Two Crucial Pursuits
Watch the sermon here.
2 Corinthians 11:16-12:4
Psalm 1:1-3
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the way of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of Yahweh,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.
Reminder: Tools to protect against false teaching from verses 1-15
1. Know the Gospel
2. Be Radically Devoted to Jesus
3. Pursue Holiness Intentionally
4. Develop Discernment
5. Immerse Yourself in a Local Church
1. Boasting is Foolish (16-17)
Pride is your biggest problem.
Don’t have any tolerance for pride in your life.
Albert McAhane: The wiseacres of Corinth had fed too long a the table of fools to relish the normal diet of saints, so he is compelled to set before them what they can digest even though he himself regards it as unpalatable.
2. Boasting is FLESHLY (18-19)
There’s nothing that can’t become a point of pride for you.
The humble man thinks he’s proud
And the proud man thinks he’s humble.
You can take pride in literally anything.
And you almost certainly are in something
In the context of our own relationships and friendships, we tend to instinctively keep one another in check.
Encourage - admonish - build up - keep in check
We can all get a little too full of ourselves from time to time. That’s why we NEED community.
3. The Core Problem (v. 20)
You think you’re SOOOO wise - you happily listen to foolishness and you don’t even know you’ve been enslaved… and more!
4. Paul’s Experiences are his credentials (vv. 22-12:4)
• His Suffering
Suffering as a Christian is part of being a Christian
Paul’s suffering authenticated him as both a Christian and an apostle.
• His Sympathy for the Church (28-29)
Paul had deep, abiding love for the Church of Jesus Christ. He was a faithful shepherd who never stopped caring for any of the Sheep the Lord gave him to care for.
• His Submissive Attitude (30-33)
Leadership in the world is all about taking charge and dominating the situation through the force of personality.
In contrast, Paul’s shows us what pertains to weakness. He does literally the opposite of what you’d expect.
• The Supernatural Event (12:1-4)
Paul’s vision was real. More evidence that he was a true apostle. And even 14 years later, he wasn’t completely sure what happened.
The Implications
(How are you changing?)
God’s powerful word changes us in the moment. (Hebrews 4:12)
Two things,
1. A greater commitment to Humility.
You must have a distinct, passionate commitment to eviscerating (cutting out, without mercy) any and all pride in your life.
Four Questions to evaluate yourself (From theological Matthew Haste):
Is this a Command?
Is obedience to God’s authoritative word at stake? If the issue isn’t a Scriptural command, you can’t expect others to conform to your perspective. It’s a matter of opinion.
(Romans 14 comes into play).
Is It a Wisdom Issue?
Lack of wisdom can certainly result in sin, but some actions are permissible even though they could be considered unwise. You need God’s help (James 1:5) and good company (Proverbs 13:20) to discern what is wise in the midst of different conclusions.
Is It an Issue of Conscience?
Choosing to abstain from something that is neither sinful nor foolish is typically due to conscience. Differences in this area are inevitable. The New Testament calls us to respect and tolerate diverse opinions on issues in this category. Seek to build one another up in love (Rom 14:19), and exercise liberty with discretion (Rom 14:20).
Is this an Issue of Preference?
Don’t hold on to your preferences as if they were Biblical commands. Preferences are shaped by desires, instincts, life stage, generation, and culture. God’s Word will certainly inform and likely change your preferences over time. When you disagree on such issues, consider the “interests of others” above your own (Phil 2:4).
Our pride’s instinct is to elevate my wisdom over that of others, my conscience as better, and my preference as the right path while holding loosely to God’s commands.
It takes genuine humility to do the opposite.
Two Recommended Books on Humility:
- Humility by C.J. Mahaney
From Pride to Humility - by Stuart Scott
Be serious about destroying Pride
2. Avoid the False
As you pursue sanctification, remember three things:
1. Your spiritual life must be centered in the local church. The most important Bible input is the Lord’s Day Sermon
Remember the 5–FOLD PATTERN of Bible Input
• Hearing (Sunday sermon)
• Reading (Daily reading)
• Studying (study often)
• Memorizing (always working on)
• Meditating (all four lead to this)
2. Always be willing to be corrected by Scripture.
3. You’re wrong somewhere and need
minor calibration or
major course correction
So in response to all of this
1. Pursue Humility (so key)
Without Humility, you’ll stubbornly stay on
the path you’re on, thinking you’re right at
every turn and in every detail and nuance.
2. Doctrine Matters.
Implications of Scripture Matter
How you pursue sanctification matters
Attitudes & actions matter
Psalm 19:14 – Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Yahweh, my rock and my Redeemer.
Grace & Peace!
Pastor Rob