II Corinthians 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.
8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
Not long ago we mentioned a foolish decision made by the Regina city council. That decision has raised very valid concerns among decent people. However, the city has not backed away from that foolish choice.
In Quebec they are taking a different approach to the Islamic invasion of Canada. They are planning to ban all public prayer in Quebec. That is the decision of a people who do not know the Lord and are afraid to call out a wicked ideology for what it is. Islam is not just a religion. It is much more than that. It is designed to take over every aspect of life. It is designed to replace God with a false god whose origins can be traced all the way back to Babylon. Canada is doomed because we are a pagan nation that believes the enemy is God, not the false gods that have been here since the beginning of this nation. Prior to Canada becoming a nation, the Indians had their pagan gods. The founders of Canada did not know how to approach the Indians, and so they used liquor and gifts to try to gain the “friendship” of the Indians. We can see how well that is working. The Muslims do not want our friendship. They want to dominate. Wherever they are given a foothold, they take over. That is what is happening in Canada right now. We have no political leaders who are willing to deal with this properly, thus persecution will increase against true religion.
In our text, we are warned of the huge danger of self-reliance. Fallen man is very self-reliant. After Adam sinned, he chose to accuse God of giving him Eve. He lied about what he did. God will not be mocked.
Paul was directed by God to help the Corinthian saints put a mirror to their faces and their character. Outward appearance is not what makes a person. Outward appearance should flow from an inner strength. True inner strength can only come from knowing God and trusting in His salvation.
The saints in Corinth were saints because they had trusted in Christ’s sacrifice for them. That did not make them superior to any other Christians. Paul needed to remind them that if they were Christ’s, so was he and so were his companions.
In verse 8 Paul needed to remind them of his authority. He was chosen by Jesus Christ to be an apostle. As an apostle he was given the Word of God to record for generations to come. The Corinthians were not given that privilege. They were given the privilege to hear and submit to the Word of God. They had no right to make up some new word from God.
Modern day Christendom has taken the liberty to make up a lot of “new words” that they claim is from God. The music, the immodesty, the false doctrines, the friendship with the world, etc. is all evidence of the corruption of today’s popular brand of Christianity. The ecumenical movement is very popular and music is one of the ways the devil uses to get people to put their guard down and to accept strange doctrines. Summer time is famous for this as music festivals pop up and undiscerning people flock to them, rather than attending true local churches.
The apostle Paul was not called as a apostle to bring about the destruction of the saints in Corinth. Some of them had trouble appreciating what he was called to do. They did not want to be corrected. They wanted to be approved of even though they were holding to false doctrine.
The Word of God is for the saints’ edification. The word translated as “edification” speaks of “building up”. You cannot build up unless you have a strong foundation. Jesus Christ is the only strong foundation we can build upon. We can be sure that Jesus Christ would not be at these music festivals. He tells us where He would be.
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The ministry of the local church is primarily the preaching of the Word of God. Music is part of the local church, but it is not the main part. Sound preaching is edifying to the soul that is in tune with God. Paul was not ashamed of his calling, nor of his ministry.
In verse 9 Paul did not want them to be terrified by his letters. The purpose of his letters was for edification. Humility is required of the recipients, in order to appreciate the blessings of God.
In verse 10 we see again the complaint as some of the recipients of Paul’s letters, judged him harshly. They failed to realize that his letters were Authored by God. Paul was simply the human vehicle that God chose to use to give Truth to the recipients.
In the Old Testament, we read that when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, He wrote them with His finger upon the stone tablets. God could have given us the entire Bible by carving It into stone with His finger. II Timothy 3:16-17 declares:
II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Paul was not a different person in letters than he was in person. His message was the same. The people just perceived him to be different.
In verse 11 Paul made that clear. He was the same because it was not about Paul. It was about Jesus Christ.
In verse 12 Paul reminded them that true spiritual leaders are not in a competition. It is not a race to some imaginary top. Today there is an obsession in some places with “doctorates”. Doctorates might be helpful but often they weaken the recipients. There is too much garbage consumed on the road to a doctorate and it pollutes the recipient. There is also an air of pride that a person has “achieved” a certain level of “spiritual insight”, and that is why he had received that title.
The apostle Paul was a well respected servant of God. He was well respected by God, not necessarily man. He was never given the title of “Doctor”. No true spiritual leader in the Bible was given that. The Pharisees prided themselves on their supposed wisdom.
Paul was not interested in that worthless game. A true servant of God studies God’s Word to meet His approval. If he begins to study God’s Word to meet man’s approval, he has missed the point.
Proper training is essential. The true servant of God submits to the absolute authority of God’s Word. He does not put his trust in himself. He stands upon God’s Word alone. God is never wrong. He is Truth.
Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Be careful not to get entangled in humanistic pursuits. Choose God’s way and serve Him faithfully.
Pastor Bartel