Today was one of those days when God just pours out SO MUCH! I was so richly blessed by all 3 sessions and all 3 pastors.
This is what stood out to me (forgive me, it's a lot.. which is a good thing really.)
School Paul went to - 2 Cor 6:4-5
1. Great endurance/patience - don't get ahead of God! Wait, wait, wait, then wait some more, wait, and wait until God tells you to go! How long did David have to wait to be a king, knowing he'll be a king?
Abide in Him and He will tell you when to go! John 15
2. Tribulation, living in need - 2 Cor 6:4-5
Faith-based missions movement! Who do you trust when you're in the season of need?
Classes Paul took at school - 2 Cor 6:6-8
Purity, knowledge, long-suffering, kindness...
He was learning how to treat people, learning about the Word of truth, the power of God - while serving God!
Degree Paul received at the end - 2 Cor 6:9-10
He became a nobody in many ways, people mocked him, saying his ministry was falling apart.
Paul said he was unknown but well known. Where was he well known? Read Acts 19 about the sons of Sceva - the demons in that story said "Jesus we know and Paul we know..." - Paul was well known in hell!
If you're in Christ Jesus, you're known in heaven. But you're doing very well in serving Jesus if you're known in hell!
Heaven knows those who are being in Christ. Hell knows those who are being used by Christ.
Paul was a man of sorrows - but sorrows for others!
If God gave you 2 bottles; 1 filled with tears shed for yourself and 1 filled with tears shed for others. Which one of them is full?
Paul gratuated his school with a heavenly perspective. He had nothing in the end but he was the richest, as are we! Why? Because we (will) always have enough. That's abundance!
Holiness! - 2 Cor 6:11-18
Have you yoked yourself to the worldly ideas and you don't even know it anymore? "I need to do something to succeed, I need to tell people I'm in need..." . Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. - Luke 12:31
___________________________________
3 marks of maturity - 2 Corinthians 7
1. Change - but being stable
Stability is not absence of change, it's the dependance upon God. Removing change from your environment isn't maturity!
Am I changing? Is the ministry changing?
2. Commitment
We want commitment from everybody but we don't always commit ourselves.
Paul had a heart to live + die for the people he ministered to.
Will you give yourself for a people group/country/people/person...?
My generation has a huge fear of commitment because we feel like we're going to miss out on something (else) so we don't commit to anything! VERY dangerous in spiritual ways!
David + Goliath. David conquered Goliath.
Why was David at the battle? He was asked to carry some food to his brothers who were at the battle. He was a delly boy. It wasn't a great task - he was doing the daily things.
We think calling is formed in great decisions but we're wrong! Most of the time we receive our calling doing little things, like David!
Commit yourself to anything you can find of the Lord you believe He calls you to! Don't just stand at a distance, help and then leave. Be a person who is willing to give herself in a service of Jesus Christ!
3. Repentance
Worldly sorrow vs Godly sorrow --- "I'm sorry I got caught" vs "turning from one direction and going a different direction, recognizing that something offended the heart of God."
Repentance = a change of mind, heart + action
Prov 23:7 --> your thinking reflects where you're at.
Amos 3:3 --> you can't walk with the Lord unless you agree with Him!
Prov 27:18 --> your heart reveals who you are!
____________________________________
Giving - 2 Corinthians 8
When was the last time we thanked God for the grace to give? 2 Cor 8:4 - those people LOVED to give!
When we understand the generosity God continually pours out on us, it should change our attitude of giving (finances, time, energy...).
We wouldn't be able to give unless God gave us - it's a privilege to give!
It's easy to give when you have the money. When you don't, it's challenging.
Walking by faith - maturity.
We often limit what God would do because money isn't there.
Not having a lot of money makes us relatable to people we're ministering to.
If we look at ourselves and everything we have as the Lords, and God tells us to give to someone, the argument wouldn't/shouldn't be "But this is mine.."!
Do we abound in giving?
We should give as a habit.
The willingness to give reveals sincerety of our love. Jesus is the example --> gave up riches + glory in heaven to be with us and minister to us!
If we want others to benefit from our ministry, it's going to cost us something - life, health, money, time...
Receiving - 2 Corinthians 8
Money can corrupt you - be careful!
It's important to be transparent about money!
Have someone as an accountability!
The Bible never tells us about results but about fruit. Fruit has seeds in it and will re-produce.
We want fruit that remains and not quick results - here today, gone tomorrow!
________________________________
This is some really good stuff! Well done if you stuck with me until the end! :)
I hope this is encouraging for you, it for sure is for me!
This is what stood out to me (forgive me, it's a lot.. which is a good thing really.)
School Paul went to - 2 Cor 6:4-5
1. Great endurance/patience - don't get ahead of God! Wait, wait, wait, then wait some more, wait, and wait until God tells you to go! How long did David have to wait to be a king, knowing he'll be a king?
Abide in Him and He will tell you when to go! John 15
2. Tribulation, living in need - 2 Cor 6:4-5
Faith-based missions movement! Who do you trust when you're in the season of need?
Classes Paul took at school - 2 Cor 6:6-8
Purity, knowledge, long-suffering, kindness...
He was learning how to treat people, learning about the Word of truth, the power of God - while serving God!
Degree Paul received at the end - 2 Cor 6:9-10
He became a nobody in many ways, people mocked him, saying his ministry was falling apart.
Paul said he was unknown but well known. Where was he well known? Read Acts 19 about the sons of Sceva - the demons in that story said "Jesus we know and Paul we know..." - Paul was well known in hell!
If you're in Christ Jesus, you're known in heaven. But you're doing very well in serving Jesus if you're known in hell!
Heaven knows those who are being in Christ. Hell knows those who are being used by Christ.
Paul was a man of sorrows - but sorrows for others!
If God gave you 2 bottles; 1 filled with tears shed for yourself and 1 filled with tears shed for others. Which one of them is full?
Paul gratuated his school with a heavenly perspective. He had nothing in the end but he was the richest, as are we! Why? Because we (will) always have enough. That's abundance!
Holiness! - 2 Cor 6:11-18
Have you yoked yourself to the worldly ideas and you don't even know it anymore? "I need to do something to succeed, I need to tell people I'm in need..." . Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. - Luke 12:31
___________________________________
3 marks of maturity - 2 Corinthians 7
1. Change - but being stable
Stability is not absence of change, it's the dependance upon God. Removing change from your environment isn't maturity!
Am I changing? Is the ministry changing?
2. Commitment
We want commitment from everybody but we don't always commit ourselves.
Paul had a heart to live + die for the people he ministered to.
Will you give yourself for a people group/country/people/person...?
My generation has a huge fear of commitment because we feel like we're going to miss out on something (else) so we don't commit to anything! VERY dangerous in spiritual ways!
David + Goliath. David conquered Goliath.
Why was David at the battle? He was asked to carry some food to his brothers who were at the battle. He was a delly boy. It wasn't a great task - he was doing the daily things.
We think calling is formed in great decisions but we're wrong! Most of the time we receive our calling doing little things, like David!
Commit yourself to anything you can find of the Lord you believe He calls you to! Don't just stand at a distance, help and then leave. Be a person who is willing to give herself in a service of Jesus Christ!
3. Repentance
Worldly sorrow vs Godly sorrow --- "I'm sorry I got caught" vs "turning from one direction and going a different direction, recognizing that something offended the heart of God."
Repentance = a change of mind, heart + action
Prov 23:7 --> your thinking reflects where you're at.
Amos 3:3 --> you can't walk with the Lord unless you agree with Him!
Prov 27:18 --> your heart reveals who you are!
____________________________________
Giving - 2 Corinthians 8
When was the last time we thanked God for the grace to give? 2 Cor 8:4 - those people LOVED to give!
When we understand the generosity God continually pours out on us, it should change our attitude of giving (finances, time, energy...).
We wouldn't be able to give unless God gave us - it's a privilege to give!
It's easy to give when you have the money. When you don't, it's challenging.
Walking by faith - maturity.
We often limit what God would do because money isn't there.
Not having a lot of money makes us relatable to people we're ministering to.
If we look at ourselves and everything we have as the Lords, and God tells us to give to someone, the argument wouldn't/shouldn't be "But this is mine.."!
Do we abound in giving?
We should give as a habit.
The willingness to give reveals sincerety of our love. Jesus is the example --> gave up riches + glory in heaven to be with us and minister to us!
If we want others to benefit from our ministry, it's going to cost us something - life, health, money, time...
Receiving - 2 Corinthians 8
Money can corrupt you - be careful!
It's important to be transparent about money!
Have someone as an accountability!
The Bible never tells us about results but about fruit. Fruit has seeds in it and will re-produce.
We want fruit that remains and not quick results - here today, gone tomorrow!
________________________________
This is some really good stuff! Well done if you stuck with me until the end! :)
I hope this is encouraging for you, it for sure is for me!
I'm glad I read all that! Such good teaching and "way to go!" for sharing such good notes!
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