‘The Pain Of An Absent Spiritual Father.’
2 Corinthians 2:1-8.
Apostle Paul knew very well about the situation of the Corinthian Church and about their problems. There were messengers in the Bible days and letters were written. There was no telephone or internet. Sometimes telephones are not very useful in solving people’s problems except in great emergencies! Demanded responses that are quickly called for are dangerous and may cause more hurt and problems because the person who is being asked to counsel has no time to think or pray.
a) 2 Corinthians 2:1. Apostle Paul made up his mind not to pay another painful visit to Corinth, he did not want to give or receive pain.
b) 2 Corinthians 2:2. There would be a lot of focus on the person who caused the pain. That was not good.
c) 2 Corinthians 2:3. Apostle Paul wanted to come to Corinth with rejoicing and not in pain.
d) 2 Corinthians 2:4-5. Apostle Paul knew that his letter caused pain in the Church – it was a necessary pain that brought a cleansing of the Church with it. Apostle Paul wrote that letter because of his deep and real love for the Church.
e) 2 Corinthians 2:6-8. After the punishment of the guilty person by the Church there needed to be a time of:-
1- Forgiveness.
2- Comfort.
3- Defeat of overwhelming sorrow.
4- Love.
(This QT shows me The Pain Of An Absent Spiritual Father)
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‘The Noble Thessalonian Jews.’
Acts 17:11.
a) Received the Word of God with all eagerness.
b) Examined the Scriptures daily.
c) Checked that the content of what they were being taught was Biblical.
(Through this Second one: The Noble Thessalonian Jews, I find a principle that every Church should have but that the vast majority of Churches and para church movements have not)
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Chris.
I am so Blessed by these noble Thessalonian Jews! The reason why Apostle Paul called them “Noble” was that they loved God’s Word themselves and looked after their Churches well by checking the content of what they were being taught in Church with their Bibles. We should develop this practice in both Church and para church today.
