Author: Ben Bourland

6 By innocence and purity, knowledge and spiritual insight, longsuffering and patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love;
7 By [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [to attack] and for the left hand [to defend]; 2 Corinthians 6:6-7 [AMP]

As I was reading through this passage today, I was really encouraged by the contrast of these 2 verses.

Verse 6 talks about having innocence, purity, knowledge, spiritual insight, longsuffering, patience, and kindness IN the Holy Spirit…in genuine/sincere love. All of these admirable attributes come after Paul telling us all about the things that he and his ministry have endured in persecution, imprisonment, and unspeakable hardships….BUT

…in Verse 7 he pulls out the BIG GUNS. These things in verse 6 are enabled through speaking the Word of TRUTH IN the Power of God. How? you might ask…

…with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [to attack] and for the left hand [to defend]

2 Corinthians 6:7b [AMP]

Hands full of everything you need to fight…weapons of righteousness. I just like this idea that what when both the right and left hands are full of righteousness there is nothing else that needs to be wielded to both attack and defend. There is just something very powerful about this.

Boy, am I glad its Friday! This has been one rough week. Microsoft Layoffs, high stress meetings with the GOV, and trying to find time to write 2 documents that carry a lot of contractual responsibility with them. All the while I have had this sore throat and cough that just doesn’t want to go away. However, God is so good…all the time. No matter my predicament, He is always there for me in full force; standing ready to give me the comfort, wisdom, and peace that I need at that moment.

3 We put no obstruction in anybody’s way [we give no offense in anything], so that no fault may be found and [our] ministry blamed and discredited.
4 But we commend ourselves in every way as [true] servants of God: through great endurance, in tribulation and suffering, in hardships and privations, in sore straits and calamities,
5 In beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless watching, hunger;
 2 Corinthians 6:3-5 [AMP]

There is a lot here today and covered 3 verses that have some very important points to the Corinthians in Corinth regarding Paul’s ministry. Remember that yesterday Paul was talking about not accepting God’s grace in vain. In verse 3 and 4a, Paul is saying that his own conduct as God’s messenger does not constitute a stumbling-block which might hinder the ‘proper’ acceptance of God’s grace by others. What he means he makes clear in what he says next, “so that no fault may be found and our (lit. the) ministry blamed and discredited”. If fault could be found in his ministry, and there were those in Corinth only too ready to find it, then presumably that could be used as an excuse to reject his message. So, then he says, “but we commend ourselves in every way as [true] servants of God”. This is not really a personal commendation but more appropriately a commendation of a ministry.

Paul now goes into listing a bunch of factors to give evidence in commending his ministry.

• General Terms
  • Great Endurance
  • Tribulation and Suffering
  • Hardships and Calmities
• Particular Examples
  • Beatings
  • Imprisonments
  • Riots
• Voluntary Hardships
  • Labors
  • Sleepless watching
  • Hunger

It kind of seems strange that Paul would call out these hardships to ‘commend’ his ministry…but underneath this is Paul’s recognition that the true servant of God is the ‘Suffering Servant’, and that the one who is the ‘Loyal Follower of Christ’ will share the fate of Jesus.

A disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a servant or slave above his master.

Matthew 10:24

Application:

This really made me question whether I have really internalized ‘sharing in the fate of Jesus’ in my ministry. It might be easy to interpret this passage as Paul being boastful about himself and his ministry, but it is actually quite the opposite. When I think about my ministry, I need to be sure that I can stand with assurance that I am not standing in the way of someone properly receiving the grace of God. I must maintain a humble heart and crucify the prideful ‘Old Ben’ every day. I am the new Ben where that ‘Old Ben’ no longer lives but it is Christ who lives in me. This life I now live in the faith, I live by the grace of God Who loves me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 personalized to me)

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 [NKJV]
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Today I came up on 2 of the most important verses in the Bible for believers. I just love that the heart of ambassadorship for Christ is imploring others to be reconciled to God Himself. As though God were pleading through us. This is one of the places in Gods Word where we see how even though God is so mighty and powerful, He still partners with and chooses to work through us to reach others and grow His Kingdom!

Then right after then amazing ambassadorship acknowledgement, Paul throws down the Gospel that leads to reconciliation. The most powerful line in these two verses for me is “that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”. When we are reconciled through Christ’s she’d blood, God sees us clothed in His righteousness, but He sees us that way IN His Son. Sooooo awesome!

The work drama continues into the weekend. With all of the new commitments and challenges, it becomes a difficult planning game versus scheduling/resources. I will have to work more through the next couple of days but hopefully I can keep it segregated from the time I need to be spending with my family.

11 Therefore, being conscious of fearing the Lord with respect and reverence, we seek to win people over [to persuade them]. But what sort of persons we are is plainly recognized and thoroughly understood by God, and I hope that it is plainly recognized and thoroughly understood also by your consciences (your inborn discernment).
12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but we are providing you with an occasion and incentive to be [rightfully] proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who pride themselves on surface appearances [on the virtues they only appear to have], although their heart is devoid of them. 2 Corinthians 5:11-12 [AMP]

Today’s passage gives us a little deeper look into the perception struggles Paul dealt with in his ministry. Verse 11 can have 2 different meanings but when you look at Paul’s use of the Greek words he uses in this verse in other areas of writing, this is the definition that sticks out.

Verse 10 was talking about the Judgement seat we will all stand before when the Lord returns to launch the beginning of His forever Kingdom. In light of this eventual judgement, Paul feels led to ‘win people over’ or persuade them to ‘FEAR THE LORD’. What Paul is saying here is that his way of ‘winning’ or ‘persuading’ people is biblically supported and he has already denounced crafty and dishonest manipulation of God’s word…so this winning or persuading is God honor. The thinking is that this message was in his letter because there were detractors in the Corinthian church who were challenging and criticizing his approach. Paul is saying he has confidence in his approach because he has faith that this being wide open and visible to the Lord, is pleasing to Him.

This above interpretation is then supported by verse 12 where Paul is saying that those who are converts to Jesus that were led to their Salvation by Paul, can be proud of the ministry that brought them to that Salvation. Now he levies the target against those detractors by telling this church in Corinth to have pride in Paul’s ministry because it is God honoring; that the church can admonish those who pride themselves on ‘external appearances’ yet lack the pure heart which is God is really looking at.

I am so thankful for the Lord’s continued faithfulness in my life. I am so rundown from being sick, work craziness, and family drama. However, the Lord has been here with me every step of the way; giving me confidence and peace that He is in control and that I have nothing to worry about as I pursue Him.

6 So then, we are always full of good and hopeful and confident courage; we know that while we are at home in the body, we are abroad from the home with the Lord [that is promised us].
7 For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance.
8 [Yes] we have confident and hopeful courage and are pleased rather to be away from home out of the body and be at home with the Lord.
9 Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth away from Him] or away from home [and with Him], we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be pleasing to Him.
10 For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing]. 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 [AMP]

Today’s reading reinforced the little blurb I said above. I am here in this earthly tent (earthly body) but I have a hope in the eternal one. While I am here on this earth I must walk by Faith, not by sight or appearance…otherwise, I will be tempted into discouragement, worry, or even depression. So, just as verse 6 says above, I remain hopeful with confident courage because even though I am here in this earthly body I realize that I am on a trip abroad from my real home with the Lord.

The plan to stay in this good state is clearly stated in verse 9, “Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth away from Him] or away from home [and with Him], we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be pleasing to Him.” Even though we are away in body from the Lord, we are to be ambitious and striving to please God…earnestly.

EARNESTLY: with sincere and intense conviction; seriously

Paul then explains why this is so important -> even as Christians we will all stand before the judgement seat of Christ to hear the good and the bad of what we accomplished while here on earth. This amazing part of this part of the story is, when the ‘bad’ is totaled, it will be Jesus Himself Who steps forward and says “I have already paid the price for your sin which you received when you put your faith and trust in Me as your Savior. Welcome to my Kingdom!”

Work is really hard right now.

• There is some really difficult planning going on.
• I am writing two 40+ page documents that need to be reviewed by the Government next week. [on top of that, what I have to write is currently a contentious set of issues <sigh>]
• I have to create a PowerPoint slide deck to present plans for the next 10 months to both the Microsoft program and Government leadership teams the week after next.

If you think of me, pray for wisdom, patience, and sharpness of mind as I navigate these waters in my job.

2 Here indeed, in this [present abode, body], we sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn to be clothed over [we yearn to put on our celestial body like a garment, to be fitted out] with our heavenly dwelling,
3 So that by putting it on we may not be found naked (without a body).
4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan under the burden and sigh deeply (weighed down, depressed, oppressed)—not that we want to put off the body (the clothing of the spirit), but rather that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal (our dying body) may be swallowed up by life [after the resurrection].
5 Now He Who has fashioned us [preparing and making us fit] for this very thing is God, Who also has given us the [Holy] Spirit as a guarantee [of the fulfillment of His promise]. 2 Corinthians 5:2-5 [AMP]

So, yesterday I stopped on verse 1 of Chapter 5 because it pretty much sets up these next 4 verses (really the next 9 verses). If we get our brains wrapped around the point that we are in failing bodies here on earth and get ‘Heavenly Bodies’ when this one deteriorates away, then the rest gets a little easier to talk through.

Here in verse 2 Paul is talking about how when he thinks of the body that awaits him in heaven, he essentially grumbles and yearns after this new body; to the extent that he talks about wishing he put that body on like clothes. The nakedness which Paul expects to avoid when he puts on the heavenly body is the nakedness of a disembodied soul. Paul, as a Jew, would regard existence as a disembodied soul as something to be avoided. The promised heavenly body will save him from that.

The last 2 verses here are super encouraging! Paul does not so much sigh with anxiety, as groan because he is weighed down by afflictions experienced in his body. Although the Paul groans, being burdened by sufferings and persecutions which afflict the body, he does not seek escape into a permanent disembodied state. He longs for a new and better embodiment. What he wants is described with the use of two metaphors. First, the metaphor of putting on extra clothing to cover that already being worn (we would be further clothed). Second, the metaphor of one thing being devoured by another so that the one ceases to exist as it was but is taken into and transformed in the other (what is mortal may be swallowed up by life). He then explains that all of this transition and process of living in one body here on earth and then being transformed into the new body in heaven, is all God. Not only that, but it is also through sanctification that God prepares us for that new life in the Heavenly body. If that were not enough, God has given us the Holy Spirit Who is IN us, consistently prodding us and giving us the knowledge we need to know, to further our faith and sanctification to ENSURE that transition to our Heavenly bodies.

Application:

Its ok to acknowledge this body that has been impacted by age due to the fall of man through sin. Sin has caused us to endure a life of progressively worsening bodies until the Lord takes us home. Some of us will suffer more than others but the real focus is to lean into the Promise of a Heavenly body by keeping voice of the Holy Spirit clear. I do this by continually confessing my sin and adhering to the instruction of the Holy Spirit as I learn more and more what it means to be a follower of God’s Son.

​1 FOR WE know that if the tent which is our earthly home is destroyed (dissolved), we have from God a building, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Corinthians 5:1 [AMP]

Today will be another shorter post as most of my time today was spent studying the ‘words’ of this verse to understand what is the ‘tent’ and what is the ‘house not made with hands’. Although there are several different schools of thought, the one that resonated with me most was that the earthly tent is our outer nature or earthly body. The building from God is the heavenly body we will receive when the earthly body is dead. What is interesting is that Paul used the condition ‘if the tent is destroyed’ we ‘have from God a building’ giving the impression that it is immediate.

There are more verses that follow 1 – 10 that expound on this aspect Paul is dwelling on in regard to this ‘momentary affliction’ he has that may ultimately result in the death of his body, so he seems to be having an inside voice and wrestle that is making it out into his letter.

More to come…

17 For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!],
18 Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 [AMP]

Little bit shorter quiet time today but I want to be consistent in my daily time with the Lord. Even when I spend just a few minutes with God in His Word, desiring to learn more about Him, He never fails to extend something to me that I can apply. His Word NEVER returns void.

These 2 verses ending Chapter 4 pack a punch. In verse 16 Paul was talking about how the outer body wastes away while our inner selves are ever being renewed as we progress in our sanctification. So, he follows the though here into verse 17 saying that the pain we might feel in aging and the afflictions we endure here on earth are a small momentary issue to withstand and that time is more and more preparing us for an everlasting glory in eternity. Even more, our puny brains cannot comprehend the glory we will receive as we spend an eternity with Jesus in Heaven. I once heard that if all there was to understand about Heaven, the Spiritual Realm, and what awaits us in eternity could only be captured in the vastness of the ocean; our minds can only hold a soda can full of comprehension of those things.

Paul then talks to the fact that everything we can see is falling away and will expire…but what is not seen will not pass away and will last forever. Once again, I see the Lord telling me to focus on what He has in store for me in the eternal Kingdom. He knows that it is far too easy to be overwhelmed and distracted by all the things I can see, hear, feel, smell, and taste. I can get caught up in the passing of time and the anxiousness and concern that can come with not knowing what is ahead in this life on the earth under the sun. I can also become far too caught up in the hope of earthly future gain or fleshly desires. I must not be tempted to have these things squelch out the glory in eternity to come. I must keep my focus on what have faith in based on the promises of an Almighty God.

Application:

I’ve said it above and if you have been reading my blog posts of late, you will see that there is a common theme to all of my takeaways from each day for the last week or so. I must shut out the carnival vendor of earthly life shouting at me to come pop the balloons with the darts, knock over the bottles with a baseball, or land a ping pong ball in a dish for goldfish. I must politely say “No Thank You” and stay on my way out of the worldly fair; focused on the work for the Lord that grows His Kingdom. It is the entrance to God’s Kingdom that I will find my true treasure and prizes that await me when I join my Savior in paradise.

13 Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, I have believed, and therefore have I spoken. We too believe, and therefore we speak,
14 Assured that He Who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus and bring us [along] with you into His presence.
15 For all [these] things are [taking place] for your sake, so that the more grace (divine favor and spiritual blessing) extends to more and more people and multiplies through the many, the more thanksgiving may increase [and redound] to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day. 2 Corinthians 4:13-16 [AMP]

There are a couple of really poignant things that jumped out at me today with this passage.

1. The ‘one who had wrote” was the Psalmist of Psalms 116:10. Paul just adopts the aspect that because we believe, we speak…and we speak confidently knowing who our God is…the One who raised Jesus from the dead. With the power, what do we have to fear from man.
2. Then Paul talks about the product or fruit of speaking and teaching is to extend the reach of God’s grace through the gift of His Son in the Gospel message all that will hear. Not only with grace be propagated but thankfulness and gratefulness, glorifying God, would also be increased.
3. When Paul and his group receive is a perseverance when they see the fruit of their obedience and courage. They stay upbeat and without discouragement.
4. Finally, Paul says something that all aging God following Christians can identify with; a deterioration of the fleshly body but a renewing and purification of our spirit through sanctification on the inside as we get older and grow in our knowledge of Him.

Application:

I have to keep all of these points Paul makes in the forefront of my mind. Looking for the opportunities to speak and extend the potential of God grace through spreading the Gospel. Regardless of my circumstances and situations, I must keep my eyes focused on the One Who raises people from the dead. Finally, continuing to learn more about the character and person of my Lord and King, Jesus; even when my body begins to fail.