8/23/13

From Gary... The size of power






Yesterday, we watched an episode of National Geographic's channel, "The dog whisperer".  Caesar Millian trained a whole Cul-de-Sac of families' dogs to "get along".  One lady had three full grown Samoyed that pulled her along as if she was nothing.  Well, this dog makes those dogs look like mere puppies!!! However, if you already have a dog, you know that it really isn't about how BIG they are, but what is on the inside is what really matters.  Even my little miniature poodle "buddy" regularly takes on dogs double and triple his own size.  Since this is true of dogs, does it apply to human beings?  The answer is a resounding - YES!!!  Remember Napelon Bonaparte? From my own personal experience, I can tell you that one of the greatest men I ever knew was only 5 feet tall.  John Bizzel was his name and he was instructor of mine at Northeast School Of Biblical Studies.  His humility coupled with a keen intellect changed my life in ways that I am now only beginning to discover- and it has been over 35 years since I last saw him.  It was a blessing to know John and to be instructed in the Scriptures by him, but I can only imagine what it must have been like to have been taught by an apostle.  And not even one of the post prominent- on the contrary, how about the least of them...?

2 Corinthians, Chapter 12


1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows), such a one caught up into the third heaven.  3 I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows),  4 how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.  5 On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.  6 For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me, or hears from me.  7 By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively. 8 Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  9 He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. 


  10  Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.  11 I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for in nothing was I inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing. 


Revelations from God, the power to work miracles, keen insights into the deeper things of God.  All are foolishness without truly being empowered by the Almighty.  Paul had the right attitude, the right knowledge and the right zeal.  Do we?  Do I?  Take a few minutes to reflect upon your relationship with God... is it as it should be?  If not, then WHY NOT?  My prayer today is that we all would not look on the outward things of this life, but rather reflect on what will bring us closer to God!!!  Remember this passage from the book of Zechariah...

Chapter 4

  6  Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is Yahweh’s word to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says Yahweh of Armies.



If God is with you, outward appearances really don't matter.  One last thought- remember David and Goliath!!!

Humm... I wonder if Goliath had a dog??? If so, I bet it was as big as the dog in the picture- maybe bigger!!!!

From Jim McGuiggan... REJOICE IN THE LORD

REJOICE IN THE LORD

I know non-believers would sniff at this and some would jeer. I understand why but I'm not trying to persuade non-believers to accept what follows [There's a section on this site mainly for non-believers]. Believers have a right and profound reasons to rejoice for what they have is more than "religion"; it's life!
Sin is always a madman’s choice. Flinging away from Jesus is always the final madness. There came a point in Judas’s life when he looked at the thirty pieces of silver in his hand and hating himself for his stupidity and treachery he hurled them to the pavement and went out into the night and ended his life. It doesn’t end so dramatically for all of us—some of us go silently to the grave or go whimpering. But however we go down, it doesn’t matter what it was that we got in return for Christ, no, not even if it was the entire world for a million years. The time will come when we’ll look at or around or in whatever we got and we’ll see it, dry as dust, lifeless, without soul or joy, not a scrap to be proud of and we’ll hear ourselves screaming in disbelief, "This? It was for this that I gave up God?"
We take pleasure in things according to how we’ve been shaped by experience and how we’re made up; we find satisfaction in them depending on how grown or immature we are. An infant can’t exult in Shakespeare, a miser can’t rejoice in the absolute delight on the face of a needy person that has just been given a generous gift. And someone sleekit person, enslaved by envy and malevolent spite, can’t know the profound pleasure that comes when he or she gives the gift of full and free forgiveness. Unless we are changed and grow we can't know the possibilities for joy and pleasure in the things we have or experience or could engage in. If we don’t change they forever remain the same and because that’s so, by and by they become a bore and a burden. If we don’t change we forever shut doors that could lead us to a mesmerising world of inexpressible joy. Even hardened criminals find a deep satisfaction in doing what is "right" according to their standards. I’m sure that however far we’ve strayed from God we’ve all experienced a time when we "did the right thing". And every so often we bring that event out to look at it again and take pleasure in knowing that at least once in our lives the man or woman in us stood up and wouldn’t bend or be controlled by darkness!
Why should it surprise us that tens of millions shrug at the name Jesus and party on? At best, multiplied millions of us find him a bore, a killer of life. The church historian Theodoret tells us that the emperor Julian, as he died, groaned out that the Galilean carpenter had conquered. The poet Swinburne adds to it in "Hymn to Proserpine" when he says, "You have conquered pale Galilean, the whole world grows grey at your breath."
We’re bored with Christ, bored with the message about him and bored with the people that represent him (even the ones worthy of him). There’s too much life to get on with and he only gets in the way. There's too much to eat, to drink, to engage in, laugh about and experience to even bid him the time of day. If he offered life maybe we’d stop and talk with him a while but as it is, who wants a ceaseless cowing and groveling even to a God? Especially if he is a God of gloom and clearly, so we’re told and so you would think if you listen to some believers—clearly Jesus was melancholy at best.
What a piece of nonsense! When bringing life to the needy and his critics jumped on him for it (Luke 15) Jesus told them he loved his work. He told them he felt like a shepherd that had found a precious sheep he had lost and wanted everyone to experience his joy. He told them he felt the way a sensitive woman feels when she finds a lost coin that has great value for her and he felt as a broken-hearted father feels when a beloved son comes back to life. On one occasion we’re told that his disciples told him of the great good they had done for the land and it filled Jesus to the brim with joy! ("Yes, but that’s what I mean. Now we’re back to mere religion." Hmmm, try telling that to Bob Geldof—no friend of religion—who once found deep joy in helping the terribly needy.)
It isn’t necessary, you understand, for Christians to pretend they enjoy all the things everyone else enjoys in order to make Christ attractive.[Isn’t it a pathetic sight when we see believers trying too hard to prove that they’re "ordinary Joes"?] Down below all the tasty things, there is life that lacks no joy and it’s found in One whose vision embraced all the harmless, pleasure-bringing joys of life. But he’s the one that told the story about a couple of men who knew greater treasure when they saw it: a farm laborer and a pearl merchant. Filled with the excitement of the find they had to have it though it meant dispensing with other lesser things. When these two men began selling all they had some might have thought they were mad but they knew that now that their eyes were opened they would be mad if they didn’t sell all. Joy drove them to it!
We’re not competing with the non-believing world at the level of entertainment. We’re bearing witness to fullness of life. Cheating nobody while we long to enrich all by the one reality that makes every good pleasure even more pleasant—Jesus Christ!

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... We Do Not Lose Heart (2 Corinthians 4:1)


                "THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS"

                       We Do Not Lose Heart (4:1)

INTRODUCTION

1. Twice in the chapter in which our text is found Paul makes the 
   statement "we do not lose heart" - 2Co 4:1,16
   a. The phrase "lose heart" means to "be discouraged"
   b. If anyone ought to have been discouraged as a Christian, it 
      should have been Paul
      1) Consider some of the things he suffered - cf. 2Co 11:23-29
      2) And yet note what he says in 2Co 4:8-9
      -- I.e., Paul says "we do not lose heart"!

2. However, it is not uncommon for Christians today to "lose heart" or
   to become discouraged
   a. This is both strange and sad
   b. Strange, because we do not experience near the hardships Paul did
   c. Sad, because as Paul wrote in Ga 6:9b...

       "...in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

3. In this lesson, I want us to examine various aspects of "losing 
   heart"...
   a. We shall consider some SIGNS of losing heart
   b. And identify REASONS people lose heart
   c. And then identify PAUL'S SECRET to not losing heart

I. SIGNS OF "LOSING HEART"

   A. LACK OF PERSISTENCE IN PRAYER (NOT SO VISIBLE TO OTHERS)
      1. Christ equated fervent prayer with not losing heart - Lk 18:1
      2. Most often, the first sign of losing heart is being haphazard
         in our prayer life
      3. In contrast, a strong Christian life is characterized by 
         fervent prayer
         a. "With all prayer and petition pray at all times." - Ep 6:18
         b. "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it." - Col 4:2
         c. "Pray without ceasing." - 1Th 5:17
         d. "I want the men in every place to pray" - 1Ti 2:8

   B. GROWING WEARY IN DOING GOOD (VISIBLE TO OTHERS)
      1. Paul equated this with losing heart in Ga 6:9
      2. Some examples of growing weary in doing good...
         a. Neglecting opportunities to help others in need - Ga 6:10
            1) Such as visiting the sick and afflicted
            2) Such as telling others of the gospel of Christ
         b. Forsaking the assembling of ourselves together - He 10:
            24-25
            1) Which in itself is designed to encourage others
            2) And encourage ourselves as well!

[Both of these are clear symptoms that one is losing heart.  But when 
there is PEACE to be found in prayer and JOY to be found in doing good,
what would cause some people to be discouraged and "lose heart"...?]

II. REASONS SOME "LOSE HEART"

   A. ONE ANSWER:  TRIBULATIONS!
      1. Paul alluded to this in his remarks to the Ephesians - Ep 3:13
         a. He was concerned that they not lose heart over HIS
            tribulations
         b. If such was possible over his troubles, how much more over
            their own!
      2. Jesus warned in His parable of "The Sower" that some would be
         affected this way - Mt 13:20-21
      3. Tribulations can take different forms
         a. Both Paul and Christ had reference to those peculiar to 
            Christians
            1) Ridicule, ostracism, even physical abuse by those of the
               world
            2) Sometimes even from those we least expect it...brethren
               who sin against us
            -- Many Christians have "lost heart" being discouraged in
               these ways
         b. But there are also tribulations common to all men
            1) Sickness and death
            2) Frustrations at job and home
            -- These also take their toll

   B. ANOTHER REASON:  LAWLESSNESS!
      1. Jesus said this would happen in Mt 24:12
      2. "Lawlessness" is lack of respect for God in both:
         a. Attitude (toward God's word)
         b. Obedience (in doing God's will)
      3. Such "lawlessness" is infectious
         a. For when many people demonstrate a lack of respect for 
            God's Will ...
         b. ...it discourages the faithful and even encourages them to
            unfaithfulness - cf. 1Co 15:33
      4. I suspect that today...
         a. More Christians are "losing heart" because of lawlessness
            rather than tribulations
         b. Because in our country...
            1) Most severe forms of tribulations are forbidden
            2) The most severe forms of lawlessness are practiced and
               even encouraged!

[Yet Paul stands before us as an example of one who despite the worst 
of tribulations, and living in the most lawless of cultures could still
say "we do not lose heart"!

What was Paul's secret?  For the answer we must look at the context in
which his statement is found...]

III. SECRETS TO NOT "LOSING HEART"

   A. APPRECIATE THE GLORIOUS NATURE OF OUR MINISTRY...
      1. Paul refers to the relationship of this ministry and not 
         losing heart in 2Co 4:1
      2. "Therefore" refers to the previous chapter, in which Paul 
         contrasted the NEW Covenant with the OLD - 2Co 3:5-18
      3. Compare the OLD with the NEW...

        The OLD Covenant                  The NEW Covenant

      Of the letter              vs.   Of the Spirit  3:6
      Kills                      vs.   Gives life  3:6
      Glorious                   vs.   More glorious  3:7-11
      Ministry of condemnation   vs.   Ministry of righteousness  3:9
      Ministry passing away      vs.   Ministry which remains  3:11
      Ministry with a veil       vs.   Ministry which is unveiled
                                          3:12-17
      Ministry which hardens     vs.   Ministry which gives
         hearts                           liberty  3:14-17
      Transformed one            vs.   Transforms all  3:18

      4. The glory of the New is seen to be even greater when we 
         remember what is said about the value of the Old! - Ps 19:7-11
         a. If this is true with what David had in his day (only part
            of the OT)...
         b. ...then consider what must be true when we have the 
            completed OT and NT!
      5. It is in view of such a wonderful ministry that prompted Paul
         to say "since we have this ministry, as we have mercy, we do
         not lose heart."
      -- Do we really appreciate the nature of the ministry we have in
         Christ? It would help us not to "lose heart"!

   B. REALIZE THE POWER OF CHRIST WHEN WE ARE WEAK...
      1. Paul is referring to this when he makes the statement again in
         2Co 4:16
      2. As we have seen, Paul suffered greatly for Christ - cf. 2 Co 4:8-9
      3. But he saw it as opportunities for God's power through Christ
         to be shown - cf. 2Co 4:7,10-11
      4. This was a lesson Christ taught Paul, when he struggled over 
         his "thorn in the flesh" - cf. 2Co 12:7-10
         a. When we are weak, that is an opportunity to depend upon the
            Lord for strength!
         b. So infirmities and tribulations can be occasions to 
            rejoice, not despair!
      -- Have we learned this lesson? It would help us to not "lose
         heart"!

   C. LOOK AT THINGS NOT SEEN...
      1. This is what renewed Paul inwardly day by day (i.e., enabled
         him not to "lose heart") - 2Co 4:16-18
      2. Things "not seen" refer to:
         a. The "far more exceeding and eternal weight of GLORY"
         b. Which makes our AFFLICTION...
            1) Light
            2) Momentary, temporary
         c. This "glory" is further described in 2Co 5:1-5
      3. Looking at things "unseen" renewed Paul daily!
      -- Do we let such a hope of glory renew us?  Or do we lose heart
         because we never take the time to dwell an such things?

CONCLUSION

1. In closing, read with me what Paul wrote to the Galatians...
   
   "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows,
   that he will also reap."

   "For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption,
   but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting
   life."

   "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we
   shall reap if we do not lose heart."
                                            (Ga 6:7-9)

2. Hopefully, we will not grow weary and "lose heart" in our service to
   the Lord
   a. But if you ever find ourselves growing weary...
   b. Review what Paul wrote in 2Co 3-5, where you will find the 
      secrets to not "losing heart"

We spoke briefly of the glorious nature of the ministry we have in 
Christ, a ministry of in which WE ALL can be TRANSFORMED.  Have you
begun this "transformation" process with your obedience to the gospel
of Christ?... - cf. 2Co 5:17; Ga 3:26-27


Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

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