From the recording Paul the Letter of II Corinthians An Intimate Review
Lyrics
Letter of Apostle Paul – II Corinthians
An Intimate Review
Pt 10
By Lawrence DeMetrius
The Benefit of Mortal Weakness
In [II Cor 12:1; Act 22:17] Apostle Paul confesses that while it was not expedient for him to GLORY or BOAST of his personal accolades, he did want to share certain VISIONS and REVELATIONS he received of THE LORD.
*vision Gk #3701 optasia (op-tas-ee-ah) it is…
• visuality which means…
o used, of or relating to sight or seeing
o optical and visible
o perceptible by the sense of sight and mind
o of the nature of a mental vision
• an apparition which is…
o a supernatural appearance of a person or thing
o anything that appears, especially something remarkable or startling
o an act of appearing or a manifestation
Many things are not permitted to be revealed to mortals. Apostle Paul is referring to DIVINE MANIFESTATIONS that were available to him per the will of THE LORD. When Yahweh desires HIS Elect to perceive certain things, HE will enable them to do so with their visual and mental senses. [Rm 1:18,19]
*revelation Gk #602 apokalupsis (ap-ok-al-oop-sis) it is disclosure
Enoch teaches that there are Seven Heavens above the earth and a four-level plain beneath the earth called Sheol. One of those levels is a PARADISE with water. [Eno 22] In [II Cor 12:2-4; Act 14:20] Apostle Paul shares his experience in a PARADISE located in the Third Heaven. [II Cor 12:2a, 4a; Rev 2:7] Jesus Christ spoke of a PARADISE as well. [Lk 16:22, 23; 23:43]
*paradise Gk #3857 paradeisos (par-ad-i-sos) it is…
• a park, which is an area of land, usually in a largely natural state, for the enjoyment of the public, having facilities for rest and recreation, often owned, set apart and managed by a city, state or nation
• an Eden, which is…
o the place where Adam and Eve lived before the Fall [Gen 2:8–24]
o any delightful region and abode
o a state of perfect happiness and bliss
• a place of future happiness
• it refers to…
o heaven as the final abode of the righteous and is figurative of happiness, power and eternity
o an intermediate place for the departed souls of the righteous as they await resurrection to eternal life
o a place of extreme happiness, beauty and delight
o a state of supreme happiness and bliss
King David writes,
THOU wilt shew me the path of life: in THY presence is fulness of joy; at THY right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
[Ps 16:11]
In [II Cor 12:4-8, 10] Apostle Paul writes that while visiting this PARADISE, he heard words that could not be spoken by mortals. To keep him from becoming self-exalted, it was necessary for him to be divinely afflicted with a BUFFETTING THORN in his mortal or FLESH nature. It was as a MESSENGER of Lucifer that was painful and inconvenient enough to ask Yahweh to remove it three times.
*thorn Gk #4647 skolops (skol-ops) it means withered at the front, a point and prickle and a bodily annoyance or disability
*flesh Gk #4561 sarx (sarx) it is…
• flesh as stripped of the skin and strictly the meat of an animal as food
• the body as opposed to the soul and spirit
• symbolic of what is external and a means of kindred
• human nature with its physical and moral frailties and passions and humans as such
*messenger Gk #32 aggelos (ang-el-os) it is a messenger, angel or pastor
*buffet Gk #2852 kolaphizo (kol-af-id-zo) it means to rap or strike, especially with a quick, smart or light blow with the fist
*depart Gk #868 aphistemi (af-is-tay-mee) it means to…
• remove, actively instigate to revolt
• desist, desert and draw or fall away
• refrain and withdraw self
Apostle Paul’s experience and definition of these words, give credence to the idea of Yahweh allowing HIS children to encounter certain challenges from evil. [Mt 6:34] Job experienced this in his time. [Job 1:6; 2:6] Even Jesus Christ endured such testing in His Wilderness Experience. [Mt 4:1-11] As with Apostle Paul’s experience, sometimes these afflictions are in place to help one remain humble, upon receiving extraordinary degrees of spiritual and supernatural revelations. In [II Cor 12:9] Apostle Paul discloses that the Lord’s answer to such affliction is,
My GRACE is SUFFICIENT for thee: for MY STRENGTH is MADE PERFECT in WEAKNESS.
[II Cor 12:9]
*grace Gk #5485 charis (khar-ece) it is…
• gratitude and gratifying graciousness of manner or act
• divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life
• the satisfying one’s own desires, inclinations or feelings
*sufficient Gk #714 arkeo (ar-keh-o) it means to ward off, avail and be satisfactory, content, enough and sufficient
*strength Gk #1411 dunamis (doo-nam-is) it is…
• force, miraculous power and a miracle itself
• ability, abundance and meaning
• might, mightily and a wonderful work or deed
• a worker of miracles, power and violence
*perfect Gk #5048 teleioo (tel-i-o-o) it means to…
• complete, accomplish and consummate in character
• consecrate, finish, fulfill and make perfect
*weakness Gk #769 astheneia (as-then-i-ah) it is…
• feebleness of body or mind and moral frailty
• disease, infirmity, sickness and weakness
Yahweh PERFECTS the STRENGTH of Christ within each of HIS Elect. [St Jn 1:1-4, 11-14; Mt 11:28-30; Heb 7:25; II Tim 2:24-26; Rm 8:28-30] Apostle Paul’s account implies that divine STRENGTH is only PERFECTED within mortal WEAKNESS.
Perhaps this is why he suggests that one’s vulnerability to sin is never removed because of this, even upon spiritual regeneration. The reality and evidence of MORTAL WEAKNESS reminds the Elect of why they must abide in Christ, in order to live in a manner that pleases Yahweh. [Jn 4:23, 24; 15:5] The Church of Philadelphia fully acknowledged, understood and embraced this REVELATION. In so doing, they secured their eternal heritage in Christ. [Rev 3:8, 10] THE DIVINE delights in providing grace to every born-again believer. [Jer 9:23, 24; 29:11; II Pet 3:9; Eze 18:23, 32; St Jn 3:16; Heb 11:1, 6; II Cor 12:10; 4:8-18; 15; 7:2-6; II Cor 13:4, 9; Mt 26:41; I Cor 16:1-10] In [II Cor 12:14] Apostle Paul teaches that Yahweh accessorizes true Apostles with divine signs, wonders and good deeds. [Mk 16:14-20; Acts 4:30] He also notes per [II Cor 12:20, 21] the characteristics of a spiritually immature church, which include the following.
*debates Gk #2054 eris (er-is) it is wrangling or a quarrel, which is…
• an angry dispute or altercation
• a disagreement marked by a temporary or permanent break in friendly relations
• a cause of dispute, complaint or hostile feeling
o hostile is…
of, relating to or characteristic of an enemy
opposed in feeling, action or character
not being friendly, warm, generous or hospitable
*envyings Gk #2205 zelos (dzay-los) it is heat or zeal in the favorable sense or jealousy and malice in the unfavorable sense
*wrath Gk #2372 thumos (thoo-mos) it is fierceness, indignation and passion, as if breathing hard
*strifes Gk #2052 eritheia (er-ith-i-ah) it is intrigue, faction and contention
• intrigue is…
o the use of underhanded mechanisms or deceitful stratagems and series thereof
o a plot or crafty dealing
• faction is…
o a group or clique within a larger group, party, government or organization, that typically have different opinions and interests than the larger group
o party strife, intrigue and dissension which is…
strong disagreement, contention, quarrel and discord
disagreement and difference in sentiment or opinion
• contention is…
o strife and a struggling together in opposition
o contest, competition and a striving in rivalry
o controversy, dispute and strife in debate
o a point contended for or affirmed in controversy
*backbitings Gk #2636 katalalia (kat-al-al-eh-ah) it is defamation, which is false or unjustified injury of the good reputation of another by slander or evil speaking
*whisperings Gk #5587 psithurismos (psith-oo-ris-mos) it is a…
• slander, which is a malicious, false and defamatory statement or report
• secret distraction that divides the attention and prevents concentration
*swellings Gk #5450 phusiosis (foo-see-o-sis) it is inflation and haughtiness
• inflation is the act of inflating or state of being inflated
o inflate is to…
puff up with pride and satisfaction
increase, especially suddenly and substantially
• haughtiness is scornful pride, snobbishness and arrogance
*tumults Gk #181 akatastasia (ak-at-as-tah-see-ah) it is instability, disorder, commotion and confusion
THE DIVINE is intolerant of any activity that disrupts unity within Christian Assemblies. Apostle Paul writes,
For GOD is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in ALL churches of the saints.
[I Cor 14:33]
King Solomon writes,
These six things doth THE LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto HIM:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
[Pro 6:16-19]
In [II Cor 12:21] Apostle Paul mentions that he would be addressing the ungodly conduct of certain church leaders, who had yet to correct themselves of uncleanness, fornication and lasciviousness. In [II Cor 13:4] He mentions that Christ was crucified through WEAKNESS. This gives credence to the idea that Christ had to relinquish His initial glory to take on mortality. It was necessary for Him to experience mortality and mortal death to become the Propitiation for all mortals. [Heb 1:4; 2:9, 10; 10:5-10; 12:2, 3] Having endured mortality, Christ fully recognized and decreed that the FLESH is WEAK. [Mt 26:41] Thus, per Apostle John, any person claiming not to be vulnerable to sin is a liar and divine truth is not in them. [I Jn 1:8-10; 2:1, 2] The Elect are to properly acknowledge their mortal WEAKNESS and that of others. In fact, Apostle Paul admonishes born-again believers to routinely EXAMINE NOT OTHERS but themselves. They are to continually make certain that their personal profession is genuine and that they are not REPROBATES who are lying to themselves about their disposition before THE DIVINE.
He writes,
EXAMINE yourselves whether ye be in the FAITH; prove your own selves. KNOW ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be REPROBATES?
I trust that ye shall KNOW that we are not REPROBATES.
[II Cor 13:5, 6]
examine Gk #3985 peirazo (pi-rad-zo) it means to…
• test, which is to try or subject to a test of any kind
• endeavor, which is to attempt to achieve or gain
• scrutinize, which is to examine in detail with careful and critical attention
• entice, which is to lead on by exciting hope or desire
• discipline, which is to...
o drill or train by instruction and exercise
o bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control
*faith Gk #4102 pistis (pi-tis) it is…
• persuasion and credence
• moral conviction of a religious truth and the truthfulness of Yahweh or a religious teacher
• reliance upon Christ for salvation and constancy of such profession
• the system of religious truth itself based on The Gospel of Jesus Christ
*know Gk #1921 epiginosko (ep-ig-no-sko) it means to…
• recognize or know upon some mark
• acknowledge or become fully acquainted with
*know Gk #1097 ginosko (ghin-oce-ko) it means to know absolutely
*reprobate Gk #96 adokimos (ad-ok-ee-mos) it means unapproved, rejected and worthless…especially in the perspective of THE DIVINE GODHEAD
In [II Cor 13:11] Apostle Paul notes that when divine LOVE and PEACE are active within Christian Assemblies, they are PERFECT in spirit, of good COMFORT, of ONE MIND and live in divine PEACE.
*perfect Gk #2675 katartizo (kat-ar-rid-zo) it means to thoroughly complete, repair and adjust
*comfort Gk #3870 parakaleo (par-ak-al-eh-o) it means to call near, invite and invoke
*mind Gk #5426 phroneo (fron-eh-o) it means to…
• exercise the mind
• entertain or have a sentiment or opinion
• be mentally imposed more or less earnestly in a certain direction
• interest oneself in with concern or obedience
*peace Gk #1518 eirenopoios (i-ray-nop-oy-os) it is pacificator and peaceable
This is how Yahweh expects saints to be within in HIS Houses of Prayer.
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