Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom

2 Corinthians 3:12-18
But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.
Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

The glass or mirror, being made of polished metal, gave only an imperfect reflection.
Why?
Jesus Christ is over the Moses, for the glory is fading, but with the glory of Jesus is increasing glory, which comes from the Lord.
The Lord is the Spirit, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So do not made our minds dull, turn to the Lord. He is full of mercy and grace and glory forever.
How?
Do I have any veil remains in my heart? May my heart turn to the Lord and only in Christ the veil is taken away.

A letter from Christ

2 Corinthians 3:1-11
You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
Past, present and future interweave in these chapters. As for the past, the old covenant has been replaced by a new life-giving one. The present is an anomaly: on the one hand the apostle is appointed ambassador of God himself, charged with his amazing message to humanity.
Why?
In the early days, Christians moving to a new town often took with them such letters from the old church to the new. Paul has no need of such a letter - the very existence of the Corinthian church is sufficient testimony.
The letter is written with the Spirit of the living God, it is written on tablets of human hearts. This is new covenant Jesus Christ made for us.
Moses announced the covenant had glory, but now the ministry of the Spirit is more glorious then before.
How?
Does my behavior could be a letter to show the glory of the Lord before others? I can't but through Jesus Christ I can make it.

We are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ

2 Corinthians 2:1-17
For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,  in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? 
On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. 
The trouble seems to have been personal antagonism to Paul on the part of one man. Now that the church has dealt with him, Paul urges his forgiveness.
After writing the letter, Paul could not rest. He went to Troas hoping to meet Titus on his way back from Corinth with news of the church's reaction. Not finding him there, he crossed the Aegean Sea to Macedonia. The reason for the thanks-giving of verses 14-17 becomes clear in chapter 7. In Macedonia he met Titus, and the news from Corinth was good.
Why?
The victor was followed by his captives and the spoils of war. Paul sees himself as Christ's  slave.
For the captives, the smell of incense had the scent of death about it, as the aroma of CHrist foes for Paul. In the end he will suffer a death like Christ's.
Forgiving is healing and comfort among brothers.  In order that Satan might not outwit us.
How?
Be  a pleasing aroma of Christ, and speak before God with sincerity in Christ.

 
 

God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ

2 Corinthians 1:12-24
Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,
Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.  
Why?
In his first letter Paul promise to come to Corinth via Macedonia. Later he decide to make two visits, on the way to and from Macedonia. In the event he has done neither, and the Corinthians have criticized hi for shilly-shallying. But this is not the reason for the changes of plan. He took his decision because of the state of affairs in the church. Having had one head-on clash, he wanted to delay visiting them again until relations were happier. So he tried to sort things out by letter - a letter he feared would hurt them, and which was painful to write.
Joy is the symbol of Christian, faith brings joy, joy makes life to the glory of God.
Amen is spoken by us to the glory of the Lord! We agree what have done by the Lord!
How?
Give glory to the Lord, who makes us stand firm in Christ.
 
 

教會的蛻變

約翰福音10：1-11
80—90歷史的啟示
摩西都走過紅海。 若有人仍然在埃及做生意！
摩西每天經歷神
思想：
1.質變—負向
   不變？數十年如一日。只是執事改變，吵一陣子
  更新變化？
   病變？內部出問題。最後全死
   負向：病變，退化，生鏽腐蝕。盜賊來，無非要偷竊，殺害，毀壞
正向：
突破，蛻變，更豐盛
量變 多結果子（優質而量產）
永恆保固（品質保證而信賴）
大綱：
奇怪的人？奇怪的途徑？教會不要有奇怪的人
凡從我來的，必然得救
我羊跟著我
得分：
1.一百隻羊失去一隻
牧人去找那失去的羊，直到找著。導致牧人許多傷痕
神不需要我們的錢，神要看誰適合託付使命的人
成熟的人…合乎主用的器皿
得以長大成人，滿有基督長成的身量
身體漸漸增長，在愛中建立自己
2.

God has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again

2 Corinthians 1:1-11
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 
Paul's associate in this letter is Timothy. His readers are the Christians at Corinth and the surrounding province of Achaia which would include the groups at Athens and Cenchreae.
His prayer strikes a more personal note than usual. Instead of praise for the church. Paul thanks God for his special goodness during recent trials. His suffering has had two wholly good side-effects:
1)The experience of God's comfort in it all.
2)A new ability to help and comfort those in similar circumstances.
How?
Keep hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the God of all comfort.

 

Devote myself to the service of the saints

1 Corinthians 16:15-24
The household of Stephanas have devoted themselves to the service of the saints - be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.
If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
Why?
Respect those who devoted themselves to the service of the saints.
Anyone who has no love for the Lord will be worse when the Lord come!
Blessing "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you"
How?
Devote myself to the service of the saints.