UNCONQUERABLE-III—2Corinthians 4:1-18
Attention:
Someone sent me a Facebook post showing what had happened when their ‘Roomba iRobot’(automatic vacuum cleaner) encountered something unusual on the kitchen floor...
The picture shows the tracks left all over the kitchen by the vacuum cleaner, as it tried to clean up some ‘dog poop!’ The owner also took a picture of the underside of the automatic vacuum cleaner after it had tried to clean up the poop. Every moving part of the vacuum was totally gummed up & clogged by dog stuff!
I don’t think it would be very cost-effective to have the vacuum cleaned after such an encounter.
Yet unfortunately for the owner, the vacuum continued unabated on it’s mission!
And unfortunately for the devil, God’s people continue on their mission despite the setbacks that the world may throw at us.
Beginning with :7 we’ve found that ‘A disposition for being & remaining unconquerable’ shines thru...
1. GOD’s MERCY(:1)
2. Thru PERSONAL MANIFESTATION Of TRUTH(:2)
3. Thru OPENNESS To The GOSPEL(:3-4)Personal Choice
4. Thru THANKFULNESS(:5-6)
5. The CONTAINER Of FAITH(:7)
6. PRACTICALITIES Of FAITH(:8-11)
7—A disposition for being & remaining unconquerable shines thru...
PERSONAL SURRENDER, CAUSING LIFE To WORK In OTHERS(:12-13)
Explanation:(:12)
:12—“So then death is working in us, but life in you.”
Being those who willingly constantly deliver themselves to death for the sake of Jesus, those who serve Him always have “death” that is “working in” them. But by their allowing the “death” of the Lord Jesus(:10) to accomplish it’s work in them, a positive result is produced. The result is that “life” is produced, begins, & remains(“is”) “working” in those to whom you & I minister!
In other words, when I commit myself to die to self daily(“death is working in us”), Christ Jesus is honored in that sacrifice of self to Him. And by carrying that particular ‘death working’ wherever I am & in whatever I do, then the “life” that He offers is offered to others as well.
Again...consider :10, 11:
2Cor. 4:10-11—“always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”
This concept of Christ’s “life” arising from or flowing from my & your self-less “death”, works in all of God’s people. It is seen/experienced/lived out as these minister to & among one another, but also as they minister among the lost.
:13—“And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,
What is this “same spirit of faith” which the author speaks of?...cf.-:7, 10, 11 & 12.
Thus the faithful servants of Christ—those manifesting Jesus life thru exemplifying His dying to self daily(:10)—all “have the same spirit of faith.”
Here Paul applies Psalm 116:10(see Ps. 116:7-10) to those who live by faith of Christ Jesus.
As a result of that “same spirit of faith”, saving “belief” is confirmed partly thru opening their mouths to declare the belief.”(cf.-Rom. 10:9-11)
*Rom. 10:9-11—“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus & believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, & with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.””
“And Since”(See :12—“But”)—de—Conjunction—1) But, moreover, and, etc.. Strong—a primary particle(adversative or continuative); But, and, etc..
“Have”(See :7)—ecw OR-- scew—Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masc.—1) To have, i.e. To hold—1a) To have(hold) in the hand, in the sense of wearing, to have(hold) possession of the mind (refers to alarm, agitating emotions, etc.), to hold fast keep, to have or comprise or involve, to regard or consider or hold as; 2) To have i.e. Own, possess—2a) External things such as pertain to property or riches or furniture or utensils or goods or food etc., 2b) Used of those joined to any one by the bonds of natural blood or marriage or friendship or duty or law etc, of attendance or companionship; 3) To hold one's self or find one's self so & so, to be in such or such a condition; 4) To hold one's self to a thing, to lay hold of a thing, to adhere or cling to—4a) To be closely joined to a person or a thing. Strong—including an alternate form scew; (used in certain tenses only); a primary verb; To hold(used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possessions; ability, continuity, relation, or condition).
“Same”—autov—Pronoun—1) Himself, herself, themselves, itself; 2) He, she, it; 3) The same. Strong—from the particle au[perhaps akin to the base of ahr[air] through the idea of a baffling wind]--Backward; the reflexive pronoun--Self, used(alone or in the comparative eautou) of the third person , & (with the proper personal pronoun)of the other persons.
“Spirit”—pneuma—Noun Neuter—1) The third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father & the Son; 2) The spirit, i.e. The vital principal by which the body is animated—2a) The rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides, 2b) The soul; 3) A spirit, i.e. A simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, & possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, & acting—3a) A life giving spirit, 3b) A human soul that has left the body, 3c) A spirit higher than man but lower than God, i.e. An angel—3c1) used of demons, or evil spirits, who were conceived as inhabiting the bodies of men, 3c2) The spiritual nature of Christ, higher than the highest angels & equal to God, the divine nature of Christ; 4) The disposition or influence which fills & governs the soul of any one—4a) the efficient source of any power, affection, emotion, desire, etc.; 5) A movement of air(a gentle blast). Strong—A current of air, i.e. Breath(blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively--A spirit, i.e. (human)--The rational soul, by implication--Vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman)--An angel, demon, or (divine)--God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit. RWP—‘“The Spirit” is the use of pneuma as metaphor.”?Pneuma corresponds to Hebrew—xwr. A)quch—Breath, i.e. by implication--Spirit, abstractly or concretely--The animal sentient principle only, which is distinguished from, B) pneuma—The rational & immortal soul, & C)zwh—Mere vitality, even of plants. These terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew...A)vpn, B)xwr & C)yx.
“Faith”—pistiv—Noun Fem.—1) Conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God & divine things, generally with the included idea of trust & holy fervor born of faith & joined with it; 2) Fidelity, faithfulness. Strong—Persuasion, i.e. Credence; moral conviction(of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly--Constancy in such profession; by extension--The system of religious(Gospel) truth itself.
“According to”—kata—Preposition—1) Down from, through out; 2) According to, toward, along. Strong—a primary particle; prepositionally--Down(in place or time), in varied relations(according to the case [genitive case, dative case or accusative case] with which it is joined).
“What”—o,—OR—feminine--h, —OR—neuter--to—Definite Article—1) This, that, these, etc. Strong—The definite article; The(sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom).
“Written”—grafw—Verb—1) To write, with reference to the form of the letters—1a) To delineate(or form) letters on a tablet, parchment, paper, or other material; 2) To write, with reference to the contents of the writing—2a) To express in written characters, 2b) To commit to writing(things not to be forgotten), write down, record, 2c) Used of those things which stand written in the sacred books(of the OT), 2d) To write to one, i.e. by writing(in a written epistle) to give information, directions; 3) To fill with writing; 4) To draw up in writing, compose. Strong—a primary verb; To "grave", especially--To write; figuratively--To describe.
“Believed”2X—pisteuw—Verb—1)To think to be true, to be persuaded of, place confidence in; 2) To entrust a thing to one, i.e. his Fidelity. Strong—To have faith(in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. Credit; by implication--To entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ).
“Therefore”2X—dio—Conjunction—1) Wherefore, on account of. Strong—Through which thing, i.e. consequently.?From—dia—a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; Through(in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)—&—ov, h, o—probably a primary word(or perhaps a form of the article o, h, to); the relative(sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, Who, which, what, that.
“Spoke & Speak”2X—lalew—Verb—1) To utter a voice or emit a sound; 2) To speak—2a) To use the tongue or the faculty of speech, 2b) To utter articulate sounds; 3) To talk; 4) To utter, tell; 5) To use words in order to declare one's mind & disclose one's thoughts—5a) To speak. Strong—a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; To talk, i.e. Utter words.?Lalew means an extended or random harangue, while legw means to relate, in words[usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas epw & fhmi generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while rew is properly, to break silence merely].
“We”—hmeiv—Pronoun—1) Us, we etc.. Strong— Nominative Plural of egw. We(only used when emphatic).
“Also”—kai—
:12-13 Argumentation:
Jn. 1:4—“In Him was life, & the life was the light of men.”
2Cor. 12:9, 10—“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Jn. 12:24-26—“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground & dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, & he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; & where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”
Illustration:
Electric utility company/Their supply of a reliable & standardized supply of electricity secures the comfort of those who must have bottled oxygen to survive/Ensures the refrigeration for the daily food of millions/All the employees of the electric company bring those things about/PERSONAL SURRENDER, does the LIFE Christ offers, also WORK In OTHERS
This month’s newsletter highlighted some of the people who ‘work behind the scenes’ to make our church hum along nicely/These surrender themselves so that others, including yourselves, may obtain the life that is of Christ Jesus!/PERSONAL SURRENDER, does the LIFE Christ offers, also WORK In OTHERS
Application:
?Thru YOUR PERSONAL SURRENDER, does the LIFE Christ offers, also WORK In OTHERS?
OR...?Are you so overwhelmed by life, that even you yourself don’t live the LIFE Christ offers?
?Do you have a disposition for being UNCONQUERABLE?
?Do you have an unambiguous identification with those who are UNCONQUERABLE?
8—A disposition for being & remaining unconquerable shines thru...
MUTUAL THANKSGIVING(:14-15)
Explanation:(:14-15)
:14—“knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.”
We who believe & speak as a result of the conviction of our faith in Christ Jesus(:12, 13), “know” certainly that we also will be raised up with Jesus(Jn. 6:40, 44)
Jn. 6:40, 44—“And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son & believes in Him may have everlasting life; & I will raise him up at the last day.”.....““No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; & I will raise him up at the last day.”
Jn. 11:24-26—“Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection & the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives & believes in Me shall never die.” Do you believe this?”
1Cor. 6:14—“And God both raised up the Lord & will also raise us up by His power.”
1Cor. 15:19-23—“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, & has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.”
1Thess. 4:13-18—“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died & rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive & remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, & with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive & remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
Jude 1:24-25—“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory & majesty, Dominion & power, Both now & forever. Amen.”
:15—“For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.”
Any of God’s people(minister)—who freely, unashamedly, & truly manifest both the death & life of Jesus(:7-13)—these offer “all things” of God for the “sake” of bringing others to saving faith in Christ.
The result of such faithful ministering is that the “spread” of God’s “grace” is brought about “through the many.” “The many” are those who come to saving faith & greater faith thru the witness of God’s faithful people.
Thru bringing “all things”(promised, actual, godly, heavenly) to God’s faithful people, His “grace” produces a work, result, or outflow...
One result of God’s “grace” working in you, is the production of “thanksgiving” in His people!
Not only should that “thanksgiving” exist in God’s people, but it should also “abound” with it’s own result of providing “glory to God.”...
Thus thru the faithfulness of God’s people, the whole earth will be full of “God’s” “glory.”
Num. 14:20-24—“Then the LORD said: “I have pardoned, according to your word; “but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD-- “because all these men who have seen My glory & the signs which I did in Egypt & in the wilderness, & have put Me to the test now these ten times, & have not heeded My voice, they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him & has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, & his descendants shall inherit it.”
Ps. 72:18-19—“Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things! And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen & Amen.”
Isa. 6:1-10—“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high & lifted up, & the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, & with two he flew. And one cried to another & said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, & the house was filled with smoke. So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, & said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.” Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” And He said, “Go, & tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ “Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return & be healed.”
2Thess. 2:13-14—“But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit & belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Application:
?Thru our MUTUAL THANKSGIVING, does Thanksgiving Abound so that God is glorified in yourself & others?
?Do you have a disposition for being UNCONQUERABLE?
?Do you have an unambiguous identification with those who are UNCONQUERABLE?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
The ‘Roomba iRobot’(automatic vacuum cleaner) that encountered something unusual on the kitchen floor—dog stuff! Yet unfortunately for the owner, the vacuum continued unabated on it’s mission!
Action:
A disposition for being & remaining unconquerable shines thru...
7. PERSONAL SURRENDER, CAUSING LIFE To WORK In OTHERS
(:12-13)
8. MUTUAL THANKSGIVING(:14-15)
1. GOD’s MERCY(:1)
2. Thru PERSONAL MANIFESTATION Of TRUTH(:2)
3. Thru OPENNESS To The GOSPEL(:3-4)Personal Choice
4. Thru THANKFULNESS(:5-6)
5. The CONTAINER Of FAITH(:7)
6. PRACTICALITIES Of FAITH(:8-11)
Presented 01/05/2020pm to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave.(SE Ave A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
