Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0920B recorded on August 5, 1984 teaching from 2 Corinthians 10:7-18;11:1-6 – Our Comforter.
Pastor Cyril A. Stevens contrasts two approaches within Christianity, the staid, doctrine-focused Baptist tradition and the more experiential charismatic movement, highlighting the potential for division and imbalance between them. Pastor Stevens uses the Apostle Paul’s concerns for the Corinthian church, who were swayed by captivating personalities rather than truth, as a parallel to modern issues like false teaching and the temptation to compromise the simplicity of the gospel through worldly desires or rigid traditions. He passionately argues for a balanced faith that embraces both the understanding of God’s Word and the joyful power of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing that true freedom comes from relying on the Spirit to overcome the inherent love for sin and not being swayed by external validation or empty rituals.