I am at home, in my bed, trying to reflect the week I just experienced. It was just so full of truth and love, and God's voice... that in the end it almost felt like too much. I felt like I couldn't receive anymore. But I did. God is good to even give for me to receive.
This is what He pointed out to me in the last 2 days.
2 Corinthians 9
2 marks of maturity:
1. Having a heart to sacrifice
2. Having a heart of dependency
This chapter also talks about money. Guilt is never a motivation but Paul exhorted people to be a body that gives. If we give with blessing, it comes back with blessing!
Matt 19:27-29 --> the economy of God works differently than the economy of men. Men hold it closely and lose it, God says to give it away and find it!
Time, money, stuff, life... if we give it away, it's not a resource issue; it's a heart issue.
You never give unless you give yourself.
When we give, we fear we'll miss out and won't have something. "I don't sow because then I won't have it..". But we forget to realize that if we sow, it will grow and (re)produce!
God is overwhelmingly powerful and able to provide for us - but we need to depend on Him and have our hearts in the right place.
Do you believe the theology of dependancy on God or are you dependant on God?
We talk big but we need to live it!
God will NEVER let you down!
You want to change the world - but are you willing to pay the cost? It's going to cost you your own life!
Learn to depend on God!
_____________________________________
2 Corinthians 10
God is not in business to change our personality; we are who He made us to be.
God is in business to develop our character.
God brings us to a place of being complete + lacking nothing through shaping us!
We often think we'll go out in mission, claiming back people for the Kingdom of God. But before we can do that, we have to deal with strongholds of darkness that are within us.
(Eph 6) Truth, righteousness, Gospel, faith, salvation, the Spirit - these things are able to pull down strongholds. The contrast is the flesh!
Our salvation is not just coming out of bondage but coming to a place that God prepared for us!
_____________________________________
2 Corinthians 11
Ministry - not just about bringing the people in but about taking Christ out!
Corinthians began to believe a lie.
We must be careful; one of the deceptions out there is the idea that if I have a desire for something then it's probably not from God. Don't understand this in a wrong way - things still have to be confirmed by God - but we often think "Would God do what excites me?" --> God wants to give us desires of our hearts!
______________________________________
2 Corinthians 12
We can boast about a lot of things but even though Paul had a very interesting experience with the Lord, he didn't really share it with people.
Chuck Smith - he could boast about himself in so many different ways but his boasting was always in what God was doing!
When we're in our weakest, that's when God is the most glorified!
"A guy who is most blessed by God is usually most buffeted by Satan." - Alan Redpath
Suffering is not nice BUT it's needed! For us to learn our weaknesses, we need to be weak!
Step out into those things that are going to stretch you, break you, that are too much for you! That's when God's power is made perfect!
Are we willing to be used up for Jesus?
God's grace is enough - but it requires for us to walk in those areas of weaknesses to experience it and know it!
______________________________________
2 Corinthians 13
Verse 5 gives us two commands: examine and test yourself.
Continually do this.
- Examine, be found, be approved - find out where you are your walk with the Lord!
- Test, try, see if you're genuine, if you're the real thing.
This is how we finished our speakers week. With all that we heard, we took over 30min and just worshipped the Lord, took communion, spent time with our God. And we examined our hearts.
This was such a powerful week and my prayer is that I will remember the key things God spoke to me and live them, not just know them.
We have a really good God who speaks to us, if we listen.
Thank you Lord, that you opened my heart to hear you.
This is what He pointed out to me in the last 2 days.
2 Corinthians 9
2 marks of maturity:
1. Having a heart to sacrifice
2. Having a heart of dependency
This chapter also talks about money. Guilt is never a motivation but Paul exhorted people to be a body that gives. If we give with blessing, it comes back with blessing!
Matt 19:27-29 --> the economy of God works differently than the economy of men. Men hold it closely and lose it, God says to give it away and find it!
Time, money, stuff, life... if we give it away, it's not a resource issue; it's a heart issue.
You never give unless you give yourself.
When we give, we fear we'll miss out and won't have something. "I don't sow because then I won't have it..". But we forget to realize that if we sow, it will grow and (re)produce!
God is overwhelmingly powerful and able to provide for us - but we need to depend on Him and have our hearts in the right place.
Do you believe the theology of dependancy on God or are you dependant on God?
We talk big but we need to live it!
God will NEVER let you down!
You want to change the world - but are you willing to pay the cost? It's going to cost you your own life!
Learn to depend on God!
_____________________________________
2 Corinthians 10
God is not in business to change our personality; we are who He made us to be.
God is in business to develop our character.
God brings us to a place of being complete + lacking nothing through shaping us!
We often think we'll go out in mission, claiming back people for the Kingdom of God. But before we can do that, we have to deal with strongholds of darkness that are within us.
(Eph 6) Truth, righteousness, Gospel, faith, salvation, the Spirit - these things are able to pull down strongholds. The contrast is the flesh!
Our salvation is not just coming out of bondage but coming to a place that God prepared for us!
_____________________________________
2 Corinthians 11
Ministry - not just about bringing the people in but about taking Christ out!
Corinthians began to believe a lie.
We must be careful; one of the deceptions out there is the idea that if I have a desire for something then it's probably not from God. Don't understand this in a wrong way - things still have to be confirmed by God - but we often think "Would God do what excites me?" --> God wants to give us desires of our hearts!
______________________________________
2 Corinthians 12
We can boast about a lot of things but even though Paul had a very interesting experience with the Lord, he didn't really share it with people.
Chuck Smith - he could boast about himself in so many different ways but his boasting was always in what God was doing!
When we're in our weakest, that's when God is the most glorified!
"A guy who is most blessed by God is usually most buffeted by Satan." - Alan Redpath
Suffering is not nice BUT it's needed! For us to learn our weaknesses, we need to be weak!
Step out into those things that are going to stretch you, break you, that are too much for you! That's when God's power is made perfect!
Are we willing to be used up for Jesus?
God's grace is enough - but it requires for us to walk in those areas of weaknesses to experience it and know it!
______________________________________
2 Corinthians 13
Verse 5 gives us two commands: examine and test yourself.
Continually do this.
- Examine, be found, be approved - find out where you are your walk with the Lord!
- Test, try, see if you're genuine, if you're the real thing.
This is how we finished our speakers week. With all that we heard, we took over 30min and just worshipped the Lord, took communion, spent time with our God. And we examined our hearts.
We have a really good God who speaks to us, if we listen.
Thank you Lord, that you opened my heart to hear you.
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