Monday, 16 December 2019

Encouragement, Part 2

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Yesterday we ended with the question: Furthermore, what does Paul mean by declaring everything in Messiah Yeshua is "Yes," and there is not any "No?"

He means that everything in the Lord is upside, positive, and good. Even the things that seem to tear us down actually build us up in Him. So 2 Corinthians, chapter 1 builds to this ... (verse 20) "For in Him all the promises of God are "Yes." Therefore also through Him is the "Amen" by us, to the glory of God."

Then in Chapter 2, Paul builds along another track to forgive those who bring doubt and negativity into the body. He makes a point in verse 11 that I hope we will all internalize today. We pray in a positive way ...

2 Corinthians 2:11 "so that we might not be outwitted by satan - for we are not ignorant of his schemes."

This is huge. We are being told to live by faith and not by our wits. What are "wits?" "Wits" is brain power. "Wits" is our own thinking ability. "Wits" is making quick decisions based on what we see. "Wits" is the opposite of faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7 "For we walk by faith, not by sight."

The point here is that we must base our lives and life decisions on faith in God. We are not called to live a "pin-ball" existence. The pin-ball is bounced around and knocked around and cannot control its own destiny.

I heard a teaching recently (sorry, I forget where or from whom) that we must make decisions based on hearing from God. As believers we are prone to the "paralysis of analysis." When we don't make decision to control circumstances, decisions will be made for us that do control circumstances for us. A "pin-ball" existence is the opposite of following Yeshua with purpose. Shema (or rather Tishma, the command form), God is answering, we need to listen.