2 Corinthians, Chapter 10
© Copyright 2003 Darroll Evans, all
rights reserved
2 Corinthians 10:1-2
1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who
in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that
confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if
we walked according to the flesh.
At this point, Paul explains his demeanor to
the Corinthians. It seems that he was more demanding in his letters than he was
in person.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the
pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth
itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought
to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is
fulfilled.
Christians know some things that pretenders
do not. Although we live in what may seem to be the normal world, our
"world" is not "normal."
We do not war (Gr. strateuometha-strateuomeqa), or have conflicts according to the flesh.
Christians live on a spiritual plane, or at least we are supposed to!
The weapons of our spiritual warfare do not
originate in the minds of men. Through Christ, they are powerful enough to
destroy Satan’s strongholds.
Matthew 16:18---"I will build my church; and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it" (KJV).
Have you ever thought about that verse?
Gates are put up to keep people in or out.
Gates are stationary barriers. They are not offensive weapons.
While many have, in time of war, laid siege
to a city by attacking its gates, gates do not attack.
Matthew 16:18 may be the most misunderstood
verse in the entire Bible. Christians attack the fortifications that Satan has
been reported to erect, and they shall not stand against us.
All these centuries we have been told that
Satan was attacking us and we had to defend ourselves against the gates of
hell-WRONG!
We evangelize and in doing taking the good
news around the world. We attack the gates of hell, and they cannot stand
against our attacks!
Evangelical Christians are the most feared
group in the world. Why do you think Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus don’t want
us in their lands?
Muhammad was a warrior general who claimed to
be a prophet. Jesus was the Son of God sent to save.
Muslims fight to kill those that will not
believe. Christians speak the gospel to convert those that do not now believe.
You may be thinking about the crusades of
centuries gone by. They were funded and run by anti-Christian Popes, not by
believing Christians. The same people that said the world was flat---ordered
the crusades.
The world religions hate Christians because
we help bring others to knowledge of the truth of Christ Jesus. The Truth sets
them free from Satan’s prison.
In the second Iraqi war, most Muslims (not
Iraqis) were proven to be rabid haters of freedom. Muslims around the world
demonstrated in favor of tyranny.
The Iraqis wanted freedom. The rest of Islam
wanted them to live under tyranny.
The KJV says that God is no Respecter of
persons (Acts 10:34). The Greek text says that God is not partial to
appearances.
We do not judge outward appearances, because
the Father does not. Paul told the Corinthians not to judge him and his
associates by outward appearances.
2 Corinthians 10:8-11
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.
The Lord does not give His chosen power just
so we may have power. We are given power to lift others out of the mud of sin
and place them into the Light of heaven.
When Paul spoke of power, it was not to gain
control of others or to destroy them. For that reason, he did not want his
letters to appear too harsh.
Apparently some thought that Paul’s letters
were too severe. In person he was somewhat feeble, and his speech pattern was
not impressive.
2 Corinthians 10:12 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.
It is inevitable that comparisons are
made. However, that is not what Christ wants.
Comparisons do not take into account the call
of the individual. If a person is called to take a short (not small) message and
he/she does it that person is a success.
The last part of this verse is the point. If
we compare "our" ministry with another ministry, we do it through
lack of wisdom.
We are not to boast about authority that God
has not given. It is only through His commission that anything is accomplished.
Anointing will carry us when talent fails.
Do you "stretch beyond your
measure?"
Over extending has caused more harm in the
Church than we can tell. There is an old saying, "Each man rises to his
own level of incompetence."
Too many Christians are trying to reach
beyond their calling. Our talent has little to do with our calling.
Peter was a talented fisherman. But, he was
called to carry the gospel to the Jews.
If we remain true to our calling, the calling
will carry us. As our faith grows, our success in the gospel will grow.
2 Corinthians 10:17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
If we boast about anything, let us boast
about what Christ has done. It is by His power that we are saved.
Salvation is by grace alone. There is no
salvation in works.
2 Corinthians 10:18 For
not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom
the Lord commendeth.
Self-promotion is not the Christian
way. The Lord raises up his servants.
James 4:10---Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he
shall lift you up.