We are the threat(Sermon notes)

From Bail Money to Mail Money

Text: 2 Cor 11(NIV)

16Again I say, may no one think me to be a fool; and if otherwise, even as a fool receive me, that I also a little may boast. 17That which I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this the confidence of boasting;

24from Jews five times forty [stripes] save one I did receive; 25thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice was I shipwrecked, a night and a day in the deep I have passed; 26journeyings many times, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from kindred, perils from nations, perils in city, perils in wilderness, perils in sea, perils among false brethren; 27in laboriousness and painfulness, in watchings many times, in hunger and thirst, in fastings many times, in cold and nakedness; 28apart from the things without — the crowding upon me that is daily — the care of all the assemblies. 29Who is infirm, and I am not infirm? who is stumbled, and I am not fired;

Text: 2 Corinthians 9:10–14 (NIV)

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.

Message: God turns bondage into blessing—He supplies seed, multiplies it, and gets the glory through our giving.

We Are the Threat

Text: 2 Corinthians 10:1–12 (NIV)

1 By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away!2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.7 You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.8 So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it.9 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters.10 For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.”11 Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.

Message: Our battle is spiritual. God’s power rests on us—we don’t fear the world; the darkness fears the anointing on God’s people.

The Oil’s Not Free

Texts: 2 Corinthians 11:24–29; 12:8–10 (NIV)

2 Corinthians 11:24–2924 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

2 Corinthians 12:8–108 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Message: Anointing has a cost—suffering presses the oil. Yet grace is sufficient, and Christ’s power rests on us in weakness.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for supplying seed, for arming us with mighty weapons, and for pouring grace in our weakness. Make us bold, generous, and steadfast. Use our pressure to release Your power, and get all the glory. Amen.

Service info: Expanse Bible Church — Sundays at 10:15 AM • 2730 W. Southcross Blvd., San Antonio, TX • “Leave Changed.”

Attribution: Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV®). Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.