Perplexities of the Christian Life - 18

Today we come to the third list of the apostle Paul's and second Corinthians chapter 6, you may recall that the first list was nine items of suffering trials of difficulties faced by Paul as an apostle of Christ and as a minister of the gospel of Christ. Many of these are also faced by every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ first list was verses four and five of this chapter and then write back to back with the first list we come to a second one of verses six and seven and that was a list of nine of the graces that we need in order to overcome the trials that we found in the first list how to overcome suffering and to turn it into benefit for the children of God and for the glory of our Savior, but not today we come to the third list and it is a series of paradoxes nine pairs something and something something and something if you just read through this whole collection of of items in these three lists quickly. You might not notice the distinction in them.

But as you look at the more carefully you can see the categories under which I have placed them and when we come to verses eight and nine and 10, we see that the the form changes instead of listing nine separate one-word items.

Most of them one word some of the more than one we have a list of pairs.

He says in verse eight by honor and dishonor by evil report and good report as deceivers and yet true is unknown and yet well-known is dying and, behold, we live is chastened, and yet not killed is sorrowful, yet always rejoicing is poor, yet making many rich is having nothing, and yet possessing all things. Nine paradoxes in the ministry and the life of the ministry of the apostle Paul nine elements of his perplexing life, but most of them also apply to us as well. I've called these paradoxes and what is a paradox paradox is a statement that at first glance seems to be contradictory, but upon closer examination proves to be actually true.

The paradox can be a great teaching tool because we look at something that doesn't seem right. But as we are now forced to look at it more carefully because it doesn't seem right.

We learn truth that otherwise we might miss because we didn't examine it carefully enough so we find a lot of paradoxes in the word of God. It is a way that God instructs us. In truth and here we find this list of nine paradoxes, which is I've already said, apply first of all, the apostle Paul and beyond that to the ministry team. The was with him because he refers to these elements in the plural, something that we do, meaning himself and Timothy and and Silas, but also they are things that apply to all who are the children of God, and many of them even apply to people who are unconverted, but certainly they apply very specifically to God's children. Then after this list of nine I've decided to take up two sections in this chapter today so that we don't go to slowly but after this list of nine paradox boxes in verses 11 through 13 Paul addresses some common reasons for broken relationships or maybe I should say one particular common reason for broken relationships, so you take all this together.

What were going to have in this message today are some very helpful insights into life as we live it in this world, the puzzling elements of life. Many of those are addressed in this passage the broken relationships of life why we have difficulty getting along with people that we would like to get along with and yet these perplexing issues arise and sometimes we just don't know what's happened or how to repair them. Paul's going to address that in this passage as well. And so today were looking at perplexities of the Christian life challenges the Christians will face in need to overcome by the wisdom and power of God. So my outline a simple number one paradoxes of the Christian life verses eight through 10 and then secondly, hindrances to Christian fellowship in verses 11 through 13 paradoxes of the Christian life. Examining this list of nine.

I realize that it breaks down actual into two categories and we have first of all, for paradoxes of reputation and then secondly five paradoxes of circumstances for paradoxes that pertain to our reputation what others think about us, that's important.

Many times, as we shall see in this passage that becomes more important to us than it should. But that's a very important aspect of life we don't live in the vacuum. We live in relationship to other people and what other people think of us is of importance and needs to be understood right and put into proper perspective and so forth paradoxes that relate to our reputation and then five paradoxes that relate to the circumstances of life. So we'll see those two categories. One of the four paradoxes of reputation in verses eight and nine.

The art what I've called number one. The foibles of honor to the shallowness of human opinion third, the misconceptions of critics number for the fickleness of fame. All of that relates to our reputation in this world.

First of all the foibles of honor.

Paul says in verse eight by honor and dishonor, how can you be both. That's what it is by honor and dishonor that word by is a great, great preposition and that has the idea of through, or in the midst of use that prepositional lot in the previous list is going to use it in the first couple ones in this list and then moves to a different preposition is the list goes on, but is talking about being in the midst of both honor and dishonor, living in a state of honor and dishonor the strange thing which is it, how can it be both. Here it is. The foibles of honor. Paul is talking about the fact that in this life he had and we bought extra attention are often praised and despised, exalted and maligned the same person and yet both of these extremes that are true in our lives that does seem to be paradox a contradiction, but it shouldn't be because actually the same thing was true, the life of Christ, and he told us that it would be true in our life as well. Remember, we find a number of similar statements in the Gospels, but let's take this one from John 15 verse 18 and following her. Jesus said to his disciples, if the world hates you. They must've already been feeling the sting of it and wondering why if the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love it so that Izzy would love you as a member of its own categories on class yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, a servant is not greater than his master.

If they persecuted me, they will persecute you know the words Jesus said there's going to be a lot of dishonor simply by being identified with Jesus Christ. Get use to it.

Get over it.

You can't make it go away as long as you are identified with Christ because, to the extent that those who hate Christ demonstrated their hatred of Christ when he was in the world. They will also hate those who are identified with Christ now that he is in heaven and to the degree to which you are a good representative of Christ.

In other words, the better you are a good representative of Jesus Christ, the greater is going to be the animosity that will be directed toward you. That's the truth that's reality. We don't welcome that we don't like it but that's the truth that we need to understand and deal with the foibles of honor. Paul is saying in his life he had come to realize that he would be honored by some and dishonored by others. He would be in the end the ones who honored it would be the ones who love the Lord Jesus Christ and the ones he decided it would be the ones who did not. It's not that hard to figure out. He also realize that in his life. There were times when he was greatly honored in the honor seem to outshine the dishonor, but there were other times when the dishonor greatly overshadowed whatever little honor he might've experienced in the puzzling thing is that sometimes you have those two extremes directed to you by the very same people but again don't be just surprised that's the way it was with Christ. Some of the same people who work shouting his praises on Palm's sudden Sunday magnifying the Lord of glory, magnifying the son of David, less than a week later were crying out to crucify him, crucify him talk about extremes of honor and dishonor from the same people directed to the same person.

You have to understand that we have to understand that the honor of man. Jesus is telling us is fickle. But don't worry about it because it's of no lasting value. If you have the honor of the world all of your life if you did, there would be a problem, no doubt with you if you did as far as your relationship with Christ is concerned, but should you achieve honor all of your life by by the world around you.

What is that going to profit you five minutes after you die and for all eternity. Some respects it's like wealth, what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul. What will a man give in exchange for his soul also. Same thing here.

What will it profit a man or woman if they are honored by the world all of their life.

And then they die they go into eternal production without Christ because they got what they wanted. They got the laws of man, but they never gain the approval of Christ because the applause of man is more important to them the honor man is fickle, the honor man is of no lasting value the honor of God is priceless. The honor of God is of eternal value. So what we must decide is that we will make it our business by God's help and grace to achieve his will done to achieve his honor to achieve his commendation and let everything else just fall into its own place, it doesn't matter. It really doesn't matter if others honor us or dishonor us. The only thing that matters is that the Lord will honor us because we have been faithful. The only commendation that we really need to hear is well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord. That's all that will matter. The final day of foolish it is, therefore, to live for human honor. How foolish it is it is to crave human honor if human honor comes unsought, as it sometimes does use it for God's glory. If it never comes as sometimes it will not let it trouble you.

It really doesn't matter foibles of honor number two.

The shallowness of human opinion, a lot of these things overlap a bit, but they all have different aspects and nuances in silver singles on the sake after by honor and dishonored says by evil report and good report by evil report and good report, and here we learn about the shallowness of human opinion, what people say about you there report what they what they communicate primarily to others about you though. Maybe sometimes even to yourself, but more likely what you overhear. Others say about you or what 1/3 party reports to you that somebody else said about you. That kind of thing that can really trouble us candidate will depending on what is said of course the kitty. It can either can either the latest or trouble us. But again, it it affects us. In most cases, far more than it should. We got to understand that you, the shallowness of human opinion because the truth of the matter is that in life. Some will command some will condemn some will issue good words about you. A good report. Others will issue bad words about you and evil report.

One commentator I forget which one said the more we have the first, the more we need of the second.

The more we have of a good report.

The more we need of the bad report to balance things off so we don't get the big head.

No doubt he's right. We need to understand that the important thing is not what is said about us butterfly. In either case. Either case good report or bad report, not what is said but why and the Y has to do with the relationship of the report are the one who speaks to God and the truth. If we belong to God and our life and words and actions are flowing out of the truth of God's word that obviously those who love God and to love his truth are going to give a good report, but conversely the very same actions that will bring a good report from people who love God and no one love his truth are going to bring an evil report from those who hate Christ and to don't value the word of God. So the important thing is not what is said but why is it said. In other words, how much of it conforms to truth, but like the other one.

The first one, the honor and dishonor, the only honor that matters is the honor of God. The only report that is of importance is the one that comes from God. All others are of no value and therefore we need to renounce the need to be constantly well spoken of and I know Christians who are all tied up in knots because they just can't stand it if they if they hear someone say something about them.

It's not favorable and it just leaves them emotionally in shambles for days and weeks and months and even years to come. Get over it. Get over it.

Get over it quickly get over it understand the truth and don't let your life be governed by what other people think or say that will render you almost unable to be a good servant of the Lord Jesus Christ because you're so bothered by what other people think and say get all correct focus completely upon what Christ says about you. The third paradox is the misconception of critics, some will think us to be deceivers. Others will think we are telling the truth about divorce by honor and dishonored by evil report and good report as deceivers and yet true. Some will think we are deceivers. Others will recognize that we represent the truth. But again, why should it be any different. That's the way was with Christ. Listen to this in John seven verse 12 and Jesus went up to the feast of Jerusalem and we read in verse 12. There was much complaining among the people concerning him. Some said he is good. Others said no. On the contrary, he deceives the people. He's a deceiver. Critics, some called him a deceiver of the said no I think is true well thought to be deceivers by some people.

But in reality known to be true when evaluated by the word of God. That's the way you better be if if our evaluation by God's word demonstrates that we are in any degree not being true, then we need to correct our life, our actions are our approach to conform to the word of God to make it so that we know before God is much as he's enabled us by his Spirit to understand his word. We know that we are being faithful to the truth and if we are then if some people think that we are deceivers that says more about them and their lack of understanding of truth than it does about us to be a Christian guarantees that there will be a certain measure of reproach to be a Christian guarantees and some people will think were dangerous in this world receive more that in the society in which we live all the problems of society are because of those Bible believing Christians.

Some people think why do they think that because they are so deep into darkness that they don't understand the truth at all.

In their thinking is totally convoluted, but that's the way it is for those who are in darkness. Are we willing to bear that reproach are we willing to take that kind of ignominy and shame are we willing to be thought deceivers in order to be true to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Sometimes the reproach of being thought a deceiver even comes from those who are Christians or at least those who claim to be Christians is one of the reasons I'm confident that some people back away from the Bible teaching about the doctrines of grace, wife, because they're not willing to take the reproach of being called a Calvinist because they've heard other Christians denouncing Calvinist and even calling Calvinist heretics and deceivers and saying that which is not true, but if we have come to understand from the word of God by the elimination of the spirit of God that these doctrines are true, it doesn't matter who thinks they are true or false. It doesn't matter who thinks we are being honest with the truth and being in representing the truth correctly and who doesn't. It doesn't matter if unbelievers think we are deceivers. It doesn't matter if it hurts us.

We don't want to be so, but it doesn't matter even if those who call themselves Christians think that we are representing error if we know that what we believe is the truth of God's word, that we shall humbly and graciously, and lovingly take our stand on truth and accept whatever reproach goes along with it.

That's just part of being faithful to Jesus Christ. I thank you who are members of this church who been willing to bear a certain measure of reproach simply by being identified with the church that is known to be a Calvinist church in a community of Christians were the majority seem to think that there's something evil about that. It takes a little courage doesn't a lot of courage. Maybe take some backbone.

I commend you for it and urge you to continue in that path don't give into the assaults of error and finally the fickleness of fame. The fickleness of fame. The first part of verse nine is unknown and yet well-known considered to be a nobody by the world and yet in God's estimation, one of the most important people in all the world is unknown and yet well-known, unknown to the world well-known among the people of God. In many cases, unknown to the world the well-known to God and well-known in heaven unknown in the world, or even when known in the world suppressed so that doesn't matter whether your actually well-known or not. The world is going to suppress your your reaching your fame and your reputation because they don't want your influence to touch the lives of others, and so those who stand for truth are often are often shoved into the background as much as possible by the world, whereas others who really don't have any any real any real claim to fame are oftentimes exalted by the world and tried to make it to somebody famous because they want their influence to pervade an example just flitted through my mind as I was thinking about that was how the press often reports public gatherings and demonstrations. You can have hundred thousand are several hundred thousand people gather in Washington to protest the passage of Roe V Wade in the millions abortions abortions of babies and taken place in our country and you'll see virtually nothing about it in the news or if you do, it will often be deliberately misreported as only a handful. You can let a dozen people get out and demonstrate for some favorite because of the progressives and they're going to going to magnify that is if that's the biggest biggest gathering of people you ever saw somewhat kind writings you to see this kind of misrepresentation going on but so what.

The fame of the world is worth nothing. Is it the fickleness of fame. Therefore, we need to guard against craving fame.

We must be content to be unknown or well-known in this world as it pleases God and not let either condition be important to us.

The only thing that matters is God's approval. We have to move on quickly.

That's only four of the nine paradoxes got five more five paradoxes, the circumstances, beginning the last part of verse nine.

I called these number one living death. Number two protected danger number three joyful sorrow number four enriching poverty and number five hidden wealth and let's take these quickly and verse nine is dying and, behold, we live all talked about that earlier and I covered that in chapter 4 verses eight through 12, so I simply remind you that Paul lived a life where he was always in constant danger was regularly near death escaped death more times than he could count just barely.

And yet here he was still protected and preserved by God to live another day but it seemed for certain that he was going to die. Plots were hatched, bones were taken, people would not eat until they had killed the apostle Paul and yet God protected and preserved him.

He was living near death all the time but in God's will. He did not die. We never know what days can it be our last. We don't like to do that we would like to think about that or talk about that, but it wouldn't be a bad thing to do. Do you talk about dying do you do talk to make plans for your death. Are you one of these people that want even plan your funeral because talking about you think will somehow be bad luck and bring it sooner or something like that foolish, foolish, foolish, you gonna die, gonna die is appointed on the men once to die, work were all dying today. Today, January 12, 2020 could be the last day on earth for somebody in this assembly this morning. I don't expect it to be. Usually the people who are here are in good health. It's the people who are unable to make it that we be less surprised if we heard before the day was over they gotta call them home, but all kinds of things.

Of course it happen, stroke, heart attack, automobile accident. This may be your last day on earth you say what a morbid, morbid, thoughtful, not really.

If your child of God is actually just the entrance into Gloria's knit. You believe that don't you. This is not a problem.

This is actually something to look forward to, but it is reality we are living very close to death were on the edge of death all the time so we shouldn't pretend like that's not so. Because in fact it is so we need to live this day as if it might be our last.

With that thought in view living at the best we can.

Living at the way will be glad we did. If God calls us into his presence and this is the way we lived our last day upon earth, will we be thankful we would be pleased about how we live. That last day will we be ashamed. Think about it, dying in, and behold, we live is trace and yet not killed. Some people are surprised that Paul experienced the chastening hand of God.

Paul is talking about the child discipline the comes to all the children of God. Paul said that was my condition as well. And yet not killed.

I wasn't tracing the death because God's chastening always accomplished a a a good purpose of my life and it caused me to understand Santa caused me to repent of my sin. It caused me to to correct my life in the light of God's word and therefore I wasn't tracing done to death, and neither will any child of God. If they respond properly to God's chastening. They will be tracing done, but the Bible does warn about those who will not demand to the chastening rod of God for this because it told the Corinthians in the first epistle for this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and some sleep because you would not bend to the chastening hand of God. But call that protected danger. We are we are constantly chastened by God, which is a good thing not a bad thing, but were protected chastened, but not killed.

We can't die until God wants to call his home joyful sorrow is the is the third one in the second group as sorrowful and yet always rejoicing. Verse 10 a perpetual mixture of joy and sorrow is the way our lives are constructed, but we don't put those two together. The way the world does the world's world's people are are filled with sorrow because of the ravages of sin and in this world, and they attempt many times to to mask it to overcome it to divert their their sorrow with mirth, with shallow entertainment and mirth and that may work for a while, but it doesn't really deal with the sorrow doesn't help them to overcome it. And for those who aren't able to to include enough mirth in their life to deal with the sorrow they the ones generally commit suicide every now and then we work, we hear about somebody who committed suicide was a why did they do that they were famous they were rich yes but they were overcome with sorrow and and all of the parties and all of the jokes and all of the. The entertainment that they tried to put in their life wasn't enough to drive it out, but it's not that way with Christians.

Christians have a joy within that cannot be overcome by sorrow, joy unspeakable and full of glory is what the Bible calls it a song from decades ago, comes to my mind now I have a peace in my heart that the world never gave me and the peace it cannot take away everything that sorrow is joy, joyful sorrow. We are touched by sin and its ravages in this world that is under the condemnation of sin, but the joy of Christ is greater. The choice of Christ is better. The joy of Christ is filled with blessings. The joy of Christ is filled with promises. The rise above all of the sorrows of course we have sorrow. Life is a mixture of sorrow, but for the Christian, there is an overarching joy that always is greater consumer joyful sorrow number four enriching poverty. This was interesting. They all are but this was especially Paul says about himself is poor, yet making many rich is poor, yet making many rich what's he talking about their chemistry possibilities.

He could be talking about himself being financially poor, and yet making other people financially rich so that poverty and riches have the same basic are in the same basic category. Both parts of the equation is not likely but is not impossible or he could be talking again to balance both sides of the equation about being spiritually poor himself, but making other spiritually rich. But we have, we find that impossible.

Because Paul could never describe himself as being spiritually poor so that drives this to the only understanding that really makes sense with what else we know about Paul and about the Bible is that he is switching categories in the middle of this couplet.

He who was financially poor, yet is enabled by God to make many spiritually rich which of course is what he is. He was spiritually rich makeup makes others spiritually rich by his faithful ministry of God's word and working to God's Spirit in their hearts, but he throws in this this the paradoxes contrast to make us think about a little more. He who is so poor in this world's goods. Nevertheless is able to make other people in estimable. He rich with the riches it really matter now. There are those that take that first one is being more likely possibility because of the balance of the two categories. In other words, he who is financially poor, has by his ministry made others financially rich you say. How's that possible well I was talking to somebody about just a day or two ago about the numbers of people who have fabulous riches either because of their ability business acumen to make money or their athletic ability or their ability to do up become a movie star or at all because of their inheritance. All kinds of ways that people become rich and yet what what a number of these people die in poverty will fly because they don't have any self-control and discipline. They squandered all they he burns a hole in their pockets, they they got to spend it all.

If they got money they got. I have five mansions and 10 expensive automobiles and all kinds of diamonds and and a lot of them even have a gambling habit, they gambled all the way in people who have had millions in their lifetime. Sometimes in their life depended upon the benevolence and charity of others to keep from from the from dying of starvation was I got to do with this wealth. Paul's ministry of God's word is what rescues people for book from lot.

Most of that. Hopefully all of that.

When you become a Christian, you're not addicted to gambling.

When you become a Christine addicted to materialism to mansions and and expensive automobiles into expensive jewelry when you become a Christian, you learn how to handle your money in a God honoring way and if God blesses you with money.

Doesn't all of his people, but the ministry of God's word actually does make many at least some of God's people wealthy whole lot wealthier than they would've been if they had never become a Christian because they restrain the impulses of the flesh, they live a disciplined life they honor they handle their money to the honor and glory of God. So in that way Paul could be Richard did report yet make many rich the last one is very similar to the to the next. The last one is having nothing, and yet possessing all things hidden wealth, having little of this world's goods, yet having a claim to everything in this world because it all belongs to God and if you belong to God, you have the promises of God. Then, in a sense, you have access to everything in this world that you need if you're a child of God, and you don't have it. Whatever it is it's because you don't need it but if you are child of God, and you need it.

You will have it your heavenly father will see to that. Your heavenly father knows you have need of these things so seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things all these things that are needful for life in this world what you show eat what you shall drink where with all you shall be clothed. All of these things. What is the Bible say what Jesus say, shall be added unto you all that you need and in most cases a whole lot more. Besides, I'm not going to get into the hindrances of Christian fellowship.

I will wrap it up in this passage we learn the blight of seeking human approval more than divine. Ask God to free you from that in this passage we learn the folly of expecting the Christian life to be all joy without sorrow, where did you get that idea from the Bible.

Where did you get that idea that if you trust in Christ and have faith that you won't have any poverty or any sickness ready sorrow or any problems. Where did you get that low from that guy on television, but not from the Bible would folly to expect the Christian life to be all joy with no sorrow. You can count on it being greater joy than sorrow, but sorrows yes, by God's design and he tells himself again and again and again and again and again. It's all throughout the Scriptures, you must not be reading your Bible if you think the Christian life is supposed to be all joy without any sorrow you must not believe what you're reading. If you think the Christian life is to be all joy without any sorrow you must be listening to a false prophet.

If you think the Christian life is to be all joy without any sort in this passage we learn the sin of seeking material comforts more than spiritual riches that is sinful to seek first the things of this world and sort of try to add the things of the kingdom of God as a secondary issue in our lives no other way around. Other way around.

Seek first sink first seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Shall we pray. Father, we have looked into this portion of your gods of your word and we have been helped. We have learned the answer to many of the perplexities of life we have seen the wisdom of how to handle many of these perplexities of life and father right now.

We ask you to forgive us for the times that we have pursued an ungodly philosophy an ungodly attitude and ignored what your word has told us Lord help us all to deal with truth and to receive your honor and your help and your full joy as we ask it in Jesus name, amen