Short Office
Sermons / Quick Bible Studies
M Paulson
October 23, 2009
Comparing Ourselves with Others is Not Wise!
II Corinthians 10:11-16
Here is a simple study of just a few verses that
if we read slowly... then they make total sense!
11: Let such an one think this, that, such
as we are in word by letters when we are absent,
such will we be also in deed when we are
present.
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He says they are in deed what they say they are in
word!
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They don't play church face!
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They are who they are in deed whether they are at
church, around the brethren or not!
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Many people today say one thing but in all reality,
they are something / someone else.
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Paul knew them too!
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Romans 3:13 -
...with their tongues they have used deceit...
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Even Jesus had to deal with them.
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Matthew 15:7-9 -
Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth
nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their
heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines
the commandments of men.
-
I figure you find a lot of these face-players in
a Great Commission context because they are so fearful to have to follow
the law, or the pastors commands, etc. that they will lie with their church
face to look like they are what everyone else is lying about also trying
to look like everyone else, too.
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Read on!
12: For we dare not make ourselves of the number,
or compare ourselves with some that
commend themselves: but they measuring
themselves by themselves, and comparing
themselves among themselves, are not wise.
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make ourselves of the number ... that commend
themselves
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- styles - peer pressure - do what the group does...
instead of what is right - practical, etc.
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adults are just as guilty, if even not more so than
teens, by the way!!!!!!!!!
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that commend themselves
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they think they are doing fine, especially when they
compare themselves with others who are worse than them in their testimony.
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Your sights are too low if you compare yourselves
to others.
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People will always pick someone who is inferior to
them in some way so that they can justify themselves.
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We can always find someone to provide us an alibi
to do wrong.
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But keep your eyes on the teachings of the Risen
Saviour through Paul's writings.
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Remember that one day, you will be at the judgment
seat all by yourself - and the Lord will only compare your works to Paul's
words - the words of the Risen Saviour.
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Romans 2:16 - In
the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according
to my gospel.
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measuring themselves by themselves
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we feel better because we can always find someone
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1) doing worse;
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2) doing our thing but not good enough, so we don't
have to either!
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3) this is how they feel good about themselves
by comparing themselves to others worse!
13: But we will not boast of things without
our measure, but according to the measure of
the rule which God hath distributed to
us, a measure to reach even unto you.
-
Not OUR measure, but according to God's - and that
would be through Paul!
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We hope that it would reach beyond us to 'you' as
well.
14: For we stretch not ourselves beyond our
measure, as though we reached not unto you:
for we are come as far as to you also in
preaching the gospel of Christ:
-
beyond our measure, as though we reached not
unto you
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don't do more than you can do to make the others
look worse than you...
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We don't want to have you think we think we are better
than you!
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We reach far because we want the preaching of the
gospel of Christ to reach to others.
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Gospel of Christ is Paul's gospel!
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Not the gospel of the kingdom
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Not the everlasting gospel, etc.
-
etc.
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Another thought:
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Some of the things that have happened your growth
and ministry could very well have been because of someone else's labours,
too..
15: Not boasting of things without our measure,
that is, of other men's labours; but having
hope, when your faith is increased, that
we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule
abundantly,
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Going after someone else's' labours instead of our
own...
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Be real - have that hope, increase your faith - put
away those church faces!
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It is encouraging to the preacher / pastor, etc.
to see his folks grow, to be real, to put away those church faces and be
honest.
16: To preach the gospel in the regions beyond
you, and not to boast in another man's line
of things made ready to our hand.
-
Always should be our goal to get the truth outward
- and not working on something that already exists.
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