2 Corinthians 10-11
Last week I spoke to you about abortion and the horrors of such a practice. I told you that over 40 million babies have been aborted since 1973. Well, the actual figures are closer to 50 million. Do you know how many people live in New York City? About 9 million. Imagine if the entire populations of five cities that were larger than New York City all died. That’s what I was talking about last week. This week I want to return to our regularly scheduled study of 2 Corinthians, but I don’t want us to return to ignoring the terrible things that are going on in our country today.
Things looked very bad for those Paul addressed in 2 Corinthians 10-13. They are so bad that Paul says near the end, “Test yourselves and see if you are in the faith!” This section of his letter is written to the members in the most danger.
They have been influenced by liars. These liars are sharp. They know how to speak smooth logical clever speeches that appear so wise. What they are doing to those that listen is much like what Satan did with Eve in the garden. Look at 11:2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.
3 But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.
These moles are undermining the truth and making those who once trusted in Paul turn away from him. They instill pride and a false sense of wisdom in those they influence. They distort the way of Christ. They are not what they appear to be. In fact, they are deceivers who dangerously look impressive to these foolish Corinthians.
What are you impressed by? What turns you on and makes you believe in it? Listen, the world is filled with clever and slick liars who have nothing better to do than twist the truth and make God’s way look foolish and the Devil’s way look cool and wise. You don’t believe me? Wake up and smell the stench of the enemy!
I just read last night that the FCC has changed it’s censorship of the “F” word so that now it can be used on radio and TV any time without censorship.
I was listening to Focus on the Family Friday night when they spoke about Abercrombe and Fitch, a clothing company who just came out with a Christmas catalogue featuring garbage that I’m too embarrassed to say in public.
The homosexual agenda for today is to destroy the concept of marriage by making legal not just same sex marriage, but any sort of random selection of people who wish to come together and call themselves married. Two, three, six, assorted in gender, all under the entitlements legally reserved for a married man and woman. What kind of world do we live in today?
It is much like the one in Corinth or Sodom of the scriptures. Yet it is a world of people that God loves and Jesus died for. So that we who know the Lord can not give in or give up on seeking to communicate and convince others of the truth of God’s word and God’s will through Jesus Christ for every man, woman and child.
What do you say to people who reject the truth of God? What do you do to help them see the danger and destruction that lies before them when they walk away from Jesus words and do not heed his instruction? What happens when people within the church do such things?
Do you think that baptized Christians are all walking in the ways of Christ? Just because someone enters the water doesn’t guarantee that they will enter heaven. Water doesn’t wash away sins, Jesus blood does for those who obey him and walk in the light.
Listen to Paul’s pleading with this church. I want to read to you chapter 11. I would like for you to just close your eyes and listen. Some of you have already closed your eyes… the rest of you can join them. Open the eyes of your hearts and the eyes of faith as you listen to the Word of God here.
Read 11…
Illustration:
In Shakespeare’s tragedy “Othello,” there is a character who resembles the false workers among the Corinthian church. Iago is the villain of the play who gains the trust of Othello and others in order to destroy them. He is a master at disguising himself as an honest, beloved friend all the while working skillfully at evil and poisoning the minds of those who trust him until they do Iago’s wishes. In the end the hero, Othello, jealously kills his wife and himself because he believed the lies of Iago, that his wife was cheating on him.
The enemy doesn’t always look like the enemy. And the enemy makes those who are true friends appear to be foolish or false. So how does one detect who is the liar and who is true? Thankfully we who follow Jesus Christ have guidance that exposes truth and lies. We have the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures which are able to break down the strongholds of Satan… Paul says in 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
We are to test everything by the Word of God and prayer.
