“Divert Power to the Shields!”                              II Corinthians 2:5-11

5 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9 Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

(Vs. 11) OUR ENEMY PLOTS TO DESTROY US.

For we are not unaware of his SCHEMES.

  • And he’s WITTY!
    • …in order that Satanmight not OUTWIT us.
    • Satan fights dirty… hits us where we already hurt… looks for, waits for, and exploits our vulnerabilities. RELENTLESSLY!

(Vs. 5-6) RELATIONSHIPS CAN PUT A DRAW ON OUR ENERGY.
5 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much GRIEVED ME as he has GRIEVED ALL of you to
some extent—not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is
sufficient. (about a particular person who committed an offense that brought discipline by the
church then showed sincere sorrow/repentance)

REDEMPTIVE DISCIPLINE EFFORTS ARE BOTH INTENSE AND DELICATE.

EMOTIONAL PASSION RESTRAINED BY CARING COMPASSION.

  • And it WEAKENS our shields.
    • Satan sees our vulnerability for anger, judgmental criticism, bitterness, gossip, etc.

(Vs. 7-8) LOVE IS OUR POWER GENERATOR.

7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by
excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.
FORGIVENESS & COMFORT… NOT OVERWHELMED BY “EXCESSIVE” SORROW (NOT JUST
THE OFFENDER, BUT EVERYONE)!

“EXCESSIVE” TAKES IT FROM CONSTRUCTIVE TO DESTRUCTIVE.

  • And it is RENEWABLE ENERGY!
    • “REAFFIRM” (LOVE HAS BEEN THERE ALL ALONG)
    • THE LIMITLESS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF GOD!
      • DOES NOT MEAN NO DISCIPLINE!

(Vs. 9-10) COMPLETE FORGIVENESS IS OUR “SHIELDS AT 100%!”
9 Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in
everything. 10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything
to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,
WE ARE GALVANIZED TOGETHER IN TESTING, OBEDIENCE… & GRACE!

  • And it SECURES us from THE INSIDE OUT!
  • FORGIVENESS “SEALS” OUR OWN HEARTS WITH LOVE.
  • FORGIVENESS SEPARATES THE UNREDEEMABLE FROM THE REDEEMABLE!

 “WE ARE NOT UNAWARE OF HIS SCHEMES.” SO LET’S DIVERT POWER TO THE SHIELDS “IN ORDER THAT SATAN MIGHT NOT OUTWIT US!”