The Most Important Exam

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”.