2 Cor. 10  Paul felt such a love for the church at Corinth, that it was hard for him when they were doubting his authority.   He wanted them to see his heart.  He was the one who first presented the gospel to them.  This was God's plan!  But, he was not lording it over them.  He came with meekness and gentleness, like Christ Himself would do.  He did have authority, from the Lord, for "building (them ) up". (v8) His work among them was meant to result in growing faith and an expansion of the Kingdom.  (v15-16)  His letters may have seemed "weighty and strong", even terrifying,  but his purpose was to bring them good, to bring them to "obedience" in Christ. 

However, Paul was ready to fight a battle against those who were preaching a false message!  He would come with boldness and  "weapons of warfare"; ready to fight!  " ..for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.  We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." ( v4-5).

The enemy that Paul is ready to fight, these "fortresses" are speculations - conceited imaginations, reasonings, and thoughts; and "lofty" things " raised up against the knowledge of God".  Hear what Isaiah has to say about lofty things:  

" For the Lord of hosts will have a day of reckoning against everyone who is proud and lofty, and against everyone who is lifted up, that he may be abased.  And it will be against all the cedars of Lebanon that are lofty and lifted up, against all the oaks of Bashan, against all the lofty mountains, against all the hills that are lifted up, against every high tower, against every fortified wall, against all the ships of Tarshish, and against all the beautiful craft.  And the pride of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men will be abased, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day."

( Isaiah 2:12-17)

Isaiah goes on to say that when these proud and lofty people come face to face with the "splendor of His majesty", the "terror of the Lord"- they will run and hide in caves and holes in the ground. They will throw away their idols of gold and silver.  They and the whole earth will tremble. 

What are these "divinely powerful" weapons of destruction?  What does he use to "take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ"? What can change a thought - a perception, a purpose, an understanding - what changes the mind?  Two things - The Living Word of God and prayer.  "... the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.  With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit... " (Eph. 6:17b-18).  

Paul teaches us to put on the "full armor of God" to stand against the evil of the day and the schemes of the devil. We are in a spiritual battle.  We take up this armor of truth, righteousness,  the gospel of peace, faith and salvation - these are protection for us, from the enemy.   But, the weapons against the enemy, the weapons of warfare - are the Word of God and prayer.  The "word of God"  the writer of Hebrews tells us, " is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." ( 4:12) 

Father in Heaven, You have given us the Word, Living and active, to read, study, memorize, and meditate on - that we won't be conformed to the speculations and lofty thinking of this world - but "transformed by the renewing" of our minds.  We must hunger and thirst for Your Word, for it is the Bread of Life.  Jesus, the blessed Son is the Word, who became flesh and dwelt among us.  We need You, Lord!  Oh Father , like Paul we pray that we will proclaim the Word with boldness, to destroy the speculations and lofty things  that are against the knowledge of You. We take up these weapons of warfare, these divinely powerful weapons for the purpose of bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  Fill us Holy Spirit! Every moment and every hour, for the day of reckoning is coming soon.  May the Lord God alone be exalted!  Amen 

2 Cor. 8- 9    Paul's word here centers on an offering that was being prepared for the Christians in Jerusalem.  The  churches in Macedonia were giving liberally and joyfully for this ministry.  The church in Corinth had been ready to give, and now Paul is urging them to complete it to their ability. (8:11).  Paul had boasted about the Corinthian church's gift.  They had promised "a bountiful gift".  He is urging them to come through. This passage gives us some important guidelines on giving.

When we give an offering, we should give "according to"  our "ability".  ( 8:3; 12)  We give out of what we have, not out of what we don't have.

Giving is "a gracious work" ( v7,19) that accompanies the giving of ourselves first; revealing in us an abounding faith, utterance,  knowledge, earnestness, and sincere love.

Giving - imitates the "grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." ( v9)

Giving is practical- The Corinthians were giving to those who were in need now, but there may be a time when they are in want and will be helped by those who are now receiving. (v13-14)

Giving is for "the glory of the Lord". (v19)  So, it is important that those who administer the gift be "honorable"; "tested", and "diligent" so that God is glorified.

Giving should be "bountiful... not affected by covetousness" (9:5) "..he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully." ( v6) To give bountifully is to give with blessing and thanksgiving, to invoke a benediction ( an affirmation or prayer of God's blessing).

Giving is to be carefully, prayerfully,  and honestly thought out - "Let each one do as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver" ( v7)

Giving is something we do in partnership with God.  " And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed." ( v8)   God "supplies the seed to the sower";  He supplies and multiplies "your seed for sowing" and increases " the harvest of your righteousness".   (v10)  He starts the process by giving to us,  He does the multiplying, and He allows us to reap the harvest! 

Giving with generosity ( liberality) results in our enrichment and more importantly thanksgiving to God. (v11)  

Giving in this way is another evidence or proof of "obedience to.. confession of the gospel of Christ." It reveals that Christ is in us. (v13) Again bringing glory and thanksgiving to God, as well as a mutual love and affection between those who give and those who have received. (v14).

Our thinking about giving, to those in need or to the church or other ministry,  must be aligned with the Word of God.  It is not out of obligation to the Law or out of pressure from others that we give... we give out of our union and communion with our Savior and God, to His glory!  We give because He gave.  We give because we know Him and love Him. We give because of His Grace which has filled our own hearts. We give, because we have learned that the more we give, the more He blesses.

Personally, we have found this to be true.  You can never out give the Lord!  Thanks be to God for His great grace and tender mercies!

Father, have Your own way, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.  Remove any covetousness from our hearts that we might always give bountifully for Your glory!  In the Name of our Gracious Redeemer Who gave Himself for us, we pray. Amen.

2 Cor. 7  Paul focuses on the word "comfort" in this chapter.  He was "filled with comfort" ( v4); he was comforted by the coming of Titus ( v6) who brought comfort to Paul because he received comfort from the Corinthians. ( v7).  But, most of all, Paul was comforted by " God, who comforts the depressed" ( v6)  This word - comfort- is the Greek word "parakaleo", which means to call near; invite, invoke, console.  We are comforted by the One Who calls us by name to come near to Him and find solace in His Presence.

" Make room for us in your hearts.... "  Paul implores his friends, come near.
Paul acknowledges that his first letter had caused them sorrow.  But, he is thankful that the sorrow led to repentance.  This also stirred the church in Corinth to produce " vindication of yourselves, indignation, ..fear... longing..zeal.. and earnestness." ( v11-12)  This response is the source of Paul's great joy and comfort. It also restored Paul's confidence in them.

Chapter 8 The emphasis in this chapter is "earnestness".   Earnestness incorporates eagerness and carefulness.. speed with diligence.   Paul says that the church abounded " in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you..."  ( v7)  They needed to complete their pledge of presenting a gift for the needy in Jerusalem, to prove this earnestness, to show the sincerity of their love for others.

Titus had become "earnest" for the people of Corinth.  He desired to return to them, to participate with them in this ministry, "for the glory of the Lord Himself".

Father in heaven, give us ears to hear and hearts to obey.  May we be filled with comfort by Your Presence as You call us to Yourself, as we draw nearer and nearer to Your Heart.  May we abound in earnestness, sincerely loving our brothers and sisters in Christ, showing our love by coming alongside them and comforting them also.  We thirst for You,  fill us with Your Spirit,the Spring of Living Water, to overflow in earnestness for others.  We are unable to do anything without You, Lord Jesus.  You are the Vine and we are the branches.  We abide in You. You abide in us.  Thank You for being our All in all.  Amen.

2 Cor. 6  Verse 1 "And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain -"  The Bible Knowledge Commentary indicates that the way this might happen - receiving God's grace in vain - is either to disbelieve the Gospel or to follow the teachings of false apostles, probably the Judaizers.  The message of the Gospel that Paul preached was salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone; that is the gift ( grace)  of His righteousness exchanged for our sin.. through Jesus.

Paul wants the Corinthians to see the proof that his ministry is the truth; to not follow empty, useless, false teachings.  The proofs he gives are:
His endurance
His afflictions
His hardships
His distresses
His beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, sleeplessness, and hunger;
His purity, knowledge, patience, kindness,  - the fruits of the Spirit;
His genuine love;
The Word of truth, the power of God, and the weapons of righteousness -

All that they could readily see at work in Paul's life, the good and the bad, gave proof to Paul's genuine faith in Jesus Christ.  His life was God's message to them.  " .. by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report;.. " Christ is seen in Paul's ministry.  He made every effort to live a life that gave glory to God.  They could see that for themselves if they would "open wide" their hearts to him, just as he had opened his heart to them.

Paul cautions the church about being "bound together with unbelievers".  Whether this refers to the false teachers or those who were still bound to idols - the presence of these people in the church would be allowing Satan himself ( Belial)  into God's temple.  They.. and we... are called to come out and be separate from those who are "unclean" - impure, morally corrupt, and even demonic.

"Therefore, having these promises beloved, ( the promises that God would walk among us and make us His people, that He would be a Father to us and we would be His sons and daughters. Verses 16-18).. let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (7:1)

Father in heaven, we honor You and bless Your Name forever and ever.  There is no other god and no other name that we want to even speak.  We desire to live in holiness, clinging to You, our Father and our God.  It is through the gospel of Jesus Christ that we have been made Your children, exchanging our sins for His righteousness.  How marvelous are Your works, O Lord!  Thank You.  Father, I ask that You would shine this glorious Light, the Truth of Your Word, into our hearts and into the hearts of my loved ones. I pray for their salvation and for their sanctification through Your Word and through the Living Water, Your Holy Spirit.  It is in Christ's Name that I ask this . amen.

2 Cor. 5:11-21  "Therefore"....  because we will appear before the judgement seat of Christ.. "knowing the fear of the Lord"... because Life is at stake - " we persuade men".  Paul argues, teaches, convinces, entreats, and prays that men will come to faith in Jesus.  Even if it appears he is a mad man "beside ourselves" - it doesn't matter - only that men come to Christ.  "For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf." ( v13-14) 

Nothing else, no other argument is important, only that " .. all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." (v18).  This ministry is defined clearly, " God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation."

Reconciliation - exchange; restoration.  This word goes deeper than our common understanding.  It is more than just becoming friends again. More than making peace.  God "made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."  In the life and death and resurrection of Jesus, God made an exchange possible for all who will receive it - an exchange of our sin for His righteousness. 

This exchange is offered to "the world". 
 It brings total forgiveness and justification, " not counting their trespasses against them".
The "old things"  pass away.  The "new creature" comes into being - in Christ .

The only way to be reconciled to God is through Jesus Christ.  It is not God who is reconciled to us - He does not change !  We must be- changed, exchanging our sin for His righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ - reconciled to Him.  There is no other way to God, except through Jesus.

Father, give us ears to hear and hearts to receive Your Word.  Thank You for reconciling us to Yourself through Jesus Christ. How we praise You. Wonderful God and Gracious Father, we are so grateful. Amen

2 Cor. 5:1-10  Paul makes a comparison between the temporal and the eternal.  Right now we live in an "earthly tent" - a residence or abode, that is our temporary home.  Our souls dwell in a house, a hut, our human bodies.  But, this house will one day be torn down.  It is not meant for eternity.  When we leave this temporal home, as believers in Christ, we will "have a building from God".  This building is not made  "with hands".  It is not earthly at all - it is from God. This will be our permanent dwelling place.

Now, in this body/home, we groan; we are burdened; we are naked; we are mortal -liable to die - in the process of dying. ( v3-4)
Then, we will be clothed; "swallowed up by life". Imperishable and immortal. Incorruptible and unable to decay. Undying. (v4)

In John14: 2-3 Jesus says, " In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."   The word for "house " is the same one Paul uses - a home or residence. The dwelling place that Jesus is preparing for us in heaven is the "building from God...not made by hands".  It is not a mansion or a room - it is a new, imperishable, immortal, incorruptible, living, heavenly dwelling.

"Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God..." v5 
Stop and think about that a minute. God's purpose for us is to LIVE, to be "swallowed up by life."  And He has given us "the Spirit as a pledge".  A downpayment, a security deposit... A binding contract on a New and Eternal Home.  The Spirit of the Living God, is given to those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord, and as we receive Him, we receive the contract to our eternal, immortal, incorruptible, imperishable homes.

Since this is true, Paul says, be of "good courage";  "walk by faith";  and aim to be "pleasing to Him".
Be of good courage, because we know that when we leave this human body, we have a much better one waiting! Be of good courage, because when we leave this home, we will be at home with the Lord!
Walk by faith, not by sight.  Look at the unseen and not the seen.  Everything that we see with our physical eyes is destined for destruction. It is corrupt.  It will perish.  But the things we "see" by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,  those things will never end - because He will never perish, never die, never be corrupted.
Aim to please Him, because what we do now, in our temporal bodies, does matter.  At the judgement seat, Christ will recompense us for the deeds we do, whether good or bad. It is His will that we need to discern and do, "that which is good and acceptable and perfect". ( Romans 12:2)

Father in heaven, once again we ask that You give us Your Spirit, to fill us to the full, to bring understanding- to know Your perfect will; and then the power to do Your perfect works.  May we be of good courage, walk by faith, and please You in all we do this day.  In the Name of our marvelous Lord, Jesus Christ we ask this.  Amen.

2 Cor. 4   Paul's ministry - of the Spirit and of Righteousness - came by the mercy of God.  Since God called him to serve in this manner, he does not "lose heart". (v1)  No matter the circumstances, Paul affirms that he will continue to preach the Gospel.   Even when the unbelievers can't understand it because their eyes have been blinded by the evil one, Paul says he will continue to preach Jesus Christ as Lord.  "For God, who said 'Light shall shine out of darkness' is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." ( v6)  He will give that Light to others too. So don't lose heart. Don't give up.

Whether afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, struck down,  or dying - Paul declares his faith in Jesus Christ.  Again, he states - "we do not lose heart" ( v16)
Because he believes, he speaks.
Because he knows that the One who raised Jesus will raise him too, he keeps spreading the gospel.
Because the " momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison" ( v17),  he keeps his eyes on the "unseen" and "eternal"  things.

People are perishing.  Their eyes have been blinded by Satan.  They are missing the glory of Christ.
The glory that God, in His mercy, has allowed us to see by shining His Light into our hearts.  We have this great Treasure - in our weak, fragile " earthen vessels", our temporary tents, that will one day be replaced .  Why?   So that "the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves."  We are God's letter, His message to the world.  When God takes us and transforms us, when His Light and Glory begin to shine in us, in spite of our weaknesses and failures - then Jesus is manifested - revealed and declared! 

This is the ministry that God has given to each of us. To be His ambassadors of reconciliation. To bring others to the Light.

Father in heaven, we honor Your holy Name.  You are the Giver of Life and Light.  Thank You for revealing Yourself in Jesus Christ " the image of God".  Thank You for giving us Light so that we can know Your Glory in Christ.  Father, we pray for those who are perishing, blinded by Satan.  We plead for You to show mercy to them, and to shine Your Holy Light into their hearts.  You are able to do all things. I pray for those family members who still are unbelievers. May Your grace spread more an more, so that the "giving of thanks" will abound to Your Glory.  Amen.