Galatians 2

Galatians 2  Our Assignment

Vs. 7  I went up by revelation and communicated to them that gospel which I preach.

We, as well, have our own revelation and assignment from God- the Great Commission:  Matthew 28: 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

We may be surrounded by those who want to “bring us into bondage” (Vs. 4) but we must turn our faces like flint into the opposite direction, like Paul did and not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue (Vs. 5).

Let us not yield to the pull of this world, Satan and his demon forces.  Let us not ruin the Christ-like reputation that He wants us to have.  Let us not be tarnished by this world.  God has planned for our lives that the gospel might continue, in and through us (Vs. 5). Others were clearly able to “perceive the grace that had been given” to Paul (Vs. 9).  Could that be said of us?  Do others clearly see His workings in our lives; do we radiate His grace and His power in our lives?

Even the best of them, Peter, was temporarily led astray (hypocritical). Barnabas and the rest of the Jews followed Peter’s example (Vs. 11-13).  Just who, just how many might we lead astray and bring down by our own example?

2 Corinthians 11-13; Galatians 1

2 Corinthians 11 Wallowing or Boasting of Christ?

Just how are we handling our trials right now?  Are we wallowing in our misery; dwelling on how bad things are and will continue to be so; constantly focusing on that  issue with relentless worry and depression?  What a testimony Paul is for us as we face the battles and conflicts of life.  None of us will come anywhere near close to what he faced; five times received thirty-nine stripes; three times beaten with rods; stoned; three times shipwrecked; sleeplessness; hunger and thirst; in cold and nakedness.  Yet look what he goes on to say! He begins to boast of Christ. He willingly admits he is a fool for Christ’s sake and a minister.

So, in the midst of our own misery, how will we respond?  Will we boast of Christ and refuse to wallow in self-pity? Will others see a long face who brings down others as well or one who is victorious and joyful and ministering to the needs of others?  Will we be a “fool” for Christ’s sake?  Will we let the very things that could destroy us be used to further the kingdom of God and point countess to our mighty Savior?

2 Corinthians 12 Your Thorn in the Flesh

Perhaps you are facing a “thorn in the flesh” in this period of your life and maybe you have asked God over and over again to take it away.  Look how Paul responded to his “thorn”:

Vs. 8-9 I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me.  “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.

God will indeed give us the strength to face our “thorn” in the same way Paul faced his.  Are we really willing to boast and take pleasure in our distress for the sake of Christ and so that His power will rest upon us?  Do we get this powerful message here for our very own hearts that in our greatest weakness, then we are strong?

I am convicted.  I have a slight thorn right now.  These verses have made it clearly dawn on me that this very thorn is to make me strong, to grow.  I want the power of Christ to rest upon me.  Oh, how the Father wants to mold us, to make us a reflection of Himself.  His word is so very powerful each and every day if we will only search it out and let it change us deeply from within.

2 Corinthians 13 The Crowning of Our Lives

Vs. 4 Though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God.  For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward us.

Jesus’ weakest moment brought the greatest glory, the greatest gift to mankind.  We may be “crucified” in some fashion in this life- through some great offense by another, some physical trial or watching the suffering of a spouse, child or some other dear loved one.

Our very weakest moment in life- our “death sentence” could be the very act of the crowning of our lives, our ministry.  Let us embrace that “crucifixion”- that weakest state and live by the power of God. It may be the very thing that will make us complete. Vs. 9 That ye may be made complete.

Galatians 1  Beacon of Light

Might this be true of us; have we turned away even slightly?  Vs. 6  I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ.

Just whom do we seek to please? Vs. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God?  Or do I seek to please men:  For if I still pleased men I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

Just what are we making known to others; is it our own opinion and useless chatter or are we living out with our actions and our words the power of Christ so that others are drawn to Him constantly by our example?  Vs. 11 But I make known to you that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.  It came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

God has most definitely called us to share the gospel, to be that bright beacon of light to the lost and dark world.  Vs. 15 When it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him.

We have been brought into this world to be a light, to share Christ. If we have turned away in some area of our lives let us turn back to Him.

2 Corinthians 9-10

2 Corinthians 9 What Measure are You Using?

Our degree of giving to others will determine how much God gives back to us, just as a harvest will produce what has been sown.  Vs. 6 He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

This reminds me of another powerful verse: Luke 6:38 Give and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.

The purpose for God giving back to us is so that we are able to continue giving.  Vs. 8 God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Look what Paul says about the Christians giving to the church in Jerusalem: willingness; their zeal stirred up the majority. Paul goes on to teach us that we should be ready to give and we should give out of a sense of generosity and not with a grudging obligation (Vs. 2, 4-5).

I love this- Verse 11 and 13 tells us our liberal giving causes thanksgiving through us to God and others will  glorify God as a result of our obedience.

So, this brings us to examine our giving.  When Scripture teaches we are to listen, learn and respond. Just what kind of giver are you?  Are we sowing and reaping bountifully? What “measure” are we using?  It will affect our own hearts and also those with whom we share.

 

2 Corinthians 10  Are You Winning or Losing the Battle?

There are days when may throw up our hands and wonder what in the world is going as we face some incredible battles. The battle could very well be a spiritual battle and when left to our own defenses we will fall flat on our faces. Look at these words:

Vs.  4-6  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

God is the only one who can pull down those horrendous strongholds.  He wants us to come to a place of having our obedience fulfilled. Are we in this kind of spiritual condition? Can we say that we are bringing even every thought into captivity?  Is our every word laced with the Spirit of God? Let’s ask God this very day to pull down every stronghold in our lives.

 

 

 

 

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2 Corinthians 7-8

2 Corinthians 7 Perfecting Holiness

We have a great challenge before us today from Paul. He listed  God’s wonderful promises to us in the last few verses of chapter 6: He will receive us; be a Father to us and we will be His sons and daughters. Then in this chapter in the first verse, he goes on to say that because of these great, unbelievable promises we are to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Paul shared the condition of his own heart: We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one (Vs. 2). As a result he was able to say in the midst of endless persecution, “I am filled with comfort.  I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation” (Vs. 4).

Can we say that?  “We have wronged on one without seeking forgiveness. We have corrupted no one.  We have cheated no one” (on our taxes or in any area of our lives).  Do we really have a clear conscience at this moment in our lives?

I wonder, are our hearts in such a place, such a condition of holiness that in the midst of the greatest turmoil, God is able to give us that kind of joy? Joy, peace and contentment can only be present in our lives if we are living in a constant state of cleansing our hearts of all filthiness and daily perfecting holiness as God leads and teaches us.  Can we say that we are in this condition? Perhaps we need to allow God to do some cleansing in our hearts right now.

 

2 Corinthians 8  Giving- Above and Beyond

How very strongly this passage teaches of the spirit of giving. It is the most clear account on giving in the entire New Testament.  The Macedonians are an incredible example for us.  They gave to the needy believers in Jerusalem in the midst of great affliction; they gave in the midst of great poverty; they gave joyfully and freely. In fact they asked for the opportunity to give.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians who were holding back on giving.  He used the Macedonians as examples of how to give.

How do we measure up in the area of giving?  When we hear of hurting believers are we quick to respond; do we ask about the opportunity to give; do we give in spite our own trials, tribulations and poverty; do we give joyfully?  Perhaps we are holding back like the Corinthians and have passed by and ignored a believer in need. God wants us to be in the place of giving so that we could be an example of giving to other believers.  Maybe we too, like the Corinthians, needed to hear of these dear people who gave with all their hearts.

 

 

 

2 Corinthians 5-6

 

2 Corinthians 5  God’s Ambassadors

Vs. 20 We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us.

During the Roman empire the emperor sent ambassadors to certain provinces to govern and maintain peace. God has sent us to plead with others to be reconciled with Christ.

I wonder if His calling upon us is being carried out; if we are living a life and speaking the words that would lead others to want our Savior. Are we that new creation and have the old things passed away in our lives? Vs. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

God has given us the ministry of reconciliation (Vs. 18).  Just what will we say to that lost soul on our path today? Allow God to plead through us to win others for Him.  We have an awesome calling and time is running out.

 

2 Corinthians 6  Endurance

Paul and his followers faced horrific situations yet they endured with grace and perseverance.  They lived through things most of us will never come close to, like stripes and imprisonments.  Yet this was their attitude: sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich (for the kingdom of God), as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. (Vs. 10)

Does our sorrow, being poor or having nothing leave us rejoicing and realizing that we do in fact have all things?  Are you rejoicing today?  Are we making many rich by sharing the glories of Christ?

Dear one, we can see His glory, we can experience that wonderful rejoicing.  We have it all!!

2 Corinthians 4 Don’t Lose Heart

2 Corinthians 4 Don’t Lose Heart

Some ministries that God plants in our lives are full of joy and excitement.  Yet at times He brings us a ministry that may be filled with certain degrees of pain and anguish. Knowing they are from Him will keep us on the right path.  Look what Paul says:

Vs. 1, 5, 8-10,  Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.  For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.  We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed, always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our body.

It may be a ministry of living with some physical condition; an empty, hopeless marriage; a wayward child who breaks your heart every day; a financial crises that seems to have no end; a very deep hurt caused by the offense of another; or some form of persecution. Whatever the ministry is, our goal should be to keep our eyes on Him, not people, things or circumstances. God is the only one who can keep us from “loosing heart”. The goal is for Jesus to be seen in and through us in these times.  Paul, Jesus and many others lived through those painful roads of ministry.  They are our example. With the ministry He has also given us mercy and grace to go through it.

I just love these next few verses:  16-17  Therefore we do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

We may not know it or understand it, but this lonely, long ministry or ours is but for a “moment” and is for a very special purpose- a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.  Remember, He will renew us each new day.

I am again reminded of the sweet passage my son-in-law shared with me one day.

Lamentations 3:22-24 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, Therefore I hope in Him.

2 Corinthians 2-3

2 Corinthians 2  Swallowed Up

Perhaps there is someone in our lives that we have not truly forgiven. What Paul tells the Corinthians applies to us as well:

Vs. 5-9 If anyone has caused grief….not to be too severe.  The punishment which was inflicted is sufficient….forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.  Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.  For to this end I also wrote that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.

The church discipline that was administered to this offender had done its job.  He had repented. Too hold a grudge or refrain from loving this one could have done much damage.  Perhaps we have found ourselves carrying past offenses toward our husband, child, relative, neighbor, relative or friend.  We may continue to “punish” them by withholding all the love that should be given them.  I am so often reminded of that wonderfully convicting verse, Acts 24:16- I myself strive always to have a conscience void of offense toward God and man.

Yes, we may have been offended in some great way, but we become the offender when we withhold our forgiveness and love.  The guilt, the grief they feel may be magnified because they see us turned away from them. Their lives may be completely destroyed because they are “swallowed up in too much sorrow”.  Just as Paul put that church to the test, God tests us as well to see if we will be obedient in this area of our lives.

Will we forgive that one on our minds today?  Ahhhhh, we have no choice!  God forgave us!

 

2 Corinthians 3  We Cannot Be Silent.

The greatest legacy we can leave, the greatest proof of our love for Christ is the trail of lives God has used us to reach and touch for all eternity. Godly parents have a clear and vibrant testimony when others see their adult children living for God.  Paul made this clear in verse 2- You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men.

How do we carry out this mission to leave a mark on this world?  We are not sufficient in and of ourselves. Vs. 5, 12, 17- Our sufficiency is from God. Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

He is our Sufficiency!  He will give us grace and endurance to raise mighty warriors for Christ (children, grandchildren and those we are discipling). We have such mighty hope; we need not be timid but instead use great “boldness of speech!  His Spirit lives within us so there is LIBERTY!  We cannot be silent!  Press on!  Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful!

 

2 Corinthians 1 One Word

2 Corinthians 1  One Word

In January while I was in Georgia, I attended church with my daughter and her family. Their pastor said something like this in his sermon, “If you are convicted by reading just the the word Paul, let that speak to you.”

I related to that because Paul’s life does convict me.  He had such passion for Christ, the lost and ministry to the Christians.  I wonder; just what does our name conjure up to others, to God? Does the thought of us cause others to be convicted; to be thirsty for more of Christ; to feel a special endearment to us because of the investment we may have made their lives?

I was reminded of that lesson when I read the first word or this chapter, “Paul”.  I thought back to what that pastor said and I want Paul’s name to convict me.  I want to become a disciple of Christ that will make a difference in this life and the lives of others.  Following Paul’s name in verse one it states, “an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.”  We are disciples of Jesus Christ by the will of God.  Will we make this day, this week, this year and our entire lives count for all eternity; will we be a dynamic disciple of Christ?  I want my husband, my children and others in my life to know me as a true, completely dedicated disciple of Christ.  I want my name to point them to the Savior.  I want to be known by my love for them and for Christ. Even in the darkest hours of my life I want those times to be used to bring glory to God, just as Paul states in these verses:

Vs. 3-5 The 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.  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.