Good Ground Sermons

Today we continue in our 2 Corinthians series, finishing off chapter 4. In essence, we look at our lives and compare them to Jesus Christ's earthly ministry. We have been called to live just as Christ did on earth. And we clear up what exactly that means. But with that, we are also called to be raised to eternity like He was. Remembering to renew our inward man must be preeminent in our daily living.

Wyatt teaches today on Doulos, which means servant. And through his message asks us if we are truly servants of Christ.

2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Continuing on in chapter 4, Paul explains the lost as those that the "god of this world" has blinded the minds of. We talk this morning about how this lines up very well with the plot of the first Matrix movie, and how we can reach the world. How we are called to be light, as we've received light and ought to be bringing that light to the world. Not the light of ourselves, but Christ through us; as those who have taken of the "red pill".

2Co 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

2Co 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

We review the end of Chapter 3, as Chapter 4 begins with "therefore" and then we apply chapter 4's contents to what we have learned so far.

We have this ministry in the same way we have received mercy, salvation, and the same way we are commanded to walk: Through our faith decision to believe on God's grace. Based upon that, we look at how we should do ministry, what we should leave behind, and what we risk if we refuse to do so.

2Co 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

2Co 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

2Co 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

2Co 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

As a final push to explain the gospel ministry to the Corinthians, Paul talks about the veil that Moses wore in order to protect the children of Israel from his face as he brought the words of God to them.

He says that the children have this same veil over their hearts even today. And in fact, this veil is over all the hearts of those that are lost, leaving them spiritually blind.

We look at this passage and reevaluate our own roles in the mission, looking at it as our job to bring and offer sight to those that are blind. To offer light to rescue those in darkness. Also, that our spending time with God, just like Moses, should change us.

2Co 3:7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

2Co 3:8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

2Co 3:9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

2Co 3:10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

2Co 3:11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

2Co 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

Paul continues to build upon his teachings in chapter 3. Not only have we seen that Christ is writing his story in each of us, and that our sufficiency is found in Him, but now we look at exactly what that means for us.

Paul brings up the Old Testament presentation of the Law, and how it was glorious even though it was the ministration of death, of condemnation, and temporary. He contrasts that with the ministry we have now, of life, righteousness, and that lasts for eternity. And using all of that hope, we should be motivated and compelled to go into the world and open our mouths in great plainness of speech, also translated, as boldness.

Moving ahead in our study of 2 Corinthians, we pick things back up in chapter 3. Here we dive down on what exactly our sufficiency is. What equips us for ministry? What gives us the ability to change peoples lives? How do we go about finding ourselves in good positions?

Jake shares from Mark about how we must be a people resolved to do what we say we should. He uses Gethsemane to illustrate for us how Christ submits his will to his father, but also earlier, how Peter proudly declares his own will. We look to ourselves to which which resonates more with us.

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians