Author: Ben Bourland

2 Corinthians 10:5 [AMP]
[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),

Been on this passage (first 10 verses of chapter 10) for several days now because the Lord is revealing new takeaways. The part here and the verse before is the strongholds and ‘lofty things’ that Paul sets out to bring down with spiritual weaponry. These defensive positions he is talking about are the arguments that challenge the Truth of God and His word. The imagery here is that after these strongholds and ramparts are brought down, he leads the thoughts and purposes behind those arguments away as captives into the ‘Obedience of Christ’.

In order to fight with this spiritual weaponry, I must know how to wield it and I do that by KNOWING God’s word to destroy these arguments above and then the gospel as a way to lead the thoughts and purposes into the obedience of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 [AMP]
[Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings.
Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (Hetakes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it” ) giver [whose heart is in his giving].

We’ve all heard this passage before but this is the first time I have read the full context of the situation. What is happening is that believers with the Macedonian church are coming to Corinth to visit and Paul has communicated to these Macedonians that the believers in Corinth are prepared to send them back with a gift offering. Just before these two verses, Paul is reminding the Corinthians to be ready with this offering. In most cases preparation was needed to assemble the intended offering which may be money, objects of value, or other gifts that could help the receiving church. Paul was concerned that some members would drag their feet and not be ready and then he would be embarrassed at the lack of preparation to bless this Macedonian church.

Application:

The lesson is that delayed obedience is disobedience. When the Lord has laid something on our hearts to do, we should quickly execute on the task with joy and purpose…especially when it is serving people with immediate needs.

Today the Lord took me down a route of understanding in what it means to not be of this world. It started with a verse from my current book of study in 2nd Corinthians and then though the Thompson Chain reference, took me on a small journey of other supporting verses. So, lets start with the verse in 2 Corinthians 6 which is verse 17.

2 Corinthians 6:17 [AMP]
So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor,

Like I was saying yesterday, at first glance this seems to be a super hard and fast instruction from Paul to entirely separate ourselves from unbelievers. However, there is more theology here we need to unpack. Jesus, through His great commission sends us out into the world to teach the world about Him and His Gospel. Everything Jesus did to received people to Himself was through relationship and even the missionaries we send out focus heavily on developing relationships with unbelievers in order to nurture an opportunity to tell someone the gospel.

So the next verses I was led to was Colossians 2:21&22

Colossians 2:21-22 [AMP]
Do not handle [this], Do not taste [that], Do not even touch [them],
Referring to things all of which perish with being used. To do this is to follow human precepts and doctrines.

Essentially, do not follow the desires of the flesh. Let’s keep going though; the next verse I was pointed was 3 John 1:11.

3 John 1:11 [AMP]
Beloved, do not imitate evil, but imitate good. He who does good is of God; he who does evil has not seen (discerned or experienced) God [has enjoyed no vision of Him and does not know Him at all].

This is pretty self explanatory and does not require anything additional to be said in my opinion and means what it says. Next up we have 1 John 2:15

1 John 2:15 [AMP]
Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.

So this goes more hand in hand with Colossians 2:21&22 above. If our hearts are more fond of the world than what the Lord has shown us to be true in His word about Himself and the way He feels about the world, then we don’t have the love of the Father in us. The last verse I was brought to before I landed on my final passage was 1 John 3:10.

1 John 3:10 [AMP]
By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children: no one who does not practice righteousness [who does not conform to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action] is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellowbeliever in Christ).

This passage follows right in line with the passage before. So not only will we not love the world but our nature will be desiring to do righteousness and not evil. I know I am moving fast but this coming passage is the one that pulls it all together. John 17:15-21 -> with everything I have said above, I am just going to now let you read through and listen to what the Lord lays on your heart. This is Jesus’ prayer to the Father before being betrayed. POWERFUL!!

John 17:15-21 [AMP]
I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one.
They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.
Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
And so for their sake and on their behalf I sanctify (dedicate, consecrate) Myself, that they also may be sanctified (dedicated, consecrated, made holy) in the Truth.
Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching,
That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me.

2 Corinthians 6:1 [AMP]
LABORING TOGETHER [as God’s fellow workers] with Him then, we beg of you not to receive the grace of God in vain [thatmerciful kindness by which God exerts His holy influence on souls and turns them to Christ, keeping and strengthening them—do not receive it to no purpose].

We so often hear about the abundance of God’s grace; however, here Paul gives a warning about receiving God’s grace without the appropriate reverence and respect due it. I think the way this looks lived out is when we are in a situation like a church service or night at High School camp where you hear the gospel and are convicted, yet push down that conviction not heeding God’s call on you at that moment. This is what it means to receive it with no purpose. The very next verse confirms:

2 Corinthians 6:2 [AMP]
For He says, In the time of favor (of an assured welcome) I have listened to and heeded your call, and I have helped you on the day of deliverance (the day of salvation). Behold, now is truly the time for a gracious welcome and acceptance [of you from God]; behold, now is the day of salvation!

This is that moment – the moment God extends His gracious gift of salvation by forgiving you of all your sins through your acceptance of His Son as your personal sim bearer. Even after salvation I think that ignoring a call God is putting on your life as a born again adopted child of His, can put you in this place of grace applied with no purpose.

Last day of the week and it was a doozy…The work craziness is in full swing with influential people leaving and work piling up. I was on calls most of the day and not a lot of time to get my important writing done for a key document I own that needs to be presented to the Government later this month. Got my work cut out for me.

2 Corinthians 4:1-3 [AMP]
THEREFORE, SINCE we do hold and engage in this ministry by the mercy of God [granting us favor, benefits, opportunities, and especially salvation], we do not get discouraged (spiritless and despondent with fear) or become faint with weariness and exhaustion.
We have renounced disgraceful ways (secret thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, the methods and arts that men hide through shame); we refuse to deal craftily (to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate or handle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and candidly). And so we commend ourselves in the sight and presence of God to every man’s conscience.
But even if our Gospel (the glad tidings) also be hidden (obscured and covered up with a veil that hinders the knowledge of God), it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing and obscured [only] to those who are spiritually dying and veiled [only] to those who are lost.

In verse 1 the main point that caught my attention was “we do not get discouraged or become faint with weariness and exhaustion.” In other words – “when we are weary and exhausted, we will not become faint or discouraged”. Weary and exhaustion will come but it is by the mercy of God granting me favor, benefits, opportunities, and my Salvation that I will not become faint or discouraged.

Verse 2 is crazy awesome. Paul is talking about the renouncing of the flesh that entices one to resort to ways of operating that are “crafty’, “underhanded”, or “disgraceful”. This probably reads to some as “no duh”; but, it is a way that people might feel a tendency to do which is to find biblical scripture to support a topic rather than letting God’s word simply instruct us through the prodding and wisdom of the Holy Spirit in us. There are a lot of churches and pastors I know that engage in “Topical Preaching”, taking a current event and finding scripture to support their views–this is called eisegesis which is putting thought into God’s word versus exegesis which is pulling out what God’s word is saying.

Eisegesis -> the interpretation of a text (as of the Bible) by reading into it one’s own ideas

Exegesis -> an explanation or critical interpretation of a text

Merriam-Webster

Finally, verse 3 is no less important. There have been so many times I have walked away from a situation where I have shared my faith only to feel like I have failed God in my delivery or coverage of the subject of His Gospel. There are two things that I have learned and give me confidence in sharing the gospel with others and not feeling either inadequate or guilty of poor delivery -> 1) God saves, we don’t. He calls people unto Himself and in some cases we get the privilege of being the vessel by which He pours out His gift to that person He is calling. 2) If God has not called someone to Himself then they will not hear the truth or be convicted of the truth of their sin and need for Jesus – the truth is hidden to those who are perishing and obscured to those who are spiritually dying and veiled to those who are lost. If I were to acknowledge a number 3) it would be that no person who sincerely desires to be a saved from their sin by acknowledging the perfect sacrifice of Jesus for that sin, will ever be denied Salvation.

2nd to last day of the year! Marianne was extra kind to me this morning and let me sleep in. Because of the delays our family illness caused, we have latent Advent items to complete. Today is the last one with…Ice Skating! Let’s see if I survive…

2 Corinthians 3:1-3 [AMP]
ARE WE starting to commend ourselves again? Or we do not, like some [false teachers], need written credentials or letters of recommendation to you or from you, [do we]?
[No] you yourselves are our letter of recommendation (our credentials), written inyour hearts, to be known (perceived, recognized) and read by everybody.
You show and make obvious that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, not written with ink but with [the] Spirit of [the] living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Almost all morning I have been pondering this passage. I just love the take on the visible fruit of ministry. The effects of God working through your ministry will be the evidence of what the Lord does through you. This really reaffirms the posture of obedience to preaching Gods Word and nothing else. This whole chapter (3) is going to camp out here so I am not going to get ahead of myself in this post. 🙂

Application:

I should minister in such a way that my whole being is released to be used for God in whatever way that means. Truth is however, that I struggle with self-sufficiency and in the teaching of God’s Word to others, I take too much into my own hands of how and what to communicate. This reading this morning is the Lord pulling me back to His desire that I surrender everything in my ministry to Him, His ways, and His timing.

Well, I am back after 3 days of inactivity due to several factors.

1. I was sick as a dog with the Flu (Not COVID)
2. What waking hours I was spending out of bed I was spending with my family to celebrate this wonderful time of year where we remember the Birth and arrival of our New Forever King.

I have missed my time in God’s Word, but I have been in plenty of prayer and that has not been more intense than tonight. We had some startling revelations within our immediate family tonight that pushed this post late and I would just ask anyone reading this to pray that the Lord would give us wisdom, understanding, and patience as we walk the road set before us. God is so good, and He knew that we would be right here right now. I am sure that if I stop and look (applying recent Quiet Time takeaways) I will find God’s hand already moving within this trial. I would also see this is an opportunity that God once again, is going to show me His providence and sovereignty in all of my circumstances.

2 Corinthians 2:5-11 [ESV]
Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

When I came in and sat down in bed to dive into God’s Word for help and Truth, this was the passage today. This was right after I had stepped away from a continuing conversation on the ‘revelations’ mentioned above. I needed a way forward, not a solution (although that would be awesome), just some next steps that would be God honoring as I try comes terms with what I was hearing.

CONTEXT OF THE PASSAGE: This is super important as I don’t want it to seem as though I am manipulating God’s word to suit my circumstance and thus offer an answer that isn’t really there. Paul is talking about someone (the ‘anyone’ mentioned here) that has sinned against the church and under fairly strong church discipline. Paul is both relieved and concerned. Relieved that the Church of Corinth is applying necessary church discipline and concerned that satan might gain the advantage if the offender were to be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow; so, he urged his readers to turn to and reaffirm their love for the offender.

It seems most likely that what Paul has in mind in this verse is the possibility that Satan might take advantage of the situation and defraud the congregation of one of its members permanently. So, being not ignorant of his designs, Paul urges the Corinthians to reaffirm their love for the offender to avoid such a possibility. Later in this book we will see that Paul recognizes an active role on the part of Satan to undermine the faith, devotion and good order of the church. I personally believe satan is also active working to do this same undermining in Christian families, so I see the application well suited.

Application:

So, God has provided me right here, the necessary steps I need to do in the situation I am in. Thank you, Lord Jesus for your Living Word that is alive, and working in those who follow You.

Sick, sick, sick…that is our whole house. Everyone (all 6 of us) have the Flu. Fever for multiple days, debilitating fatigue, and a very painful cough. Not the greatest work up to Christmas…in fact we had to push our family plans out to next Thursday because of it. This will be our first Christmas alone in a long time.

 2 Corinthians 1:18-22 [ESV]
As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

This passage follows a couple of verses that speak to a perceived wishy-washiness in Paul by the believers in Corinth. The reason is that back in 1 Corinthians 16:5-7 Paul had promised to visit again after passing through Macedonia. But he describes a change in his travel plans to come to see them again before passing on to Macedonia. I just wanted to set up the reason for his verbiage here not necessarily focus on it.

What I love most about this passage is the “For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes.” Yes, for the desire to come and minister to them (the church at Corinth). Not once but twice because they had planned to come back through Corinth once again (after visiting Macedonia) before heading off to Judea. Then Paul says “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him (Jesus). That is why it is through him (in Jesus name) that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” I just love that ‘all the promises of God find their yes in Jesus’!

Application:

What do I have to worry about if the promises of God find their ‘yes’ in Jesus and I am in Jesus. It is important, even while I am sick, that I can look forward to the promises of God coming to fruition. The most important being an eternity spent with Him.

2 Corinthians 1:12-14 [ESV]
For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand— just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.

I love this picture of the church and it’s interaction with the world and each other. With ‘simplicity and Godly sincerity’. It’s a very pragmatic way of looking at our witness to the world. We have a tendency to over think these things. Gods word is supreme and the position is God on the major topics is not ambiguous. We are the ones who try to pull out or even put in our own desires for what we want to support or communicate to the world.

What this passage also talks about is in the execution of these simple and godly sincere practices, we can boast and support each each other…even on the day the Lord comes.

Application:

The biggest Takeaway I have from this passage is that I need to remember that I do not have to use my own thinking when the word of God is clear. It’s one thing to beseech the Lord and interpretation of his word through study of the Greek, or even commentators, but I should never be putting something in to God’s word that is not there or twisting Gods word through passages out of context to support a worldly view. I consistently pray for God‘s wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, when reading his word.