Calvary Chapel South Bay Women s Ministry

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Lesson 11 Our Mighty Weapons 2 Corinthians 10 This week you will be encouraged to use your mighty spiritual weapons as you fight the battles that surround your life. All day every day you are bombarded with words, ideas, images and suggestions. Unfortunately, much of what you are exposed to opposes what God says in His Word. Paul was all too familiar with spiritual battles. What he faced in Corinth caused him to take radical action. You too need to wake up and take action! God has given you mighty weapons but you must use them in order to defeat your enemy. Get ready for God to empower you to use these weapons and walk in victory. A good question to ask yourself this week is: What will the Lord speak to my heart through the study of His Word today? Start with a prayer asking the Lord to open your understanding and speak to your heart. In heavenly armour we'll enter the land. The battle belongs to the Lord. Commentary: Oh how the enemy of our souls loves to attack us and try to discourage us so he can render us useless and ineffective in our Christian walk! This is exactly what Paul was experiencing in Corinth. Some rival preachers had entered the city and tried to discredit Paul and his gospel of grace. They personally attacked Paul by saying that he was very courageous when he wrote letters from a distance but very timid and even weak when he was present with the Corinthians. Because of this attack Paul felt compelled to defend his ministry and message. That's the context of the next several chapters. We'll see how Paul begins to deal firmly with the troublemakers in the church. Paul knew his real battle was not really against people but against Satan. There was a war going on and Satan was simply using people to accomplish his purposes. Many believers today do not realize that the church is involved in spiritual warfare nor do they know how to fight the battle. The real enemy is not your husband, your teenage daughter, or your boss. The enemy is Satan. In this chapter Paul will give us some practical instruction to help us handle correctly the battles that come our way. May God Almighty prompt you to remember every day that you are in a spiritual battle and must put on the full armor of God and stand strong using your mighty weapons. Memory Scripture: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. 2 Corinthians 10:4 Homework Questions: 1. Read 2 Corinthians 10:1-2. Meekness is not to be equated with weakness. It is strength under control. Meekness and gentleness do not dilute or nullify the strength and severity of Paul's appeal. The Corinthians failed to realize that true spiritual power is in meekness and gentleness, not in throwing your weight around. When we are in a place where we must confront others what should characterize our attitude? Women s Ministry of Calvary Chapel South Bay, 19300 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 352-3333

2. As you read 2 Corinthians 10:3 notice the phrase we do not war after the flesh. Unfortunately many times we do resort to battling with our flesh instead of using the mighty weapons provided by the Lord. Why? Well, either we don't recognize that we're in a spiritual battle, or we don't recognize who the enemy is, and we resort to human efforts. How will knowing this change your perspective and battle plans? 3. One of the enemy's favorite tactics is to make the Christian feel powerless against his strongholds. Read 2 Corinthians 10:4. The word strongholds here refers to an impenetrable fortress surrounded by thick walls and a deep, wide moat. How does the truth of this verse equip and empower you daily to fight the good fight of faith? 4. By making use of our spiritual weapons what things are conquered according to 2 Corintians 10:5? (Use the versions provided below to get your answer.) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (NIV) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, (NKJV) [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed one), (AMP) Tuesday Night's Reflection Question: From tonight's teaching, share one thing that spoke to your heart and why. No weapon that's fashioned against us will stand. The battle belongs to the Lord.

Lesson 12 Our Engagement to Jesus 2 Corinthians 11:1-3 Just as every bride-to-be owes her love and allegiance to her fiancé, so too should we remain faithful to our beloved Jesus. Satan is forever trying to destroy the pure relationship we have with the Lord. He does this oftentimes by exposing the church to false doctrine. Because of this every Christian woman needs to be grounded in the truth of the Word. This will help her to immediately recognize the counterfeit. May the Lord strengthen your heart in the truth of His Word this week. May you stand fast in your first love for Him by giving Him that single-hearted devotion that He alone deserves. A good question to ask yourself this week is: What will the Lord speak to my heart through the study of His Word today? Start with a prayer asking the Lord to open your understanding and speak to your heart. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. Revelation 19:7 Commentary: In Chapter 11, we see the heart of a father in Paul. In Paul's day it was the responsibility of the father to ensure that his daughter was a virgin on her wedding day. If she wasn't, he would be put to shame. Paul saw the local church as a bride, engaged to be married to Jesus Christ. So, as the spiritual father of the church at Corinth, Paul felt it was his responsibility to make sure they remained pure in their love and devotion to Christ. He did all he could to keep them from being seduced by those who sought to lure them away from the simplicity of the gospel. He knew all too well that a divided heart would lead them to a divided life and ultimately destroy their relationship with Jesus. Paul uses the example of how Eve was led astray by the serpent. Paul had a lot to say to the Corinthians about their adversary, the devil. He warns them throughout the book of 2 Corinthians of his many devices for attacking believers. The focus here in Chapter 11 is how he attacks the mind. This is what he did to Eve. He caused her to question God. Well, Satan was using this same tactic to destroy the church at Corinth. So, like a jealous father, Paul warns them too about Satan's tactics. May the study of His Word this week help us to stand firm in the truth. May God help each of us to remain as His faithful bride waiting for His soon return! Memory Scripture: Homework Questions: And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 1. Read 2 Corinthians 11:2. Paul truly loved his beloved Corinthians and this love dominated his actions towards them. What was the motivation of this love from verse 2? Women s Ministry of Calvary Chapel South Bay, 19300 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 352-3333

2. Notice in verse 2 the phrase chaste virgin. Explain this phrase in your own words. 3. Define the word corrupted as used in 2 Corinthians 11:3. 4. From 2 Corinthians 11:3 what was Paul's greatest fear? 5. From 2 Corinthians 11:3 circle the words beguiled and subtilty. These are strong, graphic words. They are meant to expose our susceptibility and vulnerability to the enemy. He's always trying to lead us away from our pure, sincere, single-minded devotion to Christ. Read Genesis 3:1-6 and notice how Satan manipulated Eve's mind. How was Eve's focus shifted to lead her away from her pure devotion to God? Tuesday Night's Reflection Question: From tonight's teaching, share one thing that spoke to your heart and why. Oh Lord I love you, help me love you more. With all my heart, with all my soul, With all my mind.

Lesson 13 Don't Waste Your Sorrows 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 The Bible likens the Christian life to a lifelong walk. This week you will be challenged not only to keep going in your walk but to determine to finish well. God does not protect his beloved children from trials. Paul was no exception to this rule and neither are you and I. Paul had a thorn in the flesh. This was apparently something painful that God allowed in his life. Paul accepted this thorn and grew from it. Do you have a thorn in the flesh that God has not yet removed? May the Lord help you through this lesson to learn, as Paul did, that God's grace is sufficient. May you find great encouragement from the wonderful truth that God will be with you even in your darkest hours. A good question to ask yourself this week is: What will the Lord speak to my heart through the study of His Word today? Start with a prayer asking the Lord to open your understanding and speak to your heart. In acceptance lieth peace. By Amy Carmichael Commentary: God honored Paul by granting him visions and revelations, by taking him to heaven and by permitting him to hear unspeakable words while he was in heaven. Such an honor as this would have made most people very proud and given them every reason to boast. But Paul chose to remain quiet about this experience. How could he have such a great experience and still remain humble? Because God permitted him to have a thorn in the flesh. We don't know exactly what that thorn was but we do know that it was something painful and something that Paul begged God to remove from him. Instead of an explanation of what was going on Paul received a promise from the Lord: My grace is sufficient for thee. What is grace? It is God's provision for our every need when we need it. God's grace is sufficient for our spiritual needs, material needs and our physical needs. Paul learned that his thorn in the flesh was a gift from God. What a strange gift! There was really only one thing for Paul to do: accept the gift from God. When we choose to accept what God sends into our lives then we choose to let our sorrows work for us. As you do this lesson pray for greater insight into the trials you face. Ask God's Holy Spirit to help you to accept all that He allows in your life. Instead of looking for an explanation look for a promise of God and hold fast to it! Memory Scripture: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 Homework Questions: 1. Everywhere we turn today, whether it is the television, radio or internet, people are trying to impress us with their supernatural spiritual experiences. And sadly enough many are using this for their own selfish glory and gain. Paul could have used his experiences to do this also but he didn't. He was given a thorn to keep him from exalting himself above the Lord. Read 2 Corinthians 12:7 from the Amplified version below. What does Paul mean when he speaks of receiving a thorn in the flesh? And to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn (a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted. (AMP) Women s Ministry of Calvary Chapel South Bay, 19300 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 352-3333

2. Suffering comes to all of us at some time in our life. It is a part of the human experience and a tool God uses to build godly character. What we do during our times of suffering will determine whether it will be eternally profitable or not. Read 2 Corinthians 12:8. What did Paul do about his thorn in the flesh? 3. When Paul prayed the Lord heard and answered him by saying: My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). For greater insight into what this means look at the verse below from Hebrew 4:15-16. What do these verses say to you about your weaknesses, overwhelming pressures, and problems? For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. (AMP) 4. Paul asked God for help and he received it. What are some things you think of that hinder God's children from receiving help? 5. God answered Paul's plea for help but not in the way he had hoped. Paul wanted immediate relief but that's not what the Lord gave him. Use the Amplified version of 2 Corinthians 12:9 below to answer the following questions. a. What does Paul's answer reveal about him? b. What do you learn that will help you when you go through suffering? But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! (AMP) Tuesday Night's Reflection Question: From tonight's teaching, share one thing that spoke to your heart and why. And so whatever Thy thorn may be from God accept it willingly; And when in heaven's morn Thy joy twill be That, by His thorn, He strengtheneth me. -JDS-

Lesson 14 Take A Good Look At You 2 Corinthians 13:5-9 This week you will finish your study of the book of 2 Corinthians. Paul concludes his letter to the Corinthians with strong assurances of his love and with one last heartfelt plea for them to turn away from their worldly ways of living and thinking. He makes an appeal to them to take a good look at themselves to see if they are growing spiritually. As you get ready to do this lesson be prepared to take a good look at yourself and take a spiritual inventory. Consider if you are growing in Christ. If so, then what evidence is there of this growth? A good question to ask yourself this week is: What will the Lord speak to my heart through the study of His Word today? Start with a prayer asking the Lord to open your understanding and speak to your heart. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.. Psalm 139:23,24 Commentary: You have been examining me, Paul wrote, but why don't you take time to examine yourselves? How do we examine ourselves? To begin with, you can apply some of the tests found in Scripture. Ask yourself: Do I have the witness of the Holy Spirit in my life? Do I love the brethren? Do I practice righteousness? Have I overcome the world or has the world overcome me? Am I living a life of godliness? These are just a few of the questions you can examine yourselves with. Growing is not an option for healthy Christians. It is the very nature of living things to grow and thrive. When a child develops slowly, or not at all, the parents become very concerned. Doctor appointments are made and tests are conducted to see what's wrong. In the same way, those who know Christ should be developing spiritually. When you look at a believer there should be definite signs of growth. When we don't see these signs then something is clearly wrong! That's why the apostle Paul is so fixed about examining ourselves. Jesus has begun a good work in each of us and He will continue this work until the day He comes again. Our part is to fully cooperate with the Lord as He works in our life. God bless you as you finish your study of 2 Corinthians this week. May the Lord make you a willing partner in His extreme and eternal makeover! Memory Scripture: But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Ephesians 4:15 Homework Questions: 1. There's nothing people dislike more than someone or something that is phony. No one wants a cubic zirconium instead of a diamond! We all want the real thing and we look for the proof that something is authentic. Read 2 Corinthians 13:5. The indisputable evidence or proof of the authenticity of Paul's ministry lay within the changed lives of the Corinthian believers. What does Paul ask them to do to prove the genuineness of his ministry? Women s Ministry of Calvary Chapel South Bay, 19300 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 352-3333

2. There's nothing more that Paul wanted than for his dear Corinthian believers to be genuine Christians. He knew that this alone would cause them to stand out and have a powerful influence on the world around them. When Christ dwells in the heart of a believer there is evidence or genuine proof that follows. What do you think some of these proofs are? 3. Read 2 Corinthians 13:7-9. In these verses Paul expresses his heart's desire for both the Corinthian believers and all believers today. Look at the Amplified version below and record as many of Paul's desires for believers as you can find. But I pray to God that you may do nothing wrong, not in order that we [our teaching] may appear to be approved, but that you may continue doing right, [though] we may seem to have failed and be unapproved. For we can do nothing against the Truth [not serve any party or personal interest], but only for the Truth [which is the Gospel]. For we are glad when we are weak (unapproved) and you are really strong. And this we also pray for: your all-round strengthening and perfecting of soul. (AMP) 4. Read 2 Corinthians 13:9. The word perfection means spiritual maturity. Paul wanted his children in the faith to take a good look at themselves and grow up. Why do you think he considers this principle so essential to their Christian walk? 5. The entire book of 2 Corinthians deals with Paul's future visit to the church at Corinth. He constantly pleads with them to prepare for his visit. This should be a reminder to us of Christ's return for the church. Knowing He will return for you one day soon, how do you prepare to be Precious in the Eyes of God on a daily basis? Tuesday Night's Reflection Question: From tonight's teaching, share one thing that spoke to your heart and why. Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11