DISCERNING HEART ISSUES
OBSERVATION: THE APOSTLE PAUL DEFENDS HIS MINISTRY TO THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH.
INTERPRETATION: 2 CORINTHIANS 11:7 (NKJV) DID I COMMIT SIN IN HUMBLING MYSELF THAT YOU MIGHT BE EXALTED, BECAUSE I PREACHED THE GOSPEL OF GOD TO YOU FREE OF CHARGE? 2 CORINTHIANS 11:7 (THE BOOK) DID I DO WRONG WHEN I HUMBLED MYSELF AND HONORED YOU BY PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS TO YOU WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN?
POINTS TO PONDER:
GREEK CULTURE THRIVED ON ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE. IT WAS EXPECTED FOR PHILOSOPHERS AND TEACHERS TO CHARGE A FEE FOR THEIR SERVICES. THE APOSTLE PAUL ENTERED THE SEEN CHARGING NOTHING: HIS INTENT WAS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST! HE WAS REJECTED AS A TRUE APOSTLE PRIMARILY FOR THIS REASON. HE USED A LITTLE IRONY IN DEFENDING HIS POSITION. HE DID HOWEVER RECEIVE SOME FREE WILL SUPPORT FROM OTHER CHURCHES (2 THESSALONIANS 2:9).
2 CORINTHIANS 10:7 (THE BOOK) THE TROUBLE WITH YOU IS THAT YOU MAKE YOUR DECISIONS BASED UPON APPEARANCE. YOU MUST RECOGNIZE THAT WE BELONG TO CHRIST JUST AS MUCH AS THOSE WHO PROUDLY DECLARE THEY BELONG TO CHRIST.
2 CORINTHIANS 10:18 (THE BOOK) WHEN PEOPLE BOAST ABOUT THEMSELVES, IT DOES NOT COUNT FOR MUCH. HOWEVER, WHEN THE LORD COMMENDS SOMEONE, THAT IS DIFFERENT!
DO NOT DRAW CONCLUSIONS ON SOMEONE AT FIRST BLUSH! A PERSON MAY BE LEARNED IN THE SCRIPTURES AND YET NOT KNOW CHRIST.
APPLICATION: BE CAUTIOUS IN JUDGING THINGS SPIRITUAL BY OUTWARD APPEARANCES ALONE. RATHER, DISCERN ISSUES OF THEIR HEART!
