2 Corinthians 5-6

It is nearly impossible to blog a couple of chapters. There are so many gold nuggets of truth in each chapter that picking one out and commenting on it is a trifle difficult. You should see all of my notes in these two chapters! I don't see much white space in my Bible. I have a lot to say on these two chapters. Therefore, I am going to condense my words here and expound on them on an article that I am currently writing: Transformation by Renewal is Real!

Let's jump back a chapter before I continue:

2 Corinthians 4:16 Amplified Bible ...Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.

Not by our power, but by the Power of the Holy Spirit Who has taken up residence within us. But I honestly believe that there has to be a desire to be renewed day after day. If I am content to remain the way I am for the rest of my life, then renewal is going to be nearly impossible! Our hearts must be opened to God for Him to refine us like silver. If the door to our hearts is closed to that, then God, being the Gentleman that He is, will not come in and rearrange the room.

Notice how Paul operates in order to be renewed:

2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV We live by faith, not by sight.

God has said that without faith it is impossible to please Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Paul continues with:

2 Corinthians 5:9 NIV So we make it our goal to please Him whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

Paul lives his life with pleasing God as his main objective. He knows that when he stands before God, his works will be judged and he will be rewarded. Please note that this is not works for salvation, these are works that we do regardless of salvation, and a reward is awaiting us for what we have done with our time here on earth.

Paul then tells the Corinthians to not be yoked with unbelievers. There is a certain gravity that largely operates in this world: we gravitate towards decay. I have taught my children that it is harder for a person walking with God to maintain that walk if they are constantly surrounded by unbelievers. It is easier to succumb to temptation because our flesh is weak.

Romans 7:19 NIV For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing.

You can just imagine him pulling his hair out in frustration over his flesh. I know I do sometimes!

The Lord has asked us to come out from unbelievers and to not touch any unclean thing.

2 Corinthians 6:17 Amplified Bible 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. [Isaiah 52:11]

Please note well! I am not saying, "do not talk to unbelievers" (those who refuse a relationship with God)! How else can they be reached for God? I'm saying do not have a close and constant relationship with them to the point that your flesh succumbs to temptation. There has to be a separateness that defines that relationship. We are to love unbelievers, minister to them, teach them, help them to see that God is waiting for a reconciliation with them - but we are not to be intimately connected with them.

And:

1 Corinthians 15:33 Amplified Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character.

Ahem! Back to the renewal thingy.

1. God wants to continually renew us, day after day.

2 Corinthians 3:18 Amplified Bible And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

2. He wants us transformed into His likeness , so that others will see His Light shining through this broken vessel we call our flesh.

2 Corinthians 4:7 Amplified However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.

3. Let us lead a life pleasing unto God, and not unto men.

Galatians 1:10 KJV For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

4. We must be careful not to become of the world while we are out there shining His Light for others to desire that same Light.

5. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind! (Romans 12:2) How? Read the Word, pray, be purposeful in what you allow into your mind, and enjoy that precious relationship that God has for you.

6. Go out and be that Light! So many broken, sad souls are looking for it - you have it through the power of the Holy Spirit Who has confirmed it in your spirit. Share it!

Blessings of peace and grace to you!

2 Corinthians 1-2

I find it very interesting how God works. I received a call from a friend this morning. We needed to talk about some issues that were causing some anger and resentment. We operate on the policy of "if you have anything that is bothering you, let's talk about it before it becomes a huge issue." So she did.

I sat down to pray and read scriptures before she came. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 spoke about comfort. A lot of comfort. I highlighted all the comfort in these verses:

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 ³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. ⁴ He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. ⁵ For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. ⁶ Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. ⁷ We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.

There is a lot of comfort here!

• God is the source of ALL comfort
  
• He comforts us
• Why? So we can comfort others - we will be able to emulate His pattern of comfort
• The more we suffer for Christ, the more God will comfort us
• Our troubles lead us to comfort others because when we are comforted, we can comfort
• This helps us to patiently endure what others suffer
• We share sufferings, and we share the comfort God gives us

The next few verses were key in preparing for my meeting:

1 Corinthians 1:9-11 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. ¹⁰ And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. ¹¹ And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

• I do not need to rely on my flesh for this meeting.
• I can rely on my God who raises the dead. He is all powerful and can do anything.
• He will rescue us
• God answers prayers for deliverance
  

No, I wasn't in mortal danger. Here we are, two daughters of God who need understanding, comfort and guidance. We prayed before our meeting that our hearts would be opened, that we would accept each other's words and find resolution. We asked God for His presence during the meeting.

1 Corinthians 1:21 It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ...

God graced our meeting, He enabled us to stand firm in Christ. After an hour of gentle conversation, apologies, and clearing up faulty assumptions, we tearfully embraced knowing that God had grown our relationship even more.

God showed up and led us through the comforting and encouraging process of clearing up a difficult situation. Isn't He good?

1 Corinthians 15

Besides the amazing basic facts that embody the Gospel, there is another point that impressed me. But first the facts:

1. Jesus died on the cross for our sins. The Perfect One took upon Himself all of our imperfections. We don't deserve this. But because of His Love and desire to re-establish a relationship with us, He unselfishly performed this most loving act.

2. He was buried and rose again on the third day. His Body never experienced decay as was foretold in the scriptures. (Acts 13:35)

3. He showed Himself to over 500 people. Witnesses - a powerful stamp of approval for the truth. Even Paul saw Him.

Jesus died for our sins, we are made righteous by His Blood. He has risen thus abolishing death once and for all. "Oh death, where is thy sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55) We will see Him again and spend eternity with The One Whom I Love!

In this chapter Paul continues to show much humility. Here stands one of the greatest apostles of all time; enduring all types of persecutions and beatings, left to die, thrown out of towns, and yet he never quits. How many conversions can be credited to him? How many churches have received admonitions done in love? And yet he says about himself:

1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles and not even fit to be called an apostle because I persecuted God's church.

And then Paul explains who he really is:

1Corinthians 15:10 But by God's grace I am what I am, and his grace shown to me was not wasted. Instead, I worked harder than all the others-not I, of course, but God's grace that was with me.

I love how Paul truly gives credit where credit is due. I have noticed this theme throughout his letters. He does nothing, the Holy Spirit does it all. He is nothing, the Holy Spirit defines him. He gives glory where glory is due:

Peter says it perfectly:

1 Peter 4:11 Whoever speaks must speak God's words. Whoever serves must serve with the strength that God supplies, so that in every way God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. Glory and power belong to him forever and ever! Amen.

I love the fact that we can truly say, we are who we are by God's grace!