel

00:17:57.659 --> 00:17:58.419
 will be polarized.

00:17:58.859 --> 00:18:01.240
 And Paul says,

00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:03.059
 who is equal to such a task?

00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:04.279
 Who can do this work

00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:05.299
 of proclaiming Christ

00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:05.939
 and not knowing

00:18:05.939 --> 00:18:06.899
 if it's going to be rejected

00:18:06.899 --> 00:18:07.539
 or accepted?

00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:09.240
 Not Paul.

00:18:09.419 --> 00:18:10.459
 I think that's his answer.

00:18:11.919 --> 00:18:12.439
 Well, actually,

00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:13.919
 not Paul in his own strength

00:18:13.919 --> 00:18:15.240
 is the answer.

00:18:17.379 --> 00:18:17.879
 And frankly,

00:18:17.959 --> 00:18:19.139
 the longer I've been involved

00:18:19.139 --> 00:18:20.119
 in Christian ministry,

00:18:20.679 --> 00:18:21.819
 the less I feel equipped,

00:18:21.979 --> 00:18:22.779
 the less I feel

00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:24.059
 I'm able to do this job,

00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:24.959
 the more I know

00:18:24.959 --> 00:18:26.199
 about God

00:18:26.199 --> 00:18:27.259
 and his word,

00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:28.339
 the less I realize

00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:29.640
 I know about him

00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:30.960
 and his word.

00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:32.220
 But there is one thing

00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:33.160
 I'm certain of.

00:18:33.900 --> 00:18:34.619
 I am one thing

00:18:34.619 --> 00:18:35.420
 I'm certain of.

00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:37.619
 The crucified Jesus

00:18:37.619 --> 00:18:38.640
 is alive

00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:40.460
 and he's Chanel number five

00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:40.879
 to me.

00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:42.900
 And I will not,

00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:43.720
 therefore,

00:18:43.879 --> 00:18:44.879
 peddle the word of God

00:18:44.879 --> 00:18:45.440
 for profit.

00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:49.460
 I will not twist the message

00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:50.519
 or preach a sermon

00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:52.440
 or not counsel a hard word

00:18:52.440 --> 00:18:54.340
 just because people might

00:18:54.340 --> 00:18:56.140
 reject me.

00:18:58.740 --> 00:19:00.500
 Going soft for fear of rejection

00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:01.900
 is to peddle the word of God

00:19:01.900 --> 00:19:02.440
 for profit.

00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:04.259
 It is to say and do things

00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.600
 that make people like me

00:19:05.600 --> 00:19:06.840
 and to find Jesus

00:19:06.840 --> 00:19:07.980
 a little bit less

00:19:07.980 --> 00:19:09.640
 like cyanide gas to them.

00:19:11.900 --> 00:19:13.460
 It might not be as pleasing

00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:14.620
 as Chanel number five

00:19:14.620 --> 00:19:15.160
 for them

00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:16.519
 but maybe smell,

00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:19.120
 maybe more of a wet dog smell

00:19:19.120 --> 00:19:20.100
 would be just a little bit

00:19:20.100 --> 00:19:20.680
 more comfortable

00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:21.799
 than cyanide gas.

00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:22.700
 Unpleasant

00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:23.900
 but not as offensive.

00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:26.880
 And I think it's the problem

00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:27.960
 sometime with the gospel

00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:28.680
 we often peddle

00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:29.519
 in our society.

00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:32.059
 It doesn't polarize people.

00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:34.500
 It is neither death

00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:35.180
 or life.

00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:35.860
 It's just

00:19:35.860 --> 00:19:37.340
 pleasant

00:19:37.340 --> 00:19:39.120
 or

00:19:39.120 --> 00:19:40.240
 bland.

00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:43.700
 When was the last time

00:19:43.700 --> 00:19:44.799
 there was deep offence

00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:45.839
 at an Easter service

00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:48.200
 or a Christmas service?

00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:54.799
 Now don't hear me wrong.

00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:56.680
 I don't program

00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:57.779
 for deep offence.

00:19:59.380 --> 00:20:00.019
 I'm not

00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:01.220
 I'm just asking

00:20:01.220 --> 00:20:02.099
 the question

00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:04.380
 is the gospel

00:20:04.380 --> 00:20:05.980
 and all its implications

00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:06.660
 clear?

00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:10.340
 We need to see clearly

00:20:10.340 --> 00:20:11.480
 that the authentic gospel

00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:12.580
 brings both acceptance

00:20:12.580 --> 00:20:13.279
 and rejection.

00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:14.759
 Authentic ministry

00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:15.620
 will result

00:20:15.620 --> 00:20:16.320
 in acceptance

00:20:16.320 --> 00:20:17.680
 and it will result

00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:18.460
 in rejection.

00:20:19.080 --> 00:20:20.160
 And when the rich young ruler

00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:21.300
 came running up to Jesus

00:20:21.300 --> 00:20:22.100
 what must I do

00:20:22.100 --> 00:20:23.279
 to have eternal life?

00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:26.600
 Jesus didn't whip out

00:20:26.600 --> 00:20:27.580
 a two ways to live line

00:20:27.580 --> 00:20:28.000
 and say

00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:29.380
 pray this prayer

00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:29.940
 and you're in.

00:20:31.820 --> 00:20:32.400
 He said

00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:32.660
 no no

00:20:32.660 --> 00:20:33.980
 you actually don't trust me

00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:34.519
 you get rid of

00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:34.880
 all your

00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:36.100
 all your wealth

00:20:36.100 --> 00:20:37.020
 then come follow me.

00:20:37.080 --> 00:20:38.240
 And when he walked away sad

00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:38.840
 Jesus didn't go

00:20:38.840 --> 00:20:39.620
 oh come on

00:20:39.620 --> 00:20:40.040
 hang on a bit

00:20:40.040 --> 00:20:40.840
 let's just rethink this

00:20:40.840 --> 00:20:41.340
 for a moment.

00:20:42.760 --> 00:20:44.100
 He walked away sad

00:20:44.100 --> 00:20:46.440
 and potentially

00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:47.400
 walked away angry.

00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:50.660
 The authentic gospel message

00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:51.640
 brings both acceptance

00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:52.260
 and rejection.

00:20:53.280 --> 00:20:54.020
 And so may God

00:20:54.020 --> 00:20:55.000
 give us the courage

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:55.860
 to stick at it

00:20:55.860 --> 00:20:57.200
 and preach the hard word.

00:20:59.560 --> 00:21:00.800
 May we remain

00:21:00.800 --> 00:21:01.800
 true to Christ

00:21:01.800 --> 00:21:03.580
 and not tamper

00:21:03.580 --> 00:21:04.140
 with a message

00:21:04.140 --> 00:21:04.700
 for the sake

00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:05.420
 of popularity.

00:21:06.120 --> 00:21:07.200
 What a great example

00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:07.800
 we have here

00:21:07.800 --> 00:21:08.740
 in the apostle Paul

00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:09.920
 who continued

00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:11.600
 even when he got

00:21:11.600 --> 00:21:12.100
 the boot

00:21:12.100 --> 00:21:12.840
 even when it was

00:21:12.840 --> 00:21:13.360
 difficult

00:21:13.360 --> 00:21:15.740
 even though Paul

00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:17.759
 rejects the triumphalism

00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:19.360
 of his opponents

00:21:19.360 --> 00:21:21.280
 his ministry itself

00:21:21.280 --> 00:21:21.880
 was not without

00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:22.600
 its effects.

00:21:23.600 --> 00:21:24.040
 He says there

00:21:24.040 --> 00:21:24.960
 but thanks be to God

00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:25.860
 who always leads us

00:21:25.860 --> 00:21:26.759
 in triumphal possession

00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:27.300
 in Christ

00:21:27.300 --> 00:21:28.640
 and through us

00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:30.259
 spreads everywhere

00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:31.140
 the fragrance

00:21:31.140 --> 00:21:31.800
 of the knowledge

00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.379
 of him.

00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:34.839
 The fragrance

00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:35.740
 is going out there

00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:36.659
 because of Paul's

00:21:36.659 --> 00:21:37.079
 ministry.

00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:38.519
 Just like a fragrance

00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:39.460
 that is invisible

00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:41.319
 it clearly makes

00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:42.359
 its presence known

00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:44.039
 so Paul's ministry

00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:45.539
 made its presence known.

00:21:46.819 --> 00:21:47.579
 Paul's ministry

00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:48.899
 although it seemed weak

00:21:48.899 --> 00:21:49.919
 was in fact

00:21:49.919 --> 00:21:50.460
 effective

00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:51.240
 and noticeable.

00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:57.660
 and so as Christ

00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:58.180
 leads us

00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:58.779
 in triumphal

00:21:58.779 --> 00:21:59.180
 possession

00:21:59.180 --> 00:22:00.539
 as his slaves

00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:02.559
 we will see

00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:03.299
 both acceptance

00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:03.960
 and rejection.

00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:06.380
 People may come

00:22:06.380 --> 00:22:07.240
 to know Jesus

00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:09.579
 and people

00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:11.940
 may be repulsed

00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.680
 by Jesus

00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:15.140
 and so

00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:15.759
 St Paul's

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.599
 may grow

00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:18.759
 or it may decline

00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:20.759
 whatever the outcome

00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:21.099
 though

00:22:21.099 --> 00:22:22.500
 when the going

00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:23.179
 gets tough

00:22:23.179 --> 00:22:24.859
 the tough

00:22:24.859 --> 00:22:26.099
 keeps smelling.

00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:27.639
 Amen.