September 13, 2023
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Reading along with us in 2 Corinthians? Here’s today’s reading:
2 Corinthians 10 (NIV)
Paul’s Defense of His Ministry
1 By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.…..Continue Reading
Paul goes after those that oppose him. Fight back in the flesh or use the powers that God gives us. Prayer. Fruit of the Holy Spirit. Gods word. We think somehow we can break down the walls that stop people from believing. Nothing breaks those walls down like the weapons of God. Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. What an awesome verse to constantly remember. His opponents say his speaking amounted to nothing. Quite the opposite as we read in acts the incredible debates Paul gets into with the most prominent people in his travels.
Paul even though his body is still a fleshly body his battle is of a spiritual one. 2 Corinthians 4,5. [ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds, Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.] Like he says in Ephesians 6;10-1-18 when he lists the armour of God. They are the loins girt about with truth, breastplate of righteous, feet shod with gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, sword of the spirit [ word of God], and much prayer. Apparently the believers and the false teachers were looking on the appearance of Paul and comparing and commending themselves. We as believers are not to commend ourselves but rather to glorify God instead. God will do the commending. The statement bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ is one of our will. For as we think so are we. Our thoughts need to be about Christ. What this means is when we start having bad thought we need to right at that moment ask God to help us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. May He make us pure vessels. Getting into the word of God can make us pure vessels.
2 Corinthians 10
2 Corinthians 10 there are some who oppose Paul and say he is weak, but Paul has to explain the weapons he fights with are not the weapons of the world, if you know Christ the weapons you will fight with is faith, hope and obedience to Christ. No one is better than the other, keep pride out of it and don’t look at others as if you are better than them.
Seek the Praise of God not the praise of man!
18For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
Our battles like Paul are most often spiritual battles within ourselves. God can use anyone to do His will. If we don’t praise, the rocks will, but we must stay strong in our hearts and minds which is what Paul is showing us here. Taking our thoughts captive and not giving in to our earthly impulse to hurt back when hurt, to be prideful even in of our good works, and to fight with someone forgetting about love. A strong mind, following the wisdom of God is better than any physical strength we might posses!
It is so hard to be misunderstood and then have people talking behind your back and establishing camps based on a false impressions of you. That is what Paul is dealing with here and basically trying to discount what others are saying and promoting the accurate way for them to think about his ministry to them. Paul has been who He is, and said what he has said, speaking the truth in love which can be misinterpreted. He is not looking to commend himself but point to his efforts to help them be and do what is right. First they really need to look at their thought life and consider the thoughts that are honoring to Christ and those that are not. It really is awesome that we have weapons and power to combat wrong thinking and have the ability to take our thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. Controlling our thought life is one of the most important aspects of the Christian life. It is what Paul did and what he encourages the Corinthians to do here as well. They also have to consider who they are listening to. Will they let Paul or others define who Paul is and was? Especially after hearing the criticism of Paul from his enemies for a time. It is right for us to call things like that out and to defend ourselves when character and the ministry of Christ is effected. We should make sure our boasting is in Him and yet we defend the authority that he has given us in the roles that we have. Because it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one the Lord commends.
2 Corinthians 10
2 Corinthians 10 done
But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” 18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
The godly weapons we have to fight with have the divine power to destroy worldly control. So when we find ourselves up against worldly powers that seem to be overwhelming, we can know that these difficulties can be overcome. We can take notice of every negative thought we have and switch these thoughts so that they are in line with the truth as spoken in God’s Word. And Paul focuses on the regions that he has been given by the Lord, working towards expanding these areas of influence with the gospel message. He can boast in the Lord for the success of the expansion of this message. For it is God who helps us achieve the purpose of his will, and he commends us for it.