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Q2. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) Since Satan has blinded people's eyes to the truth, is there any hope for them? What strategies must we use to overcome spiritual blindness? How many people are likely to find Christ without intercessory prayer? http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1087 It is very evident that Satan is alive and very active in the world today as he was in the time of Paul and this letter to the church at Corinth. We continue to be in spiritual warfare with Satan winning the battle on a large scale as the eyes of the non-believers remain shut. With this spiritual blindness by God along with the command that we are to declare the truth, we must continue to seek strength for these days from the LORD to engage in the battle for the truth in a world all messed up. We are not to be ashamed of the Gospel but with boldness stand on the Promises of Christ our Savior. We are also to engage in a consistent manner under all circumstances pray to God the Father through the LORD Jesus Christ. When we became believers we were anointed with the presence of His Spirit in our souls. It is upon that very Spirit on Whom we lean in intercessory prayer for the unbelievers. This is the best and most beneficial tool we have that will bring hope and certainly salvation to those who do not believe. Then their hard hearts against the Gospel will be opened and they will finally see the Truth and will be freed from that spiritual blindness. I believe that no non-believer will come to know Christ without His people praying for their lost souls.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 4:1-2) How do questionable ethics and ministry practices hurt the work of Christ? What is Paul's alternative in verse 2b? http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1086 If we proclaim that we are Christians, that is to say, that we are followers of the LORD Jesus and following Him means that we also represent Him in what we do, say, and proclaim, then if we do the opposite, then our ethics are jeopardized and the “world” that closely watches for us to “mess” up has another valid point against us. I agree it is shameful, deceptive and certainly distorts The Message. Paul suggests that in order for the Word to not get diluted before the world that we are to be true and valid spokespersons for and representatives of the LORD.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 3:18) Why is character change directly related to time deliberately spent in God's presence? What is the theological word for the process of maturing in Christ? Have you noticed a change in the "degree of glory" you're experiencing now compared to a few years ago? Why or why not? http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1085 As we look into a mirror, the image in the mirror takes on the same as the original one; therefore, as we continue in our closeness with the LORD our image changes more and more into His likeness. As we see and experience the glory of God through the ministry of His Spirit, we are being transformed or changed or “sanctified” into the same image of God. At the Fall, that image was distorted and Moses was used to help the people gain the change through the Law. And now in the risen Christ and His Spirit we receive the same but not under the Law but in direct relationship with Him. The “image of God” includes every way in which we can be like Him: moral character, true knowledge and wisdom, God-given abilities, dominion over creation couple with our dependence on Him as Creator and giver of all things. We therefore “…with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the LORD, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the LORD who is the Spirit…” 2 Corinthians 3.18 ESV

Q3. (2 Corinthians 3:18) Moses glowed by spending time with God on Mt. Sinai, in his tent of meeting, and in the Tabernacle. How can we get a similar glow of the Spirit in our lives? In what way is meditating on Scripture beholding God? Is the low plane of Christianity in our day related to the time we spend in communion with the Lord? What is God leading you to do to increase your glow? http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1084 As stated in the previous question, the Christian can approach the LORD directly because in Christ and His Spirit, the veil has been broken and, if we choose to worship the LORD in Spirit and Truth, we are “in” His presence and therefore have the same glow from being in His presence as did Moses. By true worship, prayer, study of the Word, being in direct communion with the LORD, the glow will increase as we see His glory in our lives and affecting us deep down in our heart and soul.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 3:16-17) Why is the Holy Spirit essential to help people see truth clearly and be able to grasp it? What enables people to come to Christ at all? What kind of freedom does the Spirit give us when we become Christians? http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1083 As far as the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we know that Moses was able to enter into God’s presence without a veil and that, because of salvation and the death/resurrection of Jesus, we too when turning to the LORD in faith God provides through His Spirit residing in us the veil that separated us from God brought about by hardened hearts is removed and we are in the presence of God. So the Christ and the Spirit work conjointly in the Christian’s experience – the LORD comes to us through the ministry of the Spirit – this new covenant is parallel to Moses’ experience of the LORD under the old covenant in that the Spirit in us sets us free from the veil hard-heartedness. This freedom is all encompassing and includes freedom from condemnation, guilt, sin, death, the old covenant, blindness to the gospel. Another freedom is we are given direct access to the loving presence of God.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 3:7-11) Why did Moses' face glow? Why did he cover it when he was out with the people? Why didn't more people's face glow in Moses' time? What's the difference between the spread of God's glory in Moses' time when compared to our own time? http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1082 Pure and simple, Moses was in the presence of God and “saw” God face to face and that is why his face shone brightly and radiantly/glowed. The people’s face did not glow because they did not come into the face-to-face view of the Almighty. Moses covered his face with a veil because the brightness was so blinding bright to the eyes of the people. God may have been present in the midst of the people but they did not actually see His face and therefore the radiant glow was not available to them. To us today, who are believers and have accepted the LORD Jesus as our Savior, we have God’s Holy Spirit resident in our hearts and there whene we feel we are in the presence of God in having that special moment with the LORD, our faces shine with a similar brilliancy/joyfulness as Moses. So in essence, the glory of God is ours today because we have His Spirit in us. Praises to God for His wonderful and perfect plans for our good!

Q4. (2 Corinthians 3:6a) Why is a Christian's spiritual health so closely related to his or her involvement in ministry? What are the consequences of dropping out of church --for the believer? For Christ's Kingdom? http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1081 Because the “New” Covenant came due to Jesus shedding His blood for the forgiveness of our sins, we have the promise of eternal life and the presence of the Holy Spirit of Christ forever and ever. By such possession, we have been equipped to serve Jesus and because of our faith and the presence of the Holy Spirit in us, we have the ability to serve the LORD. The more we serve, our faith in Him increases and thus our competency to be a better minister of/for the LORD increases and improves. Anytime we slack off and take a rest from serving the LORD, our effectiveness as a minister of the team diminishes and negatively affects our influence on the world in bringing others close and closer to the LORD.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 3:4-6) What is the balance between the need for training in ministry (either in the local church or in schools) and personal submission to the Spirit of God? Are you able to "listen to the Spirit's voice" in your own life? Why would this ability be so important in being a competent minister? http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1080 First of all, a person should have been called by God and sanctioned by the Holy Spirit in the person’s heart that this is indeed His call and will. If that has occurred, then the person will confident that he has been called to ministry. With fruits of the Spirit and gifts God has bestowed on the person and the anointment of the Holy Spirit, plus formal training and the certification of the church, the person would be confident to work in His ministry to nurture and encourage others toward more maturity in their walk with the LORD and/or helping someone find this relationship with the LORD for the very first time. The combination of the spiritual combined with the formal training, the person would have a “dynamic work ethic” for the LORD. This of course is pre-empted by the person making a personal commitment to the LORD for the above and the willingness to partner with the LORD for effective ministry for Him by allowing God to working in them by the involvement of the Holy Spirit.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 3:2-3) In what sense are we "living letters" ? In what way can people "read us" ? Why is it so important to be authentic, not phony, in our lives? What happens when people "read" something in you that they admire and mention it to you? How might you respond appropriately? http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1079 Especially to the unbelieving world, we are a “letter” or “book” because believers are always being “watched”, “looked at”, “read”. Therefore, the contents of the letter they read will communicate a definite message and the believer needs to be sure what the letter actually says to them. A child/a pet knows who is genuine by the behavior, the words spoken, the life lived, and the mode of treatment they receive. The same is absolutely true of our relationship/behavior in the world. In fact, this statement has been written and said many times: “You may be the only book the people of the world will ever read”. It is very important, if we really believe that one of our Christian roles is to share the message of Jesus, that we do not cloud, distort or alter the real meaning of our message. Through how we act, behave, share, speak, we provide the reality of our message through those actions in our part. We could drastically affect the message through wrong or confusing actions. We need to be authentic, not phony, in our everyday lives to share the true gospel of Jesus. The only way to be sure of our authenticity is to allow the Holy Spirit to have His way in our hearts so that the “letter”, “book”, “message” does not get distorted or give out the wrong interpretation of the Gospel because we have “smudged” the words.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 2:14-16a) In what sense is knowing God fragrant to people who are open to God? In what way is this fragrance repugnant to people who are closed to God? Have you suppressed your "fragrance" because some people are allergic to Christian perfume? If so, how can you regain the fragrance of Christ's gospel? http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1078 In our notes, we see fragrance defined as a pleasant or bad odor which quality affects the mind accordingly. Aroma on the other hand is only seen as pleasant fragrance, pleasing to God. In this chapter and elsewhere the fragrance of the gospel is the knowledge of God and anytime that fragrance is shared with others, God is pleased. Many people are searching for more of that knowledge and are therefore pleased with learning/experiencing/savoring more or that aroma. But to those who are turned off to knowledge about God or knowing God, the odor is more repugnant or unpleasant. The “odor” or repugnant (offensive, distasteful, vile) smell is akin to the “putrefying flesh of a corpse. Those who are smelling this are those who are closed to knowing or having relationships with God and therefore Paul indicates this as the “pungent odor of eternal death as the person heads for and winds up in hell, separated from God. But those believers who are hungry for more of God are experiencing the pleasant smell of a perfume of being saved and rescued from their sins and heading to an eternal home with God.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 2:10-11) How does Satan take advantage of our unforgiveness? What are the symptoms in our own heart of unforgiveness? According to Matthew 6:14-15, how does holding unforgiveness hurt our spiritual lives? What would you have to do to really let go of your resentment and give it to God? http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.pup?showtopic=1077 When we do not forgive, we are holding on to the wrong that has been done to us and keeping it inside. In time, that feeling will begin to well up inside and offers Satan a “ready” situation to entice us to keep on in our unforgiving mode of attitude. When we are unforgiving, or untrusting or anxious or angry or the like, we are opening the door to Satan as he waits outside that door in a “pounce-like posture”, ready to attack. He knows when we are most vulnerable and waits for the precise moment to pounce on his next victim. We do not really know the plan of Satan other than he waits on us to open the door to him through our behavior modes. He will plan and wait and be patient until the right moment. Then he “pounces” on us as the unaware victims we are. With our unforgiving attitudes, we are not affecting or hurting the person who hurt us but this attitude acts like a boomerang and comes right back on top of us. Then we have the added issue of the pouncing surprise attack by the enemy Satan. Of course, Scripture dictates to us how to avoid the trap and that is quite simply to forgive and trust in the LORD and that will “always” alleviate the situation. We will be cleansed from the inside out and will reap the blessings of the LORD while at the same time making it impossible for Satan to grab hold of any part of us.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 2:9) How does obedience to servant leaders help the church of Jesus Christ? How does obedience to self-serving leaders hurt the church? Are you obedient to those whom God has placed over you in the Lord? Why or why not? What is the relationship between obedience and church unity? http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1076 This verse tells us to stand firm and be obedient in everything. But that is much of our problem as human beings. We were born not with the idea of being subservient to anyone but have had to learn how to be in an obedient relationship with the LORD and with others. But specifically with the LORD, we are expected as His children to obey His commands, to be subject to His desires for us as they are what is best for us. This term continues to confront us throughout the Word, Dr. Wilson has presented us with numerous scriptures that help us to understand that obdience is an integral part of His commands. So the foundation to our servanthood before the LORD is to be in obedience to His desires for us and by so doing, the church is being advanced. Anytime we put “us” before the LORD, that is called “disobedience” because if the LORD is not our focal point, there is no way we could be obedient. Disobedience is a killer and can advance and permeate the church and all her programs. Obedience to the LORD puts Him in the position of placing blessings upon blessings on the church.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 1:21b-22) According to this verse, what does the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives signify? How does the Spirit unite us with God? What is the promise of future blessing inherent in the Spirit’s presence? http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.pup?showtopic=1074 At the moment of our salvation, God adopts us into His family, gives us His Spirit, anoints us as His and guarantees our future (where we be with Him). This is so serious to Him that He puts His stamp and seal of approval on us with His Spirit placed in our hearts as His deposit and “the” guarantee/promise. What me worry? No, indeed, as God has promised to take on all my anxieties, fears, and nervousness of life onto Him, should I believe in and trust Him that I can rest, be calm and leave everything to Him. When I believed that and trusted in Him for all His promises, my life changed for the better and His blessings do overwhelm me.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 1:10-11) Why does Paul ask people to pray for him? How do the prayers of others have an effect? What happened in your life that has helped you enter into a ministry of intercessory prayer? http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1073 Pauline theology includes the eagerness and urgency for prayers for others in calling to God on their behalf. God wants to hear from us so He can answer from heaven, forgive our sins, heal our lands and restore relationship between His children and Himself. Although there are not definitive answers, he states many times about relationship with the LORD and an integral part of that relationship is to lean on Him all the time, continually so that God will hear our pleas. If we declare our love, loyalty and dependency on Him, we become ambassadors for the LORD and others benefit from those prayers. “Jesus taught his disciples to pray by his own example of personal prayer and intercession (Luke 22:31-32; John 17:9-11). The united prayer that the early church practiced surely resulted from Jesus' teaching while he was with them (Acts 1:14; 2:42; 4:31; 6:4; etc.).”, according to our notes on these verses. I have been the recipient of God’s blessings, healings, directions, and answers as a direct result of many people lifting up their intercessory prayers on my behalf. God wants to hear from people; He hears the prayers and acts upon them “in accordance” with His loving will. Praises to God!

Q2. (2 Corinthians 1:9-10) How does facing a harrowing crisis help us grow in the Lord? How has a crisis helped your spiritual life? What is the value of learning not to rely on ourselves? What does this do to our pride? How does this improve our effectiveness as God's servants? http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1072 In these verses Paul tells us that going through these difficult situations helps us to look beyond ourselves to God for helping us through it. As He delivered Jesus, He can deliver us as well. We do not have to feel like we have to succumb to the matter and give into it but that God will provide a way through or around or under or over it. Our notes add that “when things are going well we are prone to trust in our own resources. This event caused Paul to rely on God in a new way and to refocus his hope on God's deliverance, rather than his own ingenuity and survival skills.” And the same with us. I have been through many valleys of “death”, so-to-speak, but when I looked inwardly, it was a very difficult situation in which I was unable to manage on my own. But each time that I turned to God, the matter was handled and looking back I see what God did and the end result was beyond my human expectation. Because of these experiences, I am closer to the LORD today than I would have been taking the other routes. Being closer to God and, in working with Him in my life, He as equipped me with strength, skills and talents to serve Him in surprising ways. My effectiveness is much more in depth and the level of my servant hood has expanded to areas I never thought I could handle. So difficulties in which I lean on God enables me to get through and end up in wonderful praises to Him and a closer relationship of blessings.