Author Archives: Steve Hankins, Th.D.

“For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.” (2 Corinthians 13:9–10, KJV) IContinue reading “Tough Love (2 Cor 13:9-10)”

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV) I do not know of many students that enjoyed tests in school, especially the mid-terms and final exams.Continue reading “Self-Examination (2 Cor 13:5-10)”

“This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that,Continue reading “Purity (2 Corinthians 13:1-4)”

“Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lestContinue reading “Preventative Care (2 Cor 12:19-21)”

“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)”