Operation Hope Continued

2 Corinthians 4:8-11

8  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11  For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

It is wonderful to know that God limits suffering by His sovereignty.  We may be troubled, perplexed, persecuted, and cast down.  We can praise God because He knows just how much we can take without being distressed, suffering despair, abandonment, or being destroyed.

There is a song by Mike Bowling, “The Heat of the Battle”.  Here is the Chorus:

I might have gone down in the heat of the battle but don't count me out of the fight.  I still bear the scars where I have been wounded.  It looks like they'll be there for life, but soon this conflict will end for God's mighty army.  It will be worth the toil and strife.  I might have gone down in the heat of the battle, but don't count me out of the fight.

 God renews our spirits every day.  This physical body is getting older and as Toby Keith sings “I ain’t as Good as I Once Was”, we can rest assured that our Spiritual bodies are getting better all the time.  Each day we are renewed.  How much more do you know about the goodness of God then you did years ago.  He guarantees heavenly glory beyond any earthly suffering.

I want to take a moment to thank each of you who read this blog.  If you are a Christian, I challenge you to share this link with your friends.   If you’re not a Christian, I consider you my special guest and Thank You for visiting.  I ask that you click on the tab at the top of that page and read the information for How to Be Saved.  My hope for you is that you will ask Jesus to come into your heart and accept Him as your personal savior.

Operation Hope

2Co 1:3-7 NASB

(3)  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

(4)  who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

(5)  For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

(6)  But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;

(7)  and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.

Paul begins here by praising God.  He says He is the Father of all mercies and comfort.  Why is it such a big deal that God is merciful and comforting?  Paul is encouraging us to rely on God when we are having trouble.  The world can sometimes feel like a vise is squeezing the life out of us.  We are faced with troubles and trials and it is God that brings comfort to our lives.  It is when we are under the pressures of the world that God comes shining through.

God intends for us to share this comfort that He brings into our life.  We should never be a sponge when it comes to receiving comfort.  We should be a funnel and make sure we comfort others who may be going through similar situations.

We must advance the cause of Christ.  Everywhere Paul went he faced trials and tribulations. We will certainly face the same as we lift Jesus up to the World.  However, we must never get discouraged.  Paul’s hope was steadfast. We may have times of suffering but God will comfort us.

$$$$$$ Worshipping Diana 2 $$$$$$

CONTINUED from last week

Act 19:28-31 KJVR

(28)  And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

(29)  And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theater.

(30)  And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

(31)  And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theater.

Sometimes Kingdom advancement infuriates wicked people.  This is exactly what happened here.  The crowd was at mob mentality.  They were mad and confused to the point that they drug two of Paul’s companions in for questioning (which was more accusations then questions). 

What does God think about confusion?  1Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

In times such as these it is best that cooler head prevail.  God doesn’t need supermen who take unnecessary risks.  Paul no doubt was a competitor and at this time was ready to face the mob headlong.  However, his disciples and friends stopped him and cooler head did prevail.

We are all stewards of God’s word and the ministry He has given us.  1Corinthians 4:1-2 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

God uses sensible men who do what’s right.  The town clerk did not want this to get to Rome.  So he talked to the crowd and told Demetrius if he had any charges they needed to go to the proper authorities.

Actions speak louder than words and that includes standing firm.  Many times we must silently take our stand for people to see where we are.

When they see our stand the Holy Spirit will open to door of opportunity for to speak boldly for Christ.

$$$$$$ Worshipping Diana $$$$$$

Act 19:21-27 KJVR

(21)  After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

(22)  So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

(23)  And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

(24)  For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

(25)  Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

(26)  Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

(27)  So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at naught; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshipped.

The first thing we see is that Paul chose to stay in Ephesus and sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia.  Luke (the writer of ACTS) does not tell us why Paul decided to stay.  However, Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians 16: 8, 9.

He says that he will stay until Pentecost.  That an opportunity has presented itself but there is going to be opposition.

The opposition that Paul talks about is the goddess Diana.  The people of Ephesus worshipped this goddess.  Paul had a huge opportunity to tell the people there about Jesus and he was not about to let it slip by.

However, along with worshiping idols the people had created a lucrative business.  Demetrius the silversmith was making little dolls in the likeness of Diana and selling them to all who came to worship.  Pentecost promised to be a profitable time.

We see the same thing happening today.  People will do just about anything to make money.  It is certainly true that the love of money is the root of all evil.

Paul preached the gospel and people believed, which caused a drop in the Diana figurine sells.

Paul was willing to change his plans to take advantage of the opportunities that God gave him.  How many times in our lives do we get so caught up in our lives that we fail to be on task for God?

Come back next week to see what happens next.