Bible study Daily, explanation and encouragement - 2 Corinthians
A letter involves three parts:
1- Who writes
2- The message contained in the letter
3- The effect of communication on the recipient.
In the Bible, we read about many letters: letters of invitation, letters of threat, letters with decrees, etc.
In ancient times, letters were written on stone tablets. In ancient Rome, tablets with a thin wax coating were used to write with a kind of stylus. Which reminds us of the expression "stone tablets".
Throughout our history the tablets of our life is being written; some scenes in our life seem to be written like a knife on a tree trunk, it is painful, hard to forget ... others, it seems that they were written with a pencil, which with eraser, easily erases and does not even remember.
However, the most beautiful writing in our history is written in red ink, with the blood of Jesus, which was the day of our salvation !!!
Paul says we are living letters! The Lord our God every day writes through us to the world !!!
Beloved ones, what has the world read about Christ through you?
Think about it ...
WHAT TO DO WHEN FAITH LOOKS WEAK AND THE VICTORY LOST?
Acknowledge the source of opposition in the person of Satan and resist firmly.
2 Corinthians 4: 4 says that satan is the god of this world (he has a right to be here)
John 10:10 says: The thief (satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Hold your position! Do not give up on something that is good, that is in accordance with the Word, but, recognize that it is satan who seeks to prevent it from happening.
Satan does not want the unbeliever to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Satan does not want the believer to let go of his or her worldly life and recognize Jesus as Lord and live under the control of the Holy Spirit and according to the Will of God the Father.
The writer Watchman Nee in "The release of the Spirit" comments on the difficulty of the treasure of Jesus' life to reveal Himself in us, the earthen vessels.
He says that it is not our weaknesses that prevent God from revealing Himself, but our strengths: wealth, intelligence, popularity, beauty etc. And until we are willing to be broken by God in our strengths, so that He uses us as He wants, these are characteristics that will draw attention to us and not the treasure hidden in us. The treasure inside the clay pot is only revealed when the pot is broken. God will reveal His greatness and His power in our weaknesses.
But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 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" 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
SPIRIT OF FAITH
The Spirit of faith is needed to do God's will and complete the career He has for you.
THE SPIRIT OF FAITH HAS AN ATTITUDE AND ACTION. The attitude is in believing and the action is in speaking!
When we keep our speech together with what we believe, the spirit of faith takes us to our destination.
BELIEVING IS TALKING!
Believing is the attitude of faith. You can choose fear and doubt or you can have an attitude of faith. You will watch and see mountains and master your attitudes.
YOU HAVE THE CHOICE TO BELIEVE AND SAY what God tells about you.
FAITH MOVES GOD. FAITH MOVES MOUNTAINS.
FAITH MOVES NOTHING UNTIL YOU MOVE FIRST.
THE FIRST PART OF YOUR MOVE IN FAITH, IS YOUR MOUTH!
Faith chooses to BELIEVE the word of God above the evidence of the senses, knowing that natural circumstances must be kept subject to the Word of God.
Faith is not denying circumstances; rather, it is believing God's testimony and living in accordance with it.
- Focus on the invisible and eternal. Consider and linger in divine glory. Meet the inner man who is being renewed.
- Live according to the truth of God's Word is the witness of the Spirit.
- Do not accept distortions of the truth of the Gospel.
Plowing with a young ox and an old ox is impossible, because they are unequal forces. Nor is plowing with an ox and a horse possible.
The marriage between an unbeliever and a believing Christian will go wrong. The unbeliever does not wish to spend time in prayer and Bible reading. The interests are unequal. God's blessing does not rest on this marriage for God rejects this courting/marriage in this verse. Therefore, you cannot expect an answer to prayer that God will lead your mate to faith if you are CONSCIOUSLY married to an unbeliever.
The same is true of entering into an unequal marriage between an Evangelical and a Roman Catholic who worships saints and images. The evangelical prays directly through the Mediator Jesus Christ Who died for your sins, the Catholic through another human who did NOT die for your sins.
Equally a marriage between a Mormon, whose teaching is received through an angel and has ANOTHER Bible. Or a seven-days Adventist or Jehovah Witness, that is a different doctrine from Bible.
Marriage between a young in faith and adult believer also goes wrong, for the young Christian is still worldly focused, while the adult Christian wants to spend his or her time in prayer, Bible study, social work, gospel preaching, and more money to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The scriptures should always be read for us, not against other people (Dietrich Bonhoeffer).
In fact, our hearts need to be the first target of what we read in the Bible. The least we need to do, is examine ourselves, probe our intentions and motivations, always having the courage to submit to the Lord. It will be absurd on our part to demand from others what we do not live, and to want to teach what we do not practice.
So, let go of all pride and do a high exam today.