But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 2 Corinthians 6:4-5

Do you think the Apostle Paul was preaching a prosperity gospel here? The obvious answer is NO, but it amazes me today the amount of “Christianity” today that is carnal and self absorbed. Do the majority of Christians read the Bible at all? This is an honest question, because I don’t see how you can read a text, like today, and get a prosperity gospel out of it? 

Paul starts out by saying “But In ALL things, approving or commending ourselves as the ministers/servants of God” In ALL things in life we prove if we are truly Born Again by the Holy Spirit. If you’re alive long enough, you know life is full of hardships and pain and trials. How do you respond to these things? How do you endure these times of trouble?

The fake gospel is if your a Christian then your blessed with wealth and health. This could be nothing farther from the truth, because as a Christian your probably going to be poorer than you have ever been, your probably going to be persecuted more than you have ever been, your going to feel sorrow more than you have ever did, but it’s how do you respond to these things? When you have the peace of God by the Holy Spirit, you are able to endure to the end! Notice Paul says here “In much affliction, in much distress, in much imprisonment, in much hunger and fasting, yeah this is not a pretty list!

But we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13) This is not just a bumper stick, cliche, this is a way of life! This is the battle cry, as Jesus said “Don’t fear the One who can kill the body, Fear Him who can destroy both the body and soul in Hell” (Matthew 10:28) In Christ we have spiritual victory over sin, death, and Satan! Amen!

 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 2 Corinthians 6:6-10

Now the question is how? How can we as Christians endure all these sufferings and pain, well lets look at Paul’s next list. It’s by knowledge, it’s by pureness, its by patience, By The Holy Spirit! There’s an ex factor nobody is talking about, you have been Born Again by the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that raise Jesus Christ from the dead is living inside of You! (Romans 8:11)

When you are In Christ, Christ lives in You, nothing can separate you from the love of God, Amen!