2 Corinthians 7 Open Your Heart

Chuck Musselwhite

2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

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Intro:

When you go to a concert from a band or symphony there is a point where the musicians are tuning their instruments

As they are doing that the music isn’t a song, it a bunch of sounds

Then the band leader gets up and usually starts off by getting every one on the same timing

The conductor of a symphony will tap his podium and then wave his wand to get the orchestra in unison

Paul referred to the church as a symphony

Unfortunately, the church in Corinth has been out of sync

But as we get to chapter 7 we get to the crescendo of the concert

That moment the concert has been building to

Fortunately we find a church that is in one accord

Read 2 Corinthians 7:2-4

Transition:

2 Corinthians is the third letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians

In the first letter he got on them for multiple issues

One was over a man who was shacking up with his Step-mom

He told church to kick him out till he repented

Instead of repenting he rebelled caused division

Paul made an unscheduled visit because of the reports of all of the problems

That visit went sideways because people resisted Paul’s correction and Paul suffered from some medical maladies which made the Corinthians think he was weak

Paul sent Titus with a very harsh letter after that visit

Titus was to go there and straighten things out

Paul and Titus were then to meet up in Troas on a certain date but Titus delayed that reunion because he wanted to finish the work he was doing

Paul continued on to Philipi and met Titus there

Chapter 7 is the report Paul recieved back from Titus

It shows the church and Paul reconciling their differences

That was possible because he opened his heart to the Corinthians even though they hurt him

You will need an open heart if you are going to love others and serve Jesus

I. In This Together vs. 2-4

Paul was able to open his heart because he saw it as they were in this together

Paul didn’t look at the situation as him against Corinth

He knew they were on the same team and headed in the same direction

We need to look at fellow Christians the same way

Even though we are at odds, we have all been saved by the same grace and are headed to heaven

vs. 2 Make Room for Us

With this in mind, Paul asks them to make room in their hearts for him

He wanted them to open their hearts to them

This isn’t the first time he has asked

2 Cor 6:12-13 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

Their judgment of Paul had erected a wall

It is easy to put up walls when we’ve been hurt

To prevent it from happening again we don’t let people in and we keep them at arms length

True love makes rooms in your heart for people, even if they hurt you

Paul & Titus had opened their hearts

Now he was asking them to do the same

Paul tells them that he hasn’t wronged them or corrupted anyone

He was guilt free in his treatment of them

vs. 3 Live & Die

Paul is not asking them to open their hearts out of judgement

He is letting them know they are in this fight together

They are going to live and die together

They are in this together

vs. 4 Joy in Affliction

Paul was acting boldly towards the Corinthians because he had great pride in them

This had to catch the Corinthians off guard

Why are you disappointed? We’ve given you enough ammunition

In his affliction from the Corinthians and with what he was facing in Macedonia he was both comforted and found joy in the affliction

His source of boldness, comfort, & joy?

Jesus Christ

Matt 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Paul trusted in the Lord and it gave rest for his weary soul

II. Comfort in Difficulties vs. 5-10

Paul found comfort in difficulties because he opened his heart

I mentioned earlier that Paul continued on to Macedonia when Titus didn’t show up in Troas

Philippi was in Macedonia and was on the travel route Titus would take

Paul knew he would stop and see the church there so Paul stayed there

While Paul was in Macedonia he had great affliction and fear

This Macedonian misery was the culmination of Paul’s excruciating anxiety over the Corinthian church, but first he found a Macedonian mess.

There in Macedonia Paul suffered exhaustion due to constant affliction as he was pressured externally.

The “fighting[s] without” refer to heated disputes with either unbelievers or believers, and likely both.

He was immersed in a maelstrom of quarreling. Paul could not escape. Every turn brought him face to face with conflict.

It brought him to the point of depression

But he testifies that God comforted him through the whole thing

vs. 5 Afflicted at Every Turn

Bodies had no rest

They had been traveling nonstop

Fighting battles

They faced opposition from the moment they got there

You can be sure that when God is doing something, Satan is going to fight it

Battling fear on the inside

All of that was added to the stress and fear he was facing on the inside

He was worried about Titus and reconciliation with Corinth

vs. 6-7 Comfort for the Depressed

Paul tells us that God comforts the downcast

The proper word for downcast is depressed

Downcast can be perceived as being bummed out or sad

Paul is talking about depression

There has been an incredible increase in depression over the last 10 years

Martin Luther was subject to such fits of darkness that he would hide himself away for days, and his family would remove all dangerous implements from the house for fear he would harm himself. In the midst of one of these times, his indomitable wife, Katharina, entered his room dressed in mourning clothes. Startled, Luther asked who had died. She replied that no one had, but from the way he was acting, she thought God had died!

The prophet Isaiah has some encouragement

Is 49:13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.

Paul was comforted by the coming of Titus and the good news he brought

Everything in the church had been worked out and the people were broken over hurting Paul

vs. 8-10 Grieved into Repenting

Paul’s letter hit home

They were grieved by it but it brought about repentance

Paul knew he had to send the letter but when Titus took longer than expected he had second thoughts

But, he ended up rejoicing over their repentance

To repent simply means “to change one’s mind,” and disobedient Christians need to repent, not in order to be saved, but in order to restore their close fellowship with God.

Romans 2:4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

III. Renewed & Refreshed vs. 11-16

Paul was renewed and refreshed in His spirit because he opened his heart

vs. 11-12 Renewed Devotion

Earnestness = Guarantee

A commercial term for the deposit or down payment that secures a legal claim or makes a contract binding. It is used figuratively in the New Testament for God’s gift of his Spirit to believers as a guarantee of their full inheritance in Christ

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

vs. 13-16 Refreshed Spirit

Romans 15:32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.

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