Bible Study: A Sweet Savour 11.28.10

King James Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: A Sweet Savour
For: Sunday November 28, 2010
Chapters: II Corinthians 1-4
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-november-28

Details of Today's Chapters: Forgiveness and forgiving those who repent, the Lordship of Christ, and why Christians suffer.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
The book of II Corinthians is the forty-seventh book of the Bible, eight book of the New Testament, and contains thirteen chapters. The author of the book is Paul and it was written to the believers at Corinth. The purpose of the book was to reestablish his apostolic authority and to show gratitude and thanks for their faithfulness in Christ. What we are to learn from the book is that human weakness provides an opportunity for the manifestation of the power of God. “For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.” - II Corinthians 13:4.

Paul's first letter to the Corinthians is one of discipline, this one, which was written about a year later, was written when he himself was in despair and heard that they had turned things around. He wanted to show them how pleased he was that they were living by the true Gospel. “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.” - II Corinthians 1:3-6.

Paul is reminding them and us that we are going to be afflicted from time to time, but it is during that affliction that we find comfort with God and can know that Christ is right there with us. Many people think that the second they call on Christ to save them that all their troubles will disappear immediately and they will not have to endure any more pain and suffering. Then when things are not changing for them they blame it on God. You know, we do not get into the messes that we get into overnight, it takes some time, so, we can not expect all our troubles to go away overnight either. What we can do is trust God and let Him handle it in the manner that He knows is best for us. “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.” - I Timothy 4:10.


Think about it. If God or anyone else for that matter cleaned up one mess after another without any repercussions how would we learn from it? Likewise, if we have everything handed to us without any work or difficulties in obtaining them, would we learn to appreciate them? Everything that we go through in life is placed before us, not only to get us to be dependent on God for everything, but to also get us to realize that it comes from God. We are going to face trials whether we choose to follow Christ or not, at least by following Him we know that someone is on our side and that greater blessings will come as we learn to trust Him. “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. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 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? 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.” - II Corinthians 2:14-17. The word savour (savor) means a distinctive quality and a delight in. Therefore, we have a distinctive quality and are a delight in the Lord. Praise God!

We can face trials and suffering with the confidence that our Lord never makes a mistake. As we submit our wills during times of testing, God imparts strength and the comfort of the Holy Spirit with a two-fold effect: Our burdens are lifted and we become qualified to comfort others just as Paul was able to. “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” - II Corinthians 4:1-6.

Nothing we do for God goes unnoticed, particularly in teaching the Gospel, it is the gift that keeps on giving and I will tell you what, getting people saved will bless you tremendously. Oh, Satan is going to try you, but you will shine and out of the blue you will see how much all your labor, pain, and suffering will pay off. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” - I Corinthians 15:57,58.

Be blessed, enjoy the rest of your day/night and the Lord's Day.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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