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"By honour and dishonour..."

Text: 2 Corinthians 6:8

THE SERVANT OF GOD IN CONTROVERSY I

Serving the Lord is seldom straightforward. There will always be detractors who will voice a different opinion of the servant of God. Controversy is almost unavoidable.

“By honour and dishonour; by evil report
and good report; as deceivers, and yet true.”
2 Corinthians 6:8

1. The teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ

a) Jesus ministered in Nazareth, His hometown (Luke 4:16).

b) As He taught in the synagogues the people rejected Him.

i) Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-19.

ii) He was claiming that He was fulfilling a prophecy concerning the Messiah (Luke 4:21).

c) They were so incensed against Him they wanted to throw Him off a cliff (Luke 4:28-30).

d) Rejection was expected!

2. “By honour and dishonour”

a) “Honour”

i) Those who have received the Word of God well.

ii) They honour the servants of God.

b) “Dishonour”

i) They have no respect for the servant of God.

ii) They seek to dishonour the servant of the Lord.

3. “By evil report and good report”

a) “Evil report”

i) The evil-doers will resort to lies.

ii) They will spread malicious accusations against the servant of God.

b) “Good report”

i) Those who have learned well appreciate the spiritual lessons learned.

ii) They speak well of their spiritual teachers.

4. “As deceivers, and yet true”

a) The wicked charge the servants of God as “deceivers”.

b) But the faithful remain steadfast in their commitment to stand by the servants of God.

c) There is recognition that these are true servants of the Lord.