Transparency
Scripture:  2CO 1:12-14
2CO1_12f
Date:  February 23, 1994
Time:  Wed 4:00pm b 
Location:  TBC  WE


INTRO: 
What does Paul boast about to the Corinthians?
His great accomplishments?  The rapid growth of his church?  How many churches he had planted?  The kind of chariot he owned or how good of a preacher he was?  How many people he had won to Christ?


What gives us authority or promotion in the eyes of other people?
What could Paul do to get these people to listen to him?


I. We have a clear conscience  vs 12
Paul knew that one of the major problems the people were having was the false apostles claiming that Paul had some kind of agenda.
Paul is after our money  8:20-22
Paul has deceived us to take  2CO12:15-17
Paul can write impressive letters but he is not so impressive in person  10:10
How can we have a clear Conscience?
A. Simplicity  2:17, 4:2
1. "unworldly simplicity", unalloyed benevolence expressed in act
2. No secret motive
3. Often in giving  Ro 12:8, 2Co8:2; 9:11,13
4. Christ is like this 11:3
5. Servants need to have this--Co 3:22
6. What Christ meant  Mt 6
B. Godly sincerity
1. unmixed, unadulterated  2:17--out of pure motives
2. sincere  = no wax 
3. not mixed--no alloy
4. What is your true motive
a. to promote the glory of God
b. to accomplish His will.
C. Not with fleshly wisdom
1. Paul did not try to come to them with credentials  3:1
2. He did not try to woe them with a health wealth and prosperity gospel--almost the opposite
a. troubles on every side  vs 4:8
b. we don't have all the answers  4:8b
c. not always laughing  vs 9  ILL the laughing evangelist
d. our external appearance is not always the most beautiful  16
D. By the Help of God
1. Who is God really helping?
a. Not who can make you think God is helping
b. Not who can put on the best show or give the best credentials
E. This requires a track record  we have behaved ourselves in the world and more abundantly...
1. This is the type of argument that you simply cannot say--you have to have a track record.
2. When Satan begins to throw darts at you...what is your track record?
3. How have you lived?
4. Who have you hurt?
5. Children hear what you say, but they do what you do.
APP:
a. Why do you do what you do?
b. Why do you say what you say?
c. Why do you wear what you wear?
d. Is it to make someone feel sorry for you?
e. Is it to get money?
f. 1Co 13 is it to make people think more of you than they should think  ILL Annais and Saphira
g. Why do you work at work?--to please God or man?
(1) If man you will work hard when the boss comes...
h. Why do you witness?  To receive praise of man or God
i. Why do you give?  To get for self?  To receive a hundred fold back?
j. Why do you drive the car you drive?  Whether good car or bad car.

II. We Do Not Have a Hidden Agenda  vs 13
A. Transparency
1. What you see is what you get.
2. We are not trying to put on a front.
a. A major problem in Christianity--putting on fronts
b. Dangerous--you can do it for a little time--then you can't keep it up.
B. 13b  We don't have to worry that someone will "find out about us"
1. or discover the "real you"
2. some people dating do this--the worst thing
a. you need to find out the real person
b. That’s the danger of focusing on the physical and not the spiritual
III. Our true results tell the tale  vs 14
A. You will not be able to mask genuine results over the long haul
1. The cracks will show up, the seems, the wrinkles
B. Not numbers--some churches with great numbers--end in collapse
C. How do you stand up to false doctrine?  Your children?
D. How do you stand up under pressure?