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GOD MAY HUMBLE ME

THROWING LIGHT IN 2013

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READ IN UNISON – 2 Corinthians 12

The Cost Of God’s Favor:

1. Do you desire God’s favor?

2. Do you desire God’s continued blessing?

3. Do you mourn over those who have not repented?

Key Text Verse:

21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

Three key words which show the cost of God’s favor:

1. Humble

2. Mourn

3. Repented

Humble

Lexicon Results

Strong's G5013 - tapeinoō

ταπεινόω

Outline of Biblical Usage

1) to make low, bring low

a) to level, reduce to a plain

b) metaph. to bring into a humble condition, reduce to meaner circumstances

1) to assign a lower rank or place to

2) to abase

3) to be ranked below others who are honoured or rewarded

4) to humble or abase myself by humble living

c) to lower, depress

1) of one's soul bring down one's pride

2) to have a modest opinion of one's self

3) to behave in an unassuming manner

4) devoid of all haughtiness

Authorized Version (KJV) Translation Count — Total: 14

AV — humble 6, abase 5, humble (one's) self 2, bring low 1

Mourn

Lexicon Results

Strong's G3996 - pentheō

πενθέω

Outline of Biblical Usage

1) to mourn

2) to mourn for, lament one

[View this word in Trench's Synonyms here.]

Authorized Version (KJV) Translation Count — Total: 10

AV — mourn 7, wail 2, bewail 1

Repented

Lexicon Results

Strong's G3340 - metanoeō

μετανοέω

Outline of Biblical Usage

1) to change one's mind, i.e. to repent

2) to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins

"Repentance (metanoia, 'change of mind') involves a turning with contrition from sin to God; the repentant sinner is in the proper condition to accept the divine forgiveness." (F. F. Bruce. The Acts of the Apostles [Greek Text Commentary], London: Tyndale, 1952, p. 97.)

[View this word in Trench's Synonyms here.]

Authorized Version (KJV) Translation Count — Total: 34

AV — repent 34

Why?

Key Text Verse:

21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

UNPACK THE COST OF GOD’S FAVOR:

Paul’s Visions and His Thorn

1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— 6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Concern for the Corinthian Church

11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 13 For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

14 Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. 17 Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?

19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. 20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

Seven Conclusions

1. How are you practicing the presence and favor of God? V. 21

2. Do you boast in your weaknesses? V. 5

3. Is God’s Grace sufficient for you? V. 9

4. Is God’s Power made perfect in your weakness? V. 9

5. Do you want the power of God to rest upon you?

6. Will you most gladly be spent for other’s souls? V. 15

7. Will you humble yourself and mourn that others will repent? V. 21

WHY? …

so that the power of Christ may rest upon me!

Pastor Rev. C. E. Stephen Coates

pastorsteveonthego@hotmail.com

Thursday March 14^th, 2013

www.churchonthego.ca

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