• About
  • BULLETIN ARTICLES

etsop95

~ Perspectives on Bible, philosophy, and politics (sometimes)

etsop95

Tag Archives: spiritual blessings

The Deprived Ones

25 Tuesday Feb 2014

Posted by Ron Thomas in Leadership, love, Preaching

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

carnal flesh, Corinth, deprivation, division, spiritual blessings

When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, he wrote concerning two things; first, he wrote to encourage them in the Lord and for them to avoid the divisive spirit that was amongst them already; second, he wrote to answer questions that were troublesome to them. In the course of addressing these two main points Paul also addressed why it was that a divisive spirit existed among them. A divisive spirit exists because people accept the wisdom this world presents as enlightened and reject, as a result, God’s wisdom. The Bible uses terms like “flesh” or a “carnal spirit” to describe such a way of thinking.

When these two approaches meet (man’s wisdom opposed to God’s wisdom), the clash is great and a spirit of division pervades. This divisive spirit drove a wedge between the Christians in Corinth because of personalities; people wanted to be aligned with prominent preachers. Paul addressed this matter when he spoke about his own experiences in relation (or comparison) with those in Corinth (4:1; 2:1-5). Paul was judged by some in Corinth as being inadequate for the occasion he was called upon to engage (preaching the good news of God). He mentioned that as an apostle he was considered foolish, he was deprived of necessary things like food, water, and sufficient clothing, and that he had no real place to call home (4:9-13). Paul, however, was not going to be thrown off his God-ordained task of preaching and teaching; rather, he used his circumstances in order to serve God, the brethren, and even himself (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7).

Let us make an application: Christians can be deprived of many things in this world. This does not mean—and this needs to be said and stressed—this does not mean that God is not blessing the “deprived ones,” when, in fact, He is and has already done so. The problems many face in this life are associated with believing that possessions are the outgrowth of God’s blessings. There is no necessary connection, none! Blessings from God are spiritual (Ephesians 1:3). Whatever physical blessings we are fortunate to possess and enjoy can be (and should be) used to glorify the Lord. Let us not think, however, that because we don’t have something that the Lord is not on our side. To think this way is discouragingly wrong!

 

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 689 other followers

Last Month

Log in

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Blogs I Follow

  • Christian Publishing House Blog
  • Canon Fodder
  • PreachingHelp.org
  • Biblical Proof
  • Sunrush Church of Christ
  • The Church of God : Official Website
  • Brotherhood News
  • Believing Prayer
  • Daniel B. Wallace
  • NT Resources
  • etsop95
  • Forthright Press
  • Ferrell's Travel Blog
  • Larry Hurtado's Blog
  • Carolina Messenger
  • ThinkingJesus
  • CRI
  • Big Ten Network
  • eScriptorium
  • Biblical Notes

Blog Stats

  • 13,528 hits

RSS Ron Thomas – Forthright Fellowship Room

  • PERFECTED The love of God…
  • Secular Society – A False Hope
  • Our Plague

Blog at WordPress.com.

Christian Publishing House Blog

Apologetic Defense of the faith, the Bible, and Christianity

Canon Fodder

Exploring the origins of the New Testament canon and other biblical and theological issues

PreachingHelp.org

The sermons and writings of Steve Higginbotham

Biblical Proof

Speaking where the bible speaks, and silent where the bible is silent.

Sunrush Church of Christ

The Church of God : Official Website

There is one Body!

Brotherhood News

Believing Prayer

Daniel B. Wallace

Executive Director of CSNTM & Senior Research Professor of NT Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary

NT Resources

Established by Dr. Rod Decker - Maintained by Dr. Wayne Slusser

etsop95

Perspectives on Bible, philosophy, and politics (sometimes)

Forthright Press

Straight to the Cross

Ferrell's Travel Blog

Commenting on biblical studies, archaeology, travel and photography

Larry Hurtado's Blog

Comments on the New Testament and Early Christianity (and related matters)

Carolina Messenger

"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5)

ThinkingJesus

Letting Jesus Speak Today

CRI

Big Ten Network

Big Ten Network's website

eScriptorium

this and that from the pen and keyboard of mcgarvey ice

Biblical Notes

- Est. 1965 by Roy C. Deaver -