Message
2 Corinthians 13:5
“The Most Important Exam”
I love being in ministry – and I love being the minister of NEC. Only one week ago Corianna and I returned from a four week absolutely amazing holiday.
We really enjoyed our time.
We are also thankful to be back home and continue our ministry here.
But … here is little confession that may surprise you … ministry can sometimes be a little frustrating.
There is a story of a Pastor who lived in a rural community. He had been in the church for many years and had found it very difficult at times. One Monday Mrs Smith, the organist, saw the pastor standing at the road bridge which crossed the over the railway line. When the train came through the pastor stated jumping up and down, dancing, and shouting “There she goes. There she goes!”.
Mrs Smith was a little worried about this behaviour so she told the church council. They whole church council went to the bridge the following Monday. Sure enough there was the pastor – and when the train came he started dancing and shouting, “There she goes. There she goes.”
This behaviour kept happening for weeks. In the end the whole church would come to the bridge on Monday and watch the pastor dance and shout as the train came past. “There she goes. There she goes.” Finally, one of the church members went up to the pastor and asked why he was dancing and yelling when the train came past. The pastor said, “I get excited because the train is the only thing in this town which I don’t need to push to make something happen”.
Now there is a frustrated minister. And, from a distance, we might be tempted to say, “Well, maybe he isn’t that good.” Except when we have a read of 2 Corinthians 13:1-10 we find another minster
… in fact it is Paul the specifically called by Jesus minister.
… we find Paul, arguably one of the best ministers of the gospel, expressing some frustration with the congregations at Corinth.
Let’s read 2 Corinthians 13:1-10
This is the third letter. I have written before. Nothing seems to have changed. There is a little bit of frustration creeping in; isn’t there.
Frustration, mixed with concern.
Have the Corinthians failed the test?
You see that is one of the hardest aspects of being a gospel minister.
It isn’t easy confronting sin … but that isn’t the hardest.
Ministry involves sacrifice … but that isn’t the hardest part.
Sometimes ministry makes you unpopular … but that isn’t even the hardest thing.
The hardest aspect of being a gospel minster is that you cannot force people to change.
You want … you pray … you cry out … you hope … but
You cannot make people commit.
You cannot force people admit they are wrong.
You cannot coerce moral changes.
You cannot push people to have faith … or live in obedience … or come in repentance … or respond in conversion.
The transformation of the gospel cannot be forced onto anyone.
It is really hard as gospel minister to witness that unwillingness.
Knowing that the gospel can make such a difference … a huge transformational difference … knowing this but still people resist the change.
It is hard.
Paul the pastor feels it. He looks to the Corinthians and sees the resistance. Which is why, as he gets to the end of the letter, Paul extends a very personal challenge in this passage.
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Do you have real faith in Jesus Christ?
Which is a really good question for us to ask on a day when we plan to gather around the Lord’s table today. Do you have real faith in Jesus Christ?
Am I a real Christian? Or am I just a counterfeit?
Do I come for the right reasons? Or am I only putting on a front?
Test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you? Or do you fail that test? Let’s take a bit of time to stop and think about this examination … thinking about the authenticity of our faith in Jesus.
As we think about this examination let’s consider a few statements.
Christianity is not a process of comparing ourselves with others; rather we take responsibility for our own actions.
One aspect of going through an examination process is that it is much easier to judge the failings of others than it is to judge ourselves.
How often we have read a passage in Scripture and thought, “I hope Mr Whatshisname is reading these verses”.
How often have we gone out of church thinking, “That was a good sermon for Mrs Popaladopolis, I hope she was listening”.
We might want the focus to be on others. However, Paul is very precise about where the focus should be.
Examine yourselves. Test yourselves. This is not a comparative exercise. These are self-evaluation questions.
Don’t concern yourself with what everyone else is doing. Look at yourself.
How consistent is my prayer life? Is it a vibrant prayer life, or is it just a matter of duty and habit?
How much time am I putting into my spiritual growth? Have I become lazy? Do I take the Lord for granted?
Where are my priorities? Is it evident that my priority is for the Lord and wanting to glorify Him? Could it be that my priorities are elsewhere?
Am I growing in grace and love? Or is my response to people just as cutting and sharp as it was in the past?
These are the sort of questions which are good to think about … for they help us examine how we are going. We can’t just presume everything is OK.
I know men and women … people who were faithful leaders, and extremely caring … and generous in both time and finances …. people like this who got to a point in their life where God meant very little and where their moral choices were very unbiblical.
Part of the problem was that these people were comparing themselves.
I’ve done more than them.
I’ve been a greater example.
I’m the one people come to for wisdom.
It could all be true, but Christianity is not defined by comparative works. Christianity is defined by the ongoing work of Christ in our lives. That requires an authentic evaluation. Which moves us to the next point.
Christianity does not leave us untouched or unchanged; rather it will continue to bring about real changes in our lives.
Being a Christian is not simply a matter of joining a church. There are plenty of people around today who have their name on a church roll but who are not Christian.
It is also true that sticking to certain moral standards in your life, or reading your Bible consistently, does not make you a Christian.
When Paul says Do you not realise that Jesus Christ is in you he is basically saying, “You should be able to discern the difference which Jesus has made. You should be maturing spiritually. You should be able to see the effects”.
We need to picture our lives as if we are continually at school. Which might not be a positive idea in some people’s minds – because school was not our most favourite place. But school is the place that was part of the journey of being where we are today. School was the place that pushed us forward. Steadily working through more and more grades. At the end of each year there were the big exams.
It tested our progress.
It pointed out areas of weakness.
It gave us a chance to know if we were really on track.
By having the exams we discovered the areas we needed to strengthen … and also the areas where we were going OK. If we take this approach in our spiritual life we will move forward.
Jesus has done so much for us. And when that work is applied to our lives it is going to have an impact. Not just at the moment when we receive Him as Saviour. But an ongoing impact as we seek to do His will.
If on the one hand we say we are Christians. But then in the same breath we say, “I haven’t grown much spiritually lately”. Then we do need to stop. Our examination of ourselves has opened up a potential problem – a problem which cannot be ignored. Let’s keep that in mind as we move to the next statement.
Christianity makes you aware of your short-comings and failings; therefore we constantly places our eternal destiny into the hands of the Lord.
Paul’s ministry in Corinth lasted 18 months.
Which doesn’t seem like a long time – except it is one of the longest times where he stays in one place. So Paul knew the Corinthians quite well.
Which makes this verse all the more worthy of attention.
Especially this part ... unless, of course, you fail the test?
Even though personally Paul has given his most ministry to Corinth Paul still opens up the possibility failing the test is a real option.
Listen to what Paul is saying … because failing the test is a real option.
Repentance is difficult.
Getting rid of ongoing sinful habits is difficult.
Submitting to the Word of God is difficult.
Constant personal prayer is difficult.
Witnessing to people humbly and earnestly is difficult.
Being contented with the life the Lord chooses to give us is difficult.
Loving your neighbour as yourself. Loving your enemy. Forgiving seventy times seven – so many Bible verses could be put here.
Being a Christian is a battle … against spiritual forces of darkness … it isn’t a walk in the park with your grand-mother.
So, at some point in the examination, we are all going to realise that we really, really, really need Jesus’ help.
Which is great.
Jesus is more than willing to help us in our needs.
Jesus came to this earth with the sole purpose of making sure that we had an opening to God. He came willing to give His life so that our burdens could be lifted and that our lives could be transformed. He came because He had compassion for us who are lost. It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.
Jesus is more than willing.
But not just willing. Jesus is more than capable to help us in our needs.
When you read through the Gospels you will never find Jesus saying to anyone, “I can’t help you”.
Many rejected Him and did not want His help.
Many thought they could do alright on their own.
Many refused the offer of help that He was willing to give.
But if someone wanted help ... there was never a time when Jesus said, “Sorry I can’t do that”.
Tomorrow we will start, with many others in QB, 21 days of prayer for revival. One aspect of this 21 days is for us to think about the most foundational question – Is my own spiritual life experiencing revival?
Where we know that Jesus is more than willing and more than capable?
Where we are assured that His sacrifice is enough to cover our sin?
Where we trust Jesus has already prepared a place in His Father’s house for us … and He is coming back to take us to be with Him.
We are not going to see revival in our church, or community until we first have seen revival in our own lives.
This is the exam that helps you know:-
Don’t compare to others – just look authentically at yourself.
Actively seek to bring about real changes in your lives.
Place your eternal destiny into the hands of Jesus.
Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you – “Yes I do!”
Unless you fail the test? – “No I haven’t”
Test yourselves. Experience revival.
Because you really don’t want to find me tomorrow standing on a bridge
dancing and yelling as the trains go past.
Prayer
