ISDAMan
03-02-01, 12:35 PM
Friday Night Sermon -- Online Bible Study
From: www.NailScarred.net (http://www.NailScarred.net)
Now For Some Encouragement
Part 10 Of A Study In 2 Corinthians
KJV
Chapter: 2 ,Verses: 12-17
12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
NLT
Chapter: 2 ,Verses: 12-17
12 Well, when I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord gave me tremendous opportunities.
13 But I couldn't rest because my dear brother Titus hadn't yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him.
14 But thanks be to God, who made us his captives and leads us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume.
15 Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those being saved and by those perishing.
16 To those who are perishing we are a fearful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?
17 You see, we are not like those hucksters – and there are many of them – who preach just to make money. We preach God's message with sincerity and with Christ's authority. And we know that the God who sent us is watching us.
You know, this is a truly great and uplifting passage. For all of the things that we do not know and, for all the things that bring concern to our hearts, there is still the leading of God in our lives. When we are troubled and searching for peace, as Paul was searching for Titus, if we maintain in the Gospel, God can be given the Glory and guess who gets to share in it?!?! Even those things that seem to beset us and halt us from doing what we had planned to do, God uses to spread His Word. I know I never planned to be where I am in my life today. I think most of us could attest to the fact that we had thought to be living our lives in a different way than we are today. Nevertheless, we are where we are and God can use us right here in the thick of it all. It's amazing. Nonetheless, it's true.
Now, I'm sure that we can all go throughout the Bible and find all kinds of stories of people's lives wherein they had something unexpected happened and God used it to His Glory. What I'd like to look at this time are the two responses we can expect.
We see from this passage that some will either be drawn in and enriched by the truth of God or be repelled by it. Do you know that the people I most write these FNS's for are Christians? I post the FNS on a secular website and, I'm more likely to get heckled there than any other response. To them, my service to God is a stench. It amazes me, however, that they spend so much time arguing against the God they claim does not exist. In total reversal to their response is the response I get from fellow Christians. I tell you, it does my heart GOOD!!! Here is where it's like bringing together logs in a fire to create a greater burning than could be established apart. Speaking and sharing the truth of God to one another should be practiced as much as possible. There's something incredible that happens when you become that life giving perfume to another Believer by sharing the truth of God. You catch the same sent of encouragement and remembrance of God too. Sure, things may not be like we planned. Still, we can share God's Word with one another at any time at all and know that we are not like the world and do not share their fate.
Now, I'd like you to notice verse seven-teen. How is it that God's Word comes out of us that sincerely Love Him? It comes with authority! It's not like so many of the fake TV preachers we see that speak all manor of lies to separate people from their money. It's backed up by God Himself! Now, I don't want you to think that I'm talking about the power of the spoken word as some would claim to be able to speak God's Word to bring riches, make the crippled dance, cure the common cold, or to be able to never sin again. That kind of stuff comes from the TV hucksters. Yes, there is Biblical healing and that's a discussion for another time. What I'm talking about is speaking God's Word to ears that hear to bring a remembrance of the Lord God on high which will bring that peace that surpasses understanding. There is an authority given to each and every one of us that does give us power against the forces of Satan. It's important that we first understand how to use that power and that authority for our mutual benefit before we run headlong into the world thinking that we can conquer Satan. After all, the Bible says "resist", not "conquer". How can we resist without being united?
The Roman solders use to lock their shields to resist all manor of attacks. Are our shields not our faith in the Living Word of God? We should be interlocked and sharing that faith with one another. Yes, there is always a place for sharing the Gospel with the Lost. Remember though, God brings both reward and judgement to the Jew first and then to the Gentile. We are grafted in. We are the first fruits of God. We need to flourish together so that others may hear the Gospel and live.
Now, here's the big challenge. Make it happen at home!
<HR>
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them [those who deny that Jesus is from God and who have the spirit of the world], because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
-- 1 John 4:4, NIV
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
-- Proverbs 27:17, NIV
I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.
-- Ezekiel 36:23, NIV
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
-- Hebrews 10:24,25, NIV
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
-- Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV
It's Good To Be Saved,
ISDAMan
------------------
For questions regarding the Biblical standards upon which the "Friday Night Sermon" is structured, please, refer to the NailScarred.net Statement of Faith (http://fns.nailscarred.net/aof.htm) or contact the "Friday Night Sermon" fns@nailscarred.net.
The "Friday Night Sermon" is the copyrighted intellectual property of NailScarred.net and it's respective constituents, affiliates, and owners of materials within. You are permitted to reproduce and share the "Friday Night Sermon", without alteration, with the expressed limitation that there may be no tangible or intangible transaction of materials or services, in connection with the reproduction of the "Friday Night Sermon", that pertains to, or be in conjunction with, any form of financial profit, monetary gain, bartering, or any such transaction. Policies are subject to change without notice. Any willful or knowledgeable reproduction of the "Friday Night Sermon" confirms your agreement with the policies of NailScarred.net in accordance with the reproduction of this document. The "Friday Night Sermon" is © Copyright 2000-2001 NailScarred.net. All Rights Reserved.
From: www.NailScarred.net (http://www.NailScarred.net)
Now For Some Encouragement
Part 10 Of A Study In 2 Corinthians
KJV
Chapter: 2 ,Verses: 12-17
12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
NLT
Chapter: 2 ,Verses: 12-17
12 Well, when I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord gave me tremendous opportunities.
13 But I couldn't rest because my dear brother Titus hadn't yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him.
14 But thanks be to God, who made us his captives and leads us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume.
15 Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those being saved and by those perishing.
16 To those who are perishing we are a fearful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?
17 You see, we are not like those hucksters – and there are many of them – who preach just to make money. We preach God's message with sincerity and with Christ's authority. And we know that the God who sent us is watching us.
You know, this is a truly great and uplifting passage. For all of the things that we do not know and, for all the things that bring concern to our hearts, there is still the leading of God in our lives. When we are troubled and searching for peace, as Paul was searching for Titus, if we maintain in the Gospel, God can be given the Glory and guess who gets to share in it?!?! Even those things that seem to beset us and halt us from doing what we had planned to do, God uses to spread His Word. I know I never planned to be where I am in my life today. I think most of us could attest to the fact that we had thought to be living our lives in a different way than we are today. Nevertheless, we are where we are and God can use us right here in the thick of it all. It's amazing. Nonetheless, it's true.
Now, I'm sure that we can all go throughout the Bible and find all kinds of stories of people's lives wherein they had something unexpected happened and God used it to His Glory. What I'd like to look at this time are the two responses we can expect.
We see from this passage that some will either be drawn in and enriched by the truth of God or be repelled by it. Do you know that the people I most write these FNS's for are Christians? I post the FNS on a secular website and, I'm more likely to get heckled there than any other response. To them, my service to God is a stench. It amazes me, however, that they spend so much time arguing against the God they claim does not exist. In total reversal to their response is the response I get from fellow Christians. I tell you, it does my heart GOOD!!! Here is where it's like bringing together logs in a fire to create a greater burning than could be established apart. Speaking and sharing the truth of God to one another should be practiced as much as possible. There's something incredible that happens when you become that life giving perfume to another Believer by sharing the truth of God. You catch the same sent of encouragement and remembrance of God too. Sure, things may not be like we planned. Still, we can share God's Word with one another at any time at all and know that we are not like the world and do not share their fate.
Now, I'd like you to notice verse seven-teen. How is it that God's Word comes out of us that sincerely Love Him? It comes with authority! It's not like so many of the fake TV preachers we see that speak all manor of lies to separate people from their money. It's backed up by God Himself! Now, I don't want you to think that I'm talking about the power of the spoken word as some would claim to be able to speak God's Word to bring riches, make the crippled dance, cure the common cold, or to be able to never sin again. That kind of stuff comes from the TV hucksters. Yes, there is Biblical healing and that's a discussion for another time. What I'm talking about is speaking God's Word to ears that hear to bring a remembrance of the Lord God on high which will bring that peace that surpasses understanding. There is an authority given to each and every one of us that does give us power against the forces of Satan. It's important that we first understand how to use that power and that authority for our mutual benefit before we run headlong into the world thinking that we can conquer Satan. After all, the Bible says "resist", not "conquer". How can we resist without being united?
The Roman solders use to lock their shields to resist all manor of attacks. Are our shields not our faith in the Living Word of God? We should be interlocked and sharing that faith with one another. Yes, there is always a place for sharing the Gospel with the Lost. Remember though, God brings both reward and judgement to the Jew first and then to the Gentile. We are grafted in. We are the first fruits of God. We need to flourish together so that others may hear the Gospel and live.
Now, here's the big challenge. Make it happen at home!
<HR>
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them [those who deny that Jesus is from God and who have the spirit of the world], because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
-- 1 John 4:4, NIV
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
-- Proverbs 27:17, NIV
I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.
-- Ezekiel 36:23, NIV
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
-- Hebrews 10:24,25, NIV
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
-- Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV
It's Good To Be Saved,
ISDAMan
------------------
For questions regarding the Biblical standards upon which the "Friday Night Sermon" is structured, please, refer to the NailScarred.net Statement of Faith (http://fns.nailscarred.net/aof.htm) or contact the "Friday Night Sermon" fns@nailscarred.net.
The "Friday Night Sermon" is the copyrighted intellectual property of NailScarred.net and it's respective constituents, affiliates, and owners of materials within. You are permitted to reproduce and share the "Friday Night Sermon", without alteration, with the expressed limitation that there may be no tangible or intangible transaction of materials or services, in connection with the reproduction of the "Friday Night Sermon", that pertains to, or be in conjunction with, any form of financial profit, monetary gain, bartering, or any such transaction. Policies are subject to change without notice. Any willful or knowledgeable reproduction of the "Friday Night Sermon" confirms your agreement with the policies of NailScarred.net in accordance with the reproduction of this document. The "Friday Night Sermon" is © Copyright 2000-2001 NailScarred.net. All Rights Reserved.