A Guarantee.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
As a child, I was taught not to question authority. The battle cry in that day was, mine is not to reason why, mine is to do or die.
Patriotism was based on my country, right or wrong. Such is the basis for fanaticism and blind loyalty.
Then came to Vietnam War, it brought our country to its knees, leadership was questioned, and patriotism was challenged.
Watergate was the final straw as the credibility of leadership suffered a crushing blow. Politicians are no longer believed, many times for good reason. Some will say anything to get elected, as promises fall on deaf ears.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 ”Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.“
Today, because of that lack of integrity, everybody sits in judgment of authority figures. We go to church and critique the pastor at his message.
Think of what I’m about to say: “Rather than sit in judgment of the message, shouldn’t the message sit in judgment of us.” PH
Are we supposed to critique the worship service, or are we to enter into the experience and worship God?
Remember this, we are not to be found in the role of critiquing worship services, but rather we are to participate in the worship experience.
-I am here to worship God, not to be a critic. PH
Therefore, we have to agree we are living in a nation where authority is questioned, and leaders are challenged– there is a lack of trust, and a spirit of unbelief.
Question, Does losing our faith in humanity, Have to alter our ability to trust God?
Romans 3:3-4a NKJV ”For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar…
Please hear this, Although questioning the credibility of leadership has intensified in our days, it is not a new problem.
Paul addressed the issue of human leadership versus God’s leadership. Hear the verses above todays text.
2 Corinthians 1:17–20NLT ”You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”? 18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” 19 For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. 20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.“
Numbers 23:19, God is not a man, that he should lie, and Hebrews 6:18 says, it is impossible for God to lie.
Always remember, man-made-kingdoms come and go, human authorities, rise and fall.
However, the integrity of the church is not based on the fickle nature of man or the credibility of human government.
Rather, it is based upon the faithfulness of God, and the assurance of His Word, because of His timeless, unchanging nature.
James 1:16-18NLT”So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.
Several truths I want to bring out from the text, that will give you a definite “Yes” from Jesus.
1. God is the one who establishes us.
God desires for His Church to be planted, rooted and grounded in Jesus. P.H
Listen, 2 Corinthians 1:21TPT ”Now, it is God himself who has anointed us. And he is constantly strengthening both you and us in union with Christ.“
Notice, the word established and anointed, go hand-in-hand. You can’t be anointed, and not be established! P.H
How does he do this? First, He establishes us.
Second- 2. He has anointed us.
D. L. Moody was to have a campaign in England. An elderly pastor protested, "Why do we need this ’Mr. Moody’? He’s uneducated, inexperienced, etc. Who does he think he is anyway? Does he think he has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?" A younger, wiser pastor rose and responded, "No, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on Mr. Moody."
Christos is the Greek word for Christ, which means the anointed One.
In our passage, verse 21, the word “anointed” is the Greek word, Chrio which is used in the Septuagint (a Greek translation of the Old Testament before the time of Jesus) For kings, priest, and prophets.
This is Kingdom terminology, meaning that someone is anointed for some regal position.
Peter captures this idea when he declares in,
1 Peter 2:9 but you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Hear this word, we are not speaking here of a temporal kingdom; this is God‘s eternal kingdom, and God himself has anointed us to be part of it!
Psalm 92:10-12TPT Your anointing has made me strong and mighty. You’ve empowered my life for triumph by pouring fresh oil over me. 11You’ve said that those lying in wait to pounce on me would be defeated, and now it’s happened right in front of my eyes, and I’ve heard their cries of surrender! 12Yes! Look how you’ve made all your devoted lovers to flourish like palm trees, each one growing in victory, standing with strength!
Again 1 and 2. We have been established, and anointed.
Remember this, Jesus gives a definite “Yes” according to His promises:
-3. God set His seal of ownership upon us.
Historically, kings and other royalty used seals as a means of communicating integrity, and the assurance of the authority of a message.
They would pour melted wax upon a letter that was closed. Then they would seal it with an impression of their ring, or other official insignia stamped into the wax.
However, Once the letter was opened, and the seal was broken, you could not ensure it’s contents anymore.
We have in our country, a seal, that signifies the rights and privileges of citizenship, but Christians have a greater seal given by God that ensures much more.
Remember, God demonstrated his seal upon the Israelites, protecting them from the plagues that the Egyptians would experience.
Many references to this in the book of, Exodus.
Again, you have been sealed! The devil can’t open this seal, nor can men judge your heart, but you better believe God judges.
Remember this, throughout the Bible, God dealt differently with those who were His covenant people!
A graphic example of this is found in, Exodus 12:12. On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn – both men and animals – and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
When the judgments of God come upon this earth, no eternal judgment will harm believers, because we had the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ to protect us
As we read in, Revelation 9:4NLT ”They were told not to harm the grass or plants or trees, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.“
Again we have been bought and purchased by the blood of the lamb. God has placed his seal upon us, ensuring that his protection will last through any enduring trials or judgment, both now and forever.
Hebrews 10:16-17NLT ”“This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.”“
4. Because all the promises of God are yes, and amen, we have a guaranteed inheritance.
Listen, not only have we been established, anointed and sealed, but God has put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Ephesians 1:13-14NLT And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
Having believed, you have been marked by Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, He’s our guarantee, our deposit that our inheritance is for real.
This guaranteed is not made by some inflated politician or starstruck entertainer, or your pastor.
God's word teaches us that God guarantees our inheritance by placing his Holy Spirit within us as a down payment. -What an incredible promise!
Hebrews 13:5b... never, will I leave you; never will I forsake you.
So hear this, so while the questionable promises of man and the destructive tongues of others would tear down the very fabric of society, we would do well to pay heed to,
Ephesians 4 28–32NLT If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
I said all that so you will understand this, because you understand your position in the Lord Jesus Christ, He has called Crane Eater Community Church to move forward in prayer.
As we move forward we can have a definitive yes. Yes, to our prayers, and yes to our future movement.
Conclusion- Dear heavenly father, I praise you for being a God, who cannot lie, whose promises are never no, but always, yes. Forgive me for believing the promise of man when I should have been resting in your promises. Forgive me for questioning your faithfulness, because of the unfaithfulness of men. I renounce the lies of Satan that would question your word, and I submit to the Holy Spirit, who guarantees my inheritance to come.
Thank you for establishing me, anointing me, placing your seal of ownership on me, and putting your spirit in my heart. In Jesus's name, and by the authority of His word, I pray. Amen.
