This week Graham speaks on 2 Corinthians 2:12-16. He draws our attention to Paul’s comment about a “door” and then goes on to look at the reference to Christ’s Triumph.
Notes are below. The material is made available so that any may use it, adapt it and preach it.
If I were preaching this again I think I would divide it into three. When preaching on the “doors” I would have liked to give some teaching on the matter of God’s guidance. Christ’s Triumph is a subject complete in itself, as is the topic of the believer being the property of Christ and therefore protected and defended by Jesus.
Graham
Sermon 2 Corinthians 2:12-16
Doors and Christ’s Triumph
Introduction
Christ’s Triumph is a wonderful subject to look at but don’t miss the detail in the verses before, which refer to the door.
1) Open Doors
1 Corinthians 16:8-9 But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
2 Corinthians 2:12 Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me,
Colossians 4:3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
Revelation 3:8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no-one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
Guidance and peace of mind (v13).
Just because a door is open does not mean we should go through it. v12 “the Lord had opened a door for me…” Yes but is was God, not the enemy or the cravings of our foolish flesh. Anyway there was no door, it is a metaphor, he speaks of opportunities. With a door we are across the threshold or not, with an opportunity there is often time to step back or change our minds.
See Acts 16:6-7 Paul and his companions travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
2) The Triumph
Paul refers to a known cultural event, familiar to all of his readers at that time. By using this illustration he saves himself writing many words.
(a) What is the Triumph?
The Triumph was a procession in which a conquering general rode on a chariot through the city, with his victorious army marching behind him. In the procession were some captives from the peoples they had conquered. The captives could include rulers and members of royal families. They would be in chains, perhaps chained to the general’s chariot, showing who they belonged to now.
Technically then a Triumph was not a victory, but a victory parade. Paul is telling us we are part of Christ’s victory parade.
- The Triumph said something to the captives
- The Triumph said something to the crowds
(b) The Triumph said something to the captives
Subdued, completely conquered, ownership. Their past is gone, hope in their past is gone. Song - “I have decided to follow Jesus..”
This folk song originated among the Garo Indians, one of the hill tribes in India. The Garo tribe lives in an area that is now the state of Meghalaya, but was until 1970 the state of Assam. The northern part of Meghalaya borders on the Himalayan Mountain range. The earliest appearance of the hymn in the United States seems to have been in Choice Light and Life, a 1950 publication of the Free Methodist Church.
“If any one serves me, he must follow me;…… Hebrews 11:1-2
I have decided, to follow Jesus, I have decided, to follow Jesus, I have decided, to follow Jesus, No turning back, no turning back. Â Though I may wonder, I still will follow, Though I may wonder, I still will follow, Though I may wonder, I still will follow, No turning back, no turning back. Â Though none go with me, still I will follow, Though none go with me, still I will follow, Though none go with me, still I will follow, No turning back, no turning back! Â The world behind me, the cross before me, The world behind me, the cross before me, The world behind me, the cross before me, No turning back, no turning back! Â Will you decide now, to follow Jesus, Will you decide now, to follow Jesus, Will you decide now, to follow Jesus, No turning back, no turning back!(c) The Triumph said something to the crowds
How great is this conqueror, as all eyes go from the captives to the conqueror. The number and demeanour of the captives speak of the conqueror. Some knowledge of the conqueror is spread through the crowds of spectators as we are led in His Triumph.
1 Corinthians 16:8-9 But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
Back to the quote above, who are they opposing? If I make my adversaries mine, they are mine. If I let them remain his, they remain his and not mine. Let them argue with him. I know who will win.
See Acts 9:4-5 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
I am chained to the chariot of the conquering King of all kings. Attacks I may experience have to be seen in that very different light.
“The Gospel According to Starbucks” ponders the modern coffee shop phenomenon of our time from a Christian perspective. The author invites us to look at our Christianity in a new way. He suggests coffee shops are, and churches should be, “E.P.I.C.” - Experiential, Participatory, Image-rich, and Connective.
I like his quote on page 50:
“The world is not impressed that people attend church on Sunday mornings. If anything, such a habit is viewed as a quaint waste of time. But imagine if every Christian in the world were living as a little Christ.”
