Monthly Archives: April 2011
not man’s gospel
Galatians 1:11-24. Paul had already said that his missionary calling was not “from men nor through man (1:1). He had also made it clear that no man was his master, because he was not serving man, nor trying to please … Continue reading
Posted in church, dependence upon God, gospel, Jesus Christ, witness
Tagged Galatians 1
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times of threshing
Isaiah 21. The punishment that God’s people would face under the oppressor (in this case, Babylon) for their disobedience was like grain, which is crushed to separate it from its chaff, and then violently thrown to the wind for winnowing. … Continue reading
no other gospel
Galatians 1:1-10. You have probably never thought to yourself, “man, I wish I could be circumcised.” So you might be wondering if the message of Galatians is as important today as it was when Paul and the brothers wrote it. … Continue reading
false hope
Isaiah 19-20. It would have been embarrassing to see the great prophet walking around naked and barefoot for three years. The people probably thought that he had finally lost it – that he had gone utterly mad. All this time … Continue reading
Posted in confidence, dependence upon God, discernment, hope, trust, Uncategorized, will of God
Tagged Isaiah 19, Isaiah 20
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aiming for restoration
2 Corinthians 12:14-13:14. Paul had visited Corinth two times: once to plant churches there, and then for a “painful visit” in which he had to make judgments and set right wrong behavior. He is planning a third visit, and wants … Continue reading
Posted in church, conflict, divisions, gospel, witness
Tagged 2 Corinthians 12, 2 Corinthians 13
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sometimes God says no
2 Corinthians 12:1-10. As I write this, I am going through a severe spiritual battle. Something that I really expected to happen has not happened. Like Paul and his thorn in the flesh, I have prayed many times about this, … Continue reading
Posted in confidence, dependence upon God, faith, faithfulness, obedience, plan of God, submission, will of God
Tagged 2 Corinthians 12
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proof of commitment
2 Corinthians 10:13-12:13. Paul’s opponents in Corinth probably boasted that they were more committed to Christ and the churches than Paul was. After all, he was only a part-time itinerant missionary, but they demonstrated their commitment by staying among the … Continue reading
Posted in commitment, conflict, divisions, faithfulness, ministry, submission, suffering
Tagged 2 Corinthians 10, 2 Corinthians 11, 2 Corinthians 12
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mighty weapons
2 Corinthians 10:1-12. Paul has been attacked and his ministry maligned by some within the churches at Corinth. He is careful not to respond in kind, because that would be waging war according to the flesh. Instead, he writes this … Continue reading
Posted in church, confidence, divisions, leadership, ministry, scriptures
Tagged 2 Corinthians 10
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aiming at what is honorable
2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15. Paul is sending two men to collect a contribution from the believers in Corinth. He has been collecting funds from the Gentile churches to help those in Jerusalem who have been hard hit by famine. He is … Continue reading
Posted in giving, integrity, ministry, witness
Tagged 2 Corinthians 8, 2 Corinthians 9
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things that defile
2 Corinthians 6:11-7:16. The temple under the old covenant was a building in Jerusalem, and it could be defiled by people who came in contact with certain things: a dead body, certain animals, etc. Since the death of Christ on … Continue reading
Posted in faithfulness, forgiveness, genuineness, holiness, idolatry, obedience, relationship with God
Tagged 2 Corinthians 6, 2 Corinthians 7
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Devotions 