II Corinthians 2:12-17: "The Concerned Pastor"
Paul had so much care and concern for his believers at Corinth that he could have easily found himself constantly being depressed. However, Paul understood the burden of ministry and faithfully took the good with the bad. Continuing his letter to the Corinthians he explains, "Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord, I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother". Paul came to Troas after visiting Ephesus. It is speculated that because of a serious riot in Ephesus because of Paul's preaching he had to leave. Paul came to Troas to meet up with Titus to hear about the report of the Corinthians response to his severe letter. So distraught was Paul over the news that Titus may bring about them his spirit was at unrest. Despite being given an opportunity to spread the gospel of Christ, Paul was so concerned over the Corinthians that he was unable to take full advantage of the opportunity God had given him and he left them to go to Macedonia to see if he could catch up with Titus there. MacArthur writes, "The door that was opened at Troas represented a divinely prepared opportunity, the kind Paul longed for and prayed for. But he was so overwrought and burdened by the situation at Corinth that he found it difficult to focus on the opportunity; he had no rest for his spirit. The turmoil and discontent of his heart were debilitating and threatened to close the door that was opened for ministry at Troas. His intense concern for the Corinthian church raised troubling questions in his mind. Would they affirm their love for him? Or would they follow the false apostles?" Just like when we have situations in our life that consume our thoughts and render us ineffective to do anything until we get it resolved, so Paul was having one of these times.
However, despite this turmoil Paul always finds ways to rejoice in the Lord as he begins his thought, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place". MacArthur writes, "the reason for which [Paul writes thanks] is not readily apparent in the text. It is true that he finally met Titus in Macedonia (7:5-7) and received a generally encouraging report about the situation in Corinth. That report certainly brought Paul some much-needed relief". As Paul so often does, he does not let his circumstances get the best of him. He understands and knows that despite all that is going on around him, he will always have inner joy because of his relationship with Christ. Despite being concerned and distracted by the Corinthians, Paul thanks God for always leading him into triumph in Christ. Because of what Christ has done for us as believers, we can always be joyful no matter our circumstances. Although earthly situations and errant people can let us down, Christ will always be with us giving us victory over sin. With Christ in our hearts we have much reason to be full of joy, and with that we should be a sweet aroma to all we come in contact with. By preaching Christ to those around us we bring the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Christ, which leads to salvation. Paul was ever aware of the opportunities he had to preach the knowledge of Christ, and despite his emotions or external pressures, he could always think about the goodness of the Lord and give off the sweet aroma of his gospel to those he came in contact with. We should look at our own testimonies, do we let our circumstances dictate our attitudes and examples? Do we put the things of this world aside and focus on the goodness of God and the wonders of Christ? What is our aroma? Do we give off the sweetness of the gospel of salvation and forgiveness of sin? Or do we give off the stench of sinfulness?
Continuing with the fragrance metaphor Paul writes, "For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing". MacArthur writes, "Although a preacher proclaims the gospel to men, it is in reality God who is his audience. His faithful gospel ministry causes the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Christ to be manifest to people, but the fragrance of that gospel ministry ascends to the very throne of God". To please God was Paul's life goal. Everything in him passionately desired to please God. Paul's ministry before God revealed two things: 1) For those who rejected the gospel of Christ it was "death to death", and 2) For those who accepted the gospel "an aroma from life to life". When presented with the truth of Christ and who He is Paul always pushed for a decision. When confronted with the gospel there are only two responses. We either accept Christ as Lord and confess our sins to Him and repent, as He becomes our Savior and gives us eternal life. The other response is rejection of the truth, and only holds us more accountable before the judgment seat of Christ. MacArthur writes, "It pleases God to express His mercy when He redeems repentant sinners. And though He has no pleasure in the death and damnation of those who reject the gospel (Ezek. 18:23, 32; 33:11; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9), He is nevertheless pleased by the expression of His justice".
Paul concludes this section by speaking of the sincerity of his testimony, "And who is adequate for these things? For we are not like many peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God". Paul as he usually does, recognizes that he is not adequate in himself to carry out the necessary work that we are called to. Paul consistently recognizes God as the giver of every good gift and the source of power to carry out His will. Those who Paul had been writing against, the false prophets who had infiltrated the Corinthians, were relying on their own strength and merely peddling the word of God to the Corinthians. However, Paul's ministry to them came from a sincere care and love for their hearts. Speaking with the power of God, and God being his witness as to the sincerity he was doing his work for the Corinthians, Paul would rely completely on God. MacArthur concludes, "since he recognized his own inadequacy and depended entirely on God's power to energize his ministry, the apostle had no need to resort to corrupting the Word to influence people. . . Paul's pure life and unadulterated message would stand up to the closest scrutiny. Any man can proclaim a whittled-down false gospel, but those who preach the true gospel can do so only by means of divine power". May we recognize our strength to do the Lord's work does not come from within ourselves, but rather comes from God. May we not allow the fallenness of this world and the circumstances around us disconcert us as to take us off course. Rather, may we rejoice in the never-changing love and hope of Jesus Christ.
However, despite this turmoil Paul always finds ways to rejoice in the Lord as he begins his thought, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place". MacArthur writes, "the reason for which [Paul writes thanks] is not readily apparent in the text. It is true that he finally met Titus in Macedonia (7:5-7) and received a generally encouraging report about the situation in Corinth. That report certainly brought Paul some much-needed relief". As Paul so often does, he does not let his circumstances get the best of him. He understands and knows that despite all that is going on around him, he will always have inner joy because of his relationship with Christ. Despite being concerned and distracted by the Corinthians, Paul thanks God for always leading him into triumph in Christ. Because of what Christ has done for us as believers, we can always be joyful no matter our circumstances. Although earthly situations and errant people can let us down, Christ will always be with us giving us victory over sin. With Christ in our hearts we have much reason to be full of joy, and with that we should be a sweet aroma to all we come in contact with. By preaching Christ to those around us we bring the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Christ, which leads to salvation. Paul was ever aware of the opportunities he had to preach the knowledge of Christ, and despite his emotions or external pressures, he could always think about the goodness of the Lord and give off the sweet aroma of his gospel to those he came in contact with. We should look at our own testimonies, do we let our circumstances dictate our attitudes and examples? Do we put the things of this world aside and focus on the goodness of God and the wonders of Christ? What is our aroma? Do we give off the sweetness of the gospel of salvation and forgiveness of sin? Or do we give off the stench of sinfulness?
Continuing with the fragrance metaphor Paul writes, "For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing". MacArthur writes, "Although a preacher proclaims the gospel to men, it is in reality God who is his audience. His faithful gospel ministry causes the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Christ to be manifest to people, but the fragrance of that gospel ministry ascends to the very throne of God". To please God was Paul's life goal. Everything in him passionately desired to please God. Paul's ministry before God revealed two things: 1) For those who rejected the gospel of Christ it was "death to death", and 2) For those who accepted the gospel "an aroma from life to life". When presented with the truth of Christ and who He is Paul always pushed for a decision. When confronted with the gospel there are only two responses. We either accept Christ as Lord and confess our sins to Him and repent, as He becomes our Savior and gives us eternal life. The other response is rejection of the truth, and only holds us more accountable before the judgment seat of Christ. MacArthur writes, "It pleases God to express His mercy when He redeems repentant sinners. And though He has no pleasure in the death and damnation of those who reject the gospel (Ezek. 18:23, 32; 33:11; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9), He is nevertheless pleased by the expression of His justice".
Paul concludes this section by speaking of the sincerity of his testimony, "And who is adequate for these things? For we are not like many peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God". Paul as he usually does, recognizes that he is not adequate in himself to carry out the necessary work that we are called to. Paul consistently recognizes God as the giver of every good gift and the source of power to carry out His will. Those who Paul had been writing against, the false prophets who had infiltrated the Corinthians, were relying on their own strength and merely peddling the word of God to the Corinthians. However, Paul's ministry to them came from a sincere care and love for their hearts. Speaking with the power of God, and God being his witness as to the sincerity he was doing his work for the Corinthians, Paul would rely completely on God. MacArthur concludes, "since he recognized his own inadequacy and depended entirely on God's power to energize his ministry, the apostle had no need to resort to corrupting the Word to influence people. . . Paul's pure life and unadulterated message would stand up to the closest scrutiny. Any man can proclaim a whittled-down false gospel, but those who preach the true gospel can do so only by means of divine power". May we recognize our strength to do the Lord's work does not come from within ourselves, but rather comes from God. May we not allow the fallenness of this world and the circumstances around us disconcert us as to take us off course. Rather, may we rejoice in the never-changing love and hope of Jesus Christ.
posted by amesfam | 10:19 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home