The Call To Endure 2 Corinthians 6:3-10

We are back to our study of 2 Corinthians this morning. In our last study of 2 Corinthians we learned that “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, and the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV) We witnessed this newness in Christ just last Sunday for the eight people who were baptized. I will never forget that moment. Our new life in Christ leads to a new calling in life. For most people God’s calling is not to leave their day job, head off to seminary, and become a pastor, but it is a calling to be His ambassador, His minister of reconciliation right where they are. In the verses immediately following Paul’s announcement of the new life in Christ, he writes,

18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians. 5:18-20 NIV)

He calls us to be a minister of reconciliation, on His behalf, right where we are. His calling gives us a purpose that lies outside of our comfort, outside of our own ambitions. It is a calling, a purpose that originates outside of ourselves, it is a calling from God. This past week I was reading something Rabbi Jonathan Sacks wrote about a psychotherapist named Victor Frankl who was taken from his medical practice and spent the next four years in Hitler’s concentration camp in Auschwitz. During those four years at Auschwitz, Dr. Frankl learned that it is that sense of calling and not ambition that is the key to endurance in the hard places of life. Rabbi Sacks wrote,

There never was in all history greater hester panim (God appearing to hide His face) than in the Holocaust. Yet Victor Frankl was a man of faith, and he knew Hashem (God) was calling on him to do something even there, even at the gates of Hell itself. He asked himself, what does Hashem want of me, a psychotherapist, in the middle of Auschwitz? He came to the answer, Hashem wants me to give my fellow prisoners, my fellow Jews, a will to live, because only if they have that will, will they have the strength to survive. So he went around to each prisoner that he thought was about to fall into despair, and gave them a role in life, one they had yet to fulfill. This sense of renewed purpose helped force these men, women and children to stay alive, survive Auschwitz, be liberated and then go and do their calling. That is what Victor Frankl heard, even in Auschwitz, a Vayikra… (Rabbi Jonathan Sacks)

For most people it is the hard places of life, the painful experiences of life, that exhaust us and tempt us to throw in the towel. We decide we are going to get in shape and lose weight, so we buy a new pair of running shoes, sign up for a class, maybe even pay a personal trainer. When things get tough most people quit. Why? Plain and simple: Hard work, side stitches, aching muscles, burning lungs, and a pounding heart are painful and not pleasurable. And we see this same pattern repeat itself in every arena of human life. By nature, we desire, we are addicted to that which is pleasurable and we avoid like the plague all things painful. Yet, I find over and over again that God calls us into the painful places of life. He invites us, He urges us to see His Sovereign, redeeming hand at work in the painful so that He might accomplish in us and through us what we cannot even imagine.I think by now we have all come to the conclusion that those in Corinth, in Paul’s day, were just like us living in Oklahoma City today. It was a different time, but human nature was exactly the same. The popular teachers of Paul’s day in Corinth, the Greek philosophers and “super apostles” as Paul called them, were flashy, impressive, successful, and were adored by the crowds. Paul was none of those things and they used his lack of flash and success to try and convince the crowds, even the church which Paul planted, that his ministry was not legitimate. In our Scripture for this morning, Paul defends his ministry by showing that his willingness to endure, his willingness to suffer for the cause of Christ, is proof of the legitimacy of his ministry. Let’s read our Scripture, found in 2 Corinthians 6:3-10.

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. (2 Corinthians 6:3-10 NIV)

This is such a powerful section of Paul’s letter to the brothers and sisters in Corinth, some of whom were questioning the legitimacy of Paul’s ministry. Paul makes it clear that he was doing everything in his power not to cause anyone to stumble. Paul was so aware that his life, his failure to live out a Christlike life, could so easily get in the way of the message of the Gospel for others. I want you to know that I had a hard time moving beyond this first verse as I spent time studying 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 this past week. I have thought about the endless lists of the names of pastors and Christian leaders who have fallen and caused many others to question their faith. I've thought about the endless encounters with people who are not followers of Jesus and told me that all Christians are hypocrites. Paul was committed to not causing others to stumble, but it seems like many today do not share that same commitment.You and I live in a day, in a society, in which people are yearning for something more than what they have been experiencing. There has been so much uncertainty and they are looking for solid ground. We are bombarded with messages of how our society is falling apart and people are trying to hold it together. People in America are being told that darkness is descending on our country like never before and many believe that to be the case. In a world of seven billion people we read reports coming from the pollsters that people have never been more lonely. I believe with all of my heart that there has never been a better time than right now to share the hope of Jesus with those who are struggling so. In John 4:35, Jesus spoke to the people of His day. 

35 Don't you have a saying, 'It's still four months until harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. (John 4:35 NIV)

I believe that if Jesus walked into our worship service this morning He would tell us the same thing… “Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” The biggest hurdle we face today is not that people have a problem with Jesus. It is that people have a problem with us, those of us who say we are His followers and yet live just like the world lives. We are a stumbling block. Brennan Manning once said,

The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable. (Brennan Manning)

Oh how we need to remind ourselves each morning before we leave the house that they will be watching us, every move we make, they will be listening to us, every word we speak, and then pray for the Lord to fill us with His Spirit so that our actions and words will never hinder someone from seeing Jesus at work in us. So Paul works diligently to never cause someone to resist Jesus because of his failure to live out a Christlike life. He also “commends” himself, as a servant of God, in every way. Then he lists out his credentials. Take a look at what he writes in the beginning of verse 4 with me. 

4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: (2 Corinthians 6:4a NIV)

How does Paul “commend” himself to the people of Corinth? Does he, like the popular speakers and super apostles, commend himself with a list of seminary degrees, his theological acumen, his great accomplishments recognized by the academy or city hall? He could care less about all of those things! Paul commends himself by his great endurance, endurance that takes place as he faces the adversities brought about by his calling to be an ambassador of Christ. What follows is Paul’s list, 28 descriptives in the Greek New Testament, of how God’s calling upon his life has caused him to willingly, joyously endure every hardship that has come his way. For many of us, when we hear the word “endurance” we think about gritting our teeth and sucking it up in a stressful, sometimes unbearable situation.  The Greek word, “hupomone,” is much more than gutting it out. This word paints for us a picture of steadfastness, constancy, and endurance. Those who endure in Christ are able to see beyond the current pain and suffering to the purpose, meaning, and joy that awaits on the other side. The most beautiful and vivid example of the kind of endurance we are talking about is found in Hebrews 12:1-3, where we read,

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV)

Jesus, with the joy set before Him, endured the cross. And because of the joy set before Paul, he endured every hardship. That same call is upon your life and mine, if you are a follower of Jesus. Once we become a follower of Jesus our purpose in life changes. Once we become a follower of Jesus our motivation changes. We are not who we once were. We are not motivated by the motivating factors of this world, but by the calling of God upon our lives to be His ambassadors, His ministers of reconciliation in this broken world. Paul summed it up this way.

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV)

Let’s get back to our Scripture for this morning. Endurance is the overarching theme of the trials and hardships Paul describes as the evidence of the legitimacy of his ministry for the Kingdom. The 28 descriptions are not random, but they are thought through and organized. Let me show you what I’m talking about. In verses 4-5, Paul uses three different words to describe the harsh realities of life that are out of his control: Trouble, hardships, and distresses. The Greek word for “trouble,” (thlipsis,) literally means “pressure” or “affliction” and it describes the normal pressures we face in life. Pressures from relational problems, financial problems, struggles we have in the workplace or in raising our kids. The Greek word for “distresses” literally means, “narrow place” and it paints a picture for us of being between a rock and a hard place. In Exodus 14, God led Moses and the former Egyptian slaves to a place called Pi Hahiroth. The Egyptian army was closing in behind them and the Red Sea was in front of them, they were between a rock and a hard place. The people became distressed. In their minds it was over, but they had forgotten that God had led them to that very place. It was while they were between a rock and hard place that God made a way where there was no way. Once again, when we are between a rock and a hard place we bear up under the weight knowing that God is not finished yet. Our Sovereign God is working, He is always working! Trouble, hardships, and the things which cause distress are being faced and will be faced by all people, but not all are willing to endure them with the knowledge that God is at work, that there is a greater purpose at work than the pain we are experiencing.The next set of three, found in verse 5, have to do with the mistreatment Paul received at the hands of others.  Because Paul was a “servant of God,” an ambassador of Christ, he was beaten, imprisoned, and caused riots in city after city. A little later in our study of 2 Corinthians, Paul had had his fill with those false teachers who were taking advantage of the brothers and sisters in Corinth so he wrote,

23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.  24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. (2 Corinthians 11:23-28 NIV)

Paul suffered greatly because he was a servant of God, because he shared the hope and salvation that is found in Jesus alone with those who so desperately needed to hear the Gospel. The final set of three descriptive words, found in the second half of verse 5, are self-imposed hardships that Paul was willing to endure because of his ministry. Paul says he experienced “hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger.” Our work, as ambassadors of Christ, as ministers of reconciliation, never ends. After having been in this neighborhood for more than 120 years you would have to think that our work as a church is almost completed wouldn’t you? Let me tell you, the work has only begun. And the work to which the Lord has called you and me requires that we make sacrifices. You might ask, “What kind of sacrifice will the Lord ask of me?” My answer would be “every sacrifice imaginable and any sacrifice He desires of us.” In Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, he wrote, “Your life is not our own, but we were bought with a price…” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV) And to the church in Galatia, Paul wrote,

20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NIV)

You may think, “That’s too much to ask. I could never do that.” And neither could Paul, and neither can any of us who are followers of Jesus in our own power. Furthermore, who in their right mind would sign-up for sacrifice and suffering? We are wired, we have an innate drive for pleasure and comfort, not sacrifice and suffering. Plus we are told over and over again that we must find our purpose and meaning within ourselves. I hear that kind of talk all the time. I’m trying to figure out my purpose in life. I’m trying to find out what I need to do to make me happy. Did you hear that? “I, I, I.” As long as you search for meaning and purpose within yourself, you will never find a purpose that will take you beyond yourself. It is impossible to find a purpose within yourself which will move you to take on suffering and sacrifice. If in the end we are only living for the purpose that makes us happy and satisfied and fulfilled, then there is nothing worth taking on unhappiness, inconvenience, pain, and suffering. And yet, it is in dying to self that we can truly live. What God calls us to, He will equip us for. In these next set of descriptive words we find the inner graces, provided by God, that enabled Paul to endure with such purpose, hope, and expectation. Look at verses 6-7 with me.

6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;  7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; (2 Corinthians 6:6-7 NIV)

These qualities are the working of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer who is engaged in discipleship. The word for “purity” is a word that means, “sincerity, blamelessness.” It describes those who aren’t working an angle, trying to get over, manipulate, or use other people. The word for “understanding” is used by Paul often, he has used it twice already in this letter, and each time it has to do with the knowledge and understanding of God. As we are engaged in discipleship we learn about who God is, what God has done and is doing, and about His attributes and character. The more we learn about God and desire God the more our own character will be shaped by the Holy Spirit. The next two words, “patience and kindness,” are fruit of the Spirit. These character qualities describe how Paul responds to all of the attacks and abuse at the hands of those who reject the Gospel. Cornelius Lapide, who died in 1637, told the story of missionaries who worked in Japan. They made no progress whatsoever until a man spit in the face of one of the missionaries. The man simply wiped his face and continued sharing the good news of Jesus as if nothing had happened. The Japanese people, who saw what had happened, so admired the missionary that they began to call them “men descended from heaven.” One by one the Japanese people began turning to Jesus and embracing the faith of the men, not only because of what they preached, but because of how they lived. In a culture like our own where people are growing more and more intolerant of anyone who doesn’t believe what they believe, you and I are called to exhibit patience and kindness to all.It is interesting that Paul would list “in the Holy Spirit” and “in the power of God” among these descriptive terms. George Guthrie says that Paul lists “in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love, in truthful speech, and in the power of God” because these are the spiritual means, the God-granted character qualities by which Paul is able to conduct an effective ministry. True Christian ministry, neither Paul’s or yours or mine, can be carried out through human means alone–our ministry is God-ordained, God-empowered, and God-sustained work. Before we have to stop our study this morning, let’s take a look at the last three verses of our study. 

8 We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. 9 We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. 10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything. (2 Corinthians 6:8-10 NLT)

Paul was both honored and despised, slandered and praised, ignored and recognized. He was called an imposter even though he was a man of integrity and truthfulness. He was poor, but through his life he spiritually enriched many. Death was never far away, and yet God kept rescuing and preserving his life. For as long as I can remember the church has made false promises to those who were considering becoming a follower of Jesus. We have told them, “If you give your life to Christ and follow Him, He will make your life better.” Health, wealth, and prosperity preachers preach this false Gospel and dishonor the Name of the One who was brutally beaten, scorned, ridiculed, and nailed to a cross. I’m here to tell you this morning that all this world has to offer you can not even begin to compare to the life you will experience if you surrender your life to Jesus Christ. You will never experience more peace in the midst of the trials, the horrific storms of life, than you will when you know He is with you and leading you through the storm. You will never know more contentment than you will experience regardless of what you have or don’t have, regardless of what you gain or lose.  You will never value the opinions of others less and love them more, even those who oppose and despise you, than you will when Jesus and His call upon your life becomes your deepest love. Jesus is calling you this morning. Won’t you open your heart, open your arms, and come to Jesus? Mike HaysBritton Christian ChurchApril 16, 2023