Giving to Get or Getting to Give

Recently I was watching an old episode of Everybody Loves Raymond.  In this particular one Raymond and Robert are plotting for an opportunity to go away for a weekend of golf.  However, Ray does not feel as though he can just ask Deborah to let him go so he begins to plot a scheme to butter up Deborah.  Since it is Christmas time Ray decides to use his gift to Deborah as a perfect opportunity to guilt her into letting him go play golf.  His plan is to give Deborah a gift so nice that she will feel obligated to let Ray go on the outing.  As the time approaches to exchange gifts, Ray has discovered, with the help of Robert that Deborah is “supposed” to be giving him a tie.  Therefore, Ray plans to give Deborah the Crockpot she wants but also add in a side gift of nice cookware.   When the exchange of gifts takes place Deborah is ecstatic over her gifts but Ray has a surprise waiting for him.  When Deborah hands him his gift it was not the perceived tie but rather an expensive DVD player and movies.  (The tie was actually for Robert.)  Needless to say much turmoil and chaos erupted when the truth was revealed on the presents and the purpose behind them.

This sitcom episode makes me ask the question, “Why do we give gifts to one another?”  Do we give out of obligation or do we give out of love?  By obligation I am referring to the thought of they gave me a gift last year or I have a feeling they plan to give me a gift this year.  The word obligation does not lend itself to the feeling of generosity.  Instead, it gives a sense of necessity or requirement, neither of which conveys the feeling of love and generosity.  Obligation is defined as something that must be done because of a legal or moral duty.  This should have no part in gift giving.  We must be compelled to give out of love not an obligation.  When I give gifts to my family I do not think in terms of “having to give.”  Instead I look at the opportunity to give in order to express my love to those I cherish.

In the same sense when Jesus came to earth in the form of a baby, God’s gift to each of us was not obligatory but instead it was compelled by His great love for each of us.  John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His Son…”  God has set the great example of giving.  Just as Jesus is recorded as saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” we too should follow this example.  (Acts 20:35)

This Christmas as you make out your Christmas list examine your heart and ask, “Am I giving out of obligation or love?”  You will find your joy is enhanced when you learn to give out of love more than obligation.

May God bless you this Christmas in ways you never expected!

Pastor Ric

Faithfully Giving Back to God for the Blessings He Gives

One of the hardest subjects for me to preach is stewardship.  This is not because I don't give of my tithes and offereings but because this is one area which people get very sensitive.  I love what a pastor friend calls this issue, "Cirrohsis of the Giver."  Whether this is original with him or not does not matter.  The weight of the issue is that we have a giving problem in the church today.  When only 3-5% of church attenders give a tithe of their income, then we have a problem.  Who is to blame for this problem?  The leadership of the church for not teaching the proper way to give?  Dave Ramsey says, "Don't tell your church to give; teach them how to give!"  Is the problem the economy?  I have a tough time believing that because we find ways to continue to eat out, go to movies, buy new things, and the list could go on and on.  I tweeted a quote which I recently read that said, "If it is important to you then you will find a way; if not you will find an excuse."  We like to make excuses for not tithing more than actually tithing.  Is it the person's fault?  Well in my house, if I don't set my alarm the night before to awaken me the next morning, I can blame my wife and kids, but the truth is I am an adult with responsibilities; therefore, I must "man-up" to my shortcomings. 

In Ps. 24:1 David writes, "The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord."  How much are we taking from God's treasury by not giving back to God of His tithe and His wealth?  Malachai tells us to "Bring the full ten percent into the storehouse...Test me in this way says the Lord of Hosts.  See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour our a blessing for you without measure."

Why not give it a shot?  God has never been unfaithful!  Give Him your tithe and see how He blesses you.

Pastor Ric

Prayer

I am wondering about Prayer and how we respond to prayer.  Would you give me your thoughts on the following questions regarding prayer? 

1. When do you pray most?  (Not just time of day but occasions)
2. What enhances your prayer time?
3. What restricts your prayer time?
4. How do you approach God when you have prayed for something but not received the answer you desired?
5. How do you feel when you have prayed but your answer was not what you desired but other people have received the answer to their prayer?

 I would love your feedback.  Have a great day and may God bless you greatly this day.

Pastor Ric

Philippians 4

Philippians 4

I love chapter four of Philippians.  I know I really stressed how great chapter 2 is, but the reality is that I just love the book of Philippians.  Paul writes with such practical advice for the church.  In chapter four alone I find six different verses which are stand out verses, meaning they really pack a punch for each of us in our Christian walk.  These verses have been quoted time and again by numerous believers from all walks of life.  Let's look at each of these with a brief explanation.

Verse 4:  Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!--I once heard Dr. Mark Foley speak on this passage to which he reminded us that Paul is stating that we must rejoice not in circumstances for they will change but to rejoice in the only true constant, our Lord Jesus Christ.  By the way, Paul really wanted to stress this by repeating himself!

Verse 6:  Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving; let your requests be made known to God.  Paul continues the thought of rejoicing in spite of circumstances by saying not to worry about anything.  He tells the reader to take the burden or worry to God through prayer.  I think the major problem we see in situations where we worry is not that we don't pray, but that we pray without leaving the problem in God's hands.  We lay it at His feet but pick it up before we leave.  In addition, we also fail to trust God is listening, caring, and working the situation out to our best in the way we want.

Verse 7:  And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Here Paul is carrying out the thought of submitting our worries to God by stating that WHEN we leave our cares with God we will experience such a peace that only God can bring.  This peace will not only be indescribable but liberating from the anxieties of life on this earth. 

Verse 8:  Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.  Paul recognizes the mind is a powerful weapon for or against us depending on how it is utilized.  What we find is that Paul is stressing the importance of understanding the correlation between the things we think about compared with the way we act.  If we think on worldly things dwelling on them, then our attitude and actions will  reflect the world.  Additionally, he recognizes that if we think on God and His realm then we are more likely to take on the attitude and activities of God.  As the mind thinks, so the person shall act.  There was an old saying years ago about the dangers of drugs that went like this, "The mind is a terrible thing to waste."  I think this statement is equally true, "The mind is a terrible thing to misuse!"

Verse 13:  I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.  At Faith Academy Christian School where Raegan attended in Mobile they asked the student athletes and cheerleaders who were graduating to give their favorite Bible verse.  When they responded, the majority of the students quoted this verse.  Raegan had on her megaphone for cheerleading this verse.  I have heard many people quote and use this verse in trying times.  What makes it so powerful and widely quoted?  There seems to be a correlation between accomplishing great things in the power of God.  However, if we look at the context Paul is stating that regardless of what state of circumstances he has been in, he has found that through the power of God he could succeed.  Paul reminds us that he has plenty and he has had little to nothing, but regardless God has strengthened him to succeed in the mission to which God has called him.

Verse 19:  And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever.  Like many other verses in the Bible, this one is often misquoted.  I hear people say, and my God will supply all MY needs...when the verse really says all YOUR needs... We like to think that God is going to supply our needs, and he will but the context of the verse deals with Paul's encouragement to the Philippians for giving generously to his mission endeavors while in Thessalonica and Macedonia.  He wants them to understand that as they have sacrificially given, God will supply for the needs they encounter.  Therefore, be cautious in claiming this verse out of context.  Paul states that because of their generosity, God will supply their needs.

While I have listed several primary verses, I would love to hear your thoughts on which verse means the most to you and why.  Please post your comments here for a source of encouragement to all of us.

Philippians 3

I remember this passage well from a time years ago when a lady looked at me and sad she was tired to which I replied that I understood for I was also tired.  She gave me one of those looks like yea right.  I replied that it had been a long hard week and I had put in a lot of hours.  She very pointedly told me she could work that many hours too if she were pressing.  I asked, "What do you mean by pressing?"  She told me, in no uncertain terms, "Pressin' yo bottom on that chair."  Well Paul talks about pressing but not pressing a portion of one's anatomy to a chair.  He encourages the church of Philippi to press on to the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus.  Before we can press on though we must forget the past!  Some of us are weighed down so heavily by our past that we cannot move forward adequately.  Many times in my life I have allowed Satan to beat me up over past mistakes, of which I had already been cleansed, but could not forgive myself.  These mistakes had become a burden which the enemy kept me from pursuing the calling of Christ in my life.  Other times people allow their past accomplishments to keep them from pursuing the goal set before them by God.  I think of one friend in particular whom God had called to life at a young age but my friend would not surrender.  He went out on his own made a mark in the business world and continued to run from God's calling.  It wasn't until later that God got his attention through a tragic accident that he forgot the accomplishments of self and sought out the prize of God. 

After we forget the past, we must then press on reaching forward to what is ahead.  While in high school I played wide receiver for our football team.  One of the things our coach taught us in running our routes for pass plays was not to look back for the ball until the right time.  One of the reasons for this technique was because when we look back it slows us down.  The race we run as a Christian requires that we not allow anything to slow us down from pursuing the directions of God.  We must continue to work at keeping our velocity at a pace to run so as to win the prize of God.  Another reason we are told not to look back is that we could miss the goal.  While running track, I ran the 220 low hurdles race.  In one race I lost my focus and had to choose between hitting a hurdle and going around it.  I chose to run around the hurdle so as not to fall.  Although I crossed the finish line first, I was disqualified because I missed one of the goals.  When we lose our focus and do not finish the race of God's because we took our eyes off of the goal, then we can lose the race and not finish strong as God desires. God's desire is for us to finish the race by glorifying Him in all we do and sharing His Good News with all we meet.  I like Paul's way of thinking when he says, "Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus."  Here is the question for the day, "Have you been taken hold of by Jesus Christ?"  When Jesus gets a hold of us, our passion will be to compete in such a way as to honor Him and finish the race for Him well.  How are you running? 

Philippians 2

As I read this great chapter from Paul's letter to the Philippians, I remember my first semester in seminary as I was working on my master's degree.  I was an unknowing first year student and did not realize the enormity of my load in one class in particular until it was too late.  We sat and listened to the syllabus for the class and discovered that one assignment was to exegete the first eleven verses of chapter two.  What I discovered is that this passage would become one of my favorites from Paul's writings and one of the most prolific in describing the divinity and humanity of Christ explicitly detailing His heart of generosity and love for mankind.  In detailing this chapter I want to share two thoughts regarding the portions that stand out to me so greatly.

First, as we look at verses 1-4 once again we see the theme Paul stressed to the church of Corinth and Dr. Luke stressed to the early church in Acts, be united in all things.  If these two men find this matter to be of such importance to the early church I believe strongly that we should make it a matter of urgency in the postmodern day church.  Keep in mind the first four statements in the passage appear to questions in the English language, but are really statements of affirmation in the Greek.  When Paul writes "If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if an affection and mercy...", he is really saying "since there is encouragement, consolation, fellowship, and affection" make my joy complete by thinking the same way...focusing on one goal!  He further details the manner of fulfilling his joy by saying put aside selfish ambitions and ways of thinking by putting others first in how you think and behave.  This parallels what we have been discussing on Sunday mornings about the "Contextual Church."  The contextual church puts aside her personal desires for the betterment of the kingdom of God and the advancement of the Gospel.  The contextual church wants to see things done in such a way to draw in those who do not know Christ.  The contextual church is less concerned with the consumer mentality of the church and more concerned with the best way to reach to the unregenerate community.  Unfortunately we have allowed the worldly mindset to creep into the church of saying, "What does the church have for me!"  I am reminded of the words of John F. Kennedy as he made his inaugural speech in January of 1961 when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you but what can you do for your country."  An interpretation of this statement for the church could be, "Ask not what the church can do for you, but what you can do for the church."  Could this be what Paul is implying here as well?  Could this be the mindset of unity?  Could this be what we must do in God's church today?

Paul continues this thought of self-abandonment by giving the greatest example for us which is found in Jesus Christ.  He states, that though Jesus was in the very same nature and form as God did not see that as something He could clutch but abandoned His rights for the sake of mankind.  I like the way the HCSB states this, "He emptied Himself."  How much different God's church would be if we all "Emptied Ourselves."  Paul doesn't leave it at that statement but also adds, "He Humbled Himself" to the very lowest form of mankind at the time, a servant.  Here the King of Kings and Lord of Lords became a servant for those who had (and continue to) wronged Him.  I think of what the first nature and first thoughts we have when wronged.  Too often we want to think, "How dare them treat ME that way."  We also begin to think of revenge in some manner.  However, Christ chose to become their servant out of love.  How we act when treated wrongly manifests a sacrificial heart or a selfish heart.  Which do you have?  Do you want retaliation or reconciliation?  Do you seek to serve or seclude yourself in self-pity? 

If we are going to manifest the very nature and attitude of Christ, we must think of others before ourselves, how we can advance the Kingdom of God, and how we can Glorify God and share His love.  Today let us make the Joy of Christ complete by being of the same mind, sharing the same love, sharing the same feelings, and focusing on one goal.  Let us glorify God today in our attitude and actions.

    

Philippians 1

As we look at the book of Philippians we need to understand that Paul writes to the church of Philippi from a prison cell.  In addition, as he sits in the jail his fate is uncertain, at any moment he could be sentenced to death/execution.  However, during this time Paul does not become bleak or dismayed.  Instead, he opens his heart to extend the gracious love of God to the jailers, the church of Philippi and even unto his enemies.  Paul shows forth a masterful display of the attitude we should, no must, exhibit when our life path suddenly turns to a stony path lined with briars, thorns, and even ravenous animals.  His heart is bent on what Warren Wiersbe described as rejoicing in spite of life’s hardships.  Wiersbe says, “Paul rejoiced in spite of his circumstances, because his circumstances strengthened the fellowship of the Gospel (Phil 1:1-11), promoted the furtherance of the Gospel (Phil 1:12-26), and guarded the faith of the Gospel (Phil 1:27-30).”

Paul’s demeanor is not set by a determined will or a disciplined mind alone, though these two factors were necessary for his time.  Instead, Paul was engulfed with what we discussed yesterday in our study of “The Contextual Church.”  He was devoted single-mindedly to two critical components.  First, he wanted his life to glorify God in every aspect.  Secondly, he sought to share the Gospel with as many people as possible in all ways of life.  Wiersbe says that single-mindedness is the attitude that says, "It makes no difference what happens to me, just as long as Christ is glorified and the Gospel shared with others."   Is this attitude the one we carry each day?  Do we care not what happens to us so long as God is glorified and Christ is shared?  This is the mind of Paul.  While some may have contended Paul to be suicidal when he made the statement in verse 21, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain,” that could not be farther from the truth.  Paul simply longed to do the will of Christ, yet he knew that if he died in the process his life would then be spent in eternity with the One whom he loved and adored.  However, until that day when Christ summoned him home, he would live to share the Gospel in every situation of every day. 

The opening verses of the book share with us the intense joy of Paul to have partners in his ministry to advance the Gospel.  The church of Philippi had been tremendous avenues of support and encouragement.  Paul acknowledges that their support, both material and emotional, were of tremendous encouragement.  He considers them to be his partners in advancing the kingdom.  While they may not have been with him physically, they were spreading the Gospel in their world and sending him support for his ministry, which they felt strongly regarding.  This approach is not different than that of the ministry which we do at FBC with regards to local ministry and support of international ministry.  Not all of us can go, as Paul did, but we can support and encourage, AS WE DO LOCAL MINISTRY.  So here is the question?  How are we doing in supporting missions abroad?  Financially?  Prayerfully? Encouraging through emails, letters, care packages?  How are we doing in sharing the Gospel at home?  Today, let us evaluate and do what God has called us to do!  In the words of Josh Wilson’s song “I Refuse”

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse
To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

As we live, can we say, “For me to live is Christ?” 

New Blog Coming

I hope you have enjoyed the blogs to this point.  So far we have covered the books of Acts, 1 and  2 Corinthians.  Beginning Monday we will dive into another of Paul's writings as we look at the book of Philippians.  Until then continue to study the Word of God each day.  A couple of great online devotionals are David Jeremiah's Turning Point and Ron Hutchcraft's A Word with You.  Of course the old tried and true My Utmost for His Highest is challenging and great. 

May God bless you today as you seek to follow and serve Him,

Pastor Ric

2 Corinthians 13

In the closing chapter of 2 Corinthians Paul deals with two major issues.  Warren Wiersbe approaches these issues with a very practical approach.  Wiersbe implies that Paul is basically saying, "Prepare yourself and examine yourself."  The prepare yourself references that Paul intends to come for a third visit and he will deal with the sinful nature of the Corinthians.  Their sinful propensity was varied from disunity to accepting false theology.  Some of the matters which caused the disunity were trivial and should have been considered non-essential matters but became issues of grave concern because the church did not practice the Biblical mandate of Jesus referenced in Matthew 18.  In addition, Paul still has to deal with the matter of his apostleship.  He likens himself to the manner with which Jesus displayed his power.  While Jesus was most powerful, he was meek in His approach.  The best definition of meekness I have heard says, "Meekness is strength under control."  Yet, Paul is in essence telling the church, "If you need to see power, I can bring it."

The second issue Paul addresses is 'examine yourself.'  Paul recognizes that much of the manner with which the Corinthians were displaying in their activities and attitudes were not Christ like.  Therefore, he questions their spiritual foundation and maturity.  He asks the church members to examine themselves for whether they are of the faith and whether their walk is deep or shallow.  Often in the church this mantra could be the basis for many of the problems which arise.  If our walk is genuine and deep then we are not going to be as concerned with what "Our Desires and Insistents" are but with seeing the greater vision or bigger picture for the sake of the kingdom of God.  Too often the church family can become embroiled in a matter that really does not matter to greater vision in God's mission.  However, because the matter is personal to some it becomes emotional and therefore becomes a distraction to what really matters.  We must come to the point where we are more concerned with following Jesus, obeying His commands and commissions, and reaching the lost with the Gospel than we are with "what I want." 

Paul closes the letter with one of the greatest concluding remarks of all the epistles.  He says, "Finally, brothers, rejoice. Be restored, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you."  Oh that we could have these closing remarks as the great efforts of our lives.  Oh that we would be of the same mind and at peace with one another so that the God of love and peace would be exalted among us and pleased with our efforts. 

2 Corinthians 12

While I should not be after having served in the local church for the past 28 years either part-time or full-time, I am amazed at how much effort Paul has put forth in defending his apostleship and dealing with petty issues in the church of Corinth.  In this chapter he continues to address and defend his rights of being an apostle of Christ.  As reluctant as he is to boast about his "rights" he chooses to do so from a different point of view.  Rather than speaking of being strong, eloquent, creative, and powerfully elite Paul chooses to take the approach of his weaknesses.  His reasoning is quiet simple, he does not want the glory for what he might have accomplished but rather he wants all glory and honor to go unto God.  Paul states in verses 9-10 "Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me. So because of Christ, I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures. For when I am weak, then I am strong."  He recognizes that through the weaknesses Christ is exalted rather than him and that through the weaknesses God's strength is bequest to him making him strong enough for all situations he faces.  Paul recognizes he will face adversity, but through the adversity God's delivering power is sufficiently displayed.

While this route of hardships and difficulties was not Paul's chosen path as we see in verse 7-8 where Paul says, "Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself. 8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me."  In this we see that Paul was not a sadist nor was he a martyr for his glory.  He desired that God would make his path lighter, but succumb to the thorn in the flesh because he recognized there was a great plan at stake.  (As to the exact nature of the thorn in the flesh we do not know.  There is a myriad of potential interpretations ranging from a disease to a wife [don't shoot the messenger.] but we do not know exactly.  We do know it was a burden to Paul but he willingly endured for the sake of Christ.)

In closing, let's examine our lives.  What issues do we face where we could surrender them to God and allow His glory to manifest in our weaknesses?  Are there people in our lives opposing us causing us to want to retaliate out of the flesh?  Could we be better servants by simply boasting about our weaknesses to see God's strength displayed in the situation?  Do we have a "thorn in the flesh" as Paul which could project the power of God to work in our weaknesses allowing others to see the glory of God revealed?  Today let us walk humbly before God with a intentionality of seeing God glorified in all we say and do.

2 Corinthians 11

Let me give a big thank you to Bryan Austin for covering the blog on Friday.  I thought I would be able to handle it on Saturday and Sunday but between the move and church my schedule did not allow nor was my brain in the right mind.  No comments on the brain please.  LOL.  Thank you for understanding the absence of posts the last two days.

As we look at chapter 11 Paul is continuning to give a defense for his apostolic position.  We can even see a bit of his personality come out in the writing as he uses irony and a hint of sarcasm to get his point across.  He makes an opening statement which references the allegations from the false apostles.  He says, "I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. Yes, do put up with me."  He even calls them a cutting name in verse 5 where he says, "Now I consider myself in no way inferior to the 'super-apostles.'"  Paul acutally gives a detailed account of why he has the right to be an apostle, a listing of what he has endured for the glory of Christ, and reminds the Corinthians that he has purposefully chosen not to be a burden on the church.  Paul does all of this to confront the church on their "wishy-washy" and "immature" nature.  If you recall in 1 Cor. 3:2 Paul told the church that he had to feed them with milk instead of meat because they were not spiritually mature.  Paul does not hold punches in addressing their immaturity, their lack of discipline in their walk with God, and their willingness to tolerate false teachings.

Let's play a game of imagination.  Let's imagine Paul is writing a letter to each of us.  What type of letter would we receive from him?  Would Paul write encouragement?  Would he write to confront us on immaturity?  Would he write to let us know of his disappointment for tolerating ungodly practices in our lives?  Would he write with words of commendation or condemnation?

Let's also imagine that we had to defend our Christian walk?  How well could we defend it?  Would our list simply say "I attended church and gave a token offering"?  Would we be able to list a defense similar to Paul's?  Let's us "conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do evil, they may, by observing your good works, glorify God in a day of visitation." (1 Peter 2:12)

Recent Posts

Due to our moving weekend, I have not been able to blog. Please forgive this interruption. Te regular posts will begin again tomorrow morning, Monday, June 20. Have a great day.

June 17, 2011 2 Corinthians 10

Hey Folks, Bryan Austin here today, in for Pastor Ric.  Pastor Ric and his family are enroute to Florence from Mobile at this time probably following an 18 wheeler moving van. Please keep them in your prayers as they travel and unpack at their new home in Florence this weekend. So, I am the guest blogger today.  Before you start wondering what you are in for....wait, you could be the next guest blogger.

Here we go.  Encouraging words shared by Paul in chapters 8 and 9 have come to a close.  Paul is now defending his ministry against a few Corinthian critics.  One thing for sure in 2011, as followers of Christ, we are certainly not immune from criticism.  As I think about a Christian's response to criticism, a few things jump from the pages of chapter 10:

1) Verse 3 -- For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
2) Verse 5b--We should take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
3) Verse 8 -- The authority the Lord gave us is for building up rather than pulling down.
4) Verse 15 --As our faith grows, our area of Christian influence should expand.
5) Verse 17 --Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.

 I would like to share some thoughts on the subject of criticism from one of my favorite Christian authors, John C. Maxwell.

1)  Do not take yourself too seriously.
2)  Watch your own attitude toward the critic.
3)  Recognize that good people (even Jesus) get criticized.
4)  Learn a principle.  Thank the critic for what you learn.
5)  Concentrate on your mission of making and encouraging disciples.

There it is.  My first post on a blog ever ( as a guest blogger or even making a comment).  It was not so bad.  Let me know your opinions on some of the above thoughts. I hope to see you this Sunday at FBC and Happy Fathers Day weekend to all and especially my Dad, Glenn Austin ( who I get to spend Saturday morning with digging post holes).  Talk about some quality male bonding time ! Blog away fellow bloggers !

In Christian love -- Bryan Austin

2 Corinthians 9

We find that chapter 9 is a continuation of the discussion on giving from the previous chapter. Paul actually speaks specifically about an offering the church of Corinth had promised to give. In fact, Paul had bragged to the Macedonians regarding this offering so he wants to insure the church had followed through and everything is in order to prevent any embarrassment on their or his part. The part of his encouragement which is so striking to me is where Paul gives his famous words regarding a cheerful giver. In verse 7 Paul says, "You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” Keep in mind Paul is not referring to the tithe offering but a benevolent offering to fellow believers in need. He reminds the Corinians to do so with a grateful heart of the privilege to give. By privilege I mean these people have the means to give and the ministry opportunity. When we give to those in need we are fulfilling the responsibility to help a fellow believer but we also receive a tremendous blessing in giving. In addition, we will be rewarded for the acts of kindness which we bestow. An added benefit which Paul mentions in verse 12 is that "For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God." Could it be we praise and thank God for His blessings on our life as we give out of our abundance to those in need? Could it be that as we give rejoicing and cheerfully unto those in need that we bring honor to our God and shall receive His approval and greatest blessings? Keep in mind this is not a mandate or a tax but a benevolent offering unto the needy believers. How joyfully and generously to we give in times of great need? I will commend FIFLO for their generosity in recent weeks to give to Annie, Disaster Relief for Japan and those fellow Alabamians affected by recent storms. Thank you for being a faithful and giving church.

2 Corinthians 8

So how should we give? Paul gives instructions to the church in Corinth on how they should approach this topic by reminding them of how our Lord gave and how they began this movement. In the address of Paul he reminds them of what the matter was concerning our Lord's origins and how He willing forsake what He had to give for what our need was. The critical element in this dealt with the doctrine of grace. While this element has been explained in many ways such as God's riches at Christ expense I tend to shy away from the novelty approach and simply define grace as 'receiving what we do not deserve yet what we desperately need.' We did not deserve God's gift of love yet we needed His offer of reconciliation for we were separated hopelessly from our Creator. Therein lies God's grace extended to us. Paul wants the Corinthians to have the same approach in dealing with the collection for the churches of Macedonia who now needed their assistance. Paul reminds the church that the Macedonians "are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity." There have been times when I have watched the joy resonate within individuals despite great poverty. They find a sense of joy not in the material but in the depth of a relationship with God. What joy could we all find if we looked to Jesus as our 'all in all."

The word which Paul spoke that struck me hard in particularly was, "Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving." As I reflect on this passage found in verse 7 I find conviction on how many times I could have given or given more to a cause or a need. God has blessed me greatly. Now Lisa and I give but do we give as God desires? Do we give graciously as our God gave to us? Do we see a need and think this is something someone else will meet? I am so thankful that our Lord did not withhold, neglect, or shirk in giving to me in my great need. May I be found faithful to give as our Lord gave to me.

2 Corinthians 7

As I write the new several posts, I do so from the SBC Annual Meeting in Phoenix. Therefore, the posts may be altered by the surroundings or the speakers. Regardless the posts will continue as usual.

Paul opens the chapter with a remarkable verse which could serve as a personal mission statement for each of us. He says, "Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God." There are two incredible phrases in this passage. First, we see Paul encouraging the Corinthians to cleanse both their body and spirit. His intent is to not merely do the right things and forsake the wrong things but also to let all of their actions be for the right reason. Too often in the early Christian era, as in now, people felt as though they were justified if only their external actions were cleansed. However, Paul takes the inner attitude and spirit into consideration as well. The second phrase Paul uses is that we must "work toward complete holiness." This attitude which Paul implores is one, as we discussed earlier, of discipline. We must discipline ourselves for holiness. This entails hard labor and a deterministic spirit to rid ourselves of all unrighteousness to "work toward holiness.".

2 Corinthians 6

Once again we see Paul is having to defend himself for what he does and who he is! I wonder why the Corinthian church continued to question Paul for his motives and his apostolic position. However, Paul must state the obvious by saying, "In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.". He then goes on to give defense for his actions by a summation of the type of troubles, hardships, and calamities which he has faced. Additionally, he says, "We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.".

As Paul makes his defense, it makes me wonder at what point would Paul break? Apparently from this list he wouldn't. For his tenacity and endurance I applaud him but wonder if I would be as stoic and strong to remain loyal in the midst of such atrocities. Honestly, there are times when I (we) are less thuan stoic and strong. In fact, too often as the tough times roll on we tend to cower under the weight becoming overwhelmed and even bitter. However, I cannot forget the words of Paul to the church of Philippi as he said, "I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." Paul recognizes the temporal nature of these hardships and the eternal bliss of what is to come. Therefore he willingly endures the toils and troubles to discipline himself for what lies ahead. The critical word is discipline which requires commitment. Do you have discipline? Are you committed to our God?

Takeaways
1. Hardships will always accompany our trek in life.
2. Hardships are not overcome without discipline and commitment.
3. Hardships are temporal but God is eternal.

2 Corinthians 5

There are several verses in this passage today which stand out, but two in particular are very riveting.  The first is verse 9 which states, “Therefore whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him!”  When I contemplate this logic of Paul shouldn't this be our motive for life as well.  This simple statement sums up the way we should approach life and in so doing we will fulfill the greatest and second greatest commandment of all.  (Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.) 

If our ambition is to please God in all things and in all ways, we should be compelled to do so out of love.  That is what Paul said in the second verse I find riveting from chapter 5.  He stated in verse, "For Christ's love compels us."  I recognize I just said we should be compelled to please God out of love but you must remember that scripture says we can only love because He first loved us.(1 Jn. 4:19)  You see we do not know how to love. We do not know what love is.  And we are not capable of true love alone.  Therefore, God's love shows us the way and literally compels us to move forward to serve Him wholeheartedly out of a reciprocal love.  All we can do is emulate the Father in loving Him and others.

So the question is, "How well are you doing in making your ambition to please God, compelled by His love?  How are you doing in living for Him and loving Him?  How well are you doing in loving one another, not just the loveable but even the unlovable?  We cannot expect to have a strong relationship with God if we do not have a strong relationship with His children and His creation!

I remember hearing a preacher use this illustration one time.  Suppose I walked up to your front door to ask a favor of you and along the way your child came up to me and tried to talk with me.  However, I was annoyed and yelled at the child, even pushing the child aside.  All the while you had been observing this from your front window.  How likely would you be to oblige to the favor knowing I had treated your child this way?  Then why do we expect God to oblige our requests when we treat His children with disrespect and disdain?

Takeaways:

1.  Christ's love is our compelling factor for all we do to please Him.

2.  Our ambition should be to please God in all we do.

2 Corinthians 4

Whenever I have a person approach me asking for direction regarding whether God is calling that individual into the ministry I always remember the words given to me thirty years ago by my pastor.  He said, “Make sure you know that God is calling you into this ministry.  Write it down!  There will be days when you feel as though giving up.  However, if you know without a doubt that God has called you to the ministry then you will never be able to give up that calling.”  What my pastor was saying is you will have days when things are tough and you want to give up.  However, you will not be happy doing anything but what God has called you to do.

I wonder if this is what Paul is going through as he writes chapter 4.  In the first verse he writes, “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not give up.”  He cannot give up on the High Calling of Christ Jesus on his life because of the calling but also because of the great mercy given unto him.  Each of us has a calling from God; some are called to vocational ministry and others to lay ministry.  However, the calling is still on our lives as children of God and we cannot abandon this call or our lives will be unfulfilled and miserable.  Are you fulfilling your calling?  Are you serving God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength?  Are you giving unto God your best in all things?  Winston Churchill told the Harrow School on October 29, 1941, “Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never -- in nothing, great or small, large or petty -- never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”  This quote is very apropos for what Paul is stating in chapter 4, especially as he moves into the next section dealing with the treasures in clay jars.

We see Paul giving a detail to which many fellow believers could probably relate; "We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed." maybe you have had one of those days where you feel as though you have been pressured from all sides. Maybe you have felt as though you have been beaten up everywhere you turn. Remember our Lord promised us that if we served Him we would be enemies to the world which would hate and persecute us. What a privilege that we could and should bear the persecution and hardships for being a servant of God! Remember the words of Paul in v. 16-17, "Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.".

Takeaways
1. Our afflictions and hardships should be a badge of honor for serving our Lord.
2. Our afflictions and hardships are but temporary.
3. Never quit or give up!

2 Corinthians 3

Paul is once again battling a problem that will not go away, his credibility.  Apparently there were a group of individuals in the church who carried letters of approval and recommendation for their services, speaking, and character.  They insisted that Paul must not be qualified to conduct the ministry. (I find that extremely humorous especially since we have no record of these others.)  However Paul makes a defense again regarding his competence and his ministry, even among the people of Corinth.  Paul even makes a statement that appears to place a dagger in the hearts of his accusers. In verses 5-6 Paul says, "But our competence is from God. He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter from men."  In other words, I don't need the approval of men to carry out the ministry assigned by God.  While this statement must be seasoned and we must not take it to an extreme and become boastful, Paul is saying I can walk in confidence knowing that God has given me my assignment, my agenda, and my ability. 

Too often we can become enamored with the praise, or lack of, from mankind regarding our efforts and work for God.  We have not been called to please mankind but to bring honor to God.  Our mentality has become distorted to believe that because we live in a democratic society, that we must allow everything to be based on the consensus of mankind.  However, at the end of time on earth we will stand before our Creator to give an account for the way we conducted ourselves regarding His directives.  At that point, it will not matter if we made everyone happy or not.  All that will matter is that we were obedient and walked in complete confidence that we sought to honor Him above all things.

Paul closes the chapter dealing with the transition from the Old Law to the New Law.  This transition was not easy then just as change is difficult now.  However, Paul reminds the reader that the New Law is not a temporal or condemning issue.  Instead the new law brings freedom and life to all who accept it.  Paul reminds the Corinthians that those who hold to the Old Law do so with a limited scope of what God offers and are bound to a law.  However, through Christ, the New Law offers liberty and life to all who will accept it.  He even makes the statement of the supremacy of the New Law by stating, "For if what was fading away was glorious, what endures will be even more glorious." 

I want to hold to the glory and greatness of God in the present not living in the past.  God offers us each day an opportunity of abundant life.  Unfortunately we too often hold onto the days of long ago and remember the "When" rather than experiencing the "Win" of now!

Takeways:
1.  Our confidence and competence lies in God not man.
2.  Our God offers us a life of freedom if we are willing to follow after Him.
3.  Live in the Present not the Past!

2 Corinthians 2

2 Corinthians 2

There are two words we could use to characterize chapter two:  forgiveness and fragrance.  Paul speaks very clearly to the church regarding the individual who had committed grave immorality addressed in 1 Corinthians.  This immorality, if you do not recall, was sleeping with his step-mother, a sin even the pagan world denounced.  In the beginning Paul had stated to disassociate with the individual who had created such a stir and committed this sin.  The reason was two-fold:  not allow him to influence others to sin and secondly to hopefully encourage the fallen believer to repent and return to a rightful walk with God.  Apparently this had been the case because now Paul says offer forgiveness to the man.  He writes in verses 7-8
"...So now you should forgive and comfort him instead; otherwise, this one may be overwhelmed by excessive grief. Therefore I urge you to confirm your love to him." 

Who is there in your life to which you need to offer for forgiveness?  Maybe the person has wronged you?  They may not even know they have wronged you?  Maybe it is someone, like the individual in the Corinthian church which has sinned against the church.  Paul encourages us to offer forgiveness for the complete healing in our lives and the restoration of the fallen believer.  Someone once said that when we offer forgiveness, even if it is not requested, we act more like Christ than any other time.  Be that person today.

The second word, fragrance, really is a sweet aroma of forgiveness.  Paul uses an interesting analogy of our being the sweet fragrance of Christ to those being saved.  However, he also states that we are the scent of death to those who reject the Gospel.  We must understand that when we bear the Spirit of Christ we are either joy or heartache to other people. The great question is, “Are you aromatic of God? Do you bear the aroma of Jesus or are you just stinking up His kingdom? Just a thought!

Takeaways

1. When we are wronged we must forgive!
2. When someone has wronged the church we must forgive them as well!
3. We are the aroma of Christ when we offer forgiveness and bear His image.

2 Corinthians 1

The key word for 2 Corinthians according to several commentators is "encouragement."  Paul had received word that the church had received his first letter and had taken the necessary measures to deal with the issues which he addressed in the first letter.  In the opening chapter we find this theme of encouragement to be addressed during the customary salutation and greeting.  Paul specifically addresses the issues of discomfort in life while finding comfort in God.  As he addresses the cold hard facts of life, Paul gives specific examples in his own life of where he has faced hardships, trials, tribulations, and afflictions.  In verse 8 Paul states, "For we don't want you to be unaware, brothers, of our affliction that took place in the province of Asia: we were completely overwhelmed—beyond our strength—so that we even despaired of life."  While he does not go into the complete details at this point, there is speculation as to whether he references a particular uprising, the incident where Jews sought to ambush and kill him, or a person who was working against him.  We do realize the incident was severe enough in nature that Paul wrote "we despaired of life." 

How many times in our own life have we felt as though we faced situations beyond our ability?  Were there times when you felt as though the perilous times were abounding so great that the waves which surrounded you seemed destined to drown you?  Maybe you are in such a time now.  Paul gives great words of encouragement for the Corinthians and us. In verses 3-4a Paul states, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in our entire affliction..."  But doesn't stop at that point he goes on to say there is more than one reason I bring you comfort.  First, everything God does is to bring glory to His name.  Secondly He is our Father and thus wants to relieve our suffering.  But in addition He offers us comfort "so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God."  I am a firm believer that to whoever comfort has been given, he then better knows how to comfort others.  When we have gone through adversity and trials we have a better perspective to offer to those in pain.

Takeaways:
1.  The Bible does not promise that afflictions and hardships will disappear when we trust in Christ, but God does promise to comfort and strengthen us in such times.
2.  God offers relief and comfort to His children when they face hardships in life for His name.
3.  We are expected to offer comfort to others after having received it ourselves.

New Blog

The next blog will begin Monday, June 6. We will be reading through 2 Corinthians. Join us for the continuation of these Pauline Epistles.

1 Corinthians 16

As we look at the last chapter of 1 Corinthians we see much of the normal concluding statements of Paul. He talks about housekeeping matters and his plans to visit the church in the near future.  However, in the midst of all of these formalities Paul gives us a nugget of advice and wisdom.  In verses 13-14 we read where Paul states, “Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave and strong.  Your every action must be done in love." Paul wants the church to understand that their hopes for salvation are not found in anyone such as Apollos or Paul but instead they rest in their response to the work of Jesus Christ.  This is the reason for his exhortation to be alert and stand firm in the faith.  He also says, to put it in the modern vernacular, "Man up!"  Apparently Paul is tired of seeing these church members be less than bold in Christ. He alludes to the fact that they are acting effeminate so he challenges them to be strong.  Adam Clark says, the church has many enemies thus she must be on guard and watch out for the destructiveness they can afford.  However, he is also urging the church to be alert to opportunities of ministry.  Clark also effectively states that  we must "Let love to God, to man, and to one another, be the motive of all our conduct."

The question we must answer today is how do we stand in relation to this command?  Are we alert to the enemies tactics in leading us astray, no matter how subtle?  Are we approaching each day with an opportunistic eye to ways to share God's love both verbally and actively? Do we seek to resist the tendency to speak out in harshness and with unkind words?  We are to remember out of the overflow of the heart do our words speak!  I must reprint the words of verse 14 for it must become our mantra for living each day!  "Your every action must be done with love." If we allow this to be our overriding motive for life then we can become more attune to living as Christ and honoring His commands "To love your neighbor as yourself."

Takeaway:

1.  Let love be the overarching principle for live.

2.  Look for opportunities to lovingly serve one another.

3.  Lookout for the enemy seeks to take us down from serving our God.

1 Corinthians 15

Paul takes an entire chapter to deal with a false theology the Corinthian church had allowed to creep into her thinking. Like the Sadducees a group within the church had begun to promote there was no resurrection of the dead. The last verse of the chapter does a great job of summing up what Paul is saying to the fellow believers. "Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord's work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." Paul has spent the majority of these verses in chapter 15 detailing a case for the resurrection of the dead. His supreme example is Jesus Christ himself. Paul states that if Christ were not raised from the dead then their sins have not been erased and their hope is in vain. He also preaches that unless Christ had been raised from the dead then their preaching is in vain and makes no sense. He even speaks with a sense of sarcasm and rhetoric by saying, "If I fought wild animals in Ephesus with only human hope, what good did that do me? If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." The bottom-line is that Paul passionately offers a strong apologetic for the reason to believe in a resurrection of the dead.

So what does this mean to us? Does it matter if we believe or even think about a resurrection of the dead? Absolutely! While we may not actively discuss this subject on a regular basis our actions and our urgency in sharing Christ vocalize our beliefs. Tim McGraw sings a song titled, "Live Like Your Dying." While this may make for a great song title, there is another side to that, "Live Like Your Dying and Can Live Again." I believe that is what Paul is urging the early church to do in verse 58 when he says, "Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord's work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

Takeaways

1. If we are in Christ we will live again after a physical death.
2. Live as though you will live again in Christ after death.
3. False theology is always prevalent to combat the Lord's work; therefore, recognize it as of Satan and rebuke it!

1 Corinthians 14

As one continues to read through First Corinthians the theme of the book continues to be evident, church unity. The church is so embroiled in a fight and even lust for the quest to be and have the best at the expense of other people; Paul begins to sound like a broken record. He continues his insistence that the church be united by love and the desire to have the gift of prophecy over their desire for the showy gift of speaking in tongues. Again Paul reminds the church if the purpose of spiritual gifts as being for the edification of the church and the glory of God by spreading the Gospel. However, the church is not listening to this point so Paul must continue to press the issue.

In the concluding verses Paul deals with the issue of what elements are necessary for the edification of the church in a worship service. In verse 26 he says, "Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, [another] language, or an interpretation. All things must be done for edification.". Paul does not lay out a specific order be merely the necessary elements for the proper building of a service. He ends the section by reminding the reader that because God is One of order not chaos that all services should reflect order and respect to honor our God.

Takeaways
1. Love is the method for all endeavors.
2. Order and decency must prevail in all worship services.
3. Gifts of the Spirit are for edification of the church not self-promotion.

1 Corinthians 13

The Love Chapter! Why do you think Paul takes a break from speaking about spiritual gifts and sandwiches the now infamous chapter on love between the dissertation on the manifestation of gifts and the exhortation on gifts? Several reasons come to my mind.

First, Paul recognizes the infighting which is taking place at Corinth over the superiority of certain gifts in their minds. He also recognizes that gifts can become very divisive and seeks to diffuse the situation immediately. He also understands that the proper use of these gifts must be grounded in love for a proper handling and implementation. For without love as the foundation and motivation of each gift they can become prostituted and manipulative in human nature. Therefore Paul implores the Corinthians to allow love to be the overriding principle for the use of each gift.

Paul continues in describing more on the superiority of love by giving the fundamental elements of love. In a nutshell Paul reminds the reader that love is not egocentric but rather is other focused. In each of the words/phrases Paul chose to describe love he emphasizes the well being or betterment of the object of the love. Paul helps us to understand that love is more concerned with the wants and needs of the object of love than his/her own desires.

Paul uses a great analogy to help us understand that love is a process by stating that he only now sees and understands partially but one day his seeing and understanding will be clearly developed. Love is a process that should be growing and developing. However, as Paul stated very eloquently, love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things for love never ends. The reason it cannot end is that it is the greatest of all things especially as Paul points out, it should be the overarching principle of everything.

So how does this help in the church of the twenty-first century? With love as the foundational element then egocentricity should never be a driving force within the church. As we have discussed before,"It is not about me, but it is all about Thee!" When we come to the point where we are more concerned with allowing others to have there needs met than demanding our own then we have comprehended the joy of love. When we come to the point where we are more concerned with leaving a strong legacy for the kingdom of God than we are of leaving a mark on society for our own sake then we have grasped the joy of love. When we want to base all of our decisions on reaching those who are not yet Christians with the Gospel of Jesus Christ then we have reached the joy of love. In short love reaches out for the betterment of the object of love. Do you love?

Takeaways Reread the last paragraph.

1 Corinthians 12

In looking at chapter 12 we see a great explanation of why there was such disunity and disfunction in the church of Corinth. The people fought, bickered, and boasted over their spiritual gifts and they envied, even lusted for the gifts others possessed. Therefore we find Paul giving a lengthy explanation in the form of a metaphor using the human body to expound on the spiritual gifts found within the church.

Paul is quick to remind the Corinthians that their possession of any gift, regardless of which one, is a blessing of God distributed by the Spirit as He sees best. He is the one who chooses who receives which gift and for what purpose. The distribution of gifts is not for our glory and benefit but for the edification of the church and for the glory of God alone.

These gifts, while greatly diverse should never become a source of division but should be a unifying factor for each gift is complimentary of the other in the function of the church. That is the reason Paul continues stating the essential relationship which must take place within the body. He reminds the church of the special love which should be evident by rejoicing and weeping with one another in respective times.

Unfortunately, this was not the manner of love demonstrated within the Corinthian church. Rather than caring for the interest of one another they chose to be self-promoting and self-centered. Therefore Paul passionately reminds the fellow believers to not lose perspective in what is the greater vision and purpose.

Takeaways
1. Each person is uniquely gifted as the Spirit sees best.
2. We each need the giftedness of one another.
3. We must encourage one another to not boast in our uniqueness but rather rejoice in our unity through our diversity.

1 Corinthians 11

Apart from chapters 12 and 13 this chapter (11) is probably one of the most used passages in Corinthians due to its dealing with the Lord’s Supper.  Of course chapter 12 deals with the Spiritual Gifts and chapter 13 is the infamous “Love Chapter.”  When we evaluate chapter 11 Paul begins by dealing with some regulations regarding worship, prayer in particular.   We must remember as Paul discusses the matters of male/female head coverings he is addressing a cultural issue in reference to a woman with her head covered and uncovered.  The greater issue in the chapter deals with the matter of divisions in the church based on insensitivity by the affluent towards those with lesser means.  This is addressed in the matter of taking the Lord’s Supper and the Communal Meal.  Paul sees a lack of concern by many within the church in that when the communal meal is taken, those who arrive first make a glutton and drunkard of themselves leaving none for those arriving late, who were generally the lower class. 

Paul’s intention seems to be two-fold.  First, he wants to instruct the church in the proper disbursement of Communion.  Secondly, he wants to see a greater sensitivity of the church for one another.  These actions of “self-first” create a great divide in the church causing a lack focus on the greater matters of the church’s mission to share the Gospel.  Whether the matter is covering of the head, eating before the others arrived, saving the best food for yourself (ouch!), or isolating yourself from those of lesser means, the division in the church is prevalent and problematic. 

Paul closes the chapter with a methodology of how to deal with such matters.  In verse 28 Paul says, “So a man should examine himself…”  This is the critical component.  We must do a thorough analysis of where we stand in relation to our walk with God and our relationship to one another.  This is a matter which should use only one person as the standard, Jesus Christ.  Any other standard will be inferior.  Many people prefer to compare themselves to other believers and non-believers; however, that standard is inferior and will not give a valid picture of who we really are in Christ.  We must rely on the old letters on the bracelet of times past, WWJD.  (What Would Jesus Do?)  So here is the question, according to God’s standard of Jesus Christ, how do we measure up to the examination?  Do we pass or fail?  Unfortunately we all would fail but thank God there is grace available through Christ Jesus.

Takeaways

1.       Divisions are caused by selfishness.

2.      Our standard of evaluation must be the model of Jesus Christ.

3.      Our evaluation will never pass of our own merit but thanks be to God who offers us grace through Jesus Christ.

 

1 Corinthians 10

Whenever I read this chapter or even think about it my mind goes back to the days as a young preacher boy (as my pastor called me) when he was discipling me for a deeper walk and ministry.  Along with several other factors such as quiet times, sermon note taking, and prayer Bro. David stressed the importance of scripture memory.  He had us make note cards and memorize scripture each week at our accountability meetings.  The verse he gave me to memorize which I thought I would never conquer was 1 Corinthians 10:13.  At that time the only translation we really knew much about was the King James, so that is what I memorized.  The verse to this day is still etched in my mind.  “There hath no temptation taken you but such is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (KJV)  While that was memorized initially some 30 plus years ago, it still sticks in my mind.

Why this verse, because at the time my life was in need of a constant, just as now.  I needed to know that temptation is not something I must face alone.  Temptation is not something exclusive to just me.  That God is faithful to enable a way for us to escape temptation, if we are willing to walk through the door of opportunity which He provides.  Why scripture memory, because the Psalmist said in Psalm 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against Thee.” (KJV)  Part of the way to escape temptation is the quoting of scripture just as Jesus did when He was tempted in the wilderness by Satan.  (Side Note:  Satan will misquote scripture to you so make sure you know the Word of God.)

What is Paul saying through all of this passage, in particular with this verse?  We will all face the temptation of a variety of things in our lives.  The constant is that we do not have to face it alone because we have the joy and assurance of the Word of God that we do have an option.  The problem lies in that we often love the sin more than we love the opportunity to escape the sin.  This all boils down to a love problem, we love our sin more than we love our Savior.  How will you face your temptations today?  Will you see them as powerless against the Great God we serve?  Will you see them as more alluring than a relationship with this Great God?  Let’s walk through the door of opportunity for victory over temptation today.

Takeaways:

1.       Victory over temptation is available through Jesus Christ our Lord.

2.      Scripture memory is one way of the great ways of victory over temptation

3.      The constant we need in our lives is God for He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

1 Corinthians 9

The Corinthian church is a tough group.  After Paul has been the founding pastor/evangelist he now has to defend his apostleship with the church.  He begins the chapter by giving a dissertation on his right as an apostle, especially his right with them.  However, the crux of the chapter is not about his defense but about his aim at evangelism.  Paul begins in the latter half of the chapter to share his strategy of evangelizing both the Jew and the Gentile.  His purpose or mission in life is to win as many as possible to Christ.  This is not a selfish or boastful goal of Paul but rather he recognizes that his main purpose of existence is to glorify God by proclaiming the Good News to as many as possible.  In verse 19 Paul makes this goal very clear by stating, “For although I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, in order to win more people.” 

As humans we spend much of our time trying to free ourselves from bondage and tyranny.  However, Paul willingly submits to this servitude in order for Christ and His principles to be advanced and that many, from all nationalities might receive the same forgiveness which he has experienced.   While this self-imposed slavery is defined by Paul in a way that he states, “I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some” (v. 22) he recognizes this is not a license to break the laws of God in evangelizing people.  Paul would not break the commands of God, but rather he is cognizant of the self-imposed laws of the religion which has held many of the Jews in bondage and he recognizes the superior attitude the Jews took against all other nationalities.  He therefore says I will not be bound by human traditions or prejudices in seeking to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Paul closes the chapter with an analogy of an athlete in training.  Paul takes this form of discipline and training into the realm of his preparation for the day he must give account for his actions and his walk with God.  He makes the statement in the final verse that “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.”  Paul in essence is saying, I will walk the talk!  I will live my life in complete obedience to my Lord because of my love for Him and my desire to please Him in all things.  Can we say the same about our lives?

Takeaways:

1.       We are commanded and expected to share the Good News with ALL people in such a manner that they understand and desire to receive our Lord’s forgiveness.

2.      We must make the presentation of the Gospel contextual for the people or individual with which we share this precious gift.

3.      We must discipline ourselves to obedience in all areas in order to not lose our own qualification in God.