‘Their Hearts Were Narrow.’
2 Corinthians 6:11-18.
a) 2 Corinthians 6:11. Apostle Paul and his team really loved the young Corinthian Church. All through two Epistles Paul kept reaffirming them in God’s Love and in his love.
b) 2 Corinthians 6:12. Apostle Paul knew that the Corinthian response to his team was not good – their hearts were narrow (meaning not so open).
c) 2 Corinthians 6:13. Apostle Paul urges them to open their hearts.
d) 2 Corinthians 6:14-16. Their problem was compromise. The sin of compromise was causing them to close their hearts. This compromise was mainly in the area of wrong human relationships:-
1- True Believers and non Believers can have no real fellowship.
2- Righteousness and unrighteousness can have no real fellowship.
3- Light and darkness can have no real fellowship.
4- Christ and Belial can have no real fellowship.
5- A person who has Faith and a person who has no Faith can have no fellowship.
6- The Temple of God and idols can have no fellowship.
e) 2 Corinthians 6:16. If God’s People in Corinth obeyed the above exhortation then God would be with them and give them assurance in a very real way. It is exactly the same promise for us if our hearts are narrow because of the above reasons.
f) 2 Corinthians 6:17. If the Corinthians (and ourselves) came out of their wrong relationships God would receive them – God’s acceptance.
g) 2 Corinthians 6:18. If the Corinthians (and ourselves) came out of wrong relationships God would be a Father to them.
(This QT shows me a good lesson to learn from the Corinthians – why Their Hearts Were Narrow and reminds me to have good relationships in the Body of Christ)
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‘Zion As The Place Of Worship.’
Psalm 48:2-13.
a) Psalm 48:2 & 11. Is a Beautiful and Joyful place.
b) Psalm 48:3. Is the place for knowing God rather than just knowing about Him.
c) Psalm 48:4-7. Is the place where enemies are defeated.
d) Psalm 48:8. Is Eternal – it endures forever.
e) Psalm 48:9. Is a place where we can ponder upon the Loving Kindness of the Lord.
f) Psalm 48:10. Is a place where we can Praise the Lord in an environment of Righteousness.
g) Psalm 48:12-13. Is a place of wonder which we can tell the next generation about.
(This Second one has me in awe of Zion As The Place Of Worship)
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Chris.
True Worshippers come to know God. This is always and inevitably the case. We cannot “know” God just from receiving Teaching about Him alone. Of course it is good to receive that Teaching, however Jesus calls us to Worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth. God is a God of balance and we need the balance between the Word of God and the Holy Spirit if we are going to know God. We need to be Worshippers.
