God Shall Be With You

TEXT:  2 Cor. 13:11-12

INTRODUCTION:

A.      COMMON EXPRESSION - "GOD BE WITH YOU"

B.      GREATEST POSSIBLE BLESSING( Rom. 8:31 ).

C.      HOW WE BE ASSURED OF HIS PRESENCE?

I.      BE PERFECTED.

A.      katartizo,  "TO RENDER FIT OR COMPLETE, USED OF MENDING NETS,

          RESTORE( Gal. 6:1 ).  "RIGHT ORDERING OR ARRANGEMENT OF OUR

          LIVES, MAKING SUITABLE.

B.      IN ORDER TO BE WITH GOD, ONE MUST BE PERFECTED.

          1.       Perfection begins in the heart (Isa. 38:3;  Prov. 20:9;  23:7).

2.       His life must be in harmony with the word ( Phil. 1:27 ).

          3.       Perfection is in God's word ( 2 Tim. 3:16-17 ). "Instruction in righteousness."

          4.       To walk in righteousness is to walk with God ( 1 John 1:6-7 ).

C.      PERFECTION WILL BRING ONE TO OBEDIENCE( Heb. 13:20-21 ).

II.     BE COMFORTED.

A.      parakleo, "CONSOLATION."

B.      RECURRENT THEME IN 2 Cor. REFERS BACK TO 2 Cor. 1:3-11.

          - Look at verse by verse.

C.      COMFORT LINKED WITH JOY ( 2 Cor. 7:4, 13 ).

III.    BE OF THE SAME MIND.

A.      IMPLIES UNITY OF DOCTRINE ( 1 Cor. 1:10;  Eph. 4:4-6 ).

B.      UNITY OF ATTITUDE ( Eph. 4:1-3 ).

C.      UNITY OF JUDGMENT ( 1 Cor. 1:10 ).

          1.       Same preoccupation ( Phil. 1:27;  Col. 3:1-2 ).

          2.       Lay aside every weight ( Heb. 12:1-2 ).

IV.   LIVE IN PEACE.

A.      IMPLIES HARMONY, TRANQUILLITY - WHEN MORE THAN ONE IS

          INVOLVED, FELLOWSHIP

B.      PEACE IN THREE AREAS.

          1.       Peace with our fellowman( Rom. 12:18;  Heb. 12:14;  Mat. 5:9 ).

          2.       Peace with God ( Rom. 5:1;  2 Cor. 5:18-21 ).

          3.       Peace with ourselves ( John 16:33;  Phil. 4:4-7 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      THE RESULT OF ALL THESE THINGS IN OUR LIVES IS THAT GOD WILL

          BE WITH US.

B.      TO BE WITHOUT GOD IS TO BE WITHOUT HOPE.