Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(2Co 5:13) “For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.”   The Lord had led Paul into a singleness of mind that focused like a laser upon his ministry to others. No matter the situation, he was living it out for the good of those saved through him. May the Lord give each of us such a mentality of individual ministry.

(2Co 5:12) “For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.”  Man’s own prideful nature prompts him to wish to know and glory in the “somebody(s)”  of this world. Meeting such a wrong spiritual outlook is not done for the purpose of feeding the flesh, but to allow one to reach  them for Christ Jesus.

(2Co 5:11) “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”  “Terror”: to be put in alarm or fright.  Yes, our Father loves us as sons and daughters.  I know one can love or respect a person in this life so much that it hurts deeply to let them down in some way. How much more for us when our old nature no longer gets in the way of loving our Lord with all our heart.  

(2Co 5:10) “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”  We say we love Him yet live as if not concerned if we please Him daily or not. If we did we would daily seek to know what His Word says. His Word has instruction as to how He wants us to think and how He wants us to behave.

(2Co 5:10) “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”  Context begins with a reminder of assurance of salvation, (v.5) “…given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.”  So, this is speaking of judgment based upon how we lived out God’s Word. Sad that so many professing love for Him haven’t been thankful enough to seek such direction daily.

(2Co 5:9) “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.”  This acceptance is not referring to a determination of whether we are saved or not. It is an acceptance of whether we actually lived putting forth His plan of bringing others to His Son or not. No one is saved to waste their life living for self. Each is saved with purpose of service to Him, according to His plan laid out in His Word.

(2Co 5:8) “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”    What a glorious thing to be, to live, in the presence of the Lord! Remember, this old sinful body will be left behind. All of those sinful thoughts and desires will have been left behind, allowing us to dwell in His presence without our hearts condemning us whatsoever. “Even so come Lord Jesus”!

(2Co 5:8) “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”   I once again draw your attention to the fact that not only is this confidence based upon faith in God’s stated Word, but it is also based upon a tangible thing that can be proven to self  – the earnest, the Holy Spirit in you (2 Cor 5:5). This proof is why a person can rightly be asked, (2Co_13:5)  “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves…”  

(2Co 5:8) “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”   Notice the difference between this statement and Verse 1, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”.  Today’s verse speaks of now, before the resurrection of our bodies (v.1), our verse of present day. To pass today is to leave this old house behind. Yet, we are not naked, but the spiritual body was made alive at the salvation experience. With it we immediately stand in the presence of God. At the Rapture we will receive a glorified, resurrected body.

(2Co 5:8) “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”   In both vVerse 6 and now in Verse 8, we have a phrase that speaks of a settled faith in God’s Word, His truthfulness, His ability. That phrase is “we are confident”! Are you confident of your spiritual position in both this life and the life to come?