A Call To, Consecration (II Corinthians 6:14 - 7:1)

Dave Dodge

NT3430

Read 2 Cor. 6:14 Intro: Paul s Credentials ·

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The 1st Associates The 2nd Bachelors The 3rd Certificates The 4th Masters The 5th Doctorate That's All.....Each take 2 years to get 10 years in college to get all degrees! (the norm.)

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Paul taught by Gamaliel o For years, Becomes a Rabbi o Religious zealot, W/ desire to glorify God God, .(explain)

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He attests in Phil. 3:7,8 that these credentials in comparison to his spiritual degrees were rubbish.

· Paul s true education (Ref Acts, 8,9,10, & Gal. 1) · Note: Paul s name changed 17 yrs after conversion After Stephen stoned, and persecution begins o Blinding light on Damascus Rd. o Healed and Baptized by the Holy Spirit § Ananias prophecies · Paul would take Jesus name to the gentiles · He would show him what he must suffer o Immediately begins to preach Jesus as the son of God o Spends 3 years in Damascus area and in the desert § Note: Apostles walked and taught by Jesus 3 yrs o Paul let down in basket o To Jerusalem for 15 days o Meets with Peter and James § Stirs up a ruckus, Apostles send him home (Tarsus) o 14 years later, Barnabas brings him to Antioch -1-

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Gentile church, spend a year there 1st missionary journey

Note: Ironically Stephen, stoned to death in Acts 7:54, ·

This martyrs death at the hands of Paul began, . o Persecution that led to gentile conversions o Which birthed a church at Antioch that became Paul s base of operations for many years

The Crux of Paul s Appeal to Corinthians: After many yrs. And 3 missionary Journeys (1 Cor. 11:21-29) · Chased from town to town · Thrown into prison · Stoned and left for dead · Flogged 5X · Beaten with rods 3X · Shipwrecked 3X · In Danger from o Rivers o Bandits o Jews o Gentiles o City & country o And false brothers .(lions, & tigers, & bears oh my!) He had labor & toiled at his own expense · Known hunger & thirst, w/o food · Gone without sleep · Cold & Naked Not jaded or cynical but opened wide his heart to them · False Apostles had won them over and discredited Paul · Was he hurt, .of course o But there burned in this man a higher offense o They were being contaminated by unbelief P.3 Yoked: ·

Dt 22:10 don t plow with an ox and an ass yoked together (KJV dbl. meaning) o Clean / unclean

Mt.11:28 · Be yoked to me, .my yoke is easy, my burden is light o However we still have to plow -2-

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o When my father was teaching me to use tools § Keep em sharp! Five comparisons: · Righteousness / Wickedness (have in common) · Light / Darkness (fellowship) · Christ / Satan, {belial / worthless, lawless} (harmony) · Believer / unbeliever (have in common) · Temple of God / Idols (agreement) · · Opposite ends of the spectrum Separation / Not Isolation: Example of Isolation Jonah /remained isolated, yoked to an unclean mind set · Hatred of enemies / unfairness of God · Ended up being a statesman Also, Called to separation to avoid contamination · The five comparisons connotatively speak of contamination · Example: Hospitals o Mercer / Staff infection, ..Doctors, nurses, wash and disinfect hands so they won t transmit, or infect themselves § What would we do without them § What will the world do without the righteous P.4 Example of contamination / receiving Gods grace in vain Lot / Looked toward Sodom, (Egypt) · walks toward Sodom · Stands in Sodom · Sits in the gate Psalm 1 Read 2 Cor. 7:1 Practical application for us A call to consecration: Separation from the world view and dedication to worship and serve our Father God. · ·

Its that movement on our part, what we re called to in order to grow and mature in the Lord Acts 2:42 o Knowing the Word o In regular fellowship o An active prayer life o Participating in and understanding communion

Verse reminds me of Rom 12:1,2 In view of Gods Mercy -3-

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Above activities fight against conformation to the world, and put us in position to be transformed

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Transformation is a miraculous act by God that needs to be happening, . also on a regular basis in our lives.

Paul knew that Cor.s spiritual development has been,.. · Stunted · Arrested · Stymied · Haulted Paul encouraged Timothy to fight the good fight of Faith · Be diligent in Acts 2:42, prioritizing time to git er done · Be receptive to sanctification, .obedient to His Word P.5 Sanctification: · God uses Word, Prayer, Fellowship to help us grow · But as he speaks to us through His word etc, o Simultaneously challenges us with § Our spouses § Our Jobs § Our Children § Our habits Obedience to His Word: ·

Amazed in counseling, . o Believer o Gods Word inspired & without error o True guide for our lives

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And Yet, Marital issues abound o Infidelity o Pornography o Living together etc o Laziness

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But the root of the issue is that God is challenging our belief system, . o Insists that we filter our decisions and judgments through His Word

Note: (Jn 7:24) Jesus said stop judging by mere appearances and make a righteous judgment Example: Taste and See: Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. -4-

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P.6 Read Jn 6:60-64a ·

Does this offend you (his disciples) o What if I go back where I came from § What if its God s will to . · Not est. my kingdom now · Kick out the Romans · No thrones for you · Plus I m going to die · By the hands of our enemies o Romans & Pharisees o Conflict of belief systems

What happened in Gethsemane and in the next 24 hours · Disciples all scattered · Peters Denial that he even knew Jesus · Mass confusion with disciples · Huddled together behind locked doors for fear Not everything in our lives is as traumatic but many times we are offended I ve always wanted to volunteer for sanctification knowing that it leads to transformation, ..But its not volunteering, its about submitting to those processes that God brings into our lives Transformation: Crux of Paul s appeal · ·

A righteousness that is not his own A transformation that he has no part in

Alan Redpath s quote God emptied heaven of its glory. He bankrupted himself to win mankind.

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