This was a post written and published on November 5, 2010 on my Facebook notes and publishing this for the first time on my blog this day. The Word of God stands forever and may this incorruptible seed be sown into our hearts this day to yield much fruit in the Kingdom of God. Please continue to read on...
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I was reading through the
Chapters of Second Corinthians for the last two days and some of the
verses "came alive" and inspired me to ask a few questions and here they
are. Scriptures that raised these questions are below each question.
Read through this. I pray that the Holy Spirit do a deep work in our
lives.
1. Is this our conduct?
2. Is this our faith statement?
3. Is this our hope?
4. Is this our walk?
5. Is this our testimony?
6. Is this our influence?
1. Is this our conduct?
The verse that gave rise to this question is 2 Corinthians 4:2 (Amplified) is
We have renounced disgraceful ways (secret thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, the methods and arts that men hide through shame); we refuse to deal craftily (to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate or handle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and candidly). And so we commend ourselves in the sight and presence of God to every man's conscience.
Do we require any more explanation than this?
2. Is this our faith statement?
II Corinthians 4:8 and 9: We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair;
We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone - Jesus is with us]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed;
3. Is this our hope?
II Corinthians 4: 16 through 18: Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.
For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!],
Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.
4. Is this our walk?
II Corinthians 5:7: For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance.
5. Is this our testimony?
II Corinthians 7: 11 NIV: See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent (clear, guiltless, blameless) in this matter.
6. Is this our influence?
II Corinthians 13:10
So I write these things while I am absent from you, that when I come to you, I may not have to deal sharply in my use of the authority which the Lord has given me [to be employed, however] for building [you] up and not for tearing [you] down.
Every Christian has his/her sphere of influence. How is our influence on others? Are we building them up or tearing them down?
PRAYER:
Father God, we come to you in Jesus Name. Help us to live our lives in line with Your Word; our conduct, our conversation, our conviction, our walk, our lives to reflect the Truth we have read and meditated. Lord, help us to be a constructive influence on others. Help us to build others and not tear them down. Lord, bring right people into our lives who will build us up and not tear us down (II Corinthians 13:10).
Lord, Your promises are "Yes and Amen in Christ Jesus" (II Corinthians 1:20) and fill us with Your goodness, grace, and joy and help us to know You more in our lives.
If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation and old things have passed away and all things have become new (II Corinthians 5:17). We are new creations in You Lord. Help us to be conformed to the Image of Christ by being transformed by the Written Word. Help us to walk in Spirit and Truth. Lord, we bring every thought under subjection to Your word (II Corinthians 10:5). Help us to finish well. In Jesus Name Amen!!
Please feel free to share your comments and thoughts on this post. Thanks.
===================================================
I was reading through the
Chapters of Second Corinthians for the last two days and some of the
verses "came alive" and inspired me to ask a few questions and here they
are. Scriptures that raised these questions are below each question.
Read through this. I pray that the Holy Spirit do a deep work in our
lives.1. Is this our conduct?
2. Is this our faith statement?
3. Is this our hope?
4. Is this our walk?
5. Is this our testimony?
6. Is this our influence?
1. Is this our conduct?
The verse that gave rise to this question is 2 Corinthians 4:2 (Amplified) is
We have renounced disgraceful ways (secret thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, the methods and arts that men hide through shame); we refuse to deal craftily (to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate or handle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and candidly). And so we commend ourselves in the sight and presence of God to every man's conscience.
Do we require any more explanation than this?
2. Is this our faith statement?
II Corinthians 4:8 and 9: We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair;
We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone - Jesus is with us]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed;
3. Is this our hope?
II Corinthians 4: 16 through 18: Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.
For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!],
Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.
4. Is this our walk?
II Corinthians 5:7: For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance.
5. Is this our testimony?
II Corinthians 7: 11 NIV: See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent (clear, guiltless, blameless) in this matter.
6. Is this our influence?
II Corinthians 13:10
So I write these things while I am absent from you, that when I come to you, I may not have to deal sharply in my use of the authority which the Lord has given me [to be employed, however] for building [you] up and not for tearing [you] down.
Every Christian has his/her sphere of influence. How is our influence on others? Are we building them up or tearing them down?
PRAYER:
Father God, we come to you in Jesus Name. Help us to live our lives in line with Your Word; our conduct, our conversation, our conviction, our walk, our lives to reflect the Truth we have read and meditated. Lord, help us to be a constructive influence on others. Help us to build others and not tear them down. Lord, bring right people into our lives who will build us up and not tear us down (II Corinthians 13:10).
Lord, Your promises are "Yes and Amen in Christ Jesus" (II Corinthians 1:20) and fill us with Your goodness, grace, and joy and help us to know You more in our lives.
If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation and old things have passed away and all things have become new (II Corinthians 5:17). We are new creations in You Lord. Help us to be conformed to the Image of Christ by being transformed by the Written Word. Help us to walk in Spirit and Truth. Lord, we bring every thought under subjection to Your word (II Corinthians 10:5). Help us to finish well. In Jesus Name Amen!!
Please feel free to share your comments and thoughts on this post. Thanks.
Written by Shanta S. Daniel
[Copyright@ Permission is granted
to duplicate this article in its entirety, but only without additions,
alterations or omissions of any kind, including the author and ministry name at
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