SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 11
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve. [2 Corinthians 11:14-15]
For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. [John 8:44]
These are harsh words, even sarcastic; Paul is really upset that he is being accused of taking advantage of the Corinthian believers.
Jesus is also upset; the Pharisees who claim to be servants of God are thwarting God’s purpose, and threatening God’s servant.
Satan is the master of disguises; this ought to be a warning to all of us, both as believers and as leaders. Continue reading stay alert!

SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 10
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them. [2 Corinthians 10:18]
But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. [Matthew 23:12]
Do I feel pretty good about myself?
Am I confident that I am OK?
Paul is highlighting the things that he has done, then apologizes if it seems that he is boasting – is he commending himself?
Yes, he is, but he also knows that his own assessment matters little – what matters is God’s assessment.
This echoes what Paul said in his earlier letter: As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. [1 Corinthians 4:3-4] Continue reading humble boasting?

SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 9
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words! [2 Corinthians 9:13-15]
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! [Matthew 10:8]
“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” [John 20:21-23]
Be generous, just as the Lord has been generous to me.
Notice that the recipients of the Corinthians’ generosity are praising God for the overflowing grace given to them – i.e. the Corinthians.
Their generosity is a sign of God’s generosity to them! Continue reading overflowing generosity (2)

SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 8
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. [2 Corinthians 8:1-4]
Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” [Mark 12:42-44]
I love these next two chapters, I love how they address giving not as a command or obligation, but as the overflow of God’s kindness in and through us. Continue reading overflowing generosity (1)

SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 7
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. [2 Corinthians 7:10]
Then Jesus said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” [John 8:10-11]
Paul had written a strong letter to the Corinthians where he urged them to deal with sin in their midst [1 Corinthians 3:1-3, 4:18-5:7 ??].
Now he notes that they did respond with appropriate repentance: Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right. [2 Corinthians 7:11] Continue reading godly sorrow

SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 6
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. We serve God whether people honour us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. [2 Corinthians 6:7-8]
When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. [Matthew 10:19-20]
Has anyone ever said that following Jesus would be easy?
Certainly Jesus never said that, and Paul never experienced that.
The decision to follow Jesus aligns us with the greatest Power in the Universe, but it also opposes us to the greatest Enemy in the Universe. Continue reading empowered and emboldened

SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 5
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! [2 Corinthians 5:17]
And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins. [Mark 2:22]
How do we account for the radical change in Paul, at one time the #1 enemy of Jesus and His followers?
How do explain his change in perspective about Jesus, his radical zeal and commitment for the mission of Jesus?
He is a new person, God has poured His powerful Spirit and life into him, and he is a radically changed, transformed person.
He is not just an old wineskin with new wine, he is a whole new person.
The only life is gone; a new life has begun!
It is this radical newness that also compels me to be a witness, or an ambassador, for Jesus.
Because of Who He is to me, and what He has done in me, I cannot contain the explosive response that craves an outlet. Continue reading a whole new me!!!

SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 4
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. [2 Corinthians 4:10]
Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. [John 14:19]
People who can’t see Jesus don’t get what we are so pumped about.
They think we are blinded, but Paul says they are blinded.
Our focus is not on the transitory things of this world which flourish for a season but gradually fade – our focus is on invisible, eternal things.
This does not disconnect us from day to day reality; we still suffer, we will hurt, we still eat, we still laugh.
But we see and experience all of these things in light of the glorious, eternal and life-giving reality of Jesus. Continue reading resurrection confidence

March 3, 2010
SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 2-3
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. [John 6:63]
What is the big difference between Jesus’ teaching and the Law of Moses (and in fact, of every other religion)?
Every religion describes what we must do for God in order to satisfy Him; the way of Jesus is what He does for us, and what He gives to us.
He perfectly obeys God “in the flesh”, something that we could not do.
He dies the sinners death – and overcomes it, victorious over the curse, something that we could not do.
And He gives us His Spirit to revive and renew our hearts and lives, to change us from the inside out, something that we could not do.
The new covenant, the new arrangement with God, which surpasses the Law of Moses, is one where God does in/through us by His Spirit what we cannot do ourselves. Continue reading the Spirit in me!

March 2, 2010
SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 1
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. [2 Corinthians 1:5]
This is a challenging letter for Paul to write; the church that he started was infiltrated by trouble-makers who were falsely accusing Paul of only wanting their money, of not caring about them.
They questioned his integrity and legitimacy as a missionary for Jesus.
In this opening chapter he gushes and he boasts: he talks about how much he’s suffered for Jesus, and how amazing His comfort has been, for him and for them.
The comfort of God our Father, through Jesus our Lord, overflows! Continue reading yes, yes, yes!