There is a lot of confusion over how we should react to the good deeds we perform. Some people think if you give knowing you'll be rewarded for your charity, you've somehow jinxed the transaction. The important question that needs to be asked is this: Are we gambling or investing our money? If people seek after a short-term gain, they're gambling. If they expect to be rewarded in the next life, then it's likely they're investing. The Apostle Paul was highly aware of the good works he had amassed in the name of Christ. Paul had no reservation about detailing his long list of afflictions to the Corinthians. "I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness" (2 Cor 11:23b-27). Paul was not trying to brag about his many sufferings for the faith. His motivation was to inspire those whom he regarded as being his spiritual children and to prove how much he cared for them. "I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel" (1 Cor 4:14-15). Pride is very destructive to the eternal rewards building process. Paul received a supernatural revelation of the glory awaiting him in Heaven. To keep Paul from becoming overwhelmed with pride, God allowed Satan to strike the apostle with some sort of adversity. "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure" (2 Cor 12:7). It's a good thing the Apostle Paul didn't share the same motivation for evangelization that is so pervasive today. If his missionary work in Asia Minor were to be assessed by today's standards, it would be labeled as a financial fiasco. On a number of occasions, poor Paul ended up working as a tentmaker to support himself. Most of the people with whom Paul shared the salvation message failed miserably to show their appreciation. Paul's letters made it quite clear there were times he was greatly lacking in support. "Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day" (1 Cor 4: 11-13). There can be no doubt that the Apostle Paul is currently one of Heaven's most predominant inhabitants. He authored almost half of the 27 books in the New Testament and endured endless travail for the cause of Christ. Anyone suffering from delusions of greatness needs to ponder Paul's record of faith. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
Monday, 17 October 2016
The Apostle Paul's Finanical Report Todd Strasberg Rapture Ready
The Apostle Paul's Financial Report
There is a lot of confusion over how we should react to the good deeds we perform. Some people think if you give knowing you'll be rewarded for your charity, you've somehow jinxed the transaction. The important question that needs to be asked is this: Are we gambling or investing our money? If people seek after a short-term gain, they're gambling. If they expect to be rewarded in the next life, then it's likely they're investing. The Apostle Paul was highly aware of the good works he had amassed in the name of Christ. Paul had no reservation about detailing his long list of afflictions to the Corinthians. "I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness" (2 Cor 11:23b-27). Paul was not trying to brag about his many sufferings for the faith. His motivation was to inspire those whom he regarded as being his spiritual children and to prove how much he cared for them. "I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel" (1 Cor 4:14-15). Pride is very destructive to the eternal rewards building process. Paul received a supernatural revelation of the glory awaiting him in Heaven. To keep Paul from becoming overwhelmed with pride, God allowed Satan to strike the apostle with some sort of adversity. "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure" (2 Cor 12:7). It's a good thing the Apostle Paul didn't share the same motivation for evangelization that is so pervasive today. If his missionary work in Asia Minor were to be assessed by today's standards, it would be labeled as a financial fiasco. On a number of occasions, poor Paul ended up working as a tentmaker to support himself. Most of the people with whom Paul shared the salvation message failed miserably to show their appreciation. Paul's letters made it quite clear there were times he was greatly lacking in support. "Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day" (1 Cor 4: 11-13). There can be no doubt that the Apostle Paul is currently one of Heaven's most predominant inhabitants. He authored almost half of the 27 books in the New Testament and endured endless travail for the cause of Christ. Anyone suffering from delusions of greatness needs to ponder Paul's record of faith. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
There is a lot of confusion over how we should react to the good deeds we perform. Some people think if you give knowing you'll be rewarded for your charity, you've somehow jinxed the transaction. The important question that needs to be asked is this: Are we gambling or investing our money? If people seek after a short-term gain, they're gambling. If they expect to be rewarded in the next life, then it's likely they're investing. The Apostle Paul was highly aware of the good works he had amassed in the name of Christ. Paul had no reservation about detailing his long list of afflictions to the Corinthians. "I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness" (2 Cor 11:23b-27). Paul was not trying to brag about his many sufferings for the faith. His motivation was to inspire those whom he regarded as being his spiritual children and to prove how much he cared for them. "I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel" (1 Cor 4:14-15). Pride is very destructive to the eternal rewards building process. Paul received a supernatural revelation of the glory awaiting him in Heaven. To keep Paul from becoming overwhelmed with pride, God allowed Satan to strike the apostle with some sort of adversity. "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure" (2 Cor 12:7). It's a good thing the Apostle Paul didn't share the same motivation for evangelization that is so pervasive today. If his missionary work in Asia Minor were to be assessed by today's standards, it would be labeled as a financial fiasco. On a number of occasions, poor Paul ended up working as a tentmaker to support himself. Most of the people with whom Paul shared the salvation message failed miserably to show their appreciation. Paul's letters made it quite clear there were times he was greatly lacking in support. "Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day" (1 Cor 4: 11-13). There can be no doubt that the Apostle Paul is currently one of Heaven's most predominant inhabitants. He authored almost half of the 27 books in the New Testament and endured endless travail for the cause of Christ. Anyone suffering from delusions of greatness needs to ponder Paul's record of faith. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
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