Text: II Corinthians 7 and 8
OBSERVATION In this part of the letter to the Corinthians, it appears that the people in the community have confessed their sin against God, and against Paul. Paul is writing to let them know how encouraged he is with their change of heart and behaviour. Paul also wants them to know how delighted he is with Titus’ welcome by the Corinthian church. At this point, it seems Paul has enough confidence in their change of heart that he calls them to give generously to the relief fund for the Jerusalem church who have experienced much testing, and many are now living in poverty. Paul gives some instructions on how to give: Be generous but give in proportion to what you have, not what you don’t have. INTERPRETATION Paul models a right godly attitude and behaviour of church leader who has used his Christ-given authority to admonish the church in their sinful behaviour. He then is quick to encourage them in their repentance and changed attitudes, noting that he himself is much encouraged by their turn-around. Never one to let the church rest on its laurels, Paul then thanks them for their acceptance of Titus and recommends another brother to them. He expects the church to accept this other brother as well and to show love to all the brothers (and sisters?) with them. QUESTION for Reflection What kind of a giver am I? Do I give according to what I have, or am I stingy in what I give? Do I give with joy, not with reluctance? Do I trust that God has and will continue to give me what I need, so that I am able to give generously and joyfully? PRAYER Oh Lord God, you who gives to us so completely your compassion and your Holy Spirit, mold us to become generous and joyful in sharing the gifts you give us. SONG Generous Giver By Vintage Worship 2 Corinthians 1-2
Observe: 2 Corinthians starts off with Paul praying a blessing of comfort and mercy upon all those in Corinth who are receiving his words. He points to God as the source of all comfort and abundance which they are all to join in through Christ. Continuing on, he references the many hardships and afflictions he and his have endured on behalf of believers just like those in Corinth, being brought to the very end of themselves and despairing of life entirely. Paul alludes to his meekness and simplicity of life as a measure of submission to God and calls on his listeners not to exclude him or others on account of a humble life but to see him as a slave of Christ, one utterly submitted to the Lord, who leads them all in a triumphal procession. He references a painful visit that took place somewhere between the first and second book of Corinthians, too, where those of Corinth who have grown arrogant demanded Paul verify his claims to leadership. This is continued on in the third chapter, however it is helpful to realize where Paul is aiming his words in the first and second chapter! Interpret: It’s no secret that Paul’s time in and among the church in Corinth (and everywhere else, for that matter) was one of turbulence and toil. Between his many comings and goings, weeds would always spring up and try to choke those seeds that had sprouted in good soil. 2:11 tells us to forgive one another and ultimately keep the bigger picture of the body of Christ in mind when dealing with such troubles, mending and healing quickly, “so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.” Time and time again, Paul references the issues over which people in Corinth are dividing, and the entire thrust of these two letters are to forget about yourself and do everything you can to maintain the unity of the Body! For Paul had more than two interactions with the church in Corinth as a cursory look at the Epistles would appear to reveal: he had many a heated interaction with those who sought to leave the church over petty issues or worse, divide it. This led to a confrontation which is referred to as a painful visit and was clearly something that left a lasting impression. He points to Christ as the one who leads them, not any man or woman of eloquent speech and fine attire. He points to Christ as the source of authority and anointing; each and every leader appointed by God acts according to the Spirit, “And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put His seal on us and given us His spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” It is this very same Christ who “always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere … for we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.” Application and question: I would speak plainly to those who seek to divide the church in this day and age over petty concerns; those who have been faithfully anointed and appointed by Christ, in the presence of many witnesses and according to Scripture and the discernment and guidance of the Holy Spirit; those who have obediently and with unwavering loyalty wielded authority as faithful shepherds of God’s flock – when it comes down to it, why do you suddenly feel right to reject their leadership and guidance and the opinion of the majority when it comes to inconsequential matters? You who read of ancient Israel or the church in Corinth and shake your head at their disobedience and hubris, do you not condemn yourself for nearly identical acts? Those whom God has established in Christ, and has anointed, will you reject and ignore? Shall we divide the Body of Christ over questions of sexuality or walk out over vaccines? Or will we submit to God’s ordained leadership until it comes time to actually be lead? Nonsense! This painful visit that took place with Paul must have been truly painful, but it was pride that stoked the flames. The unwillingness of those Corinthians to actually be led by Paul resulted in them being shown their place so as to save them from further guilt – guilt of division and arrogance and pride. No doubt some of those who sought to split one way or another did so out of sincerity and conviction, but just as they were, so too are we capable of being sincere and convicted and wrong. When in doubt, let us put all things to Scripture in prayer, examining the faithfully ordained shepherd over us, and recount the many ways in which the Spirit has led us all so far. Let us choose obedience in uncertainty and ensure that we not only maintain the unity of the Body, but faithfully work alongside that which God has already established. Prayer: Lord God, we are all in need of humility and your mercy. We are desperate for your guidance and leadership, so please open our eyes to how you are already leading and guiding. Give us eyes to see and a heart to accept your mastery of our lives. Please honour us as we step out in faith and obedience, especially in areas where we feel uncomfortable. Help our love and reverence for your Body overcome all our objections, and in doing so keep us from any evil division. Amen! Song: Tis So Sweet (Shane & Shane) Text: 1 Cor 15-16 (Ps 148)
Observe Paul articulates the heart of the Gospel – Christ died for our sins … and rose again (15:3-7). Those to whom Jesus appeared after His Resurrection are listed, from Peter first, ending with Paul , captive of Christ by pure grace. Paul slams the conspiracy theory of his time: there is no bodily resurrection. But … if in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (19) This is countered in the next six verses – Christ the Risen One has conquered death. The old – Adam/death, is overcome by the new – Christ/life. Chaos is vanquished by order; death, the last great enemy, by real life in Christ.(26) Paul neither commends nor commands the odd practice of baptism on behalf of the dead (29). However, he rails at those who ‘have no knowledge of God’; that is, they deny bodily resurrection. So what’s the point? The dead in Christ will be raised on His return – ‘nuff said. As for what to expect, a series of contrasts, assures us … as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. (49), and a most wonderful mystery: In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, … the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. (52) Death has no power over us who believe. Christ’s death killed death. Paul moves into last-chapter practicalities: he asks wealthy Corinthian Christians to financially support needy Jerusalem Christians, gives his travel itinerary, asks them to welcome Timothy, and writes out final instructions. One of these, … act like men (16:13c) exhorts the entire Corinthian church to foster courage and strength in the Lord, acting out of love. Naming those who are true servants, passing on greetings from the Asian church and a house church, the letter ends with a blessing (23) (for us, too!). Interpret In the Nicene Creed’s final words, “We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.”. This credal statement is chapter 15 succinctly packed into one line. Baptism on behalf of the dead is useless if baptizing dead bodies comes without the hope of resurrection, asserts Paul. Faith in the living Christ and personal relationship with Him are requirements. We get things so twisted by add-ons! The Corinthians couldn’t fathom how limited, sick, decaying bodies could live eternally. Paul straightens them out – God changes the mortal to immortal (42-49). In eternity we will be truly imago Dei -- beautiful as God had intended. A resurrection body is no pipe dream, but a reality to be anticipated. Transformation awaits! Meanwhile, we live for Christ, bearing fruit in doing His eternally lasting work. Apply Listen to the Messiah excerpt – a direct quote of 15:51-52; ‘mystery’ beyond anything we know. We will be changed; we can’t imagine how. But we prepare for change by living in thankfulness to God while bringing His Kingdom to others. The ask in the closing chapter nudges us beyond our own needs. Our church, by the Holy Spirit, is moving outward, ripples widening as we reach others in Him. God is using what we have and give for His glory. We can’t stop once we’ve started! Ask How can we become excited and inspired to let others know there is a future and a hope (Jer.29:13)? In this bleak time, as secularism ramps up its agenda against faith and truth, how can we build each other up in our faith? Small groups, cords, prayer alone or with others, reading and learning God’s Word in fellowship, helping in the church where we can … now, how can we participate as church more fully? Pray Lord Jesus, keep me excited about You, about what You ask of me, about being with You forever, in Your likeness. Thank You for this glorious, mysterious promise, because You are risen and alive! Sing Handel Messiah Behold, I tell you a mystery; The trumpet shall sound https://youtu.be/rQYv8EsGSQ Ps 148: Graham Kendrick Praise the Lord from the Heavens https://youtu.be/6Hhye2y1S4E “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.”
1 Corinthians 14: 1 1 Corinthians 13-14 (Psalm 147) Observe
Paul has covered a number of heavy topics in his letter so far: division; sexual immorality; lawsuits; the Lord’s Supper; spiritual gifts; and unity to highlight some of the big hitters. He now moves to the well-known ‘hymn of love.’ In doing so he agrees with Peter that love covers a multitude of sin (1 Peter 4:8) and is the most excellent way. Love is simply the solution. He describes amazing gifts: prophecy; tongues; knowledge; faith; and charity. If these gifts are not motivated by love they are useless. There is a way Christians are called to live by, a way that imitates Jesus; it is the admirable way of love. Paul describes fifteen characteristics of this love….each is worth meditating upon. This love is permanent, complete and therefore absolutely supreme (13: 8-13); love is the power behind and in our faith and the motivation for our hope (13: 13). Having described love so beautifully Paul encourages his readers to pursue the way of love and to eagerly desire Spiritual gifts. This naturally leads us to a worshipful relationship with God. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live in the way of love and draws the Church to Unity. Therefore, as members of the Church we are to worship God in an intelligible and orderly way. The gift of prophecy, foretelling and forthtelling, is to be desired as this builds the Church up as a whole. Speaking in tongues is a gift that blesses the individual in their relationship with God and should only be used in Church if a person is present who has the gift of interpretation. Worship is to honour God and must not be self-seeking or glorifying. True worship where God is present and His Truth proclaimed will be orderly and bring individuals under conviction of their sin and God’s judgement, thus bringing them to worship filled faith (14: 22-24). Application Quite simply God is love (1 John 4: 8). He is the source of all love. Therefore, if we are be in a real relationship with Him, love will be our foundation. The Holy Spirit is the presence of Jesus Christ in our hearts and the wellspring of this love. As He daily transforms us through His sanctification process these characteristics of love will grow and be more evident. Our part is full submission and obedience. As we gaze upon Him and grow in our understanding of who He is and His love for us we cannot help but love Him back. We then begin to see others as God sees them and our love for our neighbor grows too (1 John 4: 12). This in turn means we can even begin to love ourselves! This love is the source of our strength and the means of Unity for us as a Church. The Question of Application Meditate on each of the fifteen characteristics of love (13: 4-7). Which area does the Holy Spirit highlight to you, what action is He calling you to take? Prayer Almighty and loving Father, by the power of your Holy Spirit through your Son Jesus Christ enable our love to be patient and kind. Help us not to envy, boast nor be proud. May we not dishonor others, nor be self-seeking, easily angered, nor record the wrongs of others. May we not delight in evil but rejoice in your truth. Finally may your love within us always protect, always trust, always hope and, always persevere. Amen From 1 Corinthians 13 Praise Stand in your Love, Bethel Music N.B 1 Corinthians 14: 34-35 often causes consternation, hurt and ill feeling. Commentators highlight the context of this letter and the differing positions women held in society, ranging from low in the Greek culture and Jewish faith to high in some of the cults present at the time. It is most likely that in the new freedom and equal status within the early Church, honouring worship was being derailed by conversations and distractions. Paul was calling for orderly worship. I would encourage you not to focus on this one point but see the bigger picture of true love and honouring worship. Text: Psalm 146
Observe: This week, our daily bloggers are delving deep into 1 Corinthians, and I covered 1st & 2nd Corinthians in my sermon this past Sunday as we explored the application of Paul’s letters to both the early church in Corinth and to ourselves. So for a change of pace, today I will share my thoughts on the Psalm of the day, Psalm 146. For those you who haven’t read it yet, I am including it here for you. 1 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. 2 I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 3 Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. 4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. 5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. 6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them-- he remains faithful forever. 7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, 8 the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. 9 The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. 10 The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord. Interpret: Psalm 146 is a song of hope in the Lord God Almighty. It starts and ends with “Praise the Lord”. You can almost hear the “Alleluia!” as you read the words. Like David, our praise to God reaches down to the depths of our soul. This is not just a simple acknowledgment of praise for God, but rather one that encompasses our whole being. The theme running through it is that only God is worthy of our trust because He is always, and in all ways, faithful. Not even the most powerful and influential people of our time are worthy of our trust, and the reason is simple. All people, regardless of their station in life, are transitory. We exist for a time, and then we die. We all return to the earth from which we were created. Our rulers, like us, are mere mortals; on the day they die, all of their plans die with them. The psalmist reminds us that governments, kings and queens, social activists and influencers, and all the rest exist for only a short while, but God reigns forever. And therein lies our hope. Let me borrow from Elizabeth Barret Browning’s Sonnet 43. How do we trust in the Lord? Let me count the ways. He is our help in times of need. He created the heavens and the earth. He created the seas and everything that is in them. He remains faithful forever. He brings justice for the downtrodden. He gives food to the hungry. He sets the captives free. He gives sight to the blind. He lifts up those who are in despair. He loves the righteous. He protects the travellers. He upholds the widow and the orphans. He brings defeat to the wicked. He reigns forever. It may not rhyme, but you get the idea. Application: God is an equal opportunity savior, but He can only help those who turn to Him for help. We must acknowledge who He is, and place all our trust in Him, not in ourselves or other people. That is what our prayer time is all about. It acknowledges and demonstrates our need for, and our trust in, Him. We must seek His help for all our needs. But, the psalmist does include a bit of a warning towards the end of the psalm. He says, "The Lord loves the righteous, but frustrates the ways of the wicked." God may be an equal opportunity savior, but not everyone turns to Him for help. There comes a time when our chosen paths clearly show the wisdom of our choices. Do we trust in people, or do we trust in God. Sooner or later our choices reveal their fruit. As the psalmist says, "Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob." Questions: Are you able to set aside your reliance on people, including yourself, and rely on God? Does that scare you? Or does it bring you peace? Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us set aside our unreasonable expectations of others. We are all just frail human beings. There are none so wise, none so compassionate, and none so loving as you. You are our fortress and strong tower against all adversity. On you we rely for all our needs, our comfort, and our salvation. Amen. Song: Great is Thy Faithfulness – Chris Rice Text: 1 Corinthians (Chapter 9-10)
OBSERVE: In these two chapters we read about the following:
INTERPRET: When Jesus rescued Paul from the angry and restless life that Paul had established for himself, it was to commission him to announce the good news. Paul was set free in order to serve the gospel. Paul talks about being a servant to the gospel and explains that in this role we are truly free. It is the messenger who must swallow their pride, who must give up their rights, who must change their freedom to serve the gospel. Woe to those who trim the message so that they don’t have to trim themselves. We have the freedom to decide whether we will serve the gospel. It takes a servant’s heart and self-discipline to experience this true freedom. In chapter 10, Paul is attempting to get the Corinthians to realize where they are on God’s timetable. To do so, Paul tells them the story of the exodus from Egypt and implies that they are in the same position now. The first exodus established Israel as God’s people, but Israel’s story led to the decisive, unique events concerning the Messiah. Now Jesus’s people are God’s renewed Israel, and all those previous events are coming true in a new way in and through them. But nothing comes automatically in the Christian life; we must continue to strive to bring glory to God through our lives and worship. APPLICATION: Freedom is important, but in Christian terms this always means freedom to serve Jesus, to serve God’s people and to serve those who need the gospel. Christian freedom is not freedom to do what you like, but freedom from all things that stop you from being the person that God wants you to be. We are to be servants of the gospel. Paul knew that this was the one and only right that mattered. All other rights that prevent us from serving the gospel need to be left behind. Our lives and worship are to bring Glory to God in all we do. Anything that is preventing us from being a good witness and serving the gospel is not freedom at all. We all have things in our life that we are clinging to that are preventing us from serving the gospel. We need to open our hearts and let Jesus access these obstacles. We need to sit down and dine with Jesus while leaving all of our own rights and freedoms at the door. He will then gently help us understand what we need to do; to better serve the gospel. So…………let’s all sit down with Jesus and be set free. (See Song) REFLECTION: Is serving the gospel your top priority? Does your life and worship display this to your church family and to those who desperately need the gospel? PRAYER: Lord Jesus; thank you for all that you are and all that you have done for me. I ask that you help me understand more clearly what it means to be truly free. May my service to the gospel; free me from all my other rights that have put chains on me. May I faithfully serve you and the gospel; with all of my worship for all the days of my life. AMEN. SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXXxLwxfo0U Observe:
Chapter three repeat Paul’s warnings about divisions in the Church. These things weave from the second chapter where Paul outlines the wisdom given and expected from those who have truly laid down their lives for Christ. He goes on in the third chapter to contrast those expectations with what he found in Corinth – that is, spiritual infants. He upbraids them for boasting in their following of Paul or Apollos, pointing out that they are no more than the works of Christ who is the only one about whom we ought to boast “For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building,” (3:9). He exhorts the people of the Corinthians Church to only build upon one foundation, Christ, and to take care how they build upon it. They and their works will be revealed on the Last Day, for some will build with precious stones, gold, and silver whereas others will build with wood, hay, and straw. The pinnacle of this chapter comes in verse sixteen “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” The fourth chapter details how followers of Christ and stewards of the Gospel ought be regarded by others. First, they are to be faithful and blameless, ready to put the love of God above every other human diversion and division. They are to imitate Christ in all ways, content with much and content with little, poured out for others like their Lord, poorly dressed, reviled, and persecuted yet enduring, blessing, and entreating all the while. They are to put their money where their mouth is and lay themselves down for the sake of others instead of paying lip-service to those of the faith and to God, “for the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.” Interpret: As we say most days, there is so much for us to unpack in just these two chapters, but we’ve got to remain focused on the bigger picture and not get distracted. In fact, that’s exactly how Paul approaches the issue of division in the church! The church in Corinth had become so obsessed with one leader or another, be it Paul or Apollos or Cephas, and it pulled the focus of each of them off the only Leader worth following, Christ Jesus. They constantly bickered and whined and competed, and for what? “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” I picture that at some point, while penning (or dictating) this chapter, Paul put everything down for a moment and gave a huge, weary sigh. The Gospel of Jesus Christ had been preached and proclaimed, the power of sin broken, the captives set free, outsiders welcome in to the feast of the Great King, a way made to God through Jesus in an incredible act of grace and here are the people of Corinth running amok after mere humans! Paul in turn calls the people of Corinth such, and the frustration virtually drips from the page as he declares, while one goes after Paul and another after Apollos, that they are being merely human themselves! This is what Christ came to change and they missed the point all together. What is one mans teaching or another mans words compared to knowing Christ? What division could possibly be worth compromising this most incredible message? At such a crucial time too! The new Christian is supposed to lay aside their humanness as they are sanctified and take up godliness, to care about the things that Christ cares about and do the things God wants them to do – instead, the church in Corinth was constantly diverted by utterly worthless controversies and petty arguments to the detriment of the body of the church as a whole. With words soaked in exasperation, Paul asks if they totally forgot the fact that they are God’s holy temple and that God’s Spirit dwells within them. A house divided against itself cannot stand, and when it comes to either us or God being out of line or in the wrong, it is never God. Clearly those of Corinth had tried to cover up their stupidity with clever words and flowery oratory, yet Paul, wielding the sword of the Spirit, cuts through all their selfishness. “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise … so let no one boast in men.” In this chapter as in so many others, Paul draws the line where if someone is at odds with the teaching of Christ and the whole consensus of Scripture which is breathed by God, it is not the Divine that needs to be recalibrated. For Christ is above any human difference, and to miss that is not license to act however we want. Application and Question: There is so much around us that can divide us. I am referring not only to the chasm that lies between the life of the Christian and that of the world, but also that which exists within each of us in the form of pride and selfishness. What would Paul write about you or me? How would he write about St. Aidan’s, or perhaps the church in Canada as a whole? Would you accept his words if they singled your behaviour out? Would you get defensive and argue back, perhaps taking a group of like-minded people and setting off where such challenges didn’t exist? It is an incredible act of grace and mercy that draws someone to their knees in search of Christ and saving faith, but grace doesn’t stop there and neither does our rebellion. We begin as spiritual infants in Christ and are supposed to grow into mature believers, transitioning off spiritual milk, which is easy to take, to harder, more complex spiritual food. We are obviously going to start off quite rough around the edges, but the Holy Spirit is patient as we are sanctified, trained, and become not only more obedient but more loveable. The puppy (yes, I did just get one thanks for asking) taken in off the street is not merely given food and shelter but is also cleaned and trained not to destroy its new home or bite others so that the owner may enjoy it fully. This provides space for real companionship and strengthens the bond between the two. So it is with us – we are taken in a scruffy mess when we come to Christ no matter our testimony, but He cares for us and delights in our growth, calling us to work alongside Him as His sons and daughters, enabling us to live a life that really pleases God. What a gift! When we come to Christ, we move from our merely human way of doing things and become a living temple for God’s Holy Spirit! Christ has adopted us and brought us into His body! So we are not only to bend our knee to Him once or twice but to live on our knees and accept reproof when it may come. We must not become proud in our humility or arrogant in our meekness or too clever for our own good but fully surrender ourselves to Christ and His body. We must make no room for divisions among us for the world is divisive enough. What could be worth putting a splinter in this Body? We cannot afford to make room for pride, now or ever. Paul waded straight into the issues that were causing division and drew the eyes of others not to himself but to Christ - this is His church, and we best not let our own hearts get in the way!! An Aside: I’ll be honest, when I began thinking about how to write this blog the subject of vaccines kept on popping into my head and how we ought to respond as Christians. This thought comes of and from myself only and is unprompted in any way other than the Holy Spirit walking me through this writing of Divisions in the Church. Just as Paul constantly appeals to the consensus of Scripture when making his case for Christ towards non-believers and just as he refers to the bigger picture while correcting those who already believe, we must be minded so. We must not be content with division along these lines of vaccines, for in my mind we have been blessed with the gift of scientific advancement that keeps ourselves and others safe at a time when medical resources are critically low. We must appeal not to the loud minority that claims dissent, but to the worldwide scientific and biomedical majority that repeatedly comes forth with rock-solid proof that the vaccines we have especially in Canada are safe and effective. If such people in the church were to give equal weight to the scholarly minority (and I do mean minority) that claims Jesus never lived, died, or rose from the grave, as they do to the people amplifying fake vaccine studies and other such misinformation, then we would have a much smaller population in the pews. I say this not as a condemnation but as an appeal from my voice alone to put Christ above this division, to lay ourselves down for the good of others, and to accept the good and faithful majority of experts that, by the grace of God, have developed effective and harmless vaccines. I understand there is disagreement and passion but let us not be merely human here – let us care for the Body as a whole and put Christ above everything else. Prayer: Father God, we’re sorry we have been so narrow-minded as to let earthly things steal our focus from you and what you would have us do. We are sorry for our pride, for stopping our ears from hearing and listening to what others have to say. Please teach us to value you above everything else, especially our own wisdom. Make us foolish for your sake that we might not be deceived, but rely entirely on your wisdom and goodness, that all we do might be of you, from you, and give glory to you. Amen! Song: O Praise the Name - Hillsong Worship Text: 1 Corinthians 1-2 (Acts 18)
Observation: Paul greets the Corinthian church and expresses his gratitude that they know Jesus and have his enriching grace and gifts. He then appeals to them to live united with the same mind and judgment. Paul relays how he has heard of divisions among them because some of them are boasting about their preferred preacher: “I follow Paul” or “I follow Apollos” or “I follow Cephas” or “I follow Christ”. Paul asks them: Is Christ divided? If Paul had preached to them with eloquent words of wisdom, the cross of Christ would be emptied of its power. He says Jews look for signs and Greeks look for worldly wisdom but it is the cross where God’s supreme wisdom is demonstrated. To those perishing, the cross is foolishness but those who are being saved recognize the power of the cross. God’s foolishness is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men. God chooses the foolish and weak in the world to shame those who are wise and strong. This is so no human can boast. It’s all God’s doing – he demonstrated His true wisdom in Jesus, who became righteousness, sanctification and redemption for all who believe. So if anyone wants to boast, they should boast in the Lord. Paul himself, when he first brought the gospel to the Corinthians spoke of Christ’s crucifixion with his human weakness and fear but through him, God demonstrated the power of the Spirit so that they would come to know God. Through the Spirit, God has revealed his secret and hidden supreme wisdom – what no one in their human wisdom could have imagined. The Spirit of God knows the depths of God and imparts and reveals God’s wisdom to those who are spiritually discerning. Interpretation: We can look back at the origins of the Corinthian church in the book of Acts, chapter 18. When Paul first came to Corinth, he met Pricilla and Acquila and worked with them and began ministry with them, starting a church community. After he moved on to other cities to preach the gospel, Pricilla and Acquila met Apollos, who was a very eloquent man, competent in the scriptures. He came to Corinth after he had been ministering to people in Ephesus about Jesus but he only knew the baptism of John. So Pricilla and Acquila explained to him more accurately the gospel. When Paul arrived in Ephesus, he came across some of those believers who had received Apollos’ message of Jesus but only the baptism of John. When they were baptized again in the name of Jesus, and Paul laid hands on them, they received the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Some of the believers in Corinth were probably Jewish and these had heard Peter’s testimony of Jesus. So, we can see there were some differences how the Corinthian believers first heard about Jesus. Perhaps Apollos was a more gifted speaker than Paul was. But Paul is trying to show them how trivial it is to boast about another human’s appearance of eloquence or wisdom because these mere servants of God were all empowered by the Holy Spirit, by God’s wisdom. The Corinthians believed the message that was preached to them because it was laced with God’s power…and this had nothing to do with Paul, Apollos or Peter. Jews valued supernatural signs—appealing visuals, and Greeks valued wise philosophers who could skillfully lay out logic, but the true wisdom of God was demonstrated through foolish means: Jesus, a state criminal died a gruesome and humiliating death on a cross and so defeated death, the Devil and sin. This act of salvation and redemption defied human wisdom and this is precisely how God’s supreme mind works. Paul is appealing to these new believers to put down their worldly human ways of thinking and reasoning because these only foster division. Instead, they should embrace the miracle of their new reality: as those who have become spiritually alive, through the message of Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection, they all have unified access to the profound and supreme wisdom of God; as Paul says, “We have the mind of Christ.” Application: It is so like us humans to look for and align ourselves with appealing and logical reasons and beautiful ideas. This is how the wise of the world live—but as believers, we have something better! We have the mind of Christ. Because our belief in Jesus grants us the gift of the Holy Spirit, we have access to the supreme wisdom of God!! How amazing is this!? But there is a caution: this supreme wisdom of God can seem like foolishness when contrasted to the world’s logical reasons or appealing ideas. If/when we follow the mind of Christ, we should not be surprised when we find ourselves on a path counter-cultural to the world. In Proverbs we read of the world’s wisdom and we are told to seek God’s wisdom instead: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (14:12) and “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” (3:5-7) To Ponder: Is there a situation in your life where you have been searching for wisdom and guidance? Is there a path that seems appealing or logical? How can you trust the Lord’s leading in this situation? Pray: Father God, thank you for allowing me the amazing access to the mind of Christ through the Holy Spirit. Help me recognize when the wisdom of men is really foolishness and lead me with your supreme wisdom, even though at times it may seem to go against logic and what appeals to others. Thank you for the Holy Spirit, who guides and protects. Help me to be submitted to the Spirit’s leading and authority. Song: https://youtu.be/vf0q4wDZKRk “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 15: 5-6 Romans 15-16 (Psalm 140) Observe
Interpret (I will focus on chapter 15 as chapter 16 was covered in our service this last Sunday, 24th October -available on the Church website) In this letter Paul has focused on certain key themes, two are present here; unity in the Church; and God’s mission of reconciliation. Both themes find their home in the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Both these themes are found in the opening verses of this chapter. Unity is to be demonstrated by bearing with our brothers and sisters and not pleasing ourselves (1); the mission is to be extended to our neighbours in love(those outside the Church as well as within), (2). This life has been demonstrated and commanded by Christ (3; Matthew 22: 37-40; & Luke 10:25-37). Scripture guides and enables so that in unity the Church can glorify God (5-6). These principles are to govern the Church’s behavior, relationships, lives, finances, mission, prayer and leadership (whole chapter). The Gospel is open to all and its aim is to bring others into a relationship with God (9-12, 16). The desire for Christ and His glory overrides personal agendas. This focus on Christ brings joy and peace to the individual and shares the Good News with others. The power comes from the Holy Spirit (14, 17-21). Being in each other’s company in unity provides refreshment and allows God’s peace to reign; it is a cycle of blessing (30-33). Chapter 16 details examples of people who were committed to these truths and in Christ, endeavor to live them out. Application In our current situation where the issue of vaccination is proving divisive this passage has much to offer. We are called to a motivation of unity which glorifies God. To relationships based on love where we put others first. And we are given Scripture to guide us. The latter needs to be used correctly and not made to say what we want. Scripture points us towards Christ and towards honouring God. Right choices will always be based on sound doctrine and the Gospel (1 Timothy: 1 8, 11). I spoke on the 17th October urging us to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4: 1-6). I offered a biblical framework to live within where we base our lives on God’s truth with honest answers to honest questions and where we have true Spirituality in the Lord and beautiful relationships with one another. This Scripture guides us further into that framework and life. How does it speak to you today, what challenges to you hear? The Question of Application What motivates us with regards our view on vaccination? Is our view based on Scripture, honouring towards God, loving towards others and does it promote unity? Prayer Almighty God, at this time, grant us endurance and encouragement and the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had. May we be of one mind and one voice so that we glorify you, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. May you, the God of hope, fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in you, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen From Romans 15 Praise We are one in the Spirit we are one in the Lord – Ienora Fleming Text: Romans 13-14
Observe: In Chapter 13, Paul gives the believers in Rome a few guidelines for staying out of trouble with the authorities. He tells them to obey the law because all authority has come from God and He has placed the government in place. People should not rebel against the government because it brings unwanted and unfavorable attention to themselves. They are to pay their taxes, respect their officials, and honour those to whom it is owed. All of this should be done out of love for their neighbours, because love fulfills the law, that is the Commandments given to them. Some of these Commandments can be summed up as “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Paul urges believers in Christ to act decently because salvation is nearer now than when they first believed. They shouldn’t be carousing and acting in debauchery, or in dissention and jealousy, but rather they should clothe themselves in Christ. In Chapter 14, Paul tells them to accept one another, regardless of where they are in their spiritual journey. They are to welcome each other without judgement, because who are we to judge anyone, when God has already accepted them. Those who are stricter in their beliefs and those who are less strict in their beliefs both give thanks, prise and honour to God. They both live and die for the Lord, and we will all be judged by Him. But Paul puts more responsibility on the strong, and calls on them to not put any stumbling blocks in the way of brothers and sisters in their faith, and do that which would make them feel welcome out of love for them. They must not force anyone to do anything that is against their conscience. Interpret: In Paul’s writing in Romans 13, he was offering divinely-inspired advice to Christians living in Rome under that government. It’s probable that some of them believed that their freedom in Christ meant they didn’t have to follow the requirements of local authorities. They may have felt that if Jesus was Lord, then they didn’t need to pay taxes to Caesar. Furthermore, the Roman Christians had a history of getting into trouble with the government. This would have made it difficult for followers of Jesus to live out their faith in Rome with effectiveness and impact. Paul is trying to help these Christians to not get into unnecessary trouble with the government, because to do so would be dishonoring to God. In Chapter 14, we see that both “stronger” believers and “weaker” believers feel that their views are the morally important ones, and they are not wrong. The strong believe that forcing Gentiles to keep kosher is a denial of God’s grace in Jesus Christ. The weak believe that not keeping kosher is offensive to God and a violation of the Jewish law. The argument is a difficult one because freedom in Christ and obedience to God’s covenants are important moral issues. But, Paul says that relationships within the community of believers are even more important. Living in Christ is not about being right or wrong on any particular issue. It is about being in right relationship with God and with one another, about “peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). Application: Today, Paul’s simple advice continues to guide us in our discipleship. Although there might be occasions when we need to oppose unjust governments or laws, generally speaking, submitting to civil authority allows us to focus on being God’s servants in the world and spreading the good news of salvation. All too often, we have seen news reports of what happens when prominent Christians break the law or behave in immorally contemptable ways. It has an impact on all Christians, as the reputation of all believers plummets and our mission to spreads the gospel is made that much more difficult. The world sees the hypocrisy, is quick to point it out and passes judgement on all Christians. But worse yet, it brings dishonour to God. None of us is perfect, but when we profess the truth of Jesus Christ, we must strive to live in a manner that pleases God. We must be in a right relationship with both God and with each other. When we accept one another, and let truth, peace, righteousness, and love prevail, we bring honour to God. Questions: Are you still able to love a true brother or sister in Christ who might not think exactly like you? Prayer: Heavenly Father, we ask that you would help us to keep your commandments as a way to honour you. Help us to not fall into legalism, but to share with all whom we come into contact the mercy and grace that you have shown us. Your Word is holy, and worthy to be taught to any who would listen. Give us the wisdom, understanding, and compassion to share it faithfully with those whom you have called to yourself. In the merciful name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Song: Live the Life – Michael W. Smith |
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