Keeping our minds clear and our eyes wide open with ears tuned to the voice of GOD within we move forward each new day as we learn more of what it means to have Christ in us. This was as difficult in Paul's day, as it is even more so today for us, because we live in a hostile wicked environment. What helps is to change the name "Israel" for that of humanity or Corinthians for where we live or even our own church of residence. With this in mind lets see what maybe hidden within the last portion of chapter 12, as Paul reveals concern for these folks, he very well could be speaking to our own, and in many cases is!
2Corinthians 12:11-13, 14-18, 19-21 "I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? I desired(G3870) Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed." (KJV)
2Corinthians 12:11-13, 14-18, 19-21 "I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? I urged(G3870) Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?
Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced." (ESV)
2Corinthians 12:11-13, 14-18, 19-21 "It is not my style to talk so much about myself, but here I am foolishly defending my reputation against your esteemed Apostles! Hey, I was hoping that you would rather defend me! All the signs that confirmed my commission and Apostleship were evidenced in you. These signs and miracles and mighty works consistently accompany my ministry. How can you possibly feel neglected? The only way in which you were treated differently from the other churches is that I did not burden you with any financial obligations to me.
This will be my third visit to you and again I have no intent to burden you in any way! Your money cannot enrich me but your friendship surely does! It is the parent's job to look after their children and not the other way around! It is my pleasure to go to any expense, even to the extreme of bankrupting myself for your sakes! Did I have a hidden agenda, tricking you with guile? Did anyone that I sent to serve you perhaps abuse you? I entreated Titus to encourage you in our [1]joint-affliction and co-assigned our brother (Luke) with him; did Titus take any advantage of you? Did we conduct ourselves in the same spirit and leave the same impression? ([we have seen this before.] The word, [1,G3870 from G3844 and G2564] parakaleo, comes from (G3844) para, and is a preposition indicating close proximity, with a suggestion of union, originating from, and (G2564) kaleo, meaning to identify by name, to surname. Jesus introduced the Holy Spirit in the same capacity: (G3875) parakletos, meaning close companion, kinsman in John 14:16.)
My intent is not to justify myself at your expense! GOD knows that our sincere desire in everything we say is to edify you in Christ, dearly beloved! I do not desire that my coming to you will disappoint any of your or my expectations! Contentious debates, petty jealousies, flaring emotions, divisions, bad-mouthing, rumorous gossip, inflated selfish ambitions and disharmony can certainly not be justified and should not be allowed to replace the rich and edifying fellowship which we can anticipate. I certainly have no desire to be humiliated again facing the same old mindsets and sin of imoralty, adultery and licentiousness! This will break my heart! GOD knows." (The Mirror)
Now if you stuck with me in this you will I am sure benefit. Now until our next visit may the LORD our GOD bless you and yours with the light of understanding in his wisdom of the kingdom within us all.
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