Greet Each Other With A Holy Kiss

Great each other with a Holy Kiss 2 Corinthians 13:11-14 (NLT)

• We have come to the end of 2 Corinthians, and I want you to ask yourself – Did anything change in me?
• Am I excited to start a new book, because of the transformation this letter made in my life or is it just another opportunity to be a consumer without implementation?
• As we reflect on this last letter to the Corinthian church, i.e to FVC – did we learn, did we examine, did we apply and was there transformation?
• The reason I asked that, is that these days- there is a degree in consuming data – and we can be caught in the wave of it 
• Paul had a lot to say in 2nd Corinthians 
  • Chapter 1 – He talks about his suffering in Asia and how God comfort is sufficient in suffering 
  • Chapter 2 – Paul talks about forgiveness and restoring people back to Christ not letting Satan get a hold on the Church. Reminding the Church that we are an Aroma – that other – both Christians and none -Christians can see -Forgiveness restores unity; we represent Christ wherever we go
  • Chapter 3: That we are a living testimony – the new covenant transforms us to the image of God 
  • Chapter 4: “We are hard pressed but not crushed.” “Momentary afflictions” produce an eternal glory -Suffering reveals God’s power and produces eternal value
  • Chapter 5: We walk by faith, not by sight, and aim to please God whether in life or death
  • Chapter 6: Do not be unequally yoked, reminded us that we are God’s temple. God calls us to live Holy because He is Holy 
  • Chapter 7: Godly sorrow leads to repentance and restored relationships. This is where Titus report encouraged that the Church was responding well, and obedience was happening 
  • Chapter 8: Paul reminds the Corinthians church to give generously – He recommended the Macedonian Church for their giving 
  • Chapter 9: God loves a cheerful giver
  • Chapter 10: Paul is questioned by the doubters and warns them of Spiritual warfare. Not to try to fight with physical weapons 
  • Chapter 11: Warns the church about false apostles who preach “another Jesus.” He defends his apostleship by listing his sufferings
  • Chapter 12: Paul talks about his vision in the 3rd heaven and speaks of the thorn in his fresh 
  • Chapter 13: He plans on his next visit and calls them to unite in Christ 

• 2 Corinthians 13:11-14 – Dear brothers and sisters,[a] I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet each other with a sacred kiss. 13 All of God’s people here send you their greetings. 14 [b]May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

• As we have seen in this chapter, there are those that heed the warning, they did something with the information that they received- Acted on it and it changes their lives 
• Possibly, others didn’t and unfortunately, there is a point that you can’t help those that choose to not take initiative in their walk with Christ 
• The Bible talks about a time where grace is so sufficient but at a point, “ You can be given over to your sins”

• Romans 1:24-25 (NLT) – So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen

• Sometimes, you have to decide to move ahead with the group that is willing – and I feel like this last part, Paul saying – I have written to you, there is still opposition, and now – I am willing to pour to those who are receptive 

• Matthew 7:6  (Nlt) – Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy.[a] Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.

• Paul is sending a final message to those that believe. He encourages them – If Christ is enough in your life, and that doesn’t mean perfection, (it’s a desire to know Him and to be made like Him ) then this final message of encouragement is for you
• Pastor Jay spoke powerfully about our inside reflecting the outside, not trying to fake to fit in
• I always think of that verse “Sorry I never knew you” literally – Like, your profile picture doesn’t really look like the real you! – Who are you again? 
• God is looking to transform the real you!
• There is a sticker, “Do you follow God this closely” – The same question is – Do you follow God as close as you follow “others”
• Are you swayed by the doctrine, behaviors of others- Why are you at FVC? – What brought you and why did you stay? – If Christ is not enough – you will be swayed by the false doctrine as some of the Corinthian Christians did 
• I am a strong believer that we all want to draw closer to God, but we must remember that the “Super apostles” deceived people – We ought stay vigilant, test each spirit, and remember life is Spiritual 
• We can summarize Paul’s message in 4 points:
• Paul gives a snapshot of what a healthy church should look like: joyful, growing, encouraging, peaceful.
• The result? God’s presence (“the God of love and peace”) will dwell among them/us

• 1. Be joyful 

• Paul is calling the Corinthians church to live in the Joy of the Lord despite challenges, divisions and weakness 
• It’s a call for Spiritual joy rooted in Christ and Christ alone – not based on circumstances 

• James 1:2-3 – My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a]patience.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NLT) Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus

• Rejoice in the Lord always – Again I say rejoice ( Philippians 4:4)

• Nehemiah 8:10 (Nkjv) – Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

• Matthew Henry said “The phrase rejoice – points not just to emotional happiness but to a Spiritual well being and comfort in Christ 
• If they pursue joy, God presence will remain among them

• Then the God of Love and peace will be with you!

• 2. Grow to Maturity 

• Paul is saying maturity comes when we are willing to be restored, be complete and be equipped 
• Restore – be restored in the right relationship with God 
• Taking a mature inventory of where you are, your desire, your drive – and really accepting where you are in order to successfully get to where you want to go (The Lord intends on you going)
• I think of GPS – waze – 
• We all want to get to the destination, but we choose consciously or unconsciously to ignore where we currently are 
• Growth starts with knowing the lack or – and accepting the process 
• It’s only then that Christ can be complete in us and we can start to receive what He is equipping us with 
• Then the God of love and peace will be with you

• 3. Encourage each other 

• Before we can encourage each other, we need to have it in our heart to be our brother’s keeper

• Ephesians 6:12 (nlt) For we[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

• We are all in a spiritual fight people – we don’t war against flesh and blood 
• If you are not encouraging others, you are being used 
• You can’t pour from an empty cup – we don’t want filth 

• Luke 6:39 (Nlt) Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch?

• Then the God of love and peace will be with you

• 4. Live in Harmony and peace 

• Hebrews 12:14 (NLT) “Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.”

• The only way we can guarantee living in harmony is by pursuing a Holy life 

• Leviticus 11:44 (NLT) “For I am the Lord your God. You must consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.”

• Leviticus 19:2 (NLT) “Give the following instructions to the entire community of Israel: You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.”

• 1 Peter 1:15–16 (NLT) “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.’”

• Psalm 34:14 (NLT) “Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.”

• Paul is giving them a way to win 

•  Then the God of love and peace will be with you

Paul continues:

• 12 Greet each other with a sacred kiss. 

• Some translation says – Holy Kiss: It was a way to distinguish between the normal greeting that was only passed by equals 
• The church came together and decided to bridge the gap between everyone –We are one under Christ 
• The equivalent of that is a hug today at FVC – we hug you and welcome you to our church with love 
• Paul does not tell them to great each other with a Kiss, then do the above – but rather live be joyful, encourage each other, grow in maturity and live in harmony & peace; otherwise, you end up being like Judas 
•  It only then, that our intentions are pure and honoring to God 

Blessings:

• And lastly Paul leaves them with what I believe is the best blessing that could have been given to the church and any church now and then 
•  14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
• He reminds them of the Grace of Jesus Christ and the love of the Father and fellowship of the Holy Spirit – the fellowship – continuous relationship that will help you to stay joyful

• John 14:26 (NLT)“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”

• Galatians 5:22–23 (Amp) -But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law

• The Holy Spirit plays a major role in our lives and honestly, we do think He is weird, and we pay very little attention to Him 

• John 1:32 (Amp) -John gave [further] evidence [testifying officially for the record, with validity and relevance], saying, “I have seen the [a]Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him

• I read this and prompted me to research about what I had heard –Why the dove and the gentleness of the dove
• Doves are gentle and peaceful– just like the Holy Spirit that operates in gentleness and peace 
• Doves are Monogamous – Mate for life and are seen as symbols of faithfulness and devotion
• Doves are Sensitive and Discerning – Doves are easily startled, symbolizing spiritual sensitivity
• They are territorial but not hostile 
• Naturing – Both male and female care for their babies
• Peaceful  
• This evening, do you have the fellowship of the Holy Spirit?
• Some of you are missing this one great ingredients – The followship of the Holy Spirit 
• Your lives are so chaotic, your thoughts, your homes, your intention, your desires, there is no room for the dove to land, and if He does, He is too sensitive to stay 

May the grace of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you now and forever more – Amen!