Galatians 6:1-9 The Law of the Harvest, Whatever a man Sows, that he shall also reap.

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Whatever we sow, this we shall reap. You cannot plan carrot seeds and grow apples can you? You cannot sow sin and produce righteousness either. The cornerstone of Jesus' teaching is to love one another. So do not practice hatred and call yourself a disciple of Jesus. Jesus said to pray for your enemy and forgive him. In this way you will inherit the kingdom of heaven. Daily Prayer: Lord the message is good, but to do it is impossible for a natural man. Give me the power, the love, and the peace so that I don't contend with my neighbor. By your Spirit, give me strength and guidance in my hour of need. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Galatians 5:17-26 The Spirit and the Flesh are at enmity with one another

For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. It is no wonder that the Christian does call the world his home. We are born into sin, and regenerated by the Spirit and hence the spiritual warfare begins. In our flesh, we are helpless. For that reason, God sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us. But time after time, we do not do what we ought to. We heartily agree with the Law of God but in our flesh we cannot do it. That which we want and ought to do, we do not do. That which we desire to do we cannot do (that is, in our flesh). We have do determine that the Battle is the Lord's and he is our champion. He can and is able to win the spiritual warfare and deliver us unto himself where he will shepherd us and sanctify us. Amen.

Galatians 5:2-16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. The hardest words in scripture is "Walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." You ask yourself, "How can I set aside the flesh when I am flesh?" The answer is that you have to die to the flesh in order to live by the spirit. Dying to ones self is not an easy thing to do. Another word for this process is surrender. One who surrenders is showing a marked sign of spiritual maturity because the Holy Spirit who dwells within me is having an impact on my physical life here and now. When you examine yourself you will find signs of failure. But take heart, he who has begun a good work in you will not quit until this goal is achieved. It's not a human thing, but instead a God thing, so rest in his power and wisdom.

Galatians 4:19-31 As it was in the beginning, the fee remain free, but those in bondage remain in bondage

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written: “Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child; shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.” Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman. God did not ordain the Child of God to be in bondage. He discriminated between the man of this world and the man in the Spirit. The man of this world never knows of God in Heaven, but the spiritual man was chosen by God to be free and remain free. The man of the world remains in the chains of the flesh where the man of the spirit is permanently loosed from them by the Father.

Galatians 4:8-18 Zeal, Truth, and Love: These are the signs of a relationship

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. In more than one place, Paul expresses his concern that his labor not be in vein. The main purpose of Paul's life was to share the good news of the gospel to those who were separated from God. As a farmer plants seeds, so planted the seeds of the gospel. At first they were received and prospered. But then the plants began to show rebellion against the farmer who is Paul. So he reasons, "Who changed your mind? Was it the Jews?" He reminds them that zeal is a virtue as long as the object of their zeal is Christ Jesus. Daily Prayer: Lord, if we have received the good seed of the gospel, keep us from backsliding. The enemy, Satan, is like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. You have proven you are stronger than he, so be my champion and rescue me from the lies of the evil one. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Galatians 4:1-7 Jesus was born under the Law, and those that abide in him are co-heirs with him in the Kingdom of God

Everything that God does must come to fruition. Though fallen man is condemned by the law, Jesus Christ, the holy Son of God fulfilled the law. His birth is what is called "in the fullness of times." This means that God and his purposes are no longer a mystery as they were in former days. But Jesus, the only keeper of the law, died for all of the law breakers so that they could be reconciled to God. Jesus declared, 'I am the way, the truth and the life. Nobody comes to the Father except through me." So to hold fast to the sacrifice of Jesus reconciles you to the Father, and he declares you to be a child of his and thus an heir in his kingdom. Daily Prayer: Lord, in the world their is no belief or faith. It is foreign to the natural man. Give us belief and faith so that we can come to you and the Father with your holy words "Abba, Father." In your holy name I pray Amen.

Galatians 3:19-29 The Law Disciplines Us To Guide To Christ & To Become A Child of God

Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. The reality is that we are all, or have been prodigal children of God. We tried to exercise independence from God, only to fail and be disciplined for our shortcomings.Again and again we tried to exhort our will only to learn that "Not my will, but Thy will be done." So we learned by trial and error again and again until be were brought to the guidance of a Savior. We became convicted and convinced of our sin and as such were born again into a new man who had a fresh view of God and the Spirit of God indwelling him. This being the case, we become a child of God, no longer a stranger to him and can rely upon him who is faithful and just who will forgive our sins and set aside iniquity.

Galatians 3:10-18 Nobody is saved by the law, but by grace we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ

For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. It is a good thing to be born in the years following Jesus' ascension to the right hand of God. Before that time, from Moses forward, men were judged based on their ability to keep the law which was impossible for a fallen race. Therefore the law condemned all men, except for those who believed in God's promise which is the raising up of a Redeemer who will take away the sins of the world. There was once a teacher who asked his class which is harder, to be run over by a truck or the shadow of a truck. The class all replied, a shadow of the truck. That's what happened with the advent of Jesus. He took upon himself the sins of the world and received the slamming blow of the truck so that believers in his name would be spared and only receive the shadow of the truck gone by. We as followers of the Son of God are spared God's wrath, because Jesus took it on himself so that you and I may live. Amen.

Galatians 3:1-9 From Abraham Until Now, Nobody Is Saved In The Flesh

You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. All to often, we try to please God by what we do. That makes sense to many. Yet so many are wrong. Ever since the curse of Adam for his sin in the garden, man's flesh has been cursed. Our reference point for righteous in found in Abraham who was a man who believed God and that was credited to him as righteousness. Now those who heard the gospel and believe are like Abraham and are credited as righteous. Paul is exhorting Jews not to depend on the Law of Moses as righteous, because it is this very law that condemns them. Daily Prayer: Lord thank you for giving me a believing heart. For those who struggle with belief, give it to them freely so that they may come to know you and be saved. Amen.

Galatians 2:15-21I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

“We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn't that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” In the time prior to Christ, Jews tried to reconcile with God with burnt offerings. But in the fullness of times on sacrifice was made one and for all which is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Now and for everyone justification is belief in Jesus Christ and his finished work on the Cross. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life and nobody comes to the Father except through me." Everyone includes both Jews and gentiles and with salvation Christ indwells the believer so that they may live a godly life for the Father.

Galatians 2:11-14 Paul Condemns Hypocrisy, and Stands For Christian Liberty

When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? We already learned that the 12 apostles accepted Paul as an apostle too. Paul invites Peter to come with him to the gentile church. The gentiles are not under the law of Moses and have no dietary restrictions as the Hebrews do. Peter reluctantly shares meals with the gentiles in an act of liberty given by Christ on the Cross. But when other Hebrews showed up, Peter in an act of hypocrisy draws back as though he was doing something wrong. But Paul confronts him to his face and tells him that if he being a Jew was released from dietary laws, why is he now ashamed of the liberty given in Christ? Daily Prayer: Lord, we have been given freedom from the law. We only must love the Lord God with a whole heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. This is the fulfillment of the law you intended. Let us live our life in this manner. In your holy name I pray Amen.

Galatians 2:1-10 Paul Accepted by the Apostles

Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message. On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along. The big issue with the meeting in Jerusalem was to make sure that Paul's labor was not in vein and that no truth of the gospel is not corrupted by rules and interpretation of men and not from God. Mention is made of Titus, a Greek convert, was not circumcised. The laws of the Jews cannot be imposed on the gentiles as though you need to become Jewish in order to receive the gospel.Paul also mentions that God does not show partiality between believers and that the so called pillars of the apostles did not contribute anything to the gospel. That was a work of Christ. But they did receive Paul and the gospel he was accustomed to preaching to the Greeks and he was welcomed with the right hand of fellowship.

Galatians 1:10-24 The gospel is not of human origin, but was revealed to Christ's servant Paul to be preached to the nations.

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me. Believers in Jesus are not asked to preach the gospel, they are called to do so from the beginning of time. Men cannot find the gospel on their own, because it is not of human origin. Instead believers come to Christ in faith in what they cannot see, but know with certainty. Those who declare they are Christians and do not declare it to others ought to examine themselves to see if they are true Christians indeed. Because Jesus said to his followers to go and make believers of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 1: 1-9 Cursed by the one who preaches another form of gospel

Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers and sisters with me, To the churches in Galatia: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! Paul had preached the gospel of Jesus Christ which is Christ's life, death, and resurrection from the dead as man's only offer for salvation when this life is done. Yet some people, outside of Paul's presence were introducing another kind of gospel based on their own work apart from Christ. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ makes it clear. To those who add to or take away from the True Gospel, this man shall be cursed! Paul validates his authority as being called by Christ to preach the gospel to the gentiles, but there were still some unconvinced Jews who sought to undermine faith by declaring a gospel that was not wholly dependent on Jesus and those persons will be judged with a Royal judgment that will cost them their soul. He exhorts people to cling to the truth and not to back-slide into judgment. Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, our salvation depends on our faith in you alone, apart from any work of our own to have eternal life. Convince the hears of this message to know and understand this so that they may live with you instead of perish. In your holy name I pray Amen.

2 Corinthians 13:1-14 I, Paul...Final Warnings & Final Greetings

This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down. Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All God’s people here send their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. God or a godly person need not be present to detect sin in another. The godly person's spirit perceives what is true and doesn't fall to deception. An evil doer will be the one making accusations and not building up the body of Christ. There is no one who is strong, no not one. We all need the indwelling of Christ in our lives to live a life of power and peace. Yet we must examine ourselves to make sure that we are not double minded and without compassion or without love. Therefore if one on a regular bases does not depend on Christ in his life, they will be turned over to Satan according to their wish. But for those who live for Christ and are aware of his indwelling in them, they will receive the power of God and the peace of their Savior. Amen.

2 Corinthians 12:11-21 Paul visits Corinth a third time, not seeking their possessions, but instead their souls and his desire for them to repent.

I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? 16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged. Paul makes a point of stating that he has not and will not be a financial burden to those in Corinth, yet he perseveres with them. This is because he desires that their souls be the possession of Jesus Christ. Repentance is the sign that they agree with Christ about sin and now depend upon Jesus and his righteousness for salvation. Paul does not condemn the Corinthians, but extends to love of Jesus to this wayward people and he desires that they set aside their sinful ways and be sanctified by the One who brings their salvation. Daily Prayer; Lord, teach us to repent. Let the inner man grow and the old man die, day by day. While salvation is not of merit, you did not save us to live unrepentant lives. Therefore, give us repentance so that we might grow in our faith. Amen.

2 Corinthians 12:1-10 Caught Up Into The Third Heaven

I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. When Moses life was coming to a close, God permitted him to have a glimpse of the promised land. Now that Paul is in his latter years, he was permitted to see heaven and hear its unsurprising utterances. This is the reward for faith which is belief without seeing. It is also the conviction that Paul's words were true and that everything on earth is rubbish when compared to the life that is to come for those who are in Christ Jesus. It is vital to trust in Jesus now, because he is the only means in which to be saved. Amen.

2 Corinthians 11:1-15 God's Warning That He Is A Jealous God And To Guard Against False Prophets

I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. Whatever if false, especially that which is knowingly false, is from the devil. Though cast our of heaven, he still walks with God's people trying to lure them away from the eternal blessing found in Christ Jesus. He tries to lead people from the bright glory of God into dirty and dark alleys promising what he can not deliver and making him a curse to those from whom he has contact. The answer is found in Jesus, who overcame the devil and his dark ways. Therefore we need to remain connected to Jesus so that we are not led away.

2 Corinthians 10:1-18 Success in the world is measured by the extent to which the gospel extends

By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present. We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. We live in the world, but are not of the world. Worldly success is measured by overcoming another. Spiritual success is measured on the building up of others. Our enemies are not of flesh and bone, but of rulers, principalities, and great forces of darkness. These forces do not come against the world, because this is their domain. Instead in comes against God's elect, the Jews and the Christians. Our life is not measured on what we say or write, but instead how for and to how many the gospel reaches for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. Daily Prayer: Lord, have me be a Christian soldier whose marching orders come from Jesus Christ. Let me be obedient unto him proclaiming him in this world and the world to come. Amen.

2 Corinthians 9:1-15 Generosity is a sign of the Royal Law "love your neighbor as yourself."

There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord’s people. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! One of my private prayers is that the Lord not only bless me with my daily bread, but give me enough to be generous. The Lord loves a cheerful giver and it is better to give than to receive. But when one gives out of compulsion, it is no longer love but law! Giving is also evidence of our love for Christ, because Jesus said "Whenever you do this to the least of these my brethren,you have done it to me. Serving self alone is rebellion against God, but sacrifice forgives a multitude of sins. Daily Prayer: Lord, do not let me live my life with my hand clinched, but instead let me open it for the sake of giving so that your work in the world will continue. In your holy name I pray Amen.

2 Corinthians 8:16-24 "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you and all of the nations of the world will be blessed by you"

Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it. God does not choose his representatives only from one elect source. Instead his representatives are those who have received him and after receiving him they pursue him. These chosen are both Jews and men and women from the nations who love God and are called by him. So it is in today's lesson. People who are not the elect become the elect by blessing the Isrealites. As it is written "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you and all of the nations of the world will be blessed by you"

2 Corinthians 8:7-15 The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”

But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Jesus declared to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you." It is grace that gives both from and out of one's riches. Not so that all become rich, but so that nobody becomes poor. Our salvation in Christ is more that what can be measured. How much would you pay to add even one day to your lifetime? In Christ, our life does not end, but in him, by his grace, we inherit eternal life. This is why one can say Christ's grace is sufficient for us. Daily Prayer: Lord, let me labor for the good of others. But when I am in disrepair,let others do the heavy lifting. Let us come unto you because we are weary and heavy laden, and have us yoke with you, because your burden is light. Amen.

2 Corinthians 8:1-6 The Collection for the Lord’s People

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. In Jerusalem, and around the world there was famine at this time. The onlookers in the city of God were witnessing Paul triumph in the gentile cities, planting new churches and raising congregations. Jerusalem felt slighted as they struggled to hold onto the sliver of land in the midst of Roman occupation and difficult times. It is at this time that the true church of Jesus Christ rose up and made offering to the saints in Zion. They gave not because of their abundance, but they gave from their poverty after first giving their souls the Christ Jesus. These gifts of love by the gentile churches saved Jerusalem and are counted as righteousness toward their Savior. Daily Prayer: Lord, let us not be stingy with all that you have given us. Let us give our time, talent, and treasure as love gifts in appreciation of your greater gift of salvation. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

2 Corinthians 7:1-16 Godly Sorrow Leads to Repentance

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. By all this we are encouraged.In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. 16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you. Godly sorrow leads to repentance, but worldly sorrow leads to death. We are born into sin and sorrow will come. We will see ourselves for who we are which is as sinners, but if sorrow convicts us of our sins then we will turn from our sin and toward righteousness. If our sorrow leads to rebellion, we will surely die as it is declared. When someone exercises wisdom by turning from their sin, it refreshes the spirit of those around them. When someone is rebellious toward this sorrow, it leads to violence and death. Daily Prayer: Lord, you promised that if we ask for wisdom, you would give it abundantly. Grant me wisdom to turn to you in my times of sorrow so that I may live and not perish in my sin. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

2 Corinthians 6:11-18 Sanctify and Live Separate From the World

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also. Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” The problem with mixing the clean with the unclean is that it makes both unclean. You can't mix worldliness and heavenly together and come out holy. Instead separate yourselves from the world so that you may dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.

2 Corinthians 6:1-10 Now Is The Day Of Salvation

As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; 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. Jesus said, "In this world, there will be trouble. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." Yes, there is trouble in our lives, and being a Christian doesn't prevent trouble from coming. We are in spiritual warfare. Satan and his demons are many, but God is still on the throne and Jesus intercedes for us from God's right hand. Though we suffer tribulation, we are reminded that today is the day of salvation and we will be delivered from this worldly conflict, because the battle is the Lord's. Daily Prayer; Lord, in this world, despite my circumstances, let my faith in you remain steadfast. Let me continue in the labor of love for your children knowing that in that day, deliverance is sure. In Jesus name and for his sake I pray Amen.