Coming to the Still Waters

Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 3:12-18, which read,   v.12, 13 - Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. Yesterday Paul gave us and the Christians in the Corinthian church information about the old and new covenants.  The old covenant revealed sin and also a coming Savior to deal with that sin.  The old covenant pointed to a new covenant.  The new covenant has come through the Savior Jesus Christ.  The new covenant is greater than the old covenant.  It has more glory, it abounds in glory, it surpasses in glory over the old covenant, and it remains in glory. Therefore...having such a hope in a new covenant and all that it entails, Paul speaks boldly about it.  Moses came down the mountain with a veil over his face after being in the presence of the Lord and obtaining the old covenant.  Th

Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 3:7-11, which read,   v.7, 8 - But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? Paul has been defending himself and the gospel message against opponents who have come into the church in Corinth.  He has been defending himself by pointing them to the message he brought that was given to him by God and the results of those who accepted the gospel.  In the defense of himself, Paul is continuing to teach the Christians in Corinth about the truth of the new covenant in the midst of being miss characterized as someone who doesn't care about them. The old covenant leads to death because it reveals and identifies sin.  The old covenant also points to and prophecies of a Messiah who was to come to deal with the sin

Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 3:4-6, which read, Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.  Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills but the Spirit gives life. Paul has had some opposition come in to the church in the Corinth and they are trying to discredit him and the message of the gospel that he shared with them.  Paul has been pointing the Christians in Corinth to his motive and actions and words that directed them to see what was shared was not about him but about the Lord.  His actions were just the opposite of the false teachers who have an agenda, actions, and attitude that is all about themselves. Paul has "confidence" and that word has a flavor of the concept "to win."   Paul's confidence is that what has been shared with the Chri

Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 3:1-3, which read, v.1 - Are we beginning to commend ourselves again?  Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? Paul is continuing to address the false claims of his opponents who wanted to discredit him and ultimately the gospel that he spoke to them of.  Those opponents have made a dent in their walk of faith so Paul asks the Christians in the Corinthian church a couple of questions. The word "commend" means " to introduce."   Paul is asking them if he needs to introduce himself and the gospel to them again like they have never met.  The obvious answer would be "no."   The second question is if Paul needed to bring "letters of commendation" to them.  Did he need to prove who he was and the message of the gospel by someone else saying in a letter that he has the authority to do and say this? v.2, 3 - You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all

Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 2:12-17, which read,   v.12, 13 - Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord, I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I went on to Macedonia. Paul continues to give us and the Christians in Corinth more detail on the reason that he did not come to them as he said he intended to.  His opponents used this "miss visit" to try to discredit what Paul said about the gospel.  Paul traveled to a seaport city called Troas and as always shared the gospel of Christ.  While there and still troubled by the actions of the Corinthians he waited for a report from Titus, one of his companions in the Lord, a brother.  Titus did not meet him there and so when the Lord directed, Paul went on to Macedonia.  Paul was giving the Christians in Corinth time to correct themselves and without ample evidence of that from Titus, he pressed on rather

Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 2:5-11, which read,   v.5-8 - But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in some degree--in order not to say too much--to all of you.  Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority, so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.  Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. In the Corinthian church there was a gross sexual sin that was being allowed to continue and Paul instructed them to deal with this issue of sin.  They were to deal with this issue because it was bringing sorrow upon the church by allowing it to continue without an address by the church.  There is a place and need for discipline within the body of the Christ when a member is openly and continually defying Scripture that brings unhealthy results to the body. Apparently the church in Corinth has followed that instru

Here is Libby!!!! And here is Joshua!!!

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 1:23 - 2:4, which read,   v.23 - 2.1 - But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth.  Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm.  But I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again. Paul said he was going to come to them twice but then made a decision to come only once.  Paul's opponent's took this opportunity to use it as an attack on Paul's character because he said one thing and did another.  Paul then explained that the message of the grace of God was not depended on him and his attendance but was based on God who is always faithful who they spoke of with the confidence of the outcome of preaching of that grace. Now Paul gives some more background on the decision not to come twice but only once.  His reason for holding off on coming was to give the Christians in Co

Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 1:15-22, which read,   v.15, 16 - In this confidence I intended at first to come to you, so that you might twice receive a blessing; that is, to pass your way into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be helped on my journey to Judea. The confidence that Paul has is in the outcomes of the grace of God on the lives of the Christians in the church in Corinth.  Paul's confidence is in the spiritual growth of this group of Christians that he is communicating with by letter.  His plan was to physically visit them twice after that first initial visit.  He would leave Ephesus and then visit Corinth on his way to Macedonia and then visit Corinth again before heading to Judea. Paul calls those visits a time to receive a "blessing."   It was a blessing to be with each other and also a blessing to be able to help him with the offering to the saints that were being persecuted in Judea.  Is it a bles

Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 1:12-14, which read,   v.12 - For our proud confidence is this:  the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.   What is Paul proud of here?  He is proud of a confidence that the testimony they gave and the conduct that was presented to the world and to the Christians in the church in Corinth was of holiness and godly sincerity about the grace of God and not the fleshly wisdom of the world. Paul's conscience was telling him that he and his companions had given the church the gospel of God in full and not something other than the gospel to appeal to their flesh to entice them to listen or join them.  That conscience is feed to have this assessment not only by what Paul and his companions said but also by the conduct of their lives of godliness and holiness before them.  He is proud of wh

Follow the link for a great clip that challenges us to be a church that is not a place for a spiritual tune up but a place where the engine is toast but the Master Mechanic has the ability to make it better than it ever was before. Pastor Adam

Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 1:8-11, which read, For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope.  And He will yet deliver us, you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many. Paul gives us a couple more long sentences to go through this morning.  Something terrible has happened to Paul and his interns that warrants words like "burdened excessively," "beyond our strength" and "despaired even of life."   Something happened that even had on them "the sen

Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, which read,   v.3, 4 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. Paul starts by giving the Christians in the Corinthian church a command that they are able to follow because something has been given to them and that is the comfort of God.  The literal definition of the word comfort is "one who comes alongside to help."   God is the one who came alongside to help the Christians in Corinth in their affliction and because of that comfort Paul is instructing them to do the same with others. To come alongside to help is probably one of the first signs to others that God loves them when one of His children gives real comfort in a time of need.  God's comfort in our lives led to transformati

Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 1:1, 2, which read,   Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is in Corinth will all the saints who are throughout Achaia; grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. On the Apostle Paul's second missionary journey, he visits Corinth for the first time and spends about 18 months with them.  After leaving them, he wrote a letter that at this point is lost that is referred to in 1 Corinthians 5:9, "I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;..." so a previous letter from Paul to the Corinthians was written.  In 1 Corinthians 7:1 we find out that the Corinthian church wrote back to Paul, "Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman."   1 Corinthians was written in response to this letter that Paul received back from the Corinthians from the first letter he

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 16:19-24, which read,   v.19, 20 - The churches of Asia greet you.  Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.  All the brethren greet you.  Greet one another with a holy kiss. Paul gives his final words to the Christians in the church in Corinth.  He connects the church in Corinth with the churches of the world.  Paul's good friends, Aquila and Prisca, who have a church hosted in their home, also greet the church in Corinth heartily probably because they were there for a time and would personally know some of the people Paul was writing to.  Church, as we know it, with a central building dedicated for worship was foreign to the 1st century churches for their times of worship.  The temple and synagogue were off limits for this activity by the Christian church. This did not deter them from meeting together.  They met in homes, down by the river or any gathering place that was availa

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 16:13-18, which read,   v.13, 14 - Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.  Let all that you do be done in love. We are in the concluding chapter and the finishing verses of this letter to the church in Corinth.  Paul is giving some last words that will be carried to them by one of brothers in Christ he has discipled named Timothy.  These two verses seem to direct these exhortations toward the men of the church.  It is not that all are not to be alert or stand in the faith or do things in love but Paul singles out the men to be especially doing this. There is a popular men's conference that is based off of these two verses.  Men's ministry in the church is so important to the spiritual life of the church.  Paul is pointing his finger at the men to take the lead in being alert about sin and especially the sin of pride.  Paul is pointing his finger at the men to stand firm in the faith of the gospe

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 16:10-12, which read, v.10, 11 - Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without cause to be afraid, for he is doing the Lord's work, as I also am.  So let no one despise him.  But send him on his way in peace, so that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brethren. Paul is continuing his concluding thoughts and instructions to the Christians in the church in Corinth.  Paul is always disciplining others in the faith and some he sends on errands to churches that he has been to before and so it looks as if Timothy is going to be carrying this letter to them. It is interesting the instruction that Paul gives to the church about how they are to act around Timothy.  They are not to burden him with the issues that they are dealing with.  We know from other scriptures that Timothy is very young and sometimes we can despise youth when they seem to take leadership roles above us and even in the church.  If not protected w

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 16:5-9, which read,   v.5, 6 - But I will come to you after I go through Macedonia, for I am going through Macedonia; and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way wherever I may go. Paul is filling us in on his travel plans and also calling ahead to the Christians in the Corinthian church to be making his bed and room ready for him.  Of course Paul was not coming for a vacation but there was a definite purpose for his travels to them and also the route to and from them.  Everywhere was a mission field to Paul and even the places to the places where he was going was a mission field.  Paul is also giving them time to process and put into place the things that have been spoken of in this letter that most likely Timothy delivered to them.  He is also shown some more confidence in them after this letter of correction to be the senders of him to other parts of the known world with the g

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, which read,   Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also.  On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.  When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem; and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me. Paul has just got done instructing about one of the most important tenets or dominoes of the faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the dead and he follows it up with how to take up an offering.  It really isn't that simple but it seems funny to have this discussion after having 58 verses about the resurrection. Paul is winding up this letter to the Christians in the church in Corinth and he has shared with them about the persecuted and needy Christians in the city of Jerusalem.  He has been taking

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 15:50-58, which read,   v.50 - Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Paul is going to conclude today his instruction on the resurrection of the dead and the resurrection of Jesus.  We have looked at the nature of things.  We have looked at Paul's determination in the teaching of this from the Lord Jesus Christ.  We have looked at the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ Himself as our pattern.  The bodies that we will receive at the resurrection will not be like the bodies that we have right now.  They will be unique like the stars but they will not have the perishable qualities of the bodies we have now.  Now this instruction will go from the resurrection of the dead to the reason why for the resurrection of the dead.   v.51, 52 - Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment,

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 15:42-49, which read,   v.42-45 - So also is the resurrection of the dead.  It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.  If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.  So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul."  The last Adam, became a life-giving spirit. Paul continues to answer the question about the resurrected body of the believer.  Yesterday it was that the physical body will be different than the resurrected body and that this is God's plan from the beginning to a life after this one for His believers to be with Him. Paul now goes through some comparisons.  The physical body will break down and don't we all know that but the resurrected body will not have this quality, if we can call it that.  The

Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 15:35-41, which read,   v.35 - But someone will say, "How are the dead raised?  And with what kind of body do they come?" Chapter 15 is all about the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of the dead as taught by Him and also displayed by His very life.  Some in the church were teaching that this was not going to happen.  Paul has been methodically going through the facts about resurrection and now he gets this question.  "How will this happen and what will we look like?"   Let's listen to Paul's response.   v.36-38 - "You fool!  That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else.  But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own." Paul takes another lesson from nature for the Christians in the church in Corinth to consider.