The Christian Worker's Spiritual Food

Love - Let me count the ways.

2012-02-10T09:05:00.000-08:00

There has been great displeasure in the heart of God as His own people have slipped, tripped, and fallen on passages as the one we will cover today. Paul knew this to be a problem also for there were people exhibiting spiritual gifts, while others were trying to force the use of spiritual gifts, while others thought they had a spiritual gift they did not have.

As if a circus erupted in the church, in Corinth, people were trying to use spiritual gifts which had made an impact on them when they saw the gift in action. The problem was, they were lime light gifts. The type of gift people thought to be mystical; and as if they wanted proof of Christianity in their life some people were doing things to impress others.

Paul opened this section of his letter to the Corinthians saying, if you do not have love for each other, what you think are gifts are worthless.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1 (NKJV)

It was because God’s love for us that He sent His son to die for us and it was love that kept Jesus on the cross. It is love which God measures our sincerity with; for we are not measured for our work, but by our motivations to do them. It is not the quantity or quality of our work which God considers, it is the position our heart when we serve. Love is a key concept which Paul saw lacking in the Corinthian Church and what the Corinthian church sought as dynamic was adding up to nothing.

Almost all the problems which occur between people is due to a desire to be recognized by another. People want to be recognized for their efforts, receive respect for their work, and be honored for caring. There are also those who seek to be awarded a position, a status, and accepted in a favorable social opinion. In Corinth there was great desire to be accepted by each culture, Roman, Greek, and Jewish.

Every person is made in the image of God and God is love; so inside every person is the desire to be loved. Yet we cannot demand love from people and receive it. The same goes with respect, consideration, and appreciation; these only come when people see something in you which cause them to have this for you. Paul says if your actions are not inspired by love, your efforts are all a bunch of noise in the church.

We love God because God first loved us. God does not demand of us to turn to Him; He only shared with us that the path of sin leads to death; and because of His love for us, He took it upon Himself to redeem us and make a way for us to escape. He never pushes people to repent, but He sends His message of love to them. He then serves them to the fullest, never requesting anything in return.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.. 1 Corinthians 13:2 (NKJV)

Some people try their hardest to be loved. They desire to have spiritual gifts because they want to be thought of by others as a man or woman of God. They want to have gifts so they will be accepted.

Some achieved satisfaction by gaining followings, but they could be far more effective if they would let go of their quests for spirituality and love others by serving them. Letting go of ones own desires and serving others is the mind of Christ.

In many churches there is a race to be the most spiritual. These boast of their faith in God and speak in spiritual words to impress others. They try their hardest to be recognized because the want people to love them as a Godly person. These attend as many events and outreaches they can as if they were massing points to be the person recognized for their good service.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.. 1 Corinthians 13:3 (NKJV)

You will never fill the need for love until you love others first. Until you give up on being loved and work to love others, you will never feel true gratitude.

Husbands will never learn what it is to be loved by a devoted wife until they first become devoted to loving their wife. It is a person's love which breaks through to their inner being and turns on the love of others.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NKJV)

People are made in the image of God and at the core of God's being is love. We cannot bypass this need to be like God, with love, and respectfully gain what we desire. True love is given in gratitude and God initiated the concept.

He had room in his life for us and in the same fashion wants us to open our lives to include others. Knowing this can liberate a person and the desire to be loved can be achieved. Without love we are nothing but miserable.

The Sickness of Division.

2012-02-09T12:10:00.000-08:00

Division: to cut in twain, to rent, to divide, dissension, separate, partition, a line or a mark. Paul was very concern the act of division, in any form, does not occur in any Christian church; for division is the work of the enemy.

that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 1 Corinthians 12:25 (NKJV)

A battleground strategy practiced by armies throughout time is the act of dividing the opponents forces and conquering them. In addition, if you can divide a people you can rule over them easier; for they are so worried about each other, they do not see who of what is actually controlling them. This is how the enemies game of human chess is often won within the church.

The territory which the church has taken, from the enemy, is a battle ground. Political, sociological, and economic strategies are continually hatched in the minds of the wicked that they might devour the church and goodness.

Throughout time we have seen artist depict this battle as two angels on the shoulders of a man. In one ear the white or good angel speaks sound words of peace, encouragement, and warning. In the other ear, the devilish looking figure taunts the person towards greed, gain, hatred, and envy. Yet this depiction is only the daily battle of a person without Christ; the battle for the church is waged in a spiritual realm far more fearful than we can imagine.

It must become the attitude of the body of Christ that we allow no division. Yet race, manors, and customs, cause people to allow separations where unity should exist. Paul wants us to realize the church needs each other and churches need each other; they are to work in unity.

It is the devil which wants to divide and then conquer the church. So his work can be seen when two church members become upset with each other. Instead of settling their differences they hold on to them, letting them grow and fester. Eventually it spreads to others and people become at odds with each other.

It transcends outside the church walls when differences of opinions allow different factions of Christians to form. There are churches within close range to each other who never speak. They never come together for the good of their community and often fear losing members to the other.

In the battle to which Paul speaks, the divide and concur strategy of the enemy, is to break up a larger concentrations of power so the individuals might not have the power they could posses when united. Thus it prevents these groups from working together and lessens their power against evil.

When a country is divided, the internal struggles are often the focus while the external forces come to take their spoil. While the countrymen bicker, fight, and argue, their enemies are creeping up with strategy to overtake them.

When a churches are divided their struggles with each other may cease, yet their abilities to protect each other from external forces of evil are impaired.

A clearer example, which we all are familiar with, is when a family divides and lives separately. The benefits of having both parents together is lost and the help needed to make good secure decisions are not there for the children; thus they make decisions for themselves engulfed by their insecurity.

This division creates young adults who feel, they themselves are the removed members of the family resulting in behavioral, emotional, and spiritual deficits. When families break apart it is the work of evil, not of God.

And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 1 Corinthians 12:26 (NKJV)

Christians are made to have unity with God and when they have this, they have unity with each other. When you know the heart of God, you cannot be at odds with others and experience joy or happiness. Yet the opposite is true; when divisions begin, a person will feel the grieving of God’s spirit and if left in grief, your relationships will become a web of entanglement.

When a person places their relationship with God first, every other relationship in their life falls into place. Instead of division we have unity and are able to perform the function God has for you. The gifts of the Spirit of God will be active in your life and there will be no distraction in performing them.

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 (NKJV)

Though Paul lists various gifts, the listing of these gifts is not to entice the reader to seek after them. They are listed as if they are body parts making up a complete body. If Paul were to continue to list gifts, the list would be long; for the gifts given to complete our mission and to keep unity are vast. Therefore, do not let your expectation of gifts be narrowed to seek only after theses. We are not to seek gifts we are to seek unity.

Some people are accused of leaving their head behind when making decisions. This is not the actual case of taking your head off and leaving it at home. The statement is meant to imply a person needed someone else to help them make their decision.

The same would apply to a person heading into any situation where a group of people are needed to complete the task, but the person heads into the task alone. God does not want us to be alone in our work.

This is important because we each have different gifts and different gifts at different times; God wants Christians to be in unity together and He can bestow gifts when needed.

If the pastor of your church were to allow division between he and another member, not only would he be disobedient to God’s word, he would be grieving the Spirit of God. What would your church do without its pastor to lead it, or a pastor who was leading without God's blessing and guidance? It would be a body without a head.

If a church is in such a circumstance, how could the Spirit of God work through this person to share God’s love with others? And if this division existed, the enemy would have successfully made his move to spread chaos and wreak havoc thorough out the church. Thus the church would have no effectiveness at all.

The same logic applies to every person in the church and with every gift of the Spirit. How can God work through us when we harbor bitterness which causes division? You can say the same about sin. How can God work through us if we harbor sinful practices in our lives? Sin is missing the mark God and it's earmarks are divisions between us and God and us and others.

Even not seeking God to understand this passage causes division. Some churches say that tongues are not a gift for the church today and other churches place too much emphasis on tongues. This misunderstanding of the gifts of the Spirit causes division and whole churches have separated from each other. Churches have developed attitude against each other and sacrificed unity giving up their ability to minister to each other.

Without a full complement of sound doctrine, what unity exists? The answer is, division exists and this is the state of the church in our world today. The church today is divided into separate churches as if division is good. Thus calling evil good, the church misses the mark of God.

However, if the church could mend its ways and a united front was organized to minister Jesus Christ to the world, would this world not be a different place?

Handicapped, but did not know it.

2012-02-07T10:01:00.000-08:00

Only a person who loses a limb knows the true impact of dysfunction. Each morning people without disabilities carry out several thousands of functions without giving thought to the freedom they have.

Being able to hold a cup of coffee to their lips, dress themselves, look into the mirror to ensure every piece of clothing is fit for the day, and walk with ease, is done without much consideration of the freedom we possess.

Often it is only after the loss of function does the tragedy of loss become a focal point for a person. It is only when experiencing loss do these freedoms become plain truth. Mobility are freedoms we enjoy without much thought or gratefulness.

God knowing we all can relate to the functions of our body, uses examples of the body throughout the scriptures. God desires us to know greater truths by a momentary stop to consider what our life would be like if we had to live with handicap.

This is not to say God only wants to relate to those blessed to have no handicap; God wants all people, no matter their health or handicap to understand plain truth the way He sees it.

God desires us to look into our life and see where we are neglecting to use the function we have been gifted. God wants us to see, that at times, we choose to live without function, bringing handicap to our own lives.

In our passage, Paul speaks to the Corinthians to think of their church as whole complete body fit together, so they may function together as one.

And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.1 Corinthians 12:19-20 (NKJV)

Every church throughout the world has members in which it would have trouble functioning if they were to lose them. The church who loses a pastor will feel great loss until a person is filled with the Spirit of God to take their place and be the shepherd.

Every church should have members who minister in areas of teaching, child care, financial guidance, and spiritual leadership. Yet without one of these areas of ministry it is like cutting off a limb of the body. It cannot function as whole.

This same application can be applied to the churches around the world who are to function as one body. If we neglect to help churches to stay healthy and lose members of our body, Christianity suffers. We must remember the goal of Lucifer is to destroy the church because it is a work of God.

When Jesus began the church, He knew Christianity would spread to all the world. It was God’s structure and Christ initiated it with His disciples. Even though we are spread throughout the world, through Paul, God instructs people saying the structure is to be one church. Yet many have broken into separatist groups and have denounced other churches who have different traditions. That is not being one church.

The same has happened in individual churches; and could be happening in your church. As people become comfortable with each other, they tend to form small groups to function within.

Their church experience is in association with the people they know. Social functions, bible studies, and activities will evolve around the people they know and soon reaching out to others to join their group diminishes. These feel they function fine by themselves; but Paul is saying they are not whole and will eventually find they need others within their church to help them in times of need.

And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 1 Corinthians 12:21-22 (NKJV)

Because God distributes to each member different gifts, we need all the members of the church using their gifts to keep the body functioning. If we lose the pastor we are at loss. If we lose child care, we are at loss, if we lose financial guidance we are at loss. We need these ministries for our churches to operate.

The greater danger is when we begin to lose one or two from a certain ministry. The burden to be carried by many is now being carried by a few. For example we will use a church who has buses to bring people from around the community to their church.

Should they lose a bus driver or an actual bus. The burden of getting people to the church has to be distributed to the other drivers and buses. The people attending the church neglect to understand what is happening in the buss ministry; and the people in the bus ministry feel frustrated having to make up for the loss.

Now should these lose another member of their ministry, it creates overcrowding of buses, hardships on the remaining drivers and if left to continue, eventually people will not want to come to church.

Thus a church could lose people who helped in other ministries, lose tithing revenue, and develop severe handicaps. From one area of ministry the whole ministry can suffer.

If your are the pastor, you are the head. If you are an elder you are one of the feet; everyone else is a different part.

Each member of the church should have a function, for God distributes gifts within the body; yet because some do not think of themselves as valuable they do not get involved.

The result of members not involved often results in a select group of individuals who become the complete working of the church. Because they undertake the work which should be spread out the body develops weaknesses and handicaps. The churches effectiveness is diminished.

Would you say, “I don’t need this eye" because it is always looking in the wrong direction. Or, "I’m going to encourage this eye to go find another body?” There have been ministries which have encouraged people to leave.

How about if a part of your body gets sick or infected? Would you say, “My arm is broken and doesn’t work, so I’m going to cut it off”?

And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 1 Corinthians 12:23-24 (NKJV)

We must remember that Jesus took disgusting, foul talking, uneducated, fishermen and nurtured them into men of God who started the first church.

These argued, and at times had wrong understanding; but Jesus found value in them, for Jesus believed that through God all things are possible. These broken, sick, injured body parts, which make up our church, need to have nurturing. Just as we would set, splint, and nurture a broken leg back to strength, each of the members of our church should be cared for.

that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 1 Corinthians 12:25 (NKJV)

If we care for every member, giving more honor to those with the greater deficiencies, our church grows stronger and is able to do more for Christ. Trials in our life are to be considered as having value, they make us stronger.

Caring for our members is key and when we do this, we strengthen our church which is a body part in the whole body of Christ, which is the church around the world. We are only as strong as our weakest member.

Ignoring Spiritual Gifts.

2012-02-06T12:24:00.000-08:00

Does God see cultural differences and react differently to each culture? Yes, He does and at times, it may seem as if God was prejudice having whole cultures depressed, defeated, and destroyed. Yet, to every storm there is a reason for the rain.

God promised to Abraham a land for his children that they may grow into a large nation, as God declared Israel His chosen people. God had Israel war against and drive out the people who occupied the land He gave to them. Therefore, God recognized the Jews and disregarded the other cultures.

What might seem as prejudice, was a purposeful reason for God allowing the other people to be destroyed. In understanding this reason we must first remember the decedents of those nations all came from a single origin, Noah.

Noah and his family had opportunity to begin new life's without the influence of other people. Each son of Noah were witnesses to the miracle of the fulfillment of a 100 year prophesy kept alive by their father, who was instructed to build and ark and enter into it, to the saving of their souls.

Yet even after going through such a terrific event and seeing the faithfulness of God, the son's would go on to be father's of many nations; this included the godless societies which God would disregard, giving their land to the Israelites.

Was God fair in disregarding of those nations? The answer is, "yes." Even to His own people, He would hold them accountable for the information about God which they possessed.

By example this very people God called His own, when leaving Egypt, disrespected God and God's holiness. Thus God saw to it, none of that generation would enter into the promised land. These stiff necked people were allowed to wander in the wilderness for forty years until everyone of them had died. Only their children would be allowed to enter into that land.

Every nations and every culture has been given opportunity to know the ethics of goodness and righteousness. God looks down into the hearts of people and measures them. When God destroyed the world by flood, it was because of the disregard of goodness and the measurement of evil in the hearts of people.

Before the flood, God saw the whole population of earth was evil and loved sin. These had no respect for God and still God was faithful to warn them and provide an opportunity to escape. Yet, because of the hardness of their hearts they laughed at Noah and disregarded the warnings. Thus the people who did not listen met their demise.

Because God so loved the world, God was using Israel to complete His plan to provide a permanent salvation for all people. Thus through the long history of God dealing with Israel there would come a Messiah, a savior, which is Christ the Lord.

Christ Jesus came to His own people and His own disrespected and rejected Him. It was then, the offer of salvation was given to all other nations.

The Jews, were brought up to think themselves special to God, the other nations were called Gentiles and many devout Jews called Gentiles, dogs because of their cultures filled with uncleanness.

Thus after salvation was offered to the Jews and rejected, God opened the doors for all who would believe in the work of Jesus Christ to be saved. Like the ark, Jesus is salvation to all people who will enter into salvation. Jesus was God's purpose in every dealing with every nation, people, and person. Jesus was the prophesized Messiah of old, come that all might be saved.

Yet in Corinth, as in much of the other churches, accepting Gentiles went against everything the Jewish person had learned growing up. Now things had changed and they were to accept Gentiles Christians as equals and continue to reach out to other gentiles in the name of God. Thus Paul had to reiterate that gentiles were considered the same, now the work of God was complete through Jesus Christ.

Paul needed them to know all people have the same opportunity, the same regard, and the same status with God.

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13 (NKJV)

The Corinthian church was a microcosm of today’s church. Within their church they had divisions. They had those who were Romans, and those who were Jews, and then they had Greek believers. They would separate in their backgrounds and beliefs. So separate, they felt they had to have their own representatives in leadership. It was this which influenced Paul to write the statement we are all made to drink of one spirit.

For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 1 Corinthians 12:14-18 (NKJV)

No matter their cultural differences, Christians need each other. A church cannot have separations within its self; the Lord will not allow it! Therefore He has distributed gifts to each member so a church cannot get by without engaging each other. There is to be unity in the church; we are one with Christ.

There should be no divisions in the body; no circle of friends that excludes others. The church needs to give recognition to every member, no matter of their origin, their race, or their economic abilities.

And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 1 Corinthians 12:19-20 (NKJV)

Inside our churches each member has been gifted to help the body share the word of God effectively. Thus we must honor every member of the body.

To embrace a larger concept, in our communities each individual church has gifts to help other churches. This includes around the corner and around the world.

Some churches may excel in teaching, others in missions, others in finances; if churches could pull together to help each other, together we can increase our effectiveness for God.

The bad news is apart from each other we needlessly suffer. Because people in churches and churches in a community do not hold to the truth of being one body, many churches are without vital help they need. They are like a one leg men in a race; racing along side of others with additional disabilities.

Inside our churches, young married couples who need counseling may not have anyone to go to in their particular church. Yet the church down the street may have gifted marriage counselors. It does not mean the couple need to attend a different church, only seek them for counseling.

Another example is the need to be taught the scriptures to fulfill a calling. If a church does not have gifted bible teachers members should be encouraged to go elsewhere to learn. It does not mean they must attend a different church. They only learn elsewhere and return to use their gifts at their home church.

The same applies to a church which is gifted in missions work. Because mission works takes gifted leaders and a program to succeed, smaller churches may not be able to do the same. Yet these smaller churches may have people who have a calling to missions. Participating with other churches should be encouraged.

A most dynamic approach has surfaced and is helping people of all churches, it is called Celebrate Recovery. Sponsored by various churches, people from different churches who have addictive tendencies gather to be inspired how to handle their addictions.

In these meeting people are finding help and are returning to their home church a more productive member. Celebrate recovery is a program to be celebrated.

The Apostle Paul wanted to enforce that as a person or as a church, we cannot say we do not need each other or are sufficient without each other. If we do, we are turning down gifts from the Lord and ignoring what He has done. He gave His life so people can be saved from sin. Therefore, we must ask the question, "What type of a church are we, if we bask in ignorance of the work God wants to do in us."

Are Spiritual Gifts for Today?

2012-01-30T11:06:00.000-08:00

Have you ever noticed how displays of intrigue draw people to stop what they are doing and watch the object of interest? From television to stage shows, in every community around the world, people are stopping to watch when their interests are captured.

Advertisers depend on finding the latest marvel in hopes people will buy their products, come to their business, or buy their goods. When they have captured their audience, they decrease their spending on the entertainment and increase their spending to find the next gimmick to keep the audience and build upon it. They want new people to accept their brand.

This is how our economies survive; it's all about branding and having people recognize your brand as the best brand.

In Corinth, the cities commerce involved, shipping and tourism. Of the two highly successful endeavors, tourism brought people from all around as the fame of the Corinthian temples grew and thus tourism could arguably be the most lucrative.

So what was the draw which brought in the tourists? What were people coming to see? The draw was food, alcohol, promiscuity, music, and mystical charming. When a person would leave Corinth, they would have their imaginations and faith in the gods increased, having seen things they could not explain.

The Christians of the city had a faith founded on much the same. The stories in scriptures of the miracle of the one true God were taught. The church also told the stories of Jesus, the Messiah, and of the miracles He did. The church could even compete in the mystical, having miracles occur in their own church. However, there was no telling when a miracle would happen and no way to produce it upon command, to compete with the temples of the gods.

In the temple of the Gods, the miracles were trickery; enhancing illusions with mind altering drugs.

However within the Corinthian church, the Holy Spirit was busy shaping, teaching, comforting, and encouraging Christians in their service to God. This often led to the miraculous occurring; yet the miraculous was not for show or proof, but of need, compassion, and in the wisdom of God.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 1 Corinthians 12:1(NKJV)

Paul used the word "ignorant" to explain a person can literally be out of the will of God and missing the mark of God for their life if they do not seek spiritual gifts.

Did you know if we do not seek spiritual gifts it is sin? God wants us to know He is able to change our life and do the unexplainable. From this you can see why there is such a cloud of darkness surrounding spiritual gifts for the enemy does not want the Kingdom of God built and does not want you to reach the potential God has for you.

Thus we must realize God has saved us from our sinful nature to create in us a new life; one different than before. He wants us to be mighty through Him and busy doing His work. We have the opportunity to be His hands, His feet, and to be examples of His power to save. Thus He grants to us spiritual gifts to do His work.

You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:2-3 (NKJV)

God has designed each and every one of us to meet Jesus and receive a new life. The old life, it's thoughts, it's ways, and it's passions, are no longer to be our focus and the new life of joy, worship, prayer, and service is. This is not a manufactured illusion; it is a reality which comes by receiving power from the Holy Spirit.

There are people who call themselves Christians who do not believe in the power of the Holy Spirit or do they believe in the gifts we are encouraged to seek and use. They feel their worship is to understand the scripture, attend church, and live a nominal life.

However, the scriptures tell us Jesus, Himself, sent the Holy Spirit and told His disciple they would do greater works than He, through the awesome power to come. Therefore, to deny spiritual gifts is to say the work of the spirit in our life is a an illusion created by those who use them. The very denial is to say it is accursed.

Yet to say Jesus is Lord is to accept everything He preached, shared, and does to help us. People using spiritual gifts are committing to Christ as Lord, thus it is only through the Holy Spirit this can be said.

How could one say Jesus is Lord and not seek spiritual gifts?

There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 1 Corinthians 12:5-7 (NKJV)

The church has been so confused about spiritual gifts that many churches have said that spiritual gifts are not for this age. These churches found some people were seeking gifts so hard, they were focused on speaking in tongues, healings - which never occurred, and words of knowledge which made the person a stand out in the crowd. Thus they created doctrines saying gifts were not for today's church.

However, these churches seeing abuse were and are right; there are those who manufacture illusions and have whole denominations devoted to drawing attention to themselves. Some churches are abusing the scriptures and the intent of God for spiritual gifts. They preach faith, but are not faithful to God's use of spiritual gifts in the church.

Paul tells the Corinthians gifts enable people to do different ministries within the church and all are to allow God to enable them to minister. Gifts are used to minister to others.

for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.1 Corinthians 12:8-11 (NKJV)

It is important to understand Paul is speaking in general terms. When Paul says, "one is given the word of wisdom," it is important to understand this may not be a lifelong ministry and a gift one is to grandstand on. This may be only one word, one sentence, and one instance, where God enables a person to understand and guide another person. It is not to be thought of as "their ministry" in the church.

A Christian and the church is told to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Thus it takes much work and many people who are willing to let God use them where they are at, to do the work need. Thus today a person may need wisdom, the next day a miracle, and perhaps even being able to overcome language barriers at times which is not a sign or wonder, but something necessary to continue to minister.

“What do I do today, Lord?” This is a question which can only be asked by the person who expects God will give direction and ability to build the kingdom.

Paul was encouraging the Corinthian Christians to think beyond their knowledge, beyond their ability, and become a person of God used in great ways.

Paul was teach them, God will give those miracles of discernment, prophesies, and even other languages to lead people to Christ when needed. But Paul had concerns they did not manufacture magical, mystical, displays of nonsense to compete with the temple of the gods.

The greatest of all spiritual gifts is the gift of God making himself know to us in love through His son, Jesus. Therefore, we should believe in gifts.

The Dangers of Communion.

2012-01-26T11:45:00.000-08:00

Paul had received very terrible news in letters sent from those who were concern for their church in Corinth. Paul found the information so disturbing he wrote back marking his text with pop out statement in hopes of saving many from falling backward from Christ and into the cultic worship of the Greeks.

Their church was in great trouble, plagued by the enemy, as is any church who forms in the name of Christ; yet, the Corinthians were so complacent they did not see it.

In today's church we find many of the same attitudes these, whom Paul wrote to, were displaying. In today's church there are many who are board with their church experience; in order for these to stay awake they need grandeur, noise, and have itching ears for message with charisma.

Also in today's churches you have many who are becoming callused to being hurt by others in the church. They did not like the way they were spoken to or felt rejected. They wanted to fit in and gave up when things got tough. Expecting saints they found sinners and it made their church experience less than fulfilling. These focused on the shortcomings of people and took their eyes of the calling of God.

Paul had words of warning to these people and the same apply to us today. Thus we explore "the dangers of communion."

Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 (NKJV)

Weak, sick, and asleep... This is the condition of many in our churches. Pastors struggle with how to wake people up to cause them to take the mission of redemption serious. Pastors see people come through the doors with a smile and leave with a smile, yet these never get involved beyond that. This means only one thing; these parishioners are sleep walking when they should be awake and active.

Everyone in the church takes communion when it is passed out; yet beyond hearing the words, what are people doing with the message? Do they not feel compelled to give their entire life to God as did Christ for the church?

Churches have a responsibility to communion. Done right, communion becomes a life changing power that Christ intended it to be. Done wrong it becomes a dangerous life condemning mistake and is as if taking the Lord's name in vain.

From these words of Paul’s it is obvious that God will hold people accountable for not letting communion become part of their life transformation in becoming a servant of God.

Some churches suffer needlessly and their pastors are busy putting bandages on wounds to large to heal on their own. They may bandage wounds, yet the infection spreads throughout the body. This is why Paul is taking medicine to the cause of the infection.

Many churches wonder why attendance is low, why contributions are low. They wonder why they have trouble finding teachers to help in the youth ministry. The truth is the people are not truly repenting from their old life and want to have a new life without becoming like Christ who was a servant.

When taking the communion bread, not only should be remember Christ's suffering, but why He suffered. Jesus was obedient in every aspect of His life so we might have a way to be saved from the way we were, lost in sin.

Reflecting on this, every Christians is to look inside their heart to see if they have let Christ fix every broken part and the measurement of restoration of our heart is Jesus Christ Himself.

The name Christian means "To be like Christ." Thus as we measure the restoration of our lives, looking to see if we are like Christ, we will see the areas which need healing.

Paul taught we are to let Christ's attitude, to serve, be in us. If we are like Christ, it should be all consuming and where it is not, we identify for healing. This is the analysis we are to perform in communion.

For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 (NKJV)

Judgment has to begin in the house of God and communion is the tool. Thus if a person takes communion only to eat the bread and drink the wine without this analysis, they are asleep to the fact they are not being saved from their sin. They are missing their calling to be like Christ.

The wine or juice served in communion has purpose to. It is to remind us Jesus' blood was shed to cover our sins. Yet do not let the phrase, "cover our sins" lead you to think they are swept like dirt under a rug. Jesus spilled His blood that we may be forgiven and the measure of forgiveness is repentance.

Repentance occurs when we identify areas we fall short of and allow God to heal them, so they do not cause us to sin again. Repentance is turning away from the undesirable and restoring the desirable. Repentance is allowing God to change your life.

All of this is in communion. Identification of sin, identification of the need to change, a model of the way we should be, and a way to be forgiven. Coupled with the power to change, the church should be a unified servant, like multiple Jesus walking, serving, and ministering throughout the church.

Yet, the church is not like this. Like Paul says, people are a sleep. People are taking communion without seeing the importance it has for our salvation and that is as eating and drinking damnation to their souls.

Where many churches put communion up front in their services, it would be better if communion were put it last. If the service begins with worship and prayer, then the pastor delivered the word given to him from God, the hearts of the people will be ready for communion.

Then if the people are led to reflect on what salvation cost Jesus and led to reflect on their own response to God, every person attending that service will be powerfully touched, powerfully transformed, and the church would be awake!

Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 1 Corinthians 11:33 (NKJV)

So we had a good church service, what then? Paul says to wait for one another. We have had communion with God and now this communion needs to be shared with each other. When people talk about God's work in their life, others are encouraged to continue. Would it not be terrible to know a person left church brokenhearted, with a wounded spirit, to give up on themselves as if they failed the Lord?

It is our responsibility as servants - "like Christ," to fellowship, talk, discuss, and pray for each other. Though the church doors are open, the church service does not end there. Fellowship with each other is also a measurement of our understanding of our mission. This is where true ministry begins.

As Paul did here, people need to be reminded their ministry begins when they walk out the door of the church. Together in unity we build strong lives. We reach out to the needy, and we make plans to continue in fellowship throughout the week.

Some need help in their home ministries, others their work ministries. Then there are those who need assistance with life's demands. The palsied, the orphaned, the widower, and the parent, these we pray with, encourage, and find opportunities to help.

Every church needs to think about how their church is made and utilize areas to congregate in after the service. A court yard, a grassed area, and make it pleasant to tarry; for fellowship is a place where the change of our hearts after communion can be solidified.

However, in Corinth there were particular social problems to deal with; even as each of our churches have different problems. In Corinth, some came only for the food and the little bread with juice was not enough for them. These wanted a feast and Paul felt the only way to deal with them was direct and sternly. If they will not respect the reverence of the work of Jesus Christ then they will be judged and their soul in jeopardy.

But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come. 1 Corinthians 11:34 (NKJV)

We must teach our churches the importance of communion with God and with each other. We want to avoid people developing wrong understandings about what we are at church for. When we do, our people will become strong and our churches will be able to do more to further the gospel.

Communion Misunderstood.

2012-01-24T10:53:00.000-08:00

Early Christianity faced many social problems related to their societies' mass worship of Greek mythological gods. Aphrodite, Apollo, Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Dionysus, Hephaestus, Hera, Hermes, Poseidon, and Zeus were all mythological gods steeped in folklore and defined by the worship directed towards them.

Great orators spoke telling of the battles these gods fought and entwined in a massive falsehood were the lives of people who gave themselves to idolatry. This was the cult of "The Twelve Olympian gods."

To these gods were held great ceremonies sacrificing animals as pigs, goats, oxen, bulls, and lambs. Maidens would carry in baskets of grain or cakes hiding sacrificial knifes. The procession would be accompanied by musicians playing flutes and horns.

Animals which resisted their death march to the alter would be set free; those who did not were looked to for a favorable nod, obliging to be sacrificed. Often water was given to drink to procure a shaking of the head gesture of a nod. These who sacrificed had a skewed ideology of the sacredness of life.

When the knife was produced the animal would be lifted above the alter, its throat slit and the pouring blood would be smeared around the alter.

Butchering the animal the heart and liver with inner organ meat would be placed on skewers to be cooked over the fire. This meat was reserved for the important participants at the ritual feast to the gods.

The bones would be laid out upon the alter in honor of the life of the animal sacrificed and alcohol poured upon them. The intense flames were believed to be the acceptance of the god they worshiped.

The remaining meat was roasted or boiled and ate by the rest of the participants. During these ceremonies drugs and alcohol would be consumed initiating a release of inhibitions to worship life by sexual promiscuity.

Each city in Greece had its own large temple dedicated to these gods and goddesses. In Corinth, Aphrodite, the god of procreation, pleasure and love was served day and night.

Many in the Corinthian church could not understand how they could compete for the hearts of the people when such elaborate myths filled their intellect . These of the Christian church believed more ceremony, more adulation, and more outspoken distain of cultic practices was their only option.

How would the ritual of communion, eating a piece of bread and having a drink from a juice cup, compete with such an elaborate, out of control, society engulfing sacrificial feast? These Christians of Corinth felt fenced in by cultic worshipers who may one day turn violent against them.

Was this Paul leading the church down a path of being slaughtered in the name of the Greek god's and goddesses?

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.". 1 Corinthians 11:23-24 (NKJV)

Paul was the one who first taught the Corinthian church about communion and yet it became a very small part of their church service. It became such a no meaning ritual that some wanted to change it to a larger, more elaborate, feast.

Because the significance was not often taught, the Corinthians did not fully understand what Communion was about; instead these wanted a festival with food and wine.

The church must remember communion is to be a privatized focal point for the church and never should it be a display to the world proving our faith. Jesus waited until the disciples were gathered into an upper room, out of sight and alone with Him to teach communion to them.

This first communion was instituted by Jesus in the face of danger. Jesus knew He would give His own life up to be crucified. Yet, Jesus wanted the church to understand He was not afraid of people and neither should they be afraid.

Communion is to be a remembrance of the significance of Jesus death and the power over sin delivered to people because of it.

Jesus did not want the church to ever forget, nor did Jesus mean communion to become a ritual misunderstood.

The death of Christ, the breaking of His' body and the spilling of His' blood has a power to change a person's life. In communion we remember His body was broken to heal us from sin. Because Jesus was tortured and died faithful to God, Jesus was resurrected again.

In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.. 1 Corinthians 11:25-26 (NKJV)

Jesus' blood was spilled to forgive our transgressions. Animal blood could not guarantee eternal life; yet, human blood by the sacrifice of God's own son was once and forever the only sacrifice we would need. Our sins are forgiven forever if we will believe Jesus saves us from them.

How could this not be the most special moment in anyone person's heart? Though it is a private moment between a person and the Lord, it is the most significant, life changing, life revitalizing, event they could partake in.

If communion does not change your life, the communion with God was in vain. Thus a feast, a precession, the distraction of the crowd, can cause a person to take communion without effect to the soul which God wants to deliver.

We received from the Lord, through Jesus' sacrificial life, a release from our sin. We no longer need the acceptance of God; for we already have it. Christians need only to be obedient to remembering what our salvation cost God, cost Christ, and how free it is and we are in Him.

Thus the feasts of the Greek temples were not to a God, had no meaning, and were steeped in lies which could not save.

The Corinthian church need only to teach of the perfect one time sacrifice of Christ and to those who will believe in Jesus will be saved.

Communion is to be our special time to recount the salvation we have. Christians are healed by the breaking of Jesus body and his blood covers our sins. In this there is the greatest power; for the same power which raised Jesus from the dead is available to all Christian to raise them out of the grave caused by sin.

A Church at Odds with itself

2012-01-23T11:06:00.000-08:00

What some may consider commitment to an end, is often considered, by some, contention at its full capacity. This leaves us with a rational understanding in the church, all must be committed to the means or a person is contentious at best. There is no room for contention in the church.

"Contentious," the word means to quarrel and describes someone who is fond of strife. The problem with contentious people is that they want a matter handled their own way. These also often play favorites; if they like you, you are on one side of their emotions and if they do not like you, then you are one they contend with. Are you contentious towards people?

In the Corinthian church, Paul found there were members who carried their own agenda developed from mythology, their community, and their cultural background. Some were Greeks, others Jews, and a few were Romans; as if splitting into their own factions, these struggled in many areas of contention.

The Greeks had a large cultural background rich in mythology. They knew their people were a majority in the city and these saw the church needing to be more like the Greek culture, putting on grand displays of spirituality to draw people to join them in worship. These wanted the church to compete with the supposed spirituality of the temples erected to mythical gods.

The Romans were the rulers of all civilization and they viewed a changing Corinth. The Roman intent for the world was to unify their cultures into a single culture. Therefore, these saw the church needing to be ready to change from their cultural roots.

Then there were the Jews, and many of the Jews were staunch about traditions which were initiated by the one true God and passed down through centuries of intervention by Him. God obviously chose the Jews to be His people and these felt the Greeks and the Romans should choose their ways also.

Paul knew these contended with each other and because of their contention no clear leader was guiding their church. Where there should be a pastor, elders, and deacons, there were contentious people who contended until one could dominate a decision.

But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God. 1 Corinthians 11:16 (NKJV)

The problem with contentious people in the church is they want their views to be accepted and are forceful to persuade and defiant to consider they may be mistaken.

Contention breeds strife; and strife breeds ill feelings, often ending in ill will. Thus we can see contention is the opposite of unity. Thus Paul says, there is no room for this in the church.

Today we know and should recognize, there is no perfect church because all the members are sinners. Yet because we are sinners, we must accept God’s grace for ourselves and be ready to extend it towards others when they error. For even the sweetest of people can become contentious when they firmly believe in a direction and are opposed by their own.

Churches are ran with deep passion and should passion become unbridled, it opens the door for contention. Some even close their mouths and walk away harboring ill feelings.

These do not become outwardly contentious with what others do; these are more passive. They grumble under their breath and they find others in the church they confide in. Quietly they tell of the faults of others and without making a commotion they try to persuade others to be with them in their contention. These seek groundswell movements to change the direction of the church. This is wrong also.

Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 1 Corinthians 11:17 (NKJV)

The Corinthian church was in disarray. Many churches are in similar disarray and then again some more than others. It is the enemy which tries to disrupt God's church from within.

The enemy whispers into the ears of those who will listen. He talks down the pastor, the elders, the teachers, and anyone who can be used to cause the church member to become dissatisfied and contentious.

For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 1 Corinthians 11:18 (NKJV)

Of course Paul partly believed it, because you never want to take one persons word for anything. Paul wanted to believe contention was not that much of a problem in Corinth; Paul wanted to let it go, in hopes the congregation would get hold of themselves and listen to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. He desired them to end strife before it became an issue that needed to be dealt with.

For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 1 Corinthians 11:19 (NKJV)

The word "faction" is the act of capturing. A group of people follow their own desires and capture their objective. Not by prayers and supplications to God, but by force and might, overcoming of the wills of others.

A "faction" is an act of taking over; storming a city would be a group of people acting together following their own tenets. This type of action is derived by dissensions arising from diversity of opinions and aims.

There were those in the Corinthian church so dissatisfied with the leadership that they were plotting to take over the church and many wanted Paul's influence vacated.

They attempted to get a groundswell of people behind them to come against the leadership; and vice versa, the leadership was trying to lobby people onto their own faction. Even writing to Paul about their problems was evidence of this.

This sounds very non-appropriate; yet it has happened throughout the history of the church and is happening at many churches around the world today.

However, the situation in Corinth had disagreements about excess. Drinking in excess, eating in excess; people wanted the communion services turned into full blown parties like the temples had.

Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you. 1 Corinthians 11:20-22 (NKJV)

The problem with being contentious is, contention is missing the mark that God has set for His people. When a person gives in to the sin of contention, it becomes a breeding ground for other sin to enter our lives.

God wants His church unified; one body, one mind, one heart. This heart forgives others and becomes structured; being led by God Himself through His Holy Spirit.

God does not want the church to compete in drawing people by acting like the rest of the world. He wants the simple gospel to be preached and the church to be a house of worship and prayer. In reverence to God we meet. In the love of God we worship and in love for each other we submit to God's will over our own.

There is no room for political posturing. There should be no popularity polls to be won. A leader is only a leader because of his submission and willingness to seek God.

Therefore the people of the church should avoid sub structures which are not welcoming to all. Such as groups who intrinsically stay to themselves and have no desire to interact with the rest of the church.

As the body of Christ we are one body, one church. We are not our own, for He had purchased us with His own blood. Therefore, we act as one body; living in unity with all saints.

The church of God may not please everyone, but we have a frame work set for us in the scriptures. To those who contend may they understand and be taught that we must all be unified to the mind of Christ; handling our disagreements according to the teachings of our Lord.

What Comes Next?

2012-01-17T09:10:00.000-08:00

What happens to the person you meet on the street who you lead to Christ? What is next for them? Is this something you ever consider? As Christians we are great telling people about Jesus and the salvation He freely gives to us. Yet, how often do we tell people, what comes next?

If it were I, asking Jesus into my heart, I would want to know what I was to do once I have done this. Yet there are many Christians who do not really know what is next. They know a person should go to church, that is next; but what church should they go to? What are their options and can they go to any church?

A person who has accepted the Lord is to read the Bible; this is also next. But what version, and how are they to understand the questions it may bring up?

There are many "next-s" and when sharing Christ with a person, responsibility to help them has only began.

You may be one who never shares their faith and this is a terrible dysfunction you must overcome. Jesus Christ Himself told us to go to the highways and byways to make disciples; preaching repentance and baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we are to go.

Yet because dysfunction breeds dysfunction, we have a Christian culture which often stays to its self. Yes there are those who are busy in the work of Christ, but there are many who have left the sharing part up to the preachers. A lot of the reason for this is because not to many have thought or acted upon "What is next?"

Paul had faced much of the same problem at the Church in Corinth. God had brought many to knowledge of salvation in Jesus Christ and a church was started in the house of Chloe. These were trying to figure out how to be a Christian and to answer the question on their own, "What is next?"

What they did next was write their questions and descriptions of the problems they faced which was delivered to Paul in Ephesus. Paul was faced with the question himself, "What is next?" and answered them by writing this letter we have called the firsts epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, or 1 Corinthians.

Thus we get Paul's answer to the question. What is next?

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJV)

Can you, as a Christian, tell a person to become an imitator of you? Do you live a life which a person could follow and imitate which will produce spiritual growth and make them a well rounded Christian able to reproduce, making more Christians like Christ?

This may have many, as it does myself, finding there are some opportunities overlooked. Thus we must examine our lives to find ways to make us more like Christ, more like Paul, and able to ensure others will live a healthy Christian life if they become imitators of us.

Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 1 Corinthians 11:2 (KJV)

This statement encourages the readers to follow the doctrines which Paul is delivering to them; they are as important as the words delivered by Moses to the children of Israel who were to seek the promised land.

These words are from God, given to Paul through the Holy Spirit. He has prayed over every word written and Paul's concerned was the hearer would take much care in reading them.

How do I become a healthy Christian able to share Christ with others and help them grow spiritually? The answer is, by studying the scriptures and in the process sharing your studies with others.

The word of God must be the center of our lives. We are to know all of them, follow all of them, and study to show ourselves approved unto God; to become a Christian Worker who need not be a shammed.

But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 1 Corinthians 11:3-7 (NKJV)

These verses can be very troubling and misunderstood if not well studied. Every Christian should be looking to the scriptures for what is next in their life; for God did not save us to be satisfied where we are, but to press forward to know Him more.

What was next for the Corinthians? Paul fist establishes the natural order as declared by God.

First, God created man to know Him as man's creator. Second, God created the woman to become a help meet to the man; the two were to become one flesh and God would hold them both accountable for keeping this order intact in their individual lives.

As Christians, we too are accountable to God to the keeping of this order and too not take advantage of each other in a disrespectful way. God would not disrespect a man, who is submitted to Him, by withdrawing His love from the man and neither should a man disrespect God by taking his own love or affection to another god, idol, or thing. This relationship is to be an unbroken bond and primary.

In a marriage, established as a part of God's natural order, the God fearing husband is to love his wife in the same way God loves him. The relationship is to be loving and never the bond broken, as a worship to God.

In a marriage, a woman is to be a loving wife and always in submission to her godly husband. This is her worship to God.

She is to be his help meet and enable him to focus on his relationship with God and together, they worship God by honoring God through this worship called marriage.

The covering of the head was a physical custom in which Paul utilized to express how this holy communion of order is to look; for if God's people can be respectful to God, then they will all be good examples to those who need Christ.

It all speaks about love. A man is to have no other love greater than God and has a relationship with God which is like a marriage. God is to be a man's only covering over his head.

The same respect is in a marriage. Because the man loves his wife, like God loves him, the wife is to have no other covering over her head. In a marriage the woman is to be single to her husband. Yet in the Greek culture it was becoming acceptable for people to be lascivious and this order broken by lust and greed.

Even within the Greek culture, people looked down on the acts of harlotry and would mark a woman caught in adultery by shaving her head. In the Jewish culture she would be stoned.

Thus a woman's lust to be unfaithful to her husband is the same as a man who is unfaithful to God; each are shameful and it breaks the order God has made for us to live in.

For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 11:8-11 (NKJV)

What is next after becoming a Christian? A person is to submit faithful to God as a married couple submit to each other. This applies in every aspect of the Christian life weather you are married or unmarried; for to God, we are as His bride.

We bow our heads when we pray. We approach Him with respect and because He loves us so, we allow ourselves to be in subjection to Him. Like in marriage, if the man is gracious towards the wife and shows her how much he loves her, she will respect Him and willingly place herself under him and let him lead her.

For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God. Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? 15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.. 1 Corinthians 11:12-15 (NKJV)

Is it proper for a woman to pray to God, if she is not in subjection to her own husband? Knowing the doctrines of Paul we answer, "What good does it do her?" If she cannot be faithful to her own marriage, how is she honoring God. Her prayers are in vain.

Likewise, will God answer the prayers of a man who is not in subjection to God's authority or is a man who cannot respect his own wife? Does God see a person of respect to Him or disrespect to Him?

In the same thinking will others see a good marriage if the wife does not respect her husband? No. It would be un-natural.

In Paul's day long hair on a man was un-natural; it was a sign of defiance. Also, society praised a woman who took much pride in her own long hair. Thus for people to alter their appearance would become a social misbehavior, rebellion, which would be easily noticed.

Thus Paul did not want the Corinthians to live in a way which would be seen by others as disrespectful to God.

Therefore, in this passage we have the answer to the question, "What is next for a Christian?" A new Christian is to become in subjection to God with their whole being. Like being married to God, being faithful is what others notice.

As Christians we become stand outs and we teach others to stand out also; not in arrogance, pride, or word; but in love, respect for God, and deed.

Who leads your life?

2012-01-13T09:56:00.000-08:00

As we walk through life it is easy to become unaware how much control we excerpt over our own life and the life of others. People are very controlling; though some are quiet, while other are boisterous.

We are taught from a young age to fend for ourselves. As children we are taught to do things for ourselves, take care of our own needs, and to look over the safety of ourselves no matter what others do.

As we mature, people can develop very self centered lives and this self-centeredness has caused arguments, broken friendships, ruined relationships, destroyed marriages, caused verbal and physical confrontations, and has led to injuries. Some have even killed others thinking only of their own needs. This all happens because of self-centeredness.

As Christians we are taught to end self-centeredness and become selfless. We are to serve others, think of others before our selves. God calls it love and true love is not self-centered. Yet, to have this control over self, a person must be willing to turn the control of their acts to God.

Who leads your life? Is your life God’s to lead and do you follow Him? Are there times where you takeover and do only what you want or when you want to do it?

Paul asked this question differently; yet, it is saying the same thing in a more compact statement and in a way we often would not consider.

Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? 1 Corinthians 10:22 (NKJV)

This question is a most pinpointed one indeed. When a person takes back the control of their life, the Lord becomes jealous. He loves us so and has given all that we might take His free gift of salvation, to live in His kingdom.

He wants us to love Him back. But when we take back the control of our life, we give it to another; for we love something or someone else more than God.

Therefore, to be faithful to our first love, a person must continually ask and answer the question, “What does God want me to do?” And if we are faithful to God, our decision to seek out the will of God should be the unanimous choice.

So what is the will of God for me? The answer is, to put others first and love them in the name and power of God.

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being. 1 Corinthians 10:22-24 (NKJV)

Christians are called to take on the mind of Christ, which is to save the lost, because God so loves them. Our days are filled with opportunities to reach out to people with His love. This is why it is so important we do not let the things of this world entrap us, entrap our minds, or entrap our attention. We should be giving our all to God.

In doing this, a Christian will seem different to the estranged to God. People will know they are not like others and wonder why. This opens ways to approach people without invading their privacy. We can tell them of our love and commitment to God. We can share with them how Jesus loves us and died for our sins. Yet if we act like them, drink with them, or partake in not honoring God, how will they see a difference? Paul says, "not all things are helpful."

Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake; for "the earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness." If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake. But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for "the earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness."1 Corinthians 10:25-28 (NKJV)

In Corinth the food controversy, about buying or eating meat left over from the feasts of the renounced temples, was a most talked about subject. Christians were accusing other Christians of not honoring the Lord. The real problem is the Corinthians had thrown logic out the door.

If accusing a person for the meats they ate, saying it was offered to other gods, the truth is, there is no such god in existence. There are no other gods. Thus it is meat offered to nothing. Paul was trying to get the Corinthians to stop making such a big deal out of nothing. Paul wanted them to stop monitoring the behavior of their fellow Christians and be concerned with the salvation of others.

Should we care about what others think about our actions. Where most would say, "No," it might shock you the answer is "Yes." We should be concerned we do not stumble those who are weak. If they will judge all Christianity on your actions, you better act respectfully.

In the case of dining on this meat, Paul says, "Do not eat it for conscious sake." After all, as a Christian we want to build the kingdom of God, not tear it down.

Practical to our society is when we are asked to go nightclubbing with friends. That is a great opportunity to say, “No, you know me. I’m the church goer and I would just drag you down.”

How about when someone starts to tell a dirty joke? That’s a good time to say, “I’m sorry but I don’t want to hear it.”

There are plenty of times where not going along with the crowd is an opportunity for you to share your faith. However, it breaks down when you give in and go along with their ways. Sure it is fun to join the group, but the few minutes of fun is not pleasing to your God; for it can ruin your witness before people He loves and is reaching to.

"Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience? But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks? Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:29-31 (NKJV)

A Christian is an ambassador of Jesus Christ. They are representatives of God's power to save from sin. Yet if we partake in things non-Christians would think are sinful then how can we effectively represent God.

Drinking of alcohol is a most well know situation. It is not wrong for a Christian to drink alcohol; however, it is wrong to become drunk. Though you might rationalize a Christian can drink, others who do not know the scriptures may see a Christian as being hypocritical for having an alcoholic beverage.

Paul is saying to forgo the beverage for the honor and glory to God. Never let an act viewed as a liberty stumble any other person.

Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:32-33 (NKJV)

The way you live your life before others is very important. If you directly tell people that you’re not going with them because what they are going to do is sinful, you are going to make people very upset. By this many have been turned away from God. It is better to put it in soft terms and still keep your relationship with them open. The Lord wants us to love the world just as He loved us and gave Himself for them.

We should not compromise our lifestyles for fun or leisure. Our activities with others should be a reflection of God's love for them. Jesus was willing to eat with those His society called sinners. Yet, Jesus did not partake in sinful acts with them. Nor would Jesus place Himself in a situation of compromise.

Living a life of no compromise is not a forceful act which we must undertake. It should be a natural act because of who God is in our life.

As we surrender our life to God and abandon our selfish past, our life will be conformed to the image of Christ. Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus; who took on the form of a servant and was obedient even to His death on the cross.

Fleeing Sin

2012-01-11T12:55:00.000-08:00

Paul, a servant of God, has written to the Corinthian and addressed many of their problems. He had to instruct them as if they were new Christians, for the weight of sin had slowed their growth. When they should have been beyond these things, they were facing them daily. This one verse seems to sum up all the reason for all of the troubles they had created.

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 1 Corinthians 10:14 (NKJV)

The word used by Paul is “Phugo” which means to fly away from without delay; to be saved by flight and escape danger.

When temptation had come their way they did not flee. They refused to fly away from sin; they held on to pettiness and look down on each other. Some had not laid hold of holiness and grasped for relationships they should not be in. They became proficient in doing things they ought not to do.

Their actions were making things of worship which were not of God. When a person places something in their life which becomes more important than God, it is consider idolatry by God.

Friendships, job ethics, sporting events, vacationing, and attending parties are not in themselves bad; yet, if these cause you to drift in your morals and do things you know are not godly, then these are the things we should flee from.

When we do not flee sin it is the opposite of letting Jesus save from sin. So it is possible to hold on to an item which God wants you to let go of. You have the knowledge and the means, but you refuse to let the power of God save you.

I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. 1 Corinthians 10:15-17 (NKJV)

Are you one who shows up at church and participates in worship, communion, and prayer? Those who do, do this sincerely; yet it is possible to be sincere at church and not carry that sincerity into your daily life. So Paul is speaking to you saying, God has forgiven your sin, let Him cleanse you from them. Let Him help you flee from them.

It does us no good to hear the word of God preached or read the word of God and not let it change us. Neither is it any good to put religious pictures and statues of saints where we dwell. These things have no value in saving us.

A Christians is saved by grace through faith and then through sanctification we are made sure. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from iniquity. Yet, this grace never becomes a coverall when we decide to pursue other things before God.

Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. 1 Corinthians 10:18-21 (NKJV)

Many times it is those we are around which causes us to give in to sin. Acquaintances are to be just that, people we are acquainted with and then we are to decide, “Are they going to be good for me spiritually or are they going to urge me in wrong directions?”

The Corinthians were mixing with those who worshiped false Gods and because of their association, many were learning through enticement to adapt to their ways.

When allowing yourself to be influenced by your surroundings and those you meet, in those surrounding, the changes to your life are most subtle. It is only after time a large difference can be seen and often it is not clearly seen by one's own self.

Those we surround ourselves with should share a common goal. That does not mean to say we seclude ourselves from the world. When fellowshipping with the world, our desires should be to influence them and be on our guard not to let them influence us.

As Christians we share a common goal, to escape the sin of the world to fulfill the will of God for our lives. We are to flee unrighteousness; fly away from trouble.

When a Christian does not do this, they open themselves to be influenced. Then when giving in to the influence, they replace Jesus as their Lord. Though it may be in the smallest way, if Jesus is not Lord of all, Jesus is not Lord at all.

Escape or Die.

2012-01-10T09:51:00.000-08:00

There are warning signs posted all around us to keep us safe. An "Exit Only" sign tells us not to enter. A "Stop" sign does not mean go. A "Danger" sign does not mean you are in a safe place. Thus if we do not heed the warnings our fate will, in most cases, be in accordance with our actions to obey signs.

There are also published discourses to help us make right choices. One of these is the Bible. In the Bible there are warnings for people to follow so they may be safe for eternity.

The scriptures are a message given by God to all people, so they may avoid the pitfalls of life and save us from the problem humanity entered into when Eve was told not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and did so.

Inspired by God, the Apostle Paul spoke and wrote about safety and how to escape trouble. He published warnings and guides for the church to follow. It is God's desire we follow these guides and live a life pleasing to God.

Paul was concern with those things a Christian might call liberties which could make others fall away from God. Though a Christian might not find anything wrong with their own action, others might see it as compromise.

Hearing the gospel and about holiness from a person who partakes in worldly activities like parties, drinking alcohol, or course jesting, can make a person seem hypocritical. However, there is a bigger danger. It is possible the liberty a person thought they could partake in can overtake and consume them.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12 (NKJV)

The drinking of alcoholic beverages is a notable liberty which has entrapped many people and in the process ruined marriages, families, and reputations.

In Paul's discourse, leading up to this warning, Paul mentions how after the children of Israel sat down to eat and drink, they rose up to play. Because of their intoxication, twenty three thousand of them fell into God's disapproval committing fornication. Thus God sent a plague and allowed them all to die.

Why would God do such a thing? God would do this because God demands holiness. These people had seen the miraculous. They walked through a parted sea. They had miracle after miracle happen in their lives and of all people, these had the greatest opportunity to know God up close and personal. Yet these who died would choose their own appetites over serving God and God could not let their disrespectful actions to infect others.

The attitudes to over indulge in the presence of a holy God, was disrespectful and would be infectious to the whole. So God sent a plague to kill them, making them an example to all and eradicating the revelers.

Some Christian people drink socially. Going to a restaurant or having friends into their home, they open up a bottle of wine and partake. It livens up the evening and enhances the fellowship.

Others view sporting events and enjoy drinking beer. There are many events where alcohol can be enjoyed; but the danger would exist in what it causes them to do outwardly.

I had a person tell me, “I don’t have a problem drinking, I have a problem walking; I drink fine.”

Alcohol can have a terrible effect on the body and impair a person’s judgment. Without food, a small amount of alcohol can make a person say things they should not have said, do things they should not do, and cause a person to become displeasing God.

When alcohol has impaired a person’s judgment the lust of the flesh takes over. Many people who think they can stand up under the effects of the alcohol, fall into sin.

So if the effects of alcohol are so dangerous, why do Christians continually take a chance on it? If it can make you do things that you should not, then why drink it? This can be assessed by looking at the attitudes of the Children of Israel. This may be how it went.

They were traveling; they were on the road and it was a hard road. They had tough days and when it became time to eat, they were ready to relax. They did not intend to get drunk and displease God; they only sought to relax, have some fun.

As they ate and drank their judgment became impaired and they thought they would have another drink; they were having fun. As their condition worsened they began to lust after each other. When they consented to fornication they did acts that were considered as idolatry.

These no longer were allowing God to lead them; they led themselves and did as they wanted. They were guilty of worshiping the creature more than the creator. The attitude they developed and the diseases they caught wiped out twenty three thousand people.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)

Now, not all of the people who ate and drank participated in fornication and not all died; but the alcohol was the liberty which lead to temptation. Gathering together in a large group with others who are drinking will lead to greater temptations. Just being there makes a person part of a whole; so the bad morals displayed by others can lead a person into acting immoral also. When one should be escaping, they make the decision to stay and this is often all it takes to fall.

Especially dangerous in current society are drugs frequently slipped into a person's drink when they are unaware. Loss of ability to function makes them vulnerable to predators seeking to have their way with them. Thus being part of the whole can be very harmful.

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 1 Corinthians 10:14 (NKJV)

God makes a way to escape. For some this means they choose to escape by never drinking; to others it means that after they eat and have a drink they leave.

However, many allow themselves to edge closer and closer to the point they cannot escape. It is those who will suffer the consequences. So to all these people Paul says, “Take heed lest you fall.”

The places we go, the things we allow in our lives and our homes, along with the people we associate with, affect us and our families. Thus we know in a world of trouble we need a savior from sin; therefore, we need not invite trouble into our lives and should invite those things and people, which will enrich our lives to encourage us closer to God.

Sure you have the liberty to act just like any other person who does not know God; but why would you want too? Take heed lest you fall.

Dropping Dead Along the Way.

2012-01-06T10:23:00.000-08:00

When you study the old testament you can see how the Israelite exodus from Egypt showed attributes of God which do not change. Jesus became the embodiment of the events of the exodus from Egypt.

As they left Egypt they were led by God who enveloped them like a cloud by day and a fire by night. They were fully amerced, baptized into the presence of God and God protected them by miracle events.

God parted the Red Sea, God provided manna from heaven to feed them, and God supplied water from rocks. Israel came to know God as Jehovah-jireh, God is our provider.

To Israel God was their savior providing spiritual food, spiritual drink, and a presence which would never leave them or forsake them. Jesus declared Himself this presence come in a physical body.

Jesus is the bread of life, broken four us. He is as manna which came down from Heaven.

Jesus is the water of life; a spiritual water and those who drink from Him will thirst no more.

Jesus is a rock, a sure foundation to build on; security that God is faithful.

Yet, like God's provisions for the Israelites, Jesus came unto His own people and they rejected Him as did they reject God's provisions in the desert. They rejected God's salvation and fell dead; short of the promised land.

Yet, known and taught throughout Jewish history was the sad story how these people fell into sin. These murmured and complained about God's provisions and desired the things they left behind in Egypt. They were not thankful for what God provided and had attitudes of disrespect.

The scriptures tells us after great feasts they would "rise up to play," which indicated they gave themselves to licentiousness and lasciviousness. They even created idols and worshipped them. These Israelites displeased God and in His displeasure God forbade them to enter into the promised land. These lived and died in the wilderness never seeing their salvation fulfilled.

In our passage the Apostle Paul warns the Corinthians our spiritual journey in Christ is like a race. We have begun to run and must continue to the end. For in Corinth there were those who were acting just as those Israelites who fell in the wilderness leaving Egypt.

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.1 Corinthians 10:1-5 (NKJV)

No matter your nationality in Christ you are a new creature. You are adopted into the family of God and those who God used in the past become your spiritual ancestry.

The warnings passed from generation to generations of Jews, as did the promise of the Messiah. The delivery from Egypt was a model of salvation to come through a Messiah. Therefore, salvation from sin belongs to all who are in Christ.

As you study the Old Testament we can see Jesus Christ throughout. From the time of Abraham, godly principles, lessons by God, and prophesy, all teach us that God does not change. The same standards our forefathers we held to are those God would have us live by today.

Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 1 Corinthians 10:6 (NKJV)

The race Paul spoke about is another principle of God which has never changed. In Egypt, all who had the blood of the lamb on the doorpost were spared and those faithful were released from Egyptian bondage. The same occurred when Christ died and His blood was spread on the doorpost of our hearts. We were released from the bondage of sin. We are ready to start the race, free to start our journey to the promised land.

The Israelites were on the way to the Promised Land; so are we. We are walking our way through trials, dessert, and wilderness. Each day we are closer; but on the way we are being taught about what God wants from us. His commandments are delivered to us so that we can live righteously. Moses delivered God’s word to them much like the Holy Spirit guides us and delivers God’s word to us.

Yet, many were disobedient. This is the truth Paul is centering on and wanting the Corinthians to comprehend. When they should have been marching to their goal, they sinned and God was displeased with them.

In the desert they lusted to have more; for some that is all they could think of and they complained about God and God's servants used to lead them. They became unthankful for what the Lord provided and it was not good enough for them; they wanted more and many wanted to go back to their old ways, their old life, and be like the Godless Egyptians.

And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." 1 Corinthians 10:7 (NKJV)

Corinth Christians were listening to people trying to be leaders in the church. The other religions had big feasts and receptions of fun which would draw people from around the continents. These, want to be leaders, envisioned the church at Corinth to compete in extravaganzas with the temples and viewed Paul as trying to stop them from growth.

Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 1 Corinthians 10:8 (NKJV)

For the Israelites, some of their men saw the beautiful girls of Moab and mingled with them. This displeased God as they were having casual sex and participating in hedonism. God became so displease He sent a plague and these men died. It is speculative many who got the plague repented, but they still died. Twenty three thousand did not make it to the promised land because of hedonism.

nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 1 Corinthians 10:9-10 (NKJV)

The Israelites appetites were so out of control they were mad at God and mad at Moses. Thankfulness is vital to our relationship with God. Knowing the evil in their hearts God sent serpents to attack these who were unfaithful. These added to the scores of people who fell dead in the desert.

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 1 Corinthians 10:11 (NKJV)

Paul was worried for the Corinthians for they were making many of the same mistakes. The gradual drift towards the ways of the world and the building desire for sin was raising God's displeasure with them. Thus Paul wanted them to know they were not safe yet.

This race we run must be ran; you cannot stop or quit short of the end. Quitting on God allows sin to engulf your life. Jesus came that we might be saved from this life and move on to a spiritual life. We must let Him save us from evil.

When you stop letting Jesus save you; it is then, all of the enticements which have caused people to drop in the desert come flooding into our lives.

Sin is believing that you need more than what God has provided; this is the opposite of thankfulness and the start of greed.

Sin is finding fault with those God has sent to lead us; this is the opposite of thankfulness and is arrogant.

Sin is wanting to be like the world and be involved in their manors and customs; this is envy.

Sin is thinking you can lead yourself, make the right decisions in life, and still end up in the promised land. This is ignorance of the truth and a refusal to recognize Jesus as savior and Lord. This is arrogance.

Paul could not better voice his concern than to connect the example of the Israelites and the modern day Christian church at Corinth. We would do well to analyze our own attitudes towards God and examine our own attitudes in response to our deliverance.

Paul intended to wake up the church at Corinth and his letter exists to do the same towards us today.

The Racers Edge- Faithfulness

2012-01-05T12:50:00.000-08:00

There are many things and situations which hold us back, knock us down, and keep us down. Responsibilities, obligations, desires, and habitual tendencies, are all on the list of detrimental influences in our life. We could add more, but I think you get the point.

In today's passage Paul gives us an example to follow and a way to think differently about ourselves and our situations. Paul wanted the Corinthians to change the way they viewed life, church, and their relationship with God; for Paul saw danger. A very dark, penetrating, influence into the lives of these people.

In the Corinthian church there were those who criticized Paul and their criticism stemmed from fear, jealousy, and pride. While they accused Paul, they had immorality in their own church which they allowed and their church was conforming to the ways of the cultic, idol worshiping, religions which surrounded Corinth.

Disunity, straying from sound doctrine, and fear, were fatal flaws which Paul could see because Paul was an outsider looking in. So how do you heal these types of wounds in a church which had potential to fail?

Since those of the church were very worldly minded, having involved themselves in their community, Paul made an example of how a Christian should view life, by focusing their attention to an object they all knew rather well; the Olympiad.

In Greece, Olympic events were a staple of entertainment and rivalries formed their cultures. These events were of fundamental religious importance, featuring sporting events alongside of ritual sacrifices to the gods. The winners of the events were admired and immortalized in poems and statues.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NKJV)

Paul understood many in the church at Corinth were there as a second interest. If not there for a second interest, many had reasons which varied from obligation to seeking status. Thus Paul wanted to change the way they thought of their church experience so they may desire a goal set before all Christians, salvation.

Many consider salvation to be complete when a person accepts Christ and are baptized. Some teach at this point a person is safe and secure no matter what they do. Yet Paul wanted the Corinthians to think of salvation as a race.

A race has a beginning, a middle, and an end. There can be no finisher unless they complete the course. To say a person has completed the race at the start of the race would be foolish, for we all know one must endure the hardships to complete the course. Thus Paul believed a person was in a process of being saved, which began at the acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as Lord.

Therefore, placed before us is the possibility of not finishing the race, falling short, and never being saved from the effects of sin. So we ask, how is this possible for people who attend a church and have said prayers of repentance?

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.1 Corinthians 9:25-27 (NKJV)

There are many spectators in the church. They like the idea of salvation, yet they are not willing to commit the time and effort to know God through His word and prayer. They want the prize, but are not willing to run the race.

Away from church, these give into the lusts of their flesh and they seek out the best of life for themselves. There is no training or desire to live wholly for Jesus Christ.

Some do not pray and some do not seek God in the scriptures. They may go to church and listen to Christian radio, but this is like snacking without ever sitting down to a meal.

By snacking on radio sermons, and what others say about God, you are never getting a complete meal to satisfy your needs. Therefore, a person like this is malnourished and not fit to finish the race. This opens the doors for the enemy to put questions in mind and subsequently some start to doubt their spiritual leaders, as did these in Corinth.

Paul had his mind on heaven and never counted himself as obtaining it, but it was a goal to race for. So if you knew Paul well, then you would know Paul would never count any worldly gain as being more important than finishing the race. Paul kept that goal before him all the time.

These statements of Paul’s should be every person’s concern. A Christian should keep their bodies in subjection; if not, they could fall short of the finish line.

As Christians we must teach our people heaven is a valued place to reach. As Paul did not consider himself as obtaining it, so should we all. We are all in the race of being saved. Salvation is not given to just any person, only to those who will let Jesus save them.

We have three enemies, the world, the devil, and ourselves. These three oppose our entry into heaven; these want to stop us from submitting ourselves to God. They want each person to be the lord of their own life.

Is it any wonder a person would not value God’s work in the pastor’s life and they sit in judgment over him? That is how we got to this point of the passage; there were those who became critical of Paul and judged him as if their worries mattered.

Wrong thinking causes people to sin. Wrong thinking causes them to take their relationship with God for granted. Ignoring God, God’s word, or trying to find an easier way to be a Christian is a sure way not to win the race.

Then inviting things into their life which are not Godly is also a path for destruction. These are not running a race, but trying to go along as good people. They want to be accepted through association and not by letting Jesus deliver them from sin.

Salvation is a race. This means we must go straight down the track towards the finish line. We must run, and become involved in running. Paul thought that it would be a shame to do everything he has done and then miss the finish line.

So should we all consider our actions and daily activities. We need to race to the end; staying true to the word of God and helping others to do the same.

In the end, when our life is over we should be of those considered as faithful; people who submitted their life to the Lord all the way through life and finished the race.

Judging Paul.

2012-01-03T11:09:00.000-08:00

Paul's faithfulness in accepting money from the church was a point of controversy in the Corinthian Church. The church leaders gave the money to Paul to fund his missionary travels, building the church of God.

There were many times in his travels, Paul collected funds for the poorer churches to help them. However, some doubted Paul; so Paul answered their doubts in this letter. Here he states that the work of the Lord is more important than life, he would rather die than have his work collapse.

But I haven't made use of any of these rights, nor am I writing this now in order to claim such rights for myself. I would rather die first! Nobody is going to turn my rightful boast into empty words! 1 Corinthians 9:15 (NKJV)

Paul was a dedicated servant of the Lord. In this passage he takes these challenges serious, refutes them, and explains his mission is, in its entirety, to save all souls. Though he would go to other cities and different cultures, he was going there to save souls.

The skeptics had right to be skeptical; for faithful people and money can lead to problems. Yet to cause division in the church by voicing skepticism showed they handled their concerns wrongly.

Throughout history and even today some feel their church is funding vacationers and not missionaries. The sad point is some were, and are, right. The reason to go on the road is to minister and not to become trapped in seeing new countries or having new experiences. Yes, a missionary will experience new lands; however, their primary business is to serve the church. Yet those in the church who become skeptical must handle their skepticism rightly.

Did you know that missionaries who travel are often misunderstood? Because people associate travel with vacationing and pleasure, they can sometimes misunderstand what a missionary is doing when they travels.

When on the road a missionary is going from point A to point B, the place where God wants them to minister. But what is wrong with enjoying the sites, snapping some photos, and eating in the local restaurants?

The answer is, there is nothing is wrong with these. Yet the fruit of the ministry should be measured by those the missionary answers to and how a missionary present themselves should be of great importance. Thus before speaking about the sites, the food, and thrills of travel, a missionary should state their reason for their journeys and result of their mission.

I have no right to boast just because I preach the gospel. After all, I am under orders to do so. And how terrible it would be for me if I did not preach the gospel! If I did my work as a matter of free choice, then I could expect to be paid; but I do it as a matter of duty, because God has entrusted me with this task. 1 Corinthians 9:16-17 (NKJV)

A person going on a mission is to be accountable to God. These statements of Paul show even money was not his priority. He went not for the thrill, the challenge, or the cultural exposure; Paul went because he was called of God to do so.

To be a missionary a person must first be called. The missionary has responsibility for going and doing what the Holy Spirit directs them to do. Only through prayer and much time in God's word should a person measure the call on their heart to join into missions.

When a missionary says what they are to go and do, they are acting out the desires of God. This is holy ground and those who desire to go must remember they answer to God.

In addition, those who choose to become the critic of the missionary should proceed carefully; for they are treading on holy ground. If God has ordered the mission, who can criticize God?

Paul was committed to the scriptures, revelation, and inspiration; to be obedient to his calling meant Paul had to go and do. He did not negotiate his wages in advance, nor did he budget his needs. The money given to him by the church was just that a gift, not pay. Yet Paul felt responsible for his actions with everything, every situation, and every dollar, which came his way.

In his travels, he would meet many different cultures and people. Doing this he had to act different to each group. Around Romans, he would participate in Roman manors and customs. Around Jews, he would participate in Jewish manors and customs. He was a chameleon, but not for his own gain, but so that he could reach them for God.

What pay do I get, then? It is the privilege of preaching the Good News without charging for it, without claiming my rights in my work for the gospel. I am a free man, nobody's slave; but I make myself everybody's slave in order to win as many people as possible. While working with the Jews, I live like a Jew in order to win them; and even though I myself am not subject to the Law of Moses, I live as though I were when working with those who are, in order to win them. In the same way, when working with Gentiles, I live like a Gentile, outside the Jewish Law, in order to win Gentiles. This does not mean that I don't obey God's law; I am really under Christ's law. Among the weak in faith I become weak like one of them, in order to win them. So I become all things to all people, that I may save some of them by whatever means are possible. All this I do for the gospel's sake, in order to share in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:18-23 (NKJV)

Paul did not abuse the gifts, money, power, or orders that were given to him. He was a faithful servant of God. Paul was an example of how all pastors, teachers, and missionaries should be.

In our churches we must teach our people how to rightly handle their questions before they lead to skepticism. Churches need to be open to disclosure, that all might understand the expenditures for missions. A church should do all so that missionaries would not be subject to skeptical criticism.

God has ordained elders and church leaders who willingly submit to each other and that includes pastors, missionaries, and evangelists. These are those who watch over each other and encourage faithfulness in service. However, we must always consider and manage the possibility of misinformation to the members of the church.

Concern and criticism voiced unwisely could be no greater attack on the Kingdom of God.