A Bit of Heavenly Manna
Written by:
Dr. Harold Sawyer)
FROM SECOND CORINTHIANS
THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLETH IN YOU—6:16
“Dwelleth in whom? In every Christian. For, ‘if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. ‘ Wherever the Spirit dwells, He works, and His work is the efficient cause of our sanctification, comfort, and usefulness. He dwells in us as the Spirit of light, quickening and reviving, instructing and illuminating. As the Spirit of liberty, delivering from bondage, dread, and terror. As the Spirit of love, shedding abroad the love of God in our hearts and leading us to love Him and all His people. As the Spirit of power, enabling us to conquer the world, overcome Satan, and crucify the old man with his deeds. As the Spirit of prayer, teaching us to pray, making intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. As the Spirit of peace, applying the atonement, giving us peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ, and producing in us a peacable disposition. As the Spirit of Christ, exalting Him in our minds, enthroning Him in our hearts, and glorifying Him in us and by us. Would to God we lived, moved, and spoke under the influence of this truth—‘the Spirit of God dwelleth in me!’ If we did, it would have a very sanctifying effect upon us, for we could not go to some of the places we go, we could not say some of the things we say, and we could not do some of the things we do. We will often ask ourselves, ‘Is this becoming in one who is the residence of the Spirit of God?’ ‘Ought I, in whom the Spirit dwells, be found here?’ O beloved, what an honor God has put upon us by letting His Spirit dwell within.
PRAYER THOUGHT: “Dear Lord, deliver me from any habits that harm, from an unforgiving spirit that hinders, and from a life that would cause a weaker child of Thine to stumble. Help me not to be a reproach to Thee. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.”
Second Corinthians—The Book of a minister’s Heart
Occasion of Writing: At the conclusion of the first Epistle to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul announced his intention of visiting the believers in Corinth as he was passing through Macedonia, which was a definite change in his previous plan of sailing directly from Ephesus to Corinth, and consequently, meant a more or less extended postponement of this visitation. This caused great dissatisfaction in the Corinthian church. Some said Paul was inconsistent, others that he was afraid to show his face. In fact, the entire church was immersed in a heated debate over the motive and methods of apostolic authority of the great apostle, which, of course, deeply grieved him. Not more than a year separated the writings of his two epistles to the Corinthians.
Contents: “We might say, without exaggeration, that not only is II Corinthians the most personal of all Paul’s Epistles, but it is, indeed, sort of an apology for his apostolic life and ministry. Unjust charges, calumnies, and insinuations had been made against him. For this reason, we find the whole inner life of the apostle revealed before us. Human weakness, spiritual strength, the deepest and tenderest of affection, wounded feeling, sternness, irony, rebuke, impassioned self-vindication, humility, self-respect, zeal for the welfare of the weak and suffering, as well as for the progress of the church of Christ, and for the spiritual advancement of its members, are all displaced by turns in the course of his appeal,, and are bound together by golden cord of an absolute self-renunciation dictated by love to God and man.” Second Corinthians has 13 chapters, 257 verses, and 6,092 words.
Character: Church Epistle.
Subject: Service unto God resulting from union with the Head of the Church and the members of the body of Christ.
Purpose: To show that the Christian is God’s ambassador with a spiritual and glorious ministry, finding in Christ consolation in all His suffering and sufficiency for every trial.
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless, touch, strengthen, and heal you in Jesus Name. Amen.
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Tags: gospel
I am always grateful that God continues to let his spirit dwell in me when I don’t deserve it. I have so many shortcomings, and have endured some of the same things Paul endured from folks! My actions and reactions were not always true representation of the indwelling of the One I call my Father, yet His goodness never failed me!
This bible class blessed me!