Grosey's Messages

Fiery Zorba the Greek was more nearly correct when he said, "Life is trouble. Only death is not. To be alive means to buckle your belt and look for trouble."

 

Here in 2Corinthians 10 we see the heart of the apostle. And it was troubled. He had experienced trouble from some at Corinth, whose whole ambition was to make trouble. Some troubled people see their whole purpose in life as being to bring trouble. Of course, they rarely perceive that the troubles that unsettle their souls are projected onto others. Here like no other place in Scripture, we see the heart of the Apostle.

Alexander Maclaren wrote of this passage, "These slanderers seem to have thought of Paul as if he 'warred according to flesh,' and it is this charge, that he was actuated in his opposition to the evils in Corinth by selfish considerations and worldly interests, which seems to have set the Apostle on fire. In answer he pours out quick, indignant questionings, sharp irony, vehement self-vindication, passionate remonstrances, flashes of wrath, sudden jets of tenderness. What a position for him to have to say, 'I am not a low schemer; I am not working for myself.' Yet it is the common lot of all such men to be misread by little, crawling creatures who cannot believe in heroic self-forgetfulness." [37]

 

They charged the Apostle Paul With Abusing His Pastoral Authority.

Note how relevant these charges are to many in pastoral ministry.

Paul was charged with being Inconsistent - timid/bold, when close/far.  And that he lived by standards of this world.  They said 10:2"He walked after the flesh" that his motives were impure. He was after their money!

We who live in the Sydney region are often tarred with the brush of other pastors who live lives of luxurious indulgence.  In the light of the recent Royal Commission pastors generally have felt the widespread animosity of the community. We have felt the lost of pastoral authority. We have been tarred with the same brush!

His opponents said that Paul's threats were empty. They charged Paul with weakness He was weak when with them.

His ties to Jesus aren't that strong. 10:7

They challenged his authority over the church. 10:8

They said he was an unimpressive and lousy speaker. 10:10

He was bold and abusive.

They Criticised Paul's Looks.

They Criticised Paul's Letters.

They Criticised Paul's Language.

They confused Character with Charisma and chose charisma.

Paul didn't have the rhetoric flare of a "super apostle." Paul lacked what they had.

They confused the favour of the multitude with fruitfulness and chose favour.

The "super apostles could draw a crowd. They had learned from prestigious church growth professionals and knew how to develop the crowd. Paul didn't have the breadth that these men claimed for themselves. They were a mile wide… but…

They confused metres of expansion with Ministry and chose to build personal empires.

A Mile wide! Paul recognised them as being merely an inch deep.

These "strongholds" of opposition were buttressed, supported, by arguments, rationalizations, and reasonings which appear to be logical and thus give strength and solidity to his opponents. Behind all this is the heart of the matter: human pride, pride which in its essence is independence against God; "that high thing," says Paul, "that exalts itself against the knowledge of God," (2 Cor 10:5).

 

Like Paul we too are engaged in difficult struggles in pastoral ministry.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, hut against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

 

But "We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God." We pull down (literally), we destroy these two things: arguments and pride.

We capture every thought to obey Jesus Christ. 10:5 Take every thought captive to Christ.

We demolish arguments, pretensions that seem to be from God but actually are against God. 10:5

 

The gospel destroys arguments and humbles the proud. It unites us with the true God in an indissoluble marriage.

 

Paul was confident that he could cast down all their proud imaginations, because he relied not on himself but on God whose messenger he was.

 

Alexander Maclaren wrote "Paul believed that the weapons of his warfare were mighty enough to cast down the strongest of all strongholds in which men shut themselves up against the humbling Gospel of salvation by the mercy of God."

 

Chrysostom: "And mark the absence of pride in him; for he said not, 'we are mighty,' but, "our weapons are mighty before God." 'We did not make them such, but God Himself.' For because they were scourged, were persecuted, and suffered wrongs incurable without number, which things were proofs of weakness: to show the strength of God he says, "but they are mighty before God." For this especially shows His strength, that by these things He gains the victory." [38]

 

 

A Carnal Perspective Measures Character By Charisma

 

Those who commend themselves are too easily impressed by the natural talents of others. These men opposing Paul admired rhetoric and human eloquence (v.10): "Now that's true religion!" they said. "The orator, standing and declaiming till you get goose pimples! Poor old Paul..." Maybe the apostle's speaking amounted to nothing. Perhaps he didn't have the eloquence of a Peter or an Isaiah.  Yet wherever and however Paul went and spoke, people were converted to Christ, and then built up in the faith. Other details seem trifles in comparison with that. As the years have gone by we've become increasingly unimpressed with personalities who can strut their stuff, and hold an audience in the palm of their hands, and chat away with a big smile to a thousand people. We might think of a recent US President who strutted his stuff, and people admired him, but he was morally corrupt. People still admired him. Perhaps these people wanted someone like them, who would berate and abuse and stand over people. Perhaps these critics were wanting someone they could respect as a tyrant or someone sexy.

 

A Carnal Perspective Measures Fruitfulness By Favour

 

How favourable was Paul to the multitude? Men who commend themselves are very anxious to make a good impression. Like the Pharisees they are like vessels whose outside has been cleaned but inside are full of filth. They are hypocrites, wanting to create a good impression, refusing to face up to how God sees them. Those who commend themselves even take credit for what others have done. Paul was careful not to "go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others" (v. 15). He repeated that concern, "We do not want to boast about work already done in another man's territory" (v. 17). They are more concerned about what people think of them, and will do anything to get more approval.  They are approval addicts.

 

A Carnal Perspective Measures Ministry By Measures.

 

Did you notice what Paul says in 2 Cor 10: 12 "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."

 

Comparing ourselves with others is always a very dangerous competition. The reason is that God has given many many different sorts of Pastors. There is the Pastor who is gifted by God with great pastoral counselling gifts. He may be a lousy teacher or a lousy preacher or a lousy visitor, but he sure is a good counsellor. Or there is the fellow who is a good preacher but lousy counsellor. Or the good teacher , who is not so great a preacher. Or the preacher who is no good at teaching. Or the very good leader who is no good at pastoral matters. We are all such a mix of gifts and ministries and personalities that it is impossible to evaluate or compare one against another. Each pastor or teacher or preacher is gifted with the ministry that God intends for him to exercise in the place where he is located. Therefore its inappropriate to compare one with another.

These guys just wanted to boast about the empire they had built. They wanted to boast about the things they had achieved.  They were only interested in building their CV.

And so, they have the goal of comparing themselves with others so that they look better. Did they prosper their church? Did their grow by 50%?  We don't have the right to compare one minister with another. Each pastor is peculiar!! Ooops did I say that? Each believer is unique, a one only model!

We cannot measure each man by our own size. Do you remember the story of Prometheus? Prometheus had a bed by which he measure the right height of every person he captured. If they were too tall for his bed, he cut off a bit here and a bit here to make them the right size. And if they were too short he stretched them on the bed until they were right the size. It didn't work for Prometheus, and it will not work for you or I.

But comparison becomes important for these folks. Those who commend themselves put down others. They can't stand any competition. They are ungenerous in their evaluation of other people.

 

That's why these folks criticised Paul's letters. That's why these folks criticised Paul's looks. That's why these folks criticised Paul's language. Paul says of them that "when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise" (v.12). Making comparisons from motives of pride!! This is the mark of the Pharisee.

 

How do you defend yourself against these sorts of criticisms?

 

The answer is you don't. You look to what is really important in the apostle Paul's life.

 

He was interested in the gospel

 

2 Cor 11:1 I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. Yes, do put up with me.  2 For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be corrupted from a complete and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!

 

For Paul, it was all about Christ.

 

It was preaching Jesus Christ as Lord. {2 Cor 4:5} "For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves because of Jesus."

 

1 Cor 2:1 When I came to you, brothers, announcing the testimony of God to you, I did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

 

He was keen to present the Lord Jesus Christ as the only Saviour and Lord. And he wanted everyone to know Him.

 

Paul was interested in marrying people to Christ.

 

This is why he was upset with the Corinthians. They were stopping him from getting on with the job.

Paul's heart is revealed in a hymn by Charles Wesley:

"I would the precious time redeem, And longer live for this alone,

To spend and to be spent for them Who have not yet my Saviour known.

Fully on these my mission prove, And only breathe to breathe Thy love."

 

Wesley was passionately concerned to 'get to people with the gospel'. Those are Paul's actual words here: "we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ" (v.14). Let's get to men and women by every legitimate biblical means to the gospel.  Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in regions beyond you" (10:15, 16).

 

 

Paul was interested in keeping people married to Christ.

 

This is why he was upset at the Corinthians.

Paul was  not only interested in extending the gospel to new regions. He wanted believers to develop their relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  They are married to Him.  Believers here today are married in an indissoluble union to the Lord Jesus Christ. And yet in our technological confusion we have competitors who clamour for our love. Is it the TV set, the hobby, the favourite speaker, whatever it is that stands between us and our Saviour.

Ask yourself today "Am I who God wants me to be?"  11:3

Am I someone in a deep love relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ? Is my love for Him growing deeper and richer this year?  He knows your heart.  

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

 

Ask yourself today "Am I where God wants me to be?" 10:13, 14

¹³ But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you.

¹⁴ For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ.

 

William Carey, the father of modern missions waited seven years before he saw one Indian being converted. He said, "If, after my removal, anyone should think it is worth his while to write my life, I will give you a criterion by which you may judge of its correctness. If the writer give me credit for being a plodder, he will describe me justly, I can plod. I can persevere in any definite pursuit."

 

Ask yourself: Is God glorified in my ministry? 10:15-18

¹⁵ We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged,

¹⁶ so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's area of influence.

¹⁷ "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

 

At the opening of a Christian school the glory and accolades were being given not to them man who had sacrificed so much financially and health wise to begin the school, but by the pastor of the church who had driven him to do it. I was concerned for this man who seemed so overlooked. John Howard was there, and there were many speeches, but this man seemed to be overlooked. Completely. Yet I knew he was the one that worked 22 hour days 7 days per week, for three years to make the school happen . I saw him and attempted to encourage him. He was cleaning out an area of garbage left by the folk that were there attending so that the program would flow smoothly. He responded: "Oh as long as the Lord is glorified that's all that matters!"

 

Ask yourself: Can the Lord commend the work?  10:18

 

"For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends" (v.18). 

 

He has seen our lives. He has noticed what we've done, especially that we've been servants. The cup of cold water given in Jesus' name to a thirsty person is going to receive a reward from him. Those who commend themselves are motivated by self-effort. Those who are commended by God have a relationship with the indwelling Lord. Those who commend themselves are impressed with the "big deal." Those commended by God find it almost impossible to distinguish the small from the large service. Those who commend themselves do it for external rewards. Those commended by God are satisfied that one day they will hear his words of approval. Those who commend themselves are highly concerned about results. Those commended by God are free of the need to calculate results. Those who commend themselves pick and choose whom to serve, but the service of those commended by God is indiscriminate in its ministry. Those who commend themselves are affected by moods and whims. Those commended by God do so simply and faithfully because there is a need. Self-commenders give temporary service. The service of those commended by God is a life-style. Those who commend themselves lack spiritual sensitivity. Those who are commended by God insist on meeting the need even when to do so means a cross. Those who commend themselves can withhold their service as freely as perform it. Those who are commended by God are faithful until the end. Those who commend themselves fracture a congregation. Those commended by God build fellowship and community

Are you building up your fellow Christians and being built up yourself? Are you faithful in the sphere of service where God has placed you? Do you long to see the work of God expanded? Do you glory in the Lord? These are the marks of the people the Lord commends. He will say in that tremendous day, "Well done thou good and faithful servant"

 

Theodore Roosevelt "Criticism is necessary and useful; it is often indispensable; but it can never take the place of action, or be even a poor substitute for it. The function of the mere critic is of very subordinate usefulness. It is the doer of deeds who actually counts in the battle for life, and not the man who looks on and says how the fight ought to be fought, without himself sharing the stress and the danger." (1894)

 

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." [39] "...the man who really counts in the world is the doer, not the mere critic-the man who actually does the work, even if roughly and imperfectly, not the man who only talks or writes about how it ought to be done." (1891)

# posted by Groseys messages @ 8:48 PM