God’s mercies are new every day. This is a new day. What happened yesterday is gone. Hopefully not to be repeated again today. When God brings you to a mountain, it is to be conquered. We aren’t to be doing laps around it. It is never easy to conquer the mountain, but it is necessary. If we are to grow in the Lord, we must pursue the quest. The more I pursue God, the less the world means to me. I care about people, not the things of this world. God says where your treasure is there is your heart. So, are you satisfied with giving God an hour a week. And you wonder why you have problems. God also said seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. So, what do you seek each day?

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

Galatians 1 – Justification by Faith. vs.1-5 – Paul was saying that no man sent him to the Galatians. Jesus, who gave himself for all mankind, sent Paul. vs.6-10 – Paul was amazed that the Galatians were fallen away from the doctrines of Christ so soon after they had received the Gospel. Paul said if anyone, man or angel, preaches a different gospel, let him be accursed by God. He said it twice to make the point. vs.11-17 – Paul received his ministry from Jesus, not being ordained by any man. vs.18-24 – Paul went to Jerusalem after many years to meet Peter. Then departed for Syria and stayed there until Barabas came and got him for ministry. vs.19 – Many people say that Jesus had no brothers or sisters. In fact he had 4 brothers and some sisters. It is believed that the books of James and Jude were written by Jesus’ brothers.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

The next epistles Paul wrote were from prison. God sent him to Jerusalem to be arrested. Yes God sends His children into the middle of hell. It’s to prove who He is and He tells us the truth. Don’t resist the hand of God. It doesn’t matter what we believe. It’s always what God says. And if you are found fighting God. We know who the winner is. If you want the hard struggle you had before Jesus, just fight God. How do I know. I’m walking through hell. And all I see is the footstep before me. Because I’m trusting God to get me through. My life or I should say His life is His plan, not mine. I know the goal. And I’m pressing forward. Jesus gave His life willing for us. And we gave ours to get His.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

    2 Corinthians 10 - Paul’s Credentials.

vs.1-6 – While coming against error, We don’t come against flesh and blood, but against spiritual strongholds.
vs.4,5 – (Eph,6:1,2) – The Judaizers came against Paul in Corinth. Here he says that he is the same in his letters or being present among them. vs.12 – “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” Pro.16:2. vs.13-18 – Paul says he didn’t boast beyond that which he knew was right. He boasted about the Lord, for the important thing is that we are approved of God.
2 Corinthians 11 – Paul tells them to be careful and hold fast to the gospel of Christ, which Paul preached to them. Paul humbled himself so that they would receive the gospel, and he didn’t make himself a burden financially. So nothing could hinder them from receiving the gospel. vs.12-15 – Paul describes those who would lead the Corinthians away from the doctrines of Christ as servants of satan. vs.16-33 – Paul says do I sound foolish. Who are those that speak against the doctrines of Christ? Are they Jews, Israelites? So am I. Or they servants of Christ? So am I. Paul told them he had given all and suffered many things just to preach the gospel to them.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

2 Corinthians 7 – Paul’s delight exemplified.
1) Paul’s high regard – vs.2-4.
2) Why such regard – vs.5-16.
vs.2-4 – After all the time that Paul spent in Corinth, and writing, 3 times, to comfort and correct them, one thing stands out in his letters, is that he loves them in word and deed. vs.5-10 – Godly sorrow leads to repentance. vs.12 – Paul wrote to the Corinthians, so that they would realize what Paul had done, taking care of them. Many times we don’t see what a brother or sister has done for us, until someone points it out.
2 Corinthians 8 & 9 – The collection for the saints at Jerusalem.
Acts 24:17; 1Cor.9:11-13; 1Cor.16:1-3. This is the third time that Paul speaks to the Corinthians about giving to support the local work and ministries elsewhere.
1) vs.8:1-8 – The first reason for the completion of the collection for the church at Jerusalem is: God loves a cheerful giver. vs.2-4 – definition of a cheerful giver.
2) The second reason for giving is Jesus became poor that we could become rich in Jesus. Phil.2:6,7; Isa.53:12.
3) The Third reason for the completion was they had started before to give. They were willing and ready to give. vs.8:14 – Giving makes us equal in the body of Christ. God is no respecter of persons. What God gives to one member, it is to be shared with others. Because all are the same in the body, ministering one to another. 1Cor.12:23-25. Paul, sending Titus ahead to prepare the gift, wanted the Corinthians to be ready. Not to offend any brethren traveling through because of the boasting of Paul. vs.9:10-15 – God supplies all our needs and because of your love in action, all people will glorify God, seeing that He lives and moves in us.
Romans 2:23,24 – We see that because the Jews didn’t keep the law, the world blasphemed God. This is why we are to guard our witness. Being careful of not giving offense in word or deed.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

2 Corinthians 5 – Paul’s motivation for preaching the Word. vs.1-9 – Motivated by Knowledge – We know that when this earthly body dies, we have a heavenly home from God, so that we may not be found naked. In this earthly body, we long to be with Jesus. In this earthly body we long to be with Jesus. But we are to be of good courage, for we walk by faith and not by sight. In all things we want to be pleasing to the Lord. Isa.64:6 – our righteousness are as filthy rags….vs.10 – Motivated by Judgment – We will all stand before Jesus in judgment, to be rewarded according to our deeds on earth. vs.11 – Motivated by Fear – We having the fear of God, preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. vs.12,13 – Motivated by Unselfishness – We are being unselfish, wanting you to by able t give an answer for your pride in us, to anyone who would speak against you. vs.14,15 – Motivated by Love – Jesus loves us so much, He died for us, that we should live for Him and not ourselves.
vs.16,17 – Motivated by Regeneration – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all thing are become new.” vs.18-21 – Motivated by Reconciliation – Jesus reconciled the world to the Father. Jesus has given us the ministry of reconciliation. Jesus bore our sins that we would become the righteousness of God in Christ.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

2 Corinthians 4 – Paul makes comparisons. vs.1,2 – Hidden and The Open – they preached the gospel openly and didn’t hide anything from you. vs.3,4 – The Blinded and Enlightened – the light of the gospel has been blinded from some by the god of this world. vs.5 – The Master and Slaves – Jesus is being preached as Lord and Savior and ourselves as servants of God. vs.6 – Light and Darkness – The light of Jesus is to shine through us into the darkness of the world.vs.7 – The Mighty and the Frail – This light of Jesus, that is contained in our frail earthen vessels, might shine through us to show the majesty and power of God. vs.8-10 – Trials and Triumphs – We go through trials to show the death of Jesus and ourselves, that the life and triumph of Jesus may be manifested in our body. vs.11,12 – Life and Death – John the Baptist said I must decrease and Jesus to increase in order that Jesus be manifested in our bodies. vs.13 – The Written and Spoken – As we believe what is written, the Word of God, we will began to speak faith. vs.14 – The Past and Future – If God raised Jesus from the dead, then He will raise us.vs.15 – Grace and Thanksgiving – The grace that has been given, is to cause people to give thanks to God.vs.16 – The Outer and Inner Man – Though the outer man is dying , do not lose heart, the inner man is being renewed daily. vs.17 – Affliction and Glory – Momentary (long enough to do the work) affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory (our reward in heaven) beyond anything we can think of. vs.18 – The Seen and Unseen – The Temporal and Eternal – we do not look at the natural, but look to the spiritual for they are eternal.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

2 Corinthians 3 – vs.1-6 – Each person is an epistle. The Spirit of God has written the epistle upon our hearts. In this we have confidence, that God has made us adequate as servant of the new covenant. Not by the letter of the Law, but by the Spirit of God. The Letter of the Law Kills. People who try in their own strength to live by the Law, will always fail. You’ll find that these people will have no joy or peace and seldom remain in the faith. They become discouraged and despaired. When people are not living up to the standards of Christ, it is because Jesus and the Holy Spirit are the only one who can do the work through us.
vs.7-16 – If the law, which ministered death, came with glory. How much more shall the Holy Spirit, which ministers life, abound in glory. For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Israel still has a veil over their hearts, because only in Jesus Christ can the veil be lifted. As the veil is lifted, we are changed, (transformed) (metamorphosis), into the image of Jesus, from glory to glory.

    Transformed - Metamorphosis:
        Meta - involving change.
        Mor - dead, darkness.
        Phorsis - light.

Crain Blanchard. 
www.joseph1637.com