Tag: 2Corinthians

This is my first day back to writing since last Wednesday. Thursday, I had to face the layoffs of half of my team (5 people). I didn’t have just any team; we had have been to Alaska together, 4 multi-week trips to the east coast away from our families, and brutal development schedules. I have met wives, husbands, and families….it was one of the hardest days of my life. Some people had even moved here to the west coast from places like Louisiana and Virginia. The impact of this layoff was huge, and I am still working through “Survivor’s Guilt” and figuring out how to come alongside one person who holds me personally responsible for this outcome. Please join me in praying for these families who have had their lives turned upside down.

For my reading today, I am making the turn into chapter 10 of 2nd Corinthians. Chapters 1-9 carry a message of relief and comfort whereas 10-13 the tone is very different. It is marked by satire and sarcasm, spirited personal defense, reproach directed towards the Corinthians and bitter attack levelled at outsiders who have infiltrated and are now influencing the congregation.

NOW I myself, Paul, beseech you, by the gentleness and consideration of Christ [Himself; I] who [am] lowly enough [so they say] when among you face to face, but bold (fearless and outspoken) to you when [I am] absent from you!
I entreat you when I do come [to you] that I may not [be driven to such] boldness as I intend to show toward those few who suspect us of acting according to the flesh [on the low level of worldly motives and as if invested with only human powers]. 2 Corinthians 10:1-2 [AMP]

These first 2 verses setup this latter half with who the message is meant to be directed at. It is to those few who suspect Paul and his companions of acting according to the flesh and their own worldly motives. Of course, knowing Paul, this could not be further from the truth. What I think is important is that we all need to hear what Paul has to say and do our best (with the help of the Holy Spirit) to apply to our own areas of our lives and hearts that either harbor or nurture ungodliness that comes in the form of religiosity, prejudice, or pride.

8 And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].
9 As it is written, He [the benevolent person] scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice and goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever!  10 And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity].
11 Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 [AMP]

My epiphany today was what the Lord laid on my heart in regard to what Paul is saying in most of this 9th chapter of Corinthians. What hit me was that I find myself creating structures or frameworks that ‘Giving’ must fit in -> Money, shelter, food, clothing, and any other physical commodity that you can think of…but what Paul is saying here is that God gives us an abundance of things to be generous with.

• Our Time
• Kindness
• Labor
• Empathy
• Compassion
• Encouragement
• etc.

In my life as a believer, I have been to quick to create channels of giving that if the ‘thing to give’ did not fit in that channel, then there was nothing to give. What Paul is saying is that there is really no boundary to the type of blessing that you can be generous with in ‘giving’…there is no channel, there is only an open table by which anything you have to give can be slid to the person in need. You might be reading this and thinking, “Ben, this is so elementary!”. You are probably right, but on my road to sanctification, I needed this today.

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.

​1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 [ESV]

I was convicted in my reading today as Paul recounts the churches in Macedonia (Thessalonica, Philippi, and probably Beroea) to the Corinthians as churches who were embroiled in persecution (to both the apostolic team and to the new converts). The conviction comes from what Paul says about the Macedonian church’s response out of their extreme poverty. It was out of their joy that their giving overflowed in a wealth of liberality. The Macedonian Christians know the joy of being the recipients of God’s free giving, and that joy, they gave freely.

Because of their situation, what the churches gave was probably quite a small amount, but measured against their extreme poverty it represented a wealth of liberal giving.

Application:

I feel like I have not only been given so much in the Son of God, but God has also given me so much here on earth. Do I give in proportion to what I receive? Not by any stretch of the imagination when compared to the churches of Macedonia. Lord God, please forgive me for not giving more and help me to be open handed out of the joy in of the wealth I have been giving in eternal security.

10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 [ESV]

During the counseling conference this year, we had the privilege of sitting under the teaching of Dr. Ellen. He taught us the difference between the two types of conscientious sorrow.

• Casualty Sorrow: which is worldly sorrow leading to death (what this verse above is referring to). Casualty sorrow is, I’m sad because I have regrets over what’s happened. I know I’m wrong, but I’m not really focused on how I’ve sinned against God, dishonored him and others, I’m just consumed with what can happen to me. With casualty sorrow, we call it that because the person, if they don’t deal with their sin, sin leads to death. 
• Contrite Sorrow: Which is what 2 Corinthians 7 talks about Godly sorrow producing this thing of repentance.

We either move into casualty sorrow, where we have regret and feel sorry, or contrite where we are broken and want to make things right. This seems so simple but when you truly consume it relative to our sanctification, it is super powerful!

For even though I did grieve you with my letter, I do not regret [it now], though I did regret it; for I see that that letter did pain you, though only for a little while;
Yet I am glad now, not because you were pained, but because you were pained into repentance [and so turned back to God]; for you felt a grief such as God meant you to feel, so that in nothing you might suffer loss through us or harm for what we did. 2 Corinthians 7:8-9 [AMP]

Today was a great reminder that tough love can be used by God to lead others to repentance. Paul wrote a ‘Tough Love’ letter to the church at Corinth to expose their sin and hypocrisy. The big attribute here is that the Corinthians were believers who had strayed. When you submit to the Lord Jesus Christ by putting your belief in Him, the Father will not let you go…He disciplines those He loves. This is the hope we have for our kids -> that they would accept the Lord at some point in their life so that as a parent, you can trust that the Lord promise of ‘nothing can pick you out of My hand’ comes into affect.

Application:

I should never feel empty when I admonish a fellow believer. Paul grieved over what he needed to right to the Corinthians. The reason Paul said he doesn’t regret it now is because he saw the fruit of how God used his letter to turn around a whole church. The ultimate motivation to repent came from a grief God intended the Corinthians to feel. That admonishment and feeling of grief could be levied my way at some point in my life.

...and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor,
18 And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

​1 THEREFORE, SINCE these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God. 2 Corinthians 6:17b-7:1 [AMP]

This connecting of both the end of Chapter 6 and the beginning of Chapter 7 is so encouraging but also an admonition. If we flee uncleanliness “Then…God will receive us and treat us with favor. He [God] will be a Father to us and we shall be His sons and daughters.” Jesus of course died for our sins and when the Father looks at us, He sees His Son – This is the grace and gift we receive which secures our eternity in heaven. On this earth however, God has a bit of heaven that is available to us when we use the strength given to us in the Holy Spirit to flee idolatry and cleanse ourselves of everything that defiles our body and spirit. The motivation to rid ourselves of these impurities comes from within, but the strength to achieve the task comes from the Lord.

Application:

I am going to take the last part of 7:1 which says that we bring our completeness in the fear of God. I have had many Quiet Time posts on the fear of God but applying a ‘fear of the Lord’ is paramount to righteous living. One of the ways I do this is in every situation I find myself; I ask myself the question -> if the Lord Jesus were to return right now, would I be embarrassed, ashamed, or guilty of sinning against Him that moment His eyes caught mine? This reverent awe and aversion to disappointing my God and Savior is that Fear of God I believe Paul is talking about.

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.

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14 [AMP]

This is one of those days where the Amplified Bible version really helps consume the intent and interpretation of God’s Word. At first glance it in other versions you might be inclined to see this as an instruction about marriage. However, it is more about linking yourself with any involvement or activity that is inconsistent with our theological understanding of what it means to surrender to glorifying God in all that we do. At work, I engage in business decisions and actions with unbelievers but those actions and partnerships are not always inconsistent with my faith…however, there have been some. I remember being asked to ensure that an application that I was involved with building, did not break or work improperly with sites that cater to voyeuristic endeavors that ARE inconsistent with my faith and purity. I made the decision to remove myself from that product and no longer be in a situation where I might even be associated with that type of work. God honored that decision and provided the next set of opportunities that brought me to where I am today.

We must be ready to walk away from friendships and partnerships where even our ‘above approach’ is questioned. God is honored when we make choices that put His holiness and glory above any earthly exploit.

Nice.Quiet.Day – I worked about six hours and spent a lot of time doing things other than work for a change. It was relaxing and invigorating all at the same time. Thank you, Lord, for a nice quiet day to recharge and rest.

11 Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians [we are hiding nothing, keeping nothing back], and our heart is expanded wide [for you]!
12 There is no lack of room for you in [our hearts], but you lack room in your own affections [for us].
13 By way of return then, do this for me—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also [to us]. 2 Corinthians 6:11-13 [AMP]

First Paul says that he is speaking with ‘candor’ to the Corinthians and not only that, but there is also an investment in Paul’s and his companions’ hearts for the church at Corinth.

The Corinthians lacking room in their own hearts means that there has been a narrowing of the space allowed for their apostle…likely because they have allowed the criticisms leveled against Paul to restrict the breadth of room they have in their hearts for him.

Paul, then talking as though he was talking to his own children, beseeches the Corinthians for reciprocal affection.

Application:

There will be times in my ministry that my love for another may be greater than that returned to me. I can hear Paul’s pleading in his heart for this to be different. I wonder how I, a Christ Follower that is not even in the same league as Paul, can make movement here. God is the one who can move and change the heart…it becomes an aspect of my prayer life, treating others with respect, and living righteously that must be enough. IN Christ I am seen by the Father as justified and without blemish because of His Son. That is where I rest my identity, trust, and worth.