Wednesday, April 29, 2015

The Truth comes to Corinth Part 2 Volume 36


Paul Asserts his Authenticity as an Apostle comes from God

2 Corinthians 10:12-18 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. KJV

It was Paul’s assurance to the doubting faction of the Corinthian believers that God had sent him to them with the Gospel of Christ and therefore, he would not waste his time comparing his ministry to that of anyone else. Paul proclaimed to them that these men make up their own standards and then use that to measure themselves by and not by the Word of God. Paul’s boundary of Gospel influence, given directly to him by God extended to the region of Corinth and therefore, he was the first and true Apostle of Christ to come to them. It was through Paul’s declaration of the Gospel of Grace that God the Holy Spirit used in regenerating these believing Corinthians and establishing their Church.
None of these other “so called” apostles (that were speaking harshly and critically of Paul) were around when these men and women were still in the darkness of their pagan practices. But now they are declaring themselves apostles of Christ and stepping into Paul’s labors trying to claim authority over the Corinthian believers that God has never granted to them. They are self-proclaimed apostles not laboring in their own territory or sphere or ministry in the power of God, but now trying to take control of the Corinthian Church that Paul has labored in the power of God to establish.

Today we see this taking place all over this world by the Mormon Church and the Jehovah Witnesses who have no true authority from above, but go about trying to pluck away to themselves true believers. Thanks be to God the Father that this is not possible as our Lord Jesus declared with these words, For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect(Mark 13:22). The English word “possible” our Lord Jesus uses here is from the Greek word dunatos which means if they were powerful or capable or strong enough. In other words these false apostles in Paul’s day and the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses of our day all operate with Satan’s power and he is not ever able to pluck any true born again regenerated and spiritually resurrected child of God from our Father’s hands (John 10:4-5 & John 10:27-30).
Paul on the contrary does not compare himself with other men, not even the true Apostles of Christ such as the Apostle Peter or John, but instead he was determined to be governed by God’s apportioned ministry and regions of the globe appointed to him by God as he declared in the epistle to the Romans with these words, “For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation” (Romans 15:18-20).

Paul knew with all certainty and wanted the Corinthian believers to understand that their conversion to Christ being brought out of their pagan practices was the evidence of his commission from God and authenticity from God because it was all done by God the Holy Spirit and Paul was just His human instrument in the process. Paul wanted to see them increase in their faith and do away with all of their inner squabbles and disputes that interfered with and obstructed the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ to the regions beyond their borders. Unlike the false apostles Paul would never toot his own horn (Proverbs 27:2) because he being a genuine Apostle of Christ knew that not one conversion was due to his eloquence or human intellect (even though Paul was highly intelligent). Paul knew that it was only the grace of God ignited by the Spirit of God that wrought the transformation of the many souls that he spoke to (1 Corinthians 15:10). 
Finally, Paul wanted to make it very clear to them that he is nothing and our Lord Jesus Christ is everything reminding them of what he already declared to them in his first letter with these words, “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord’” (1 Corinthians 1:27-31).

My own Personal Note: If we attest anything that we do in the service and Name of Jesus Christ to our own abilities or will or tenacity, then we frustrate, set aside, bring to naught, and neutralize the grace of God (Galatians 2:21). 
There is marvelous power in the weakest of men, when governed by a single purpose and filled with the consciousness and the power of God. Weak and contemptible in themselves, they are often the chosen channels through which God pours His living water. Any child could have destroyed Raphael’s brush, but in his hand it painted immortal pictures. Incidentally the Apostle remarks that some who criticized him bore themselves proudly, because their standard was so low. A five-foot man thinks himself tall when he compares himself with a dwarf! Always compare what is worst in yourself with what is best in others, and you will be kept humble.” F. B. Meyer

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

                                                                                                              

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, April 25, 2015

The Truth comes to Corinth Part 2 Volume 35


Paul continues to Authenticate His Apostleship
2 Corinthians 10:7-11 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s. For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. KJV

Paul cautions the Corinthian believers to not be wowed or swayed by the “outward appearance” of the false apostles (the Judaizes) with their great swelling words and their apparent materialistic prosperity thinking that these things authenticate true salvation and love for our Lord Jesus Christ. The English phrase “outward appearance” is from the Greek word prosopon which means the surface or countenance or the outside view; it also has the idea of gazing at someone or something that appears remarkable to the eye or view. It was sure or certain that these false apostles that accused Paul of not being an Apostle to the Corinthian believers were clothed or attired in the finest robes and adorned with expensive jewelry having broadened phylacteries and the appearance of tremendous blessings from God.
Our Lord Jesus Christ warned the original Apostles of these very kind of Jews when He said, “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men” (Matthew 23:2-7).

Paul wanted the Corinthian believers to see through the earthly and material to discern the substance. Essentially, Paul is asking them what spiritual blessings these men brought them, while he (Paul) spent 18 months teaching them the Word of God (Acts 18:11). Paul did not want to allow pride to gain a foot hold in his heart and therefore, he did not desire to praise himself, although he had every right to do so toward them seeing how it was through his preaching that they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and were saved (Acts 18:8). What had these newly self-proclaimed and self-professed apostles done for these Corinthian believers other than try to get them entangled in the Jewish law and dong outward rituals that had nothing to do with their regeneration and new birth and was no part of Paul’s preaching to them.
Paul declared to them in his first letter with these words, “And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). Paul was not going to back down to these phony men for one second and he wanted to bring to the Corinthian believers memory that his authority does not come from some Church or Jewish counsel, but from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Paul wanted them to understand fully that though he appeared weak outwardly by his clothing, countenance, and circumstances, yet the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ coursed through his veins along with His Divine Power as he already declared in verses 1-6.

Whether these men belonged to our Lord Jesus Christ or not was not Paul’s place to judge as he also declared to them already in his first letter when he said, “But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God” (1 Corinthians 4:3-5).
Paul wanted them to know with all earnestness that it was his full intention to carry out his Apostolic duties as it had been given to him by our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul was so serious in his writing to the Corinthian believers to correct those things that were wrong, that these false apostles perceived him to be a mean tyrant in his absence and influenced a faction of the Corinthian Church to think likewise. However, Paul solemnly declares that his words (in the letters) will match and line up with his actions in their presence, for he was sincere in his faith and committed to carrying out the duties of his office for their good and for Christ Glory.

My own personal Note: It serves no good to ourselves to try and justify or affirm our authority “from Christ” and “in Christ”, when it is Christ who knows all who truly belong to Him. As it is written, “Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:4) and as it is written, “Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness’” (2 Timothy 2:19).
In outward appearance, Paul was mean and despicable with some; he did not make a figure, as perhaps some of his competitors might do: but this was a false rule to make a judgment by. It should seem that some boasted mighty things of them, and made a fair show. But there are often false appearances. A man may seem to be learned who has not learned Christ, and appear virtuous when he has not a principle of grace in his heart” Matthew Henry

 If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

The Truth comes to Corinth Part 2 Volume 34


Paul begins to Authenticate His Apostleship
2 Corinthians 10:1-6 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (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 exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. KJV

Paul now turns the focus of his writing upon himself. He begins by declaring to the Corinthians that when he is in their presence acting with meekness being patient and long suffering toward them, that it is not because he is a coward (as the false apostles said he was), but on the contrary, it was Paul drawing on Christ Spirit. However, Paul wanted to remind them that just as our Lord Jesus displayed His anger at hardness of heart (Mark 3:1-5), so would he (Paul) act likewise if he absolutely needed to. Paul just like our Lord Jesus Christ did not regard men and their outward appearance or actions because Paul knew that the battle was not being waged in the physical realm, but it was a constant, ceaseless, and continual spiritual battle that he was engaged in.
Therefore, Paul declares his authority “in Christ” and also begins to authenticate his commission “from Christ” to the Corinthians disputing the attacks from the false apostles. First, Paul indicates to them that he does not “war” or the Greek word strateuomai which means to be a soldier in a military campaign and to execute his appointed apostolic office in the army of our Lord Jesus Christ with mere human strength or effort, but Paul receives spiritual power from God the Father through God the Son and implemented, carried out, and put into force by God the Holy Spirit. Paul declares his authenticity and validity comes to him from God and he does not need to dispute with principalities, powers, and wicked spiritual host working in and through those fake, fraudulent, and false apostles as he also declared to Brother Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:1-20. Paul uses the English word “fables” in 1 Timothy 1:4 when exhorting and instructing him as he is also doing to the Corinthians.

The English word fables is from the Greek word muthos which means tales or stories of fiction and myth and this is exactly what these Jewish Judaizes were spreading among the Corinthian believers trying to get them to declare Paul’s Apostleship invalid. Paul knew that his war was not with these men, but instead with Satan and his demons working through them in order to cripple the true work of God through him. This is why Paul said this to Timothy, “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare” and the English word war used here by Paul is translated exactly as here in 2 Corinthians 10:3 with the Greek word strateuomai.
Paul goes on to declare that unlike these false apostles, he (through God’s Power) was enabled to pull down or destroy “strongholds” and this English word is from the Greek word ochuroma which is an old word found in the Apocrypha. Note: The Apocrypha is defined as the 14 books of the Old Testament included in the Vulgate (except for II Esdras) but omitted in Jewish and Protestant versions of the Bible; eastern Christian churches (except the Coptic Church) accept all these books as canonical; the Russian Orthodox Church accepts these texts as divinely inspired but does not grant them the same status. The Greek word ochuroma means to fortify with the idea of holding something in that fortified status safely, like in the old days Castles were fortified by high walls that were deemed to be impenetrable by enemy armies or forces and it means figuratively arguments.

Paul then declares that just like a mighty army would design a method to penetrate the enemies high walls in order to get in and defeat its opposition, he through the Power of God using the inerrant, infallible, and indisputable Word of God penetrates the high and lofty arguments and fables of the false apostles to the faction of the doubting Corinthian Church of his authenticity. Paul never needed to rant and rave declaring who he was “in Christ”, but instead used the Word of God as his weapon. For as it is written, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12)
My own personal Note: There is no need for any true regenerated, redeemed, and resurrected son or daughter of the Living God to despair from the attacks from principalities and powers through human instruments such as witches, wizards, and the devils goats or to dispute with them working through false or fake brethren over our authenticity, because it is God who has wrought His work of grace in us (Philippians 1:6) and it is Him alone who authenticates us before His Throne.

Paul here makes his defense. Some who resisted his authority spoke disparagingly of his weak body and ineloquent speech. Why should they yield so absolute a submission to his words? Others suggested that he was little better than a schemer for his own ends, and that he walked after worldly maxims. There is considerable comfort to others who are placed in the driving storm of adverse criticism, to know that this great saint passed by the same road. Be of good cheer, comrade, if you are misunderstood and maligned! It is best to leave these reproaches with your Lord. He will shield and vindicate you. ‘No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn,’” Isaiah 54:17. F. B. Meyer

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

  

 

Saturday, April 18, 2015

The Truth comes to Corinth Part 2 Volume 33


Paul’s final Plea to the Corinthians to Give and do so Generously

2 Corinthians 9:1-15

We often times like to think of the Apostle Paul as this great man, but Paul’s greatness (as he would be the first to tell you) came from God the Holy Spirit’s work in him. There are many moments (if we do not pay close attention we miss) that we find Paul speaking out of and acting out of his own humanity as we see here that Paul was nervous or uneasy about the Corinthians making good on their pledge to him a year earlier. Paul was so eager to provide help to the suffering believers in Jerusalem that it caused him such excited anticipation it made him wonder and even worry about whether the Corinthians would come through or not (2 Corinthians 9:3-4).

Paul also being a Jew himself but having been given a ministry primarily to the Gentiles wanted so much for the Jewish believers in Jerusalem to see the work of grace by God in the people known to all unregenerate Jews as pagans or heathens. Paul was therefore, so worked up with nerves for both reasons and this is why he sent the brother Titus and the others to spur them on and encourage them to make good on their pledge and be generous with their gift (2 Corinthians 9:5). Paul now reminds them that with our Lord Jesus Christ no sacrifice is unseen by Him as He himself declared with these words, “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:2-4).

This is a solid, strong, and sure fact from our Lord Jesus Christ and therefore, Paul wants to exhort them and inspire them one final time to give freely, plentifully, and liberally with an open heart big for those believers in Jerusalem who have been devastated by the Romans, understanding that they too might one day be in desperate need and that their giving to our Lord Jesus and for Him will never go unnoticed by Him (2 Corinthians 9:6-9). Paul again reminds them that God will not allow their sowing to be without a bountiful harvest for them to continue to be the fruitful and cheerful givers that so pleases the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 9:10-12). The brothers and sisters in Jerusalem will bring glory to God by humbly receiving His gracious gift from the saints in Corinth and by in turn praying for them and giving thanks to God the Father for the work of grace He alone wrought in their hearts to motivate them to be so generous to their horrible condition in Jerusalem. For as it is written, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

Proverbs 11:25 The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered. NKJV

Proverbs 22:9 He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor. NKJV

My own personal note: If we give out of any kind of duty or obligation it matters not the amount or the cause, that giving is frowned upon by our Lord Jesus Christ.

There could be no greater evidence of the transforming power of the gospel than that it should obliterate the strongly-marked differences between East and West, between Jew and Gentile, and make it clear that Christ is all in all Paul does not, therefore, urge and entreat the Corinthians so much as he reminds them of his confidence in their response. No motive is so potent as the sense that a worthy response is expected of us by one whom we revere and love.” F. B. Meyer

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

  

 

 

 

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

The Truth comes to Corinth Part 2 Volume 32


Paul commends those retrieving the gift and solicited their assistance for Precaution

2 Corinthians 8:16-24 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf. KJV

Finally, Paul thanks our Heavenly Father for giving a willing heart to Titus to lead the other two disciples (chosen by the Churches and by Paul) to make the long journey joyfully to retrieve the Corinthians love gift to the hurting and struggling brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. The names of these two other disciples has been speculated by many over these many years, but their individual identities is not of great importance, but what is important is that these two other brothers (along with Titus) were found to be faithful and trustworthy men by the Churches and by the Apostle Paul to carry out this important task. It is not enough that men be eager to perform a duty in the Church, but it is of much more importance the character of the men or women selected for a position, office, or duty in the fellowship.

We learned this lesson clearly from the Apostle Judas, who by all accounts in the Gospel writings had deceived all of his fellow Apostles (but of course he did not take our Lord Jesus by surprise (John 6:64 & John 6:70-71)). After our Lord Jesus had been crucified and risen from the dead and then ascended into Heaven, the Apostle John then saw clearly who Judas really was and wrote these words speaking of the man who pretended to care about the poor, “Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?’ Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer or take what was put into it” (John 12:3-6).

Paul did not want to be the only person collecting, counting, and committing the Corinthians and all the other Churches money to Jerusalem believers. This is never a good or prudent thing to have just one person responsible for such an important office. Paul wanted no one inside the body of Christ or the unbelievers outside to have any cause to discredit his actions or intentions or to make an accusation of him using some of this money for his own personal greed. The temptations that come to man are common to all men (as Paul wrote himself in 1 Corinthians 10:12-14). Paul also being aware of what the Prophet Jeremiah wrote saying this, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) found it to be completely true in himself when he wrote this, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not” (Romans 7:18) and with this truth implanted in his heart, he wanted to take every precaution by having these other men go along to administer the love gift to the saints in Jerusalem. Paul wanted nothing to deprive the Jerusalem believers of every dollar of the long awaited and well needed aid furnished to them by our Lord Jesus Christ.

My own personal note: The great tragedy since our Lord Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection is that there have been and are still at present many more Judas’ lurking and even thriving in many Churches stealing and robbing from the flock.

In the management of charities a man ought carefully to avoid the least suspicion of avarice, self-interest, and unfaithfulness. How few persons are entirely free from the upbraidings’ of their own consciences in the matter of alms! But who will be able to hear the upbraidings’ of Christ at the time of death and judgment? No man can waste without injustice, or neglect without sin, those things of which he is only the dispenser and steward” Adam Clarke

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

  

 

 

Saturday, April 11, 2015

The Truth comes to Corinth Part 2 Volume 31


Paul Exhorts them and warns them at the same Time

2 Corinthians 8:11-15 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. KJV

Paul a year earlier (as we have documented in the last two studies) had been made aware of the Corinthian believer’s willingness to aid their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in need in Jerusalem. The Corinthians were at that time ready cheerfully and gladly to lay aside a certain amount of money in their collections every Sunday for just those Jerusalem believers. However, strife among them had reared its ugly head along with discord and disagreements (1 Corinthians 6:1-8) that crippled their ability to cooperate with one another in unity and harmony. Paul, knowing this fact, is now stirring up their remembrance of the commitment they made to him to have money stored up and ready for his collection when he sent someone to retrieve it for the Jerusalem Church.

Paul uses the Greek word prothumia which is translated readiness in our English Bible, and it meant that these Corinthians (before they took their eyes off of our Lord Jesus Christ) were so eager, lively to do, willing, and predisposed to relieve the suffering of their fellow brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. Paul was not a year earlier or now writing to them trying to shame them into giving, but only to stir up their own previous disposition to give freely of what our Lord Jesus had blessed them with and to assure them that they were not to give beyond what they themselves could afford. Paul never taught tithing in any of his letters or even used the words tithe or tithing when writing to any of the Churches.

Paul taught that giving to help him and other believers (in need) was never to be done out of duty or obligation, but from the heart that is filled with love for our Lord Jesus Christ and walking in the Spirit, as our Lord Himself said, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in My Name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep My commandments” (John 14:13-15). Surely those persecuted believers in Jerusalem were asking for help in the Name of Jesus and it is our Lord Jesus’ primary method of using His other sons and daughters to relieve their suffering, which is His suffering, as Paul clearly remembers this being spoken to him the very day he was converted to Christ as recorded by Dr. Luke with these words, “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:1-5). Paul (at that time his name was Saul) was jailing and killing sons and daughters of our Lord Jesus Christ, but our Lord Jesus said to Paul that He was being persecuted.

Paul had firsthand knowledge and understanding of the sensitivity our Lord Jesus had to His children who were being persecuted. Therefore, this is why Paul was so eager to gather and collect resources and money from all the fellow believers willing and wanting to help. Paul is not asking them to give all that they have and then themselves be in financial trouble feeling the pressure, anxiety, and stress of how they would live. But, Paul is warning them that they must be mindful that circumstances can shift or turn at any moment being aware that as they are now blessed to have plenty that should motivate them to give bountifully not knowing what a day may bring forth as the Apostle James declares with these words, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’ But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:13-17).

Paul certainly has on his heart and mind the brevity of our lives down here on earth and our inability to know what will happen to us in the future and this is why he wants them to finish now what they began to do. It may come to pass, that one day the Corinthian believers will be in need. Paul goes back to the Old Testament account of the manna God the Father sent from Heaven to supply the needs of His people and points out how those who were greedy and disobeyed by gathering more than they needed found that their manna had spoiled, but those who were obedient and grateful and gathered only what was for their daily supply had plenty. Our Heavenly Father will reward His children who are willing, cheerful, grateful, thankful, and generous givers to help other brothers and sisters in the body, but He will likewise take away from His own children what He has blessed them with if any of us are unwilling, ungrateful, and not giving as He instructs, where He instructs, and when He instructs.

My own personal note: God the Father will supply every need of all His children as He sees fit according to His Will, but He will never furnish the greed that many of us harbor.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

  

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

The Truth comes to Corinth Part 2 Volume 30


Paul reminds them that Pure Love brought Christ from Heaven

2 Corinthian 8:7-10 Therefore, as ye abound in everything in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. KJV

The words “I love you” mean a lot to those closest to us when we say them, but if our behavior toward them is constant strife, or hurtful actions, discord, and or bitter conflict, then they will carry no weight with the recipient. For how can someone intentionally cause hurt upon another who they claim to love? These three words are often bounced about by many people, even the redeemed of God, without looking deeply into the true meaning of them. The Apostle John (once known as one of the sons of thunder) who wanted to call down fire from Heaven on a group of Samaritans (Luke 9:54) became the Apostle of love and wrote these Holy Spirit inspired words, “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth” (1 John 3:14-18).

Just like the Apostle John, Paul is here reminding the Corinthians of the greatest expression and evidence of real love agape love this world has ever seen. Our Lord Jesus Christ is God, but yet He gave up all the majesty, splendor, and riches of Heaven to lower Himself by becoming what He created and living as His own creation and His only reason was His Love for lost humanity. Jesus Christ being God has nothing to prove to us, but He proved beyond measure the depths of His love for us by His birth, and His giving Himself up to be killed to pay the penalty for our transgressions and sin. This was love poured out far beyond words, but with undisputed deeds of loving kindness to those of us He has redeemed. Paul wants the Corinthians to be motivated by what Christ has already done so graciously for us and exhorts them to carry out to completion what he instructed and urged them to do a year earlier (1 Corinthians 16:1-3). Paul’s primary concern in receiving collections of monetary support always was for the poor and struggling saints or the redeemed children of God and not those who were outside of Christ Body.

It is Paul responding to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ when He said, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:31-33). The reason our Lord Jesus speaks these words to His children is because He will furnish the needs of His children who are poor and struggling through His other children that He has richly provided for and blessed. The accumulation of earthly wealth to live a lavish, opulent, sumptuous, and luxurious lifestyle is not the goal of a regenerated born again child of God, but that of the unbeliever. Paul’s words to them is not as if he is speaking military commands that must be obeyed and carried out or there will be punishment, however, Paul calls it advice to them because forced love is not love at all. Paul did not want any money from them that came from a feeling of obligation and not from love for their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem who were being plundered by the Roman authorities of all their property and goods.

Our Lord Jesus Christ was not forced to take on human flesh by God the Father, but instead He offered up Himself as the writer of Hebrews writes in this manner in two separate places (1), “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:14-18) and (2), “For it was fitting for us to have such a High Priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the Heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself” (Hebrews 7:26-27). It was a willing gift to these fellow brothers and sisters in desperate need that Paul wanted the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ for the Corinthians to compel their giving to those in Jerusalem, because it would be them giving back to our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

   

 

 

 

 

Saturday, April 4, 2015

The Truth comes to Corinth Part 2 Volume 29



Paul Exhorts the Corinthian Believers to Heart Felt Giving

2 Corinthians 8:1-6 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. (KJV)

Now that Paul was assured (by Titus’ joyous return and report to him) of the Corinthians desire to obey God in every manner within their fellowship, Paul immediately now writes reminding them of their commitment and exhorting them to lay aside the financial support for the saints in Jerusalem that were struggling. Paul had already instructed them on how they were to deal with their money or collections when he wrote this in the first letter to them, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.” (1 Corinthians 16:1-3)
Likewise, he informed them of the great sacrifice made by the believers in Macedonia who were far less blessed financially themselves in comparison to the Corinthians. Paul declared to them here how the amount given to him from the Macedonian believers was far beyond what he initially was willing to receive, but that in witnessing the overflowing grace (Divine influence upon the heart) coming from these believers, he could not deny them what was on their hearts to do for the impoverished fellow saints in Jerusalem. Paul testified of the liberal and joyful giving of the Macedonian believers to them, not to shame them as he did in 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, but only to encourage them to be of the same heart and mind.

Paul wanted them to be blessed with the same abundance of grace and spiritual blessings as the Macedonians, for it was not the Macedonians doing this of their own accord, but it was God the Father exciting, arousing, or creating within them this desire to please Him and trust Him for their living needs (Matthew 6:25-34). Paul again is exhorting and directing them to look upon their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who are enduring great hardship with the same love and compassion shown them by our Lord Jesus Christ when he saved them from the deep, dark, depths of depravity (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) and to completely forsake their earlier attitudes and behavior of contending with their brothers and sisters in Christ.
Paul did not need to coerce those in Macedonia to give to their struggling brothers and sisters in Christ and he wanted the Corinthians to respond in kind. The Macedonians were again giving out of the abundance of grace given them by God, but they also were assured of the use of their liberal gift that it was to enrich Christ Body and that gave them much joy and excitement in participation (2 Corinthians 8:3-4). These Macedonian believers had been decimated by the Romans and were tormented with great poverty and grief, but they found extreme gladness in the grace to relieve other fellow believers in their struggles. Paul knew that this testimony to the Corinthians was needed to excite them to the same empathy or understanding that would motivate them to enter into the afflictions being endured by the believers in Jerusalem.

My own personal Note: Giving in Paul’s letters is a grace that we receive from God in order to meet the needs of His Children as He guarantees to do as we heard from the lips of our Lord Jesus Christ in Mathew 6:25-34. It appears, in my opinion, that many Churches and Ministries are more focused on giving to the poor unbeliever rather than having non-intrusive or demeaning or shaming methods in place to identify and give financially to the brothers and sisters in Christ Mystical Body who are (like the Jerusalem believers during Paul’s day) struggling mightily to feed and clothe their children. Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

    
 
 

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

The Truth comes to Corinth Part 2 Volume 28


Paul Rejoices upon Titus’ Return and Report

2 Corinthians 7:13-16 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. For if I have boasted anything to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things. (KJV)

Before Paul even wrote the first letter to the Corinthian Church (which had much rebuke and correction in it), he had been assuring Brother Titus that these Christians were true fellow brothers and sisters despite their immaturity (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). Titus may have been thinking and or reacting to these believers like the early Apostles were with our Lord Jesus, when they said this, “And John answered Him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy Name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.” (Mark 9:38). However, our Lord’s quick response came with these words, “But Jesus said, forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in My Name, that can lightly speak evil of Me. For he that is not against us is on our part. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in My Name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” (Mark 9:39-41).

Just as the early disciples wanted to write off those other people during their time, so Titus may have been feeling skepticism or doubt about the truth of the Corinthian’s faith in our Lord Jesus Christ because of the behavior that had been reported to Paul about them. However, Paul had spent 18 months personally with these believers teaching them the Word of God as well as modeling that same word in their presence every day, therefore, he was sure of their faith, but knew that they were still plagued by their old pagan ways which they lived in and practiced for so many years prior to receiving Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Paul knew from his own life of being a prominent Pharisee for so many years and then thrust into this new relationship with Jesus Christ that it takes not only faith in Christ and His Grace to shake off the grave clothes of the old life, but that each person must take responsibility themselves for understanding the war with sin and Satan and be proactive about their walk with our Lord (Romans 7:14-25).

This is why Paul specifically picked Titus to go to them that he might witness firsthand the power of repentance in the individual lives of these believers and also in the collective life of the Church itself. What Titus witnessed was the loving correction that brothers and sisters in Christ must administer to one another that true unity of the Spirit will take place as the Proverb so correctly states, “Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (Proverbs 27:5-6). Titus upon arriving in Corinth and being in the presence of these believers for the time period he was became overjoyed with the turnaround he witnessed and the fact that they were not angry or bitter with Paul for the things he said to them in his first letter. Titus’ spirit was refreshed or anapauo, which means his spirit, was given rest or repose (the absence of mental stress or anxiety).

This trip for Titus was not a walk in the park because he was unsure of what reception awaited him upon his arrival. In that day there was no email or texting or twitter or Facebook or video conference call, none of that, Titus had to trust Paul’s assurance in them and make the long journey by foot not sure in his own heart how he would be greeted as Paul’s messenger. Paul had boasted to Titus not once only but surely continually about the faith in Christ and love for Christ and His children of these believers. This is why Paul himself was comforted when Titus came back so joyful and excited because he wanted the assurance that their faith in Christ was real and not fake and that is what Titus’ joyous return gave him.

Paul not only found them willing to receive his rebuke and correction (by Titus’ testimony upon his return to Paul), but they were comforted by Paul pointing out to them their sin and immaturity and they came to the place of joyfully obeying his directions to them which in turn gave them inward comfort in obeying the truth. Obeying the truth always brings peace and comfort, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3), while continuing in sin always brings frustration and chaos, as the Prophet Isaiah likewise said with these words, “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” (Isaiah 57:21). Paul knew once and for all that these believers were teachable and that they wanted above all things to be pleasing to our Lord Jesus Christ and to Paul also.

“Paul in his humanity may have worried a bit about how these believers would respond to his rebuke and correction, but in his redeemed spirit he was sure that they would respond appropriately and Titus’ joyous return and report of their obedience brought much comfort and joy to the heart of the great Apostle Paul.” Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…