Ministering By The Joy of Jesus

Joy Moderates Tone (Rejoicing not Heaviness)

by Gary L. Cox

Introduction of Issue:

One of the lessons that can be gleaned from Paul in his second letter to  the Corinthians is the consideration of tone and how it impacts the overall relationships between those under care and those  who are responsible for the care of others.

Paul contrasts the tone of heaviness and sorrow versus rejoicing and comfort. A positive joyful tone is the most edifying and helpful tone for building up faith.

Correction of any kind naturally creates a tone of heaviness and sorrow; however, awareness of that reality can assist spiritual leaders in considering how to bring forth correction in the least heavy or sorrowful manner as possible.

Paul’s example is a practical model for considering  how to avoid the extremes of a heavy authoritarian manner or a ‘keep the peace at any cost’ permissive manner.

To bring a correction, Paul sometimes used letter writing and emissaries to keep personal confrontation to the absolute minimum possible.

Our study today will consider both the reasons for maintaining joyful encounters, and the usefulness of letter writing and sending emissaries to address matters needing correction.

I.  (Rule) All spiritual ministry and care edifies and builds up individual faith.

2 Cor. 1:24

Building faith is a positive joy-building prospect.

A.  It is possible to have a “law” tone to faith. Don’t make faith a legalistic expression of Christian practices.

1.      A legalistic tone is compelling and controlling of a specific outcome.

2.      A legalistic tone results in feelings of condemnation for failing to measure up.

3.      A legalistic tone opens the door to Satan’s accusation/condemnation cycle.

4.      Spiritual shepherds do not rule over individual faith.

B.  It is important to create the tone of a helper of joy.

We must not exercise dominion nor exercise authority as we minister to the faith of other. Mt. 20:25

We are to be servant-helpers so that others have fullness of joy. 1 John 1:4

Helping someone’s faith so they seek God directly  is helping their joy. John 16:24

The only measure of real Christianity is Faith.

Faith is toward God, not earthly or spiritual authority. Mark 11:22; Rom.14:22

God alone measures faith. Rom. 14:4-13

God purifies faith through trials. 2Co.1:9

Sin is defined by faith, not by the law for the believer. Rom. 14:23b

(Application) Consider strategies for maintaining the most joy in discipleship.                 2 Cor. 1:23; 2:1-10

Don’t make the difficult any harder than it already is!

Avoiding unnecessary heaviness requires deliberate strategies geared toward positive, joyful relationships. 1:23; 2:1-3

Is your personal presence necessary in a matter of correction? 1:23; 2:1

Letters clarify issues, promote obedience.

Emissaries resolve issues with less presence.

Personal visits provide joyful encounters.

Use passion and feeling to express the abundance of your love and care and not personal offense. 2:4

Depersonalize offenses so they are seen in the proper context of the entire body being affected, not just the spiritual authority. 2:5

Be careful to not allow punishment to result in overmuch sorrow.2:6-7

Bring closure to punishment that ends in repentance. Restore fellowship, reaffirm love and stop measures of punishment entirely. 7-8

Emphasize community in restoration so that Christ is the focus of restoration and the spiritual leader is seen as part of the group and not larger than life.9-10

(Conclusion) It is very helpful to provide the bigger picture for specific issues. 2 Cor. 2:11

Satan crafts misunderstandings into his advantage.

What are some of the devices of Satan?

How did Paul provide the bigger picture?

Text: 2 Corinthians 1:23--2:11

23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. 24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.  2:1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. 2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is [the joy] of you all. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

 5 ¶ But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. 6 Sufficient to such a man [is] this punishment, which [was inflicted] of many. 7 So that contrariwise ye [ought] rather to forgive [him], and comfort [him], lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm [your] love toward him. 9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I [forgive] also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave [it], for your sakes [forgave I it] in the person of Christ;

11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Matt. 20:25

But Jesus called them [unto him], and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

1 John 1:1-4

 1 ¶ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen [it], and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

John 16: 23, 24

23 ¶ And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give [it] you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Rom. 14:22

22 Hast thou faith? have [it] to thyself before God. Happy [is] he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

Rom. 14:4

Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

2Cor. 1:9

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

Rom. 14:23b

[W]hatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.

2 John 1:12

I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.