2 Corinthians (Program #50) – Paul’s Vindication of His Apostolic Authority (5)

At the end of 2 Corinthians the apostle Paul was compelled to make a vindication of his apostolic authority.   In the course of this defense, he described much of the sufferings and poverty that seem to be his constant companions during his ministry.  Judging his ministry by today’s common standards, it might seem to some that his work lack the Lord’s blessing.  Listen, “three times I was beaten with rods” he writes, “once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I had spent in the deep, In journeys often, in dangers of rivers, in dangers of robbers, in dangers from my race, in dangers from the Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers in the sea, in dangers among false brothers; In labor and hardship; in watchings often; in hunger and thirst; in fastings often; in cold and nakedness.”

This kind of hardship and shortage even of the basic material supplies might seems strange to some.  How could this be the case of a genuine servant of the Lord?  But to Paul, it was quite the opposite.  For to his realization the Lord Jesus during His earthly ministry similarly suffered and Paul considered it an honor that the Lord would find him worthy to share in the sufferings.

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1 Corinthians (Program #27) – Stewards of the Mysteries of God

When we consider the leading ministry, the most respected Christian workers of the day, what kind of image of their life do we have?   Well, most of the well known seems to be quite successful even by worldly standards; they are honored, respected for the most part, seems well off, able to live a very comfortable life.  But what about at the time of the New Testament?  The leading apostle from most of that era was the apostle Paul of course he wrote the bulk of the New Testament. What kind of living did he enjoy?  Well from his autobiographical comments found in 1 Corinthians chapter 4 we get a glimpse:

“For, I think, God has set forth us the apostles last of all as doomed to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools because of Christ, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are glorious, but we are dishonored. Until the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked and buffeted and wander without a home; And we labor, working with our own hands. Reviled we bless; persecuted we endure; Defamed we exhort. We have become as the off-scouring of the world, the scum of all things, until now.“

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John (Program #17) – The Need of the Immoral – Life’s Satisfying (1)

Many people today have a hunger inside of them. They can’t be satisfied. So the second need of man after we receive the eternal life is to enjoy eternal life, and to drink of the eternal life until the eternal life becomes in us a well of water springing up.

In yesterday’s broadcast, Witness spoke from John chapter 3, concerning the increase of Christ and the immeasurable Christ.  Today we continue our life study of the gospel of John with the case of the Samaritan woman in chapter 4, showing how the divine life meets the need of the immoral by the satisfaction of the living water.

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Hebrews (Program #29) – The Word of Righteousness and the Word of the Beginning of Christ

If you want to mature in Christ and if you hunger for the solid food of the Word, please pay attention – this message is just for you.

The Word of God has many different titles and scripture and even more functions – it’s called the Word of Grace, the Word of Life, even the Good Word. But in Hebrews, it’s called the Word of Righteousness. This is the solid nourishing word that can bring us on to maturity.

We’re not quite halfway through this life study of Hebrews and it seems that in nearly every turn, we are challenged and even stretched by what is opened up in Hebrews.  Because this book is so profound and deep, every turn it takes really challenges those of us who approaches it with still elementary understanding of God and the things of God. more…

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