Promise Breaker vs. Promise Keeper

Promise Breaker vs. Promise Keeper

SIBKL/Pastor Daniel/2/6/12

This week’s message takes us to 2 Corinthians 1:12-24 which I have titled Promise Breaker vs. Promise Keeper. Now the Corinthians criticized Paul of various things - of being carnal (vs.12), confusing (vs.13-14), capricious (fickle-minded) (vs.15-17) and controlling (vs.24).

Some people may accuse their leader of being a “Yes-man”. However, a
“yes” attitude is not the same as allowing one’s self to be constantly squeezed by people. It’s not about producing the right results all the time but rather about having the big picture.

Did Paul change his plans? Yes! Was it ok for the Corinthians to be disappointed? Yes! But it was not a valid basis for their criticism.

Are you a promise breaker? What should we do if we are accused of being a promise breaker? In verse 13-14, Paul said “For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.” In 1 Corinthians 4:15, Paul said “Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.” In 2 Corinthians 11:2, Paul said “ I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him”. Paul reminded the Corinthians of their relationship with him. The Corinthians were like his own children to him. He was jealous for them with a godly jealousy, like a godly father.

Paul’s motive in all his dealings with the Corinthians were always love and care. In 2 Corinthians 2:4 Paul says “For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.” In 2 Corinthians 11:11, he asks “ Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!” In 2 Corinthians 11:28, Paul tells them “Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.” And in 2 Corinthians 12:14-15, Paul explains “ Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? “ Paul reminded them again and again that he was sincere and honest in his love for them, even calling God as his witness that his love and concern was genuine.

In verse 17, Paul asked them 2 rhetorical questions. “Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?” He was reminding them that from what they knew of him, he would not act in a fickle manner. The word for plan here is not the same as I plan to go for dinner at PJ today. It is a deliberate intended plan.

In 2 Corinthians 4:2, Paul declares “Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.” Paul’s manner was confident. He believed that all that he did was not by carnal wisdom but by the grace of God as Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 15:9-11, “For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them —yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.”

During my first year full time in SIB, I had to handle a church discipline issue concerning a couple of young people. The parents were called in but the problems could not be resolved. In the end, the involved families left the church. One of the fathers involved went round telling others that I was useless. I reflected on this matter deeply, and asked myself “What was my motive?” I loved them as spiritual children. I had invited them to talk about it together. In such situations, we need to check and reflect.

Paul responded in 3 ways. Firstly, he presented his credibility in the ministry. In 2 Corinthians 1:8-11, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” Paul did not speak about his credentials but his credibility. He did not boast about how many his qualifications, or how many churches he planted. Instead, Paul straight away talked about his sufferings. Later in 2 Corinthians 12:5, Paul exclaimed that he would not boast about himself, except for his weaknesses. Paul’s life for itself spoke that he was trustworthy.

Secondly, Paul declared that his conscience was clear. In vs.12, he said “Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity^] and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.” Paul had nothing to hide. His conscience was clear. He was so confident he declared in vs.23 I call God as my witness!

Thirdly, Paul turned attention back on the Christ-centred promises of the Gospel. In vs.18-22, he said “But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas^] and Timothy —was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

We need to keep the main thing the main thing. Paul took the criticisms and turned them into signposts pointing to Christ. The church had been critical and cynical, picking on Paul’s words rather than focusing on God or Jesus. Dr.Parker, a famous speaker had just finished his message when someone came up and started pointing out grammatical errors. After he had finished, Dr.Parker asked him “What did you get out of the message?” The man missed the point. What is the main thing? Not about traveling plans being guided by carnal instincts! As Paul says, its not about man’s yes and no, but about God’s promises. As Pastor Chew says, if people throw dung at you, you use it for fertilizer. Fred Smith, the founder of Fedex once said “if a racehorse spends too much time on a horsefly, it makes the fly too important”. We need to turn our critics to coaches.

God’s promises are not with a motor-boat response. I will give you this, but…but…but..but..but. Past, present or future, it is still a Yes. Let us focus to be a promise believer.

Amen is spoken by us to the glory of God, but what does it mean? Some people think of Amen as “the end” after finishing a prayer. The word in Greek is taken from the Hebrew word directly, just like the word “Hallelujah”. Abram believed “aman” the Lord and He credited it to Him as righteousness! When we say “Amen”, it is to show that we are in agreement, and expressing our trust in God. Amen is an expression of absolute trust and confidence. Why do you pick on my traveling plans when there are so many more important things to do?

Jim Burns, in one of his devotions once recorded a true story about a father and son. They were at quite a distance from each other when the father shouted “I want you to get down on your knees.” The son got down. “Now crawl carefully to me”. And the son obeyed. Once he reached his father, he turned his son around and he saw the snake that had been just above his head. What if his son had not obeyed and asked “why?” Sometimes we have to believe even when we don’t understand.

God has anointed us in Christ, set his seal on us and given His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit. Supposed I gave you a cheque with no name on it for RM50 and I lent you my pen. Wouldn’t you trust me? How much more should we trust God whose promises do not waver. Our lives should be anchored on the unwavering promise of Christ, and not on broken promises. Let us always look at Christ.