Missions Paul

A reminder of some of the problems in the Corinthians Church:-

False apostles had infiltrated the Church; they had undermined Paul’s authority and questioning his credentials; these ‘super-apostles’ (Paul’s words) demanded financial support (as opposed Paul’s tent-making), boasted great ministry profiles and declared that Paul was foolish, weak and not a true apostle; and the Church was being deceived and began to preach a different gospel and follow a different Christ.

“I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me!” (2 Corinthians 11 v 1)

This verse has led me to see the importance of vulnerability.

• Authenticity requires uncomfortable transparency.
• Honest may feel foolish and dignity can be a temptation.
• Love risks misunderstanding.
• Genuine concern for others doesn’t focus on how it may look but on the result of the act of love.
• Deception is always wrapped in impressive wrapping.
• The super-apostles were charismatic, credentialed and convincing.
• Care that is genuine gets hurt at times.
• Whenever someone left my church they would always give their reason by starting with, “Now Pastor don’t take this personal …” What they failed to understand was that my care for them was not a professional service, I was all-in, this was a genuine personal care. I had poured out my heart in caring for them.
• Vulnerability comes with the territory if we are going to be faithful to the truth.
• Vulnerable because you take a stand for what you know is right.
• • Vulnerable because you are the only voice in the room speaking a different message.
• Vulnerable because you are feeling uncomfortable being so courageous.

How many followers on Instagram do you have? How many likes did you get on that facebook post?

Are you the best at what you do? Is your church the largest, the liveliest, the loudest?

Is your garden better than next doors?

The Corinthian Church had been influenced by boastful leaders who had created their own criteria for successful spiritual authority and then in effect graded themselves on the back of comparison.

The question isn’t whether we are better than others but are we faithful in what God has called us to do.

“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. ¹³ 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. ¹⁴ 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. ¹⁵ 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, ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” ¹⁸ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” (2 Corinthians 10 v 12-18)

What is the answer to this ‘unwise’ competitive comparison?

1. Know what God has called you to do, v 13 It will be different to others but the call is to be faithful in obedience to what God has asked of you.
2. Know the boundaries, v14 Don’t reach beyond the grace and gift of your life. If accusations come then you know you didn’t grab at where you are nor manipulate your way in to that place, it was God who opened that door for you.
3. Know that you are just a part of the work of God not the whole, v15. God uses other people and so collaboration is good for the soul
4. Know that God calls beyond your boundaries, v16. This is not a contradiction on what has been said before about staying in your lane. We are content to stay but we know there is a world out there that needs Jesus and we are open for God to call us anywhere at any time.
5. Know the commendation of the Lord is all that matters, v17-18. God’s approval comes from the testing in His fire and is based on our faithfulness to His call.

So?

• We don’t measure our worth by others achievements or praise.
• We acknowledge our God given area of influence.
• We celebrate others success without being intimidated.
• We recognize that ultimately we have an audience of One, God.

This title sums up the challenge for the apostle. He faced the challenge from his critics regarding his authenticity. They said he was only strong in his letters but in person he was weak and unimpressive. Here is how he responds.

“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 realise that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭7‬-‭11‬ ‭

His response gives lessons to us all whether we are leaders or not.

1. Don’t judge by appearance.

Effectiveness is not a result of charisma but rather character and consistency. 

Effectiveness is not a result of having a great social media presence about you and your ministry but it is about how good you are at building others up, promoting others and encouraging others.

2. Being who God has called you to be far outweighs any position or title you have been given.

Paul knew that he had been given authority as a leader from God alone. 

This authority was to build up and not tear down. So the next time you witness a destructive believer then remind them of these verses and suggest they get involved in construction instead.

3. Let your texts and emails carry the same tone as your in-person response. 

Paul gives them assurance that he will have authentic consistency. He will be the same in person as well as writer of letters to them. Confusion is created when we send strong texts but are silent when we need to speak. 

Paul is not ashamed of his authority given by God and he doesn’t apologise because he will not be intimidated by criticism. Don’t let anyone’s criticism force you to change who you are and what you have been called to do. However …

a. Check your motives – is your focus to build up others?

b. Ensure consistency – your private and public life need to align.

c. Listen to criticism – some of it may be healthy and others will need to be discarded.

d. Stand firm in your calling – above all make sure criticism doesn’t knock you off course.

The important thing to remember is not whether or not you will face criticism because you will. But how will you respond when it comes? Will it come from the knowledge that you have been called by God, that you are consistent publicly and privately and that you know your focus is the building up and not tearing down of others.

“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.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭

We demolish:

1. Arguments – everything that opposes God’s truth and elevates human wisdom over revelation from God. 
2. Pretensions – proud thoughts that are elevated above what God’s way and thoughts are.

How?

We demolish by taking every thought captive.

We demolish by our ongoing transformation of our obedient life revealing areas within us that are still rebellious.

We demolish by surrendering what we think before the Lordship of Christ. 

Win the battle for your thoughts today

Happy Pentecost!

Yesterday’s devotion focused on handling conflict through v1-2 with humility and gentleness. Paul continues, for his world was like ours, with demonic strongholds and spiritual opposition, false ideologies that wage war against the truth of God’s Word and the real need for the transformation of people. How do we battle with those things?

“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.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭

The answer is Divine Power.

With surrendered hearts to Christ and the outpouring of the Spirit then this divine power is enough, it is all we need to wage war and see victories in our lives and those of others.

What raised Jesus from the grave? Divine Power. It is this divine power that enables us to live a new life in Christ.

What did Jesus promise the early church? Divine power. It is this divine power that enables us ordinary people to live extraordinary lives.

This divine power manifests in the spiritual gifts and the ministry we are called into.

It manifests in the refiners fire of our hearts.

When we don’t know what to pray the Spirit through divine power prays through us with groans that are too deep for words. 

It manifests through salvations, healings, miracles, deliverance and also in the ordinary details of our lives.

Divine power isn’t what we create but it is what comes down to us.

So today we pray again Lord, send Divine Power,

In the last few days 2 friends have fallen out, the most powerful leader and the richest man in the world are no longer friends. 

They have exchanged words as boxing blows in a ring. 

Gentleness is no where to be seen. Humility is not the filter of their conversations. 

It is the way of the world. 

Is there another way? Yes!

“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.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭

These opening verses reveal a different kind of leadership than what the world demonstrates to us today.

Paul’s approach to leadership can be seen in his choice of words, humility and the gentleness of Christ.

He had been accused of being timid in person but bold in his letters. It could have hurt him and maybe it did. But his response is not to fight back. He doesn’t see it as weakness rather He sees Christ within what He was accused of. When he is with them his approach was with humility and gentleness, that of Christ. He lives by this different standard. 

There are times when we have to have difficult conversations. How do we bring correction? We do so with two virtues that are not opposites, gentleness and strength. Aggressiveness, power controls and attempts to dominate others are not within the Kingdom of God. We are from another standard where gentleness is greater than force, understanding greater than judgment and Christ’s love greater than law. 

When a Church/Christian  gives then the impact becomes greater than just meeting the need. 

As we know Paul is encouraging the Corinthian Church to come good on their commitment to give to the collection for the poor in Jerusalem. In these final verses of chapter 9 we see how giving brings so much more interplay than just meeting the need. We will see 5 benefits of giving.

“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ 

It not only meets the need – it creates a thanksgiving offering to God.

It not only meets the need – it inspires others to worship God.

It not only meets the need – it demonstrates an authenticity of their faith as they “proved yourselves”.

It not only meets the need – it builds relationships as “their hearts go out to you” even across the distance and cultural boundaries that may exist.

It not only meets the need – we become conduits of the same lavish, outlandish and beyond measure, grace that we have received.

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” ¹⁰ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9 v 8-11)

God has it all covered. Don’t worry. That need you see and you feel burdened about, He knows. The desire within you to make a contribution to the Church missions project, He knows. How will you be able to give? He knows how.

Paul speaks not of a kingdom principle only found in the New Testament but again he takes us back to the Old. This was in the heart of God from the beginning. Paul quotes Psalm 112:9 using the imagery of a farmer sowing seed freely across his field. The impact is huge and the reward is eternal. It is a beautiful verse.

When God sees us using what He has given to us for His kingdom work He then increases and multiplies our capacity for further generosity. “Enriched in every way so that we can be generous on every occasion.” Blessed so we can bless. All resulting in a thanksgiving worship to God.

1. So we open our hands and keep them open. What He gives (without financial recklessness) we release.
2. Every blessing, increase of income, every provision should lead to a question, ‘How can I use this for the glory of God?’
3. On ‘every occasion’ means eyes and ears that are open, a spiritual awareness and a practical readiness of heart to be involved in needs that emerge.

How is this possible?

God is able.

God is able to give exceedingly more.

God is able to give so that you overflow.

God is able to give so that you have more than enough.

This is about abundance.

Not through guilt.

Not through manipulation.

Not through obligation. 

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭7‬

1. Heart. Giving because the decision to do so has come from the heart which has received direction from God, there’s no comparison, it’s your decision only/
2. Freely. For it’s only when we do that we experience the joy of generosity through an act of worship. 
3. Cheerfulness. I use this word more than joy because it really reveals a happy mood and it really does translate hilarious. 

We know that Paul was encouraging the Corinthian church to give for the struggling church in Jerusalem.

This next sentence calls for us to remember how a farmer’s harvest is based upon how many seeds were sown.

“Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬ ‭

Are you generous or stingy?

Do you live your life from fear that you may not be noticed and appreciated? This fear causes you to be so self-centred you don’t see a need of investing in others or honouring them above yourself. You must win every argument. You must have the final say. You hold onto the baton tightly because you don’t want anyone to take it. Your heart is stingy. 

Do you live your life from the position that it’s not all about you? You desire others to be credited over you. You want the best and see the best in others and want to give to them that they may go further than you. 

Those who sow sparingly see a successful life from what they accumulate. 

Those who sow generously see a successful life from what they invest and cultivate in other people. 

Those who sow sparingly want bigger platforms for themselves.

Those who sow generously build platforms for others to stand on.

Those who sow sparingly have friends, colleagues or employees who tread on egg shells near them.

Those who sow generously create a culture where it is okay to make mistakes and it is safe to take risks. 

Those who sow sparingly can look generous on the outside but inside they are impoverished.

Those who sow generously have large and loud hearts towards people and their relationships. 

Today we all have an opportunity to sow generously, to love and be kind, to give hope and a future to those who need it. Let’s take that opportunity.