• II Corinthians 9:8-15
• II Corinthians 9:12 – Paul repeatedly states that the funds are specifically for relieving needy saints. There was a definite limit to the scope of the benevolence. It was directed only to the needy Christians in Jerusalem.
• II Corinthians 9:13 – The benevolence served two purposes: relieving needy Christians and cementing the relationship between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians.

• There are five basic relationships for mankind
  • Christ/church – for man’s salvation
  • Family – husband/wife; parent/child
  • Government – civil powers/citizen
  • Economical – employer/employee (Genesis 2:15; Ephesians 4:28)
  • Social – neighbor/neighbor (Luke 10)
• The Christ-church relationship
  • This is the greatest relationship.
  • Planned from eternity (Ephesians 3:10-11)
  • Purchased with Jesus’ blood (Acts 20:28)
  • The relationship that glorifies God (Ephesians 3:21)
  • Jesus saves (Ephesians 5:23)
• The husband-wife relationship
  • The second greatest relationship:
  • Is honorable (Hebrews 13:9)
  • He who finds a wife finds a good thing (Proverbs 18:22; 21:9; 27:15)
  • Husband/wife relationship patterned after the Christ/church relationship (Ephesians 5:23-26)
  • A godly wife is an honorable thing (I Peter 3:7)
• There is no greater shame than the way these two relationships are degraded in our society.

[Due to technical difficulties, we only have audio for the last ten minutes of this class. Sorry about that! -MRW]

• I Corinthians 10:13 – God has given you power greater than the temptation!
• Be prepared with the scriptures.
  • Psalms 119:9, 11, 101, 104, 133
• Understand temptation.
  • James 1:13-15 – Don’t desire evil things – they are forbidden for good reason.
• Be on guard and avoid danger.
  • I Peter 5:8
  • Proverbs 4:14-15
  • Proverbs 7:6-27 – an example of one who failed to avoid danger
• Pray to avoid temptation.
  • Matthew 6:13
  • Matthew 26:41
• Pray at the moment of temptation.
  • Jesus prayed in Gethsemane when His “soul was grieved to the point of death” (Matthew 26:36-46)
    • Mark 14:35
  • Luke 21:36
• Use the scriptures.
  • When Satan tempted Jesus at the beginning of His ministry, Jesus quoted scripture three times, saying, “it is written” (Matthew 4:1-11)
  • Jesus resisted temptation because He was resolved to fulfill the Scripture. Matthew 26:53-54
• Flee from temptation.
  • I Corinthians 6:18
  • II Timothy 2:22
  • Genesis 39:1-12 – Joseph’s example
• Final thoughts
  • Hebrews 4:15
  • Genesis 4:7 – God’s message to Cain about sin: “you must master it”