This past week, we were treated to amazing truths from God’s word presented by some of the finest preachers you will ever hear.
If you missed out, the loss is yours. If you missed out, make plans now to be here next year. You can still get the lectureship book as well as all of the previous books in digital form on the Southeast (SEIBS) website. I would encourage you to download and read it. This is a tremendous Bible study resource to help you.
2 Corinthians is an often-overlooked book that was thoroughly dissected and presented in ways that helped us see the comfort and encouragement that is there for us.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
We heard that we are at war, but not with flesh and blood (people} but with the forces of evil in a spiritual battle against Satan. We are fighting for these people who are his victims. We will be winning this war not by political activism or other secular endeavors, however good they may be. We are winning when we proclaim the gospel to them and God gives an increase.
We were reminded of our command to be forgiving – to have a forgiving, comforting, loving spirit when one turns from their sin and asks for forgiveness.
…so that on the other hand, you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a person might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. For to this end I also wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.
2 Corinthians 2:7-9
Apparently, this is a hard thing for many of us to do. We are told to examine ourselves to make sure we are right.
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?
2 Corinthians 13:5
Please don’t fail this test!