Fellowship In Christ                              
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                         As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord ´

              “Igniting soul’s through the proclamation of Jesus Christ”.

 

 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you.  After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.  So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.  If I love you more, will you love me less?

 

This is an activity for all to enjoy and learn in, write as well as read.  We call this "Weekend Scripture Share", as you will clearly see why.  What we would like everyone to do is to post any verse or portion of the Word from your Bible.  Along with the portion of Scripture you may place thought, comment, or question.  The post does not need be long or short, can be one verse and simply said, "my favorite".  Please do share with us and leave the subject line, or write in “Weekend Scripture Share”.  For the weekly addition of “Tuesday Scripture” and “Weekend Scripture Share”, I had been composing through the Spirit as I study, verse by verse, or portion by portion, from the Book of 2 Corinthians.  I am in the mist of the Twelfth Chapter in the Word.

 

2 Cor. 12:14-15, “Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not your's but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.  And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” KJV

 

Paul reveals the attitude he has toward the Corinthians and teaches all Christians how to think about others.   "I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you."  God is the source of provision and always provides the means to do His work.  He provides it by convincing people to give the money needed to keep His servants going.  Paul chooses to trust God for his needs not the people he serves because he knows that if he demanded funds from people he came to serve his effectiveness would be damaged.  SO he made his desire known, "I want to go to Corinth and lead some to Christ."  People he has served hear his heart to obey God and provide the means to go so that he will not be worrying about how he will survive in his effort.  His mind is on ministry not money.

 

"After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children."  Jewish culture required parents to leave children enough wealth to stay afloat in a difficult world.  Every boy was trained in a marketable skill by the age of twelve.  Formal education started then.  (It is an error to send children into adulthood with no marketable skills.)  Paul sees himself as a parent instructing children.  Every Church he founds is like his baby.  Consequently he comes with provision to parent children. Many do not have the parenting needed to grow into productive integrated citizens so God send parents to be healing agents when the need exists.  A minister of the Gospel is often called to be a loving parent.

 

"So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well."  "You can't out give God."  I am not sure where this quote originated but I hear it often.  Paul lived with the attitude that God will provide for what He wants to see happen.  Consequently, he spends himself utterly and totally on his ministry both in his personal wealth and his physical ability without regard for personal benefit.  He demonstrates his belief in God by his actions and lives as one who unwaveringly knows that God is providing all he needs all the time.  This attitude is lacking in the modern Church and causing the movement of Christianity to falter.  Survival of the Church requires that member truly believe and demonstrate their belief by their actions.

 

"If I love you more, will you love me less?"  Paul sees that children rebel against their parents.  As a child matures he/she will begin to separate from parents to form an independent identity able to function in a capable manner.  The transition to independence is often difficult because the child makes mistakes that must be corrected by the parent in the process.  1 and 2 Corinthians are letters of correction and instruction to Paul's children in the Corinthian Church.  They are now letters of instruction and correction to all Christians.  Recognizing that one is a child and will tend to rebel against instruction is key in the ability to continue to grow and mature in the Lord.

 

Anyone who may be moved in the spirit to respond or blessed to participate please feel free to do so.  The point of these two weekly activities have been directed and set up by God to fellowship in the Word and learn from one another.  I am not a teacher, but a Brother in the Family of God and called to His fellowship.  I make mistakes and certainly may not see something in the same way as you, therefore always open to corrective criticism so long as it is spoken in the Spirit and conforms with the Bible which I believe to be the Living Word of God.

 

Love in the Lord
Paul/Hayman
 http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/FellowshipInChrist
 "Igniting passion in the people of God through the proclamation of truth."


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