Brentwood Park Three things leadership can do to properly protect the gifts of God’s people in order to prevent criticism. Three things leadership can do to properly protect the gifts of God’s people in order to prevent criticism. Last Week How to properly promote giving among God’s people. Picking Proper Personnel Plurality of Oversight Positive Certainty No pressure tactics Proper stewardship teaching

Brentwood Park Two Dimensions of Authority Two Dimensions of Authority II Corinthians 10:1-6 II Corinthians 10:1-6 Today’s Message Today’s Message

Brentwood Park Things to Note 1. The tone of the epistle changes quickly from soft to severe. (Both are in love) 2. He is no longer dealing with the church as a whole but with individuals that have crept into the church that are false teachers. The church today has been attacked, and penetrated with numerous false teachers and severe doctrinal errors. Some are blatant, and some are subtle.

Brentwood Park God has supplied “ false doctrine wind breakers” for the wise saint who seeks truth above experience and soundness above elevated men. …until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Eph. 4:13- 14

Brentwood Park In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-- with great patience and careful instruction. Step up to the challenge Step up to the challenge 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. I Tim. 4:1-4

Brentwood Park Be on the Look out for: 1. Those who add works for salvation 2. Those that put new revelation, or tradition as equal to the word of God 3. Those that speak with disdain against people who seek doctrinal purity 4. Those speak of unity with no emphasis on doctrine

Brentwood Park Damage assessment 1. They take the church’s focus off of Christ and place it on man and experience. 2. They rob people of truth and genuine liberty. 3. They put opinion, and special revelation above the word of God 4. They prey on people who are weak on doctrine, and mock biblical soundness. Paul, writes to the Corinthians of his two dimensional authority and spiritual warfare capacity, to deal with apostates and false teaching.

Brentwood Park 1. The Humility of Authority By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you --I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away! I Beg you…10:1,2a It always begins with pleading …I beg you It always begins with pleading I appeal to you…I beg you The First Dimension The First Dimension Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseer… not lording it over those entrusted to you…All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another…I Pet. 2-5

Brentwood Park And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. II Tim. 2:25-26

Brentwood Park 2. The Boldness of Authority I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people…v.2b Bold authority is based on a standard not of this world … who think that we live according to the flesh. V. 2c The Second Dimension The Second Dimension

Brentwood Park “Flesh” Gr. Sarx Translated as world, carnal, old nature Translated as world, carnal, old nature Def. That which is the inherent selfishness, and self centeredness of man. It is the thinking, the pursuits and actions of sin inherited by Adam. It does not seek God. Society that is governed by such is called “the world” in the scriptures.

Brentwood Park Boldness comes from truth and the Spirit, which comes from God.. Truth is realism. It is looking at life the way it really is. That is why we must know God’s word and meditate in them constantly. Wrong Thinking, always leads to wrong actions Constant bombardment with deception and error that attacks us daily, tempts us to drift back into thinking the way everybody around us thinks. We must know what it is we are really up against. Wrong Thinking, always leads to wrong actions Constant bombardment with deception and error that attacks us daily, tempts us to drift back into thinking the way everybody around us thinks. We must know what it is we are really up against.

Brentwood Park Bold authority sees conflict as a spiritual battle For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war as the flesh does. v.3 Bold authority sees conflict as a spiritual battle For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war as the flesh does. v.3 Warring of the flesh Coercion, independence manipulation, pressure, physical violence, alliances, deception, proud resistance Coercion, independence manipulation, pressure, physical violence, alliances, deception, proud resistance Warring in the spirit Love, truth, prayer, praise, righteousness, proclaiming the gospel, depending on God, forgiveness, humility

Brentwood Park Bold authority utilizes spiritual weapons The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the flesh. v. 4a Bold authority utilizes spiritual weapons The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the flesh. v. 4a Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph. 6:11-12

Brentwood Park On the contrary, they are powerful through God to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every high thing that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. vs.4b,5

Brentwood Park Five fold characteristics of the spiritual weapons They are powerful through God They are powerful through God They are for the destruction of strongholds They are for the destruction of strongholds They are not fleshly They are not fleshly

Brentwood Park They bring thoughts into captivity and make them obedient to Christ They bring thoughts into captivity and make them obedient to Christ They demolish arguments and every high thing that raises itself up against the knowledge of GodThey demolish arguments and every high thing that raises itself up against the knowledge of God

Brentwood Park Bold authority will avenge itself against disobedience …and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full. v.6