Epistles of Paul 62

Well, good evening, brethren. Chapters 1 through 9 of 2 Corinthians seem to be addressing the repentant majority of the brethren after he wrote 1 Corinthians. But now from chapters 10 through 13, Paul seems to be addressing the minority, which were still being influenced by false teachers. And we can see an abrupt, shall we say, an abrupt change in town.

And in a way, Paul is writing in the Slator of 2 Corinthians, starting from chapter 10. Paul is not going to get these people that are causing troubles off the hook.

Obviously, some have changed, but there are others that there is still a problem, a challenge. So Paul has tried to come to them in meekness and gentleness, but he's saying in these three chapters, basically, that if necessary, you will come to them in great boldness.

Let's then start reading verse 1 of 2 Corinthians chapter 10. Now I, Paul, myself, am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am lowly amongst you, but being absent and bold toward you. And so he says, yeah, he has been bold in his letters, but, you know, if needs be, I can also be bold in presence. And so he continues now in verse 2. But I beg you, I beg you, that when I am present, I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bolding and some. In other words, I hope I don't have to, to be bold when I come, because I hope you've changed. He says, who think of us as if we walk according to the flesh. In other words, people were accusing Paul of behaving carnally. And we know, for instance, if we read in Romans 8 verse 9, it says, but you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if indeed the spirit of God dwells in you, and now if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, is not his. We are not to live after the flesh. We are to live with God's spirit. We are to live according to the spirit, as we read in verse 13. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. But they were accusing Paul, as we read in verse 2, at the end of verse 2 of chapter 10, they were accusing Paul of being carnal, of being unconverted. And so let's continue reading in verse 3. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. In other words, we have a physical body, and so we are walking with a physical body of flesh. That's what we are walking. But we're not fighting spiritually according to the flesh. We do not war according to the flesh. That's what he says. We're not fighting with people. Quite often when we have issues and problems, it's easy to take it against people. It's so natural. We just start hitting people back. But he's saying we are in a spiritual battle. Therefore our weapons are not physical, but spiritual. That's what he says for the weapons. He says here in verse 4, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. They're not physical. We're not fighting people. We're not taking machine guns and hand grenades and cankers and fighter planes and war drones, whatever it is. You know, our weapons for our warfare are not physical, are not carnal.

Our weapons, our war, is with spiritual weapons that are mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. So where's our war? Where's our big fight? Where's our struggle taking place in the mind? In our minds?

So we struggle against the flesh, against the pulls of the flesh. We struggle against the powers of darkness. We struggle against society. Look at 1 John 2 verse 16. 1 John 2 verse 16.

He says, for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the father, but is of the world.

We have these carnal things that we are struggling against. You see, we don't use machine guns to destroy these things that affect our mind. You know, we can't just take a gun and shoot ourselves, because what happens is just dead, but we have not overcome the problem. We have to overcome the problem. So our weapons are not carnal, as it reads here in verse 4. The weapons of our warfare, 2 Corinthians 10 verse 4, are not carnal. We are not fighting the flesh. We are using mighty weapons in God that come from God, it says, for pulling down strongholds. Strongolds for pulling down fortresses.

Think about it like great spiritual castles. Think about the old days. I remember when, um, Saifo Risio got to Europe, we had a few years ago, in fact, more than a few years ago, the feast in Portugal, and we had some tours and went to visit some castles, and they had huge, and they have still those castles that remained, they have huge walls, and they're usually on top of a hill, very difficult to get to them, for the enemies to get them, and many of them had big moats around them with water. So it was very difficult for people to attack those fortresses, those strongholds, and sometimes it could take years surrounding and city, sometimes you have to, they had to starve the people.

In Jerusalem, in 70 AD, they, the Romans, basically starved the Jews, and so you can think of, for instance, about the times of Jericho, when the Israelites went around Jericho, they went into Promised Land, they went around Jericho, and God pulled down those walls. And so when he's talking about strongholds, that's what it means, those huge barriers that you and I have in our minds that we have to pull down. And so God gives you and I spiritual armor and spiritual weapons to fight our minds, our carnality, Satan and his demons, and the society. Now, let's just look at, for instance, at 2 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 7. 2 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 7, it says, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand or on the left. You know, God gives us that armor, whether it's on the right or on the left, God gives us that armor to fight, to fight whatever is affecting us. So God gives that armor. We know in Ephesians chapter 6, we know in Ephesians chapter 6 starting in verse 10, it talks about that we, which says, finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, put on, we are to put on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to stand against these walls, these tricks of Satan. You see, we are fighting against Satan and his demons, because it says here in verse 12, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. When we have difficulties and challenges with people, it's very easy for us to think, well, we fighting this person and that person. It's so easy because sometimes the person that a person says sings to us, that they really stab into us, they stab into our hearts. And yeah, we could think that we are fighting against that person, but who we really got to be aware of is that Satan and his demons are sometimes using people's emotions and pulling little strings, young little strings there, and we encounter ourselves in a battle, but the real enemy is Satan and his demons. We are fighting against them. Look at verse 13. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand in the evil day and having done all to stand. Remember, nowadays we're standing in evil days. You just have to watch the news and watch what's happening. The days are evil, very, very evil. And having done all to stand. Verse 14, stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth. You know, we gotta hold on to the truth.

When something else becomes more important than truth, it really is a problem.

You know, it's easy in the society to say, well, that is the process.

Are we putting the process in front of truth? You know, we gotta be careful. That's why it says, you know, whatever you do with truth, speak the truth, you love the truth, but in love, in a right approach, in a godly approach. Sometimes we stick for the truth, which is right, correct, but it's how we do it. We gotta be careful.

You see, we have to stand for the truth, but in a loving kind way.

And that is challenging. That is difficult. So he says, well, stand having girded your waist with truth. Having put on the breastplate of righteousness, doing it in the right way, you know, justice, mercy, and faith. You know, that is God's righteousness with justice. Yes, doing it correctly, but having a spirit of mercy, you know, you think about in the Holy of Holies, there was the ark, inside the ark there was the law, but above the ark was the mercy seat. And so, quite often, we need to think and we need to make sure that we're going to do things right, but we gotta do it in a loving, merciful way. And often it's not easy. Anyway, breastplate of righteousness. Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. You know, we gotta walk in a way that produces peace. And you know, the meekness of wisdom, what it talks about in James chapter, at the end of James chapter three and beginning of chapter four, at the end of chapter three of James, it says the meekness of wisdom, and that leads to peace. That leads to peace. And then it says, why are there wars amongst yourselves? Because you're lost to have it your own way. And it's a very powerful statement there. So, we really have to have the way we walk in a way which is along the good news that will bring peace. Verse 16, above all, taking the shield of faith. We're going to have absolute trust. Trust faith, which is more than trust, but it is an absolute trust in God because he does not lie. Then you will intervene. A shield of faith by which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. In other words, all the doubts, fear, uncertainty, and doubt are usually called just fear if uncertainty you and doubt the fact. You know, it's we're going to fight those those those darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet. Verse 17 of salvation. Our hope of salvation. We're going to keep that in our minds. It's a helmet. The hope is like an anchor. It's a helmet that protects our minds. And we want to keep our minds continuously focusing on salvation, which is the hope that we have. And as part of the armor of God says, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.

You see, the sword of the spirit, the word of God, is the only offensive weapon we have. Everything else is defensive to take blows. But our battle needs to be won, needs to be fought with the sword, the Bible. That is why it's so important for us to be studying and reading the Bible daily. It is so important. And so let's go back to 2 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 5. 2 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 5. It says, casting, you know, of pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. So what are these fortresses? Because we are putting down these strongholds, these fortresses. One of them is arguments, arguments.

And every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Brethren, I think it's time for us to really think deeply about arguments and things that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. In this world of internet, we are full of fables and false things and endless arguments and things that just lead people the wrong way. Let's just take a little review of how Paul was instructing Timothy in his pastoral letters to Timothy about certain issues that he, Timothy, as a newly young minister, needed to be aware of. Let's start in chapter one of First Timothy, and it's in verse three, he says, you know what, that he says, as I urge you, when I went to Macedon in remaining Ephesus, that you may charge some that they may teach no other doctrine. And then look at it, nor give heed to fables. Do not give heed to fables. How many fables are there today? I mean, in today's terminology, it's just, you would call that just fake news, false knowledge, just endless, endless genealogies. Today would be like endless arguments about things that that are really useless, useless. You can think about many arguments that people have today that just are not sound, are just not sound. I don't want to get in to start listing them, but you know, God's only Spirit is a Spirit of a sound mind. And some of these things that sometimes it's even people in the church bring about some of these arguments and some of these ideas. They're not sound. And then it says, yeah, these fables and endless genealogies which cause disputes, they cause arguments. And then it says, rather than Godly defecation, these weird little things circling on the internet and on social media that have no sound foundation. It's not sound doctrine, not sound teaching.

Wow! They just cause disputes and not edification. They do not build the church. They destroy edification which is in faith. You see, the purpose of the commandment is love. Wow! That is a powerful statement. The purpose of the commandment is love.

From a pure heart, from a good conscious, and from sincere faith, from which some have strayed, have turned aside to idle talk. Blah, blah, blah. They say things which are really fake, false, just fables, idle talk. Let's look a little bit further in verse 18. This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare. We are in a battle, a battle against these arguments and endless genealogies and things that are fake. And today it's so bad. It's so bad. It really is. But we'll just read a bit further now in chapter 4 of Timothy. Chapter 4 of Timothy, let's read verse 1 and 2. Now the Spirit expressly says that in Latin times, brethren, we are living in Latin times. Brethren, I have the strong feeling that we are at the edge of very serious times, very serious times. So God is giving us various warnings, and we just have to open our eyes.

Things are serious. But in this Latin times, some will depart from the faith. Some will depart from the faith. Just recently, I was saddened by some people in Brazil. They just told me, sorry, I just don't want to continue anymore. The struggles are too much. They are not saying that this is not the truth. They just say, well, I just can't continue anymore. The struggles, the stresses, I'd rather just go with the world. Brethren, it breaks my heart. And so I try to contact them. I try to, without being quote-unquote, a nag, say, hey, I'm here for you. How can I help? You know, like going after that sheep that's gone astray, trying to. But sometimes, they don't want you to be kind of looking after them or trying to look for them. It's so sad. I don't know how to explain it, but it really is sad. But anyway, it says, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. Brethren, there's so much fake false teachings which are, you know, deceitful, deceitful, they're absolute lies. It says they're speaking lies in hypocrisy.

It's what's happening. And people then have their own conscience, see it with a hot iron. Oh, well, it just doesn't matter. I know it's not the right thing what I'm doing, but I'm just going to do it. Well, I hope not. I really pray for these people. I pray that we may help them, that they may come back and try and open up opportunities and encourage them to come back.

But this is what's happening today, brethren. Look a bit further. It's still in 1 Timothy chapter 6. 1 Timothy chapter 6. Let's read verses 4 and 5. It's talking about that don't allow people to teach otherwise. And it says, And those that do so, they are proud, knowing nothing, but are or obsessed with disputes and arguments over words. Over words.

I encounter in this situation, or I have, because how should I put it, as a minister responsible for an area where I get all the people, questions that are starting to come into the church, or they're starting to know about the truth, you know, was all the, what should I call it, the equivalent of the original mail processing, and questions of people that have their different ideas, and they argue about words. Words.

It's unbelievable. They argue about words. And that is disputes and arguments over words. No, but this meaning of this word means this. Now, of course, that word can mean that, but it can mean something else. But when we look at doctrine, we're going to look at direct, implicit, biblical statements. Not, well, this word could mean this, and because it could mean this, they fall, we've got a whole complete doctrine. They argue about words. And then it says here, from which come what? Envy, strife, reviling, you know, words slandering, bad speaking, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men, of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth. They are destitute of the truth. So we gotta be careful, because you and I live in a society that are so many false things affecting us. And so we gotta be careful, because we are fighting a spiritual warfare. These things are coming into our minds, into our environments, into our homes, coming into our children, coming into our children, and our children, which whom are we trying to raise up in a godly way, in the right way, and they're being influenced by this continuously, continuously pushing of the world of Satan, of society, and their minds are being affected. We need to pray, brethren, for our children. Our children are struggling. There's a lot of stresses. Our children and grandchildren. And some of you know very well I'm talking about, because you probably are looking at your own children and say, how can I help? But the point is, you don't want to, it's a very, what is the word, a tight equilibrium, because you want them to come to the truth, you want to encourage them, but you don't want to chase them away.

The new part.

You don't want to chase them away, so you want them to to repent and come to the right way. So we all pray and ask God for wisdom in what we say that it may help our children.

So that's a challenge. We got to pray for one another, brethren.

Because there are a lot of stresses out there with our children. The problem is, we are in a war. In a war, spiritual warfare. Now in 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 3 and 4, it says, you therefore must enjoy hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. You see, we are engaged in a war. We are fighting Satan the devil, we are fighting the society, and for instance, children got to school and and hear all these things and hear peers and friends saying things that are godly.

Sorry. And really, it is an issue. We need to pray for our children, please. We need to show them that we care for them and that help them to to to live and come right and that God will help them. And I'm not saying that they're wrong, I'm just saying that sometimes they just influenced the wrong way. They may come across to some people. Well, they just something wrong with them. But, brethren, we need to help because they are in need of help.

They need our help. We need to help them. We need to be helpers of their joy. Now, continually, on 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 14, remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words of no prophet or to no prophet to the ruin of the years. Yeah, these words, these ideas, these things that you watch in news and and politicians are saying and groups of people are saying that seem to be masses and masses of people.

There are false and they're not godly. And so they're not to any prophet, but they are ruining the people that are hearing them. And so that's why I say it says, be careful, look at verse 16, shan, profane and idle babblings.

Again, empty chatter, worthless, foolish talk, talking, absolutely. Some of the things people say are nonsense, nonsense. And then he says, and verse 17, and their message will spread like cancer. Well, these things spread like wildfire, like cancer. It's just we've got to avoid that. And that's why it says in verse 23, verse 23, it says still in 2nd Timothy chapter 2 verse 23, avoid foolish and eager and disputes, knowing that they generate strife.

They generate strife. And look at verse 25 and 26 in the humility correcting those who are in opposition. You know, some are just being led astray. They're trying to do the right thing, but somehow they've been led astray, or others are striving about words and going the wrong way. And what do we need to ask God to grant them to see that they need to change and where they need to change so that they may know the truth, so that they may know the truth, so that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil having been taken captive by him to do his will.

That's what's happening in the society, brethren. We gotta pray and in humility, gently, lovely, correct those that are struggling and help them. And some are not just needing help. Some are, as it says, you are in opposition, but we need to help people. And then, still in 2 Timothy, now in chapter 3 verse 13, it says, But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived, and they're affecting our children and others.

But these evil men in the society are getting worse and worse. I think you can see it. I don't have to hammer it more. And that just generates and strife creates problem. Look at also at verse 25 and yeah, we've read that, sorry. So let's read in chapter 4, 2 Timothy chapter 4, verse 3 and 4.

It says, For the time will come when society, people around us, will not endure a sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables. Brethren, I'm going through these things so you can see that Paul is telling Timothy time and time and time again that what's happening in society and you can see what's happening today in society.

This is in the last days that we live in perilous times and people are being led this way. And that's why it says, But you, verse 5, 2 Timothy 4, verse 5, be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work and of evangelists, fulfill your ministry. So we all have a job to do whatever our responsibility is, but we got to endure, endure, and we have to continue fighting the good fight. Like Paul said there in 2 Timothy 4, verse 7, Paul said, I finished the good fight, I finished the race, I've kept the faith.

Can we come, as we come approach to the end of our road, can we say the same thing? I fought a good fight, I finished the race, I've kept the faith. I hope so. I hope we call. We all can. Satan is doing his best, brethren. Satan is doing his best to destroy you and I, to destroy us, to destroy our children. We have to fight against Satan's traps, but false land mines that he places in front of us to destroy us. Plus, he's inspired us all society in this world to put additional pressure. And on top of that, we have our own deceitful minds, our carnal minds that we have to overcome.

And so, as we go back to 2 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 5, you see we're going to cast down these arguments and every I think that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. You see, because these are the strong holds that we have to overcome. It says, yeah, we got to pull down the strong holds. And then he says, at the end of verse 5, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Think about it.

Our objective, our goal as a true follower of Jesus Christ is to bring every thought into the captivity to the obedience of Christ. We got to rule our emotions and not allow them to rule over us. Those are the fortresses. Those are the strong holds that we are going to pull down. We are to pull off the old man. Look at Colossians chapter 2 verse 8. Colossians chapter 2 verse 8. And it is interesting, if you read carefully.

Colossians chapter 2 verse 8.

I'm sorry, it's chapter 3 verse 8. Sorry, that's what I mean. Colossians chapter 3 verse 8.

It says, but now you yourselves are to put off these. Now we're to pull off these.

Look at it carefully what it says. Look at it carefully. Because in verse 5 it says, therefore put to death your members which are on earth, and then he lurch fornication and cleanliness, passion, evil desire, etc. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon, in which you yourselves once walked, walked past when you lived in them. So those things at baptism we should have put off. It must make sure that we've got to put them to death. But now, but now verse 8. We are in the church, we are baptized, and it says, but now yourselves are to put off these. What? Anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, sophie language. In other words, things that are more difficult to overcome and put off. Things that are of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Things that may be in our hearts. That, what happens? Well, somebody upsets us, somebody says something, it really touches a sore spot, we lose our temper, we blow up, and we say things in anger. And then we live to regret it. Because, you know, we say what comes just to our mind, and we say the wrong thing.

I have had a situation recently, don't want to go into too many details, it's nobody you know, but anyway, that this person exploded, exploded. A person that's baptized exploded.

And his words and statements and things that he said, where in his mind he just said, I'm just being honest. I'm just being honest. But I am of this nationality, of this background, that's what I am, and that's what it is. I'm quite entitled to act this way. So he accepted, that's what it is. And he said, look, I'm not being able to, I'm just saying what I feel. Brethren, it's very difficult to work with people like that and to show them they're wrong, and guide them in the truth, because they are heavily entrenched in fortresses that they have to overcome. And the question is, do you and I have some fortresses that we have to overcome as well? And it's easy to say, well, it's them, because those are in a sense like blatant, flagrant, you can just see it, but do we have some subtle things that we got to work on? That's why it says examine ourselves. It doesn't say examine other people, examine ourselves.

So in verse 5 it says, bring every thought, so back to 2 Corinthians 10 verse 5, bring every thought into the captivity to the obedience of Christ. That's what we're going to do. And then in verse 6 it says, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. In other words, don't bring out, for instance, human reasoning. Punish all disobedience. Don't bring out some sort of human excuse for you being saying what you are or being, no, punish all disobedience yourself. Bring every thought under the authority of Jesus Christ. Any type of thought, ideas, speculation, reasoning must be brought into subjection, must be brought into subjection. And now, why is this? Well, yeah, it's the real issue in a sense. It's because we look at the physical, we look at people, we look at the outward appearance, and we need to understand that our fight is spiritual. 2 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 7 says, do you look at things according to the outward appearance? Well, it's this man that said to me, and therefore I have the right to hit back or whatever. Well, for one, we know that God looks at the heart. You just have to look at the story of David when he was selected as a king. Remember that in 1 Samuel 16 verse 7 he says, God said, that's the man. But don't look at somebody that is powerfully strong and fit and superman, and God looks at the heart. God looks at the heart.

And then continue reading in 2 Corinthians 10 verse 7, if anyone is convinced in himself that he's Christ, then let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ, even so, we are Christ's. So, you know, don't put your trust in your own self-righteousness. Ah, I'm a Christian. I'm better than you. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. So am I. So are we. You know, so where's our trust? You know, a self-righteousness or in God's righteousness? And then verse 8, for even if I should boast something, what more about our authority, which the Lord gave to us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed.

Paul is saying, look, I have authority. God has given me certain responsibilities in the church. But what is the authority in the church for? Why is there authority in the church? He says, which the Lord gave us for edification. There is authority in the church, but it's to build the church. It's to help the brethren to grow. It's not, the authority is not for destruction.

And I shall not be ashamed of that authority because it's to edify. It's to build the church. And then in verse 9 and 10, he says, lest I seem to terrify you by letters, for his letters they say, are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is contemptible. Oh, he's a bad speaker. Oh, his sermons are terrible, terrible sermons. Oh, he's just not a great speaker. Oh, but he writes. I mean, I'm not saying that Paul's sermons were bad, but I'm just kind of extrapolating as people sometimes think, you know, we've got to be careful. Paul, as an individual, you know, he says, yeah, his presence is weak. Well, I can understand that. He had been beaten. He was stoned. Maybe his face was disfigured. Maybe he looked weak and frail, physically speaking. And that's why I say, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is contemptible. Well, that's quite something, saying that the way he speaks is contemptible. Verse 11, let such person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be indeed when we are present. Don't kid yourself. I will be the same way, the same person, I'm there if needed. Now, it's better for you to be corrected by a letter than me having to correct you personally. You know, after all, he had authority. He started the church, and then there were these false teachers that crept in, and so he's writing letters to bring them in line. He brought one Corinthians, and yeah, a number of them repented. There were the first nine chapters. He encouraged those that repented, but now, starting from chapter 10, he's saying, hey, some of you are going to come in line, and if you don't come in line, I'll go there, and but rather come in line before I go there. Verse 12, for we dare not cost, class ourselves, or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. In other words, the problem was physical that they were comparing themselves with themselves. They're comparing, I am better than you. I am this, that, that, and he says, and comparing themselves amongst themselves are not wise.

Are not wise. Brethren, I've seen this being done amongst various church groups. Some church groups say, oh, we are Philadelphians, but those people are now the Seerans. They don't have the right form of government. That, that, that, that. Criticism. Brethren, I believe this is God's church. That's why I'm here. But we are not defining any other group. God is able to work through other people as well. There are converted people everywhere. We are not defining other groups. You go and ask them, we should not compare ourselves. We don't know talents that others have. The beauty about it is God does not judge us by somebody else. God judges us by what we do with what we have, and that is fair. Therefore, we don't have to compare ourselves with somebody else, or you don't have to compare yourself to another person. You and I only compare ourselves to God. In fact, Christ, which is in the image of God, He is the one we have to imitate. Christ is the fulfillment, the end of the law. Look at Romans chapter 10. Romans chapter 10. Oh, I know people take this verse and twist it. But in Romans chapter 10 verse 1 through 4 says, Brethren, my heart, desire, and prayer to God for Israelis that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God. Oh, I bear witness there are some people there that have a great zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness. This is important. They being ignorant of God's righteousness. They seek to establish their own righteousness. In other words, they seek to establish their own self-righteousness. And they've not submitted to the righteousness of God because, or for Christ, is the end of the law for righteousness. Oh, you see the law is ended. No, that's what I was saying. Christ is the end. Christ is a fulfillment. Christ is the objective of the law. You see, Christ fulfilled the law.

It doesn't mean now that because he fulfilled the law, we don't have to obey it. But he is the example of how we need to be because he fulfilled the law and we're going to follow him to fulfill like he did. He is the end of the law. He is the ultimate objective, purpose, standard that we need to compare ourselves against. Look at Matthew 5. Another scripture often misinterpreted by this wall. And I know you know what it means, but let's just re-emphasize it again. Matthew 5 verse 17 and 18. Matthew 5, Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. Christ did not come to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill. He fulfilled it. He fulfilled the law and he fulfilled the prophets. Obviously, it means you obey the law, but he also fulfilled the law from the point of view that the law pointed to the Passover lamb and he is our Passover lamb. The law pointed to a high priest and he is our heavenly high priest. And so from the law, and there are other points about the law, about the sacrifices, that he fulfilled those sacrifices, but he also fulfilled prophecies about the suffering servant, suffering servant and his return as the Messiah. And ultimately, he achieving the great plan, which is prophetic, of making us children of God in the kingdom of God. That's why I came to the point of view of Christ. That's why Christ said in John 14 verse 6, I am the way, the truth, and life. He is the ultimate standard. We don't compare ourselves with ourselves. We could compare ourselves to God, to Christ. That's who we compare ourselves to. And so let's continue reading in chapter 10 verse 13. We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us, a sphere which specifically includes you. Our sphere of influence, our area, our jurisdiction, is where God put us, in this case Paul, to have a responsibility, his jurisdiction. So he is working within that sphere, that area of influence that God gave to him. For we are not overextending ourselves, as though our authority did not extend to you, for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ. You see that he came and preached to the people in Corinth, and that's his area of responsibility that God gave him. Look at verse 15, not boasting the things beyond measure. That is, in other man's labors, but having hope that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere. He didn't go to the areas where Peter was preaching. He stuck to the area that he was given a responsibility to look after by God. Verse 16, to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. And not to boast in another man's sphere of accomplishment. So he wasn't going where Peter was preaching. And basically, you know, we only have responsibility where God has given us that responsibility. What happens today is a lot of people sometimes, they don't have a responsibility in a certain area, but want to tell you how to do the job in the area that you have a responsibility. And they come to the minister or the pastor says, well, you should be doing it this way, or should be doing that way, when they themselves might not be doing their own job. And so he say, hey, our job is our sphere. We're going to do our job. And verse 17 and 18 says, But he who glorifies, and him glorifying the Lord, for not he who commands himself is approved, but whom the Lord commands. It is God who praises, and his praises is what matters.