2 Corinthians 7:2-16 Sermon Reflection

"No Regrets In Loving One Another"

Discovery: The notion of having "no regrets" is a very good and honorable mantra and motto. It causes us to take risks, step out of our comfort zones, and not dwell on things of the past. In a biblical context, this idea of a "regret-free" life is clearly found within the context of relationships. There should be no regret in regards to our relationship with God (Luke 9:62: "Jesus replied, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.'") nor should there be any regrets in loving others.

Paul, in speaking about his relationship with the Corinthian church, shares openly about the struggles and challenges that he faces in ministry. Paul readily admits that sorrow and difficulties are a reality of life for any believer. However, in v. 10 Paul makes the distinction between godly sorrow and earthy sorrow: "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow bring death."

The obvious difference is that godly sorrow has God's fingerprints all over it. Paul states in v. 9 "...For you became sorrowful as God intended..." In the NASB translation, it says, "...made sorrowful according to the will of God." God will often allow sorrow to come our way because He desires to accomplish something through it.

Application: No one likes sorrow. Most of us try everything to avoid it at all costs. The subtle lie of the Enemy is this: "Don't allow yourself to get hurt or disappointed by anyone. Protect yourself because no one else will."

This is extremely effective and we see the results of this all around us. People avoid getting involved in church, ministry, friendships, and community because it is always safer to keep these things at an arms distance. Sorrow and disappoint are inevitable in any of these endeavors and we can avoid it by simply standing on the sidelines.

But Paul tells us in this passage that we will miss out on the joys of relationships and community if we live like this. Paul points to his relationship with Titus and the great encouragement that he gained from him. Paul points to the even greater joy and encouragement that he received when Titus told him about the prayers and concerns of the Corinthian church for him. Though discouragement, regret, remorse, challenges and difficulties are real in ministry and relationships, Paul points to the encouragement, friendships, support that he receives from his the Corinthian church and Titus as far better.

Dear friends, don't let your fears, doubts, worries, and concerns rob you of the joy that is found in faithfully pouring out your heart in service, ministry, and community.

Prayer: Lord, let me live with no regrets in loving You and loving others this week. Especially as I prepare for our Navajo mission trip next week, empower me to give my whole heart to the people that I will be meeting with no constraints.

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 Sermon Reflection

"Being a Temple of the Living God"

Discovery: The main point of this section can be found in v. 14: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers..." Because this phrase is an imperative statement, it can also be translated as "Stop yoking yourselves..." This has obviously been a problem for the Corinthian church because they are constantly conforming to the society around them instead of conforming themselves into the likeness of Christ.

Most traditional and contemporary teachings regarding v. 14 deal with marriage and relationships. The principle is that we should not be "yoked" to someone who is not a believer or spiritually compatible. Yet the implications of this verse and the principles found in it extends far beyond just these things.

In vv. 14-16, we see a series of 5 questions that tap into a number of different aspects of our lives.

"For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?"

"Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"

"What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?"

"What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?"

"What agreement is there between God and idols?"

These highlighted words and the contrasting words associated with them shows us that there are many things that are cannot be yoked to the things of God. The contrast is stark and absolute. Paul's charge is to stop yoking ourselves with things that are not of God.

Application: Paul's corrective challenge can be found in v. 16: "For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."

There are three key things that makes us a temple of the living God:

1. "I will live with them" God desires to live in the midst of His people. Just like the wandering Israelites had the tabernacle of God in the midst of their camp during the 40 years of wandering, so too does God want to live in the midst of (not around, near, or adjacent to) His people.

2. "and walk among them" God walks to walk in and through freely in our lives. Our youth pastor Pat gave a great analogy about this. When we have people over to our house, we usually clean the public space where people hangout and mingle. But there is always that drawer or closet (or in our case a whole room) in which we stuff all of our junk. We are okay with people walking around and looking at the parts of the house that we deem acceptable but we would never want someone to look in that messy drawer, closet, or room. God wants to walk freely in and through all aspects of our lives.

3. "I will be their God and they will be my people." This is a reoccurring promise to God's people. It is repeated over and over because we tend to forget that we are God's prized possession. God is the author and initiator of this covenant relationship and He reminds us over and over that His plans for us and good and trustworthy.

Friends... stop yoking yourself to bad things and let us start living as temples to the living God.

Prayer: Help me turn away from the things that don't lead me to You. Help me instead to allow you to inspect all aspects of my life and strive to live for You.

Exodus 17:1-7 Sermon Reflection

"Jesus the Rock"

Discovery: I had the privilege of guest speaking this morning at Tri-Valley Bible Church in Pleasanton this morning. This was a follow up sermon from Exodus 16 that I spoke on previously when I was there. The two long standing issues of spiritual amnesia and a spirit of entitlement are dealt with once again in this section. Israel has already forgotten about God's provision of water as seen in Exodus 15 as well as the provision of food in Exodus 16. Their spiritual amnesia is demonstrated by their attitude of "What have you done for me lately?" Worse yet, the Israelites accuse God and Moses of wanting to kill them, their children, and their livestock (v. 3) out here in the desert through thirst. The danger of this spirit of entitlement is not just that it is selfish, immature, and silly but that it removes God from His rightful place and puts us on the throne of our lives. Rather than serving God, the expectation is that He should serve us.

Application: The real issue for the people of Israel during this wilderness wandering has to do with the condition of their hearts. They simply cannot and will not trust God. Their focus is on what is seen rather than what is unseen and they hold onto their past experiences rather than trusting God as they move forward in faith. And yet, the main point of this passage is that God is using the wilderness to refine and refocus their faith. The Exodus is not just about rescuing Israel from Egypt but it is also about removing Egypt from Israel's heart.

Clement of Rome says this about the spiritual purpose of the wilderness: "After this [Red Sea crossing], Moses, by the command of God, whose providence is over all, led out the people of the Hebrews into the wilderness; and, leaving the shortest road which leads from Egypt to Judea, he led the people through long windings of the wilderness, that, by the discipline of forty years, the novelty of a changed manner of life might root out the evils which clung to them by a long continued familiarity with the customs of the Egyptians."

The Apostle Paul states it as such in Ephesians 4:22-24: "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

Ultimately God reveals Himself to His people as He always does. Rather than wrath and punishment for their doubt, sin, and accusations, God provides for them the water that they desire. We see God's character here in our passage: His mercy (withholding wrath) and His grace (provision of water through the rock). The Apostle Paul would comment on this passage later in 1 Corinthians 10:1-3: "For I do not want you to ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ." We see the mercy and grace of God in the provision of water through this rock in Exodus 17. Paul reminds us that Jesus is that rock which demonstrates God's mercy and grace.

Prayer: Lord, help me avoid the pitfalls of my former ways and remind me of my new identity and calling in You. Thank you for Your mercies that are new every morning and a grace that words cannot express.

2 Corinthians 5:11-21 Sermon Reflection

"Reconciliation: Our Christian Motivation"

Discovery: Paul speaks about reconciliation in our passage today. v. 18 states, "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." Reconciliation implies a change in relation. We reconcile our checkbooks so that the amounts are correct, nations reconcile their differences which leads to a cease-fire, etc. Reconciliation is about us correcting something that is wrong. But Paul's use of reconciliation is the reversal of the "normal" usage. God is the one who reconciles with us and not the other way around. He is the one who gave His Son and He is the one who didn't count our sins against us. God is the chief character in this act of reconciliation. We are merely the beneficiaries. Paul makes it clear that God's heart is about reconciliation.

Moreover, the church is called to be reconcilers as well. The later part of v. 19 and the beginning of v. 20 states, "...He has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation. We are therefore ambassadors of Christ..." Notice how its states that "He has committed to us." It does not say that "we committed to this." When you are committed to a mental institution, you don't willingly sign up for that. Someone else does it for you. Reconciliation is both the heart of God but also the primary mission of His followers. It is not optional.

Application: The church is too often defined by what we are not instead of what we are. We draw lines in that sand that determine whether you are on the right side of the wrong side. We take good and godly things such as theology, convictions, and beliefs and use them are tools to divide and judge rather than to witness and convert. When we look at the life and ministry of Jesus, we see what reconciliation is all about. Reconciliation is about stepping over and erasing those lines that people draw. Time and time again, we see Jesus stepping across these religious and cultural lines (Samaritan woman, Syrophoenician woman, etc.) in order to bring the Good News of God's salvation. In the Sermon on the Mount, we see Jesus teaching His followers to live in such a way that runs counter to the desires of our hearts as well as the culture of this world.

Reconciliation needs to permeate all of my life. First off in my interpersonal relationships, I need to be quick in forgiving versus stubbornly fighting. When it comes to ministry, I need to focus on those outside the church walls as well as those who are already comfortably within them. In addition to my "job" as a pastor of this congregation, I need to live out my "calling" as an ambassador and committed reconciler.

On a personal note, I recently been looking over some of my old journals when I was in high school. I am quite embarrassed by the things that wrote down. My natural tendency is to distance myself from that young man and to think that I have somehow "grown up." Reading those old journals instead reminds of the work of reconciliation that God has been doing in my life. I can clearly attest to the fact that it has always been about God doing the work.

Prayer: Oh Lord, where do I start... Remind me how much you love me and allow that love to forcibly flow over into the lives of my loved ones, community, and stranger alike. Help me lead our church in maturity. Help us be defined as people who live out your heart of reconciliation with one another and the community around us.