The Sufficiency of the Word - 4

This morning we are coming to the last portion of second Corinthians chapter 2, as we have been moving rather quickly through Paul's second epistle to the Corinthians 1st sermon in chapter 1, talked about God's purpose for suffering which is that we minister to others the God of comfort to comforts us in our tribulations that we may be able to comfort others, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God in the last half of chapter 1, Paul defends himself his ministry, his apostleship and to his decision as he was being attacked by critics on many fronts and even or criticizing him for changing his plans.

The announced plans that he had made about coming to Corinth and deciding to come at a different time and a different arrangement than that which she had originally told them that explains in part why it is that he made those changes. The first part of chapter 2 reveals to us that obedience to God can be very difficult at times. Paul in dealing with the Corinthians made it clear that there requirement to discipline the man in their church that was being flagrantly disobedient to God in opposition to the word of God must be dealt with by the church is difficult is that may be in Paul wrote to give them instructions regarding that and wrote to test them to see if they were indeed obedient to God now.

In the last part of chapter 2 we come to a portion that I have entitled the sufficiency of the word, the sufficiency of the word which I trust we will understand is more than a model is a model is the motto of our church and has been for some time, but it is more than a model. It is, it was indeed Paul's ferment condition conviction rather than God's word is sufficient to accomplish his work and it needs to become our settled conviction as well and I trust that God will minister to our hearts to that very purpose. This morning, but that truth that God's word is sufficient for everything that God intends to do.

Gay Paul courage and gave him confidence that gave him persevering strength in the midst of difficulty and we pray that it will become our conviction is much as his verses 12 through 17. There are two parts number one Paul's concern. Verses 12 and 13, number two Paul's confidence. Verses 14 through 17 and the portion begins by revealing to us a great concern that Paul had. He tells us in verse 12 of a fruitful opportunity for ministry, but a weighty concern kept him from taking full advantage of that opportunity because there was something else that was waiting upon his heart that needed to be addressed. We read in verse 12. Furthermore, when I came to Truax asked to preach Christ's gospel, and the door was open to me by the Lord. I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find Titus, my brother, but taking my leave of them. I departed for Macedonia. There was a fruitful door of opportunity as Paul tells us in verse 12, the place of that opportunity was Truax asked the major Roman city in northwest Asia minor on the coast. That was the location previously appalls Macedonian call at the juncture, I guess you might say Paul's second missionary journey. After he had revisited. The churches were established on his first missionary trip, and he was looking for the next place that God would have him go to preach the gospel eventually was led to the city of Troy Lassen while he was there in the night. He saw a vision of man from Macedonia beckoning to him and saying come over and help us all recognize that is the call of God and so he and the missionary team across the Aegean Sea and landed at the city of Philippi started their ministry on European soil and all of that, beginning on it from the city of Truax asked that Macedonian call.

We have heard the Macedonian call today send the light that came from Troy's subsequently to Paul writing second Corinthians.

Truax, as is going to be the location where Paul raises you to kiss from the dead. Remember that, don't you, Paul, came to Truax as he preached he preached.

He preached long into the night. He preached midnight came he preached they were eager to hear him, but there was a young man by the name of Utica sitting at a window in the upper upper room where they were meeting and he fell out of the window and landed on the ground below and evidently died in the course that interrupted the church service. Paul went down and raised him from the dead, shook himself off. He seemed to be fine. They returned to the upper room and continued the church service that might've been a minor interruption, but it wasn't going to break things up. That was also in the city of Truax S. But presently, Paul tells us that he is a wonderful ministry opportunity and Truax asked. He went there from Ephesus further south, traveling up to Truax S planning to minister there for a while before he crossed the sea and went back over to northern Greece, namely, Macedonia, and then eventually down to southern Greece to visit the church at Corinth once again and again Truax as he says he found a wonderful door of opportunity wide open for the gospel of Christ door was opened to me by the Lord and we use that language to talk about an open door were talking about an opportunity that is been open before us. And Paul makes it clear that when there is an open door. It's God who opened the door we need to understand that Paul did we do. I trust but Paul found a very strategic opportunity for the gospel and Truax asked. The door was opened. He was free to preach people or listening. The gospel is going forth with the fact, but Paul didn't stay strangely, it was a fruitful opportunity, but he had a weighty concern which he talks about in verse 13, I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find Titus my brother.

I did not find Titus my brother.

It's obvious that Paul and Titus had previously planned to rendezvous intro as Titus didn't show up and Paul was concerned that who was Titus and why was this so important.

Titus was a Gentile ministry partner to Paul similar in many respects to Timothy not quite as prominent as Timothy but not far behind.

Very faithful associate of Paula very faithful assistant in Paul's missionary endeavors and Paul had sent Titus on to Corinth ahead of his visit. In fact, very likely Titus was the courier of the first Corinthian epistle. Titus took that to Corinth and stayed there during the time while while Paul was waiting for news as to how they would receive this epistle is really a great deal in second Corinthians about Titus, but it comes a little bit later in the book, but for example rereading second Corinthians 76. Nevertheless, God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus that relates to what we find here in chapter 2, Paul was troubled in spirit, but because Titus wasn't there. Titus didn't come to Truax as as previously planned.

But when Paul finally did meet up with Titus. The news that he received from Titus was comforting to him. He was encouraged and helped by it. We read, for example, in second Corinthians 816 but thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. Titus had a burden for the ministry that like Paul had tried to set up particular concern for the church at Corinth like Paul had. Titus was a faithful emissary of Paul who'd gone to Corinth minister to Corinth for several weeks, even several months of time and now was was scheduled to travel back north up to Macedonia across the sea over to Truax asked me Paul there. Give him a report as to how the first epistle with difficult things will read it were received by the church at Corinth. So the Paul would have a better idea what to expect when he arrived, but Titus wasn't there. What's the problem. Where was he. He was presumably somewhere between Corinth and Truax as but he didn't show up intro as what he was expected there and because of that we read Paul had a troubled spirit. No rest in my spirit because I did not find Titus, my brother Paul is telling us that he was having difficulty focusing upon ministry intro as because of the weighty concerns that were upon his soul.

That was the problem. A troubled spirit, no rest in my spirit and that troubled no doubt related to Paul's concern for Titus what happened to him. Was he okay had he fallen sick. Had he been attacked by robbers that have difficulty in his travels. All of these things are are real concerns in any day, and particularly in that day. What's going on with Titus, my beloved brother Titus what's going on with Titus, Paul was troubled in spirit because of his concern for Titus, but it's clear from the context that Paul was troubled in spirit, probably even more because he was concerned about what was going on in Corinth, did they reject his letter.

Were they angry at what he wrote. Did they refuse to deal with the disciplinary situation, the Paul talked about in first Corinthians chapter 5 where they unwilling to listen to his teaching and counsel concerning other issues and problems in the church of what was their posture toward him where they more resistant to Paul than ever before. Or were they now more compliant and more appreciative of the apostle Paul and their attitude is going to determine his next next move is is next steps of ministry where he is going to go and when he's going to go and he hasn't been able to decide because he doesn't know Titus hasn't shown up with the news that is so critical to Paul's ministry at this point so because Paul was troubled in spirit. He wasn't able to take full advantage of this door of opportunity intro is sounds very strange to us. You think a man like the apostle Paul could suppress his emotions and put these things aside and just take full advantage of the opportunity while he was there and wait a little bit longer. Titus no doubt was delayed. Each show up eventually Paul could do that, we see something about the inner workings of Paul's soul in his emotional state in which realize that Paul, in spite of what seems to at times be a gruff exterior was a man with a very sensitive heart and he just couldn't rest. He couldn't focus. He couldn't get his mind off of his concern for Titus and his greater concern for the church at Corinth and whether they were moving toward Christ or away from Christ.

Moving toward Reformation or away from Reformation moving toward greater spiritual health or away from greater spiritual health.

He weighed heavily upon his heart. So what did he do what he went looking for Titus and taking his leave of them. We read.

That is, the church Truax as he went over to Macedonia and there evidently he did hook up with Titus and got the news that he was looking for. But isn't it interesting that Paul's deep concern for Corinth, prompted a change in his plans instead of ministering in Truax as until Titus arrived. He ended up leaving Truax as an going to Macedonia to look for Titus and what was it that the critics had said about Paul. Paul, you change your plans about coming to Corinth because you don't care for us. You really really only self-insured, you're only concerned about about the interests that the pertain to you and not to us you're not concerned about us at all. That's why you changed your plans and Paul said, on the contrary, I am so burdened for you that I changed my plans regarding trial asked for your sake. That's the truth we learn from this and God often troubles our spirit to get our attention, to change our direction has never been true in your life. Haven't there been times when circumstances in your life is troubled you in trouble doing troubled you can figure out what was going on and maybe in a short time, maybe a longer time, but eventually came to realize God is doing something with me had not sure what God is working in my life and circumstances. I may not be exactly sure what, but God is doing something God is changing my life in some way. I need to be looking to him in this time of difficulty in order to learn what God is doing what God is leading in. That's what was happening for Paul and that happens to us as well.

Paul's concern but now we move to the second part of the last part of chapter 2 and it is Paul's confidence.

Verse 14 now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ and through us diffuses the fragrance of his knowledge in every place is a major shift between verse 13 of verse 14.

In fact, that opening conjunction translated now in my Bible is is the same Greek word is often translated but probably would be better translated, but here because it really communicates a great contrast what were reading is in contrast to my previous unrest and Paula just described that troubled spirit and unrest. But in contrast to my previous unrest. This I know to be true. Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ. That's the truth no matter how I feel. Do we have to learn that, don't we have to learn that were so easily directed by our emotions and Paul is saying we got we have emotions and they do affect us, and we do respond to them and we can ignore them, but eternal truth is more important than the way we feel what we know by the revelation of God's word trumps how we feel we need to learn that that's an important lesson in life. And so what we find in verses four, 14 to 17 is Paul's confidence first in versus third 12 and 13, Paul's concern, but now Paul's confidence in this is a major shift in attitude and will see Paul's confidence in Christ. Victory verse 14. Paul's confidence in gospel permeation in verse 14 and 15. Paul's confidence in God's purposes in verse 16 and Paul's confidence in gospel sufficiency. Verse 17 confidence in Christ, victory. But now, in contrast to my preceding unrest I am confident in Christ, victory thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ through us diffuses the fragrance of his knowledge and to replace Paul as picturing a Roman victory processions well known, very familiar to the people of his day. Whenever the Romans achieved a military victory which was pretty frequently. They were a military machine that's the way they maintain this far-flung Roman Empire. They did by military might and every time there was an uprising. They quash that uprising through military strength. They did it again and again and again and again and every time they had a military victory than the victorious general would come back to Rome in a great triumphal victory processions. They really put on the dog. It probably was a bigger event enrollment then the celebrations that we saw on July 4 is last week.

I mean they put on the dog data military procession. They had all the soldiers marching in all of the armament that was available to them and in the all of the slaves have been captured in warfare were led in chains and is procession and the victorious general in his chariot was was showered with flowers and incense was constantly burning along the way, filling the air with fragrances. Thousands of people lined the streets of Rome and shared.

Because of this great victory and Paul pictures himself in such a procession is a very interesting figure because Paul pictures himself as a captured enemy lead in the triumphal procession of Christ, who is the victorious general I think about that the slaves were being led in chains by the Roman general and the other soldiers weren't exactly feeling good about it. They were real.

They were really entering into the celebration of this victory.

They hadn't been victorious.

They've been conquered. They were going to be probably sold as slaves in the slave market. But here's Paul, a previous enemy of Christ conquered by Christ, captured by Christ led captive by Christ in a triumphant procession, and yet rejoicing in this fact, reveling in this fact joining in the victories that are celebration because Christ turns enemies into trophies of grace and into willing servants and that's what happened to the apostle Paul. He had been conquered. He had been an enemy as all of us are before we are saved. He had been an enemy of Christ. He had been conquered by Christ, but that was the best thing that ever happened to it and now I belong to Christ, and now he willingly served Christ and now he is being led in Christ, Vic victory, procession, and he is entering into the celebration of Christ's victory as much as anyone and everyone else he is glorying in it and he is saying, because Christ has already won the victory. Then my victory is certain. My triumph is sure. I cannot lose because Christ has already won. No then give you confidence, we might say Paul talked himself out of his funk pretty quickly here. They went from a troubled spirit to uproarious victory in a very short period of time just by thinking through the doctrinal truth that he knew to be so.

Is that amazing confidence in Christ, victory, and secondly confidence in gospel permeation.

That's the last part of verse 14 verse 15 he says Christ through us, through Paul and other gospel preachers diffuses the fragrance of his knowledge in every place. For we are to God, the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. As I mentioned, the Roman processions included the burning of incense spices and incense all along the way. The politics of that part of the procession and he says Christ through us gospel preachers diffuses the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ in every place they knowledge of Christ to the preaching of the gospel is like that perfume that is wafting up to the streets of Rome so permeating only if I can extend the word, probably longer than you'll find it in the dictionary but permeating the lake through the streets of Rome so that the aroma of that is is felt is is noticed ever is experienced everywhere. Everywhere that the fragrance has been has been lighted where the fires are lighted and wherever this is going.

And Paul says in similar fashion. Thus the sweet aroma of Christ and of his knowledge is heard every place that I have preached the gospel of that others who preach the gospel and in fact, Paul had been to a lot of places. He did a lot of traveling. He did not appreciate any says every place I went and preach the gospel. It was like a sweet permeating the whole atmosphere of every place where I have been out. It has seeped under the doors and through the windows and throughout the streets and into the homes and enter the businesses it has it has affected every person that's in the vicinity by the knowledge of Christ in the preaching of the gospel. Isn't that amazing Paul had confidence in gospel permeation is gospel of Christ that he likens to a sweet permeating aroma and Paul as a preacher of the gospel causes the gospel to permeate widely what a privilege and then he switches the picture just slightly between verse 14 in verse 15 and Paul the preacher become's the sweet aroma of Christ. First, Paul is diffusing the knowledge of Christ which knowledge itself is the aroma and Paul is as it were lighting the incense bowls wherever they are, but because he is so closely associated with the gospel that he preaches he could also be said that Christ that Paul's presence, Paul's ministry, Paul's preaching, Paul's person itself becomes the aroma he so closely identified with the gospel of Christ that what the gospel of Christ is Paul is and to those that the gospel of Christ becomes a sweet savor of life under life.

Paul is the instrument of that and to the ones to whom that same aroma becomes an aroma of death unto death. Paul is the cause of that in his office as a gospel preacher and so is everyone else who also preaches the gospel think of those who preach the gospel are an instrument of life.

Too many and an instrument of death that is eternal destruction to the Paul has confidence in gospel permeation.

He knows what it is proclaimed. It's going to permeate it's going to have an effect.

It's going to be known it's going to be heard. It's going to be going to cause some kind of reaction it will not be ignored.

It will have some kind of a reaction everywhere goes either faith unto salvation or unbelief unto damnation, but it's going to have an effect. Every place it goes. Paul therefore has confidence in God's purposes.

Verse 16.

You have to couple verses 1516 together for we are got for we are to God, the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing to the one we are the aroma of death, leading to death into the other the aroma of life leading to life and who is sufficient for these things.

To some, the gospel aroma leads to death to others the same gospel aroma leads to life.

That's not really a brand-new thought. It's been it's been proclaimed before, even before before Christ began his ministry when he was a little child in marriage also brought into the temple and they met Simeon the prophet, and he said this, then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, behold, this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against. It's interesting that Simeon put the fall before the rising. In other words, this one Jesus Christ his life, his ministry's death. What he does is going to cause the fall of some their eternal father destruction as well as the rising of others, their salvation is going to be a sign which is spoken against many people are going to be up close to him. But that's the nature of his work as Messiah and that's the effect that he is coming is going to have upon people. Jesus said the same thing.

Remember when he talked about that stone which the builders rejected. He said the same has become the chief cornerstone and then he said, those who stumble and fall upon that stone will be destroyed. That's what Paul is saying here. To some, the gospel aroma leads to death. And it's interesting part was that part.

The death part. The destruction part first.

Just like Simeon did, but to others. The gospel is an aroma that leads to life two opposite results from the same gospel is the source of life. It's a source of death and it's not because the nature of the gospel itself changes.

It doesn't by nature the gospel is always a sweet aroma. What makes it a stench. What makes it a aroma of death to some, the answer to that is, it is the corruption of the sinful unbelieving heart that takes the sweet aroma of Christ and of the life-giving gospel and turns it into a poisonous destruction of death for those who refuse to believe it and all of that, according to the purposes of God.

This is what got plans for it. It's not there when people believe the gospel that we have succeeded and then when people reject the gospel we have failed. That's the idea. We so often get, but that's not what is taught in Scripture.

Paul didn't understand it that way. I am a proclaimer of the gospel, the gospel, by the design of God is an aroma of life to so and the same gospel is aroma of death to others, God planted that way if I'm faithful to proclaim the gospel. This is what's going to happen by the eternal purposes of God. This is according to God's sovereign design and Paul has confidence in God's purposes, but in either case, whether it becomes an aroma of life or death. God is pleased with faithful gospel proclaimers if they have proclaim the truth if they have proclaim the gospel all right if they have delivered it as it has been delivered unto them they have done their appointed task God's purposes are accomplished in God is pleased with the messenger God will say well done, thou good and faithful servant.

You have done exactly what I called upon you to do.

But Paul does feel the weight of the enormous consequences as I preach the gospel. I know that some are going to believe it to eternal life. What a cause of great rejoicing. I know that others are going to rejected to their own eternal destruction and I have been the cause of that as well to heavy thought enormous consequences who is sufficient for this. And when Paul and asked that question in verse 16, who is sufficient to this for this to the one we are the aroma of death, leading to death into the other youth. The aroma of life leading to life and who is sufficient for these things. The assumed answer almost always is no one.

Nobody sufficient for these things but actually that's not the answer that Paul gives because the chapter doesn't end there. The thought doesn't end there.

In Paul's comment on this doesn't end there. We still have verse 17 we have to get verse 17 to get Paul's answer to that question who is sufficient for this. In verse 17 is the answer for we are not as so many peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as from God we speak and the site of God in Christ who is sufficient for this weighty truth. This weighty reality. Well, not the many. But it doesn't uses language but is implied but the few who is sufficient for these things, not the many preachers who are unfaithful, but the few preachers who are faithful they are sufficient for such things. They have been made sufficient for that by Christ. We are not as so many peddling the word of God.

We are not like the many wishing that phraseology before Paul talked about the punishment which was inflicted by the many. That is the majority were not like the majority in Paul's day, the majority of preachers were were travelers or hucksters were unfaithful to the message already and he is evidently amazing is that is the many. The majority of those who are engaged in what they call gospel ministry are peddlers there hucksters there salesman.

They are people who shape the message for better results. What they consider to be better results are not content with God's plan. Not content with the idea that sometimes this message is going to produce a negative result instead of a positive, what are not happy about that. They view ministry as a business in which they are supposed to succeed at all costs no matter what it takes and therefore the word of God is sold rather than proclaimed.

It's like a product that is altered in order to please the customers. We found out that if we change the formula little bit that more people will like it. More people will buy it of course will change it now when we have a new and improved version will advertise it that way. We changed it is better and and were constantly doing that were trying to find out what were doing pulling all the time and work were doing God a product testing and trying to find out what will be most successful and in Paul's day, Paul said that's the way a lot of people approaching gospel ministry and it hasn't changed from Paul's day two hours. You see a lot of the same sort of thing going on today.

How do we do church wheat we do poles to see what people like and we give it to them how to weigh how do we communicate the gospel we we do poles we do testing product testing to see what what people want to hear and how how they want to hear and repackage it in order to satisfy them. And that's the way we succeed. That's the way we get more people. That's the way our churches grew ministry is viewed as a business in God's word is sold, the product is altered to please the customers and to reap the greatest results which are for the preachers greater recognition or greater wealth or greater success of some kind. However, it is that he is defining success of those who are involved in ministry that we are not sufficient for such thing. Who is sufficient for such things not ministers like that but who is sufficient for such things. Those who of sincerity as from God speak in the side of Christ are in the sight of God in Christ, not many, but the few and here's a description of faithful gospel ministers. Paul describes them in four ways. Number one, they are openly transparent to they are consciously subservient.

Three. They are constantly inspected and, for they are divinely enabled there openly transparent.

They are sincere and interesting word originally meant without wax. In those early days. For most of the vessels were pottery pottery. Sometimes McCracken rather merchant rather than putting the tech vessel on on the sale table at the great discount with sometimes fill in the crack wax and paint over it so that nobody would know the difference unless they inspected a carefully held it up to the light and could see the crack could see what he had done less the idea sincere to be transparent, openly transparent, and Paul says faithful gospel ministers are openly transparent as to their lives and as to their integrity. They are an open book. They are sincere in their and the purity of their lives and in the integrity of their their lives, their homes, or reputation. They invite inspection.

They are openly transparent. What else about faithful gospel ministers. They are consciously subservient they are, as he puts it here of God or literally belonging to God.

They recognize that they belong to God. They were captured by Christ in battle. They were subdued. They are trained they now belong to Christ. They are his servants. They don't belong themselves. They belong to God. They are consciously subservient their task is not to make themselves successful. Their task is to be obedient to the one who owns the thirdly faithful gospel ministers are constantly inspected. We speak says Paul in the site of God in his presence conscious of his inspection at all times and finally faithful gospel ministers are divinely enabled they are doing all of this and Christ in communion with Christ as a member of Christ body and therefore energized by Christ spirit, the Holy Spirit of God, and they're the ones who are sufficient for such thing.

Who is sufficient for these things, not those who minister like the peddlers, but those who minister like faithful ministers of God who is sufficient for such things. No one who is seeking human approval, but everyone who seeking divine approval who is sufficient for such things. Everyone committed to God's approval alone.

Everyone obedient to God's appointed task. He is sufficient for such things because the victorious Christ was already when the victory has made those kinds of music, ministers sufficient for such things. Thus, we are reminded of the ultimate victory of Christ and the gospel, we've already won folks no matter what things look like in his world revel in that we are reminded of the sufficiency of God's word, have confidence in it. We don't need to change it.

We don't need the doctor we don't need to to to watering down like a like a wine merchant to waters down is merchandise to extend his profit. We don't need to do that we don't dare do that we don't mess with it.

It's not our message. It's his message. We don't we don't edited it. We just deliver it as it has been delivered to us. We need to regularly examine ourselves because it's easy to let our own heart. Deceive us and to start doing the work of Christ, for self-serving motives before we even realize what were doing and therefore we need to constantly be asking ourselves of my doing this to please myself or others for my doing this to please Christ and do all this in the confidence of the eternal success of all of those who faithfully proclaim the true gospel of Christ is guaranteed success.

It's genuine eternal success. Whether you see it with you. Don't whether you counted worthy. You can't weather whether you know what's going on or not God keeps track of all of that God's doing his work.

Sometimes unseen, sometimes seen but God is busy at work and we can have confidence in that. May God help, shall we pray father, thank you for your word which instructs us which convicts us which we proves us and which directs us and gives us hope and confidence. Help us to be faithful servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.

Amen