Hidden Treasure

Our lesson this week focused on the "Hidden Treasure" and 2 Corinthians 4. The treasure is the soul-saving and life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. We are challenged not to hide the treasure but to share it despite hardships, doubts, and fears within and around us.

What if no one was willing to share with you the gospel of Jesus Christ?

We are reminded of the "heart " of the apostle Paul for souls, the "hardships" he endured while passionately devoted to spreading the gospel, and the "hope" he cherished knowing there is a "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor. 4:17). In light of eternity, the hardships of this life is but a fleeting moment of time. Someday, we will see our blessed Savior in all His splendid radiant glory.

Everyday people pass us by who do not know the Lord and are on their way to a Christ-less eternity. Who will tell them of the good news of the gospel? Will you go? (Matthew 28:19).

Give Me Liberty!

According to our key verse for this week, 2 Corinthians 3:17, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty,” we are set free from the law of sin and death by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and made alive through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Various spiritual nuggets we can gather from our lesson this week in 2 Corinthians 3 include:

1. The testimony of changed lives is the strongest evidence of any ministry (verse 3).
2. Our sufficiency can only be found in Christ (verse 5). Spurgeon writes, ““Our sufficiency is of God; let us practically enjoy this truth. We are poor, leaking vessels, and the only way for us to keep full is to put our pitcher under the perpetual flow of boundless grace. Then, despite its leakage, the cup will always be full to the brim.”
3. In Christ there is freedom from the law (verse 17).
4. With the New Covenant (“testament” or “Gospel of Christ”) – verse 18:
1. All Believers can come before God;
2. All Believers can speak directly to God;
3. By spending time in God’s presence we are being changed from glory to glory, from one stage of glory to another; and
4. The better we get to know Him, the closer we resemble Him.

Praise God we have complete and direct access to all the resources of heaven to live holy, righteous, confident and spiritually successful lives. We are at liberty to do God's will and live as we ought because of His abounding grace.

Freedom that Truly Liberates

The 4th of July has always been a special day for me since I became a naturalized US citizen 20 years ago as a freshman in college. My family and I fled the ravages of the Vietnam War 33 years ago. Having to flee the onslaught of communism, I have a tremendous appreciation for the freedom and liberty of my adopted country.

I am a living testimony to the greatness of our God and the blessings He bestowed upon our land. With vast opportunities to succeed through hard work, dedication, and God's abounding grace, I have been wonderfully blessed. Growing up without an earthly father, facing financial as well as language and culture barriers, by God's grace I am enjoying the fruits of freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Above all, I have the only freedom that really matters - being set free from the bondage of sin through Jesus Christ.

Even though we were few in numbers tonight in our Wednesday evening Bible study and prayer time, we had a blessed time in God's Word. Matthew 18:20 reminds us of Jesus' words, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Truly, Christ was in our midst tonight. I appreciate the folks who made an effort to gather in God's house when there were other Independence Day festivities to enjoy.

We were challenged to define and apply the principle of true freedom. True freedom is the acceptance of God's sovereignty in our lives to produce spiritual fruits. When we totally surrender to God Almighty, we are free from uncertainties, fears, and doubts. God is in control and we simply need to trust Him and be faithful in all things. We can dare to dream and accomplish great things for the glory of God. He can then use us in marvelous ways to impact our world.

To be free from the bondage of sin, live victoriously, and bear spiritual fruits, we must first and foremost accept Christ as Lord and Savior, know God through His Word, die daily to sin, submit continuously to His will, vigilantly maintain a pure heart, and determine to serve the Lord all our days.

True freedom is found only in submitting to Christ. Political, economic, or religious freedom is temporal; however, spiritual freedom is eternal and is not contingent on our circumstances - only on the condition of our heart.

Lesson 2: Sincerely Yours

Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 1:12 - 2:17.

Key Verse: "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" (2 Cor. 2:17).

Summary: Some members of the church at Corinth disputed Paul's claim to be an apostle. We examined Paul's claim to sincerely be an apostle of Jesus Christ on behalf of the Corinthian believers.

Theme: A godly life is the best answer to criticism.

Challenge to believers: Live sincerely in the sight of God. Say what you mean and mean what you say.

To ensure that you are living in God's eyes and not in the eyes of others:

1. Ask God to examine your heart
2. Deal with sins of the heart
3. Patiently endure criticism
4. Do not seek man's opinion as a stamp of approval

The Apostle Paul dealt with criticism and accusations leveled at his character with patience, wisdom, confidence and love. His patience and wisdom was in the sufficiency and trustworthiness of God's Word. His confidence was in the faithfulness of God's abounding grace through Jesus Christ. His love was for the Corinthian church and the ministry of God's Word in their lives.

Is the Word of God enough for you? Is His grace sufficient for you?

Hold eternity's view before your eyes.