INTRODUCTION

1. Thank God for the Scriptures

2. They contain many precious truths

3. Some of them are precious promises!

 

AN APOSTOLIC DESIRE

15 And in this confidence I intended to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit—

16 to pass by way of you to Macedonia, to come again from Macedonia to you,

and be helped by you on my way to Judea. 2 Corinthians 1:15-16

1. Paul planned his missionary travels carefully

2. He had hoped to visit Corinth and to see the brethren there

3. He had hoped to spend time with the brethren in the Church

4. It would have been mutually beneficial

 

WHEN PLANS COULD NOT BE FULFILLED

17 Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly the things I plan,

do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No?

18 But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No.

19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me,

Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.

20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 2 Corinthians 1:17-20

1. Paul’s Way of Planning

a) He planned his life

b) He planned his ministry

c) He does not take anything lightly

2. He followed God’s way of doing things

a) If it is a Yes

Then it is “Yes”

b) If it is a No

Then it is a “No”

c) Paul’s Team

i) Silvanus (Silas) and Timothy

ii) They will vouch for Paul

d) But Paul is not in control

i) Of the Weather

ii) Of the Merchant ships

iii) Of the Voyage journeys

e) Hence his plans can go wrong

i) But it is not because Paul was insincere

ii) Nor because he was planning haphazardly

iii) There should be no misunderstanding

 

GOD’S ROLE IN OUR LIFE AND PLANS

21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,

22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

23 Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth.

24 Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand. 2 Corinthians 1:21-24

1. He does the following things:

a) He establishes

b) He is the One who anoints

c) He has given us His Holy Spirit

i) He is the Seal

ii) He is the Guarantor

2. Personal reasons why Paul did not visit Corinth

a) He wanted to spare the Church from his Apostolic discipline

b) He had full apostolic authority to punish the wrongdoers in the Church

c) He did not want to have dominion over the Church at Corinth

d) Hence, he did not visit Corinth as he had planned

 

APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY

15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you,

go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.

If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more,

that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’

17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.

But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,

and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask,

it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name,

I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:15-20

1. Counsel given

2. Conciliation offered

3. Charges made known to the Church

4. Communion with the Church is broken publicly (“excommunication)

 

CONCLUSION

1. To exercise Christian love

2. To seek reconciliation

3. To exercise Excommunication when all else has failed