The Measure of the Man of God - Part II

"¹² For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. ¹³ But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. ¹⁴ For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ; ¹⁵ not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you, ¹⁶ so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another. ¹⁷ But he who boasts is to boast in the Lord. ¹⁸ For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends."
II Corinthians 10:12-18

Good Morning Beloved,

Welcome to worship!
We're so glad you're here. 

In our ongoing study of II book of Corinthians, we have the privilege of this incredibly rich epistle, tenth chapter, verses 12 through 18. In this particular section of the Word of God, Paul is speaking directly about himself as compared to the false teachers. And, in doing so, Paul gives to us some very unambiguous criteria for how you can identify the true man of God, against the false. I believe that this is crucial in any age, the church needs to be able to do this, because grievous wolves not sparing the flock, seek to come in and wreak their havoc.

False teachers have always been around, we are very much aware of that, and we have always been called as God’s people to be discerning. If there is anything that marks them, is that they are proud, self-centered, self-serving, self-willed and arrogant. Satan goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour and largely works through those who are false teachers, who infiltrate the work of God, seeking to destroy it.

To confirm this, we only need to look as far as the Word of God.

Jude 16 says, "These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage."

In II Peter 2:18, Peter says, "For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error."

We needn't be surprised then, when II Thessalonians 2:3-4, says of the coming man of lawlessness and sin, the antichrist, "Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God."

Nothing is more characteristic of false teachers than that they are driven by pride. If there then, is any single observable characteristic of a true servant, a true man of God, it would be their humility. 

Let's bow our heads in prayer.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the clarity and richness of Your word for us. Thank You for giving us what we need to evaluate those who claim to represent you. Lord, we know false teachers still exist and are everywhere around us, seeking to overturn the truths contained in Your Holy Word, to steal our joy, rob us of our peace. Creating discord and division, among Your people. Raise up the many faithful who will wage the war with those set up against the knowledge of Christ and defeat it. That we might triumph in returning the captive souls of men and women to Christ and to His Kingdom.

Help us to be people marked by humility, our relationship with Your Son, Jesus Christ, and our clear understanding of Your Word. May we humbly pursue our service to You with faithful heart, passion, humility of Christ, all for Your glory.
In Jesus' name
Amen 

Today's Message: The Measure of the Man of God-Part II 

Paul's harsh letters to the Corinthian church caused them to repent, to wake up and realize what was really going on in the church and their responsibility to correct it. Their awakening to their church responsibilities and renewed willingness to work in the church and make the church work allowed God to reveal to them that Paul was correct and speaking by the authority of God. They corrected the problem and because of their renewed vigor, and earnestness, the church changed and began to move forward.

The apostle Paul was pastor, however, he was more than a pastor. He knew that churches that are not moving forward are moving backwards, for neither Satan nor God allow a stalemate. God rejects lukewarm Christianity. One of the great obstacles to the church is its membership. Every local church has those who tear down and not build up the body. However, God would have us boast about our church, edify and encourage each other. He would not have us criticize and shame one another. Churches that encourage one another brings refreshment to all who enter their fellowship.

Open with me your Bibles to II Corinthians chapter 10, as we examine these last verses. I invite you to follow along with me as I read to you, this rich and marvelous portion of the Word of God. 

"For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ; not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you, so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another. But he who boasts is to boast in the Lord. For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends."

Paul, in verse 12, relays the principle of his severe rebuke, it was to help the Church repent and to again follow God’s leadership.

God demands of His called, a probing into sinful situations that negatively effect the church. It is not so much to point out the offender or the offended, but rather, to clear up the problem, the sinful situation, so that the church might again move forward. Satan works diligently, to get into a local fellowship and cause people to offend and be offended, that he might break up the unity and stifle the church's growth, both numerically and spiritually.

The deceiver tries to get someone to say something or do something thoughtless, neutral or even positive and then goes to someone else and tells them that is offensive and they need to be offended. The Accuser of the Brethren does this so he can break down the unity, the harmony, the health of the body of Christ. So he can cause resentment, strife and hurt, so that he can get us off track, from doing God's work, following His agenda and get us forming divisive groups, causing further harm not simply to individuals but to the church.

Though Paul was concerned about the individuals, those that sinned and those sinned against his basic concern was for the welfare of the church. He prayed and confronted them, in order that they might repent and again follow God's leadership and God's leading through Paul.

We learn from verse 13, that their zeal for God refreshed and joy in the Lord had been restored because of their repentance. "But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere — or κᾰνόνος in the Greek, meaning a rule or standard,—which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you."

Paul was comforted by God because the Corinthian believers had repented of neglect and of allowing their church to stifle and stall. He had feared that the individuals in the church or the church leadership would bow their backs or harden their hearts to his addressing the situation, the people who caused the situation, and the people who were suppose to help solve the situation. When repentance came and the church adjusted itself to God's Word and begin to minister in love again,
Paul was greatly comforted. A reference to I Corinthians 13.

However, not only was Paul comforted or called alongside the Lord, but he also was caused to rejoice because of the blessing of God that now rested upon the church again. The proof that the blessing of God was once more upon was seen in the joy of Titus, Paul and the Corinthians.

Churches that are sensitive to the Spirit of God, repent regularly, in order to follow His leadership are able to refresh spirits. As people worship, fellowship and work for God in love and unity, God's Spirit moves through the church's consecrated and devoted members to bring refreshing to all those that worship and work with the body.

Therefore, the proof to Paul that the church had repented was not simply that things were morally right or even doctrinally sound but that the church could refresh spirits. Is your spirit refreshed from worshiping, fellowshipping, and working within the church? If not, then repentance, certainly individually and quite possibly corporately, is needed.

In verse 14, we learn that the confidence of Paul boasting about the Corinthians has now been proven true. "For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ."

Paul had boasted about the members and the church in Corinth to Titus before he sent him with the painful letter. Paul had boasted of their giftedness, boasted of their giving spirit, boasted of their spirituality. He boasted of their hospitality, and he had boasted of their worship of God and of their willingness to be right with God both individually and corporately.

It's important to note, that Paul had spoken very sternly about certain issues within the church, however, when he spoke outside the church about the church he boasted. Though I might speak harsh words of truth to you, for the betterment of your spiritual development and growth, I also frequently boast about your willing to surrender to the purposes of God, your spiritual growth, your worship, the love and warmth we have for one another and for others. The sharing of the Gospel, for the purposes of winning others to Christ.

However, many churches are hurt more in the community by church members speaking evil of it outside the church than they are by the direct work of Satan. I believe, that the reason many people don't or won't come to church because the hurtful, harsh tongued people inside it. Rather than sharing the Gospel in love, they play judge and jury, condemning others.

Beloved, we must be careful to speak the truth, in love, as we will all, one day soon, give an account of our careless words, for our unrighteous judgments, and by those same measures, we too will be judged. Every word we say to someone publically about our brothers and sisters, who make up the body of Christ, should be positive.

If you have a negative word to say, say it privately to the offending person and then turn it over to the Lord in prayer to bring about His will not yours! Never have a divisive spirit, never cause disunity within Christ church. Get involved, find out more about the issue, from the person who actually knows, don't direct your comments and opinions to those who know less than you do about it. And, if someone else is speaking negatively, counter the negative with something positive, the Word of God!

Paul indicates, in verse 15, the receptiveness of the Corinthians to his corrective ministry. "not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you,"

As a result of the way the people received Titus he had great affection, splánchna, in the Greek or inner emotion, for the Corinthians. What comfort and encouragement he received in their fellowship.
People that refresh your spirit and bring you joy in the Lord are people that touch us, that move us, because of their obedience to the Lord. And the people who desire to be godly come to love them.
 
So how did this church touch this visitor, this interim pastor, so much that they refreshed Titus’ spirit in a long term way? How did they increased his joy in life and in the ministry, which then caused him to develop a love for them? Because of their obedience to the Word of God, to the Lord, and to Paul. Their willingness and strength of will to do the right thing, in the right way, for the right reasons, always opens the door for God to bless the church's ministry so that it brings joy, refreshes spirits and develops loving relationships.

Paul says in verse 16, "so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another." The obedience of the congregation would cause Paul to rejoice and grow in his confidence toward them.

Paul is encouraged by the Corinthians’ repentance and their renewed partnership with him. Because they did not disappoint Paul by a lack of obedience to the Word, he grew in his confidence toward them.

You can place confidence in people who repent and follow God's Word. No others are worthy of your confidence. We cannot not value the council of those that do not follow the full council of God's Word! You must, however, have confidence in those who trust God and obey His Word. What rejoicing it is to know you can place confidence in a person, or in a people in this day an age where trust is so very hard to find. The true messenger of God, distinguishably very different. They let their own virtuous life, their spiritual power demonstrate itself in preaching the gospel. They come of the will of God, by the gift and power of God, not of their own will.

In Romans 15:17 and 18, Paul says, "Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed,"

In Jeremiah 9:23-24, "Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.

An very essential point, which Paul makes in verse 17, where he says, "But he who boasts is to boast in the Lord."

Beloved, in and of ourselves, we cannot boast, for we have nothing to boast about! We are weak, humble and that is the way God wants it. Therefore, our boasting must be in the Lord. 

False teachers, however, are always proud, self-centered, self-promoting, seeking to impress people. They want to be known by all, they seek their reward now, power, prestige and money. 

The apostle Paul so eloquently makes this same point in verse 18. "For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends."

In Closing.....

For the true man of God, worldly commendation may come. There will also be times when you are condemned by the world around you, and there will be times when you are commended by the world around you, however, at the end of the day, you just take it for what it is.  

When by the world around, you are condemned, you just accept it for what it is, understanding that’s the nature of the message you preach, confronting the ungodliness in the culture today. And the same is true when you are commended by the world, you humbly receive it, appreciate it and give God the glory. 

I am not a men pleaser, whether I am condemned or commended by the world is of no particular significance to me, I seek only the commendation of One, by the Lord Jesus Christ. It's the only commendation that truly matters to me, though I am appreciative of others kindness, in doing so, in the end, that's not what matters. In fact, over the years, I have discovered, that when I am most pleasing to God, I am most often condemned by the world. 

As Paul says in I Corinthians 4:3-5, "But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God."

May it be so...

And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen

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