God Shall Be With You

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.