Category: 2 Corinthians

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Are Paul’s fears for the Corinthian Church (12:20,21) realised in our church today? Of what value is Paul’s response in 13:5,6,11?

SJA Notes

* Dear God in Heaven, thank You for speaking to us today through Your word.

“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”

Paul’s “Finally” wraps up good purpose; the exhortations and encouragements and rebukes throughout his second letter to this church.

Paul doesn’t give his “Finally” in vain hope. He is realistic about his own fears and concerns … But knows that his hope is founded in Christ (not humanity).

Christ, who LIVES by the power of God.

This is strength!

It is not a weak hope that we have. Restoration. Other-centeredness. Agreement.

These are possible through Him who LIVES.

* Gracious Father God,

Please help us be striving for restoration with one another after harm is done.

Please help us to be focused and centered on others and not ourselves.

Please help us to agree with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Please help us to live in peace with one another.

Thank You that it is Your power that raised Jesus from the dead, to life, and so with us! Dry bones and dead hearts – made alive!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

This is the only occasion where an Apostle lets you into his private spiritual experiences. This uniqueness should give us pause. The human heart is too easily impressed and led astray by the self-proclaimed spiritual experiences of those who would lead. Such experiences should be treated as we should treat those of other intimate relationships such as marriage – with a jealous privacy, modesty and respect!

SJA Notes

* Lord God, please teach us today.

“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

We are reminded again of the worth in submission under God’s will. In the situations He places us in. Situations where we might be insulted or suffer calamity.

“For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

It is an upside-down logic for any worldly understanding, because we are so far from God.

But He has come near to us in Jesus, and brought us bear through Jesus – So that in our weakness He can be glorified. There is worth in our weakness!

This can be a hard thing to dwell on, but important to wrestle with.

* Lord God,

Thank You that even though we are weak, Your strength is shown through us Your people.

Thank You for Jesus, our Saviour and King.

Please help us each day to be more like Him.

Please show us today from Your word that You would have us know.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

False apostles are hard to pick. They play to our likes and dislikes, our longings and aspirations. We are easily taken in when we hear what we want to hear. In verse 4, Paul gives three signposts for telling false from true teachers.

SJA Notes

* Holy God, may Your word be sown into our hearts today, please grow it that we might bear much fruit.

“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.”

Just as we are to serve God, to be His servants in this life – So too Satan has servants.

And they mimic their master, the Father of lies.

We are to take heart when confronted with the hard truth of a wolf found out in sheep’s clothing.

Take heart – Because they were not unknown to God. They were not outside of God’s authority and His will, each day and moment that they masqueraded.

For while we cannot know the full truth of a person’s heart – God can, and does.

The motives of each person is known with full clarity to the Lord God Almighty.

And each of our motives will be laid bare and plain on that last day.

“Their end will correspond to their deeds.”

God is just and the judge. Promises are stored up for the servants of Satan, and God will acquit Himself in all faithfulness to His word, to His promises.

For us His sheep – life eternal. For them His enemies – death eternal.

Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

* Dear Father God,

You are blessed forever, we praise Your Name.

Thank You that You continue to build Your church, and the plans and workings of wolves amongst the sheep do not surprise You, they do not frustrate Your will.

You are all-powerful, all-knowing, all-seeing.

Lord You are God and there is none like You.

Amen.