Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. (2 Corinthians 6:10)
Is this possible? This is something a carnal mind cannot comprehend. There is so much spiritual truth in these words Apostle Paul wrote, and it is purely spiritual. Yes, it is possible to be sorrowful and still always rejoicing. Rejoicing in the Lord, taking the delight in Him, acknowledging the fact that nothing can separate us from the love of God. No forces of the devil can snatch us out of our heavenly Father’s hands. Even death cannot separate us from the love of God.
Biblical prosperity is not materialism and money. Biblical healing is not bodily healing. Apostle Paul, the religious fanatic turned grace-preacher whom God used to write 2/3rd of the New Testament was poor, sick, imprisoned, hungry, beaten, dying, sorrowful and possessed nothing.
genuine, yet regarded as impostors;
known, yet regarded as unknown;
dying, and yet we live on;
beaten, and yet not killed;
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;
poor, yet making many rich;
having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
(2 Corinthians 6:9-10)
Where is the so called ‘prosperity gospel’ here? Where is the materialism here? Where is the ‘divine healing’ here?
I think the people who are looking for divine intervention of God such as divine money, divine prosperity, divine job etc are looking for a god other than the one they already have, or they do not have the God of the Bible. It was revealed unto Paul, the reality many Christians do not understand – Jesus is all we need, His grace is sufficient for us. That is the revelation which enabled him to say ‘I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses’. Christian life is about growing weak and being glad in the fact that we are weak, because His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
Having nothing, and yet possessing everything. Thats is so special and only a child of God can claim that. His children possess the supernatural and their eyes are not on the things ‘seen’ but on the ‘unseen’. They walk by faith and faith alone.
it is okay to be sorrowful in this world, we still have everything we need to rejoice. It is okay to be poor here , we still have everything a King's kid can possess. It is okay to be beaten, but our 'eternal life' cannot be killed. it is okay to be imprisoned, our 'freedom in Christ' cannot be bound. it is okay to be hungry, we can still be full in the Spirit. It is okay to be sick, we are eternally healed by His wounds. it is okay to be dying, but we are present with God while absent form the body.
2 comments:
Soo truee.... But still hard to fully comprehend and live it with my small mind.
Amen, this is something the carnal mind cannot comprehend, and it cannot be logically explained. Indeed there can be ongoing joy in the midst of trials, tribulations and sorrows. I do believe that divine healing can be physical (I know of legitimate cases), but more often than not I've sadly seen people attribute a lack of physical healing to a lack of faith, and it disheartens me.
Your example of Paul is a great example of faith and joy apart from physical or material blessings! Look at all the stuff he went through. Sometimes he was in need, sometimes he had plenty. Sometimes he was well fed, sometimes he went hungry (Phil 4:12). But in all circumstances he had learned to be content. He didn't seek after faith healers. He didn't sow his $77 prosperity seed. He had no problem praying to be relieved of his thorn in the flesh, but rather than worrying that he didn't have enough faith for the thorn to be removed, he rested in God's word to him that His grace is sufficient, as you pointed out here, and he boasted all the more in his weaknesses.
Interesting how we rip Phil 4:19 right out of the context of the rest of the epistle. I've been guilty of this. Paul tells the Philippians, "my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." If Paul is telling them that all their material and physical needs will always be met (that they will never hunger, never be in want), then he is negating all that he has told them in his letter! In Phil 4:9 he said, "whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice." If Phil 4:19 is part of a prosperity message, then Paul doesn't even agree with himself. :)
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