Month: January 2023

^“ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

Satan has ministers, and like wolves in sheep clothing, they pass of as ministers of Christ. It is by their fruit, not their words, that we are to know them.

Companion verses – Matthew 7:15-20 –  ^“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

“I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.” (2 Corinthians 12:2)

So there are three heavens. The third heaven that Paul speaks of here is up where the Lord and the angels are. Matthew 5:34 – “But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:” The second heaven is what we call space, the abode of the sun, moon and stars. Deuteronomy 4:19 –  ^“And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.” Then the first heaven is the earth’s atmosphere. Genesis 1:20 – “ And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.” Another way to remember it is that the first heaven is where the birds fly, the second one is where the rockets fly, and the third one is where the angels fly.

“Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.” (2 Corinthians 12:12)

Notice that the signs of an apostle are spoken of in the past tense, just as they are in Hebrews 2:3-4 – “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;  God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?” The apostolic signs were for the conversion of the first century Jews, not for the entertainment of twenty-first century charismatics.

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

A great passage on giving. Cheerful giving is the New Testament rule. A companion verse – “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Luke 6:38

^“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

This is a good passage on spiritual warfare. Our battles are supposed to be spiritual, not carnal, though the only battles that some Christians know how to fight are carnal battles. The focused believer acknowledges that his mind is prone to wander from the will of God and that his fleshy members are prone to do likewise. Being saved just isn’t enough. A conscious effort must be made continually to bring the mind in check and to cast down all that is contrary to Christ. This is a war that is never won while we live in this world. We win and lose battles, but the war continues until the Lord calls us home.

“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:12

Compare yourself to the Lord, and you will always see room for improvement. Compare yourself to man, and you will become proud and fruitless as a believer.

Your prayers may be for revival, souls to be saved, or any important matter, but God who is unlimited can become limited in your life. He will become as One who is deaf-

When you manifest indifference to the Word of God

“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination” (Proverbs 28:9).

When you have wrong relationships with your loved one.

“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered” (l Peter 3 :7).

When you have unconfessed sin in your life.

“Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness” (Isaiah 59: 1-3).

When you are not willing to be reconciled to another.

“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother” (Matthew 18: 15).

When you are jealous and critical.

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:30-32).

When you give in to temptation.

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:12-15).

When you know to do good and do it not.

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him itis sin” (James 4:17).

When you do not forgive another.

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15).

When you are not willing to right wrong.

“Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God … ” (Jeremiah 3: 13).

^“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” 2 Corinthians 5:10-11

The passage deals with the special judgment for Christians called the “judgment seat of Christ,” also mentioned by name in Romans 14:10, “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” and described in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

No one goes to hell at this judgment. Christians are simply judged for their conduct as believers while living out their lives on earth.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

A great memory verse for all Christians. The new birth produces a new creature, not just someone who makes a profession and continues to live after the world.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

It’s not enough to say that Jesus died and rose again for us; He was made sin for us. What exactly is meant by that, I am not sure. It at least means the He entered a foreign realm, one that was unworthy of His presence, and it at least means the He, the holy Son of God, came in touch with something dirty and defiling so that we could come in touch with God’s holiness. But what it means exactly to be made sin is beyond my comprehension.