2 Corinthians 12:9a
“And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Jesus is assuring Paul that, He will support him; that Paul would not sink exhausted under his trials but, he will still go through it.
The strength of Christ shines forth in its perfection and glory by supplying, supporting, and building us up in times of weakness; for it is when we are conscious our weaknesses, that the Lord can manifests His power.
This is what leads Paul to say, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Cor.12:10)
We are only here for a short season. There will be thorns in our flesh, poking at us, disappointing us – but, it is during times of trial that we recognize our limitations, draw closer to God for His strength and discover His will and direction for our lives.
The Truth
“Count it all joy when you fall into various trials…” (James 1:2-4)
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Boast In The Lord
2 Corinthians 10:17-18
"Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends."
If we are able to have any success, the praise and glory of all we experience should go to God. Ministers in particular must be careful not to glory in their performances, but must give God the glory of their work, and their successes.
Of all flattery, self-flattery or self-commendation is the worst. At best, self-commendation is not praise, and it is oftentimes as foolish and vain as it is proud; therefore, instead of praising or commending ourselves, we should strive to approved by God, and his blessings will be our best commendation.
The Truth
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
"Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends."
If we are able to have any success, the praise and glory of all we experience should go to God. Ministers in particular must be careful not to glory in their performances, but must give God the glory of their work, and their successes.
Of all flattery, self-flattery or self-commendation is the worst. At best, self-commendation is not praise, and it is oftentimes as foolish and vain as it is proud; therefore, instead of praising or commending ourselves, we should strive to approved by God, and his blessings will be our best commendation.
The Truth
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Finish What You Started
2 Corinthians 8:11-12
“Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.”
Good purposes are like buds and blossoms, pleasant to behold, and give hopes of good fruit; but they are lost, and signify nothing without good deeds.
Good beginnings are well; but we lose the benefit, unless there is perseverance. When men purpose that which is good, and endeavor, according to their ability, to perform also, God will not reject them for what it is not in their power to do.
The blessing is not in the purposing or the beginning of something but in the doing. James encourages us to be doers and not just hearers (James 1:22). He also warns us against not taking action when we know we should or when we recognize that something needs to be done. (James 1:23-24).
Therefore, take a step of faith. Don’t worry about what you can’t do, just do what you can.
The Truth
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
“Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.”
Good purposes are like buds and blossoms, pleasant to behold, and give hopes of good fruit; but they are lost, and signify nothing without good deeds.
Good beginnings are well; but we lose the benefit, unless there is perseverance. When men purpose that which is good, and endeavor, according to their ability, to perform also, God will not reject them for what it is not in their power to do.
The blessing is not in the purposing or the beginning of something but in the doing. James encourages us to be doers and not just hearers (James 1:22). He also warns us against not taking action when we know we should or when we recognize that something needs to be done. (James 1:23-24).
Therefore, take a step of faith. Don’t worry about what you can’t do, just do what you can.
The Truth
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
Godly Sorrow Produces Repentance
2 Corinthians 7:10
“For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
There is a godly type of sorrow and an ungodly type of sorrow. Godly sorrow leads to repentance. Ungodly sorrow, or the sorrow of this world, just kills.
Our culture has rejected all "negative" emotions. However, God gave us the capacity for these negative emotions, and there is a proper use of them. Ec 7:3 says, "Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better."
We should feel bad about sin. There should be sorrow over our failures. However, this sorrow should lead to repentance, and then when forgiveness is received, our sorrow should be cast upon the Lord (Isa 53:4). Peter's sorrow after his denial of Jesus changed him, and certainly, he never regretted those tears he cried.
But the sorrow experienced by those who do not turn to God produces only death. They grieve over their situation because they don't turn to God (that's repentance). The mere sorrow of the world leads only to remorse and despair, to the death of a broken heart, possibly to suicide; in any case, to the loss of the true eternal life.
Christians should only have sorrow until they repent. Once repentance has come, we need to appropriate the forgiveness and cleansing that are already ours through Christ.
The Truth
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
“For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
There is a godly type of sorrow and an ungodly type of sorrow. Godly sorrow leads to repentance. Ungodly sorrow, or the sorrow of this world, just kills.
Our culture has rejected all "negative" emotions. However, God gave us the capacity for these negative emotions, and there is a proper use of them. Ec 7:3 says, "Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better."
We should feel bad about sin. There should be sorrow over our failures. However, this sorrow should lead to repentance, and then when forgiveness is received, our sorrow should be cast upon the Lord (Isa 53:4). Peter's sorrow after his denial of Jesus changed him, and certainly, he never regretted those tears he cried.
But the sorrow experienced by those who do not turn to God produces only death. They grieve over their situation because they don't turn to God (that's repentance). The mere sorrow of the world leads only to remorse and despair, to the death of a broken heart, possibly to suicide; in any case, to the loss of the true eternal life.
Christians should only have sorrow until they repent. Once repentance has come, we need to appropriate the forgiveness and cleansing that are already ours through Christ.
The Truth
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Now Is The Time
2 Corinthians 6:2b
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the time of salvation.”
To the unbeliever Paul is saying, do it now, accept Jesus, become born again, give meaning to life, be saved from your present circumstances and inherit eternal life. If not, and you continually say no to His call, there will come a time when He will let your decision stand - a decision Jesus himself would describe as the only unpardonable sin, the blasphemy of the Holy Ghost. (Matt.12:31)
However, 2 Corinthians was written to the Christians in Corinth. It was a message to strike while the iron was hot and not ignore the call of God concerning sin in their lives. They were to immediately repent, turn from their sinful life style, accept His forgiveness and start living for His call on their lives.
As for us, each day we live is a precious gift of mercy and grace and one less day we have in our appointed time on this earth. Let’s live it in His service knowing we redeemed the time and His call on our lives.
The Truth
“As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children.” (Psalm 103:15-17)
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the time of salvation.”
To the unbeliever Paul is saying, do it now, accept Jesus, become born again, give meaning to life, be saved from your present circumstances and inherit eternal life. If not, and you continually say no to His call, there will come a time when He will let your decision stand - a decision Jesus himself would describe as the only unpardonable sin, the blasphemy of the Holy Ghost. (Matt.12:31)
However, 2 Corinthians was written to the Christians in Corinth. It was a message to strike while the iron was hot and not ignore the call of God concerning sin in their lives. They were to immediately repent, turn from their sinful life style, accept His forgiveness and start living for His call on their lives.
As for us, each day we live is a precious gift of mercy and grace and one less day we have in our appointed time on this earth. Let’s live it in His service knowing we redeemed the time and His call on our lives.
The Truth
“As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children.” (Psalm 103:15-17)
Monday, October 20, 2014
Assurance Of The Resurrection
2 Corinthians 5:1
“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
It is important to know whom Paul is speaking to here. He is addressing the believers in Christ in the city of Corinth encouraging them in the resurrection. (2 Corinthians 4:14)
Here in our text Paul the tentmaker, compared his physical body to a tent, something temporary. Meaning he understood that it would wear out, breakdown, need repair and eventually dissolve.
However he goes on to explain that we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Therefore, if the tent speaks of our earthly body, the house not made with hands must speak of our resurrected body – custom made for eternity.
As Christians we know that Jesus is alive and for this reason we know that death cannot claim us because, He has promised us eternal life. (John 17:2-3)
The Truth
“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
It is important to know whom Paul is speaking to here. He is addressing the believers in Christ in the city of Corinth encouraging them in the resurrection. (2 Corinthians 4:14)
Here in our text Paul the tentmaker, compared his physical body to a tent, something temporary. Meaning he understood that it would wear out, breakdown, need repair and eventually dissolve.
However he goes on to explain that we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Therefore, if the tent speaks of our earthly body, the house not made with hands must speak of our resurrected body – custom made for eternity.
As Christians we know that Jesus is alive and for this reason we know that death cannot claim us because, He has promised us eternal life. (John 17:2-3)
The Truth
“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Power In Earthen Vessels
2 Corinthians 4:6,7
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of the darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this power in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
By His Spirit, God places the treasure of His Son into our hearts as believers. We then become the earthen vessels of His treasure and reflect His light to those around us.
Our reflection of His (God) presence in our lives is related to our connection to Christ. Like any solar panel, we cannot remain charged in darkness, we need the light to be empowered. Therefore, we need to remove anything in our life that comes between the Son and us.
His reflection will be clear in our lives if we keep our eyes on Him and not allow the world to creep in.
The Truth
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of the world.” (John 8:12)
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of the darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this power in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
By His Spirit, God places the treasure of His Son into our hearts as believers. We then become the earthen vessels of His treasure and reflect His light to those around us.
Our reflection of His (God) presence in our lives is related to our connection to Christ. Like any solar panel, we cannot remain charged in darkness, we need the light to be empowered. Therefore, we need to remove anything in our life that comes between the Son and us.
His reflection will be clear in our lives if we keep our eyes on Him and not allow the world to creep in.
The Truth
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of the world.” (John 8:12)
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
God Of All Comfort
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
Paul found real comfort in God and was able to comfort others because he experienced God’s faithfulness first hand. Being able to speak from experience has a tremendous power of immediately putting you on the same level with the person you are trying to help.
Even God Himself experienced the pain of watching His only Son beaten, whipped and nailed to a cross for us. So when we turn to Him and His Word, it has the power of comfort from His experience. Therefore, He is able to comfort us in all tribulation so that we in turn may comfort others.
The Truth
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
Paul found real comfort in God and was able to comfort others because he experienced God’s faithfulness first hand. Being able to speak from experience has a tremendous power of immediately putting you on the same level with the person you are trying to help.
Even God Himself experienced the pain of watching His only Son beaten, whipped and nailed to a cross for us. So when we turn to Him and His Word, it has the power of comfort from His experience. Therefore, He is able to comfort us in all tribulation so that we in turn may comfort others.
The Truth
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)
Friday, October 10, 2014
Sound Bites From 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 11:27 “Conduct at the Lord’s Table”
“But let every man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”
Paul is saying, “examine yourself” respect what you are doing, you’re in the right place, now come with the right heart. We take communion to “celebrate” what Christ did for us. So, celebrate! Thank you Jesus.
1 Corinthians 12:7 “Spiritual Gifts”
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all."
Each of us has been given the gift of the Spirit, who in turn, imparts to us our gift to bless the body with, as He wills. Find your gift, your calling, your purpose to the body of Christ and bless them.
Lord help us all to earnestly desire the best gifts but use us all for the body of Christ. Amen.
1 Corinthians 13:13 “The Greatest Gift”
“And now abide faith, hope love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Faith and hope are true cornerstones to Christianity but love is the greatest virtue, because through love we are able to respond to God and others in the present.
1 Corinthians 14:40 “Order in Church Meetings”
“Let all things be done decently and in order.”
Two parts to this verse; things must be done decently and in order – but all things must be done.
Let us covet all the gifts as a body, then us them in the way they were intended – the effect will be beautiful, gentle and peaceful.
“But let every man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”
Paul is saying, “examine yourself” respect what you are doing, you’re in the right place, now come with the right heart. We take communion to “celebrate” what Christ did for us. So, celebrate! Thank you Jesus.
1 Corinthians 12:7 “Spiritual Gifts”
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all."
Each of us has been given the gift of the Spirit, who in turn, imparts to us our gift to bless the body with, as He wills. Find your gift, your calling, your purpose to the body of Christ and bless them.
Lord help us all to earnestly desire the best gifts but use us all for the body of Christ. Amen.
1 Corinthians 13:13 “The Greatest Gift”
“And now abide faith, hope love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Faith and hope are true cornerstones to Christianity but love is the greatest virtue, because through love we are able to respond to God and others in the present.
1 Corinthians 14:40 “Order in Church Meetings”
“Let all things be done decently and in order.”
Two parts to this verse; things must be done decently and in order – but all things must be done.
Let us covet all the gifts as a body, then us them in the way they were intended – the effect will be beautiful, gentle and peaceful.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Guard Your Liberties
1 Corinthians 8:9
“But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are week.”
We must guard our liberty around weaker brothers in Christ. More important than the knowledge that I am free to partake in something, is the realization that my weaker brother may not be.
That beer or that movie could be just the issue he/she is struggling with. Many new Christians are hypersensitive about issues of conscience and the possibility of failing. They may feel that by having that beer or watching that movie their walk has been compromised, or their prayers won’t be heard.
Not only can a weak conscience become defiled but also it can be shocked or saddened, by observing our liberty. Paul says in this chapter, when we so wound a brother, we sin against Christ (v.12). It is better to abstain around weaker brothers than to partake and cause offense.
Forgive me Lord if my liberties have ever stumbled another. Amen.
The Truth
“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” (Romans 14:12-13)
“But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are week.”
We must guard our liberty around weaker brothers in Christ. More important than the knowledge that I am free to partake in something, is the realization that my weaker brother may not be.
That beer or that movie could be just the issue he/she is struggling with. Many new Christians are hypersensitive about issues of conscience and the possibility of failing. They may feel that by having that beer or watching that movie their walk has been compromised, or their prayers won’t be heard.
Not only can a weak conscience become defiled but also it can be shocked or saddened, by observing our liberty. Paul says in this chapter, when we so wound a brother, we sin against Christ (v.12). It is better to abstain around weaker brothers than to partake and cause offense.
Forgive me Lord if my liberties have ever stumbled another. Amen.
The Truth
“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” (Romans 14:12-13)
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Live As You Are Called
1 Corinthians 7:17
"But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches."
As the Lord has called each one, so let him walk: No matter what your station (married, single, divorced, widowed, remarried, whatever), God can work in your life. Instead of thinking that you can or will walk for the Lord when your station changes, walk for the Lord in the place you are at right now.
This also is a warning about trying to undo the past in regard to relationships; God tells us to repent of whatever sin is there and then to move on. If you are married to your second wife, after wrongfully divorcing your first wife, and become a Christian, don’t think you must now leave your second wife and go back to your first wife, trying to undo the past. As the Lord has called you, walk in that place right now.
So let him walk is also a warning to beware the danger of thinking other people have it better than you, because of their different station in life. Married, single, divorced, remarried, don’t matter nearly as much as walking with Jesus right now.
And so I ordain: This is no unique rule for you Corinthians. It is the universal rule of Christianity to reach every condition; and in every state a man may live so as to be a credit to it. It is the duty of every Christian to be content with his lot, and to conduct himself in his rank and place as becomes a Christian. Our comfort and happiness depend on what we are to Christ, not what we are in the world. No man should think to make his faith or religion, an argument to break through any natural or civil obligations. He should quietly and contentedly abide in the condition in which he is placed by Divine Providence.
The Truth
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called..” (Ephesians 4:1)
"But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches."
As the Lord has called each one, so let him walk: No matter what your station (married, single, divorced, widowed, remarried, whatever), God can work in your life. Instead of thinking that you can or will walk for the Lord when your station changes, walk for the Lord in the place you are at right now.
This also is a warning about trying to undo the past in regard to relationships; God tells us to repent of whatever sin is there and then to move on. If you are married to your second wife, after wrongfully divorcing your first wife, and become a Christian, don’t think you must now leave your second wife and go back to your first wife, trying to undo the past. As the Lord has called you, walk in that place right now.
So let him walk is also a warning to beware the danger of thinking other people have it better than you, because of their different station in life. Married, single, divorced, remarried, don’t matter nearly as much as walking with Jesus right now.
And so I ordain: This is no unique rule for you Corinthians. It is the universal rule of Christianity to reach every condition; and in every state a man may live so as to be a credit to it. It is the duty of every Christian to be content with his lot, and to conduct himself in his rank and place as becomes a Christian. Our comfort and happiness depend on what we are to Christ, not what we are in the world. No man should think to make his faith or religion, an argument to break through any natural or civil obligations. He should quietly and contentedly abide in the condition in which he is placed by Divine Providence.
The Truth
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called..” (Ephesians 4:1)
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