King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Thursday, December 05, 2024
Chapters: II Corinthians Chapters 1-4
Message: Established By Hope
Hello My Friend,
Today is one of those days where you hit the snooze button a few times and the longer you lay in bed the more tired you are when you finally get up. It did not help to read the chapters for today as I feel convicted for not doing my part as a Christian to shine the light of Christ through my failing ministry. I was actually looking for this passage as I started to read the chapters for today.
[2 Corinthians 4:15-18 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.]
Wow! The afflictions we face, whether we contributed to them or they were just handed to us, are not always meant to chasten us, they are meant to renew our faith, to restore our faith, and to actually give hope to others who are struggling with their own faith, as we endure them. Believe it or not, we have eyes all over us, and sometimes just getting up out of bed is enough to show them that we will not let the devil defeat us and that God is with us, [2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.]
The Book of 2 Corinthians was written Paul to believers at Corinth, and to all believers. The timeline for this letter took place approximately 60AD, and the purpose of the book was to reestablish his authority as an apostle, and show gratitude and thanks for their faithfulness in Christ. What we are to learn from the book is that human weakness provides an opportunity for the power of God to be revealed through us, [2 Corinthians 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.]
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was one of discipline, this one, written about a year later, is one of encouragement. He had it written when he himself was discouraged and heard how they had turned things around, including the man that he had told them to remove from the congregation. Paul, wanted to let them know how pleased he was that they were living by the true Gospel, and how much of an encouragement they were to him. He points out that there is a reason for the afflictions that we face.
[2 Corinthians 1:1-5 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: 2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.]
[that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble,] The suffering that we endure through Christ actually brings the lost to Christ as well as those who are also struggling with affliction. There is nothing that we are not faced with that the world is not. Everyone is looking for some kind of hope that what they are going through will come to pass. So, imagine their wonder to discover that Christ gives them that hope. And that hope not only brings others to Christ, it renews our own spirit as well.
[2 Corinthians 1:8-11 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; 11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.]
[that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God] I do not care how strong our faith in Christ, we all feel a little despaired sometimes, look at me, I have been like that roller coaster, but our hope was never in trusting man or ourselves, we are trusting in the living God who will raise us up, just like He did Jesus, [Romans 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?]
Life can drag us down sometimes to the point that we are in complete misery all the time and if we let the devil defeat us we can spread that misery onto others. Paul, stresses the importance of our not discouraging others by our own discouragement.
[2 Corinthians 2:1-4 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. 2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? 3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.]
[For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad,] We are not always going to be bubbly and cheerful all the time through our afflictions, sometimes we just need to vent and let it all out, and that is perfectly just fine, but we need to keep it between us and God. Going through affliction is never meant to punish or push us away from God, but to comfort and draw us closer to Him. If sin did attribute to the affliction than we need to address it, [1 John 2:1-4 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.]
Remember the guy that Paul told them to kick out because he was bringing sin into the church? Well, the man repented and turned his life around and wanted to be accepted back in the church. Paul, encourages them to forgive the person who had caused the problems and allow him back into their congregation, he was aware of his fault, repented, having faced much affliction, and was looking for hope himself.
[2 Corinthians 2:9-11,14-16 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?]
[To the one we are the savour of death unto death;] There are one of two reactions that those whom have been watching us have as we endure our affliction, they will either run to or from Christ. Those who run from Christ bring damnation to themselves because they will not let their hearts open up to Him while those who run to Him bring eternal life to themselves. Paul, goes on to explain this.
[2 Corinthians 3:1-6 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.]
[declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us,] There is nothing more joyful to faithful Christian than to see their ministries succeed as they draw others to Christ, it is though all the pain they endured was worth it. So, naturally if they are not seeing the results they want they begin to question their efforts. However, we do not realize the impact that we have on those who have no hope in their pain, we may not see it, but God does, [1 Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;]
You see, it is actually not the work we do for God that brings the greatest blessings, it is the quality of our work that does, sometimes the only effort we have in ourselves is to praise God for all that He has done. Well, those who are watching will see us praising Him and that is the opportune time to tell them about you hope in Jesus. Without the pain will not see that we have so much more awaiting us, not only in this phase of our lives, but the next phase as we step into eternal life.
[2 Corinthians 3:12-18 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.]
[we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face,] Think about it, the most effective way to reach people is not with a holier than thou attitude, it is simply by being ourselves. Those who are watching us have already seen who we are in the flesh, so imagine the affect we have on them by living our lives through Christ. Those who see Christ in us will bring personal conviction and many times rejection to themselves. By the way, the reason why Moses put a veil over his face when he spoke to the people was because the Holy Spirit shown upon it and they could not bare to face him.
[Exodus 34:29,32-33 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. 32 And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai. 33 And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.]
Let me tell you, if you are losing your faith, remember that you have the living God living inside of you, so stop wallowing in your sorrows, and start walking in faith, knowing His promises. You are a saved, born again child of the KING! Your name is written in the Book of life, and it cannot be removed no matter how many times you fail God. Rejoice in that, and then you will find that hope you lost. Of course, I am preaching to the choir here! Paul, goes on to encourage them to keep going in their faith.
[2 Corinthians 4:1-5 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.]
[we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;] We may not be the best Christians and to be honest we fail God more times than we care to admit, and that is on a good day. You see, whether we realize it or not, even at our worst, our faithfulness to Christ is what shines as we keep going no matter how many times we fail Him. Walking by faith does not mean we are not going to have days of discouragement, it does mean that God knows and understands that we have this flesh, and as long as our faith in Christ is not in vain, He will see us through every bit of it.
[2 Corinthians 4:6-10 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.]
[Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus,] The life we live after we are saved becomes a reflection of Christ, the ore we endure those troubles on every side with Him the more hope we give to those who are trusting in what they see to save them, [1 Peter 3:14-15 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.]
Today’s Prayer: God, When affliction comes my way, I admit the last thing I want to do is minister to others, in fact, all I want to do is hide in a corner somewhere and not talk to anyone. When You bring me to my senses, I know that You are always there, ready to pick me up, and show me how to handle things. You are so merciful to me that it tears me up to think that I suffered so long. Lord, there is no one like You, so loving, so trusting, so fearing, so patient and long suffering, and while You may not remove the affliction Your grace is sufficient enough to help me through and give me the hope I need to keep going, and I thank You for that. Lord, Walk with me, guide me, and put Your hedge about me, keep reminding me of the hope that I know only comes through my faith in You, and let me be the Light others need to see that You are their hope. I love You Lord and ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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