Churchwork
02-18-2006, 12:41 PM
The Power of Pressure
Did you know the apostles travelled not only to set up the churches by appointing elders for Biblical localities, but also because if they stayed in any place too long they would be crucified? Jesus did the same.
"For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell [us] in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life: yea, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead: who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver: on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us" (2 Cor. 8.10).
Let us stand up for the work of the apostles to do the work they are commissioned directly by God to do.
What does Paul want the brethren to know? That they may know concerning the affliction which fell upon Paul and his companions in Asia Minor. What kind of affliction did they pass through? The affliction of pressure. To what extent was the pressure upon them? Beyond their power, insomuch that they despaired of life. Such was their external situation. How about their inner feeling? It agreed with the outward situation, since they had the sentence of death within themselves. And what was the conclusion they came to? That they should not trust in themselves, but in God who raises the dead. For this God had delivered them out of so great a death in the past, that He would deliver them now, and would deliver them in the future.
Amen. Awomen.
Did you know the apostles travelled not only to set up the churches by appointing elders for Biblical localities, but also because if they stayed in any place too long they would be crucified? Jesus did the same.
"For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell [us] in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life: yea, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead: who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver: on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us" (2 Cor. 8.10).
Let us stand up for the work of the apostles to do the work they are commissioned directly by God to do.
What does Paul want the brethren to know? That they may know concerning the affliction which fell upon Paul and his companions in Asia Minor. What kind of affliction did they pass through? The affliction of pressure. To what extent was the pressure upon them? Beyond their power, insomuch that they despaired of life. Such was their external situation. How about their inner feeling? It agreed with the outward situation, since they had the sentence of death within themselves. And what was the conclusion they came to? That they should not trust in themselves, but in God who raises the dead. For this God had delivered them out of so great a death in the past, that He would deliver them now, and would deliver them in the future.
Amen. Awomen.