INTENSE CONCERN

INTENSE CONCERN
2 CORINTHIANS 11: 24-29
KEY VERSES: 2 CORINTHIANS 11: 28-20
FOCAL POINT: EXPERIENCE PAUL’S PASSION FOR CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.

INTRODUCTION:

PAUL EXPERIENCED MUCH SUFFERING DURING HIS MINISTRY. HE, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER EARLY CHRISTIANS, UNDERSTOOD THE CALL OF THE CROSS. JESUS SAID, “IF ANYONE WISHES TO FOLLOW ME, HE MUST DENY HIMSELF, AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME.” REF. MT. 16: 24

YOUR CROSS MUST LOOK THE SAME AS CHRIST’S CROSS (ORIGINAL MEANING OF “HIS”).

PAUL WAS CONCERNED WITH CHURCHES HE IDENTIFIED WITH. HE CARED FOR THE SHEEP, AS DID CHRIST.

EXPOSITION ON 2 CORINTHIANS 11: 28-29:

ACTS 17: 10-11 THE BEREANS CHECKED OUT WHAT WAS TAUGHT BY THE WORD; YOU SHOULD LIKEWISE.

IT APPEARS THAT INTERNAL PRESSURE WEIGHED HEAVILY ON PAUL’S HEART (VS 28). THIS PRESSURE INVOLVED MATTERS OF THE HEART, NOT HIS HEART BUT MATTERS OF SOME CONVERTS WITHIN THE CHURCH.

IN VERSE 29, HE SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES CONCERNS FOR THE WEAK AND THE MORAL FAILURE OF SOME OF HIS CONVERTS. THIS EXPRESSES PAUL’S HEART FOR CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.

PAUL’S PASSION FOR HIS CONVERTS SHOULD BE THE PASSION OF EVERY BELIEVER. WE ARE ALL MINISTERS AND PRIESTS UNTO THE LORD.

READ 1 PETER 2: 4:10

APPLICATION:

AS PRIESTS AND MINISTERS UNTO THE LORD, WE SHOULD LOVE OUR FELLOW BELIEVERS INTENSELY AND LEAVE THE REST TO THE LORD!

REF: LIFE APPLICATIONS BY G. CAMPBELL MORGAN, DR. CONSTABLES’ NOTES ON 2 CORINTHIANS, TRANSFORMATION STUDY BIBLE BY WARREN WIERSBE, WYCLIFFE BIBLE COMMENTARY, COMPACT BIBLE COMMENTARY BY RADMACHER, ALLEN AND HOUSE