Notes are below. As usual the material is made available so that any may use it, adapt it and preach it.
Sources:
Talbert, C. H. Reading Corinthians, A New Commentary for Preachers.
Watson, N. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians.
The Billy Graham book I referred to: Thoughts and Reflections on Billy Graham’s Life Principles.
 2 Corinthians 7
Make Room in Your Heart
In 2 Corinthians 7:2Â Paul seems to be responding to some accusations against him and against his apostolic authority.
“Make room for us in your heart” Paul asks. I would like to ask you this morning, what are you making room for in your heart? Because no one has an empty heart, not even non Christians. If I could be frank, non Christians are just spiritually dead. They are not in relationship with the One True Living God, through Jesus His son and so any spirituality they do have if you don’t mind me saying is so weak that it’s dead. But none of us have empty hearts.
The Greek word for “heart” here is Psuche (Psoo - Khay) meaning: the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.), (For audio pronunciation of the Greek).
This is different from your spirit. The word spirit refers to that invisible part of us which gives a person the ability to have an intimate relationship with God. The soul is our horizontal view of the world, the spirit is our vertical view of God. Yet the two are very closely related and one affects the other.
We are not simply flesh and bone. There are times when we will be in situations and feel certain movements in our spirits. These will not simply be the products of chemicals being released in our brain. The spirit will be telling you something, He will be communicating with you and you may very well escape a situation which would otherwise have been big trouble, (Story about my old flatmate).
Let’s not rely too much on feelings though as Graham would say “keep the brain plugged in“.
But back to my original question, what are you making room for in your heart? I’ve been doing an assignment recently and it’s been tough. I’ve just moved house I don’t have a desk in my new room yet it’s about a third of the size of my old room (no more en suite). But God suggested something that would help me at the beginning of last month. He said, “Why don’t you stop watching TV this month?” and I said “but I’ll miss Top Gear”. Isn’t it so sad that I genuinely agonized over that decision? Eventually, I had to push TopGear and Dragon’s Den out of my heart to allow room for something more important, my theological studies. I’m in a very privileged position working for this church, making time for God is probably not as difficult for me as it may be for many of you who lead different lifestyles. But how about making some more room in your heart for God today, this week, this month? How about switching off the TV and reading a Christian book.
Billy Graham video clip from YouTube.
Worldly Sorrow
2 Corinthians 7:8-10. We can’t be 100% sure what Paul was so worried about but considering the context it would probably have been how his letters would be received by the Corinthians and what news Titus would return with. But thankfully, as is so often the case, there was nothing to get so anxious about. Titus brings good news. And Paul writes that he had initially regretted ever sending the letter but now, in light of the good news, he has no regrets even if he had caused sorrow. Even if he had caused them sorrow he doesn’t regret it. Why? Because their sorrow led to repentance. And so there was no real harm, quite the opposite. This does not refer to the repentance of a non believer to a believer but of a believer who has corrected his ways after going amiss.
So, Paul says in verse 10 “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but Worldly sorrow brings death“. Paul had already warned of the dangers of being overwhelmed with excessive sorrow which leads to despair or bitterness in Chapter 2:5-7. Wordly sorrow leads to anger, self-condemnation, despondency and I would like to add the fruits of bitterness: gossip and slander. This is the result in a person who cannot handle being corrected for something that they have done wrong, can’t be told off. We have some responsibility for the way we dish out correction but ultimately how we respond to correction is key. Are we going to have godly or worldly sorrow? Learning to take it on the chin, without being a doormat is an important skill. Knowing the difference between fair correction and just bullying is important. In the work place, if you think your boss is being a bully then it’s going to be difficult not to have worldly sorrow. Hard not to get angry and backstab and be bitter and gossip. But you must resist, join a union if you think you’re being bullied by your boss. And pray, above all pray, pray for God to provide an answer to your situation. Don’t get angry or bitter or do something you’ll regret.
In the church, I should hope that the kind of correction you’ll receive from people will be good honest stuff. You’ll be able to tell by referring to the bible. Don’t be filled with worldly sorrow, don’t be someone who cannot be told.
Godly Sorrow
Listen to this little list that Paul makes. Most of us are pretty familiar with the lists in Galatians 5 (the acts of the sinful nature and the fruits of the Spirit) and the list in 1 Corinthians 13 about Love. But in my 8 or so years of being a Christian I don’t recall hearing a sermon about this little list. So from verse 11, see what godly sorrow has produced in you:
- What earnestness
- What eagerness to clear yourselves
- What indignation
- What alarm
- What longing
- What concern
- What readiness to see justice done
Are we earnest about God, about the meeting of the saints (that’s us by the way)? Are eager to clear ourselves, to be honest, dignified and humble men and women? Do we express indignation at sin in the church? Are we alarmed by it, shocked by it? Do we long for peace and holiness together? Are we concerned and diligent in striving for these things? Are we always prepared to see justice done among us, to see that righteousness is the norm?
His spirit Has Been Refreshed by All of You
2 Corinthians 7:13 - 14 isn’t that lovely? Titus’ spirit was refreshed by the people in the Corinthian church. Do we refresh people who come among us? You know what, without being immodest, I don’t think we do too bad here. We welcome, we give hospitality: tea and coffee, we embrace regardless of race or language or status. Even our name, Elim, is taken from Exodus 15. Just after Moses and the Israelites have left Egypt, God has parted the Red Sea and closed it again on top of Israel’s oppressors, Pharaoh and his soldiers. They wander around in the desert for three days, no water! Things are getting desperate, God is having to perform more miracles just so that they can have a drink. But then he leads them to an oasis called Elim. Where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees (the fact that there was so many palm trees indicated just how much water and nutrients there were there) and they camped there near the water. I dare say, you couldn’t keep them away from the water! Let’s be a church that really emulates our name! If Paul could say good things about the church in Corinth, I’m sure we’re doing ok!
But just as we make room for God in our hearts, let us also bear the fruit of godly sorrow and refresh those who come among us, who come among the palm trees of Elim.
Sources:
Talbert, C. H. Reading Corinthians, A New Commentary for Preachers.
Watson, N. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians.
The Billy Graham book I referred to: Thoughts and Reflections on Billy Graham’s Life Principles.
