2 Corinthians 5:16

2 Corinthians 5:16 says, Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.   Paul declared that they knew no man after the flesh, even though they had once known Christ after the flesh.  Christ's time on the earth as a human being had ended with His death, so He could no longer be known after the flesh.  Paul was also saying that those who did know Christ in the flesh had no spiritual advantage over those who came to Him after his death.  Even those who walked with Christ while He was on the earth could only be saved by faith.  A close proximity to Christ, or to the church today, cannot bring salvation.  Only a personal relationship with Christ as Savior and Lord can bring salvation, and this is a spiritual condition.  Verse seventeen adds, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  Paul tells us that if we are followers of Christ that we are a new creature.  We may not want to think of ourselves as creatures, but we are all a part of God's creation, and compared to God we will always be but a creature, a part of His creation.  We will never be gods.  Still, when we accept Christ as Savior and Lord we become a new creature.  Old things, those things ruled by the flesh pass away and all things become new.  We live by faith and not by sight.  Verse eighteen continues, And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;  Paul acknowledged that everything that we do as followers of Christ is to be for God and because of His empowering us.  God reconciled Himself to all who will accept Christ through faith.  Since God redeemed us and made us a new creature, we are the be ministers, or witnesses, for Him.   Verse nineteen states, To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  Here Paul declared the heart of the gospel.  God was in Christ.  Christ was not just a human but was Himself God.  God reconciled the world to Himself through the life and death of Christ.  We can be reconciled to God only by believing in Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Paul also said that God had committed to them the word of reconciliation, as He has with every Christian.  Verse twenty adds, Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.  Paul said that followers of Christ were ambassadors for Him.  We represent Christ to the world in all that we do.  Verse twenty-one continues, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  Christ Who was sinless, took on the sins of all people for all time so that by our faith in Him our sins might be forgiven.  Yet, many people refuse to accept this forgiveness and choose instead to be eternally separated from God.

2 Corinthians 5:10

2 Corinthians 5:10 says, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.  Paul said that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ and answer for the things that we have done, whether good or bad.  We might say that as followers of Christ we have our sins washed away by His blood, and though this is true, we are not given the freedom to sin without any responsibility.  Verse eleven adds, Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.  Paul appealed to people to accept salvation made available through Christ so that they would not face the terror of the Lord.  Denying God or not accepting Christ as our Savior and Lord does not mean that we will not one day face God's judgment.  Paul said that the way that he lived his life should show His obedience to God.  Verse twelve continues, For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.  Paul did not commend himself to glorify himself, but that God would be glorified.  He said that other believers could us him as an example for those who did not believe except in things that they could see.  Some people will not believe in Christ based simply on what we say is in our heart but need to see our faith lived out in our everyday life.  Verse thirteen states, For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.  I believe that Paul was saying that sometimes they were excited, or beside themselves, and sometimes they were more sedate in their actions, but it was all for the glory of God and the benefit of those that he was witnessing to.  I do not believe that Paul was acting in the way he witnessed but was simply relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to lead him in the way he presented the gospel.  We cannot demand great excitement in worship, nor can we deny it.  We must react as the Holy Spirit leads us and not just react as others react.  Verse fourteen adds, For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:  I don't believe that Paul was saying that the love of Christ constrained them from witnessing but constrained them from putting any glory in themselves.  Since Christ died for all, no one believer is to be exalted above any other.  We are not made saints by anything we do of our own ability, but are made saints, those set aside for God, by our faith in Christ.  Verse fifteen continues, And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.  Paul says that as followers of Christ, since He died for us, we should live for Him.  Though Christ died for all, for His death to have meaning for any person, that person must accept His salvation by faith.

2 Corinthians 5:1

2 Corinthians 5:1 says, For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  Paul was not speaking of an actual house, but of the temporal body.  Paul said that even if we die and this body passes away that we have a building, a body, not made by hands, but by God.  Through the sin of mankind, this body became temporal.  Verse two adds, For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:  Paul said that this earthly body caused them to groan in the desire to put on that heavenly body.  As followers of Christ, we should have a great desire to put on that heavenly body, but we like Paul must declare that we are dedicated to doing the work that God has for us to do.  Verse three continues, If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.  When God clothes us in His righteousness, we will never be found naked.  Verse four states, For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.  This is another promise that we may suffer for Christ in this world, but that even if this mortal body groans, we as followers of Christ will ultimately have a resurrected body that rejoices in God.  Nothing will be left to cause us to groan.  Verse five adds, Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Paul tells us that God is the One Who gives us this promise of everlasting life and that He seals it with the Holy Spirit.  Though today we may groan from the problems and persecutions of the world, we have God's assurance that this is only temporary.  Verse six continues, Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:  Paul declared that they were confident, not just if things seemed to be going well, always.  He recognized that in this life we can never be totally present with God.  We are not removed from the trials and tribulations of the world, but we are never overpowered by them as long as we remain faithful to God.  Verse seven says, (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)  Paul saw persecution and possible death by his earthly sight, but he saw everlasting life by faith.  We today must walk by faith, just as Paul did.  If we walk simply by sight, by the things we see in the world, we can easily end up in despair.  If we walk by faith in God, we can rejoice no matter what is happening in our lives. Verse eight adds, We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.  Paul said that they were confident to die for their faith.  Paul knew that when he was absent from this body, or died, that he would be present with God.  As believers in Christ, we should never let the fear of death cause us to waver in our faith.  Verse nine continues, Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.  Paul said that they labored so that they would be acceptable to God, whether in life or death.  This does not mean that they were working to earn their salvation, but they were working to show their obedience to God.  We today should be laboring for Christ in all that we do.

2 Corinthians 4:11

2 Corinthians 4:11 says, For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.  This seems to be about as far removed from the concept that God wants us happy and successful as we can get.  Paul said that we are delivered unto death for Christ's sake.  When we begin to view following Christ as a means of material blessings, we are not following what the gospel demands.  We are to live for the glory of Christ.  Verse twelve adds, So then death worketh in us, but life in you.  I believe that Paul was saying that if those with him and he himself died for their faith it would be so that others might come to know life through Christ.  We must be willing to die to self so that we may effectively proclaim the gospel. Verse thirteen continues, We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;  All followers of Christ have the same spirit of faith and are called to witness for Christ.  The sharing of the gospel is not reserved for a select few but is the responsibility of each believer.  We all have the same spirit of faith and the same Holy Spirit living in us and empowering us.  Verse fourteen states, Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.  Paul said that we could have faith in our resurrection by faith in Jesus Christ, because the same God that raised Jesus will raise up those who put their faith in Him.  Verse fifteen adds, For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.  Paul said that their suffering was for the sake of those they were witnessing to and for God's glory.  It is because of the abundant grace of God that we have reason for thanksgiving even if we are being persecuted.  Verse sixteen continues, For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  Paul declared that those who believe in Christ have everlasting security through faith. Even if the outward person, the body, perishes, the inward person, the soul, is renewed every day.  Verse seventeen states, For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;  Paul said their light affliction was temporary, and that it worked for their more exceeding and eternal, or everlasting, glory.  Whatever we suffer for the sake of the gospel is indeed light when we compare it to everlasting life in the presence of God.  Verse eighteen adds, While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.  Paul said we must live by the unseen things of God, which are everlasting.  We cannot see faith, nor even heaven itself, but we must live by faith in the unseen things of God.  We can see the material things of this world, but we are to lay up our treasures in the unseen things of faith.

2 Corinthians 4:1

2 Corinthians 4:1 says, Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;  Paul said that because of Christ, Who brought salvation and purpose to people, that he was given a ministry.  Having been given this ministry by the mercy of God, Paul said they would not faint in carrying out their ministry.  We need to have that same attitude and determination today.  Paul said that nothing in this world could keep him from doing what he was called to do, and we cannot allow anything in the world to stop us today.  Verse two adds, But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.  Paul said they were not attempting to live deceitfully but were living by the truth of God.  Paul continued by affirming that the truth of God was manifested in their lives.  We cannot begin to change the gospel in any way and live with Christ being manifested in our lives.  Verse three continues, But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  The truth of the gospel will only be hidden to those who refuse to accept it.  The gospel will always be available to all those who are willing to accept it, and until a person accepts the gospel by faith it will never mean anything to them.  Verse four declares, In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.  Paul said that the god of this world blinded the minds of people so that the light of the gospel could not shine on them.  Paul refers to the gospel as the glorious gospel of Christ.  There is nothing more glorious that we can share with others than the gospel of Christ.  Verse five adds, For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.  Paul and those with him did not preach to bring glory to themselves, but only to bring glory to Christ.  Paul viewed himself simply as a servant to those he preached to for the sake of Jesus.  When we begin to view ourselves as anything other than servants of Christ for the reaching of the lost we are not being faithful to our calling.  We can never glorify ourselves nor let others glorify us.  Verse six continues, For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  Paul said that God Who caused the physical light to shine out of darkness also caused the spiritual light to shine in the hearts of those who accepted Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse seven states, But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.  We have this treasure of the light of God in us, not to glorify this earthly vessel, our body, but to glorify God.  Verse eight adds, We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  Paul was not preaching a gospel of prosperity, but a gospel of sacrifice and persecution. Verse nine continues, Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;  Paul said even though they were persecuted they were not forsaken by God, and though they were cast down they were not destroyed.  God will never forsake those who are His, nor will He allow them to be spiritually destroyed.  Paul did not see himself as suffering more than other Christians but saw them all as equals through the gospel of Christ.  Verse ten concludes, Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  I believe that Paul was saying that if we want to share in the glory of Christ then we must allow Him to live through us, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:10

2 Corinthians 3:10 says, For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.  Paul said that even though the law was made glorious, since it was given by God, that it had no glory in its ability to save.  He then stated that this was true because of the glory of Christ, which excelled over the law.  God's word would now be written in the hearts of His people, and not on tablets of stone.  Verse eleven adds, For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.  Through the fulfillment of the law by Christ, the requirement to live up to every aspect of the law was done away with.  This does not mean that God's law is no longer valid, but that the requirement for salvation is simply faith in Christ.  This new covenant is indeed move excellent than the law.  Verse twelve continues, Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:  Paul wanted his message to be easily understood by all.  When we are witnessing for Christ, we need to keep the message simple.  Paul preached Jesus Christ, crucified, resurrected, and Lord.  This is still our message today.  We cannot explain every aspect of God, but we can proclaim the gospel clearly.  Verse thirteen states, And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:  Paul said that the children of Israel could not look openly at God through the law.  Just as Moses veiled his face before returning from the mountain, people were prevented from having unrestricted access to God.  They were still under the law and could never follow it completely, so sin always separated them from being able to look at God freely.  There was always a separating barrier, but Christ removed all barriers.  Verse fourteen adds, But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.  This is what Paul declared in this verse, that Christ removed the veil between people and God.  Verse fifteen continues, But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.   I believe that Paul was saying that when we attempt to approach God through the law that our will is always a barrier between God and us.  Though we are given free access to God through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, the sin in the world still keeps us from seeing all of God's glory.  Verse sixteen declares, Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.  There is coming a day, when Christ returns, when we can see God in all His glory.  Verse seventeen adds, Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  Just as the law brought bondage due to the inability of people to live up to its requirements, Christ brings liberty because we are under grace and not the law.  Verse eighteen continues, But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.  Paul said that as we look at God as though seeing His image in a mirror, that we are changed into that same image of God by faith.  We are to reflect God to the world by our faith in Christ.  We can only do this by living under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:1

2 Corinthians 3:1 says, Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Paul asked if they needed to prove themselves again and have written letters of commendation to be accepted by the church.  When a person is truly being effective in reaching the lost for Christ, they should not have to prove themselves everywhere they go, nor should they need written letters of recommendation to be accepted.  Verse two adds, Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:  Paul said that the believers in Corinth, and wherever he preached, were his epistle, written in his heart.  Those that we reach with the gospel of Christ are indeed our proof of our relationship to Christ, and they should have a special place in our hearts.  Verse three continues, Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.  Paul declared that those who accepted Christ as Savior and Lord were His epistle, written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God.  We no longer have the law written on tablets of stone, but we have the law engraved in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Verse four states, And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:  Paul said his trust came from Christ and pointed to the heavenly Father.  As long as we put our faith in Christ we will never fail as witnesses for Him.  Verse five adds, Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;  Paul declared that they were not sufficient to do anything by their own ability.  Their sufficiency, or power, came from God.  If we begin to put our faith in our own ability instead of relying on the leadership and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, then we will soon fail.  Verse six says, Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.  Paul said they were called to be ministers of the new covenant.  This is the covenant based on faith in Christ and being led by the Holy Spirit.  This covenant brings life, whereas the old covenant, based on fulfilling the law of God could only lead to death.  Verse seven adds, But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:  Paul said that the law was glorious, in that it was given by God.  The failure of the old covenant was not because it was bad, but because it required total fulfillment at all times, and people were unable to live up to that requirement.  Christ fulfilled that requirement, and now all that is required is acceptance of the gift of salvation by faith.  Verse eight continues, How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?  Paul asks if the giving of the law was glorious, then should not the giving of salvation through faith in Christ be even more glorious.  Verse nine concludes, For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.  Paul said the if the giving of the law, which could only lead to death was glorious, then the giving of life through the righteousness of Christ should be more glorious.  The law of God pointed us to Him, but required our fulfilling it, which we cannot do.  Salvation by Christ relies on His fulfilling the law, which He did.

2 Corinthians 2:9

2 Corinthians 2:9 says, For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.  Paul was still referring to the church at Corinth following his advice on how to deal with the person who was causing problems by removing him from the fellowship.  The church in no way controls salvation, but still must not let one or two people disrupt the service.  Paul said that as they had followed his suggestion to remove the person from the fellowship of believers, the church, that he now hoped that they would follow his advice to restore the person if they had repented of their sin.  Verse ten adds, To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;  Paul said that anyone the the church at Corinth forgave that he forgave also, because of his relationship to Christ.  We are to be forgiven by God as we forgive others.  We cannot simply judge sinners but must reach out to them with love and forgiveness.  Verse eleven continues, Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.  Paul warned them that not reaching out to others in love allows Satan to take advantage.  Problems in the church should always be dealt with out of an attitude of love.  Verse twelve states, Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,  Paul came to Troas to preach the gospel, and while he was there another door was opened by the Lord.  We cannot let what we are doing, even if we are being successful, keep us from seeing when God opens another door for us to go through.  Just like Paul, we must be open to the leadership of the Holy Spirit and not rely strictly on our plans for serving God.  Verse thirteen adds, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.  Paul said his spirit could not rest because he could not find Titus, but he still left for Macedonia.  We can only be faithful to our own calling, no matter what is happening in the lives of others.  Verse fourteen continues, Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.  Paul gave thanks to God Who enabled them to triumph wherever they went through the power of Christ.  When we are successful in presenting the gospel to the world, it is because of our following the leadership of God through the direction and strengthening of the Holy Spirit.  Verse fifteen says, For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:  Paul said that they were a sweet savor to God because they were obedient to Him.  The outcome wasn't what made Paul special to God, but the obedience is what mattered.  We cannot guarantee that people will accept the gospel when we present it, but we must always be faithful in presenting it.  Verse sixteen adds, To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?  Paul said that for those who refused to believe that they were a savior of death to death.  We can point people to life through Christ, but we cannot make them accept it.  To those who believed, Paul said they were a savior of life unto life.  Paul was a savior only by pointing others to Christ, the only Savior.  When we accept Christ as our Savior, we have life now and we will continue to have life forever. In verse seventeen Paul states, For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.  Paul declared that they were not like many who were corrupting the word of God, but God was their witness that they spoke the truth of Christ.  We also must proclaim the uncorrupted gospel.

2 Corinthians 2:1

2 Corinthians 2:1 says, But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.  Paul said that he determined not to come to the Corinthians in heaviness, or to simply point out their failings.  Paul had faith in the church at Corinth to handle the problems that arose there.  Each church, or local fellowship of believers today, is capable of dealing with any problem that might arise in it.  We do not have to rely on someone who is more holy to come and correct any problem.  We are all filled with the same power of the Holy Spirit.  Verse two adds, For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?  I believe that Paul was saying that if he were to make the believers at Corinth sorry, or to bring them despair through Christ, then how could he at the same time make them glad through Christ.  We are not called to sorrow in Christ, but to rejoicing in our salvation.  Verse three continues, And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.  Paul said that what he had written was written so that the church could correct their problems so that when he came to them, they might rejoice, or have joy, in their salvation.  If we hear of a problem in a church, we need to point it out to those who worship there, but we must allow them to correct it so that we might have joy together.  We may pray for those that have problems, but they must take responsibility for correcting the problems themselves.  Verse four states, For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.  Paul grieved for the church at Corinth and their problems.  He wrote to them out of love and not out of an attitude of judgment or moral superiority.  We today must have the same attitude.  Problems in any church should cause us to be broken hearted for the people there, and not to cause us to feel superior.  Too often we like to talk about what we see as problems in other churches instead of praying for them and showing the love of God to them.  Verse five adds, But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.  Paul said that the actions of one church member, or even a few members, did not cause him to blame the whole church.  Verse six continues, Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.  Paul had suggested how they should deal with the situation, and the congregation as a whole had done so.  Again, I don't believe Paul demanded that they do what he said, but that he offered advice that they followed.  There is no one Christian, even a Christian leader, who can demand that others do what he dictates.  Each congregation should be led by the Holy Spirit and needs no other advocate before God.  Verse seven says, So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.  Paul said that the attitude of the church toward one who had been removed from the fellowship due to unrepentant sin should be one of love and restoration.  We should never give up on nor look down on others, especially those who are fellow believers.  Verse eight adds, Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.  Paul asked them to reach out to the one who had caused problems in love.  Too often, when a Christian fails in some way other Christians prefer to condemn rather than to forgive them.  We should always welcome those who have failed, whether the failing was big or small, back into the fellowship when they repent and seek God's forgiveness.  I also believe that they should not be welcomed conditionally as one on trial to see if they will fail again, but as an equal in the eyes of God.

2 Corinthians 1:13

2 Corinthians 1:13 says, For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;  Paul said that he wrote only of the gospel of Christ.  He was not fickle in his witnessing, stating one thing to one group of people and something different to another.  Paul was always consistent in his witnessing for Christ, and we must be also.  We cannot profess salvation by faith in Christ alone to one group and add anything to that requirement for salvation to another group.  The gospel will endure to the end of the world, and so must our faith in the gospel.  Verse fourteen adds, As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.  Paul said the church at Corinth acknowledged and rejoiced because of his witnessing to them and the world.  Paul also stated that he rejoiced in them, because they were all Christ's through faith.  Paul did not claim to be superior to other Christians, nor did he live to bring glory to himself.  We should be the same way today, rejoicing with other Christians, even if we never meet them personally.  We can never claim to be better than any other Christian but must always live for God's glory and not our own.  Verse fifteen continues, And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;  Paul said that his plan had been to return to Corinth.  Though Paul said that he wanted to do this so they might have a second benefit, I don't believe that this meant that Paul's coming to them would somehow make them better Christians.  I believe he meant that they would benefit from worshipping together in Christ and would edify each other.  Verse sixteen states, And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.  Paul had planned his journey, and he was to pass by them going to and coming from Macedonia.  Paul's plan was contingent on one thing, and that was the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  When we make plans for how and where we are going to witness, we need to first make sure that the Holy Spirit is leading us in our plans.  Verse seventeen adds, When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?  Paul asked if they thought that he had planned without sincerity, or with lightness.  Paul also asked if they thought he made plans based on the things of this world, or of the flesh.  He said that the gospel was not true at one time, or yea, and not true at another time, or nay.  Paul was always consistent in his presentation of the gospel, and we must be also.  Verse eighteen continues, But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.  Paul once more states that he was always consistent in preaching the gospel of salvation by faith.  Verse nineteen concludes, For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.  Paul stated that Jesus Himself was consistent in the truth of the gospel.  There is but one true gospel by which we must be saved.  Verse twenty declares, For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.  God's truth will never waiver and we can put our faith in it.  Verse twenty-one adds, Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;  Paul said that they were established and anointed by God to preach His word.  We today as followers of Christ are likewise established and anointed by God to witness for Christ in all that we do.  Verse twenty-two continues, Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.  We are sealed to God by the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-three states, Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.  Paul said that the reason he had yet to come to Corinth was to spare the believers there.  He was not going to come to them when he was upset with them.  Verse twenty-four adds, Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.  Paul said that he was not in power over the believers at Corinth, but that those with him and he himself were helpers in faith.  We cannot not go to other Christians with an attitude of superiority but must go to help them in their faith.  We all have joy when we stand by faith in Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:8

2 Corinthians 1:8 says, For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:  Though Paul proclaimed freedom and peace through the gospel, he did not want people to believe that this meant freedom and peace in this world at all times.  Paul wanted the followers of Christ to know that not only would they not always be at peace in the world, but that being true to Christ might bring persecution and suffering.  Paul said that in Asia they were pressed out measure and above their strength.  He also said that they feared for their lives.  Paul was not sharing this to bring honor to himself for his sufferings for Christ, but to call on his fellow believers to remain strong in their faith no matter what.  Verse nine adds, But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:  Paul said that under the sentence of death that they knew that their deliverance was not to come by their own strength, but through God Who raises the dead.  Like Paul, we cannot rely on our own strength for deliverance, and even if we lose our life for our faith in Christ, God will still raise us to everlasting life.  Verse ten continues, Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;  Paul said that Christ delivered us from death when we accepted Him as our Savior, that every day He delivers us from the power of death from sin when we follow Him as Lord, and that we can trust Him for the final deliverance into Heaven when He returns.  We are not just saved and left to live by our own power, but once we accept Christ as Savior and Lord, He is with us forever to deliver us from death under sin to life through faith in the grace of God.  Verse eleven states, Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.  Paul said the prayers for those with him and for him helped them in their ministry.  We need to be in prayer for our fellow believers today, especially those who are ministers of the gospel.  Never underestimate the power of prayer.  Verse twelve adds, For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.  Paul said that those with him and he himself rejoiced because they witnessed with the testimony of their conscience.  They were faithful in presenting the truth of the gospel to all those around them.  Paul recognized that this was only possible by the grace of God.  Even while being persecuted, Paul was rejoicing in the power of the gospel in his life.  We need to be the same way today, witnessing about the gospel in simplicity and Godly sincerity to all those we meet.

2 Corinthians 1:1

2 Corinthians 1:1 says, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:  Paul identified himself as the author of this letter and gave his qualification to write it.  He did not speak of any degrees he may have earned or any earthly titles he may have earned.  Paul simply identified himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.  This should be the way we view ourselves today, not necessarily as an apostle, but that whatever we are called to be in the church, the body of Christ, we are because of our faith in Christ.  Paul acknowledged Timothy as a brother.  As followers of Christ, we are all brothers and sisters through our faith in Him.  Paul said he was writing to the church of God at Corinth, and to all the saints in Achaia.  What we know is that Paul was writing to us as well.  Just as these truths applied to all believers in Corinth and Achaia, they apply to us today.  Verse two adds, Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul wished them grace and peace.  I believe that these to things are inclusive.  When we are saved by and living under the grace of God, we will be at peace in our lives, no matter the conditions under which we live.  When we are not living under the grace of God, then we can never be at peace in the world.  Verse three continues, Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;  Paul said that he blessed God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  This was not two Gods, but two manifestations of the One God.  Paul declared God to be the Father of all mercies and the God of all comfort.  Only through accepting the mercy of God through our faith in Christ as our Savior and Lord can we find comfort in this evil world.  When we have this comfort from God, nothing in this world can take it away.  Verse four states, Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.  Paul said that since God comforts His people in times of trouble that His people should be able to comfort others.  We are to be caring, compassionate people as followers of Christ.  Verse five adds, For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. I believe this means that Christ takes on the suffering for all sins for all time, and since this is true, then our consolation should abound because of our faith in our salvation through Christ.  Verse six continues, And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.  Paul was basically saying that whatever state he found himself in, whether afflicted or comforted, that everything he did was for the comfort and salvation of others.  We need the same attitude.  Whatever situation we find ourselves in, we must continue to witness to and comfort others through our faith in Christ.  Verse seven concludes, And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.  Paul declared his hope for the Christians at Corinth to be steadfast.  They were suffering persecution as was Paul, but he knew that their consolation through Christ would always be there.  When we are suffering due to our faith today, we simply have to rest in the consolation of our salvation.

As always, with Habakkuk as with any book of the Bible, we must look for what it says to us today as followers of Christ.  Though written to a particular group of people at a particular time, the truth revealed about God is everlasting.  The first thing we see is that Habakkuk was troubled by what he saw going on around him.  Not only were God's people subjected to the power of another nation, but many had adopted the worship practices of those they were subjected to.  We can never allow the fact that someone has power over us to cause us to turn away from God and worship any thing of this world.  If we see this happening, then we should be burdened. Habakkuk asked how long it would be before God answered him when he cried out to Him.  There may be times today when we don't immediately get the answer that we want to our prayers that we wonder if God is listening.  We can be certain that God always listens and answers the prayers of His followers.  We only need to remain faithful to our relationship to Him and accept the answer when it comes.  Often we are wanting God's endorsement of our plans instead of our looking for His direction, and when this doesn't happen we feel that God hasn't answered our prayers.  Habakkuk also declared God to be the One Who created and sustains the universe. There is nowhere we can go that God isn't there.  There is nothing we can offer God, except ourselves,  that isn't already His.  God can indeed move heaven and earth to accomplish His will.  We can also be certain that sin will be punished, if not in this life, then in the everlasting life to come.  As followers of Christ, our sins have already been washed away by His blood shed on the cross.  Also, we need to be alert to see God's work, even in a world that seems ruled by evil.

Habakkuk 3:12 says, Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.  When God becomes indignant toward people because of their sin, He does indeed march through that land in indignation and thresh the heathen, those who refuse to acknowledge God.  Matthew Henry says these past few verses referred to Israel, God's chosen people, going into the Promised Land.  For us, it means that God will defeat all enemies that stand between us and our promised land, or heaven.  Verse thirteen states, Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.  God does not just arbitrarily punish people, even the wiicked ones, but He does it for the salvation of His people, which is anyone who puts their faith in Christ and the salvation that He brings.  Verse fourteen says, Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.  When those in power begin to secretly devour, or misuse, the poor, especially those who are God's people, God takes notice.  We may think that we can get away with things done in secret, but nothing is secret from God.  Verse fifteen states, Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.  This is probably a reference to God's deliverance of Israel out of Egypt when He parted the Red Sea.  Some today would claim that this was really just a marsh land and not really a sea.  If this were true, then God would have drowned the Egyptian army in a marsh.  People, in their attempt to limit God's power, often make statements that when viewed honestly only serve to show His power.  Verse sixteen states, When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.  When God comes in judgment, we like Habakkuk should tremble in the presence of His power.  Fortunately for those who put their faith in Christ, though we may tremble in awe of God's power, we do not have to face the wrath of His judgment.  Verse seventeen says, Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
Habakkuk lists the failure of all the things that they relied on for sustaining life.  Then, in verse eighteen he declares, Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  After saying that if all were to fail in the world, even the sources of food, Habakkuk declared that he would still rejoice in the Lord and joy in the God of his salvation.  We must likewise rejoice in the Lord, because He is the only source of our salvation.  Our rejoicing in God cannot be based on the material things of the world, but must simply be due to His gift of salvation, which is everlasting.  Verse nineteen concludes, The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.  Habakkuk said that the Lord God was his strength and that God would lift him up to walk in high places.  This has not changed.  No matter what happens in this world, when God comes in judgment, He will lift up those who put their faith in Christ to walk in heavenly places.  Until then, we must simply rejoice in God, no matter what.

Habakkuk 3:5 says, Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.  This is a continuation of Habakkuk's prayer and a continued reflection about God's work in the past.  God has sent a pestilence on the people of Egypt to gain the freedom of Israel.  Even when Israel was enslaved, God had not forgotten them, but in His time, He delivered them.  They didn't leave Egypt with just their freedom, but they left with riches as well.  When God delivers a person from sin, He also delivers them into the riches of His kingdom.  Though we may never see riches in this world, we are joint heirs with Christ to all of God's blessings if we only put our faith in Christ.  Verse six states, He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.  God created the heavens and the earth, and He still has power over them.  They will move at His command.  If we are told that if we have even a mustard seed worth of faith we can move mountains, imagine what the One we put our faith in can do.  As Habakkuk stated, God's ways are everlasting.  Verse seven says, I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.  Habakkuk said that just as God had worked in the past to overthrow those who oppressed His people, he was praying for the same deliverance.  We know that God has delivered us from our sins through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, but if we find that we are suffering under the oppression of the world today, we need to ask God to strengthen us that we might remain faithful to Him.  In verse eight, Habakkuk asks,Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation?  The question was whether God was angry with the rivers and sea when He changed their course.  The answer was no, that God was just using His dominion over nature to deliver and sustain His people. Nature of itself has never done anything against God.  It is only the sins of people that cause nature to be out of balance.   We were to care for the earth, not abuse and misuse it.  Verse nine says, Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.  This is a continuation of remembering God's power and work in protecting Israel.  I believe if we are ever in a bad situation today, all we need to do is remember how God has worked in our lives in the past to have faith that He will work in our lives again today to deliver us from the power of sin.  Verse ten states, The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.  This is just another reminder that God controls all of the universe.  We read today of new planets or heavenly bodies being discovered, but they are not new or unknown to God.   Verse eleven states, The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.  God did indeed once stop the sun from setting to enable the Israelites to win a battle.  What we need to acknowledge is that God does indeed control the universe, and that victory over sin will always be His.

Habakkuk 3:1 says, A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.  Habakkuk stops his prophecy and offers a prayer to God.  Even if we realize the truth of the coming judgment of God, we need to continue to pray for the lost.  Verse two states, O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.  Habakkuk had spoken to God, and God to Habakkuk in chapter one, then God spoke to and through Habakkuk in chapter two, now Habakkuk was speaking to God.  Habakkuk had said he would watch for God's answer, and God had given it.  Habakkuk said he had heard God, but still asked God to remember His mercy on the people of Israel, His chosen people. Even as we acknowledge to coming judgment of God, we need to be in prayer for the lost, that they may come to know God's merciful gift of salvation.  Verse three declares, God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.  Habakkuk recalls when God first displayed His power and majesty to the people of Israel at the giving of the law to Moses.  God displayed His glory in the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and Habakkuk asked that He remember His people. We need to remember the works that God did in the past, especially our redemption through Christ, when we find ourselves in trouble today.  In verse four Habakkuk states, And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.  Habakkuk is still reflecting on the majesty of God shown to His people in the past.  When we are feeling that the world is overwhelming us today, we need to first turn to God in prayer.  As we do, we need to remember His work in our lives.  God never fails those who are truly His, and as followers of Christ we should be able to recall how He has been at work in our lives.

Habakkuk 2:15 says, Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!  Habakkuk continues to speak of the woe that is coming to those who take advantage of their neighbors.  Here he speaks of getting the neighbor drunk in order to take advantage of them.  We cannot prevent people from getting drunk, but we can make certain that we are not the ones to cause them to be that way and also make certain that we don't take advantage of them when they are.  Verse sixteen states, Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD’s right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.  Habakkuk said that those who caused others to be drunk, to profit from or enjoy their drunkenness, would someday suffer the same fate when confronted with God's judgment.  All pretence of power will be laid bare and become a shameful spewing instead of the glory that it was thought to bring.  Verse seventeen says, For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.  Though Babylon, which had imprisoned Israel, may have been proud of their military might, it was going to fail them.  There was a great violence coming and they would be very afraid..  No matter what we put our faith in today, in the coming judgment of God, those who are not His will be very afraid.  Verse eighteen asks, What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?  Just as military might would fail, so would man made gods, or idols.  Not only was their military to fail them, but their idols, their man made gods, were to especially fail them.  God asked, through Habakkuk, what was the profit in these idols for those who made them.  We today need to ask what the profit is in worshipping anything in the world and placing it above our relationship to God.  Verse nineteen warns, Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach!Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.  No matter how beautiful an idols may be, Habakkuk warned that there was no real power in them.  No matter how enticing an idol may be today, and it does not have to be a graven image, it is without saving power.  Anything that comes between God and us becomes an idol to us.  Verse twenty declares, But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.  No matter how good or bad things may be in our lives, we need to acknowledge that God is in charge.  We can keep silent in our complaints, but we should be bold in our witnessing for God.

Habakkuk 2:9 says, Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!  Habakkuk begins to pronounce the woe of God on them.  Though Habakkuk was speaking to a particular group of people at that time, the message is for all people who have come since.  Habakkuk warned against the evil of covetousness.  We often think of coveting as wanting something that someone has that is better than what we have.  I believe that this applies to wanting anything that belongs someone else, even those that have less than we do.  Habakkuk warned those who were rich against taking from those who were poor in order to increase their own wealth.  Verse ten says, Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.  Habakkuk said that instead of bringing honor to themselves, that those who became rich by mistreating others brought shame on their house, or family name.  What we have to realize is that this has not changed.  God's expectations of His people is always the same.  Verse eleven says, For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.  Habakkuk said that the injustice was so great that even the stones in the walls would cry out.  Those who built their houses from the labor and sufferings of others might feel safe, but Habakkuk said creation itself would witness against them.  Verse twelve continues, Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!  I believe that Habakkuk was saying that might does not make right.  When houses or cities or even countries are built on iniquity, or outside of God's will, they will never last.  When God's judgment does come, all that is built outside His will shall be destroyed.  Verse thirteen asks, Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity? This is a warning that those things gained through injustice will prove to be worth nothing.  They will even tire those out who gain them.  We know that those who live for the riches of the world will never be satisfied.  Verse fourteen declares, For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.  Habakkuk stated that judgment was coming and that afterwards the world would be filled with the knowledge of God, like the waters that cover the sea.  Though this happened in a limited extent to Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom, we are still awaiting the full implementation of this prophecy, which will occur at Christ's return to claim His people.

Habakkuk 2:1 says, I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. Habakkuk said that he would stand upon his watch and set upon his tower to see what God would do.  We today need to be just as vigilant and alert to see the work of God in the world.  We cannot become impatient, because God will act in His own time.  We cannot become indifferent, or we may fail to see God working at all.  Verse two states, And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.  God answered Habakkuk and gave him a task.  In verse sixteen of chapter one, Habakkuk had asked if sinful people would always rule cruelly over just people.  As Habakkuk said he would wait and watch alertly, God begin to give him the answer.  When God answers us today, we need to be ready to do what He asks us to do.  Verse three says, For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.  God told Habakkuk to be patient, that the vision he was to see was not going to happen immediately.  Still, Habakkuk could put his faith in it happening.  We today need to simply live secure in the knowledge that God will bring the final judgment on sin at His appointed time.  Verse four declares, Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.  God said that those who lived by self pride, not acknowledging God, were not upright.  No matter how exalted a person may feel themself to be in the world if they do not acknowledge and follow God, the will never be upright in God's judgment.  The second part of the verse states that the just shall live by his faith.  This is not faith in ourselves, but faith in God.  Verse five continues God's pronouncement stating, Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:  This verse speaks of the overpowering greed of many people who only look to themselves for purpose in life.  All they are concerned with is their own happiness.  Verse six states, Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!  When people begin to increase their wealth from the misuse of others, God's people should cry out against them, yet too often we hold them up in honor.  Matthew Henry says that gold and silver are but colored earth.  In God's eyes, silver and gold are as valuable as clay.  Habakkuk said we should question how long the things gained by dishonest or greed driven means would last.  Verse seven asks, Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?  When people put their faith in their wealth, especially that obtained at the cost of others, and deny God's will for and power over their lives, then their riches are temporary.  Someone bigger and more powerful will eventually take away what they have, and if not in this life, then God will strip away all things that are not gained from following His will.  Verse eight says, Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.  Habakkuk warned of God's pronouncement of judgment because of their actions.  People may live long lives built on greed, but one day God's judgment is coming, and those things gained by mistreating others will be gone.

Habakkuk 1:12 says, Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.  Habakkuk delivered God's message to His people, then He addressed God with his own questions.  First, Habakkuk asked if God was not the eternal God.  Even if God allows evil to triumph for a time, especially when His people have ceased to be obedient to His will, He is no less the only true, eternal God.  Then, Habakkuk pronounced God as his God.  If we are to understand God at all, we must know Him personally as our God.  Until we come to God through faith in Christ as our Savior and Lord, we can never understood the ways of God.  Then Habakkuk asked if God had ordained the Chaldeans for judgment and correction.  God's desire is never to punish, but to correct everyone, especially those who are His people.  Verse thirteen says, Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?  Habakkuk seems to be praising God while at the same time questioning Him.  He proclaims God to be too holy to look on evil and iniquity.  Then, Habakkuk asks how God can hold His tongue when the wicked devour those who are more righteous than them.  We need to acknowledge that righteousness comes from God and that the standard is not whether we are more righteous than someone else, but whether we are true to our relationship to God.  We hear a lot today about God's people suffering at the hands of those who deny God, but we must remember that this suffering is but temporary.  Verse fourteen states, And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?  God said that people were looked on as of no more value than the fish of the sea and as the creeping things that have no ruler.  Verse fifteen continues, They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.  People are caught in the snare of sin, and those in power rejoice.  People today often rejoice at the failings of others, especially those who are God's people, or at least profess to be.  It is possible for those who follow Christ to fall into sin, but they must repent and ask for forgiveness when they do, otherwise the lost of the world will have reason to rejoice. Verse sixteen concludes, Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.  After snaring people in the nets of sin, those who snare them then worship the net.  When people today are caught up in sin and are still living the good life, they worship many different idols claiming that they brought them success.  The verse seventeen asks, Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?  Habakkuk asked if those who were evil would be allowed to continue in power.  We know the answer is no.  There was coming a day of judgment then, and there is coming a day of judgment one day when all evil acts will be judged.  Our only hope for forgiveness comes through our relationship to Christ.

Habakkuk 1:1 says, The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.  Matthew Henry places the time of Habakkuk's prophesies during the reign of Manasseh, one of the most evil of Israel's kings.  Though they were God's people by His calling them into a covenant relationship, they were not His in action, especially in their leadership.  This was a common situation in the Old Testament world, and we as followers of Christ must insure that it doesn't happen in our lives.  Habakkuk said that what he saw was a burden to him.  When we see evil and injustice occurring in the world today, it should be a burden to us if we are following God's will.  Verse two says, O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!  Habakkuk felt that God was not listening when he cried out to Him.  This too is a common feeling of God's prophets.  When nothing happens immediately, they question whether God is listening or not.  We today may have prayed about something and feel that God is not listening, but we can be certain that when we as His followers speak to Him, He always hears and answers.  The answer may not come immediately, and if it is not what we want it to be we may not acknowledge it, but God's answer will come.  Verse three asks, Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.  Habakkuk wanted to know why all he saw was iniquity.   This sounds a lot like what goes on in much of the world today.  We don't even have to look to the rest of the world, because it is happening even here, where we call ourselves a Christian nation.  Verse four states, Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.  Habakkuk said that there was no fair judgment and that the wicked had power over the righteous.  Even though this may have been true, God still had power over everyone and everything.  Just because we may see mostly evil when we look at the world today, we need to remember that God has promised His people everlasting security.  Verse five declares, Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.  In this verse, God begins His answer to Habakkuk.  God tells the heathen, those who are not a part of His kingdom, to behold the work that He was about to do against Judah, or His people.  When we who call ourselves God's people allow evil and injustice to become the norm of our lives, then we should not be surprised when God allows us to suffer defeat.  Verse six states, For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs.  God told Judah who was going to defeat them.  Again, we can debate whether God empowered the Chaldeans or simply removed His protective hand from His people.  I believe He removed His protection knowing what would happen without it.  When God removes His protection from someone due to their disobedience, then they are powerless against the forces of the world.  Verse seven says, They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.  Then verse eight continues, Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.  Habakkuk speaking God's word told the people how powerful and terrible the Chaldeans were.  When we are outside God's will and protection, then we face some powerful and terrible enemies with only our own strength to rely on.  Verse nine says, They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.  Continuing in verse ten, And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.  Verse eleven concludes, Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.  Without God's protection, the people of Israel were helpless, and so are we as followers of Christ today.  In their pride and victory, the Chaldeans would even give credit to their god.

As we look at the lessons learned from Nahum, the first is that just because one generation repents and turns to God doesn't mean that the coming generations are secure in their relationship to God.  The city of Nineveh had escaped destruction earlier because the people had honestly repented and turned to God, but the coming generations did not continue to follow God.  We may call ourselves a Christian nation today, but being a Christian nation cannot be based on how preceding generations believed and lived in relationship to God.  Unless the majority of the current generation are followers of Christ, then we cannot be a true Christian nation.  Next, though Nineveh was still a thriving city, their days of wealth and power were soon to end. We today may still be a rich and powerful nation, but unless we are living by God's standards, we can be certain that this will not last.  Even if we are still a rich and powerful nation when Christ returns, those things attained outside of God's will can never last.  Next we see that those who are called God's people cannot find security outside of following His will, and those who do not claim to be God's people certainly cannot..  Nineveh felt secure in their alliances, but they found out that it was a false security.  We today may feel secure in our national strength and alliances, but if we are not following God's will, then we also have a false security.  We also see that allowing the worship of idols led to God destroying not only those who worshipped them, but also the idols themselves.  The things that people worship instead of God today will ultimately be totally destroyed.

Nahum 3:11 says, Thou also shalt be drunken: thou shalt be hid, thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy.  Nineveh was to be reduced to a state of drunkenness.  Those who are drunk cannot be expected to act rationally. They would look for a place to hide in from their enemies, but none would be found.  When we make God our enemy through sin, we are as illogical as a drunk, and there is no place to hide from His judgment.  Verse twelve says,  All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the first ripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.  God said that all their strongholds would be devoured by others.  They may have been rich and powerful, but others would take all that away.  Verse thirteen states,
Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy bars.  At the risk of being called sexist, this says that the men of Nineveh would be as weak as women and all their defences would be destroyed.  Verse fourteen advises, Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds: go into clay, and tread the morter, make strong the brickkiln.  Nahum's prophecy from God was that the people of Nineveh prepare for a siege.  When we are in defiance against God, we may lay up stores to see us through life, but they will ultimately be destroyed.  Verse fifteen states, There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts.  This is a continuation of the warning of the coming total destruction of Nineveh.  Verse sixteen states, Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and flieth away.  Though Nineveh was exceedingly rich, their riches would soon be spoiled and fly away.  Anything we gain outside the will of God will be the same.  No matter how much we accumulate in this world, it will eventually pass away.  Only those things done for God will last.  Verse seventeen states, Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy captains as the great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges in the cold day, but when the sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where they are.  The rulers and military leaders were going to flee when trouble came.  They thought of themselves as powerful men, but Nahum said God saw them as grasshoppers.  That is the total of our strength before God.  Verse eighteen says, Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them.  God said that those who were supposed to protect and care for the people were asleep.  They felt secure in their own power and were not prepared for the coming destruction.  People may be asleep in their sinful nature and feeling secure today, but God has already sent His warning that judgment is coming.  Verse nineteen concludes, There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually?  Nahum concludes God's prediction of the coming destruction saying that there was no healing for them.  When someone rejects God's gift of salvation there is no healing for them.  Though God is patient in love, He will not wait forever for a person to accept His gift of salvation.

Nahum 3:1 says, Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;   Nahum begins to pronounce God's reasons for His judgment against Nineveh.  The city was full of lies, robbery, and violence.  That sounds like many cities that we know of today.  If God pronounced judgment on Nineveh, then we should not be surprised if He pronounces judgment on cities, or countries, today.  Still, the ultimate destruction will not come until the return of Christ.  Verse two says, The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots.  The city of Nineveh had relied on their military might to suppress their people.  The rulers had no concern for those they ruled over but only wanted what would enrich themselves.  When a country's rulers begin to favor the rich at the expense of the poor, I believe that God still warns that woe is coming to them.  Verse three states, The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses: I believe that this was just a continuation of a list of the ways that those in power abused those that they were to rule.  God expects rulers to govern in fairness and concern for even the poorest and weakest of citizens.  Verse four says, Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.  The people of Nineveh were devoted to witchcraft and led other people to follow witchcraft.  Whether it is witchcraft or idolatry, God will ultimately destroy both and those who follow these practices will be punished.  Even if they are successful during their whole life, they will be separated forever from God in the coming judgment.  Verse five says, Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.  God declared Himself to be against Nineveh and that He would expose their shame.  When God is against a nation or a person, He will eventually reveal their shame, their sinful nature, to the world.  Verse six says, And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock.  This is just a continuation of how low Nineveh would become in the eyes of those around them.  They were proud of their wealth and finery, but they were to be reduced to a vile gazing stock.  So it is with all sin driven life.  One day, God will reveal the true nature of sinful people, those who have refused to acknowledge Christ as Savior and Lord.  Verse seven says, And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?  The destruction of Nineveh was to be so terrible that everyone would flee when they saw what had happened to it.  No one would mourn nor offer comfort to them.  When God sends His judgment on sin, there is no reason to mourn and no comfort can be found except for the forgiveness and comfort available through Christ.  Verse eight states, Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea?  Nahum was referring to another city that had felt secure in the world.  Verse nine says, Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers.  This city thought themselves to be safe and secure because of their alliance with other countries.  We may feel that we have strength in numbers when we align ourselves against God, but that will never be the case.  Verse ten states, Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.  When we rely on anyone or anything for our strength other than our relationship to God, we will be carried away captive by sin.

Nahum 2:8 says, But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none shall look back.  Nahum said that Nineveh of old had been like a pool of water, always replenishing itself.  Now, instead of relying on that refreshing pool and defending it, they would flee from the army coming to defeat them.  They would be called on to stand, but no one would even look back from their flight.  People today may have what they think is an inexhaustible supply of wealth and power, but when God comes in judgment, all they will think of is to flee from His sight.  None will be able to stand and fight.  Verse nine states, Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.  All the wealth that Nineveh had and the things she prided herself on were going to be taken away.  All the things that we pride ourselves on will be taken away when we stand before God, because it all belonged to Him from the beginning.  All we can offer to God is ourselves.  Verse ten says, She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.  From a rich and powerful city, Nineveh would we empty and void.  Nineveh's leaders and riches would be gone.   Verse eleven says, Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feedingplace of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion’s whelp, and none made them afraid?  Then verse twelve continues, The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.  The rulers of Nineveh were compared to lions, who had destroyed anything in their way and claimed anything they wanted as their own.  The question in verse eleven was where were they now that God was pronouncing judgment on them.  They would no longer have these dwelling places and strongholds.  Verse thirteen declares, Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.  God told them that their destruction would be complete.  The people of Nineveh had avoided destruction before by turning briefly to God, but they had soon fallen back into their old ways.  If people are not totally dedicated to God, then they will soon fall back into their old sinful nature.  We are forever saved by Christ, but that does not mean that all our descendants nor all those around us are, which is why we must continually proclaim the gospel.

Nahum 2:1 says, He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.  Nahum was now speaking to the people of Nineveh.  The people of Nineveh had turned away from God and started to rely on their own military power and false God's, but Nahum warned them that their destruction was coming.  No matter how powerful a country, or a person, may feel, when outside of God's will, destruction is coming.  Even if a country, or a person, remains powerful when defying God until the return of Christ, their destruction is still certain at that time.  Verse two says, For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.  The Assyrians had taken away the sovereignty of God's people and led them to bring the worship of idols into their religious ceremonies.  Now, if God's people had been His by faith and not simply in name, we know this could not occur.  Today, if we are followers of Christ by faith and not simply by words, the idolatry of the world will not creep into our worship of God, either individually or collectively.  The people of Nineveh felt indestructible, but God was sending His judgment on them.  Verse three says, The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.  I believe that Nahum was simply warning the people of Nineveh that their defeat was going to be total.  God had spared them when Jonah had come proclaiming their destruction because they had repented and turned to God.  Their worship of God did not last long, and now His judgment was coming.  As followers of Christ, we need to ensure that His message continues to go out to the world.  Those who come after us cannot be saved by our faith.  Verse four states, The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.  This is a continuation of Nahum's warning of the destruction that was coming.  Their military power was not going to save Nineveh.  Our personal strength, no matter how much we may feel that it is, will never save us from the power of sin.  Only our faith in and obedience to God can do so.  Verse five says, He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.  The armies, probably of Nebuchadnezzar, would drive the army of Nineveh away.  They would quickly take the walls and lay siege to the city.  No matter what defences we may think we have when we stand in opposition to God, He will easily overcome them.  Verse six says, The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.  The people of Nineveh thought that since they were a large and powerful city that they were safe, but all their defences would soon be destroyed and their capital, the seat of their authority, dissolved.  The same thing will ultimately happen to everyone that stands against God.  No matter how powerful they feel they are, the very seat of their power will be dissolved, or utterly destroyed.  Verse seven says, And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.  Matthew Henry says this refers to the queen being led away captive.  She would basically be led through the streets to show her weakness.  When God defeats those that stand against Him all their weaknesses will be put on display.  We cannot hide our sins from God, no matter how rich and powerful we may think we are.

Nahum 1:9 says, What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.  This was likely a prophecy to the Assyrians and certainly to Nineveh, but it applies just as well to any one.  What can we imagine against God that is going to give us any power over Him.  People may believe that God is powerless in the world, but they confuse His patient grace with an inability to act.  Verse ten says, For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.  Though the Assyrians felt they were a great power in the world and denied the existence and power of God, they would be like drunks caught in thorns before God's judgment.  Verse eleven says, There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counseller.  This likely referred to  Sennacherib, who spoke blasphemy against God.  He felt that his power was greater than that of God, and taught others to believe that God was powerless if He even existed.  There are countries in the world today that teach that there is no God and who put their faith in their own power.  They will ultimately be just as tangled up in their own lies and face God in His wrath and not His mercy.  Verse twelve says, Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.  Though referring immediately to those who had oppressed God's people in that day, we can take comfort in the fact that those who oppress God's people today will ultimately be defeated.  When we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord then God will afflict us no more.  Verse thirteen states, For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.  God was going to remove the bond of captivity from His people.  When Christ came into the world, this promise was completely fulfilled.  Until we come to God through Christ the bond of sin will never be broken.  Verse fourteen says, And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.  Though God's people were going to be set free, Sennacherib and those in power were going to be destroyed completely.  They had brought idolatry into the worship of God's people.  When we accept Christ, all of the idols of our life are destroyed.  If we allow them to come back into our lives, or our worship of God, then we become vile in God's eyes.  Though through our faith in Christ we are still God's children forever, the things that we do that are not guided by God will be destroyed.  Verse fifteen states, Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.  Nahum stated that upon the mountains were the feet of the One Who brought good tidings.  I believe this is a reference to the coming of Christ.  Judah was told to keep their feasts and perform their vows because the wicked would no longer pass through.  This will only be true when Christ returns for His people, but in the meantime we are to remain faithful to Him.  The power of sin and death over us, as followers of Christ, has been utterly cut off.

Nahum 1:1 says, The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.  We have heard of Nineveh once before being a burden to God.  About a hundred years before Jonah had gone to Nineveh reluctantly to prophecy their doom due to their evil and sin filled nature.  Though they had repented at that time, they had returned to their old ways.  Though their repentance was real, they evidently did not ground themselves in following and teach God's word.  When we repent and turn to God today, we must become grounded in His will and proclaim His gospel.  Matthew Henry says the name Nahum means comforter, and states that all God's prophets came to bring ultimate comfort to those who are His people and who follow His will.  Verse two says, God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.  God expects those who claim to be His to follow His will.  Nahum says that God is a jealous God.  We often think of jealousy as a negative thing, but here it means that God wants those who claim to be His to be faithful to Him because it is what is best for them.  God's wrath is reserved for those who refuse to accept His mercy. I do not believe that we can conclude that God is simply waiting for someone to fall out of His will so He can show His wrath to them.  As with Ninevah, God had already shown His mercy to them and when they returned to their evil nature, they were to experience God's wrath.  We cannot allow sin to enter into our lives as followers of Christ and expect it not to bring consequences.  Verse three says, The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.  God is slow to anger, but sin will be punished ultimately.  We can either accept Christ Who bore our punishment for us, or we can suffer the penalty ourselves.  Though God has power over the universe, He still chooses to reach out to people with love and forgiveness.  Verse four says, He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.  When God chooses, He can dry up the land.  He does not do this arbitrarily, but as a way to bring people from sinful actions to His will.  Verse five says, The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.  This is a continuation of proclaiming God's power.  Still, with all the power in His hands, God is slow to deal with people out of anger.  Verse six asks, Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.  The answer to the question is that their is no one who can stand before God in His anger.  Fortunately, we can stand before God in His gracious forgiveness through Christ.  Verse seven says, The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.  As followers of Christ, we can withstand the trials and tribulations of this world because God is our fortress.  There will never be a time that we cannot trust God if we are His followers.  Verse eight says, But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.  Just as those who put their faith in God can be assured of their everlasting security, those who refuse to accept God's gift of salvation can be sure of their destruction.  The choice is always up to each individual.

We will now look at some of the lessons that we learn from Micah.  The first thing we have to acknowledge as always is that this is not just a book of history, but the lessons still apply today.  The Bible is the guide book for God's people for all time.  That said, we can then state that just saying we are God's people is not enough to bring God's redemption and protection.  We must live by faith in God and not go our own way proclaiming to be His while living by some other standard.  In Micah's day, those who were called God's people were living in sin and idolatry, looking to the powers of the world for protection.  There are those people today who profess to be Christians but live in the same manner as the rest of the world.  As God's people, we are called to a higher standard.  Like God's chosen people in Micah's day, we are called to proclaim God to the world as we serve Him.  We cannot allow our relationship to God to allow us to feel that we are somehow superior to other people, deserving of God's redemption and protection because of the family we are born in to or because of any righteousness of our own.  We also know that those who deny the very existence of God will one day encounter Him.  Unfortunately for them, it will be an encounter with God without the intervention of Christ on their part.  We also know that God's word is not just for a particular group of people at a particular time, but that it is recorded so that we can learn from it today.  We also see that hypocrisy only leads to destruction.  If we allow idols, which is really anything that we place between God and us, to enter our lives as God's people, then we cannot effectively serve God.  One day, even though we are saved, those things that come between God and us will be destroyed.