2 CORINTHIANS 7:12-16 [GAINING PERSPECTIVE Series]
BOASTING ABOUT OUR CHURCH
The Corinthians church's awakening by Paul's harsh letter cause them to repent, to wake up and realize what was really going on in the church and their responsibility to correct it. Their awakening to their church responsibilities and renewed willingness to work in the church and make the church work allowed God to reveal to them that Paul was correct. They corrected the problem and because of their renewed vigor and earnestness the church changed and began to go forward once again.
The Apostle Paul was more than a pastor but he was also a pastor. He knew that churches that are not moving forward are moving backwards for neither Satan nor God allow a stalemate. God rejects lukewarm Christianity. One of the great obstacles to the church is its membership. Every local church has those who tear down and not build up the body. But God would have us boast about our church and encourage each other (CIT). He would not have us criticize and shame one another. Churches that encourage one another bring refreshment to all who enter their fellowship (CIM).
I. AWAKENING CONFRONTATION, 12.
II. REFRESHING OF SPIRIT, 13.
III. BOASTING ABOUT THE BRETHREN, 14-16.
Verse 12 relays that the principle aim of Paul’s severe rebuke was to help the Church repent and follow God’s leadership again. “So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the offender, nor for the sake of the offended but that your earnestness on our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God.”
God demands of His ministers, of His pastors a probing into sinful situations that negatively effect the church. It is not so much to point out “the offender” or “the offended” but to clear up the problem, the sinful situation, so that the church might go forward once again. Satan works to get into a local fellowship and cause people to offend and be offended that he might break up the unity and stifle the church's growth, both numerically and spiritually.
The deceiver tries to get someone to say something or do something thoughtless, neutral or even positive and then goes to someone else and tells them that is offensive and they need to be offended. The Accuser of the Brethren does this so he can break down the unity, the harmony, the health of the church body. So that he can cause strife and hurt, so that he can get us off doing God's agenda and get us forming divisive groups or causing further harm not simply to individuals but to the church. Though Paul was concerned about the individuals, those that sinned and those sinned against his basic concern was for the welfare of the church. He prayed and confronted so that they might repent and again follow God's leadership and God's leading through Paul.
II. REFRESHING OF SPIRIT, 13.
From verse 13 we learn that their zeal for God and joy in the Lord had been restored because of their repentance. “For this reason we have been comforted. And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
Paul was comforted by God because the Corinthians had repented of neglect and of allowing their church to stifle and stall. He had feared that the individuals in the church or the church leadership would bow their backs or harden their hearts to his addressing the situation, the people who caused the situation, and the people who were suppose to help solve the situation. When repentance came and the church adjusted itself to God's Word and begin to minister in love again (1 Cor. 13) he was greatly comforted.
But not only was Paul comforted or called alongside the Lord, but he also was caused to rejoice because of the blessing of God that now rested upon the church again. The proof that the blessing of God was once more upon was seen in the joy of Titus, Paul and the Corinthians.
Churches that are so sensitive to the Spirit of God that they regularly repent in order to follow His leadership are able to refresh spirits. As people worship, fellowship and work for God in love and unity, God's Spirit moves through the church's consecrated and devoted members to bring refreshing to all those that worship and work with the body.
Thus the proof to Paul that the church had repented was not simply that things were morally right or doctrinally sound but that the church could refresh spirits. Is you spirit refreshed from worshiping, fellowshiping, and working within our church? If not, repentance, certainly individually and possibly corporately or church wide, is needed.
III. BOASTING ABOUT THE BRETHREN (14-16).
We learn in verse 14 that the confidence of Paul boasting about the Corinthians has now been proven true. “For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I was not put to shame; but as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus proved to be the truth.”
Paul had boasted about the members and the church in Corinth to Titus before he send him with the painful letter. He had boasted of their giftedness. He had boasted of their giving spirit. He had boasted of their spirituality. He had boast of their hospitality. He had boasted of their worship of God and of their willingness to be right with God both individually and corporately.
Note Paul had spoken very sternly about certain issues within the church but when he spoke outside the church about the church he boasted. Church, when I'm away from you and someone asks about our church, I speak glowing words about you, about how you are surrendered to God's purposes, how you are Sharing the Gospel and winning people to Jesus. About how you are growing in your worship, about our starting another morning service, about new Sunday School classes, about our Church's teachers, deacons and leadership, about our giving, about our high attendance Sunday's, about our baptisms, about our remodeling and church maintenance projects, about the love of our people and the warmth of our fellowship. People think I have one of the best church in Tennessee, when I talk about you.
But that does not seem to be so about all of us. Some talk down our church and the people in it. My father taught me that if I couldn't say anything good about someone, it was better to say nothing at all because we will one day give an account of our careless words. Churches are hurt more in the community by church members speaking evil of it outside the church than they are by the direct work of Satan. Many people don't or won't come to church because the hurtful, harsh people inside it.
Every word we say to someone publically about our church and the members who make it up should be positive. If you have a negative word to say, say it privately to the offending person and then turn it over to the Lord in prayer to bring about His will not yours. Never have a divisive spirit, never cause disunity within the church. Get involved, find out about an issue from the person who knows, don't direct comments to people who know less than you.
I was helping start up an Evangelism Explosion Program in the First Baptist Church of Arlington with Dr. Charles Wade. We had a poor turn out I thought in our attendance for Evangelism Explosion program- especially for a 3,000 member church. I stated what I thought of the poor attendance to the lady with whom I was standing. This lady lit into me and told me she never wanted to hear another negative word about her church or its ministry. She loved her church and wouldn't allow people to talk negatively about it.
Do you talk negatively about our church? Do others talk negatively to you about it? Tell them you don't want to hear it! Counter the negative with something positive.
Verse 15 indicates the receptiveness of the Corinthians to the corrective ministry of Paul. “His affection abounds all the more toward you, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling.”
As a result of the way the people received Titus he had great affection (splanchna, “inner emotion”) for the Corinthians. What comfort and encouragement he received in their fellowship.
People that refresh your spirit and bring you joy in the Lord are people that touch us, that move us, because of their obedience to the Lord. People who desire to be godly come to love them.
So how did this church touch this visitor, this interim pastor so much that they refreshed Titus’ spirit in a long term way? How did they increased his joy in life and in the ministry, which then caused him to develop a love for them? Because of the obedience to the Word, to the Lord, and to Paul that they exhibited. The willingness and strength of will to do the right thing, in the right way, for the right motive opens the door for God to bless the church's ministry so that it brings joy, refreshes spirits and develops loving relationships.
The obedience of the congregation cause Paul to rejoice and grow in his confidence toward them. Verse 16, “I rejoice that in everything I have confidence in you.”
Paul is encouraged by the Corinthians’ repentance and their renewed partnership with him. Because they did not disappoint Paul by a lack of obedience to the Word, he grew in his confidence toward them.
You can place confidence in people who repent and follow God's Word. No others are worthy of your confidence. Dr. Bob Anderson said to me, "Do not value the council of those that do not follow the full council of God's Word." You should have confidence in those who trust God and obey His Word. What rejoicing it is to know you can place confidence in a person, or in a people in this day an age where trust is so hard to find.
IN CLOSING
Is your spirit refreshed and encouraged from our services? If not repentance and obedience is lacking. How do you speak about our church to others? Do you boast about the many good things going on here or do you harp on a few negatives. Are you a person of confidence or do you sow seeds of rebellion and distrust? May we all become loveable people because of our respecting and receiving of one another in the fear and obedience of the Lord.
