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| Day 82 Part 4: Giving, War, Simplicity, Grace, False Teachers, Life in Christ and Heirs According to Promise |
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Giving
Chapter 8 of 2nd Corinthians speaks much about the church supporting the work of the ministry. I guess the thing that stuck out to me most in this chapter was verse 4, "begging us with much urging for the favor of participationin the support of the saints," (NASB). I know that some people in the church think in tyerms of tithes and offerings and others think in terms of just giving from the heart, but whatever your take on that, you must agree that giving to support ministry indeed brings blessing, or favor, back to you. It is good to support those who are plowing the fields. Chapter 9 sums all of this up in 1 verse 9:7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
War
In chapter 10 Paul gives us some interesting things to chew on.
10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 10:5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
How often in our daily lives do we act like we believe this? Do we believe that God has given us weapons to pull down strongholds? Do we believe that we can bring all of our thoughts into captivity? Do we believe we are winning this war? We need to make war on the imaginations of the people around us. This, to me, is why apologetics is so important. We need to be able to tear down the walls of deceptive ideas and its not just professional apologists that should be doing this. This warfare should be taking place wherever we are. At work, at home, at school, in public office, and in church.
Simplicity
In chapter 11 there was 1 small passage that grabbed my attention. 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ. 11:3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. I know Paul is presenting this in the negative, but I want to ask...what does the phrase "the simplicity that is in Christ" mean?
Grace 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
What a lesson we all need to be reminded of over and over and over and...well...you get the point. This goes back to our view of suffering. God gives us weakness and illness and pain to show His grace and glory through us. Our weakness increases our dependence on Him. This way we always know who the powerful one is.
Selah
False Teachers
In Galatians 1 verses 6-10, Paul says some pretty strong things about false teachers. 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
If someone is preaching something other than the gospel as it appears in scripture, no matter how much we like them, is under a curse.
Life in Christ and Heirs According to Promise
In chapter 2 we see this famous verse: 2:20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
What an amazing thing it is to belong to God. I'm dead. The only life in me is that of Christ. I have died and Christ now lives in me. I don't know that I will ever be able to fully comprehend all that this means. Chapter 3 just gives me cause to continue in my amazement. Especially when you get to the end of the chapter. 3:29 And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
It is indeed amazing what has been given to us in Christ!
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| November 13, 2007 |
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| Thanks Pastor Tim :-) |
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