II Corinthians 10:1-11
When Confronted

Introduction
1. Paul had ministered for a year and a half in this Greek city. He had worked and toiled with
his own hands laboring to support himself. He had seen the work grow. Now after leaving
Judaizers (law) came in to undermine the Gospel of Grace. Paul’s apostleship was under
attack. If you don’t like the message, shoot the messenger. In chapter 10 there is a change in
tone. The majority of the church respected Paul. Repentance and revival had occurred.
There was a minority who opposed Paul and rejected his authority. In the first 9 chapters
Paul addressed the majority. Now he addresses the minority.
2. Have you been confronted? When confronted there are only 2 ways to respond: FLESH or
SPIRIT. FLESH: My strength, my ability, my wisdom, my way, my rights…LAW. Law is
me doing something for God. SPIRIT: His strength, His ability, etc. Grace…God doing it!
To embrace the one…I must release the other.
3. In II Corinthians 10:1-11 Paul is confronted. To undermine Paul’s message, they (Judaizers)
attack his person. How does Paul respond?

Have you been confronted? There are only 2 ways to respond FLESH/SPIRIT. How are you responding?
I. OUR WALK 10:1, 2
Paul is defending his apostleship. They had seen him in the tent shop. They had seen him
sweaty, grimy. They had seen him put away his rough garments to get ready to preach after
working hours. “He’s not an apostle.” “Look how poor he is…look how lowly. Do other
apostles have to work with their hands as he does?”
Verse 1 What about Christ? I beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.
Verse 2 He wrote a strong letter because some things were wrong. As if we walked
according to the flesh…simply because Paul did not fit their pattern. He walked according
to the flesh because he got his hands dirty.
When confronted by problems, trials, people, circumstances:
A.Spirit There is a Christ-likeness in our response as I yield to the Holy Spirit… gentleness and meekness.
1.There is the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control.
2.Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ… (Phil. 2:5-8) This is Christ in us!
3.What would Jesus do, say, act, react at a time like this? You can’t! He can! Yield to Him!
B.Flesh “I” respond with an opposite to the fruit of the spirit.
1.Where is the love, joy, peace, patience, etc.? It is the opposite of the character of Christ.
2.The confrontation reveals what is there. It is the tea bag principle or tooth paste tube. “I” look like me!

Have you been confronted? There are only 2 ways to respond FLESH/SPIRIT. How are you responding?
II. OUR WEAPONS 10:3-5
A.Our Perspective 3
1.Walk in the Flesh We are all wrapped up in an unredeemed body. We all have human limitations and weaknesses. Being human stinks!
2.War After the Flesh We do not war after the flesh. We are in a battle. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but principalities, powers, mights, dominions (Eph. 6:12).
Paul did not forget that he was a new creation, a new man. The battle between the FLESH and SPIRIT goes on. The enemy is too powerful for our strength. That’s why the average Christian is defeated. We must move from a mentality of defeat to a stance of victory!
B.Our Power 4, 5
1.The Power Source 4a It takes a greater force to defeat our foe!
*Weak, self-made, man-made weapons will fail! Carnal…Fleshy There are hundreds of self-help, do it yourself books.
*Mighty…through God…that’s Spirit! We are connected to this invisible of God. Keep short accounts with God (6-9; 9-12; 12-3; 3-6; 6-9…is there any sin? Confess it!) It will take a spiritual gym: Word of God…Spirit of God… Prayer…Worship)
*Are you a defeated Christan? Knowing or unknowing you are trying to live the Christian life in your own strength.
2. The Power Supply 4b-5 As I draw from His power:
*Pulling down strongholds…places where the enemy is entrenched!
*Casting down imaginations…self-centered reasoning, a wandering mind.
*Casting down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of
God…Pride. Things that are fostered by pride…argumentative spirit, stubborn,
refusal to change, narcissistic behavior…all that rise up against the knowledge of
God!
*Every thought…bringing it into captivity to the obedience of Christ…It’s a mind
game! Where did you get that thought? It’s either obedience or disobedience. Yield
to His power!
*(Rom. 12:1, 2) Present your bodies a living sacrifice…be not conformed to this
world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so you will know the will of
God which is good, acceptable and perfect.

Have you been confronted? There are only 2 ways to respond FLESH/SPIRIT. How are you responding?
III. OUR WEAKNESS 10:7-11
A.What We See 7, 10
1.Do you look on things after the outward appearance? THAT’S FLESH Your bodily appearance is weak and your speech contemptible. THAT’S FLESH
2.You are brave in a letter…Paul you are a coward! The Greeks admired the body. Paul appeared to be weak. His speech (he could not speak fluently) perhaps because of the abuse he suffered.
3.Be careful not to judge the content by the package. The flesh is caught up with the seen…the here and now, circumstances, situations, problems…NOW! NOW IS USUALLY SHALLOW AND DECEPTIVE!
B.What We Can’t See
THAT’S SPIRIT!
1.We Miss What God Has Done He is Christ’s…We are Christ’s
2.We Miss What God Is Doing This was God’s man. They were so caught up with appearance they missed that!
3.We Miss What God Will Do They were so caught up with the surface. The Spirit sees beyond the surface and sees God at work. Look Beyond! What’s happening is not what’s happening.

When We Are Confronted There Are Only Two Responses.
FLESH: It’s all about me! External…Law stuff!
SPIRIT: It’s all about Him! Internal…Grace stuff!