Christian Church 24.7 Ministry Community Group
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"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. (vs-8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day and, not to me only but to all them also that love His appearing."
Back when I was a Biker, I never considered a fight, a good fight. It was always bad, brutal and people got hurt very badly in some instances. Since I have been a Christian, I understand the Apostle Paul's statement about the GOOD FIGHT.
In out growing up years, I am sure we have all had some kind of a childhood fight. It may have been over a toy when we were small or wanting something someone else had, at that moment. In the teen years, it may have been a fight over a girl or to prove who was the toughest or best. These are all physical fights.
Paul is referring here to the fights against the unbelievers, the evil forces of Satan that besieged him at times, those who appointed themselves as "know it alls" and even those of his own race and countrymen, the Jews, when he was a Pharisee along with them.
Lets look at some of the battles that the Great Apostle Paul had: 2 Corinthians 11 vs 24
I. Beaten by his own countrymen:vs 24-- THE JEWS
A. 5 different times he was beaten with 39 lashes of a whip. The Jewish Law would not let you whip a man 40 lashes as stated in Deut.
a. The meant that Paul have 195 lashes with a whip!!!!! Is it not surprising, that Paul said he carried with him the marks of Christ? He was terribly scarred from his whippings folks.
B. Three times he was beaten with rods.
1. These were rods made of wood like a cane or a small bat and were flexible enough that they would not break. These also caused flesh wounds and terrible bruising.
II, He was Stoned--vs 25
"And there came certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people and having stoned Paul, drew (dragged) him out of the city, supposing he had been dead."
When you were stoned in Biblical times, they stoned you till they considered you dead. They just didn't stone you to give you some lumps or to discipline you. Stoning the Biblical times was a DEATH SENTENCE!!!!!!
III, 3 times he was shipwrecked: vs-25.
Sometimes the ship ran aground and they could make shore relatively easy, Other times, it wasn't near land and Paul himself said he spent a day and a night in the deep (floating in the sea).
IV. Many times of unexplained dangers: vs-26
1.. while traveling from place to place
2. while crossing streams and rivers as he traveled
3. In areas where robbers frequently hid and attacked travelers
4. Danger of his people the Jews finding him
5. Danger of the Heather, pagans and unbelievers
6. Danger in some of the cities he passed through
7. Dangers in the countryside of areas he did not know.
8. Dangers of the sea.
9. Dangers if false brethren, ( professors not possessors) who would befriend him then betray him.
10, Dangers of just plain weariness and getting tired. physically exhausted.
11. The stress of having to watch for all these dangers of robbers, strangers, his own countrymen, etc.
12. The aches and pains of walking the distances he did and the pain from the injuries he had received.
13. Being hungry and thirsty
14. Being weak from fasting and praying, seeking God's will
15. Cold and nakedness-- not having enough clothes to keep him warm or dry
16. Besides all of these, he had such a emotional and spiritual burden for the churches.
a, their care,
b, Them doing what was right
c.. Them receiving sound teaching and doctrine
V.
Back when I was a Biker, I never considered a fight, a good fight. It was always bad, brutal and people got hurt very badly in some instances. Since I have been a Christian, I understand the Apostle Paul's statement about the GOOD FIGHT.
In out growing up years, I am sure we have all had some kind of a childhood fight. It may have been over a toy when we were small or wanting something someone else had, at that moment. In the teen years, it may have been a fight over a girl or to prove who was the toughest or best. These are all physical fights.
Paul is referring here to the fights against the unbelievers, the evil forces of Satan that besieged him at times, those who appointed themselves as "know it alls" and even those of his own race and countrymen, the Jews, when he was a Pharisee along with them.
Lets look at some of the battles that the Great Apostle Paul had: 2 Corinthians 11 vs 24
I. Beaten by his own countrymen:vs 24-- THE JEWS
A. 5 different times he was beaten with 39 lashes of a whip. The Jewish Law would not let you whip a man 40 lashes as stated in Deut.
a. The meant that Paul have 195 lashes with a whip!!!!! Is it not surprising, that Paul said he carried with him the marks of Christ? He was terribly scarred from his whippings folks.
B. Three times he was beaten with rods.
1. These were rods made of wood like a cane or a small bat and were flexible enough that they would not break. These also caused flesh wounds and terrible bruising.
II, He was Stoned--vs 25
"And there came certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people and having stoned Paul, drew (dragged) him out of the city, supposing he had been dead."
When you were stoned in Biblical times, they stoned you till they considered you dead. They just didn't stone you to give you some lumps or to discipline you. Stoning the Biblical times was a DEATH SENTENCE!!!!!!
III, 3 times he was shipwrecked: vs-25.
Sometimes the ship ran aground and they could make shore relatively easy, Other times, it wasn't near land and Paul himself said he spent a day and a night in the deep (floating in the sea).
IV. Many times of unexplained dangers: vs-26
1.. while traveling from place to place
2. while crossing streams and rivers as he traveled
3. In areas where robbers frequently hid and attacked travelers
4. Danger of his people the Jews finding him
5. Danger of the Heather, pagans and unbelievers
6. Danger in some of the cities he passed through
7. Dangers in the countryside of areas he did not know.
8. Dangers of the sea.
9. Dangers if false brethren, ( professors not possessors) who would befriend him then betray him.
10, Dangers of just plain weariness and getting tired. physically exhausted.
11. The stress of having to watch for all these dangers of robbers, strangers, his own countrymen, etc.
12. The aches and pains of walking the distances he did and the pain from the injuries he had received.
13. Being hungry and thirsty
14. Being weak from fasting and praying, seeking God's will
15. Cold and nakedness-- not having enough clothes to keep him warm or dry
16. Besides all of these, he had such a emotional and spiritual burden for the churches.
a, their care,
b, Them doing what was right
c.. Them receiving sound teaching and doctrine
V.
V. Paul considered value in his afflictions:
A. 2 Cor. 12: 10 Paul wrote these words. "Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in necessities,in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong"!
VI. His Last Testimony to Timothy: (2 Tim. 4 vs 6-8)
"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me, a crown of righteousness, which the righteous judge, shall give me at that day and not to me only, but unto all of them that love His appearing".
Only us, who are Christians, who are possessors, not professors, have the same assurance that the Apostle Paul had and that he shared with Timothy.
Paul is my New Testament Hero!!!!!!--and through Christ, he withstood it all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oldbiker
STAND BY DONNIE McCLURKIN
What do you do when you've done all you can
And it seems like it's never enough?
And what do you say when your friends turn away
And you're all alone, alone?
Tell me, what do you give when you've given your all
And it seems like you can't make it through?
Well you just stand when there's nothing left to do
You just stand, watch the Lord see you through
Yes, after you done all you can, you just stand
Tell me, how do you handle the guilt of your past?
Tell me, how do you deal with the shame?
And how can you smile while your heart has been broken
And filled with pain, filled with pain?
Tell me what do you give when you've given your all
Seems like you can't make it through?
Child, you just stand when there's nothing left to do
You just stand, watch the Lord see you through
Yes, after you've done all you can, you just stand
Stand and be sure
Be not entangled in that bondage again
You just stand, and endure
God has a purpose, yes, God has a plan
Tell me what do you do when you've done all you can
And it seems like you can't make it through?
Child, you just stand, you just stand, stand
Don't you dare give up through the storm, stand through the rain
Through the hurt, yeah, through the pain
Don't you bow, and don't bend don't give up, no, don't give in
Hold on, just be strong, God will step in and it won't be long
After you done all you can, after you done all you can
After you gone through the hurt, after you gone through the pain
After you gone through the storm, after you gone through the rain
Prayed and cried, prayed and cried
Prayed and you've cried
Prayed and cried, oh my
After you done all you can you just stand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqizFn_Yf0I&feature=related
(when i say His church i am talking about all those churches who preach the truth of His salvation)
are going through the hardest times and under attack but we have to remember that Greater is He within us than he in the world. and...There is no weapon fashioned that will prevail against us. Hide His Word in your heart for we need these words of life to give us the courage to fight the good fight and run the race to His finish for us.
He knows everything, every detail, every trial, every pain. He went through it all Himself so He could experience it firsthand as a human being who did not use His Godly powers to save Himself from one single experience of pain, heartbreak, disappointment, humiliation, but did it all for us so we would know that He understands.
so let us take courage and stand! let Him fight our battles for us for we aren't able to do anything without Him, but with Him as the One Who is doing the things we need to do through us, we can do all things! STAND! watch and see what He can do when we make ourselves available to His power through us.