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NOTES:
Paul had a lot going on in his world at this time.
He had a troubled church in Corinth, which was very close to splitting. Some people in the church loved him, some hated him.
He had emotional and mental tension. He was seconded guessing his decisions.
He was worried that he had made a bad situation in Corinth even worse.
PAUL was clearly in tune with the Holy Spirit, - BECAUSE:
He was receiving fresh vision about the future of his ministry
...and he was providing direction for his churches
...and he was making great leadership decisions,
...and he was leading leaders…
...he was AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME….
BUT…The REALITY of his world internally and externally, was in absolute chaos!
WHAT DID IT TAKE FOR PAUL TO MOVE FROM A SEASON OF DISCOURAGEMENT, chaos, crisis, mental and emotional turmoil, fearful of the future and sad about his situation... - TO A SEASON OF TRANQUILITY? In just a moment?
2 Corinthians 7:6 MSG
Then the God who lifts up the downcast lifted our heads and our hearts with the arrival of Titus
This word arrival is the Greek word πἄρουσια, which Paul has chosen so very carefully.
In the context of the New Testament narrative, πἄρουσια, is almost exclusively used in conjunction with the 2nd coming/arrival of Jesus.
So...Paul is emphasising the fact that Titus, is more like a prophet than a messenger and that the message he is carrying is more like a word from God than a letter from a friend.
Who knows when God sends a word of encouragement, things change?!
What changes when we CHOOSE to BE A TITUS?!
1. Joy Returns
2 Corinthians 7:7 MSG
We were glad just to see him.
just at the sight of the messenger, things changed….
when, like Paul,we are desperate for encouragement ….Just the SIGHT…of a GOD opportunity/ God possibility FILLS US WITH JOY!…
I know, that as we fix our eyes in the possibilities of a new year…. Our spirits will lift.
Just at the sight of what’s next on your life....let joy fill you again, let JOY RETURN!
2. Faith Rises
2 Corinthians 7:6 MSG
Then the God who lifts up the downcast lifted our heads and our hearts with the arrival of Titus.
When God’s messenger arrived...Paul experienced an exchange.....discouragement for courage, worry for peace, anxiety for hope and FEAR for FAITH!!
Let’s lift our heads...let’s look toward the future with faith filled HEARTS!
DO our HEARTS still know the church the way Jesus knows her to be...full of power, full of life, full of potential, the hope of the world, the one and ONLY rescue plan for humanity?!!!
When God sends an encourager, our FAITH must RISES…— Be ENCOURAGED - BUT - Be an encouragement — The quickest way to FAUTH rise in our teams is to bring encourage into their world….
3. Miracles Meet Us
2 Corinthians 7:7 MSG
I went from worry to tranquility in no time!
In NO time….this was more than a meeting of 2 people, this was the meeting was the making of a miracle for PAUL!
- Make room for large
- Make room for more
- Make room for miracles
Isaiah 54:1-6 MSG – “Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby. Fill the air with song, you who’ve never experienced childbirth! You’re ending up with far more children than all those childbearing women.” God says so! “Clear lots of ground for your tents! Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big! Use plenty of rope, drive the tent pegs deep. You’re going to need lots of room for your growing family…..Don’t be afraid – you’re not going to be embarrassed. Don’t hold back – you’re not going to come up short.
When your vision and investment is about building God’s house, you don’t need to be limited by your own individual or personal resources; you have access to the MAKER OF MIRACLES!
