The More I Love You, The Less You Love Me

The more I love you, the less you love me! 2 Corinthians 12:11-21

11 You have made me act like a fool. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these “super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all. 12 When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you. 13 The only thing I failed to do, which I do in the other churches, was to become a financial burden to you. Please forgive me for this wrong!

• Paul is aware of his “raising the voice”- You have made me – he brought out the big guns
• I should have been commended by you instead of being treated the way you have been treating me 
• He adds, the thing that I failed to do is to be ask for support like I do with other churches – Please forgive me for this – Sarcastic 

14 Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have, I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children. 15 I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.

• Paul is planning on going there for the 3rd time 
• 1st time: He founded the church 
• 2nd Visit ( Btwn 1st Corinthians and 2nd) – Paul writes in 2 Corithian 2:1(NLT) – I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you
  • The Corinthian church challenged Paul’s authority
• They cause him pain – 2 Corinthians 2:4 (NLT) – I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.
• Paul was hurt, humiliated and betrayed during his second visit but responded with love, patience and forgiveness 
• Yet, we see him chooses to visit them again – I am not sure I would,  unless I was dead to SELF
• Paul loves them unconditionally – Without condition

16 Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery. 17 But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you? 18 When I urged Titus to visit you and sent our other brother with him, did Titus take advantage of you? No! For we have the same spirit and walk in each other’s steps, doing things the same way.

• Paul continues to urge them to truly examine the lies that are being spread – that he has been collecting money in the “pretense of collecting for the ministry but instead keeping some for himself 
• He offers the evidence to speak for itself – when I sent you Titus -did he take advantage of you?
• Titus was sent to deliver the painful letter, and scholars believe he was there long enough to observe their behavior and vise vasa
• The Bible had a lot to say about who you keep as company” 

• • 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NLT) – Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”

• • Proverbs 13:20 (Amp) He who walks [as a companion] with wise men will be wise,
    But the companions of [conceited, dull-witted] fools [are fools themselves and] will experience harm

• • Proverbs 22:24–25 (NLT) – Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, 25 or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.

Paul Continues:

19 Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you. 20 For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. 21 Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure

• Paul concludes that he is not defending himself 
• This is Paul who when given an opportunity to defend himself – he preaches the whole gospel 
• Acts 22
  • After the Jewish falsely accuse him of defiling the temple, he is arrested and instead of defending himself, he shares his account with Jesus 
  • Same in Acts 26 –With King Agrippa 
• Everything that he does is out of Love for God and the people of God

• • Romans 9:2-3(Nlt) My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters.[a] I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.

• • 2 Timothy 2:10 (Nlt) So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.

• And he is very concerned that when he goes there, he will find that most of them have not given up their old sins 
• This is really sad!

1. I am coming to you

• From the beginning God has always taken the first step of reconciliation 
• From the garden of Eden 
• Cain, where is your brother – Eva spoke on this on Monday 
• Moses – come to the place is Holy 
• The Israelites – over and over 
• Our Christianity is a “Be still” and see what the Lord will do
• Victories 

• • Exodus 14:13-14 “And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today.
    For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.’” “The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

• • Joshua 6- The wall of Jericho
  • Gideon vs. Midianites – Judges 7 – 32,000 to 300 men – They go into battle with torches, trumpets, and jars.
• The cross
• The Holy Spirit – our helper 
• We can’t deny the pursuit of Christ in our lives – over and over He has come to us but we reject Him – intentions, desires e.t.c
• The more He loves, the less we love Him – Expectations 
• The same heart we see with Paul, rejected, his name tainted, stoned to death – yet he still pursues them 

• Acts 14:18-20 (Nlt) Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. 20 But as the believers[a] gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

• This evening, the Lord is coming to you- again and again and again “you rescued me from the mess I was in” Again and again and again 
• Psalms – no matter where I go, you will find me 

• Psalm 139: 6-7 (NLT) You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! 7 I can never escape from your Spirit!

• Paul is not forcing them to change, so is Christ
• When we call on the Name of the Lord, He will answer and save you
• Ask yourself, what is your response to Christ, the more He love you, do you love Him more or the less you love Him? – Not lip service 
• Our opportunity is now!!

• Acts 3:19 (Nlt) Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away

2. I do not want what you have

• Paul is very clear that he is not looking for their financial blessing, nor is he looking for approval 
• I want your heart to turn away from your old sins- and please don’t add new sins in the process
• Leviticus 19:22 “Give the following instructions to the entire community of Israel. You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy
• The story of the Prodigal son is a great example of our mentality 
• Luke 15:17-19 (Nlt) “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
• Prodigal son- he created a speech – I will, I will, and then He will 
• Luke 15:20-24 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.[a]’
• “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
• I don’t want your service without a heart change 
• I don’t want what you have, I want you!!!
• I do not want what you have or what you do for me- I want you!!
• Isaiah 1:18 (Nlt) “Come now, let’s settle this,”  says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool
• It doesn’t matter what you have done – Stop formulating your DEFENCE – among people or even God – Just come and REASON with God 
• Apart from Christ, we are not any good- stop justifying yourself 
• Romans 3:10-12 – As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. 12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one
• Misfit toys 
• John 15:5 – “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
• I don’t have anything to offer, Christ has everything to offer 
• Paul is letting them know that He does not need anything from them -Because he is aware that apart from Christ he is nothing and has nothing!
• Psalm 51:16-17 – For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—
  These, O God, You will not despise
• A broken heart isn’t about sadness alone—it means a heart that no longer pretends, resists, or hides
• It’s honest before God, fully aware of its sin and need for mercy
• A contrite heart feels the weight of its sin—not just guilt, but deep sorrow and regret, with a desire to change.
• I do not want what you have- I want you!! 

3. The more I love you, the less you love me 

• Vs 15 I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.
• I will gladly spend all that I have!! – All 
• This is an echo of God’s heartache throughout Scripture as He pours out His love, grace, and mercy—only to be met with rejection, idolatry, and betrayal by the very people He loves
• Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem – Luke 19:41–42 – 41 But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. 42 “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.
•  The people of Israel didn’t just sin — they loved their sin.
• They found emotional satisfaction in things other than God.
•  Still, God doesn’t cut them off. He offers redemption instead of rejection.
• Philippians 2:6-8 (Nlt) – Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,[d] he humbled himself in obedience to God  and died a criminal’s death on a cross
• This is love, and in the light of this massive sacrifice – how is our love response to Him 
• Even after all these, Paul is afraid- vs 20- For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. 21 Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure
• Matthew 22:37–38 (AMP) And Jesus replied to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
• Sorry I never knew you!
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