Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Have you known people who have gone through deep trauma
- It might be difficult for them to trust
- When trust has broken down - people are often broken inside
- When people see your genuineness and sincerity - they can learn to trust
- Our lives must match what we say
- Looking at 2 Cor 5:11-6
- Paul was a man of absolute integrity
- People were trying to undermine his integrity
- Paul is seeking to present himself before the Corinthians
- Well known to God and their conscience
- Not boasting in appearance
- Defending his integrity for the sake of the gospel
- 2 Cor 4:2 - not hidden, not crafty, not deceitful; but speaking the truth
- 2 Cor 10:10-11 – Paul may not be eloquent but preaches in the power of the Holy Spirit
- Paul was facing a lot of personal criticism
- 2 Cor 1:12-13 – he had a good conscience (informed by the word of God)
Paul's motivation - the fear of living God
- v9-10
- There will be a judgment
- Knowing the "terror of the Lord, we persuade men" (v11)
- Often translated as "fear" as there was only one word in Greek for fear
- We often talk about fear that arises from sin
- Do we fear God?
- Persuading men
- His role was to share the gospel
- He was seeking to persuade men that he was true and of integrity
- How does the fear of God persuade us?
Paul's integrity - before God and men
- Paul has a good conscience before others
- What about our consciences?
- Paul was well known to God and to others
- Paul wants us to be open books
Paul's appeal - for their loyality and support
- v12 - their hope was the Corinthians would stand with them
- Speak a word for them
- We can be hurt the most when fellow Christians do not stand up for us
- When pastors are maligned and friends/colleagues do not stand up
- We do need to be open to criticism and examine ourselves
- We need to learn to love people who criticise us
- We need to stand up for those who are unjustly criticised
- Paul was robust 1 Cor 4:3-5 [starting at v4]
- What great maturity
- We often take things to heart and can become bitter
- Quote from Spurgeon - one blind eye and one deaf ear
- Paul needs the Corinthians support and loyality
Paul's conduct - a time to be radical and sober-minded
- v13 - at times Paul seems to be out of his mind, too radical
- Example of the Prophet Agabus
- The disciples tried to dissuade Paul from going to Jerusalem
- Yet he went - he might have seemed to be out of his mind - but it was God's will
- Example of Pauline Hamiliton
- Mark 3:20-21 – people said Jesus was out of His mind
- Being of sound mind
- Wise, rational, discrete
- Not going off doing crazy things
- Paul conducts himself for God and the Corinthians
- We should do things for God and others
- We must not do things for ourselves
- Example of Josh Wallis
Paul's motivation - the love of Christ
- v14-15
- Our motivation in living for others - the love of Christ
- The Lord Jesus has died for us
- This love fills our heart
- This love constrains us to pray and love others
- The love of Jesus should enable us to help others, please God and share the gospel
- May it be the love of Christ motivating us
- Example of Henry Martin
Paul's perspective - seeing as God sees
- v16
- We are new creations
- We have a new perspective
- We no longer treat people according to the flesh - examples
- We love as Christ does
- We remember that 'without the grace of God go I'
- We no longer see Christ in His humanity but as resurrected King
- So we see others differently
- We see Christ in each other
- We put off the old man/nature and put on Christ
Closing Remarks/Recap
- Paul's motivation (the fear of God)
- Paul's integrity
- Paul's appeal
- Paul's conduct
- Paul's motivation (the love of Christ)
- Paul's new perspective
- Lord, help us to be people of integrity