Sermon for 5/18/2008
Not Your Possessions But You- 2 Corinthians 12:14
Introduction:
A. Getting back to the city of Corinth, it was the Las Vegas of the day.
B. remembering that this was before the time of the TV, there were people in the city of Corinth who were good at entertaining. They were like the vaudeville acts before the time of the movie theater. People would give them money to perform and entertain them.
C. Some of these entertainers were good at rhetoric= the art of making persuasive speeches; oratory. We don’t know about Corinth but some Greek cities hired orators for various purposes. Now the Greeks invented rhetoric, they mastered rhetoric, and they loved rhetoric. They loved hot air. Orators knew how to get and keep an audience in the palm of their hands. Turned out motivational speakers! Not much depth; more about style without substance
D. The more effective the orator was, the more money that he made.
E. Into this environment, we have the church. The church is effected by its culture. Corinth is no different. Evidently after Paul and other faithful ministers left, some of these orators came in. They saw an opportunity to make some money off of these Christians. Therefore, they learned something about the faith and started practicing rhetoric so they could make some cash. Evidently some of the Corinthians Christians were giving them money because of their great speeches. For their own good they needed to discredit Paul. So what did they do?
1. Read 2 Corinthians 11:6- Paul is boring!
2. 2 Corinthians 11:7- 12- Paul didn’t make money, therefore, he is no good.
3. In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 Paul is encouraging the Corinthians to contribute to an offering being sent to the church in Jerusalem. the great orators don’t like this so it seems that they are accusing that Paul and his team will just pocket that offering. After all, that is what they would do so they accuse Paul of the same. Look at 2 Corinthians 11:20.
WBTU:
A. Paul answers this in our Scriptures this morning: 2 Corinthians 12:11-19.
B. Paul has to answer this accusation again and again about the money issue. Greatly misunderstood. Paul did this for the good of the Corinthians. He loves them!
C. I like what he says in 2 Corinthians 12:14. KJV- I seek not your’s, but you.
D. Paul says I am not interested in your possessions but in you!
E. These statements echo Christ’s spirit. I do not want anything but you! Personal!
Thesis: 3 things that come out of vs. 14
For instances:
I. Christ wants personal surrender.
B. It reminds me of when someone points at my in a crowd. “Who, me?” I look around and think they want someone else. They finally point and yell, "Yes, you!"
C. Uncle Sam- I Want You
A. It reminds me of some children in our day. The parents spend little time with them and just send them gifts. “I don’t want your gifts, I want you.” A woman might say that same thing to her boyfriend. “I don’t want your gifts, I want you.”
D. Paul in these Scriptures is talking as a father to a daughter. Vs. 14 Paul considers himself a father to the Corinthians. (1 Cor 4:15 NIV) Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
E. The church is like a daughter to him. In that day, a father was responsible for his daughter. If she was not a virgin at the wedding, then the bulk of responsibility fell on the father.
F. Look at 2 Corinthians 11:2-3.
G. Billy Crockett- The Day I gave My heart away
There he was in his own world the one he built himself, made sure the doors were locked, the curtains drawn, his heart upon the shelf. One night he sat up in the dark cause he couldn’t sleep. And wondered if he’d die alone with nothing fit to keep. Into his darkest darkness there without a soul to see, someone came and something changed, the I became a we, the little boy was not alone, the grown up shed his skin, his frightened heart was not so scared because someone came in. He took my heart for his own home, and let me know I’m not alone, my life was changed I’m glad to say the day I gave my heart away.
H. A personal surrender to Christ implies to things
1. We love Christ from our hearts
2. We submit our wills to His Will no matter whether He sends sufferings or joys.
I. (1 John 4:10 NIV) This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
II. Christ wants personal service.
A. We are not saved by our good works but our good works are evidence that we are saved. Christ does not want us to be miserable or go against the grain! We have many things to be done here: Education (Gene Lyons), Evangelism/ Missions (Vic Blevins), Building and Grounds (Dean Goins), Worship (Johnny Mullins), Seniors (Bobby Dollyhigh), Youth (Tony Carmody), Hospitality (Brenda Kern), Vision (Robin Kern), Cropwalk, Children’s Choir, Bible Bowl, others. If none of these fit you, there are community and civic groups featured in our newsletter. I work too much! Be a witness at your work!
B. If people loved Jesus, really loved Him, then there would be no problems with having enough volunteers. There would be no problems with laborers in the fields.
C. The beatings will continue until we get some volunteers. What a waste of time! Must talk about Jesus Christ and how much he gave up for us! I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed, That thou might ransomed be, and risen from the dead
I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?
I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?
D. How can we win souls for Jesus Christ? The preacher needs to do it.
E. The preacher is paid to do that! I cannot say like the apostle Paul that I have not received any pay. I have! If I was rich…(1 Cor 9:9 NIV) For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned?(1 Cor 9:10 NIV) Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.(1 Cor 9:11 NIV) If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?(1 Cor 9:12 NIV) If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right.
F. You out there have an advantage. You live and work among those without Jesus Christ. Many times I do not. I work here!
G. Many are comfortable because we pay the preacher to do work for us! In the olden days a man used to escape serving in the army if he paid for a substitute to stand for him. Many people still think Christ’s army is recruited on that principle. I am not going to be there with you on the day of Judgment!
H. People are too comfortable, too laid back!
H. (Eph 2:10 NIV) For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
I. (Eph 4:11 NIV) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,(Eph 4:12 NIV) to prepare God’s people for works of service
III. Christ seeks us, and ours.
A. Good I don’t have to give. It’s all mine!
B. Christ doesn’t want your money or your possessions, he wants you! However, when he gets you, he gets your money and your possessions!
B. Jesus Christ wants you with no strings attached!
C. (Mat 19:16 NIV) Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"(Mat 19:17 NIV) "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."(Mat 19:18 NIV) "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, "’Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,(Mat 19:19 NIV) honor your father and mother,’ and ’love your neighbor as yourself.’"(Mat 19:20 NIV) "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"(Mat 19:21 NIV) Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."(Mat 19:22 NIV) When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
D. Greed, which is idolatry.
E. (John 14:15 NIV) "If you love me, you will obey what I command.
F. (1 Cor 16:2 NIV) On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
G. 10% from the Old Testament. Good place to start.
H. From the church budget, we seek to reflect that principle. We give over 10% from the church treasury to missions. Talk about this
I. WE are stewards, not owners. (Psa 50:12 NIV) If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
J. And I have brought to thee, down from My home above, Salvation full and free, My pardon and My love; I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me?
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me?
