Final Words From Paul Series

Paul gives his final preparations regarding his planned trip to Corinth.

Sometimes when the medicine is not taken then the surgery has to follow.

Paul has tried to counsel and encourage the Corinthian church with only limited success. Now he is coming in person to deal with the problems that have continued in spite of his letters.

…..I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone,(2)

What if we received in advance a letter from an evangelist warning us to be ready because he was not going to spare anyone?

PAUL’S THIRD VISIT WOULD BE A CONFIRMATION OF HOW SERIOUS THE PROBLEMS ARE:

Every parent may not read or write but all can count to three. Whenever a child is doing wrong a common response from a parent is to count…one…two …three.

Many children must grow up thinking that the word ‘three’ is another word for ‘duck’ or ‘run for your life’ because it is the last word many parents say before they go off on the child.

How many times have you read certain passages in the Bible and still not made the appropriate change in your life? Paul has now written 4 times and was planning his 3rd visit and yet some of the Corinthian problems have yet to be fixed.

What are some things we still might not be getting regarding the Christian life?

1) Prayer really is important

2) God’s Word is the only truth that a life can be built on.

3) Telling others about Christ is something He wasn’t kidding about.

4) Christians really are supposed to love one another and get along

5) Gossip truly is a sin.

6) God truly blesses some people so they can give to other and not hoard what they were given.

1 This is the third time I am coming to you. EVERY FACT IS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES. 2 I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone,

I really liked the movies that were made about a decade ago regarding the life of Wyatt Earp. One was made staring Kevin Costner and the other with Kurt Russell. I remember a scene in the one with Kurt Russell where after one of his brothers was killed he shouts out to the street, ‘Tell them I am coming and hell is coming with me’.

What if we got a letter from Paul saying “I am coming to you Holly Brook Baptist and we are going to deal with all the things I have written to you that you have yet to do AND I will spare no one’!!!. Would you try to miss that Sunday?

What would you try to quickly change? What if he sat in on your next team meeting? Sunday School?

I still remember my first year here at Holly Brook when I was standing at the back when at the start of the church service I heard Michael Sims announce, ‘It is a great privilege to have Zig Zigler visiting with us today’. My heart dropped realizing I was about to preach to one of the most famous motivational speakers in the world.

I was also suffering from a recent concussion from car wreck.

The good news was that he actually asked our sound room for a copy of the message and then called me later on asking my permission so if he could make it available at his speaking events. Maybe I need some more concussions.

Paul’s point was that if after all these letters and previous visits certain problems were not yet addressed then it would be time to throw down.

PAUL SAID THAT SINCE THEY WERE SO GOOD AT TESTING HIM THAT SHOULD BE ABLE TO TEST THEMSELVES:

3 since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me,

These people were so good at examining others and missing the LOGS in themselves. Are people still like this today? Do they see and comment on all the ‘perceived sins’ in other people’s lives and yet do a sorry job of seeing their own faults and sins?

If they were truly saved then there should be a power within them. The proof of their genuine faith would be the evidence of that power that would be found upon examination.

and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. 4 For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you. 5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-unless indeed you fail the test?