Note for 2024/06/01

‭2 Corinthians 11:1-33 KJV‬

[1] Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. [2] For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. [3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. [4] For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. [5] For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. [6] But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. [7] Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? [8] I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. [9] And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. [10] As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. [11] Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. [12] But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. [13] For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. [14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. [15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. [16] I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little. [17] That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. [18] Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. [19] For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. [20] For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. [21] I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. [22] Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. [23] Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. [24] Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. [25] Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; [26] in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; [27] in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. [28] Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. [29] Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? [30] If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. [31] The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. [32] In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: [33] and through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

https://bible.com/bible/1/2co.11.1-33.KJV

Shabbat Shalom.

Friends, consider what you have just read... How do we measure up in faith? And don't think it's a thing about the times, don't you know that Christians are still being persecuted and killed. How do we measure up? What are we willing to endure for Jesus Christ our Lord?

Don't you remember, how we are taught by the Word that our struggle is not against the flesh, but against that which are able to move the flesh according to their will? So, who is it that came against Paul like this, or shall I make a distinction by asking, what came against Paul? Don't you know that the flesh is moved by spiritual rule? If then not by the Holy Spirit of GOD, then who? We move by faith not by sight, right? Who or what then moved the mobs that came against Paul? By simple comparison, who then is likely to move the mob of people today? If then not of the seed of the Word of GOD, then who?

You see, I want you to be able to recognize the true enemy. And while it is not a popular subject for preachers to speak on today, is it not recorded in the Word of GOD what the source of evil spirits are? We live in a world full of excuses, so much is justified by giving it a label of some kind. And so we receive a lie. Yes, so are we fooled about the source of darkness and wickedness, come rage and hate, murder and all manner of abuses.

Let's briefly look at the account of legion, have you considered what it is that happened there? Once the evil spirits were evicted by Christ into the pigs, did the man not get dressed and was he not ready to follow Christ? But, today, we must be sensitive not to offend someone, because it is so easy to offend. You can even offend someone by the truth of his gender. No! Today the law enforces tolerance of dark and demonic things, abominations. But it is not the person, it is the force by which he or she is moved, which is of the spiritual kind.

I ask again, how does our faith stack up to someone like Paul? Have we taken 39 stripes for Christ at any time? Have we been stoned, or shipwrecked? For most of us, the answer would be no. Instead, we cry when someone calls us a name or refuses us for our faith. Remember Stephen's prayer, as he prayed for those who were stoning him, and did Paul (then called Saul) not stand witness to it?

Can we then agree that Paul had authority to speak on these things for he has sampled it. And I, where do I measure in? Oh, nowhere close, but somewhat alike. I have sampled retribution too, I was attacked on every side. I myself have visited the threshold of death, I have been beaten to the point of death. Oh, the enemy sought to destroy me, even since I was a child. As a baby, a cat lay on my face to smother me, as a young child, our family dog protected me against a snake. Many times, I have been spared from death, at the wrong end of the barrel of a gun. Yes, I was abused and molested, I was invited to join a witches coven, the arm forces of our country cast lots for me. Twice was I propositioned by a mafia, Italian and Lebanese. I have been plagued by the dark side for most of my life, but the Lord Kept me, He rescued me each time. So I know the Lord as my deliverer, for there were times when even my family abandoned me, in fairness, I state that some abandoned me, while others were powerless to help me. So I know where my help comes from. As much as, where I know where my daily Bread comes from. This, just brief mentions of my testimony. The Lord is the One that healed me, that even doctors will testify to. If not protected by the Lord, I should have been dead by now. I know that the Lord loves me, He has convinced me. But, friends, is that what it must take to convince all? Would your life not be more peaceful if you accept the Truth without testimony like mine or Paul's? There is very little that I can not speak on from personal experience, may that be why I had to endure it at all?

The first time I made a choice for GOD, I was probably about 4 or 5 years old, yet, I was only called to duty, at the age of 48. This here, what I write now, I write to you at the age of 52. But, today's children want a drive-thru solution to all their problems. And yet, I, the first born son to a family with an inheritance, stand before you today, without any form of earthly wealth, neither did I taste of it, since I was a child. So, I called my first born daughter Kezia, after one of Job's daughters.

Friends, how do we stack up in faith, what have we overcome in the Lord Jesus Christ. What is your start, and where are you heading in your faith? Who does man qualify to speak, and who is qualified, tested and tried by the Lord? So I greet you with the word, "Shalom." It means peace. For I know who brought me inner peace, by experience and in conviction. It is the Lord that sends me, He directs me. But, don't think I'm immune to suffering. Don't think that I am not plagued by darkness. I am just convinced of Who wins every time, despite the tribulation and persecution I might have gone through.

The Lord said that the world would hate us, for they hated Him first. Look, see the people revolt against the Lord. See it. And when you recognize those that are led away to slaughter, find compassion in your heart. For they are taken away by lies and deceptions. They do not know. Much worse off are those that do know true evil and accepted it, and made it lord of them. I tell you, understanding of the true enemy is highlighted best by our God Almighty, our Father in Heaven, recorded in Genesis 3:15.

Now, Noah pleaded with the people before the rain came. Will you hear me, if I plead with you now? Last time the destruction came by water, now... I point you to Malachi 4. And then, the message of Good News, in Christ is our Salvation. For only the righteous will survive. Our righteousness, in Jesus Christ, even as adopted children of GOD. It is Christ Jesus, that pleads for us at the Throne of GOD our Creator.

Friends, forgive me if I have taken up some of your time today. I am writing to a base of believers. If I wrote to those that do not believe, my words would have to be different, for they do not have the Spirit of GOD leading them. Get serious about your faith. This is a time of gathering oil for your lamp. Look up, for your redemption draws near. It is imminent even, it is at the door. Do not be afraid when you start seeing what was written, even the things Christ spoke of.

Let us complete this race in the strength of The Lord.

Shalom

Verse of the Day (Expanded)

(YouVersion)

‭Psalm 46:10 KJV‬

[10] Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.46.10.KJV

‭Psalm 46:8-11 KJV‬

[8] Come, behold the works of the LORD, What desolations he hath made in the earth. [9] He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire. [10] Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. [11] The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.46.8-11.KJV

Notable texts

(from the Note)

‭Genesis 3:15 KJV‬

[15] and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

https://bible.com/bible/1/gen.3.15.KJV

‭Malachi 4:1-3 KJV‬

[1] For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. [2] But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. [3] And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

https://bible.com/bible/1/mal.4.1-3.KJV

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