Simple Truths To Peace
Notes
Transcript
Peace is far more than protection from annihilation. Peace is more than the cessation of hostilities. Peace is more than a state of mind or the tranquility of a countryside. Peace is commitment to a way of life which precludes war, poverty, slavery, prejudice, and fear. Peace is action. Peace is the fruit of love.
Augustine, saturated with pagan philosophies and motivated by unmanageable lusts, met this Prince of peace in a fourth-century garden and the civil war in his heart ceased. He became a mighty giant of God.
Historical/Cultural Context -
Historical/Cultural Context -
Sometime afterward (c. A.D. 55), Paul left Ephesus, traveling north to Troas (a port city). There he had arranged to meet Titus and hear how the Corinthians had responded to the severe letter (2:12). Not finding Titus there, Paul crossed over to Macedonia to await him in that location. Eventually Titus arrived, reporting the Corinthians’ response to the recent letter and bringing news of other developments in Corinth (7:5–7). The book of 2 Corinthians (actually his fourth letter to that church) was Paul’s response to the news brought by Titus.
Biblical Text -
Biblical Text -
Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.
But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s.
For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed—
lest I seem to terrify you by letters.
“For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”
Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.
For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.
For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;
not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere,
to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.
But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
-[Prayer]-
-[Prayer]-
Life Principle - To Start Living In Peace Take Control Of Your Mind, Be Consistent & Stay In Your Lane.
Life Principle - To Start Living In Peace Take Control Of Your Mind, Be Consistent & Stay In Your Lane.
Life Point- Take Control Of Your Mind
Life Point- Take Control Of Your Mind
Exegetical -
Exegetical -
We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do.
We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.
We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.
Homiletical -
Homiletical -
This is an interesting section of scripture isn’t it? Paul says he uses God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning to destroy false arguments.
Today we tend to look at intellectual arguments when dealing with those who would tell us the Gospel isn’t valid, like atheists and the like.
However, we forgot that there is a spiritual battle for that person’s soul and completely leave our encounters thinking that we have won, and so does our opponent. They leave thinking they have won the encounter too.
Why?
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
They are blinded. They need the Battle in the Spiritual realm to be fought as well as the battle for the intellectual realm.
We have to be what we used to call “prayed up” and studied up
Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
Why is it as Christians we talk about sharing the Gospel and about the importance of prayer and do neither of those thins. Both should be operational in the Christian’s life in order to live the Christian life that useful and honoring to God.
We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
This is two-fold
1) We are to tear down arguments not the person arguing per-se.
We are to be able to defend our faith both in our own minds, and the minds of others. We are to be able to tackle people’s presumptions. Whether they are presumptuous through pride or not knowing any better, we are to be gentle as a dove and wise as a serpent in this process to turn them back toward the truth found in Jesus Christ alone.
2) We are to take captive every wrong thought that is against God to make it obedient to Christ.
What does this look like?
1) You have the ability as a human being and especially as a believer to control your thought life. Thoughts that just pop into your head, you can choose to think on those things or not.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.
2) You can even say under your breath. I cast that thought out in Jesus name. Verbalizing and claiming spiritual authority over your thought life is of utmost importance to the Christian life.
There are so many people who have no idea that they can and should take control of their thought life in Jesus name. This is where the battle is fought and it is lost or won. It initially starts in the mind. Where your mind leads, your body will follow.
Life Point - Be Consistent
Life Point - Be Consistent
Exegetical -
Exegetical -
Look at the obvious facts. Those who say they belong to Christ must recognize that we belong to Christ as much as they do.
I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.
I’m not trying to frighten you by my letters.
For some say, “Paul’s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!”
Those people should realize that our actions when we arrive in person will be as forceful as what we say in our letters from far away.
Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!
Homiletical -
Homiletical -
Anyone who has physical, mental, or spiritual authority over you or you over someone else must not use that authority to tear others down but to build them up in Christ.
Ever met someone who is a big talker in front of you, but when confronted by the person they are talking about all of a sudden they aren’t the same person?
Don’t be like that, the scripture here says to be consistent. Be the same person at all times.
Ever met someone who is wonderful, and if you give them a minute they will tell you why they are so wonderful?
How about spiritual? They will tell you why they are so spiritual, so spiritually sound.
Don’t tell me how wonderful or spiritual you are, just live your life the best you can in Christ and we will figure it out all on our own.
This happens to me all the time. I meet someone, we start up a conversation and the F word is every other word out of their mouths and then they find out I am pastor and all of a sudden they stop cursing and start telling me how spiritual they are, and what they believe. I have a neighbor who had no idea I was a pastor, just a Christian because I had worked the Gospel in, but as soon as they asked me what my job was and I mentioned pastor, their whole demeanor changed.
There is this old joke where a bunch of Doctors get together and they just keep introducing themselves as Dr. Doctor, Doctor, Doctor....
you know what that kind of thing is? That is them measuring themselves by each other as the standard. This happens in a lot of jobs. Pastors aren’t immune to it either. I hate that kind of stuff.
Paul calls this ignorant!
Jesus is the standard by which we must be measured and I dare say that all of us fall way short of His standard for living and Godliness.
There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way of death.
Illustration -
Illustration -
I have a story about a young man being consistent:
A young boy enters a barber shop and the barber whispers to his customer, "This is the dumbest kid in the world. Watch while I prove it to you."
The barber puts a dollar bill in one hand and two quarters in the other, then calls the boy over and asks, "Which do you want, son?" The boy takes the quarters and leaves.
"What did I tell you?" said the barber. "That kid never learns!"
Later, when the customer leaves, he sees the same young boy coming out of the ice cream parlor.
"Hey, son! May I ask you a question? Why did you take the quarters instead of the dollar bill?"
The boy licked his cone and replied:
"Because the day I take the dollar bill the game is over!"
Life Point - Stay In Your Lane
Life Point - Stay In Your Lane
Exegetical -
Exegetical -
We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our working with you.
We are not reaching beyond these boundaries when we claim authority over you, as if we had never visited you. For we were the first to travel all the way to Corinth with the Good News of Christ.
Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work someone else has done. Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work among you will be extended.
Then we will be able to go and preach the Good News in other places far beyond you, where no one else is working. Then there will be no question of our boasting about work done in someone else’s territory.
As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”
When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.
Homiletical -
Homiletical -
Paul is basically saying that he is going to stay out of other people’s business, not take credit for others’ work and not boast about the work God has done through him and let the Lord commend him.
Each one of us has an area of influence. Perhaps yours is on the job or somewhere else. The simple truth is that no matter where you find yourself you have a sphere of influence.
In this sphere are you taking liberty with your authority?
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
Paul states that he doesn’t take credit for anyone else’s work.
Ever met someone who does that? Whether in the church or out of the church?
In your sphere do not take credit for someone else’s work. Whether that is Christian work or secular work.
the problem is that so many people will boast about their work, when it isn’t their work. We are to make our boast in the Lord.
We are to be humble and not toot our own horn, but let the Lord toot the horn. Let God show others about you. But when you boast, boast as to what the Lord has done.
Let me summarize this for you. Stay in your lane, mind your business, and let the Lord lift you up.
Life Principle– To Start Living In Peace Take Control Of Your Mind, Be Consistent & Stay In Your Lane.
Life Principle– To Start Living In Peace Take Control Of Your Mind, Be Consistent & Stay In Your Lane.
Call to Action – altar call….
Call to Action – altar call….