2 Cor 10-13

Chapter 10.  A minority group was attacking his authority to spread the Gospel as well as his Character. (the timing of this read it amazing isn’t it).  Anyway, some were saying “Your letters are strong and bold but in person you ain’t all that!”.  I feel like he answers with almost a “Yes, that is true, I will not be Bold, because the rest of the world is like that!”  By the way, this will not be the last time we hear the word Meek (vs 1) so I want to define it.  Meekness is NOT weakness.  Meekness is about being gentle and humble.  I think too often our passion for Jesus or the Gospel to the unbelievers can actually be brought too harshly.  So think of what Paul is saying, he may know it and write about it boldly, but bringing it face to face should be done kindly (bold but gentle).

Chapter 11: Paul then says I hate to have to do this but let me tell you all I have done for you! Can you feel his anger.  While they are sitting there, now remember this week we talked about them being a people who even gets drunk and gorges themselves on food during the Lords’  Supper. He then tells off what it is really like to be on MIssion for them.  Let me ask you, after reading the second half of Chapter 11, and the way they are treating Paul, if you were Paul would you have given up?? Or would you visit a third time?

Chapter 12.  WOW.  Paul then says there is the earthly man in me (that is the part I am talking about) and then there is the part of me that Christ is so very real.  God has shown Paul a part of Heaven.  Even Paul cannot understand or explain it. I am sure God did this to keep the spirit (lower case) alive in Paul on the hard times he was facing.   Think about when we are in a trial, God will just bring us that one person, or that one thing to let us know He is with us.

Paul as many know suffered from an extremely painful, and debilitating disease.  Through all this he has not even mentioned it! Some say it may have to do something with his eyes that not just affected his eye sight but may have distorted his face too.  We do not know why God does what He does but trust me everything He does has a reason.

Chapter 13.  Well?  Ever question your Salvation? Ever ask yourself “Am I really saved”  I used to a lot.  Paul says “Test yourselves” Not test God”, but Test yourselves and see that the Spirit is in you.  That reminds me of the movie Evan Almighty (a must see) put yourself in a position that for the Lord to use you, and He will.

(For some reason that was a HARD read for me) well back to Acts for a brief moment tomorrow and then Romans!

2 Cor 10-13

Still getting through this read.  SOme tough scriptures in this one.  You?

2 Cor 5-9

I think this is a very personal read.  I found myself doing the “Beth Moore” pronouncing each word emphasized through all this: Read this OUT LOUD. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

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Do not be yoked with Unbelievers.  Sorry ladies, if you are already married…we already covered this!  However, with all other tight relationships, business, network, social we need to really check the status of their Salvation because the pull of the World on them with no doubt pollute us.  Trust me, it is a huge part of my marital problems.  He sits with the Canaanites daily!

OK, back to the Bible, then as I read into Chapter 7 we read that the Letters and Trips from Paul (clearly God written) had an effect on the hearts of the Corinthians because they REPENT!  Yeah!

The rest of the read is NOT about giving money, it is about God testing the sincerity of our heart. (ouch didn’t that hurt)

        I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.   2 Cor 8:8-9.

According to your means, what do you give?  Time, goods, service…Not because He commands it, but becasue you are compelled to!     

                For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.  2 Cor 5:14-15

2 Cor 1-4

You have to know all that is going on with Paul to write such an intense letter!  He sent the first letter.  Evidently there was another letter that was also sent.  Paul has no idea the effect these letters might have on the church in Corinth.  Did it anger them? Help them? Comfort them?  Evidently, Paul had a brief visit and it did not go so well .  Maybe it was the man who was having an incest relationship that Paul told the church to excommunicate.  He then,  is in another city and he is supposed to meet Titus, his personal friend and messenger of the letters,  and Titus no shows.  Oh the Horror!  Remember they are in times of extreme persecution.  Just carrying such a letter is reason to torture and kill Titus.   Finally,  Paul reunites with Titus. During all that Paul is suffering his own trials and anguish…so now as you read this letter know the LOVE Paul has for the seeded churches that are planted in such horrible cities.

Through all these trials, Paul has experiences a Comfort that only God provides in such times,  He also has readability to what the people of Corinth are going through.  I am just letting you know I am not a major underliner but I think I went through a whole pen on just these 4 chapters.  I am thinking we should come back and just study this book!

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Cor 1:21

I want to take 2 seconds on 2 Cor 2:14-17.  Regarding the term “Aroma” of Christ is on us.  Maybe you have seen this in the movies like Gladiator but the Romans would parade their prisoners of war or captives through the town after a victory.  Huge incense would be burned.  To some,  that smell would be beautiful, a smell of victory but to the ones that were prisoners that smell meant they were going in the Gladiator Den or Prison.  The incense was a small of death.    My friend chose verse 17 as a tag line for a ministry called Operation Crazy Love.  May we be the sweet smell of Christ to those we are helping.  A smell of hope and comfort.  However, know that to the lost and unbelieving we will smell like death because compared to us (eternally) that is the difference.  (that is why we offend the lost just being in the room)

Paul then continues about his “credentials”.  There were men walking around with papers declaring their importance in status and felt Paul needed to prove himself worthy to Preach and witness to the people.  Paul lets them know that our “letter of recommendation” is on our hearts!  Our lives are the testimony.  And Paul says it PERFECTLY!

I personally think Chapters 3 and 4 might be in my top 5 readings in the whole bible.  I remember where I was th first time I read them actually a few years ago.  I was numb (and confused).  I was lucky enough to call a neighbor who dropped everything and walked me through them.  If any of the Glory/Veil/ Stuff is swirling in your head let me know.  I actually assume most of you know more than me on the NT so I don’t know what to write on sometimes.

1 Cor 15-16

I found this to be a tough read. 

Corinth is in Greece, outside Athens and their philosophies were steeped in “feel good ” culture.  The Greeks believed in a release of the soul, but not of a Resurrection.  Paul is telling them plainly that without the Resurrection, your Faith is futile!  We as Christians talk about the virgin birth of Jesus or the death on the Cross.  Well man can be born.  And a man can die on the Cross.  The Resurrection is only the Work of the Lord.  It is the foundation of Faith.  Not that Jesus lives, not that he Died.  But that He rose again.  Paul even states that without that your ritual of Baptism is a waste.

“Let us eat and drink,
      for tomorrow we die.” 1 cor 15:32

This is a quote form Isaiah 22.  When men would go to war they would say such a phrase, rather than trusting in the Lord.  We have friends that live a like of “let’s enjoy life now…we could be dead tomorrow”.  If you are with Christ you never die, and you live accordingly.  You have eternity.  If you have friends (or a husband) that has this motto of life.  RED FLAG.  “Bad company corrupts good character.”

2 Corinthians overview.

Ever put something out there…and then wonder how it was received?  Well that is what happened to Paul.  He wrote the letter we called 1 Corinthians to the Church in Corinth and it was pretty straight forward.  I mean, he didn’t fluff it up at all.  Then Paul was worried about how the church received the letter.  (I know the feeling)  So paul sent his friends Titus to get the scoop.  Titus comes back with good news and bad news.  The good news is the letter was received very well from the believers in Corinth.  The bad news is they were questioning the authority of Paul.  (ummm ever look at someone’s name under a bible study offer and think “uhhhhhh”).  Anyway, same thing here.  See Paul was NOT one of the original 12 disciples.  Even after Judas the replacement was Matthias,  not Paul.  He never sat with Jesus.  He never learned from Jesus.  So what makes Paul a credible source?  Well, what makes any of us credible?

This is actually the 3rd letter.  If you paid attention to the first letter you can see Paul kep saying “As I told you” but  I am not sure what happened to that letter (God does).

SO this letter is written again to Corinth (thus the name 2 Corninthains…your quick…ha ha) and it is about a year after the first letter.  If I was estimating the timeline we are about 28ish years after the Resurrection.

1 Cor 12-14

• Spiritual Gifts
• Love
• Prophecy and Tongues

It is fitting that Paul would write about Spiritual Gifts and then after that talk about the Body of Believers coming together with our differences.  This is not the full list of Spiritual Gifts given by the Lord but the ones that were most given at the time of this church. 

Then we read probably one of the most popular readings in a modern wedding ceremony.   Read 1 Corinthians in the context that it is written this time (maybe for the first time).  It was not written for marriage, it was written for life.  God is saying through Paul, you can have all the talent and gifts in the world but without Love they are pointless.  Example, have you ever worked with the homeless, or the less privileged?  The condemned? The unsaved?  You can come into their life with all the wisdom, giving, knowlwdge…you want but if you don’t come in with LOVE toward them, it was a waste of your time.  And let me tell you it is HARD!  People who don’t know the Lord ACT like they don’t know the Lord.  So how do we treat others, especially the ones that don’t deserve it.  WHy do I say the ones that don’t deserve it….we have read several times Jesus desires Mercy from us…Mercy means love for the underserved.  So what does that look like to Jesus?  We treat that person with patience.  We are kind to them.  We do not boast about ourselves, or in our heart are proud.  We are not rude to others or self-seeking.  We are self-controlled in our anger, and we don’t keep track of someones errors.  We protect them, and we trust them.  KNOWING that Love will not fail.  Tending to someone in any other way,  other than the above may fail. 

Tongues and Prophecy.  A topic that makes many of us uncomfortable because we don’t understand ot believe it.  Church then was not like it is today.  There was no central meeting place often, there were no Lifeway Beth Moore Classes, heck there was not even a BIBLE!  SO what did they talk about? How did they know what to talk about?  How did an unbeliever come in and know what they were talking about? How did the church grow without a Bible to consult?  Prophesying was speaking with a message from the Lord.  In other words, a Spirit driven conversation.  God would use people with the Gift of speaking to speak Truth and Preach in the name of Jesus.  Prophezizing is still a major gift today and many of those gifted people may become pastors, or ministy workers, counselors, even authors.  God Inspired SPeaker.  (Sha often jokes that this is one of my gifts, and maybe it is since I feel I have nothing to do with  the blog most of the time)

Tongues.  I know what you are thinking?  What in the World is this? Is it real? Fake? Today? Back then only? Seriously? 

Here is my 2 cents on it.  Ready?  ok…Yes it is real!  How do I know…IT’S IN THE BIBLE.  But what it is and why is it?  picture being Paul and going to a foreign country that never saw Jesus do miracles, never knew Jesus, did not see the resurection….etc.  And then goes into their town and Preach repentance and a New lifestyle without “proof” of the Messiah.  Well speaking in Tongues is a proof of the Holy Spirit, just like on the day of Pentecost.  When Paul spoke in Tongues it was for the UNBELIEVER to hear and say “Holy Cow…that is supernatural!” and begin to inquire and learn in the church.  Tongues does not edify the Lord in any way.  Preaching the WOrd of God (prophecy) does.  Speaking in tongues was a SIGN for the unbelievers to know that Paul was with God, Immanuel, inside him in the form of the Holy Spirit.

So what about today? Well, why not.  I believe God can do anything He wants.  DO I think it is done today from the Lord?  Well, we  have the written Word, soooooo not sure why God would need to have someone speak in tongues.  But if He does, well he says it is for a specific reason, it is done for the unbeliever, and interpretation will be given.  I did see it once and I am certain it was FAKE.  It had no biblical backing to it whatsoever.  It was in a church (not what God said), it was a women (not what God said) and no one interpreted it(Not what God said).  However, if I have been in a setting with sound doctrine, (not cult like) Yes I would believe in Tongues.  Why not.

Does anyone need clarification of the Woman in church thing?  I know I got a bunch of strong women thinking :What in the world was that??

1 Cor 9-11

I don’t want you to only love half of what God says in the Bible I want you to LOVE every single word. Sooo I after you read today I want you to openly discuss anything that made your right eyebrow to go up.  Deal?  People who have never read the Bible or have only read parts have caused the WORLD to take scriptures out of context rather than reading the whole chapter, (or sometimes just the whole paragraph).  You HAVE TO get all this.  This is not like listening to a President election speech where you can only clap at the parts that you like.  You need to AMEN all of this today.  Ok?

Chapter 9:  Let me break this down real easy: have you ever thought “Ohhh my G. Look at the pastor’s car?  Can you believe the staff all have houses in nice sub-divisions?  I mean c’mon.  If they were really dedicated to the church they would live humbly, not take all the money from he church for their own life, they would give it to the poor.” 

Read Chapter 9.  Why should people who work for the church be any different than the standard of living of the congregation?  Why should they be any less?  WHy don’t we turn the mirror on ourselves and say “I am a christian JUST LIKE THEM, why am I not living in less so I can feed the poor?  Cmon people, if it’s good enough for us…it should be good enough for them.  It is extremely biblical from the beginning of time that those who work as a profession for the Lord should be compensated just like everyone else. (for what they do…they should be making a lot more)

Chapter 10.  WOW.   I loves history!  There are actually 2 separate events here and I would LOVE for you to take the extra time maybe later to read both the stories.  One of my Passions is for people to read the Old Testament NOT to understand the New Testament better but to understand GOD better.  Click on the below readings.  Click the bible address for the Bible Reading then click the word blog if you need some help with it to go to the blog post that was on it.

Exodus 32: The Golden Calf Blog

 Numbers 21:4-9:  The Bronze Snake Blog

 Chapter 11.  Public Worship.  If any of this confuses you PLEASE speak up.  Here is my 2 minute sermon on the public thing.  You are your husbands wife.  When you wear something inappropriate you are dishonoring your husbands AS WELL as the Lord.  In the context of the time period, Just because some ladies chose not to cover their hair (a custom), and they were free in Christ not to,  it disrespected their husband.  Modern day example, just because you are free in Christ to wear a tight shirt or jeans too tight….DON”T!  Ya hoochie mamma!  It disrespects your husband and  the Lord.

My last comment today is regarding the last supper.  I found the whole half chapter on it interesting because back then they would “Feast” while taking the last supper and when they did they would eat and drink inappropriately.  But the part that got me was the  Phrase: Man ought to examine himself before he eats the bread and drink of the cup.  I think too often people (or religions) take the Communion TO BE  right with the Lord.  Actually, we are supposed to take it BECAUSE we are right with the Lord (or not at all).  Let me put it to you this way, if you are living in sin and know it…we are NOT to take the Eucharist.  It is a SIN to take it under those circumstances.  Get me?  I think you know who you are.

1 Cor 5-8

How do we really think of sin?  Do we think less of it since we live on a Forgiven Side of the Cross?  Well we might, but God never changes on it.  As you read this keep in mind that there is no “building” yet called “the church”.  Scatterings  of small groups congregated in places or homes to discuss such topics.  Paul is letting them know much of what they think the Cross means is wrong.  For example, in 6:12 Is everything “Permissable?”  They assumed since the SIN was forgiven that it was “ok” now. Ummmmm do we think the same way?

Chapter 5: “DOn’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?”  Yeast  is symbolic of sin.  It is remembered at the Passover Festival when they Feast on bread without yeast in it. (today called Matzah)

Chapter 6: Lawsuits among believers.  If both sides were truly following Jesus…why would there be a lawsuit worthy of a pagan court decision?  And Sexual immorality, listen, God thinks no less of the sin of immoral sex than when he did since the beginning of time.

Chapter 7:  CHristian Marriage.  Remember when reading today that Paul is writing to the CHRISTIANS.  We are His people, His children, and all these letters we are reading are pertaining to us.  SO if you have any questions in your heart I am certain that these letters and the next few weeks will for sure give you guidance.

Chapter 8:  Food sacrificed to idols.  This is not just about buying meat in the marketplace that was improperly offered this is about Social Gatherings.   It is about setting an example.    Read the last verse, it is not about us not eating meat, it is about setting the example: if the social and “intake” you are visiting is not to the Lord’s standards THEN be a light!

(There is a lot in these 4 chapters, if anyone questions any of them and wants to talk about it e-mail me)

1 Corinthians 1-4

When you read this remember the church did not have the written New Testaments yet.  So listening to a great preacher and not “following” him was difficult.  The church in Corinth was divided into 4 “cliques”.  Followers of Apollos, Cephas (Peter), Christ and Paul himself.  But here is the next BIG topic on the table: The Cross.  As Paul says it was their stumbling block.  What does that mean?  Here are the views regarding Jesus death

• The Jews expected the Messiah to restore the throne of David.  A political king. A royal!  They saw him as a criminal on the Cross.
• The Greeks did not believe in the resurrection.  See the Greeks were followers of powerful Greek gods and goddesses.

They both considered death on the Cross weak and Defeat.  We as believers see the Power of the Cross.  The death and Resurrection was the Victory over Satan and death.  Does everyone get this, even the most intelligent men on the planet?? No.  Why? because it is a heart issue, not a head issue.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Paul says it will frustrate the intelligent.  I urge you to watch the movie “Expelled” with Ben Stein and hear the Darwinist’s try to explain their own foundation.  Even they trip over their stupid theories.

Now as far as CHapters 3 and 4.  Listen to me, if it pops out…HE is speaking to you .  ONE of the clearest ways to hear a message from the Lord is through His written Word.  Take these chapters to heart!