Scripture

You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel then the one you believed.

Observation

Paul is jealous for the Corinthians with the jealousy of God Himself. He promised them as a bride to Christ, but it seems that their pure devotion has become corrupted.

Paul says that they put up with every kind of teaching, even a different Jesus, a different Spirit, and a different gospel.

Paul is not inferior to the so-called super apostles. He always aimed to serve the church at no cost to them.

Application

Paul accuses the church at Corinth of happily receiving any form of teaching that comes their way, even if it amounted to a different Jesus, a different Spirit, or a different gospel.

This is still the case today. People seem to go along with the most outrageous nonsense if it is dressed in the right religious language.

It is as if the church, or at least parts of it, have lost the ability or desire to test what is being taught against Scripture.

The prosperity gospel is one such heresy. It goes way beyond the trust that God supplies what we need, and teaches that God wants us to be rich in earthly goods.

Those who teach that the gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased after the first generation of believers are also in error. They say we have the New Testament which has replaced the need for prophecy, healing, and so on. Yet the gifts persist in much of the church, showing that they teach a different spirit than the Holy Spirit.

Those who want to add the Old Testament laws to the message of salvation preach a different Jesus. Salvation for them requires observing Hebrew feasts and customs, even though the death of Christ superseded such things.

There are many tempting counterfeit doctrines out there. We must stay faithful to the teachings of Scripture.

Prayer

Lord, examine my heart and see if there is any falsehood in me. Please help me to stay faithful to you. Amen.

Scripture

When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.

Observation

Paul is not trying to frighten people with the sternness of his letters. He will be just as bold when he comes in person.

Other people boast about how wonderful they are, but Paul does not do that. They only compare themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement.

Paul refuses to reach beyond the area of authority that God has given him. When he claims authority over the Corinthians, it is because he was the one who established the church there.

There is no point in Paul commending himself because only the Lord’s commendation matters.

Application

The world tells us that we have to promote ourselves, talk ourselves up, stand out from the crowd.

This has infiltrated the church in many ways. We have so-called “celebrity pastors”, which is crazy when we realise that their job is to point others to Jesus, not to themselves. This phenomenon is like having a road sign so adorned with decorations that you cannot read the sign.

There are countless ministries that advertise and promote themselves. They want you to know how good they are at what they do. Is their goal to have the praise of men or the praise of God?

In the end, the only the only opinion worth anything is that of the Lord. The ultimate judgement is not how famous we are, but how faithful to the Lord.

I have seen many people come and go in ministry. The ones who are the loudest and seek to make an impression are like fireworks in the sky – they seem to have the power and authority, but after a short time they disappear.

Prayer

Lord, may I only seek your commendation. Please help me to shun the accolades of people to be totally dedicated to you. Amen.

Scripture

We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts to teach them to obey Christ.

Observation

Paul appeals to the Corinthians with the gentleness and kindness of Christ. Some people think Paul is only bold at a distance, confusing his gentleness with timidity when he is with them.

Our weapons are not the fleshly weapons of the world. We use God’s weapons to demolish strongholds and to bring every rebellious thought under Christ’s reign.

Some people might think Paul boasts too much about his authority, but it is authority that comes from Christ and builds people up.

Application

The weapons of our warfare as Christians are not fleshly weapons, but are spiritual in nature.

Paul mentions here strongholds. These are areas of our life where satan has been so entrenched that we are not even aware there is a problem.

Strongholds might be deeply embedded habits or thought patterns that we think are “normal” but are in fact contrary to the gospel.

Strongholds need to be pulled down by an honest look at ourselves in the presence of the Holy Spirit. The weapons that destroy them are prayer and God’s word, that is the normal Christian disciplines.

As we submit ourselves to God’s word and apply it to every part of our life, we notice over time that we no longer believe the way we once did. Strongholds, attitudes, and behaviours become obliterated by the grace of our Lord.

Prayer

Lord, please show me strongholds that satan has established in my life. give me the grace to pull these things down. Amen.