Be Careful What You Wish For
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Introduction
Introduction
In the 1946 film ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, Jimmy Stewart plays well loved local businessman George Bailey. As many of you know, George Bailey is a well intentioned business owner who has an unfortunate turn of events. George’s uncle, Billy misplaces a great deal of their business’ money, which lands George in some potential legal trouble. George despairing of his life, makes his way to the bridge of the town, with the intention of committing suicide. Just as George is getting ready to commit suicide, an older man jumps in the water before George does, and George decides to rescue him. After rescuing the older man, the two banter back and forth for a bit, and the older man tells George that he is George’s guardian angel, and that he knows that George intended to kill himself. In one of the movie’s most iconic scenes, he asks George if he still thinks everyone would be happier if he was dead, to which George replies “It would be better if I had never been born.” Pretending not to hear him, he asks George to repeat what he said, to which George replies “I wish I had never been born!” At this, his guardian angel, before granting his wish, says “Oh you mustn’t say things like that...” One important lesson that George Bailey learns through the plot of this movie is to be careful what you wish for.
Scripture Introduction
Scripture Introduction
Open your bibles to 2 Corinthians chapter 10. Sometimes we ask for things that are not in our best interest, or are not well thought out. This has been a problem for people of every age, as we see in our text today. The apostle Paul is advising his Corinthian readers to stop wishing for something they may get - a consistent Paul. Stand with me as we read from the word of God - the truest and strongest words you will hear all day.
I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—
I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh.
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
Exposition of Text
Exposition of Text
Recap
Recap
Last week, Pastor Mike showed us how the apostle Paul invited his readers to fulfill their duty to be faithful and cheerful givers, and that this wasn’t limited simply to money, but rather should be applied to every area of Christian life. If you’ll remember, the apostle has spent the majority of this letter defending his apostleship. He has been charged with not having the power of God because he suffers (Chapters 1-2), and because he is “frail and weak” (Chapters 4-6). Paul’s opponents have completely misunderstood what it is that the Gospel is about, which is shown by the charges that they level against him. The charge that Paul addresses here isn’t any different.
Paul’s Apostolic Exhortation()
Paul’s Apostolic Exhortation()
The Charges Against Paul ()
The Charges Against Paul ()
Paul begins his exhortation to the Corinthians by reiterating the charges against him. Paul doesn’t exactly deny the charges. Rather he will point out to his readers that his opponents have misunderstood the Gospel implications of what Paul is doing.
Though for the past charges against Paul, his opponents have misunderstood the implications that Paul’s circumstances have had for the Gospel, but here, they misunderstand the implications the Gospel has for them with this charge. Paul begins by stating the charges against him. “I Paul, myself, urge you by the gentleness and meekness of Christ, I who am humble when face to face with you but bold toward you when I am away!” Paul’s opponents have made much of the fact that when Paul was in Corinth for the “painful visit”, when all of this began, he was not confrontational with his opponents. Rather, he was “humble”, or to them, “timid”. But if you’ll remember, when Paul left, he sent a letter to them that is known as the tearful letter, a letter we do not possess, in which Paul berates them for their actions.
Paul’s opponents have seen this, and of course, as any manly men would do, they say “Oh yeah? He’s a big guy in writing isn’t he?! Too bad he’s a shrimp when he’s here!”. In the second half of the introduction to this exhortation, Paul mocks this idea. His opponents think he is being inconsistent, which in a way he is. But most importantly, Paul’s “inconsistency” is modeled after Christ. In the first half to his introduction, Paul exhorts them, “by the meekness and gentleness of Christ”. The “humility” that Paul showed was not something that is inconsistent with the Gospel, rather it is modeled on Christ. But just as Paul’s humility is modeled on Christ, so is his boldness.
The Apostolic “Don’t Make Me Come Over There” ()
The Apostolic “Don’t Make Me Come Over There” ()
Paul urges his readers to refrain from actions which will cause him to show the boldness that he figures he will have to show when he arrives. Every parent has said these words “Don’t make me come over there!” My little girl is two, and I’m already using it. You know you have. This is the apostolic “Don’t make me come over there!” Paul tells the Corinthians that he doesn’t want to have to be consistent like they’re asking. He’s telling them to be careful what they wish for - if you want me to be consistent with my tone in my letters, you may get a taste of that, and you don’t want that. Be careful what you wish for, and don’t make me come over there. The charge that Paul is ready to deal with is that they are “walking in the flesh”, by being inconsistent.
The Threat of Divine Power in Apostolic Discipline ()
The Threat of Divine Power in Apostolic Discipline ()
Paul warns his readers not to force his hand in his boldness, because, as I mentioned before, his boldness is also modeled after Christ. Paul informs his opponents that they are walking in the flesh, but they aren’t waging war according to the flesh. Just because he is stuck in this sinful fleshly tent, doesn’t mean that he takes orders from it. Rather, Paul says they wage war with powerful weapons having power from God. Paul says that these weapons have the power to “destroy strongholds”. Paul then elaborates on what these strongholds are and what their weapons do. He says that they tear down arguments and every lofty opinion which raises itself against the knowledge of God. Paul says this is done by taking every thought captive to be obedient to Christ and having readiness to punish those disobedient to Christ.
Application
Application
In House Discussion
In House Discussion
One thing that is incredibly important for us to understand here, is that this is an in house discussion. We hear a text like this, and we’re ready to hear a sermon about how the word of God can tear down the arguments of the Muslims and atheists. And don’t misunderstand me, it’s powerful enough to handle that and more. But guess what? Paul spoke these words to those who were naming the name of Christ in Corinth. Paul was tearing down and subjecting professing believers who were opposing his leadership. This is the sharp edge of the Gospel, and it always is for the house of God before it’s for those outside. Paul modeled his meekness on Christ, as Christ was meek in His first coming. But Christ will not be meek in His second coming toward those who are disobedient, and neither would Paul in his subsequent visit to Corinth.
Misapplied Weapons
Misapplied Weapons
A Weapon Too Big For the Job
A Weapon Too Big For the Job
Paul describes the Gospel and it’s power in massive terms. The Gospel that Paul carries has the power to tear down arguments. But how often do we find ourselves trying to destroy a birds nest with a tank? Right? So often, we find ourselves taking this massively powerful Gospel that we carry as believers in Christ, and trying to subject enemies that really aren’t worth subjecting. We find ourselves trying to “tear down” the “arguments” of those who want a different color of carpet than we want in the sanctuary. We find ourselves trying to demolish the strongholds of those in the church who are different than us for generational, cultural, or ethnic reasons. Worst of all, like Paul’s opponents, we find ourselves trying to demolish the strongholds of the leaders that God has appointed over us because we don’t like the way they do things. These will be problems in every generation, and every congregation. So I urge you, brethren, don’t wield these Gospel weapons against unworthy foes. These weapons were meant to expand the Kingdom of God, and subject people to it for their joy and for God’s glory. Don’t use the weapons of the Gospel to destroy strongholds that don’t expand the kingdom. Don’t be concerned with things that Christ would not be concerned about, and don’t be deceived about which is which.
Pray That Your Strongholds are all that the Gospel Destroys
Pray That Your Strongholds are all that the Gospel Destroys
But if you must use the weapons of the Gospel for unworthy causes, remember this: those weapons were made to fight you. When we wield the Gospel for the sake of demolishing strongholds that are unworthy of our battles, rather than for the expansion of the Kingdom, those become the strongholds that the weapons were made to subject to Christ. Notice though, that we shouldn’t fear our own subjection to Christ. I mentioned earlier that the apostle modeled his boldness after Christ, the same kind of boldness that He will show at His second coming. We should welcome the demolishing of our strongholds by Gospel weapons here and now! Because these weapons were made for demolishing strongholds that slow the Gospel, but they are much more powerful than that. This Gospel has a sharp edge, and God is not afraid to use it on us. God is not afraid to destroy parts of us that are not in subjection to Christ. While we are walking in the flesh, this sounds like something we don’t want a part of. But I can guarantee everyone here, that if your strongholds of arguments and lofty opinions raised against Christ and against His Gospel aren’t demolished, you yourself will be.
Don’t assume, as Paul’s opponents did, that if you name the name of Christ, you’re safe from the destructive power of the Gospel. For the believer in Christ will find themselves tearing down their strongholds from the inside. Or in those instances where they find themselves comfortable in a stronghold of sinful rebellion, when the fortress is toppled, they will find themselves in repentant subjection to Christ once more. But if your stronghold is demolished and you stand behind the walls, bolstering their strength with everything, if you find yourself opposed to Christ and the furthering of His Kingdom, you should pray that the Gospel will topple your stronghold, because when Christ comes in His kingdom, there will be no stronghold that can stand against Him.
Be Careful What You Wish For
Be Careful What You Wish For
Finally, like Paul’s opponents, we should be careful what we wish for. Sometimes, we find ourselves wishing the judgment of God upon others - maybe a people group, another religion, or a group with a different ideology than ours. At times, this can be appropriate, we see the Psalmists do this occasionally. But unless we find ourselves in a right standing with Christ, His leadership, His people, and outsiders, we should be careful what we wish for. Because Christ stands with the same warning as the apostle Paul, that we do not want Him to be consistent in His application of justice and boldness - if He were, we might perish under the weight of it! Thank God that He is not consistent in His application of justice, but that He is merciful to us in Christ!
Invitation
Invitation
As the author of Hebrews says, it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But luckily there is a more humble enemy that you can face now. This Gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Son of God has the power to subject all of your thoughts to obedience to Christ, and if you don’t know Him, I would encourage you to embrace this message of His death, burial, and resurrection, that He died to absorb the wrath of God for His people, and divert the demolition that they will face apart from Him. The only way to stand in day of His wrath is to be subjected to Him now, pick up the weapons of His Gospel, and demolish the strongholds that stand against Him. Let’s pray.