A. There are many people who make promises that most of us refuse to believe. Do any of these sound familiar?
I’m not trying to sell you anything.
Lose 20 pounds in 20 days!
This will only take a moment of your time.
This won’t hurt a bit.
There is no risk or obligation.
If I’m elected, I will....
B. Promises broken wound our spirits, leave us a little wiser and a little less trusting. They may even break us inside. But Promises kept give us life and hope. Can we get beyond the jaded skepticism of our age? Can we step out in faith holding on to a promise? As soon as we ask that question, we realize that our faith is only as good as its object. People, in spite of their best intentions, will fail us, but God never will.
C. In our text this morning, Paul is addressing a broken promise. He had intended to visit the people of Corinth, but the situation there had become so bitter that he postponed his visit, in order to spare them the pain of his stern apostolic rebuke. This is a case of "no good deed going unpunished." Paul’s opponents, it appears, used his change of plans, to accuse him of duplicity and deceitfulness. They even cast doubt on the message of Paul.
D. So Paul begins this section by affirming both his love and his ministry to the Christians in Corinth. He affirms that what he has written to them was not hard to understand and was certainly not speaking out of both sides of his mouth. Have you ever been accused of saying something you didn’t say or being told that you ride the fence and won’t take a side? That happens when people misinterpret your words – written or spoken. Sometimes when things are not clear people think you might simply trying to be a “yes-man” with whomever you are talking to at the time. Paul wanted to stop that from continuing on by sharing his side of a twisted story. But more importantly, Paul wanted the focus off of him and on to Christ.
E. Read verses 15-17. How does Paul do this? Vs 18-20.
I. God Is Always Yes (the Bible)
A. Paul says “God is faithful.” It is statement, not a question. You may question me, my motives, or my words, but God, whom no one questions, I use as one who testifies to my actions. You trust God, and Paul says, “I believe God trusts me and my message is also faithful.”
B. While it seems more like an oath, it is far deeper than that. Paul invokes God’s faithfulness and then begins to illustrate that faithfulness through himself, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
C. There used to a phrase that said, “You can take it to the bank.” If you remember that phrase it was a statement that what was just said was rock solid as though it was a good as legal tender being able to be deposited in a bank. Paul affirms that Jesus is the real Yes Man, and I don’t mean, telling you what you want to hear, but the person who is absolute. If Jesus says it, there is no doubt.
D. The Bible was once considered authoritative. People of faith might differ over verses, but there was a deep respect for the authority of the Bible, because the Bible is the voice of God to the people today. Therefore, if you can find the teaching in the Bible then you have the authority to go in a particular direction, reprove a sinner of his ways, or bring out a teaching that is lacking in the body.
E. The problem is too many people no longer respect the authority of scripture. It is laughed at by some and considered irrelevant by others. Some call say there are inconsistencies in the Bible. They point to the OT statement that one of the 10 Commandments is “You shall not lie” and then they say, “but God commended Rahab for lying.” The teaching is the Bible is not consistent, sometimes it’s is yes, and sometimes it is no. But the truth is the Bible is still the voice of God in its clearest form. Paul wanted people to understand truth and not get caught up in seeking to undermine him or his travel plans. To get someone off of the real issue they make a personal attack. It is a form used today also and it is still destructive.
II. Jesus is Always Yes
A. Just as absolute as the Bible is concerning the faithfulness of God, Jesus is absolute. Just as the Bible is consistent, so is Jesus. We see in his earthly ministry the oneness of mind he has with God.
B. Paul draws his readers back to Jesus and seeks to let them examine the records of his ministry and if they do, they will find that Jesus does not waver or falter in his beliefs or teachings. Paul goes as far as to say that in Jesus it is always Yes – meaning he is always consistent. In fact, no matter how many promises that God makes, in Jesus those promises are absolute, guaranteed, and going to happen. Paul uses the word “Amen.” It is really a congregational word, a word spoken by the congregation when they were agreeing with what was said or believed what was just said was truth. In many churches today the congregation does not vocally say “amen” when they recognize a strong, true statement that is made. Instead it is seen as something done at the end of prayer. But even there, the intent is that you who say “amen” are in agreement with the prayer. Jesus is the Yes and the Amen. He, like God, does not waver in his promises.
III. The Holy Spirit is Always Yes
A. The last witness to this idea of faithfulness and absolute direction in spiritual matters is the Holy Spirit. Listen to vs 21-22.
B. The Spirit of God has always been recognized as the power and breath of God at work among men. It is the aspect of God that touches lives and changes hearts. Paul says that God has established us Christ and the HS is the proof. Jesus told his disciples how important it was for him to leave so that the HS could come upon them. Many Christians today miss that Jesus’ ministry was 2000 years ago, they would have loved to see him, listen to him, and be a part of that early church, but Jesus and Paul tell us how wonderful it is that the HS has come to us. He is a power living in us greater than just what Jesus could do with his disciples during that ministry. Now we as God’s elect are filled with God through the Spirit. It is like Jesus living inside us and guiding us.
C. You want to know that every promise of God is true, that in Christ it absolute, then lean upon the Holy Spirit that was given to you at your conversion. When you baptized into Christ your sins were taken away and the Spirit was placed within. The greatest promise God gives is that of our eternal salvation. Are you going to Heaven when this life ends? Let me ask it this way, “Is the HS in you?” If you answer “yes” then He is your seal, your deposit.
Conclusion:
A. You are going to heaven, not because of your good works, but because of your faith in Jesus Christ and God’s grace extended to you. How will God know who is saved and who is not? All he has to do look at and see His Spirit in you. Do have the Spirit?
B. It is a challenging question. Maybe you have quenched Him in your life, then fan Him back into flame by yielding more to Him and less upon yourself. Is your life grieving the Spirit within you, then repent of those sins and return to your first love. God’s promises are faithful, they are always Yes in Him who loves you. If you need his reaffirmation and our prayers, then come as we stand and sing.
