1. Those who have the richest lives also carry many burdens. n Christ will give us a burden that can be borne. (Mt 11:28-30)

2. Those who have the richest lives also carry many burdens. n (Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV) “”Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. {29} “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. {30} “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.””

3. Those who have the richest lives also carry many burdens. n However He will also push us to our limits, to do greater things.

4. Those who have the richest lives also carry many burdens. n However He will also push us to our limits, to do greater things. n In this process of growth we become able to bear things that others cannot. This will result in a greater responsibility and greater blessings. (Mt 25:28-30)

5. Those who have the richest lives also carry many burdens. n (Matthew 25:28-30 NKJV) “’Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. {29} ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. {30} ‘And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

6. Those who have the richest lives also carry many burdens. n There is no greater joy than to be used by the Lord to help build up others.

7. Those who have the richest lives also carry many burdens. n There is no greater joy than to be used by the Lord to help build up others. n Those who are parents know this joy. (1 Cor 4:14-16; 2 Jn 1-4)

8. Those who have the richest lives also carry many burdens. n 1 Corinthians 4:14-16 - I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

9. Those who have the richest lives also carry many burdens. n 2 John 1:1-4 - To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, 2 because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

10. Those who have the richest lives also carry many burdens. n 4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.

11. Those who have the richest lives also carry many burdens. n Parents also know the burden of waiting for that child to do what is right. (2 Cor 11:28)

12. Those who have the richest lives also carry many burdens. n (2 Corinthians 11:28 NKJV) - “besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.”

13. Paul's Plea to the Corinthians (7:1-3) n (2 Corinthians 7:1-3 NKJV) “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. {2} Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one. {3} I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.”

14. Paul's Plea to the Corinthians (7:1-3) n There can be no other goal than holiness. (7:1)

15. Paul's Plea to the Corinthians (7:1-3) n There can be no other goal than holiness. (7:1) n What is holiness?

16. Paul's Plea to the Corinthians (7:1-3) n There can be no other goal than holiness. (7:1) n What is holiness? n Where does holiness come from? The promises of God! (2 Pt 1:3-4; 1 Jn 3:1-3)

17. Paul's Plea to the Corinthians (7:1-3) n (2 Peter 1:3-4 NKJV) “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, {4} by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

18. Paul's Plea to the Corinthians (7:1-3) n (1 John 3:1-3 NKJV) - “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. {2} Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

19. Paul's Plea to the Corinthians (7:1-3) n {3} And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

20. Paul's Plea to the Corinthians (7:1-3) n We must "cleanse ourselves" in our separation from evil. (2 Tim 2:19-21)

21. Paul's Plea to the Corinthians (7:1-3) n (2 Timothy 2:19-21 NKJV) “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” {20} But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.

22. Paul's Plea to the Corinthians (7:1-3) n {21} Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”

23. Paul's Plea to the Corinthians (7:1-3) n Paul again pleaded for the Corinthians to have an open heart. (7:2-3)

24. Paul's Plea to the Corinthians (7:1-3) n Paul again pleaded for the Corinthians to have an open heart. (7:2-3) n Because of the work of certain brethren among them, false charges were privately circulated with the goal of closing hearts and minds to him.

25. Paul's Plea to the Corinthians (7:1-3) n Sadly Paul had to make a blanket defense of himself due to the nature of the cowardly "blanket charges" made in the background. (7:2)

26. Paul's Plea to the Corinthians (7:1-3) n Sadly Paul had to make a blanket defense of himself due to the nature of the cowardly "blanket charges" made in the background. (7:2) n If Satan can get you to close your mind through a report given to you in private, then you would likely have opposed Paul too if you lived then.

27. Paul's Plea to the Corinthians (7:1-3) n What would a fair-minded Christian do? (Acts 25:16)

28. Paul's Plea to the Corinthians (7:1-3) n (Acts 25:16 NKJV) “”To them I answered, ‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.’”

29. Paul's Plea to the Corinthians (7:1-3) n The Corinthians needed to move away from their swaying emotions to the solid reasoning of God's word. (2 Cor 6:11-13)

30. Paul's Plea to the Corinthians (7:1-3) n (2 Corinthians 6:11-13 NKJV) - “O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. {12} You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. {13} Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.”

31. Paul's Burden for the Corinthians (7:4-6) n (2 Corinthians 7:4-6 NKJV) “Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation. {5} For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.

32. Paul's Burden for the Corinthians (7:4-6) n {6} Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,”

33. Paul's Burden for the Corinthians (7:4-6) n Paul returns now to a point where he left off in chapter two, his anxiety when searching for Titus (2:12-13).

34. Paul's Burden for the Corinthians (7:4-6) n (2 Corinthians 2:12-13 NKJV) - “Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, {13} I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.”

35. Paul's Burden for the Corinthians (7:4-6) n Have you ever loved one so much that you were burdened when they were in danger? (Gal 4:16-19)

36. Paul's Burden for the Corinthians (7:4-6) n (Galatians 4:16-19 NKJV) “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth? {17} They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. {18} But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. {19} My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,”

37. Paul's Burden for the Corinthians (7:4-6) n The church would be better off if we carried such burdens for each other than to selfishly build a wall around ourselves and "do our own thing." (1 Cor 12:26)

38. Paul's Burden for the Corinthians (7:4-6) n (1 Corinthians 12:26 NKJV) “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”

39. Paul's Burden for the Corinthians (7:4-6) n The burdens for the Corinthians were so great that Paul passed up an open door to preach the gospel, and was filled with conflicts and fears!

40. Paul's Burden for the Corinthians (7:4-6) n The burdens for the Corinthians were so great that Paul passed up an open door to preach the gospel, and was filled with conflicts and fears! n Could you imagine that someone could have seen his letter and scoffed at it as "preacher talk?"

41. Paul's Burden for the Corinthians (7:4-6) n The burdens for the Corinthians were so great that Paul passed up an open door to preach the gospel, and was filled with conflicts and fears! n Could you imagine that someone could have seen his letter and scoffed at it as "preacher talk?" n Paul found the comfort of God lest he be taken to the sidelines.

42. Paul's Burden for the Corinthians (7:4-6) n Paul did what God wanted, he wrote the first letter to correct the problems! The solutions to our problem should begin with teaching.

43. Paul's Burden for the Corinthians (7:4-6) n Paul did what God wanted, he wrote the first letter to correct the problems! The solutions to our problem should begin with teaching. n Paul then was comforted by the effect the word of God had on good hearts. (7:4, 6-7)

44. Paul's Burden for the Corinthians (7:4-6) n (2 Corinthians 7:4 NKJV) “Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.

45. Paul's Burden for the Corinthians (7:4-6) n (2 Corinthians 7:6-7 NKJV) - Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.

46. Paul's Burden for the Corinthians (7:4-6) n Some of the most difficult things we will do in this life is to teach and then wait on God. We do much damage when we try to do more.

47. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n (2 Corinthians 7:7-12 NKJV) - “and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. {8} For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while.

48. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n {9} Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. {10} For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

49. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n {11} For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

50. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n {12} Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.”

51. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n We must have no other goal in our work with brethren than for each of us to find needed repentance!

52. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n It could have been possible for Paul to sweep these problems under the carpet so that he might "keep their relationship." They all would have been lost!

53. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n It could have been possible for Paul to sweep these problems under the carpet so that he might "keep their relationship." They all would have been lost! n When repentance is found there will be rejoicing for all, both the taught and the teacher.

54. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n In my opinion repentance is the hardest command of the Bible. (Jn 12:42-43)

55. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n (John 12:42-43 NKJV) “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; {43} for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

56. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n Where does repentance come from?

57. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n Where does repentance come from? n It first comes from hearing the bad news. (Rom 1:18)

58. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n (Romans 1:18 NKJV) - “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,”

59. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n Here is where the teacher might get hurt by the anger of the guilty.

60. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n Here is where the teacher might get hurt by the anger of the guilty. n What kind of risk did Nathan take with David? (2 Sam 12:5-10)

61. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n (2 Samuel 12:5-10 NKJV) “So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! {6} “And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”

62. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n {7} Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul..

63. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n When the word is received properly there will be godly sorrow. (7:9)

64. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n When the word is received properly there will be godly sorrow. (7:9) n What is godly sorrow?

65. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n When the word is received properly there will be godly sorrow. (7:9) n What is godly sorrow? n How long must godly sorrow work? We need to be patient and let the word do its work.

66. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n Repentance is a turn of our will.

67. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n Repentance is a turn of our will. n What are the fruits of repentance?

68. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n Earnest desire (7:7) - they wanted to do right!

69. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n Earnest desire (7:7) - they wanted to do right! n Clearing of yourselves (7:11) - They would openly make corrections.

70. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n Earnest desire (7:7) - they wanted to do right! n Clearing of yourselves (7:11) - They would openly make corrections. n Mourning (7:7), indignation (7:11) - Their sin greatly hurt them and now they hate it!

71. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n Zeal (7:7), vehement desire (7:11) - They are fully committed to do the will of God.

72. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n Zeal (7:7), vehement desire (7:11) - They are fully committed to do the will of God. n Fear (7:11) - They are aware of the power and wrath of God.

73. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n The letter of Paul was for the Corinthians good. It showed Paul's love. (7:12)

74. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n The letter of Paul was for the Corinthians good. It showed Paul's love. (7:12) n Here Paul is specifically referring to the man that the Corinthians withdrew from!

75. Paul's Goal for the Corinthians, Repentance (7:7-12) n When a church is urged to withdraw from one walking in sin, this is an act of love.

76. Paul's Shared Joy With Titus (7:13-16) n (2 Corinthians 7:13-16 NKJV) “Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. {14} For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true.

77. Paul's Shared Joy With Titus (7:13-16) n {15} And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. {16} Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.”

78. Paul's Shared Joy With Titus (7:13-16) n Is it not good to have another brother to rejoice with? (1 Cor 12:26)

79. Paul's Shared Joy With Titus (7:13-16) n 1 Corinthians 12:26 -And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

80. Paul's Shared Joy With Titus (7:13-16) n We need to be careful for sometimes the zeal and rejoicing may appear to be pride.

81. Paul's Shared Joy With Titus (7:13-16) n We need to be careful for sometimes the zeal and rejoicing may appear to be pride. n Still it is good to have the kind of relationship with others where the sharing of spiritual things are the focus.

82. Paul's Shared Joy With Titus (7:13-16) n Remember, the world will not understand nor be happy. (Jn 16:20)

83. Paul's Shared Joy With Titus (7:13-16) n (John 16:20 NKJV) “”Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.”

84. Paul's Shared Joy With Titus (7:13-16) n Brethren let our rejoicing be in the truth and those who submit to it.

85. Paul's Shared Joy With Titus (7:13-16) n What kind of burdens are you bearing?