10.8.2017 The
Viewpoint – 2 Corinthians 2: 12-17
14 But
thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal
procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him
everywhere. (repeat)
Define: a viewpoint is… a perspective; a position from
which you look at something.
Oswald Chambers once wrote about this verse…”This verse is
to be the VIEWPOINT of those who follow Jesus! We must strenuously maintain
God’s point of view in every day, every way, in every bit. NO outside power can
touch this point of view!”
*As we live out this point of view we are to God’s glory.
-This is our purpose, amidst the different challenges of
life, to live it out by faith.
-We are not here “in God’s showroom,” like a car on
display, to just sit around and look pretty, BUT we are here to exhibit
captivity to Christ, living out our faith amidst the struggles of life, to
impact the world in a Jesus way.
CONTEXT: (2 Corinthians 2) – This isn’t Paul’s 2nd
letter to them… He had written them and visited them a few times before to
encourage, disciple and straighten out their problems.
Chapter 1- He had problems in Asia and was in fear of
death, but he learned to trust in God, and God delivered him.
He was going to visit them in Corinth, but the Holy Spirit
led him in another direction.
Problems in Corinth he addresses
*To this context he writes the encouragement of verse 2:14
THREE OBSERVATIONS:
1.Words such as VICTORY and TRIUMPH presume a conflict.
As we live out faith, we are in a conflict!
-
Sometimes we battle with the world; sometimes
the flesh;Sometimes the forces of evil.
Paul wrote to the Ephesians…We wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with
powers and principalities in the spiritual realm…
-
Any child of God recognizes this
-
Paul’s testimony in Romans 7… “Sometimes I do
what I do not want to do; sometimes I do what I hate… It’s the sin living in
me.”
2.There are reasons it’s hard to live a life of victory.
-Some don’t put up much of a fight. They live defeated
because they don’t claim/live out their victory.
-Some accept the lies of the faithless world… Instead of
hoping, believing the promises of God.
-The Bible says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from
you!”
3.While some don’t seem so triumphal, others always seem to
live victoriously.
Here Paul says God does it – “causes us to triumph”
In 1 Corinthians 15 he says -- “through Jesus Christ our
Lord”
*The key is found in abiding in Christ -- believing that
Jesus works in us and through us to make it happen
-Abide in Christ through prayer, insights found when
studying God’s Word, through the fellowship of believers
TAKE HOME:
To maintain a victorious VIEWPOINT…
1.Recognize – Look to see/identify the battles, then understand
from God how to procede
Ill: Team Talk – I always listen to the guys I coach… Their
problems and concerns about life. On Friday they began to ask me questions
about the Bible – God was working in their lives!
2.Battle – Fight the enemy – know the enemy and understand
how to battle
Ill: Luncheon (help) – amidst the battle with my busyness
and circumstances, God sent a friend to help
Ill: Bridgeton Police Substation – a mobile Police Station
that can go to area hotspots, to address criminal activity
3.Hope – Live by faith with the certainty of victory
Ill: Baseball playoffs – Last night Bryce Harper brings back Washington for the
win, at the end!
*perseverance is the key – keep battling AND believing…
There IS victory in Jesus!!!
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