Dear Christian Believers,
God bless you and greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Recently I was reading about Paul’s thorn in the flesh and how “people,” were the ones that endeavored to hinder and obstruct Paul’s ministry and life. I was intrigued with one of the perils Paul listed in...

II Corinthians 11:26.
In journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

Paul might expect obstruction and hindrance to his ministry by robbers, many countrymen, and the heathen, but false brethren, (those whom he believed to be in the Body of Christ helping him, but were against him), that must have really hurt. The word translated “among,” means ... “motion to the interior, with a view to.” Among, suggest working towards becoming an insider. These false brethren were suppose to be helping and supporting the movement of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They had deceived their way into trust and were given access to the minds and hearts of the believers. In II Corinthians 26:17, we learn that these were all sent by Satan to buffet Paul and his ministry. No wonder Paul cried out to God to remove these thorns of the flesh from his life and ministry. False brethren is translated from the Greek word, ‘ the root word, “psudees,” and it means lying or deceiving. These false brethren appeared to be something they were not.

Galatians 2:4
….because of false brethren unawares brought (introduced privately) to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus that they might bring us into bondage.”

In Acts 15 the church was in an upheaval over circumcision. The false brethren had slipped in with their call for legalism to dominate in the Church. The end of their lies and deceit would result in bondage. Paul declares his response to this type of trickery in...

Galatians 2:5
To whom we gave place by subjection, no not for an hour; [purpose] that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

One of the greatest things we have in the Body of Christ is the GOSPEL of TRUTH, therefore we should strive to make it known, strive to live honestly before ALL people, and to always speak the truth in love. We have so much freedom and liberty in Christ we should shout it from the roof tops. Will there be perils for the “active Christian Believer?” Sure! But our God is bigger and HE is able to be our sufficiency in All things including the perils that Paul was challenged with. Have a great month of walking in the liberty and truth of Jesus Christ our Lord. Let us filter our lives through the truth of the gospel and everything false will reveal itself, and then we can deal with it. Never allow others to steal what God has given you in Christ.

Rejoicing in the TRUTH;

John