Introduction

• Romans 6:1
• We must die to sin, not continue to live with it.

We struggle to put sin away and keep it away.

• Example: King Asa
• II Chronicles 14:2-4, 11-12; 15:1-2, 8-18
• Asa did good but left the high places.
• II Chronicles 16:2, 7-9 – Asa should have repented right here.
• II Chronicles 16:10 – Instead, Asa imprisons the prophet.
• II Chronicles 16:12 – Even in ill health, Asa did not turn to seek God.

This calls for radical repentance.

• Matthew 5:27
• We might need to make some drastic rules for ourselves to stay away from sin.
• I Corinthians 6:18; 10:14 – Flee from sin!
• I Timothy 6:11
• II Timothy 2:22
• We can’t play with sin and let it hang around.
• James 4:7
• Colossians 3:5

Fill the void!

• Colossians 3:10, 12-17
• Remove the sin and add goodness.
• Psalms 119:9-16 – This passage is all about adding good things to your life.

II Corinthians 10

• This chapter begins the third major section of II Corinthians. The tone here is more assertive and sharper.
• II Corinthians 10:1-2 – Paul is trying to draw a distinction between the behaviors they were tolerating from false teachers and what they were accusing him of.
• II Corinthians 10:7-8 – Compare II Corinthians 5:12. They were looking at outward appearances. Paul is trying to point out that they are both on the same team – they should both recognize each other as being in Christ.
• II Corinthians 10:9-11 – This was a subtle accusation of hypocrisy – that Paul wrote differently than he spoke. Paul is saying he was willing to back up what he was writing. Paul may well have been unimpressive in appearance because of the persecution he had endured.
• II Corinthians 10:12-13 – It was appropriate for him to boast about his work because of his history with them. See Romans 15:23-24.
• II Corinthians 10:14-16 – Paul was hoping to get them to the point that he could move on, as he had been able to do in other places.
• II Corinthians 10:17-18 – God’s commendation is the only one that really matters.

II Corinthians 11

• II Corinthians 11:1-2 – These false apostles that they were tolerating were endangering their purity before Christ.
• II Corinthians 11:3-4 – Paul’s tone was sharp because he was afraid they were being led away from Christ.

Introduction

• Can we list a few things that allow a person to be positive and optimistic?
  • Take care of someone who is worse off than you.
  • Be grateful.
  • Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Positivity comes from Christ

• I Thessalonians 4:18; II Thessalonians 1:9
• Philippians 1:12-20

Learn from the past, but don’t let it ruin the present

• I Corinthians 10:6-11
• I Timothy 1:15
• Ezra 3:10-13 – The people wept thinking about the glory of the previous temple.
• Haggai 2:3-5
• Ezra 6:16
• Philippians 1:21-26

Focus on what’s good

• Philippians 4:8
• Acts 9:1; I Corinthians 1:4; 11:2; 16:24

United kingdom

Even godly people can lose their way.

Saul

• I Samuel 10:2 – Saul started humbly enough.
• I Samuel 13:8, 11-14 – Saul didn’t fully obey.
• I Samuel 15:9, 28

David

• II Samuel 11:2-3; 12:9
• Let us never thing it can’t happen to us!

Solomon

• I Kings 3:3, 9-10 – Solomon started humbly and wisely.
• I Kings 11:3-4 – Solomon took a wrong turn.
• No one is immune to temptation.

Divided kingdom

Your faith is your own choice.

• I Kings 2:26-33 – Jeroboam invented idols an led Israel astray.
• All of the following kings in Israel follow his idolatry.
• But people don’t necessarily continue the faith of their parents. Examples:
  • II Kings 16:3 – Ahaz did evil.
  • II Kings 18:1-6 – Hezekiah turned from his father’s ways and did good.
  • II Kings 21:1-3 – Manasseh did evil nearly his whole life.
  • II Kings 21:19-21 – Amon did evil.
  • II Kings 22:1-2; 23:25 – Josiah did right in God’s eyes.
  • II Kings 23:32 – Jehoahaz did evil.
  • II Kings 23:35 – Jehoiakim did evil.

II Corinthians 9

• II Corinthians 9:1 – With whatever I have in my life, how can I have a generous attitude?
• II Corinthians 9:2 – See Romans 15:25-27.
• II Corinthians 9:4 – The men in Acts 20:4 may have accompanied Paul. Part of the idea here was not giving the Macedonians a bad feeling by getting the gift together at the last minute.
• II Corinthians 9:6-7 – See Matthew 19:29. Generosity will be rewarded. Consider Proverbs 11:24; 19:17; 22:8-9.
• II Corinthians 9:8-9 – See Psalms 112:1-9.
• II Corinthians 9:10-11 – We are responsible for reflecting God to other people. Paul is trying to expand their idea of what it means to be generous.
• II Corinthians 9:12-15 – “Contribution” here is translated from a word that is also translated “fellowship.” This gift had a broader impact than just the money itself. More people than just those receiving the funds would benefit.