2 Corinthians 12 - 2006.04.29

"And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made prefect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." II Cor. 12:9

Having been granted an exalted spiritual experience, Paul was left withan unspecified "thorn in the flesh," designed to keep his ecstasy in check. On three distinct occasions he petitioned the Lord for the removal of this physical liability. We may safely conclude that his petition was precise, earnest and lifted in faith to the One who is "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." But, God's ability notwithstanding, the request was denied, and out of that denial there came the invaluable principle expressed in our text for today.

First, there is the promise: "And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee." The inference is that God's grace can compensate for every weakness a believer may experience, every hardship, every trial he may endure. That inference is reinforced in another passage in this epistle: "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound unto every good work [II Cor. 9:8 italics mine]." Whatever our need may be, God promises grace to meet that need, though not necessarily in kind. The petition rising from illness may not necessarily bring restored health; the plea arising from poverty may not be answered with wealth; the cry incited by oppression may not result in deliverance. God's grace may simply provide the power to endure the trouble triumphantly, as here, and as was supremely illustrated at Calvary.

That is the promise. The next clause sets forth the principle: "My strength is made perfect in weakness." Weakness implies dependence, and man from the beginning has had a passion for independence and self-sufficiency. By (fallen) nature we want to be our own God: "I am the captain of my ship, I am the master of my fate." God here sets forth the counter point, "My strength is made perfect in weakness." That principle is echoed by the Holy Spirit through the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews when he speaks of those heroes of faith who "out of weakness were made strong [Heb. 11:34}."

The principle is not that hard to understand. When we are "strong," we do not need God, make our achievements on our own, and man gets the glory. The downside, of course, is that whatever we do is limited to whatever our natural resources may be. Conversely, when we are weak and know it, and rely upon the grace of God, His infinite wisdom and resources come into play, what results defies human wisdom and understanding, and whatever is accomplished brings glory to God —alone.

Once again, Calvary is the supreme example. It is said of the Savior that "He was crucified through weakness," but was "declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead [Rom. 1:4]," and "yet lives by the power of God [see II Cor. 13:4]" What transpired was manifestly the work of God and no man can effectively argue to the contrary.

What emerged for the apostle Paul from his experience was the development of an altered perspective we might call 'the paradoxical perspective of faith.' The things in which men normally glory—health, wealth and welfare, were discounted and his new focus was to glory in his vulnerability, finding the resources for "keeping on" in Christ alone. He elaborates in the next verse, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: For when I am weak, then am I strong [v. 10, italics mine]." It is interesting to note that having received this message from God, and recognizing the principle and its significance,the apostle did not pray again for deliverance from the "thorn." Rather, he bore it as an instrument suited to promoting the power of God's grace to sustain in weakness, and bring glory to God.

If perchance you are suffering from a "thorn" that has not been removed in response to the prayer of faith, reflect on this principle. It may be that He is saying to you, "My grace is sufficient for thee: My strength is made perfect in weakness."

Yours for HIS glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

2 Corinthians 11 - 2006.04.22

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." II Cor. 10:17-18

Three key words unlock the potential of this text: "serpent," "subtilty" and "simplicity."

"Serpent" is a synonym for Satan, the arch enemy of God, the source and personification of evil. In I Cor. 3:19 he is called, in fact, "the god of this world." The idea of a personal spirit being in whom evil finds its zenith is not popular in our secular world, but the scriptures, in both testaments, set forth a significant doctrine of Satan. Paul, John, Peter, Luke and, of course, Christ all believed in and referred to Satan and his strategies. Moses employed the title used in our text, identifying the serpent as the vehicle for the temptation of eve in the garden of Eden, where man's tragedy began.

Satan instigated the suffering of Job, tempted Christ in the wilderness and influenced Judas to betray Christ. He is identified as the believer's adversary whom we must resist and against whom we need qualified spiritual armor. He is a liar and a sinner "from the beginning," and has "the power of death." Called in Ephesians 2:2 "The prince of the power of the air," he is identified as "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience," who will ultimately "deceive the whole world [Rev. 12:9]," indwelling the Antichrist in a manner similar to that in which the Holy Spirit indwelt Christ.

Far too many Christians regard Satan in much the same light as Santa Claus—a kind of fairy tale figure who doesn't really exist. That is not the view of the apostles, especially of Paul, as expressed here. Satan not only exists, but we are here warned of his subtlety. While his strategies are many, this one is of particular importance. His most successful strategy is to use subtle means to contradict the word of God, convincing us not to take it seriously. That is what happened with Eve. He caught her off guard by quoting scripture, or, more accurately, mis-quoting it. When she indicated in her response a degree of ignorance of God's word, Satan knew she was ready for the big lie, "God is holding out on you." As an adversary, Satan is both clever and relentless. To stand against his "wiles," or subtleties, we need "the whole armor of God," and those believers who are ignorant of scripture and Bible doctrine, or fuzzy-minded regarding the same, will be especially vulnerable.

The concern Paul expresses here is that their "minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." That is the simplicity of faith, and the gospel of the grace of God. Nowhere is that danger more prevalent than in the realm of religion. As Satan used twisted scripture to seduce Eve, he does the same today through the subtleties of "christian" religion as well as paganism. Too numerous to count are the schemes by which religion invites men to follow rabbit trails to eternal ruin. Currently the man-made religion of "Scientology" is being promoted by the media as they high-profile a wildly popular Hollywood figure who has embraced it. And sadder still is the testimony of a well meaning, but misguided business man whose formula for getting to heaven, "never think of yourself, always care about others," was taught to him as a child in a religious school. That is a wonderful ideal, but it won't solve the problem of sin, and the sinner's accountability to God.

The simplicity that is in Christ is this: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus [Rom. 3:23-24]," because "Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures [I Cor. 15:3]," hence it is "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life [Titus 3:5-7]."

"MY hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus Name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand
All other ground is sinking sand."

Yours for HIS glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

2 Corinthians 10 - 2006.04.15

"…He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth." II Cor. 10:17-18

There is an interesting text in the opening chapter of Romans that speaks to the present calamity of the human situation: "…When they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools…" (Rom. 1:21-22). When Adam was successfully tempted to self-glorification, he opened the "Pandora's box" that essentially destroyed the human race. The greater tragedy lies in the fact that 10,000 years (more or less) of human experience since has not led man to recognize the folly of pride and the virtue of that humility that recognizes and rejoices in utter dependence upon God.

Even greater is the tragedy that many professing Christians have not learned the lesson, either. Pride was a problem in the church at Corinth, and it is a spiritual cancer with death-dealing potential in many a local church today, the clear teaching of scripture notwithstanding. Hence the apostle's exhortation in our text for today, "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."

Warnings to this end are abundant in scripture, both in precept and example. A favorite verse of a pastor and friend of mind is, "Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom (Prov. 13:10)." In fact, the book of Proverbs is replete with such counsel. "When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom (11:2)." "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud (16:18)." And again, "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit (29:23)."

The logic for this is not hard to find. Through the apostle Peter the Holy Spirit writes, "For all flesh is grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away… (I Pet. 1:24)." Regardless of his talent, man faces an inevitable appointment with death, the great leveler, "and after this the judgment." The real question is not what his achievements may be in the eyes of men, or in his own eyes, but in God's eyes. Regardless of whether he be a preacher or a plumber, if his works have been generated in the "flesh," they will have no endorsement from God, and add up to "nothing." And if they were generated in the "spirit," then it is God Who is the author, and the glory belongs to Him, not the agent. Thus it behooves man to seek God's glory, not his own.

Jeremiah said it earlier: "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD (Jer. 9:24-25)."

The apostle Paul not only expounded it,but he exemplified it when he said, "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world (Gal. 6:14)." He did not minister to impress people with his ministry, but only to impress sinners with the Savior, and saints with their responsibility to the Redeemer.

The supreme example, of course, is the Savior Himself. He said, "I seek not mine own glory: there is One that seeketh and judgeth…If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honoreth Me; of Whom ye say that He is your God… (John 8:50, 54)."

Humbled under "the mighty hand of God," Nebuchadnezzar, builder and boaster of "Great Babylon," finally got it right: "And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured Him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say to Him, What doest Thou…Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase (Dan. 4:34-37)."

As our text for today would indicate, it is a lesson God wants us all to learn!

Yours for HIS glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

2 Corinthians 9 - 2006.04.08

"But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." II Cor. 8:9

Here is an expression of the biblical principle of "sowing and reaping," or "the law of the harvest." In this instance it is applied to Christian giving. There is a direct relationship between sowing and reaping, and a necessary connection between the two. He who sows nothing will reap nothing. He who sows generously will reap largely, though not necessarily in kind. When we went to pastor a country church in Vermont, we arrived in late spring and found a substantial garden, behind the parsonage, plowed and ready for planting. I had never planted a garden before. One day I elected to plant peas, dug a trench for them, and was putting the seed in the ground one by one about two inches apart. And old timer was watching as i worked, and when I saw a strange look on his face i asked, "Am I doing it wrong?" "Nope, he replied," but I never saw anybody do it that way before!" I soon learned that a good harvest of peas required that they be sown lavishly, not sparingly. And that is true of most seed-grown crops.

In the Old Testament, under the law, giving was mandated as "tithes and offerings," with the stipulation that the tithe belonged to the Lord's: "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD [Lev. 27:30]." The Old Testament believer had not begun to give to the Lord until he had surpassed the tithe, or tenth. In the New Testament reference to tithing occurs only twice in the gospels, and that in a way critical of the scribes and Pharisees, who tithed religiously, but failed in other graces; and there is no reference at all to tithing in the New Testament epistles. New Testament giving functions on a different principle; it is to be motivated not out of duty, but out of devotion to the Lord.

Giving, under grace, is first to be voluntary. "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, nor of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver [II Cor. 9:7, italics mine]." God does not make the decision for us, how much we should give, but allows us to make the decision for ourselves. Giving, like living, is an affair of the heart, and if the heart is not in it, God does not want the gift!

Second, giving under grace is to be proportionate. "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 [II Cor. 8:12 again, italics mine., See also I Cor 16:2b]." In the church there are those under certain circumstances who can scarcely afford to give a tenth of their meager income to the church, and if they are to do so, must, indeed, give by faith and out of love, as the widow gave her two mites (See Mark 12:41-44). There others who, if they but tithe their income are stingy, given the abundance with which God has blessed them. They give with a miserly hand for want of a willing mind.

There is a third factor implied in New Testament giving; it should be systematic. The apostle's instruction to the Corinthians on an earlier occasion was, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him… [I Cor. 16:2]" He is recommending diligence and regularity in the matter of giving.

Having said all of that, we return to our text and note that whether our giving be generous or miserly, sacrificial or nominal, we are still subject to the law of the harvest. The Christian should recognize that God is the fountain head of all our resources, the wellspring of every blessing. It is God, and God alone, Who "is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work [v.8]." It is God Who "ministers seed to the sower [and] bread for your food [v.9]," and of Whom it is promised, "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus [Phil 4:19]." As New Testament believers we should recognize that everything belongs to God. Our question should not be, "How much of mine must I give God," but, "How much of His have I a right to keep for myself?!" Grace always rises higher than law!

"The liberal (generous) soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." Proverbs 11:25
Yours for HIS glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

2 Corinthians 8 - 2006.04.01

"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." II Cor. 8:9

The wealth of the pre-incarnate Christ could be assessed in a number of ways, but the most concise evaluation is given in the epistle to the Hebrews: "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds [Heb. 1:1-2]." This is reinforced in John 1:3, "All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made."

As the author and heir of "all things," everything belonged to the Lord Jesus Christ, both in earth and in heaven. The richest man on earth is a pauper in comparison to Christ for several reasons. First, He has no peers, and no successful competitors. He said, "I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is Mine, and the fulness thereof [Ps. 50:9-12]." Second, His wealth extended beyond the limits of the inhabited earth to embrace realms that no man has yet explored, let alone possessed. Wherever His eye rests, from the navel of the earth to the reaches of the most distant star, He can say as a matter of fact, "It is Mine." Third, He need never die and leave it all behind. His wealth is His, and His forever.

Pause for a moment, and let it sink in. He was rich! And that by a measure our concept of riches cannot even approximate. "Yet," our text abruptly continues, "for your sakes He became poor." How poor did He become? He surrendered all the prerogatives of deity to become not merely a man, but a man who owned nothing. He had no home of His own, no transportation of His own, no property of His own, no capital of His own. Falsely accused, He could not have afforded a legal defender had He wanted one. When He died, he had no grave site of His own, and had to be buried in a borrowed tomb. His estate consisted of a seamless robe, and His mother's care had to be entrusted to a friend. He had no insurance!

Not only did the Savior die that we might live; He became poor that we might be rich. Those who trust Him as Savior and Lord are rich beyond comparison. They have life they will never lose; health that will never fail; a home that will need no maintenance; treasure in an impregnable vault, secure against moth, rust, thieves and the fluctuations of the stock market. And these are but the "tip of the iceberg," so to speak. Perhaps the most impressive expression of the riches that belong to the redeemed, however, is found in this terse passage: "The Spirit [himself] beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together [Rom. 8:16,17]."

Joint heirs, like joint account holders at the bank, have equal rights and privileges, equal access to all that is in the account. As joint heirs with Christ, every believer will have equal rights and privileges with Him, to all that is rightfully His. He is "heir of all things." I am a "joint heir" with Him. All that is His will be mine! This is incredible, but true, according to the Word of God Who cannot lie! Well then does the apostle speak when he says, "Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether…the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's [I Cor. 3:21-23, italics added.]."

How glorious is this grace of our Lord Jesus Christ! What a pity that so many believers spend all their energy to acquire a pittance in a world we are bound to leave, and so little improving an endowment we cannot lose!

With gratitude for HIS grace,

"Pastor" Frasier