|
| ||||
August 28 ~ 2 Corinthians 2:12-17
Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, 13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia. 14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
This is a short portion of Scripture but contains some very potent thoughts.
God always leads us in triumph in Christ!
This should settle it once and for all that God’s will is for us to live in victory and not defeat. Now if anybody could gripe and complain it was Paul. Just think of how many difficulties, trials and persecutions he endured. He didn’t let his circumstances dictate his faith or how he looked at God. Just like his plans falling apart to preach the gospel in Troas because he could not locate Titus his co-worker, he just pressed on to Macedonia knowing that the Lord had something better in another location. How about you, do you let your circumstances dictate your attitude? I confess there have been plenty of times I’ve been discouraged and could have just thrown in the towel and quit the ministry altogether. Life can be tough and many time just plain unfair but God is for us not against us. There is a saying that it’s darkest just before the dawn. Here are some examples of God always leading his people in triumph even when it seemed like God had forsaken them but came through by his power to give them the victory:
There are so many examples of God leading his people in victory I would need to write a book to cover them all.
Paul says he was the fragrance of Christ
When I think of the word fragrance I think of an odor that is pleasant like my wife’s flower garden full of her beautiful roses. You can’t see it but you know it’s there because you can smell it. Likewise the gospel is a fragrance that fills the atmosphere by the presence of the Holy Spirit. The very name “Christ” means anointed one. Jesus promised to draw all men to himself. John 12:32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This is the power of the gospel. It is supernatural because the Spirit of God touches the minds of men and convicts there hearts of the need to repent and be saved. Paul says he brought this fragrance of the knowledge of Christ everywhere he preached. It was great news for those being saved just like a fragrance of life leading to the hope of eternal life. However for the lost that reject Christ this message becomes the fragrance of death leading to death because they know they’re already dead in sins and without Christ will be eternally lost.
What does it mean to peddle the word of God?
This word “Peddling” is used by Paul to describe those with wrong motives concerning the word of God. It means to profit from the word of God. Now there really needs to be some clarification on this because the Lord Jesus instructed the apostles in reference to support for their ministry that the worker is worthy of his wages. Paul wrote to Timothy saying that the elders that ruled well are worthy of double honor meaning financial compensation then added especially those that work hard at teaching and preaching. So, it’s obvious that God is not opposed to his servants being financially taken care of through the ministry. However, peddling the word of God has a different meaning than being compensated for preaching. The Amplified version is worth looking at for 2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not like many, [acting like merchants] peddling God’s word [shortchanging and adulterating God’s message]; but from pure [uncompromised] motives, as [commissioned and sent] from God, we speak [His message] in Christ in the sight of God.
The Greek word for peddle means a huckster. Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament words gives this definition: "to be a retailer, to peddle, to hucksterize"…"an inn-keeper, a petty retailer, especially of wine, a huckster, peddler," kapeleuo has the broader significance of doing so in order to make dishonest gain. Those to whom the Apostle refers in 2Cr 2:17 are such as make merchandise of souls through covetousness. So those that peddle the word of God are doing it for the purpose of making money and not because of a divine call to the ministry. Another meaning is to adulterate. Wine sellers that corrupted the purity of the wine would dilute with water as the prophet Isaiah said in 1:22 “Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water”. So today there are those that purposefully dilute the word of God not wanting to preach it as God intended. The apostle Paul was the total opposite! He said we preach the word of God sincerely and everything we say we say in the sight of God as we abide in the Son Jesus Christ.
WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) Victorious living is always the will of God for his people and he will lead us in triumph if we don’t give up and have faith in him.
2) Ministers of the gospel of Christ should bring the fragrance of Christ wherever they go influencing people to salvation and a desire to follow Jesus as Lord.
3) Beware of those that peddle or corrupt the word of God for their own profit. If you’re are a minister of Jesus Christ be sincere and rightly divide the word of truth.
PRAYER TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD TO OUR LIVES
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll
Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, 13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia. 14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
This is a short portion of Scripture but contains some very potent thoughts.
God always leads us in triumph in Christ!
This should settle it once and for all that God’s will is for us to live in victory and not defeat. Now if anybody could gripe and complain it was Paul. Just think of how many difficulties, trials and persecutions he endured. He didn’t let his circumstances dictate his faith or how he looked at God. Just like his plans falling apart to preach the gospel in Troas because he could not locate Titus his co-worker, he just pressed on to Macedonia knowing that the Lord had something better in another location. How about you, do you let your circumstances dictate your attitude? I confess there have been plenty of times I’ve been discouraged and could have just thrown in the towel and quit the ministry altogether. Life can be tough and many time just plain unfair but God is for us not against us. There is a saying that it’s darkest just before the dawn. Here are some examples of God always leading his people in triumph even when it seemed like God had forsaken them but came through by his power to give them the victory:
- The children of Israel leaving Egypt at the Red Sea. It opened just on time so they could escape from Pharaoh’s army but closed on their enemies.
- The water that came from the rock in the wilderness when they thought they would die of dehydration and the quail God supplied to satisfy their hunger.
- Joseph was rejected by his brothers, sold as a slave, falsely accused, thrown into prison, forgotten by those he helped then in one day went from the prison to the palace as the number two leader the entire nation of Egypt!
- Daniel being accused of praying was thrown to the Lions but the Lord sent his angel and shut the mouths of the lions then delivered Daniel. His accusers were fed to the lions.
- The disciples in the midst of a storm thought they would perish but the Lord got up and rebuked the wind and there was a great calm.
- The apostle Paul and Silas were beaten for bringing deliverance to a girl bound by demons. They were thrown in prison but God sent and earthquake and they got the jailer saved and his house hold then left the city with an official escort.
There are so many examples of God leading his people in victory I would need to write a book to cover them all.
Paul says he was the fragrance of Christ
When I think of the word fragrance I think of an odor that is pleasant like my wife’s flower garden full of her beautiful roses. You can’t see it but you know it’s there because you can smell it. Likewise the gospel is a fragrance that fills the atmosphere by the presence of the Holy Spirit. The very name “Christ” means anointed one. Jesus promised to draw all men to himself. John 12:32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This is the power of the gospel. It is supernatural because the Spirit of God touches the minds of men and convicts there hearts of the need to repent and be saved. Paul says he brought this fragrance of the knowledge of Christ everywhere he preached. It was great news for those being saved just like a fragrance of life leading to the hope of eternal life. However for the lost that reject Christ this message becomes the fragrance of death leading to death because they know they’re already dead in sins and without Christ will be eternally lost.
What does it mean to peddle the word of God?
This word “Peddling” is used by Paul to describe those with wrong motives concerning the word of God. It means to profit from the word of God. Now there really needs to be some clarification on this because the Lord Jesus instructed the apostles in reference to support for their ministry that the worker is worthy of his wages. Paul wrote to Timothy saying that the elders that ruled well are worthy of double honor meaning financial compensation then added especially those that work hard at teaching and preaching. So, it’s obvious that God is not opposed to his servants being financially taken care of through the ministry. However, peddling the word of God has a different meaning than being compensated for preaching. The Amplified version is worth looking at for 2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not like many, [acting like merchants] peddling God’s word [shortchanging and adulterating God’s message]; but from pure [uncompromised] motives, as [commissioned and sent] from God, we speak [His message] in Christ in the sight of God.
The Greek word for peddle means a huckster. Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament words gives this definition: "to be a retailer, to peddle, to hucksterize"…"an inn-keeper, a petty retailer, especially of wine, a huckster, peddler," kapeleuo has the broader significance of doing so in order to make dishonest gain. Those to whom the Apostle refers in 2Cr 2:17 are such as make merchandise of souls through covetousness. So those that peddle the word of God are doing it for the purpose of making money and not because of a divine call to the ministry. Another meaning is to adulterate. Wine sellers that corrupted the purity of the wine would dilute with water as the prophet Isaiah said in 1:22 “Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water”. So today there are those that purposefully dilute the word of God not wanting to preach it as God intended. The apostle Paul was the total opposite! He said we preach the word of God sincerely and everything we say we say in the sight of God as we abide in the Son Jesus Christ.
WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) Victorious living is always the will of God for his people and he will lead us in triumph if we don’t give up and have faith in him.
2) Ministers of the gospel of Christ should bring the fragrance of Christ wherever they go influencing people to salvation and a desire to follow Jesus as Lord.
3) Beware of those that peddle or corrupt the word of God for their own profit. If you’re are a minister of Jesus Christ be sincere and rightly divide the word of truth.
PRAYER TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD TO OUR LIVES
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll