Author: Good Life Church

Scripture:
 

1 Cor. 16:13-14
Vs 13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
Vs 14 Let all that you do be done in love.

Observation:

Paul is drawing his letter to the Corinthians to a close. This is the final chapter so he’s giving his final instructions to the church.
Paul lists many different orders for many different people.
It’s almost like Paul is a football coach giving everybody their route to run on the play.
Timothy, you go long. Apollos, you go short.
Stephanas, you run out and then come back.
But Paul is not just a coach on the sidelines.
He is very much on the field.
Should the Corinthians think Paul is just barking orders, Paul let’s them know that he is facing “many adversaries”.
Most importantly, Paul wants the Corinthians to know they are not spectators of the action.
They are participants. They are very much in the action and even necessary to everyone’s success.
They are also providing support to other “teams” in need with their generosity.
And now Paul, in his final instructions, gives his final words to pump up “the players” right before they run out of the locker room and take the field.
“Be watchful!”
“Stand firm!”
“Act like men!”
“Be strong!”
Yep, it it all sounds like the football coaches I’ve heard through out my life.
Until immediately after these statements, Paul says this:
“Let all that you do be done in love!”
Let all that you do be done in love?
This is not the instruction of a coach trying win a game.
This is the instruction of a new man with a new message trying to win the world.

Application:

What am I more concerned with?
What I look like on the outside?
Or what I am on the inside?
I like the instruction Paul gives in verse 13.
Those are easy to wrap my head around and “act out”.
“Be watchful!”
“Stand firm!”
“Act like men!”
“Be strong!”
I can do all these things … with my own rationalizations and justifications of why my actions may be watchful, or firm, or manly, or strong.
But Paul takes away the chance of my own spin on things when he tells me in verse 14, “Let all that you do be done in love”.
ALL?! ALL?! Really, Paul?!
As in everything? Everyday? All day? Be done in love!
Yeah, this takes something new. I can be strong, or alert, or even my own definition of manly when I want to.
But to do ALL is LOVE will take a changed heart.
I can’t do this with my own strength.
I can only do this with guidance and conviction of the Holy Spirit.
I can only do this while trying to imitate Jesus Christ.
What am I more interested in … winning a game? Or winning the world?
I can win a short term game by looking right on the outside.
I will lose the long term mission by being wrong on the inside.
What am I more concerned with … outer piety … or inner purity?
To do ALL in LOVE I must have a pure heart, not pious acts.
I must seek inner purity more than outer piety.

Prayer:

Thank you God for your love.
Thank you that you do all things in love.
Help me to be watchful and strong and stand firm
In love
In Jesus name
Ame

Scripture:

 ^{1 Corinthians 15:36}

 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 

Observation:

Paul is obviously speaking to either the Sadducees or people who have been influenced by the Sadducees who believe in no resurrection of the dead. He is clearing up different miscommunications and seemingly things that are getting people held up on this idea of resurrection and what it means. He has to clarify what the resurrection provides to us in Christ and what it provides the one not in Christ. He gives encouragement in the Hope we have beyond this life because of the resurrection and the hope we would only have in this life apart from the resurrection.

Application:

Something does not live unless it dies. This statement is in a sense discouraging only because I see things in my life that I want to live and flourish, but I have an incredibly difficult time killing. But this passage of scripture is full of hope as the reality that something that dies has the ability to be changed and brought to new life. This is the story of my life, though not perfect is alive from my former life apart from Jesus. Though I still sin, my old self has died and when that old self try’s to come back conviction and repentance follows as the one who made me alive is within. What I sow into my body spiritually speaking does not fully bloom unless the sinful area it is attacking dies. This is difficult because it is hard to put off and kill what seems natural at times. This is proof and dependent upon the grace of my Lord Jesus and found in his Word of which spotlights the sinful areas of my life. What needs to die in my life in order for it to live? What in my life was alive but I killed because of my own sin? How can I ensure that things in my life that need to die and be sowed into get the proper attention it needs?

Prayer:

Father, I thank you for your spirit that convicts and leads to repentance. Show me the areas that need to die in my life and may they live because they die first. Help me be like you Lord.

Scripture:  

“Pursue love and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts especially that you may prophesy….So with yourselves-since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit—strive to excel in building up the church.” 1 Cor 14:1 and 12

Observation:  

Paul is coming off an opus on Gifts in Chapter 12 and 13.  In Chapter 12 and 13 Paul not only writes about Gifts, he also puts the guardrail of a proper attitude upon it: Love.  In Chapter 14 now he writes about motivation and objective.

Application:

I confess: I am an old charismatic.  Or am I still new?  I don’t know, maybe that is rhetorical.  I think in Reformed Theology within a significant charismatic framework.  What does that do for me that it doesn’t for others?  I am still learning.  But that is for me to write about another time.

In the above scripture references I have circled/outlined in various copies of my Bible three words.  Significant words.  Three words that speak of how I am to approach my Walk in the Gospel.

First word:  Pursue.  Second word: Earnestly.  Third word: Strive.

From our high school English we see 2 verbs and a single adverb.  The adverb “earnestly” is a modifier for the verb “desire.” “Pursue” and “Strive” are verbs that connote the sense of effort.

All of these words are another reminder about the effort concerning walking in the Gospel—we are to put some “oomph” into being a disciple.  I have these words and many others circled in the New Testament because not that I am clever (far from that) but I NEED the reminder of the Holy Spirt to singularly get off my derrière and do.

But to do what?  There are many targets and objectives cited in the New Testament but here in verse 12 it says to “Strive to excel in building up the church.”  The idea I take out of this is to give effort to making the local church strong and able to withstand the winds and waves of opposition (in any form it manifests), to perform works of service, and to display the miracle of the Gospel in my life and my mouth.

I have been in churches where I felt alone; not cared for; an outsider.  To be sure that is not all those local church’s fault-a good part of that was mine.  (Note: If I understand the Gospel I cannot keep score.  Other folks don’t make me sin.)  My feelings are and should be irrelevant.  Another note: I know my feelings are real and need to be harnessed by the power of the Holy Spirit.  We’ll get there by the Grace of God on a daily basis.

Here is the gist of this chapter: Purse, earnestly desire, strive.  However I might think of how the Scriptures speak to me, the Scriptures DO speak.  When I see Verbs and Adverbs like these I need to pay attention to what the Spirit is saying.  I may not know how to respond yet but I need to pay attention for the long term.

Example: Concerning building up the local church: Peter writes “The end of all things is at hand.  Therefore….” and in 1 Peter 5 he writes out a list.  There is a significant instruction for “end time living” here: “Practice hospitality without complaint.”  I confess this is a difficult issue at times.  But it is still an objective-keep it in front of the face in the mirror.

Being acutely aware of these strong and decisive action words from the Hand of the Holy Spirit is imperative for Believers so that we can be a building block for a healthy local church.

Prayer:  

Aw, Father: A lot of times I feel like I am just scratching the surface of the Gospel.  There are things that I write confidently about that I am haphazard in employing.  Nevertheless please work in my heart and mind that these things I learn I can put into action, displaying the Gospel and like Paul wrote Timothy “Practice these things; immerse yourself in them so that all may see your progress.” 1 Tim 4:15 Thank You, Father.  My prayer.  For the rest of my life.  AMEN.

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is patient and Kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things.

Observation:

Paul is sharing with the Corinthian church what love from God looks like versus what is has become in the Corinthian church.  People have become more concerned about their gifts and recognition than where they got them and to use them to glorify God.  When we let pride in, no believer or church is beyond this.  This just highlights our need for redemption and to respond to the love Christ showed for us on the cross.

Application:

To love as God loves, I must love with the fruit of Spirit patiently and kindly.  It’s not about what I’ve done but what He has done for me.  I know God was and is patient and kind to me as I took a long time to receive His grace and love.   It is really hard for me to love someone in true Christian love if I am wanting to prove a point to be right, am grumbling about something or glad somebody got what they deserved.  I have to love in response to the grace given to me by the Father through Christ.  Truth and love go hand in hand and I have to carry love in one hand and truth in the other. No matter what I do it has to be done in love as love endures everything.     

Prayer:

Father,

Thank you for the love and grace you have given me through Christ. Let me respond to your love by loving others unconditionally and sacrificially rather than out of my own selfish desire.  Help me to share your love and truth to give the glory to you. 

Scripture :

1 Corinthians 12:12

 “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.”

Observation :

In first Corinthians chapter 12 the apostle Paul writes to the church concerning spiritual gifts. He is clear that all believers have the Spirit working in them and equipping them for service. However, though the Spirit is working in all He does not equip all in the same way. Each member has different gifts and each gift is vital to health in the local church.

Application :

Everyone in the local church has a value and a place to serve. Am I using my gifts and helping others use and find their gifts as well? Every part of the body is necessary and valuable. Christianity apart from connection to the local church and serving is a foreign concept to the writers of the Scripture. Today, I want to be an encouragement to those in Christ recognizing that if they are different than me it is because God has given them different gifts and they are equally as valuable as mine or what I would be more comfortable with.

Prayer :

Thank You Lord that you have given me gifts to serve. Help me recognize and appreciate Your gifts in others. Continue to build Your church here in our two county area and I pray that you will help me be a cultivator of seeing people’s gifts be used for Your Kingdom. 

Scripture:   

“For, in the first place, when you come together as a church I hear that there are divisions’ among you.  And I believe it in part for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized….”

(Concerning Communion) “When you come together is it not the Lord’s Supper that you eat?…(note this) …”…This is my body which is for you.  Do this in remembrance of Me.”…”This cup is the new Covenant in My blood…do this, as often as you drink it in remembrance of Me.”

Let a person examine himself then…” 1 Cor 11:18-25; and v28a

Observation:

 However we get bogged down in the details, the Holy Spirit is good to us in pointing out the mountains as well as the valleys; the critical control points as well as the process.

Application:  

Couldn’t help slipping into shop speak.

Critical control points are those points in industrial process where it is recognized that a problem could lurk and it is identified where problems could be avoided.  CCP’s can be identified in our Christian walk as well.  Paul is identifying two that I think are broadly related.  If I can identify these then I can engage with the sanctifying aspect of the Holy Spirit to avoid them.

Factions lead to divisions.  If I remember correctly Paul addressed this earlier in 1st Corinthians: “Some of you say I am of Paul, others Apollos…”  It is like living in Tampa Bay and telling me you are a Yankee fan.  “What??  How can you NOT support the Rays, the home town team?”  Back then in the Church it was probably the Jews v. Gentiles (probably not church league softball either) or as Paul writes, “rich and poor.”

And then this conflict (division from each other due to faction among the local church) spilled over into Communion and begins the identifying process of unintended but inevitable consequences taking Communion in an unworthy manner.

Here’s the deal to the face in the mirror: Have I EVER approached Communion haphazardly?  Neglectful?  Irreverent?  Sloppily and not serious?  To my shame (which I don’t feel at the moment, really), yes, yes I have.

Two key phrases here: “when you come together” and, “let a person examine himself.”  These are two critical control points. When I get together with the church I have important tasks to do ahead of gathering.  Tasks like: Conflict management and resolution with any other person as necessary.  I shouldn’t celebrate Jesus’ atonement for me resulting in the Father’s forgiveness if I have not forgiven someone else (especially if they are in front of me, like say, at church?), and; have I examined myself to “see if there be any wayward way in me?”

Thankfully I don’t write this to be self-condemning-but I am writing this to be serious about walking through the CCP’s.  Confess, repent, move on-repeat as necessary.  None of us get it right all the time.

Prayer:  

 Father: I confess I sometimes approach Your Table flippantly.  I ask Your forgiveness and I repent.  Please help me, Holy Spirit, to not do this.  Help me to keep You and Your majesty in my eyesight all the time.  Thank you for being my atonement, Lord Jesus.  AMEN.

Scripture:

1 Cor 10:6-Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.   

Observation:

We can all learn from past behavior even if it is not ours. It was true back then and it is still true today. Paul was speaking to the Corinthians. He gave them examples of how actions by God’s people lead to sin and, ultimately, destruction and death. He shared examples of behaviors that had occurred in the past as a warning to the Corinthians and to us.  Twice Paul stated “these things happened as examples” to keep us from behaving in the same manner and experiencing the same end result.

Application:

In the examples that Paul provided, certain behaviors caused pain, death and destruction. Temptations are all around me. I must be aware of the temptations and be able to remove myself from its path. Even if I feel I am doing well in my walk, I must be aware of outside influences at all times. The world says to pursue success, happiness, wealth. I need to choose to pursue faithfulness.

They say history repeats itself. An often heard quote is “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”  I must remember the examples Paul has provided. The serve as a reminder that God will punish believers. He will punish those whose faith is not directed toward him. God did not want these people to sin but He allowed it so we may read, study and learn from these examples.  Like the early Christians that built altars as reminders, I need to put markers in my life that remind me of times that I was able to stand firm. They can serve as beacons to keep me on the right path.

Prayer:

Keep me from temptation. Keep me seeking your will and what is right in your eyes. Remind me of the behaviors that cause me to stray from your path so that I can stand firm at all times.

Scripture:

1 Cor. 9

Vs 10 Does (God) not certainly speak for our sake? It (the law) was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.
Vs 15 But I, Paul, have made no use of any of these rights,
Vs 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.
Vs 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
Vs 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
Vs 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.
Vs 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control

Observation:

Paul is explaining to the Corinthian church what he has a right to receive versus what he is actually receiving.
Paul has a right, like the plowman or the thresher, to receive something for his work … “a share in the crop”.
But Paul is deliberately denying himself this right because he is “entrusted with a stewardship”.
This is to work on someone else’s behalf. Paul works on behalf of God and His gospel.
For this, Paul doesn’t receive a “share of the crop”. Paul receives a “share of blessings”.
To focus efforts on “a share of the crop” is to value “a perishable wreath”.
Paul wants us, as Christians, to value to “imperishable”.
To do this in a world so out of focus will require intentionality, discipline, and self-control.

Application:

I like to think of myself as my own boss, but Paul has been reminding me that I have been bought with a price.
I am not my own.
Here Paul reminds me that not just my body is not my own, but even my actions are not my own.
Even my work is not my own! I have stewardship.
I must have the right focus … and not simply a focus on “my work” or “getting the job done” (“plowing & threshing”).
I must focus, as Paul says, on “doing it all for the sake of the Gospel”.
There are so many distractions, though, the world does not want me to focus on the gospel.
Even as I type this I’m receiving Groupon Deals emailed to me … because “I’ve earned a long weekend”!
“I’ve earned it?” Really? … Paul says he makes no use of what he’s earned … He’s focused on the gospel.
But here comes another email … and another … and now a text … and another …
The world does not want me to focus on the gospel … it wants me to focus on “what I’ve earned”.
And now a knock on my office door … UGH!  … another distraction, now from an office colleague.
I think in my head “Go away! I’m trying to get something done …. I’m doing my devotional!”
“For the sake of the Gospel … Go away!!!”     
My colleague walks into my office. I’m sure she wants to tell me about her big 3-day weekend plans.
I thought wrong. … She’s not excited, she’s clearly distraught about something.
She sits down at my desk and tells me her daughter is getting a divorce.
I’m glad I didn’t tell her to “Go away”.
The easy Christian answer is “God hates divorce”.
She tells me her son-in-law is a sex addict, and he’s habitually frequenting prostitutes. (yes, you read that right.)
I’m really glad I didn’t blurt out, “God hates divorce”.
I think to myself, “Focus on the Gospel. Focus on the Gospel.”
I know she’s talking to me right now because I’m the “Christian guy” in the office.
So, I ask her, “Do your daughter and son-in-law have any sort of ‘faith’? Do they believe in God?”
“Oh yeah!”, she says … “He’s an active member in their church!” (not Good Life, by the way)
Ughh … What do I say to that?! … “We’re all sinners”? …. “We all need forgiveness”? … “Grace abounds”?
A rolodex of 50 things spin through my mind … they are all clichés … pure Christian triteness.
I can only finally whisper out … “I am so … so… sorry”.
It’s the only thing I can actually say …. And then I just sit there.
She talks … I nod … She cries … I cry.
I say again, “I am so … so … sorry”.

I’m so glad I didn’t tell her to “Go away” because I’m trying to do my religious thing.
This morning there is no “getting things done” … there is no “threshing and plowing” … there is no “sharing in the crops”.
But there is hope … there is a focus on the “unperishable”.
I don’t know where this story goes. But I know I’m in it now “for the sake of the gospel”.

Prayer:

Thank you, God, for Your Gospel.
Give me discipline and self-control to not focus on the wrong things
Help me do all things for the sake of the Gospel
Help this young family, and particularly this young husband
Help my colleague
May they each come close to you in this
In Jesus name
Amen

Scripture:  

 This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. ² If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. ³ But if anyone loves God, he is known by God 1 Corinthians 8:2-3

Observation: 

Food is something is simple and is consumable by all…Not every type of food was consumed back in the first century and it would cause some to stumble in their knowledge of Jesus. The urge here is to be wise and love and let that shape your actions for the building up of others.

Application:    

What should knowledge do in us, through us, and for others? Knowledge is something when obtained by us makes us feel superior to others. We make statements like; “I know what I am talking about”, “Have you studied what I studied?” We feel better than others because of the knowledge that God has allowed us to obtain. What God is teaching me here is it is better to love than to know. People can know big words, a lot of history, and everything that the bibles says, but if we do not love it is pointless and meaningless. I need to hear this today. I focus so much on what I can tell people about the bible rather than living out what the bible tells me. Humility and sacrifice is the two words described in these two verses…When I think I know, I do not know. When I loved God I am known by God.

A couple things;

1. It is better to love than to know. God doesn’t care how much I know as much as he cares that I love with the same love he gives me.
2. Humble myself before the mighty God and trust in his love for myself today.
3. Build people up today and don’t tear them down.
4. People aren’t impressed with big words and knowledge but they are CHANGED by love

Prayer: 

      Lord teach my heart today. Let these just not be words, let these be declarations over my life every day of the life you have given me. I love you Lord Jesus and I pray I walk in obedience today.

Scripture:  

“Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not have sexual relations with a woman.”  (But) because of the temptation to sexual immorality each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.  The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights and likewise the wife to her husband….Do not deprive one another except by agreement for a limited time that you may devote yourselves to prayer-but come together again…Let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him…. (Remember), You were bought with a price…” 1 Cor 7:1-5; 17; 23

Observation: 

I think there is a key principle here that the Holy Spirit is saying: Live whole heartedly to God.  The rest are details to be surrendered to….

Application:    

If I look at the whole of Chapter 7 I see that there are statements about men, women, marriage, slave, and free.  All these statements come as a corrective action to what was going on at the church at Corinth.

It probably started innocently enough as a reaction to the culture of the Corinthian community AND as a desire to be “set apart in holiness.”  But it devolved into a set of rules and Biblical godliness suffered as a result.

Sex all over the town?  Time to be an ascetic and stop all sex-even between husband and wife.  Maybe abuse was going on, men treating women badly.  Maybe other things: the letter to Corinth refers to some “out there” things later on.  Whatever are the core issues, for sure the subject of sex can bring out the extremes.  And with extremes, come speed bumps to stumble over.

Time for transparency: Sex is an issue I have had issues with all my life.  Burn with passion?  Boy, do I know that feeling.  But now I am experiencing the other swing of the pendulum.

For younger guys, self-control is the need.  For wives, the same (according to Paul in the scriptures).  For older guys?  Yep, self-control–but like me, maybe in the other direction of drive.

The point for me (and maybe others) is: How do I please God?  Note that I am not referring to earning my salvation but the turning of my heart towards Him who Called me.  Married men?  Married Women?  Unmarried?  This is the cry to have: “I want to please You O God!!”

The gist of Chapter 7 on marriage and sexual relations is that in marriage, sex is to serve, not to be serviced.  For the unmarried it is the same: Serve God, not yourself.  In marriage “How do I serve my wife?”  Or “how to I serve my husband?”  There isn’t a rule here to follow except for following the principles of being a disciple.

I was bought with a price!!  I would like to think I adhere to “my life is no longer my own.”  In practice this is so far from the truth.  It is why I must be ruthless and fierce with fighting the sin within, mortifying that wretched creature that I was set free from—and finding that it is still hard to run from.

“To the Cross I cling, the Blood that washes me clean.”  Again and again, every day I must look to the Cross.

Prayer: 

O God.  Please do not let this journal entry be just a set of words, an assignment to be completed.  I write this facing the man in the mirror. Deliver me, O God so that I may serve properly as a husband.  Help those reading this begin to pray with a view of the mirror, man and women.  I pray Father that I am NOT being self-serving-if I am, Holy Spirit make me see it.  Marriage is a gift and I thank You for the gift You have given me, the best thing that has happened to me.  Help others to see as sharply as I do about their spouse.  AMEN

Scripture:   

(From Paul) “This is how one should regard us-as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God….For (though) you have countless guides in Christ you do not have many fathers; for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.  I urge you then: Be imitators of me.  That is why I sent you Timothy to remind you my ways in Christ (as I teach them everywhere in every church).”  (1 Cor 4:1 and 15-17)

Observation:  

Perspectives: Paul is asking Corinth to optimize their perspective about himself.  What is the difference between “guides” and fathers? Answer: Investment in our lives.

Application:

 For years I have encountered many “guides in Christ.”  These folks may have good, strong insight in the ways of our Lord; lots of Bible to communicate; teachers up the wazoo.  These folks have what looks like solid guidance, even holy/godly guidance.

But: what kind of “fathers in Christ” have I had?  From my perspective not too many.  Maybe I am shortsighted that way, I don’t know.

What is the difference between a “guide” and a “father?”  I have a number of men that I am grateful that God brought into my path.  I learned a lot; these guys taught and modeled stuff that helped me be the fellow I am today, helped give definition to my character.  But my Dad: no other guy like him.  Fathers are given the responsibility for the sons and daughters-there is an interest given by God.  Another point: Children are heirs of the fathers-Guides cannot bequeath an inheritance.   Fathers have an investment for the future generations.  Fathers not only teach but they are making future men to raise their own children.

What good are guides, then?  Guides can provide a perspective of the Ways and Works of God that are specific to issues and to the Word of God.  The downside is that guides can be a bit myopic, perhaps only focused on the issue of the day and moving as the Spirit leads.  Just like going to school guides can provide separate courses of education-fathers can help in integrating all the “courses” into a life.

Why am I writing about this?  We have a Father whom is perfect in all of His ways with us.  His objective is to make us into the image of His Son, having already adopted us and made us heirs in Christ.  One of the streams of hope found in the Gospel.  Set up and assert: Follow me as I follow Christ.

On this day of Pentecost there is a deposit of God from the Gospel for all who believe: It is God Himself the Holy Spirit.  “Draw near….and He will give you rest.”  Drawing near is an effort that we must engage in daily.  Note that it IS effort for the sin that we have been set free from is constantly there, drawing us, enticing us, tempting us to fall away from the Living God.  Guides and Fathers are gifts of grace-but some are wolves.  Pray for discernment of the difference.

Here is another gift of Grace: the Community of Believers in the Local Church.  Embrace them, pray for each other, encourage each other daily that we do not fall into temptation…

Prayer:  

Lord God, Father: Finding my Hope in You is a daily exercise.  There are times that I think that my Faith expressed once should be enough, more than once and I must be weak in faith.  I know through Your Word that is not so.  Every day I see Your Mercies.  Every day I am a grateful servant of the Most High.  Every day I must make effort, yes, fight to keep my eye on You, to have hearing ears and soft heart to be moldable by the Potter’s hands.  Help me be settled and not anxious.  Help me be patient and calm.  I want to walk in Your Ways all the days of my life.  AMEN.

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?  You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.  So glorify God in your body.

Observation:

Paul is concluding this section to tell the Corinthians gospel truths as to why to avoid sexual immorality.  Through Christ’s death and resurrection, Jesus was raised up by the Father and as believers we will be raised in Christ and united as one with Him.  The Father paid full price for my soul with the blood of Jesus and this is the greatest sacrifice of all and for that we should be grateful and live in response.  The union to Christ, with the Holy Spirit indwelling, gives us power to overcome temptation throughout our walk. 

Application:

The popular statement in our society, “It is my body, I can do what I want – I’m not hurting anyone” is directly opposed to the gospel truth that Paul is sharing with the church at Corinth.  When we accept Jesus as our Lord and savior, our bodies are united with Christ.  Our bodies are a new creation in Christ and we are to live a life for Christ.  Sexual sin is not only sin against our own body but sin against Christ.  Our bodies, temples with the Holy Spirit in us, should be used in self-sacrifice rather than self-gratification to give the glory to God in all we do. 

Prayer:

Father,

Thank you for paying for my soul so I am united with you in Christ. Let the power of the Holy Spirit within me guide me to be grateful for your grace and live a life to glorify you.

Scripture :

1 Corinthians 5:12

“For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?”

Observation :

Paul writes strongly against immorality within the church in 1 Corinthians chapter 5. His call is not for those within the church to be judgmental towards people outside of the church, his call is to take seriously holiness within the church. The local body of Christ is called to live set apart in 1 Corinthians and strive for unity and purity.

Application :

It should be expected that people who do not have the Spirit of God live like the world. Too often it can be easy to judge them instead of have my heart broken for them. The call of 1 Corinthians is to examine my own purity and be a light to the world around me who desperately needs Jesus. 

Prayer :

Help me Father today to not look judgmentally towards those in the world but instead break my heart for them and use me to be a light to them. Thank You for the power and truth in Your gospel.

Scripture:

 1 Cor 3:6-7  I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.  So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.  

Observation:

Paul was speaking to the Corinthians. He was letting them know that their faith is far from mature. He also shares an example that shares the viewpoint that people have an overinflated view of themselves and their importance. We are not acting alone in our effort to bring people to Christ. In these two verses Paul demonstrates that everyone has a purpose but everyone’s purpose is different, according to God’s will. In this example, one planted and one watered. My gifts, talents and purpose is not better or more important (or less important) than someone else, it is different. God will use people and events to make things happen.

Application:

I am not alone in my efforts to bring people to accept Christ. I am also not as important as I think I am. Paul uses the analogy of someone planting seeds and someone else watering them. He didn’t say which, if either, was more critical or important to the success. Rather Paul states is that God is the only one that makes things grow. He does not need me to accomplish His will. He allows me to be a part of the process and to use me and others to accomplish His will on earth.

I must be patient. Seeds don’t grow overnight. They take time and they take some nurturing. Regardless of whether I plant or water or pick weeds, it takes time for something to grow and mature. And, there is no guarantee what was planted will grow.

Like the fans of the 76er’s in basketball, I must trust the process. There is a time to plant and a time to water. A farmer can’t plant corn in late August and harvest in September. I can’t plant seeds when there is snow on the ground.  Water where there are no seeds planted is a waste of time and water. Often part of my frustrations occur because my timing is off or, worse, I completely miss my timing. I must be aware and know when to plant, when to water and when to wait.

 Prayer:

Remind me of my place, my time and my purpose. Let me focus on my efforts and how I can maximize my gifts for your glory. Let me never forget that it is you that makes things grow and that you allow me to be a part of the process.

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 2
Vs 3 I (Paul) was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
Vs 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
Vs 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Wisdom from the Spirit
Vs 6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.

Observation:

Paul is providing a huge reminder here to the Corinthian church.
The power that matters is the power of God!
Anyone who observes power from the proclamation of the gospel should observe the power of God, not the power of a person.
It’s so important that Paul even states that this is the very resting place of a person’s faith: “the power of God”.
A person’s faith simply will not last when placed on other things, particularly “the wisdom of man”.
Faith placed in the wisdom of man is “doomed to pass away”.

Application:

I am seeing three applications going on from Paul: Proclamation, Demonstration, and Impartation
Each of these must be done from a posture of humility, recognizing that it is God at work.
Proclamation, (Paul even calls them “my words”) are “not words of wisdom”.
Demonstration is “of the Spirit”.
Impartation is “not a wisdom of this age”.
So, it is a wisdom, but it is not a wisdom that will be recognized without the Holy Spirit, “among the mature”.
It is helpful to me that this is coming from Paul, a man who took so much pride in his learning, a man who had even memorized the Bible.
In the Information Age, it is easy to mistake having a quantity of knowledge for having a quality of wisdom.
I must always keep myself in check as it relates the wisdom of man versus the wisdom of God.
Yet, the fascinating thing is that God still gives me a role to play.  
Even though it is all through the power of God, I still must get to work!
Paul even says it is “my speech” and “my message” and “we do impart wisdom”.
In recognizing God is a work, Paul doesn’t sit back now and say his actions are worthless or futile.
It’s just that Paul’s actions are only worthy when done from a proper understanding of “power” and “wisdom”.
God wants me to participate in the unfolding of His plan.
This is an incredible privilege!
And when I live out this privilege from a posture of humility, there will be Proclamation, Demonstration, and Impartation.
But it will all be done for what matters eternally, not what is “doomed to pass away”.

Prayer:

Thank you God, for your word and your wisdom.
Give me your maturity Holy Spirit to see and understand it.
Show me how and where to demonstrate your power.    
Give me the courage to do so
In Jesus name
Amen