Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Reading v5-6
- This evening: restoration
- Paul had conflicts without
- Paul had fears within (for the Church)
- Paul had gone to Troas and then to Macedonia to find Titus
- Titus brought the comfort he needed
- There was a deep change in the Corinthians - they had repented and been restored
- They had a zeal for Paul
- Restoration
- Of a broken relationship
- Paul had great consolation (v7)
- Paul is exceedingly joyful (v4)
- Prov 25:25
- Is there unresolved conflict in your past? / A broken relationship that could be restored?
- God can work in our hearts
- God can transform situations
- If God can restore the Corinthian Church - He can restore your situation
- Overview:
- The Causes of Paul's Sorrows
- How Paul addresses the Corinthians
- How they responded
The Causes of Paul's Sorrows
- He suffered a lot ... but was never without consolation
- Paul endured great tribulation
- In chapter 7:
- The conflicts without often caused by persecution
- God was gracious to Him and learned to rejoice even in these pressures
- The fears within often caused by the state of the Church
- Example of John on the Isle of Patmos
- 2 Cor 2:1 - he planned a second visit as the first visit has not gone well
- 2 Cor 1:17-18 - people were speaking against him as he did not visit a third time
- 2 Cor 2:8 - to allow a brother to return to the fellowship after being disciplined
- False charges - 2 Cor 2:17 (not peddling), 4:2 (no double standards),
- 2 Cor 2:13 - uncertainty about a person
- Outward persecution and inward fears
- 2 Cor 4:8-9 - each time he is knocked down, he is lifted up by God's grace
- Let us pray this is our experience
- Problems may be most painful from those within the Church
- Remember Paul in such situations:
- He never gave up on the Corinthians - examples
- He then knew great rejoicing
How Paul addresses the Corinthians (v2-8)
- "Open your hearts to us" (v2, 2 Cor 6:11,13)
- Transparency, openess, honesty
- Affection - not cold and distant
- To have a warm and deep relationship
- A reminder of his conduct (v2)
- Do not listen to the wrong people
- Not to misunderstand (v3)
- Paul's love is so great - he would die for them
- A change in language (v4-8)
- A change in the Corinthians
- He is like a relieved father
- Recognising this is of God
- What about us - if we are to restore relationships
- Truth matters
- In love
- People need to know you are for them
How they responded (v9-11)
- Sorry in a godly manner
- Not worldly regret
- Owning your faults, confessing your sins, sincerity
- Providing restitution (if applicable)
- Confession of sin
- Peter knew Godly sorrow
- He wept bitterly after denying Jesus - but He never abandoned Christ
- He was first at the tomb
- Worldly sorrow
- Remorse when found out - examples
- Self pity
- Sorrow at personal loss - examples
- Worldly sorrow leads to death, godly sorrow leads to salvation (v10)
- The Corinthians were truly sorrowful - that they had offended God
- There was a deep change in their lives
- They were quick to put things right
- Their stigma had gone
- A holy hatred (of sin)
- Real reverence of God
- A mini revival
- Desire and zeal - for Paul and God
- Paul has every proof that they responded to his severe letter (v11)
- The broken relationship is restored
- How wonderful
- It was not a hopeless case for God
- The Corinthians had know the grace of repentance
- We need this in our lives
- Repentance of sin
- Sow to the Spirit
- Are there areas in your life that need changing?
- Is there a broken relationship that needs to be restored?
- Pray to God and do what you must