|
2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTERS 6 & 7
See
previous page
2Cor 6,1-10
· (101h) Thy kingdom come Ø
Ambition Ø Be an ambitious businessman for God Ø
Managing God’s business
2Cor 6-1,2
· (31f) Gift of God Ø
Grace Ø Salvation Ø
God is willing to respond to man’s need
· (116k) Thy kingdom come Ø
Working the grace of God Ø His Grace in us is
in vain without Him
2Cor 6-1
· (131k) Thy kingdom come Ø
Manifestations of faith Ø Unity Ø
Working together for one cause
· (137j) Temple Ø
Building the temple (with hands) Ø Maturity Ø
Stages of maturity are levels of accountability Ø
Maturity is working with God – This verse says there is a way to receive the
grace of God in vain by not working with Him. His grace is effective only when
we follow Him and ask for His strength to do His will. When we made our commitment
to follow Jesus, He listened to us. Therefore, when He calls us to His will,
we should reciprocate His faithfulness. We should help Him fulfill His will in
our lives. Being children of God, we have an obligation and a duty to listen
to the voice of the Holy Spirit working in us and do whatever He says. Working
with Him to fulfill all the words that the Spirit of God who speaks in us
according to Scripture is the very purpose of receiving His grace. There is
something we need to do. That is, we are not passive spectators of our own
salvation, but active participants of His grace. Just as Jesus’ mother said
to the wedding servants at His first miracle in Cana, “Whatever He says to
you, do it” (Jn 2,1-11). This is good advice for us too. We will always be
the beneficiaries of His will, leading us into further righteousness, even if
it doesn’t seem like it would be very much fun. To listen and obey His voice
is our calling, even as He called Abraham.
· (171a) Works of the devil Ø
Manifestations of the devil Ø Outward
appearance Ø Vanity Ø
Vain effort Ø Vain religion
· (199c) Denying Christ Ø
Man exercises his will against God Ø
Frustrating the grace of God Ø Frustrating
Jesus Ø Frustrating the Holy Spirit
2Cor 6-2
· (82a) Thy kingdom come Ø
Three elements of prayer Ø Direction (Attitude)
Ø What to pray for
· (214j) Sovereignty Ø
God controls time Ø God’s timing Ø
God’s time is soon Ø God’s time is always
now
2Cor 6,3-10
· (7b)
Responsibility Ø Protecting the Gospel Ø
Defend the word of God by obeying it – In effort to protect the gospel through his
reputation, he commended himself as a servant of God in much endurance, in
afflictions, in hardships and distress, in beatings, in imprisonments…. He
suffered all these things so the lies that went ahead of him would be
virtually unbelievable. Why would someone willingly suffer this level of
treatment, and then suddenly destroy his own life’s work in an act of
self-betrayal? This was the question he wanted to generate in people’s
minds, and it cost him dearly to create that protective shield around his
reputation. Living in a world like this, preaching the gospel of Christ, one
that speaks of love and change, one that totally revamps the Jewish faith and
customs, suffering was unavoidable.
· (116f) Thy kingdom come Ø
Working the grace of God Ø Through hardship
· (142g)
Witness Ø Validity of Jesus Christ Ø
Witnesses of Jesus Ø Reputation exposed to
slander Ø Your reputation under attack – There were many reports spoken against Paul
in his day. They tried to discredit his ministry, trying to stop the word of
God. He tried not to give offense in anything in order that his ministry be
not discredited in evil report and good report. He was regarded as a deceiver
yet he was true. Paul didn’t worry what people thought of him, knowing they
would talk no matter what he said and did, but he didn’t want to put himself
in a position of explaining to others what they heard about him before he
could preach the gospel to them.
2Cor 6-3
· (1d) We are responsible to avoid offending
God and people, by maintaining a good reputation – Some people
actually want us to offend them, so they can excuse themselves from the
message of Christ, while salvaging their conscience. They are not interested
in destroying the gospel in society; they personally just don’t want to
hear it. But they are not being fair to themselves to get off the hook
so easily. Perhaps if they heard the word in power they would repent of
their unbelief. Paul writes a long list of things he does to
ensure not to nullify the grace of God, and at the top of his list was
giving no offense to anyone in order that his ministry be not discredited.
He does everything in His power not to offend anyone, knowing if he does,
those offended will tell others and their words will spread like wildfire.
Myths and untruths about him already multiplied without him doing anything
wrong; imagine how fast the news would travel had Paul not concentrated on
living as near perfect as humanly possible. He didn’t want to arm his
enemies with ammunition they would use to knock down his life’s work,
which was the very work of God. Rather, he sought to expose his enemies, so
when they spoke evil against him, those he reached with the gospel would not
listen to them. He especially didn’t want to offend his non-enemies,
because people would certainly listen to them. As it was, people tried to
get dirt on Paul, but since the vast majority of their claims were
unfounded, little stuck to him.
· (9a) Responsible to prevent being blamed for
something you did not do
2Cor 6,4-10
· (14f) Servant Ø
Ministry of helps Ø Helpers obey Christ –
Helpers are helpers through thick and thin, through hardship and
persecution. Whatever it takes to ensure the church is properly and
spiritually nourished and made to feel that someone is taking care of them,
that they are not alone in their confidence in God. The ministry of helps
strives to take the church to the next level of faith and love.
· (46b) Judgment Ø
Spiritual warfare Ø Subjecting your flesh Ø
Preparing for battle
· (129e) Thy kingdom come Ø
Manifestations of faith Ø Bearing fruit Ø
Bear fruit by dying to self
· (164j) Works of the devil Ø
Manifestations of the devil Ø The world is at
enmity with God Ø The world hates the church
· (188c) Die to self (Process of substitution)
Ø Separation from the old man Ø
Suffering Ø Growing pains Ø
Growing outwardly – Paul was whipped and beaten many times for
the sake of the gospel of Christ, yet God spared his life that he may
continue preaching the gospel and encouraging the saints, managing the
church and protecting it from wolves. Paul traveled the world often
suffering cold and exposure, half starving at times, preaching a gospel of
unimaginable wealth, promising his parishioners they would walk down streets
of gold one day while having the living God dwelling in their hearts. He
spoke of a spiritual wealth that transcended the human imagination that will
one day be ours to enjoy for eternity, as having nothing, yet possessing
heaven itself and the one who owns it, even as we are possessed by Him.
· (234h) Kingdom of God Ø
Pursuing the kingdom Ø Invest in the kingdom Ø
Sold out Ø Placing no boundaries on your
commitment to God Ø Going to any extreme to
fulfill the will of God – As a complete unknown along his travels among
those in a new land, a new country, a new village, they knew nothing about
his message, yet he was well known by God. As dying to the evil nature of
sin that never rests in our flesh, bombarding the truth that dwells in our
spirit with weapons of opposing stamina, being stripped of our dignity and
self destiny, taking on God’s purpose, incurring much sorrow to ourselves,
yet behold we live by the power of God. As punished, yet not put to
death.
· (236g) Kingdom of God Ø
Pursuing the kingdom Ø Invest in the kingdom Ø
Invest your treasures into the kingdom Ø
Invest your flesh
· (250c) Priorities Ø
God’s prerequisites Ø Sequence of
priorities Ø In all things ... Ø
Be a servant in all things
· (250m) Priorities Ø
God’s prerequisites Ø Lists Ø
Terms of graduating to the next level Ø List
of physical circumstances
2Cor 6-4,5
· (99e) Thy kingdom come Ø
Endurance Ø Enduring the will of God Ø
The position of a servant
· (242k) Kingdom of God Ø
Opposition toward the kingdom of God Ø
Persecuting the kingdom Ø Reacting to
persecution Ø Enduring persecution
2Cor 6-4
· (165l) Works of the devil Ø
Manifestations of the devil Ø The hardship of
affliction
2Cor 6-6,7
· (80c) Thy kingdom come Ø
Know the word in spiritual warfare Ø To fight
in the Spirit
· (111f) Thy kingdom come Ø
Spirit and the word Ø Word and the power
(meaning) of God Ø Word in obedience cannot
evade the power of God
2Cor 6-6
· (78d) Thy kingdom come Ø
Sincerity Ø Taking God to heart Ø
Having a genuine heart
· (105a) Thy kingdom come Ø
Pure in heart Ø A pure heart is a genuine heart
· (124d) Thy kingdom come Ø
Manifestations of faith Ø Love Ø
Acts of love Ø Love is one of the fruits of the
Spirit
· (126j) Thy kingdom come Ø
Manifestations of faith Ø Patience Ø
The patience of God Ø Have the patience of God
· (127a) Thy kingdom come Ø
Manifestations of faith Ø Kindness Ø
Be kind like God Ø Practice the kindness of God
2Cor 6,8-10
· (53a) Paradox (IRONIES
OF THE BIBLE) —Key verse for the
entire chapter
· (94f) Thy kingdom come Ø
God’s perspective Ø His perspective on the
gift of God
2Cor 6-8
· (107h) Thy kingdom come Ø
Truth Ø The church is of the truth Ø
God’s people are the true witnesses of God
· (142g) Witness Ø
Validity of Jesus Christ Ø Witnesses of Jesus Ø
Reputation exposed to slander Ø Your reputation
under attack
· (153l) Witness Ø
Validity of the Father Ø God bears witness
against the world Ø Shame Ø
Living for Jesus exposes sin Ø Suffering shame
for the cause of righteousness
· (182i) Works of the devil Ø
The origin of lawlessness Ø Deception Ø
Being deceptive with people Ø Distorted
perception of others
2Cor 6-9
· (53a) Paradox Ø
Opposites Ø Of life and death Ø
Die in order to live
· (54n) Paradox Ø
Opposites Ø As sorrowful yet always rejoicing
· (254c) Trinity Ø
Holy Spirit’s relationship between Father and Son Ø
Jesus is the life of the Spirit Ø We live
because He is life Ø We live because we died
with Him
2Cor 6-10
· (34e) Gift of God Ø
Believer owns everything Ø All things belong to
us
· (35c) Gift of God Ø
God is willing to Give Ø God’s immeasurable
generosity
· (54m) Paradox Ø
Opposites Ø As having nothing yet possessing
all things
· (109b) Thy kingdom come Ø
Revelations of the Holy Spirit Ø Revelation of
the gift of God
· (125e) Thy kingdom come Ø
Manifestations of faith Ø
Joy is the result of partaking of the Holy Spirit Ø
Joy of the revelation of Jesus Christ
· (188h) Die to self (Process of substitution) Ø
Separation from the old man Ø Sorrow Ø
Grieving over your own loss Ø Grieving over
your sinful nature
· (249h) Priorities Ø
God’ s preeminence Ø Wealth Ø
True perception of wealth Ø The infinite and
eternal wealth of God Ø Being rich in Jesus
–
We
can afford to be content; we have everything. There is one thing a believer
does not have without contentment: character. If we endure we will receive the
inheritance of all things. But the one who toils after the wind wants it all
right now, not knowing he already has it in his spirit, where Jesus lives. The
wealth that God put in us is of greater value than all the riches in heaven,
for Jesus is priceless above anything He could ever create.
2Cor 6,11-13
· (74g) Thy kingdom come Ø
Heart is central value system Ø Man’s
treasure chest
· (194i) Die to self (Process of substitution) Ø
Turn from sin to God Ø Yielding Ø
Yield to God’s right to direct your way
· (196d) Denying Christ Ø
Man exercises his will against God Ø Immaturity
Ø Not mature enough to die to self Ø
Unable to put down your own flesh
· (197c) Denying Christ Ø
Man exercises his will against God Ø Spiritual
laziness Ø Rebelling against where God wants
you to go Ø Refuse to walk in freedom
2Cor 6-11
· (85g) Thy kingdom come Ø
Words that are spoken in faith Ø Testify of God’s
works
· (150j) Witness Ø
Validity of Jesus Christ Ø Works of the church
bear witness of Jesus Ø Speak the word Ø
Preaching the word to the church
2Cor 6-12
· (22f) Sin Ø
Lust (craving pleasure) Ø Fleshly desire
· (96f) Thy kingdom come Ø
Positive attitude toward God Ø Good attitude
toward the Father
· (163b) Works of the devil Ø
Being a slave to the devil (Addictions) Ø
Bondage Ø Being slaves of men Ø
Prison
· (167f) Works of the devil Ø
Manifestations of the devil Ø Carnality Ø
The carnal mind is set on the flesh Ø Carnal
mind is fueled by our emotions – The Corinthians were restrained from doing
the will of God, which is how Paul started this chapter, encouraging them not
to receive the gracing of God in vain. He denounces any responsibility for
their complacency, placing the onus completely on them saying, ‘you are not
restrained from doing the will of God by us, but by your own affections.’ He
Urged them to rise above them, to overcome their affections to avoid being
overcome by them.
· (202c) Denying Christ Ø
Man chooses his own destiny apart from God Ø
Running from God Ø Running to your sinful
nature Ø Run from God by running to your flesh
· (241g) Kingdom of God Ø
Opposition toward the kingdom of God Ø
Hindering the kingdom Ø Obstacles in the way of
the kingdom Ø Distractions
2Cor 6-13
· (33g) Gift of God Ø
God is our Father Ø Children need a Father to
care for them
2Cor 6,14-18
· (10a) Responsibility to bring order to the
church Ø Dealing with problems
· (112e) Thy kingdom come Ø
Light Ø Jesus light in us overcomes darkness Ø
The light of His truth
· (167k) Works of the devil Ø
Manifestations of the devil Ø Do not conform to
the world Ø The world’s unbelief
· (191j) Die to self (Process of substitution) Ø
Result of putting off the old man Ø Set apart Ø
Set apart from the world – Paul warns the church not to marry the wrong
person, namely an unbeliever. Christians should not marry non-Christians. It
may seem like something Paul shouldn’t need to mention, but it happens all
the time. Christians become emotionally tied to someone before they know
anything about the other person’s faith, and before long they feel they
can’t live without him or her. They start talking about marriage, yet the
subject of faith still has not made it to the surface. They wake up one
morning with an unbeliever in their bed and can hardly retrace their steps
that led them together. Meanwhile their differences in faith cause them to
drift apart, and often ends in divorce after children have become involved.
Why would a born again Christian who is in love with God marry someone who
doesn’t even know Him? It is a very common and very big mistake to think you
are going to lead the other person to the Lord after you get married. What
fellowship has light with darkness? Why would you be attracted to someone like
that anyway? If you are of the light, how could you possibly be attracted to
darkness? There is no light in a person who does not know the Lord and perhaps
may never know the Lord.
· (222i) Kingdom of God Ø
The elusive kingdom of heaven Ø Do not give
what is holy to dogs Ø God shares no intimacy
with dogs Ø Do not fellowship with dogs
2Cor 6,14-16
· (1m) Being responsible to avoid offending God
by carrying a false burden Ø making commitments
that contradict Scripture –
Do not feel obligated to pair up with an
unbeliever or to have unbelieving friends. That does not mean you cannot
have unbelieving friends; It just means you shouldn’t feel
obligated. However, if you should marry an unbeliever, it may quite well be
the biggest mistake of your life. The trouble it will cause you is a false
burden that will only weigh you down, while adding very little positive to show
for of your misery and endurance.
· (195d) Denying Christ Ø
Man exercises his will against God Ø Idolatry Ø
Serving two masters Ø You cannot serve
righteousness and sin together – Paul didn’t understand why anyone would
marry an unbeliever. Spiritually, they have nothing in common, anymore than
light has anything in common with darkness. The moment you turn on the light,
the darkness disappears, so there is no fellowship between them. Paul asks the
question, wording it as unequally yoked to an unbeliever. Is there anyone out
there who is willing to be yoked to an ox that has conspired to make you do
all the work while it simply walks along eating grass? The unfortunate truth
is, the Christian who marries an unbeliever must have more in common
spiritually than we think, suggesting that anyone who makes this mistake must
have a heavy mixture of secularism, carnality and rebellion stirring in their
hearts. Unfortunately, “believers” have a lot in common with unbelievers
nowadays, because there are so many rooms in people’s lives that are not
lighted with the truth. They have their dark rooms in common with unbelievers,
but this is not God’s will. That makes us take one step back and ask what
fellowship Jesus had with the devil – absolutely none. Can you imagine Jesus
being buddies with the Pharisees? Although Jesus was essentially a spirit,
giving him that much in common with the devil, and though he was as much flesh
and blood, giving him that in common with the Pharisees, yet in their
situations the nature of one was giving, while the nature of the other was
taking. They were polar opposites by nature, and so are the believer and the
unbeliever on a spiritual level. They should not be able to coexist together,
and in most cases they don’t for long. For a Christian to marry an
unbeliever, most likely means there are rooms that are unlit by the truth in
their hearts, but God wants our entire lives to be a light for all the world
to see, so that there is no dark part or unlit room in our hearts where we
hide things we know are wrong. Christians who have one foot dabbling in the
world would understand why they would marry an unbeliever, but Paul doesn’t
recognize people who seek to live this way as Christians. He doesn’t accept
their lifestyle as a legitimate description of Christianity.
· (242i) Kingdom of God Ø
Opposition toward the kingdom of God Ø
Persecuting the kingdom Ø Worldly pressure Ø
World pressures you to forsake your values
· (250j) Priorities Ø
God’s prerequisites Ø Lists Ø
List of traits that can be found in man Ø List
of traits of the heart
2Cor 6-14
· (181f) Works of the devil Ø
Practicing witchcraft Ø Lawlessness Ø
Having no regard for the law Ø Forsaking the
law
2Cor 6,16-18
· (33b) Gift of God Ø
God is our Father Ø Believers are His sons and
daughters
· (104h) Thy kingdom come Ø
Pure in heart shall see God Ø Shall see the
Father Ø God is in our presence
· (132a) Temple Ø
Your body is the temple of God Ø Holy Spirit is
in God’s people Ø spirit of God in the spirit
of man Ø Spirit of the Father – We are individually temples and collectively
the temple of the living God. There, he said it. This is something other
people have written in other parts of the Bible, but never so succinctly as
this. It is the beginning idea of Israel's ancient form of worship using the
old covenant temple as their medium of worship, whereas our bodies in the new
covenant era have become the new medium, which is the beginning reason for it
being a better covenant.
· (172e) Works of the devil Ø
Manifestations of the devil Ø Tares among the
wheat Ø Communion between the world and the
church Ø The church in the world
· (213g) Sovereignty Ø
God is infinite Ø Jesus owns you Ø
We are his instruments Ø We are reflectors of
His glory
· (231k) Kingdom of God Ø
Pursuing the kingdom Ø Seeking the kingdom Ø
Count the cost Ø Don’t look back Ø
Don’t look back to bondage
2Cor 6-16
· (132a) Your Body Is The Temple Of God
(Key verse)
2Cor 6-17
· (31a) Gift of God Ø
God is our Father Ø He favors the church to
spite the world
· (134a)
Temple Ø
Your body is the temple of God Ø Your body Ø
Mediator between the natural and the spiritual realms Ø
Manifesting the kingdom of God through obedience
· (145g) Witness Ø
Validity of Jesus Christ Ø Jesus’ works bear
witness of Himself Ø Demon possession Ø
Human state Ø Filthiness Ø
That which Is unclean
2Cor 7-1
· (4i) Being responsible for the choices you
make Ø Accountable for your sinful nature
· (43l) Judgment Ø
Satan destroyed in the absence of sin Ø
Perfecting the will of God
· (85c) Thy kingdom come Ø
Your words can lead to your own demise Ø Your
mouth defiles the rest of your body
· (88j) Thy kingdom come Ø
Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom Ø It
causes repentance
· (103h) Thy kingdom come Ø
Purifying process Ø Cleans yourself
· (133k) Temple Ø
Your body is the temple of God Ø Holiness Ø
Having an awareness of God’s holiness Ø The
fear of God makes us aware of His holiness
· (138a) Temple Ø
Building the temple (with hands) Ø Maturity Ø
Maturing by the word of God
· (145f) Witness Ø
Validity of Jesus Christ Ø Jesus’ works bear
witness of Himself Ø Deliverance from demon
possession Ø Human state Ø
Filthiness Ø Being defiled
· (162e)
Works of the devil Ø Being a slave to the devil
(Addictions) Ø Bondage Ø
A slave to unbelief Ø Bondage to an inability to
believe – Spiritual sins are far worse than fleshly
sins, even worse than murder, at least they are to God. On the one hand, fleshly
sins are like the abrasive properties of sandpaper that cause our faith to
slowly erode over time, which if not put in check often lead to spiritual sins.
On the other hand, spiritual sins are like a hammer and chisel that takes out
chunks of our faith at a time. Hence, fleshly sins cause us to backslide,
whereas spiritual sins ultimately cause us to fall away altogether. We commit
spiritual sins through a spirit of unbelief. The way back from fleshly sin is a
simple matter of repentance, whereas repenting from spiritual sins is not as
straightforward. To cleans ourselves from the defilement of flesh and spirit is
a matter of praying the word of God over our lives, rooting out various sins
committed by the flesh and various demonic spirits that have attached themselves
and are controlling us. We need God to set us free, “From all defilement of
flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God,” who will begin to
reveal His truth to us for the purpose of obeying it. Until then we are held
under bondage to our own devices.
· (183f) Works of the devil Ø
The origin of lawlessness Ø Spirit of error Ø
Incubators of the spirit of error Ø Ignorance
· (187e) Die to self (Process of substitution) Ø
Separation from the old man Ø Die to the flesh Ø
Dying to receive the glory of God Ø Die to self
to be set free – This is the main verse in the Bible that
makes a distinction between sins of the flesh and sins of the spirit.
Catholics separate them as mortal (venial) sins and cardinal sins (or
something like that, I really don’t know), and there may be other terms they
use, but none they have clarified. In contrast, Paul makes the division
between flesh and spirit. We all know the sins of the flesh, those which our
fleshly bodies have tempted us to commit, such as sexual immorality, anger,
stealing, lying, essentially all the sins the Ten Commandments cover. You
might say, ‘I didn’t know there were others sins that the law did not
cover,’ and you would be right. The law also covers spiritual sins through
the very first commandment, “You shall love the Lord with all your heart,
mind, soul and strength.” The only difference between fleshly sins and
spiritual sins is that one you commit against man and the other you commit
against God. For instance, you can lie to man and you can lie to God.
· (192j) Die to self (Process of substitution) Ø
Turn from sin to God Ø Repent Ø
Stop practicing sin Ø Stop sinning
· (205d) Salvation Ø
Salvation is based on God’s promises Ø
According to promise Ø Promise of His
inheritance
2Cor 7-2,3
· (74g) Thy kingdom come Ø
Heart is central value system Ø Man’s
treasure chest
· (123i) Thy kingdom come Ø
Manifestations of faith Ø Love Ø
Spiritual affection Ø Being in love with the
body of Christ Ø Emotional situations --
These verses go with verses 7 and 8
· (131l) Thy kingdom come Ø
Manifestations of faith Ø Unity Ø
Having soul ties
· (161j) Works of the devil Ø
Essential characteristics Ø Satan’s attitude
determines our direction Ø Carried Away Ø
Condemnation Ø Condemnation without basis of
sin
2Cor 7-2
· (11j) Servant Ø
Paul is our example of how to walk with God
· (92m) Thy kingdom come Ø
The narrow way Ø Walk it for the sake of your
brother
· (155c) Witness Ø
Validity of the believer Ø Witness of the
believer Ø Conscience Ø
Having a good conscience Ø Conscience bears
witness that we obey God’s law
2Cor 7,4-7
· (29l) Gift of God Ø
God knows our needs; therefore we don’t have to care
· (98h) Thy kingdom come Ø
Endurance Ø (Faith à
Suffering [Endurance] à Glory)
· (125g) Thy kingdom come Ø
Manifestations of faith Ø Joy Ø
Joy is the result of unity
· (228a) Kingdom of God Ø
God’s kingdom is a living organism Ø God
working in you Ø Comforted Ø
God comforts you in times of adversity Ø He
comforts you in your suffering -- These verses go with verse 13
2Cor 7,4-6
· (57c) Paradox Ø
Opposites Ø The more you love the less you fear
· (188c) Die to self (Process of substitution) Ø
Separation from the old man Ø Suffering Ø
Growing pains Ø Growing outwardly
2Cor 7-4
· (84d) Thy kingdom come Ø
Words of your mouth Ø Boasting Ø
It needs to be said and no one else is saying it Ø
Boasting of my accomplishments in Christ -- This verse goes with verse
14
· (122h) Thy kingdom come Ø
Manifestations of faith Ø Confidence in
yourself as you die to sin Ø Confidence in the
church through your ministry -- This verse goes with verse
16
2Cor 7-5
· (24a) Sin Ø
Poverty (Oppression) Ø Fear of hardship
· (46e) Judgment Ø
Spiritual warfare Ø Subjecting your flesh Ø
Being fearless in battle
· (231b) Kingdom of God Ø
God’s kingdom is a living organism Ø Solving the mystery of godliness
Ø The mystery is solved in contentment
-- The
greatest weapon we have that most directly opposes our enemies is to be absent
from fear. It is incomprehensible to them. Their strategy is to provoke fear
in us. If they succeed, they have won, but if we remain fearless, their own
fear will come upon them. The problem is being fearless in fearful situations.
The secret is keeping our hands off the circumstances and letting God deliver
us. He can turn everything around and work in hundreds of people and custom design
our deliverance so in the end we will be facing the right direction for the
next odyssey. We must accept our circumstances, and wait for God to turn them
around His way and in His own time.
2Cor 7-6,7
· (130m) Thy kingdom come Ø
Manifestations of faith Ø Unity Ø
Interdependent on each other Ø Depend on your
brother to walk in the gifts of God’s calling
2Cor 7-7,8
· (123i) Thy kingdom come Ø
Manifestations of faith Ø Love Ø
Spiritual affection Ø Being in love with the
body of Christ Ø Emotional situations --
These verses go with verse 13
2Cor 7-7
· (101b) Thy kingdom come Ø
Zeal Ø For the manifestation of God’s kingdom
Ø Zealous for good works -- This verse
goes with verses 11&12
2Cor 7,8-11
· (104b) Thy kingdom come Ø
Purifying process Ø Purified by circumstances Ø
Purified through dying to sin
· (188h) Die to self (Process of substitution) Ø
Separation from the old man Ø Sorrow Ø
Grieving over your own loss Ø Grieving over
your sinful nature – Paul was referring to his first letter and
how fervently he rebuked the Corinthians for their fleshly ways. He didn’t
regret it because it led them to repentance in order that they may not suffer
any loss through his ministry. That is, he wasn’t about to let the
Corinthians backslide or fall away from God. He didn’t have the attitude,
‘Oh well, they won’t serve the Lord, so that’s that.’ Instead, he
fought for them; he got in the trenches with them and rooted out the problems
they had, exposing them to the light of God’s word, and gave them solutions.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, but Paul was a good shepherd too. He said the
sorrow of the world produces death. Too often people are sorry for what they
do, but only for their consequences after the fact, but if they are not
actually sorry for the sin being in their hearts, first chance they get they
will commit the sin again. Paul had a little more rebuking to do in the next
couple chapters, which suggest they were lacking in gratitude and respect for
their elders, and in discernment regarding who they should be following, being
short-sighted, not knowing what it takes to walk in Paul's shoes. Some in the
Corinthian Church thought they could do it, so Paul had to remind them what he
had been through, what it takes to be an apostle of Christ and what to look
for in those who claim to have such a ministry.
· (192f) Die to self (Process of substitution) Ø
Result of putting off the old man Ø Gain by
losing Ø Waiting for God to do it His way Ø
Lose your rights to gain His vindication
2Cor 7,8-10
· (86j) Thy kingdom come Ø
Obedience Ø Be doers of the word Ø
Clothe yourself with the word of God Ø Walk the
truth
· (89l)
Thy kingdom come Ø God convicts us of sin Ø
Conviction reminds us to repent
· (248c) Priorities Ø
God’s priorities Ø The will of God is sometimes a mystery
2Cor 7-8
· (170i) Works of the devil Ø
Manifestations of the devil Ø Outward
appearance Ø Temporary Ø
All suffering is temporary
2Cor 7-9,10
· (188g) Sorrow
(Key verse)
2Cor 7-10
· (26f) Consequences of sin Ø
Death is the fruit of the world
· (161i)
Works of the devil Ø Essential characteristics Ø
Satan’s attitude determines our direction Ø
Carried Away Ø Condemnation based on evidence
of sin
· (165d) Works of the devil Ø
Manifestations of the devil Ø The world is at
enmity with God Ø The world has no hope
2Cor 7-11,12
· (78f) Thy kingdom come Ø
Sincerity Ø Embracing your first love Ø
Single devotion
· (101b) Thy kingdom come Ø
Zeal Ø For the manifestation of God’s kingdom
Ø Zealous for good works -- These verses
go with verse 7
2Cor 7-11
· (42e) Judgment Ø
Satan destroyed Ø Be like Jesus Ø
Innocent before God
· (96b) Thy kingdom come Ø
Positive attitude about suffering Ø Abstaining
from sin
· (194e) Die to self (Process of substitution) Ø
Turn from sin to God Ø Hate evil Ø
Condemning sin Ø Hate evil by being innocent of
it
· (234g) Kingdom of God Ø
Pursuing the kingdom Ø Invest in the kingdom Ø
Sold out Ø Placing no boundaries on your
commitment to God Ø Completely given over to
the will of God
· (244i) Kingdom of God Ø
Spirit realm imposed on the natural realm Ø
Literal manifestations Ø Literal manifestation
of God’s word Ø Manifesting the righteousness
of His kingdom
· (250d) Priorities Ø
God’s prerequisites Ø Sequence of priorities Ø
In all things ... Ø Be innocent of all sin
2Cor 7-12
· (104g) Thy kingdom come Ø
Pure in heart shall see God Ø Shall see the
Father Ø God can see us – we are in His sight
2Cor 7-13
· (123i) Thy kingdom come Ø
Manifestations of faith Ø Love Ø
Spiritual affection Ø Being in love with the
body of Christ Ø Emotional situations --
This verse goes with verse 15
· (139h) Temple Ø
Building the temple (with hands) Ø Edification
· (228a) Kingdom of God Ø
God’s kingdom is a living organism Ø God
working in you Ø Comforted Ø
God comforts you in times of adversity Ø He
comforts you in your suffering -- This verse goes with verses 4-7
2Cor 7-14
· (84d) Thy kingdom come Ø
Words of your mouth Ø Boasting Ø
It needs to be said and no one else is saying it Ø
Boasting of my accomplishments in Christ -- This verse goes with verse
4
2Cor 7-15
· (87l) Thy kingdom come Ø
Obedience Ø Minister to people through
obedience
· (123i) Thy kingdom come Ø
Manifestations of faith Ø Love Ø
Spiritual affection Ø Being in love with the
body of Christ Ø Emotional situations –
This verse goes with verses 2&3
2Cor 7-16
· (122h) Thy kingdom come Ø
Manifestations of faith Ø Confidence in
yourself as you die to sin Ø Confidence in the
church through your ministry -- This verse goes with verse
4
· (125j) Thy kingdom come Ø
Manifestations of faith Ø Joy Ø
Joy is the result of hope
See
next page
| |
|
