From the recording Paul the Letter of II Corinthians An Intimate Review
Lyrics
Letter of Apostle Paul – II Corinthians
An Intimate Review
Pt 4
By Lawrence DeMetrius
In [II Cor 4:8-18; 7:2-6; 12:1-10; 15; I Cor 16:1-10] Apostle Paul writes about the glory of suffering as a Christian minister. He writes,
We are TROUBLED on every side, yet not DISTRESSED; We are PERPLEXED, but not in DESPAIR; PERSECUTED, but not FORSAKEN; CAST DOWN, but not DESTROYED; always BEARING ABOUT in the BODY the DYING of the Lord Jesus, that the LIFE also of Jesus might be made MANIFEST in our BODY.
[II Cor 4:8-10]
*troubled Gk #2346 thlipsis (thlip-sis) it means to pressure, force or influence one toward a particular end
Every born-again believer experiences TROUBLE to some degree on a daily basis. Lucifer knows that diminishing one’s faith in THE LORD and HIS Word is pre-requisite to captivating them with his lies. [Mt 6:34; Heb 10:4; 11:1, 6; Lk 4:18, 19; Mt 11:28-30; Jn 8:12] As he did with Eve in Eden, he continues his effort to discourage faith filled obedience to Yahweh’s instruction. [Gen 2, 3; St Jn 1:1-4, 11-14] Satanic forces are set to TROUBLE mortals in this manner until their final demise. [Mt 5:11, 12; 6:34; St Jn 10:10a; 16:33] Only by faith filled obedience to Yahweh’s Word will the Redeemed maintain victory over satanic forces. [I Jn 5:4, 5] Although they are at times TROUBLED by forces of evil, Yahweh assures that they will never be DISTRESSED. [I Cor 10:13; Mt 4:1-11; Jam 4:7; Gal 6:6-9; Rev 3:7, 8, 10]
*distressed Gk #4729 stenochoreo (sten-okh-o-reh-o) it means to cramp and closely hem in
This gives credence to the idea that Yahweh’s Elect are never obligated to be or remain in CLOSE RELATION with evil. While THE LORD might permit them to be PERPLEXED from time to time, HE will never allow them to be in DESPAIR.
*perplexed Gk #639 aporeo (ap-or-eh-o) it means to be mentally at loss or without a way out
*despair Gk #1820 exaporeomai (ex-ap-or-eh-om-ahee) it is to be at utter loss and despondent, which is to be depressed by loss of hope, confidence and courage
The Elect of GOD may at times find themselves challenged with real life circumstances, even when believing HIM for better outcomes. During these seasons of trial, they are to remember that it is because of their faith in GOD, HE empowers them to arise from any stupor and continue in their walk of faith. [Rm 7:25; 8:35-39; II Cor 12:9, 10] Although at times they may be PERSECUTED, they will never be FORSAKEN.
*persecuted Gk #1377 dioko (dee-o-ko) it means to be pursued and persecuted
*forsaken Gk #1459 egkataleipo (eng-kat-al-i-po) it means to be deserted and left behind
Jesus Christ promised to never LEAVE or CAST OUT them who are given to Him by Yahweh. [; Jn 6:37-40; Mt 28:2014:23; Rev 3:20] They must keep in mind that any experience of PERSECUTION allotted them of THE LORD will never be more then they can bear and is purposed for their spiritual perfection. [Jer 29:11; Ps 23:1; Ex 14:13, 14, 30,31; Jam 1:2-4] As they BEAR ABOUT in their BODIES the DYING of Christ, they may at times be CAST DOWN by worldly elements but never DESTROYED.
*cast down Gk #2598 kataballo (kat-ab-al-lo) it means to throw down
*destroyed Gk #622 apollumi (ap-ol-loo-mee) it means to fully destroy, perish and lose
*bearing about Gk #4064 periphero (per-ee-fer-o) it is to convey around and transport here and there
*body Gk #4983 soma (so-mah) it is the body as a sound whole including spirit/mind, soul/seat of sentiment and physical body [I Thes 5:23]
*dying Gk #3500 nekcrosis (nek-ro-sis) it means…
• to decease, which is to die or depart from life
• impotency is…
o weakness, condition or quality of being impotent
o chronic inability to attain or sustain an erection for sexual performance
o sterility, especially in the male
Respectfully, this idea is key as it relates to one’s ability or inability to produce. The word DYING or NEKCROSIS emphasizes the tragedy of seed-bearing species that have become unable to produce and impregnate with seed to maintain the existence of their kind. In this passage, Apostle Paul refers to the DYING of Christ the SEED of GOD, by which all creation is made and sustained, namely born-again believers. [St Jn 1:1-3; Col 1:15-17] BEARING ABOUT the DYING of Christ within the mortal BODY is power to live a resurrected or new LIFE. Apostle Paul writes,
For we which LIVE are always DELIVERED unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
So then death worketh in us <true messengers of Christ>, but life in you <the students of true messengers of Christ>.
[II Cor 4:11, 12]
*live Gk #2198 zao (dzah-o) it means to live
*delivered Gk #3860 paradidomi (par-ad-id-om-ee) it means to surrender, entrust, transmit and yield up
All that Christ prophesied concerning the pioneers of His Church, happened within the first 300 years after His Ascension. However, from the most ancient of times, oracles of divine word were subject to severe persecution. What is clear per Apostle Paul’s teaching is that Christ’s mortal death is what enables Him to transmit His life to born-again believers. [Mt 10:16-22; Jn 15:18; 16:33; 27:2; 24:20] The word DEATH per Apostle Paul’s statement is an adjective, which is a word that describes another word. Apostle Paul uses it as a noun, which is a person, place or thing. DEATH here refers to a challenging experience, uncomfortable circumstance or a state of being, which true messengers of Christ may experience at any given moment. [Mt 5:11, 12, 44]
[II Cor 4:11-18; 5; 6:1-10] {See Eusebius’s Ecclesiastical History for details on the SUFFERINGS of CHRISTIAN TEACHERS in Early Christendom} In [II Cor 6:11-18; Heb 12:1] Apostle Paul admonishes born-again believers to recall the sufferings of Christian patriarchs. He warns them about nurturing intimate relationships that hinder their devotion to THE LORD. He writes,
Be not UNEQUALLY YOKED with UNBELIEVERS…
[II Cor 6:14]
*unequally yoked Gk #2086 heterozugeo (het-er-od-toog-eh-o) it means to…
• yoke up, which is to…
o put a yoke on, join or couple by means of a yoke
o attach as if with a harness and bring into subjection or servitude
o join, couple, link or unite
• associate discordantly
o associate is to…
connect or bring into relation as thought, feeling or memory
unite, combine and enter into union
join or keep company with as a friend, companion or ally
join together as partners or colleagues
o discordant is to be…
disagreeing and at variance with
harsh, incongruous and dissonant
disagreeable to the ear and structurally unconformable
*unbelievers Gk #571 apistos (ap-is-tos) it refers to those who are…
• disbelieving and without Christian faith
• heathens, infidels and untrustworthy
• in Yahweh’s perspective people who are unbelieving, hard to believe, unbelievable and without credibility
[Heb 12:1; II Jn vs 7-11] [See Personal Journal October 9, 2016 ‘Let’s Talk About the Separation’] In [II Cor 4:17, 18]
Apostle Paul reminds the Elect of a command that is specific to them writing,
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye SEPARATE, saith THE LORD, and TOUCH not the UNCLEAN thing; and I will RECEIVE you. And will be a FATHER unto you, and ye shall be MY sons and daughters, saith THE LORD ALMIGHTY.
[II Cor 4:17, 18]
*separate Gk #873 aphorizo (af-or-id-zo) it means to…
• set off by boundary, limit and exclude
• divide, separate and sever
• appoint to a certain position
*touch Gk #680 haptomai (hap-tom-ahee) it means to attach oneself to
*unclean Gk #169 akathartos (ak-ath-ar-tos) it describes that which is…
• ceremonially or morally impure
• lewd, meaning inclined to, characterized by and inciting excessive and unrestrained indulgence of sexual desire
• lascivious, meaning inclined to sexual wantonness, lustfulness or arousal of sexual desire
• salacious, meaning grossly indecent and obscene language that is expressed in speech, writing, pictures and songs
• that which is demonic or demonically influenced
*receive Gk #1523 eisdechomai (ice-dekh-om-ahee) it means to take into one’s favor
*father Gk #3962 pater (pat-ayr) it is a father near or remote [Rm 8:14-16]
Yahweh forbids HIS born-again children to nurture intimate relationships with elements that hinder nurturement of intimate relationship with HIM. HIS hatred of such elements is so intense that HIS reaction thereto is likened to a mother bear toward elements that threaten to separate her from her cubs.
Jesus Christ references the fate of such elements saying,
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depths of the sea.
[Mt 18:1-7; I Jn 2:12, 13]
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