Author Archives: Steve Hankins, Th.D.

“I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?” (2 Corinthians 12:15, ESV) I had a pastor once that stated, “A pastor needs the skin of a rhinoceros and the heart of a lamb.” His point was that the work of theContinue reading “Offering of Love (2 Cor 12:11-18)”

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, KJV) When the Lord saved me in 1983, the church we joined used to have an evening service with praise and worship songs. One of the songs we learned was Jehovah-Jireh. Jehovah JirehMyContinue reading “All Sufficient Grace (2 Cor 12:9)”

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake:Continue reading “Greatest Weakness (2 Cor 12:8-10)”

“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.” (2 Corinthians 12:7, ESV) When I was in the Army Ranger School, we had a phase of training inContinue reading “Blessing of a Thorn (2 Cor 12:5-7)”

“On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of meContinue reading “Refraining From Boasting (2 Corinthians 12:1-6)”

“Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” (2 Corinthians 11:28, KJV) When I served as an officer in the United States Army assigned as an armor platoon leader in Germany, I was responsible for the maintenance of six main battle tanks, the operational performanceContinue reading “The Greatest Burden (2 Cor 11:21-33)”

“I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little. That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I willContinue reading “Speaking as a Fool (2 Cor 11:16-21)”

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:13–14, KJV) Some time ago, we saw an advertisement on the internet. It seemed to be from a major outdoors outfitter. Their clothing and other thingsContinue reading “Too Good to be True (2 Cor 11:12-15)”

“Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?” (2 Corinthians 11:7, KJV) There is an economic/business expression that I heard while I was in college called, “faulty market mechanism.” It explains a somewhat deceptive marketing ploy. It works likeContinue reading “Faulty Market Mechanism (2 Corinthians 11:7-11)”