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From the "Third Heaven" to the Gates of Hell

Discussion in 'Other Discussions' started by KenH, Sep 27, 2022.

  1. KenH

    KenH Well-Known Member

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    "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." - 2 Corinthians 12:9

    How mysterious are God’s dealings! That such a highly-favored man as Paul should come down from the "third heaven" to the very gates of hell (that is not too strong an expression, for "the messenger of Satan" came from hell), that he should sink in soul-feeling to the very gates of hell, there to be buffeted by "the messenger of Satan;" and all to teach him a lesson that heaven did not teach him—the strength of God made perfect in weakness! Do you not think, that if WE are to learn our weakness, we must learn it in the same way? How did Paul get his religion? And must we not get ours, in our feebler measure, through the same channels, by the same means, and by the same inward teachings?

    If we are to learn the secret of Christ’s strength, it is not by making daily advances in fleshly holiness, and getting stronger in SELF day by day. It is not by old nature being so mended and improved, as bye and bye to be shaded off into grace, just as the colors in the rainbow are so harmoniously blended that you can scarcely tell where the one ends and the other begins. For this is what is really meant by "progressive sanctification," that the old nature is so gradually softened and blended into grace, that we can scarcely tell where the old man ceases and the new nature commences. Did the Apostle learn Christ’s strength in that way? No; but by being buffeted by Satan’s messenger, and thus being beaten out of his own strength, he found Christ’s strength made perfect in his weakness.

    - from J.C. Philpot's commentary on select texts of the Bible
     
  2. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
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    The first heaven is our atmosphere, where birds and clouds hang out, the second heaven is space, where the Sun, Moon and Stars hang out, and the Third Heaven is the abode of God, a spiritual realm. (2 Corinthians 12:2)

    The gates of Hell (Hades) refers to an access point out of a condemned condition, such that the evangelism of the church will prevail and free some. (Matthew 16:18)
     
  3. tyndale1946

    tyndale1946 Well-Known Member
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    I ordered a book a while ago and for some reason another book came with it... So I just put the other book in the bookshelf and thought nothing of it... The other day I grabbed it to read while my wife filled her appointments... The name of the book was The Church In Ruins... Brief thoughts on II Timothy, Paul's last letter to the church by Clyde L. Pilkington Jr. circa 2009... I was surprised by the comment Paul made to Timothy and tried to wrapped my head around it but it wasn't easy... Our warfare is not an easy one, even among our own kind and sometimes we serve the Lord alone... I will let you mull over that scripture that got my attention... What are your thoughts?... Brother Glen:)

    II Timothy 1:15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
     
  4. KenH

    KenH Well-Known Member

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    A lot of controversy nowadays, even over non-essential matters, Biblical or secular, due to social media and now everyone thinks they are an expert and they feel that everyone is hanging on their every word and they MUST make a comment and woe, I say woe, unto you if you disagree in the least with them. A good friend of mine, a dear sister in Christ, published a brief video on the matter today on her YouTube page:

     
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