II Corinthians through Colossians

Today is Wednesday.  I love Wednesday's too because we get to meet tonight as a Church of people who love Jesus Christ.  It is a time of prayer, edification, and instruction.  I so love it! I'm the last few days of finishing up reading through the Bible for the first time this year.  It takes me two months to read through the Bible and February is missing a few days, so I have to read some extra a few days.  Here are some thoughts to share: 1) PAUL--AN APOSTLE  In 2 Corinthians 12:12  "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds."   Galatians 1:1 says:  "Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father; who raised him up from the dead;)"  Then Paul says in: Galatians 1:11-12  "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.  12  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."   Galatians 1:16-17  "To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:  17  Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus."  Now, we know that Paul is an Apostle, but what we don't know is how come?  What made him one?  Well, an apostle is one who sat at the feet of Jesus and was taught the Gospel and the Word of God.  Keep in mind, they had no Bible.  So Paul was chosen by Jesus (vs. 15), trained by Jesus (vs. 12), and made an apostle (vs. 17).  Now the apostles trained with Jesus for just over three years.  How long did Paul stay away from Jerusalem?  Galatians 1:18  "Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days."  This is needful, because Paul wrote half of the New Testament and what he received, he had to receive of Jesus Christ, not of men.  We have been given by Paul what was given him by Jesus Christ!! 2) KNOWN OR KNOWN OF?  Paul says in Gal. 4:9 "But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are know of God, ..."  We are all known of God, but do we know God?  That is the question.  We all know God loves us, but do we love Him in return?  That is the question.  Christians are taking great liberties because God loves them unconditionally, but is that the response of someone who loves God?  And, just because God loves you, don't think He won't take you to the woodshed and woop up on us when we live in constant disobedience.  To know God is the key.  Paul says: Philippians 3:10  "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;" 3) HERE IS THE FOUNDATION OF TRUTH- Ephesians 4:11-12  "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:"  This is how Jesus passed down truth and authority to the local Church.  "the pillar and ground of the truth".  Jesus is the foundation, then the apostles, and then prophets were used as well, then evangelist who spread the truth from church to church, then pastors and teachers who shepherded a flock of people.  Now all of this was set in place, before we even had the Word of God complete.  Now, the Word is in Place, so no more apostles are needed for the word came by them from Christ.  Prophets are not needed in the sense of sharing new revelation, but men can share the revelation and that is called prophesying. ( I Corinthians 14 tells us all about this.)  So your Pastor, was taught by Pastors, who were taught by Pastors, who were taught by Pastors...... who were taught by Apostles, who were taught by Jesus Christ!  And now, with God's Word, we can look directly at what Jesus Christ taught the Apostles, because they were led by the Holy Spirit, to write it down! Well, I could keep on writing, but I'm out of time.  May God bless you today. Pastor Mike Mutchler