Justice, Righteousness and Truth

Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, And equity cannot enter. So truth fails, And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.

Isaiah 59:14-15

Isaiah was a prophet in Judah during the reign of four kings, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. During his lifetime, the kingdom of Judah had fallen into sin. They were a nation of evil, not following the teaching of the Lord. That is why Isaiah said, righteousness stands afar off.

These very words could be spoken today for two reasons. First, the world now considers Christians to be the enemy. Righteousness is looked at as hatred. When we stand for righteousness, we are accused of hate crimes. Because we depart from evil, we become prey for the ungodly. We are attacked by the public, by politicians and by the media.

The second reason we see this verse active today is because of the sin in the church. I believe the church has become ineffective in ministering to the world, because truth has fallen in the church. There are many in the church practicing sin. They are not accidentally sinning or unintentionally sinning, they are practicing sin. They say, “I know it is wrong, but I am going to do it anyway. God will forgive me.”

Wow, that is a scary statement! Why would a child of God presume upon the grace of God?

Today is the start of a new year. Take an inventory of your life and see if there is anything you need to give over to God, so you can begin the New Year with justice, righteousness and truth.

Indeed, I tremble for my country
when I reflect that God is just.
-Thomas Jefferson-

For or Against God

“But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.” Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”

Luke 21:9-10

We have seen so much happening in the past few years with wars, earthquakes and failing economies around the world. We see God’s hand at work, and surely we know we are living in perilous times.

I was talking to some older gentlemen and asked them, “Have you ever seen anything like what is going on today, in your lifetime?” They said, “No.” I asked if they believed something was happening, not just in America, but in the world, and one of them said, “I think God is angry.”

I thought about it for a moment. As nation after nation turns from Israel, we see the Word of God coming to life before our eyes. Scriptures say those who turn against God’s people will be cursed.

Israel is a little country. They are facing many challenges right now. They have nuclear weapons and they will defend themselves, but they want to see if the United States is with them or not.

We know, eventually, Israel will be by themselves, but do we want to be one of the nations who turns our back on God’s people? As we see the Scriptures unfolding every day, we each have to decide if we are for God or against Him.

God will give the rebel what he chooses
and what he deserves.
-Simon Austen-

Be Spiritually Prepared

And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

Luke 21:11

All these events will be happening around the world, and there will be no way of escaping. Does this sound familiar? We have been experiencing earthquakes, and they brought to mind this verse.

We have seen them hit in Chile, Malaysia, Japan, New Zealand, Haiti and here in the United States on the east coast. You have to wonder why we are experiencing so many at one time. When I go back to my childhood, I remember one major earthquake when I was in Mexico City, in 1956. It rocked Mexico City. It was huge!

Then, of course, in California, we have had earthquakes, but not the big one. We all think we are prepared, but I do not think California will be able to withstand an earthquake the size of the Japan quake. We will be out of food, water, transportation. It will be horrific.

There are going to be more earthquakes, but we do not know when or where. In California, an earthquake is expected, but what we have seen happening is earthquakes in unexpected places.

What does that tell you? We have to be prepared, not just physically, but spiritually. Time is short!

Procrastination is not only the thief of time,
it is the grave of opportunity.
-Author Unknown-

God is Speaking Loud and Clear

But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.

Luke 21:12

Think about all the things we see happening around the world, and you know God is speaking, so loud and clear, for people to get their lives together. I am talking about us, the church, not people on the outside in the world. We really have to be sensitive today; we have to be spirit-filled, and we have to stop pretending or spiritualizing things. We have to keep the main thing, the main thing.

What is the main thing? It is our relationship with Jesus Christ. We have to maintain a right relationship with the Lord, not being phonies. That is the key thing, because we cannot control disasters. Not just natural or economic disasters, but look at the great persecution of the church around the world.

We are in control of our spiritual lives. We choose whether we are going to walk with the Lord or in the world. You cannot do both — you cannot.

The thing you have to keep at the front of your mind is the Lord is getting ready to return. We see it every day, and things will get worse as Christian persecution increases. The handwriting is on the wall. Yet there are many people who do not believe it in their hearts, even here in the church today. God is speaking loud and clear. Now is not the time to go to sleep.

When men try to extinguish the light
of the Gospel it burns more brightly.
-Henry T. Mahan-

God is My Refuge

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.”

Luke 21:34-35

The thing about it is, when tragedy comes, you do not know if you are going to be maimed or die. If you die, that is cool, if you are right with God.

Think of all the people in Indonesia, Haiti and Japan. When the earthquakes hit and the tsunamis followed, many had no warning. They had no time to escape. They were casualties of the unexpected tragedies.

For those who survived, there was no food, no water and no housing. In Japan, they had the reactors melting down. They were the most prepared in the whole world. They had food and water stocked up. They had gone through emergency drills, but God surprised them when He brought that 9.0 earthquake.

I am not trying to scare you, but we all must take an examination of our lives. We can stock up on food and water. We can organize emergency plans for our families, but we never really know what is going to happen. We can do all that is good and necessary to take care of our families, but in the end, if we are not right with the Lord, it is all for nothing.

When the disasters of life strike, our only real refuge is God — nothing else.

Security is not the absence of danger,
but the presence of God.
-Author Unknown-

Speak Out

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.

2 Timothy 3:1-2

We just really have to think about these things. This world is perishing. I am not just talking physically, but spiritually. We see the spiritual death of many today. We see it and think it is so sad, but what are we doing about it? We send money to charities to help those hit by disasters, but we do not share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those perishing eternally.

We cannot continue to wait for someone else to reach the world. These are not normal days; these are dangerous days. God is speaking loud and clear, because He is getting ready to come.

Look at what is happening in Israel. It is the greatest sign we have. The president of Iran is boasting about the coming of their holy man and coming against God’s people. It is not only Iran. The world is turning against Israel, and these are God’s people. God said, ‘I will bless those who bless you [Israel], And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

I wonder how many people will be cursed in these last days, because they do not support Israel. We need to really speak out like never before. Do not be afraid to speak out.

You do not love the Lord at all unless
you love the souls of others.
-C. H. Spurgeon-

No Excuse for Division

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of
one accord, of one mind.

Philippians 2:1-2

As I study Paul’s epistles, I get blown away. If we really want to be leaders in the church, then we really need to know what Paul wrote. He wrote to each of the churches, and he addressed so many issues. Everything he wrote is for us today. All of the circumstances he addressed, we see today in the church.

In this verse, we see one of the great problems in the church — people did not get along. There was no unity. This is something we all need to understand. As the body of Christ, we cannot be a part of disunity.

According to God’s Word, we are supposed to be united, but we are divided. So, how can God really work? Seriously, how can you run a church, or how can you run a successful business, if everyone is not on the same page? It is an impossibility. You cannot do it.

I learned this before I got saved, in the Marines. In the military, you have to be on the same page, or people get hurt and people die, so you learn it real fast.

In the church, division causes people to stumble, and we see spiritual death when they fall away. We cause so much damage, and the Christian has no excuse for this, because we have the epistles to read.

It is easy to make excuses when we ought to be
making opportunities.
-Warren Wiersbe-

Exhort and Rebuke

After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them.

Acts 18:1-2

Paul came to Corinth, most likely in the fall of 50 AD, and founded the church there. I do not know if you have ever been to Corinth, but I can tell you, it is a pretty amazing place. At the center of the excavated city of Corinth, there is a huge altar called the Bema Seat. This is where they would sit and pass judgment.

Right above Corinth, on a big hill, was a temple where 1000 prostitutes lived. They would come down to the city at night to seduce the men of Corinth. You get a picture of the Corinthians. This place was really loose. It was like Sodom and Gomorrah. There was drinking, partying and sex. They had every sin you could ever imagine.

This is the culture Paul came into when he arrived in Corinth. That is why he wrote two letters, because the problems were so heavy in Corinth. Paul spent time in Corinth developing the church. He reasoned with the people who called themselves Christians, and yet they were carnal. He really exhorted and rebuked the church.

We see the same carnality in the church today, so I exhort you today.

No man can understand spiritual
mysteries by carnal reason.
-Thomas Brooks-

God’s Credentials

And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said: “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.”

Acts 22:2-3

Paul the Apostle had many credentials he could give to the people. He was a Jew born in Tarsus, so he was also a Roman citizen. He was over in Tarsus, which is Turkey today. Then he was brought over to Jerusalem, and there he sat at the feet of Gamaliel, who was one of the great teachers. He spoke both Hebrew and Greek. In the eyes of man, he was a great man with a great education. He was like a PhD.

I do not think all those things were so important to God. I do not think Jesus was impressed with Paul’s education and background. I think he called Paul because he was so zealous. If he worked so hard to persecute the church, think how hard he would work for the Lord. His background gave him a balance to speak to the Jew and to speak to the Gentile.

This is so important. When we are reading our Bibles and learning God’s Word, we are sometimes so zealous for the Lord, we push people away from God, instead of drawing them near. Paul knew every community was different; every person was different. He knew God’s Word and taught the people, but he allowed God to do the work.

Allow the Lord to work in and through your lives. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when you are sharing the Gospel.

A person who lives right, and is right,
has more power in his words.
-Phillips Brooks-

Sit Under Godly Teachers

“Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.’ “

Acts 22:14-15

When I read the epistles of the Apostle Paul, I know I am really reading the actual words of God. Out of the whole world, God put His finger out, pointed to Saul of Tarsus and anointed him Paul the Apostle of Jesus Christ. He had already elected the 12 Apostles, but He knew one was a betrayer. He replaced Judas, the betrayer, with Paul, and he gave us 14 letters.

Of the Apostles of Christ, there were fishermen, tax collectors and laborers, but Paul was the theologian. He was a Pharisee, born as a Roman citizen, a Jew taught by Gamaliel. Think about it. It was all part of God’s plan.

Each one of us is part of the body of Christ, the church. The word church, ecclesialia, means “called out ones.” That is who we are. We are called out to serve the Lord, and God wants to use all our gifts and talents. He wants you to be all you can be, in order to serve Him.

The teachers you put yourself under, they are the ones who will influence your life. First, we have to put ourselves under Christ and the teachings of the Bible. Second, we have to be sure those we sit under are godly men — men who can rightly divide the Word of God. As we grow in the Lord, we become the teachers, just as the wisdom of Gamaliel was passed to Paul and on to us.

A disciple is a person who learns to live
the life his teacher lives.
-Juan Carlos Ortiz-

Teach God’s Truth

“Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ “

Acts 22:17-18

Paul was not going to be accepted in Jerusalem. The people were not ready to receive from Paul. This was not the last time Paul and his message would not be received, but Paul continued to teach and preach as he was led by the Lord.

Paul was fluent in Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic, the languages the Bible was originally written in. Knowing all three languages was a great advantage for Paul. He really knew the Word of God, and he was able to teach it to both the Jew and the Gentile.

Today, our Bibles have been translated from the original languages into almost every language, but sometimes things are lost in the translation. We still have to speak God’s Word the way it was written. That is why we study and pray. That is why we have our Strong’s and Young’s Concordances. We use these resources to look up words and passages, so we can teach the truth. If we deviate from the truth, then we are teaching false doctrine, changing God’s Word. We cannot change it.

Paul never changed the Word of God. He was bold for Jesus. He was not afraid to rebuke people. He was not afraid to call people heretics and false teachers. We should never be afraid to stand on truth and to stand on righteousness.

Speak boldly and speak truly. Shame the devil!
-John Fletcher-

Right People in the Right Places

“Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’ And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, ‘Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!’ “

Acts 22:21-22

When I read about the life of Paul, I am blown away. He had an open ear and open heart to really hear from the Lord. Once the Lord spoke, he did it. He was faithful to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Paul had a desire to minister to his fellow Jews, but God told him, “No, I have a greater work for you. You are going to minister to the Gentiles.” That does not mean he was never used with the Jewish nation, but God had a bigger plan for Paul. He was going to use all Paul’s credentials to open doors among the Gentile nations, with the intellectuals of the day. He had the education.

It is the same today. God wants to use each one of us where we are. He wants to use our gifts and talents to reach out to a lost and dying world, and He wants to put the right people in the right places to get the job done.

That is the main reason I went to seminary for my doctorate. I was already an ordained pastor. God ordained me. He called me, but in order to minister in South America to the business people, they needed to see the credentials.

We really need to be open to where God is leading us, so we can be used to our full potential in the areas God has chosen for us.

Education is useless without the Bible.
-Noah Webster-

Gifts Without Love

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

1 Corinthians 13:1

We have two letters from Paul to the church in Corinth. It is believed there were three letters, but one was lost. The reason Paul wrote to the Corinthians was because they had many problems. The culture of Corinth was carnal, so dying to the old man took some time for the people.

One of the great problems in Corinth was the abuse of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It was a major problem. They were not only abusing speaking in tongues, but also the interpretation of tongues.

Paul tried to encourage them while pointing out their errors. He was telling them it was great to speak in tongues, but it did not make them spiritual. As a matter of fact, they had the gift of tongues, but they did not love one another.

If they did not have love, what good was the gift of tongues to them? It was worthless before the Lord. Without love, their speaking was an awful sound before the throne of God. Without love, they were not a spiritual people — they were still carnal.

No one is really spiritual unless you truly believe in the work of God’s love moving through your life. When you have God’s love moving through your life, all your gifts and talents are beautiful in the eyes of the Lord.

Duty makes us do things well,
but love makes us do them beautifully.
-Phillips Brooks-

Critical or Truthful

Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother.

1 Corinthians 1:1

Paul began his first letter to the Corinthians with his greeting. Have you ever wondered why Paul’s letters always started with his name? That was the Greek way of writing letters. Today, we sign our names at the end, but they would put their names at the beginning, to establish a relationship with the readers.

He began his letter, not in boasting, but setting his authority. This letter was an exhortation from Paul to the people of Corinth, and he did not want them to take it lightly. He had to set the tone of the letter right from the start.

How many times do we pick up letters and just skim through them? We do not really read them. Someone writes you a letter about something you said or did, and immediately you think the person is too critical.

Are they critical? Have you spent time in prayer after reading the letter? Have you checked yourself out to see if maybe they are not critical, but truthful? We are not perfect. We do make great mistakes. We do things or say things we do not realize may be hurtful or just wrong.

When people come to me, I do not take it lightly. I take it to the Lord. You really have to listen and ask yourself, “Why are they saying this to me?” You really have to examine yourself before the Lord.

No man ever became a Christian
without stopping to look at himself.
-D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones-

Called of God

Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother.

1 Corinthians 1:1

Paul not only established his relationship with the people of Corinth in his greeting, he was also reminding them of the person he represented. This was a letter written from him as an Apostle and servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. What I found interesting here is he said, “Paul, called. . . .”

He was called by God to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ. He did not join the team. He did not fill out a job application and get paid for it. He said, “I was called by God.”

In all our lives, there has to be the calling of God. There has to be the anointing of God. Otherwise, we are not serving God, we are serving ourselves, and we are striving with God. Seriously, it would be better to do something else.

If you do not see progress, if you do not see God’s hand upon your service to the Lord, then maybe it is time to close shop Why keep beating the old dog. Let it die. It is time to seek Him and see where the Holy Spirit is truly leading.

God has so many things He wants to do in our lives, but we really have to check ourselves at every point. Am I really called by God to do this? Is this thing my will or God’s will? Pastor Chuck has always told us to look where the Holy Spirit is moving and jump in.

The greatest folly in the universe is
to oppose the will of God.
-David Thomas-

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 5:3-4

Anyone who has read the Bible, especially the letters Paul the Apostle wrote to the churches, knows Paul was well acquainted with the deep meaning behind these verses. He was not just speaking words of encouragement; he had experienced great tribulations and persevered through them.

Through Paul’s life, we see how great trials and tribulations can produce a life of perseverance, character and hope. At the same time, through life experience, we know great trials can produce defeat, disappointment and bitterness.

So, what makes the difference between a life of hope and a life of bitterness, while struggling through great tribulations?

Look at the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was not born into privilege. He came from humble beginnings. He lived during troubling times of great persecution. He experienced opposition in his life, but he had great hope.

He made a choice. He could have gotten bitter by his experiences, but he chose hope. He did not allow the circumstances in his life to shape the man. He allowed the strength of God to shape him. Like Paul, he persevered, which produced great character and hope.

It is so easy to become bitter with life. Keep your eyes on the Lord, and you can become a man or woman of great character, holding onto great hope.

We must accept finite disappointment,
but never lose infinite hope.
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.-

Ambassador for Christ

Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother.

1 Corinthians 1:1

Many times, Paul used the title of servant in his greeting, but he did not start out with servant in this letter. He began with apostle, which means “ambassador, one who is going to be sent.” Paul had been called by God, and then God sent him out to preach the message of salvation to the Gentiles.

Before you are sent, you have to know your calling, and you have to have the anointing in your life. This is very important. You have to have the anointing and the call of God.

The reason I say this is because Paul said, “I am an apostle of Jesus Christ.” He was not of Calvary Chapel, not of the Baptist church or the Methodist church. He was a representative of Jesus Christ, not a religion.

It does not matter who laid hands on you, it is the anointing on your forehead. That is the key. Did God really anoint you? If He did not, then what are you doing? Do not do something that is not fruitful, growing or developing.

We have to remember we are ambassadors of Christ. We are called, anointed and sent out by Him. Whatever we do is a reflection of the Lord, so be sure you do not misrepresent Him. Wherever I go and whatever I do, I always want my testimony to be right before the Lord. I am His ambassador to the world.

The conduct of our lives is the
true mirror of our doctrine.
-Michel de Montaigne-

Study, Pray and Wait on the Lord

Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother.

1 Corinthians 1:1

From Paul’s introduction and greeting, he made it clear who was in control. He was called, anointed and wrote the letter through the will of God. Paul’s life was dedicated to doing the will of God. He had his plans, but when God revealed His plan to Paul, he did not hesitate to do God’s will, not his plan.

That is one of the things I love about Paul. His life was given over to the Lord, fully and completely. He did not strive with God, because he knew God’s plan was the better way. His apostleship was according to God’s divine will.

Do you know God’s will in your life? I know I am in God’s will. I have never doubted it. The day I got saved, I knew what I had to do. I had to put myself under the leadership of Calvary Chapel and Chuck Smith. I had to listen and learn. I was not to promote myself. I waited for the Lord. I went to Costa Mesa and learned.

Out of all those people, Chuck Smith chose me. He called me to his office and I gave my testimony. That is how I came to be the pastor of Calvary Chapel. I never promoted myself. I prepared and waited on the Lord.

If you want to be used by God, study, pray and wait upon the Lord. Do not seek the approval of man.

Only in obedience can we discover the
great joy of the will of God.
-Sinclair Ferguson-

What Is Your Call?

Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother.

1 Corinthians 1:1

I like the way Paul was addressing the church in his letter. He was talking about himself and said, “I am called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God.” Notice the importance of the will of God in our lives. You really have to take a step back and ask the question, “Am I in God’s perfect will for my life?”

Now let me explain a little bit about this. Many people come to me and ask, “Raul, what do you think is the purpose of my life?” or, “What do you think is God’s will for my life?” I cannot answer that for anyone. No one can answer. You have to know by seeking God. Then He will speak to your heart.

One way to know whether you are in God’s will or not is whether you have the peace of God in your life. It is nothing big or mysterious, just the peace of God. If you do not have the peace of God in your life, then something is wrong. You have to be content with what God has called you to do. People do not have peace when they are not content. These people want to be here and there. They want to do this and do that.

I always tell people, “The first thing you must do to establish God’s perfect will in your life is to know God intimately, through His Word and through prayer.” If you do not know Him, how can He give you guidance and assistance? How can you really know what God has called you to be, if you do not know Him?

The revealed will of God is either manifested to us
in His Word or in His works.
-John Flavel-

The Holy Spirit Adds Believers

To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.

1 Corinthians 1:2

After introducing the writer, Paul revealed the recipients — the church of God. It was not just a few believers. It was a massive church. By the Day of Pentecost, there were 120 Christians, and from that point on it grew. On the first day, 3,000 got saved and were baptized. Then there were 5,000.

Imagine, the church grew like crazy without any programs, without any promotion. It was the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit added to the church daily, as many as should be added.

What is cool about it is he talked about the church of God which was at Corinth. God was adding to the church around the world. The Apostles went out to preach salvation, people were getting saved, and the Holy Spirit was moving, even in the carnal city of Corinth.

Do you see, God is not limited? He can move in the most carnal hearts. The Holy Spirit will do a great work wherever we are sent. All God asks of us is to go and be messengers. He is not asking us to convert anyone. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. He is asking us to go out and preach the message of salvation to a lost and dying world. He will do the real work. He will draw the sinner to Himself.

We are not responsible for conversion,
but we are responsible for contact.
-A. T. Pierson-

Grace and Peace

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:3

Notice how the greeting comes about here. Paul starts out with the most important thing, grace. It is important because we are saved by grace. Grace is the salutation given by the Greeks, and then peace, Shalom, a common greeting by the Hebrews; but not just peace, God’s peace. Wow!

Who is providing the grace and peace? God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. These titles speak of relationship — our relationship to God. We see God, our loving, Heavenly Father, and Jesus, our Savior, the Anointed One of God. Paul paints a picture of who Jesus Christ is and, at the same time, invites us immediately into this grace God gives to us.

We can never truly understand the peace of God until we receive the grace of God. We cannot ever experience the peace of God until we experience first the grace of God.

To understand grace, we have to recognize, we are saved by grace, not by works. It is a free gift from God. There is nothing you or I can do to earn God’s grace. He gives it to us freely when we give our lives to Jesus.

When we experience the true grace of God, then we experience the true peace of God in our lives. When we have the peace of God in our lives, we do not have to be all stressed out. We can rest assured, God is there in our lives.

Nothing can be done aright without grace.
-John Bunyan-

The Praying Shepherd

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:4

Notice how personal Paul was. He was very personal toward the Christians in Corinth. He was aware of their needs, and he was praying for them. He was concerned for their well-being.

A shepherd who is not concerned for people would not mention them in prayer, but Paul was concerned for the body of Christ. He was concerned for the church in every city where he planted a church. He was a shepherd of many flocks.

In his prayers, Paul was thanking God for the grace He had given to the Christians in Corinth. God had poured out His grace upon a carnal people. Some were walking in God’s grace, but many of these believers became carnal Christians.

Being carnal is not just sexual sin. You are carnal if you are a gossiper, a division maker or causing strife. Those who truly walk by the Holy Spirit are always making peace, walking by grace. It is a sign of maturity.

Grace is free. It is a gift. It only comes when you are born again of the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit will give to you, through Christ, the grace of God. Do you deserve it? No, it is a free gift of God, given to you.

Grace is what all need, what none can merit
and what God alone can give.
-George Barlow-

Study God’s Word

. . . that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge.

1 Corinthians 1:5

This is a huge verse here. Paul is talking about how God blessed our lives, and we have become so rich in Jesus Christ, in everything we say. We are rich in the truth we have learned from studying God’s Word. If I am studying God’s Word and learning, then I am going to be able to speak the truth. I am going to be able to give truth to others.

We are not only rich in all we say, through God’s Word we obtain all knowledge, as we continue to learn from the Word of God, as we study from Genesis to Revelation. In Colossians 1:9-10, Paul said we need to continue to study, not just once and for all, but every day we need to go through the Bible and study God’s Word.

How many times do you go come to a passage you really do not understand or it does not really speak to you; then the next time you read it, the Lord really speaks to your heart? That is why we continuously study God’s Word. Every time we open the Bible, God wants to speak to us.

The Bible never gets old, because God is constantly revealing new things in His Word. It becomes new every day. If you are really looking to learn from the Word, God will reveal Himself, but this can only happen through the work of the Holy Spirit. Allow Him to teach you, lead you and guide you, so you can speak God’s Word in truth. Otherwise, you cannot do it.

We must read our Bibles like men
digging for hidden treasure.
-J. C. Ryle-

Spiritual Ignorance

. . . even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, . . .

1 Corinthians 1:6

The word testimony is Marturus, which means “witness.” The witness of Christ was confirmed in them. How was it confirmed? By the Holy Spirit.

Notice how much the Holy Spirit was involved in the Book of Corinthians. In every chapter, you find the work of the Holy Spirit. What was the problem in the Corinthian church? The Holy Spirit.

How could the Holy Spirit be a problem? Think about it. The Corinthian believers were abusing the power and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so there was no fault with the Holy Spirit. The fault was at the feet of the believers in Corinth. Because they were spiritually immature, they were carnal Christians, and they were abusing the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Paul wants to make sure we really and truly understand this problem, because it can happen to each and every person who comes to Christ, but does not take the time to be rooted and grounded in the Word of God. Without spiritual maturity, we can all fall victim to abusing the spiritual gifts.

When we read and study God’s Word, we grow in our knowledge of God and the gifts He imparts to us. Then, we can be responsible in the use of all things spiritual. Without the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit, we will all be ignorant of the Word of God, and without the Word, we are ignorant of God.

Ignorance is the mother of all mischief.
-Thomas Hall-

Jesus Is Coming

. . . so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, . . .

1 Corinthians 1:7

Every Christian should be waiting with an eagerness for the Lord Jesus Christ to come. When the body of Christ begins to lose sight of the Coming of the Lord, then the church will die. If you do not teach about the Coming of the Lord, the church will begin to die. Without the Coming of Jesus Christ, people will have no hope.

What has kept me walking with the Lord for the last 40 years is what Pastor Chuck taught the first time I heard him, saying, “Jesus is coming.” I knew he was speaking the truth, and I set myself to be faithful to the Lord until He comes.

Watching the signs of the times and reading the epistles, which teach the Coming of the Lord, I know we are closer than we have ever been. Reading the Book of Revelation, Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel and all the minor prophets, we can see things coming together according to prophecy.

There are 500 prophecies about Jesus Christ, with 300 speaking of His First Coming and 200 about the Second Coming.

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul reminds us we are lacking nothing, as Christians. We are rich, not in the world, but we are rich in Jesus Christ, because we are eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is coming soon.

Since He may come any day,
it is well to be ready every day.
-J. Hudson Taylor-

Be Found Blameless

. . . who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:8

Do you know the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ is different from the Day of the Lord? The Day of Christ is speaking of the Rapture, and the Day of the Lord is speaking of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, after the Tribulation period. It makes a difference here.

I think this is a real important point because of the Rapture. He said when the Lord Jesus Christ comes, He wants to find you blameless. Notice he says blameless. We are not talking about spirituality. We are talking about people really living holy lives, being blameless in everything they do.

If we are eagerly waiting for Jesus to come, He is going to confirm us to the end. Isn’t that cool? If God started a work in your life, then He will finish it. See, if you are walking with the Lord, abiding in Him, He is going to accomplish all the plans He has for your life.

If you decide not to abide in Christ, you will miss out on the blessings of the Lord here on earth, and you will be sure to remain here for the Tribulation period, following the Rapture. You will not be found blameless in the Day of Jesus, because He will not confirm those who choose not to walk with Him.

It is so important to remember, it is all our choice. We choose heaven or hell.

Sin is but hell in embryo;
hell is but sin in fulfillment.
-Thomas V. Moore-

Fellowship with God

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:9

Underline this verse. It is a key verse. Notice, it is not you who are faithful, it is God. He is the one who gives you the privilege of being in the fellowship with Christ and other believers. God is the one, not you. It is a privilege because God is faithful.

Imagine the importance of this one verse, the fellowship given to us. I think many times, as believers, we take the fellowship for granted. We do not value it for the incredible gift from God it really is, and we break fellowship.

How do we break fellowship? Sin breaks fellowship with God. How many times have you said, “I am not hurting anyone else with my actions,” when you are sinning? You are hurting someone else — a really important someone else. You are hurting God in your sin. You have broken fellowship with Him.

We can see clearly, God is always faithful to us. He calls us into fellowship and desires a personal relationship with each of us, individually. We are not so faithful. We are self-centered and we break fellowship, because we allow other things to be more important in our lives than God.

Think about it. In the entire universe, God desires fellowship with us! He calls us into fellowship with one another. Isn’t that more important than any sin?

Fellowship with Christians is for the sake
of fellowship with God.
-J. I. Packer-

Gossip Brings Division

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 1:10

What do people in the body of Christ do? They gossip and tell stories, just like the world. It is wrong and Paul is telling us here, it causes division. The church needs to be united, not divided. We need to be careful how we are talking at home, at work, at church, wherever we go.

Why? If you are speaking things that are not edifying, not building up, but you are tearing people down, your children are listening and they will become just like you. They will tear people down. You are infecting them.

You have to really be careful with your mouth. When you talk, you cannot control how people are going to repeat your words, so do not leave them with gossip and stories. Once gossip and stories are repeated, they cause division, and it will affect you tremendously. Little birds are always escaping with words, and those words can hurt others.

You are either united or you are divided. If you do not agree, let’s agree to disagree, or let’s disagree, agreeably. Why cause division? Why cause people to be separated? When God is doing a work and wants to do a greater work, let’s come together in harmony with the Holy Spirit and allow God to use our lives in such a way that everyone gets blessed.

When tempted to gossip,
breathe through your nose.
-T. N. Tiemeyer-

Agree to Disagree

For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.

1 Corinthians 1:11

Paul was letting them know he was aware of the problems. He was saying, “I have heard it, you guys. I am not there, but I have heard it..” Even then, without phones and internet, word had gotten back to Paul, and he knew there were problems in the church of Corinth.

What was a big problem in Corinth? There were contentions. Contentions are disagreements — not minor disagreements, but heated disagreements. Contentions bring disunity. They bring divisions. Remember that. All these things cause division in the Body of Christ.

Contentions are caused by people — people who will not agree to disagree. I am not talking about compromising on our beliefs; I am talking about disagreeing, agreeably. There are many things taught in different churches which we do not agree with, but they are not essential doctrines. They will not cause someone to go to hell, so we agree to disagree.

A contentious person is a carnal person, not a spiritual man. The carnal person will not back down. They have to be right and will not back down, even if it causes division. Is this the action of a spiritual man? Is this what Christ has taught us?

As Christians, I do not think any of us want to be known as contentious people, so let each one of us seek to be spiritual men and women.

The division of Christians is the sin of fratricide.
-J. A. Moyter-

Avoid Division Making

Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”

1 Corinthians 1:12

Division happens when people start creating their own little cliques in the church, and people follow this leader or that leader, but not the shepherd. That is when you have major problems. That is when you have division in the body of Christ. We are not supposed to make disciples to ourselves. We are supposed to make disciples to Christ. That is what the Bible teaches.

God has appointed the senior pastor as the shepherd of His church. The responsibility of the shepherd is to lead people to Christ. The focus of the teaching is the Word of God and Christ, not stories or entertainment.

It is not about how big or popular you are. It is about how big Christ is in your life that makes you little before the people, as they focus on Christ. This is so important. The smaller you are before Christ, the more God will use your lives — not the bigger you are.

I think it is important because today there are so many people who want to be something they are not. They disagree with the pastor and begin collecting people who will agree with them. This is division making. It is not of the Lord. Remember, God appoints His shepherds. When you do this, you are coming against God’s anointed. That is a heavy sin against the Lord.

You can’t build a church with stumbling blocks.
-Fred Beck-

Nobodies for Christ

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

1 Corinthians 1:13

Paul said, “Let’s get to the bottom of things. Was Apollos, Cephas or I ever crucified for any of you?” Paul was an Apostle of the Lord, but he did not raise himself above anyone. Who were these people? They were servants of the Lord. They were nobodies. That is true ministry — being nobodies.

We should never ever think we are somebodies. We should be nobodies and allow God to be who He is in our lives, so He can work in us and through our lives.

Many people have a hard time with this. They say, “This is what I have done for Christ.” Let me ask you, “What have you done for Christ? Truly, what have you done?” Nothing. The question is, “What has Christ done for you?” That is the most important thing, what Christ has done for us. Everything — remember that!

You see, we have to get our priorities right as men and women of God, as Christians, in order to be successful in this world, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We should always be talking about Christ. He is the One who gives us the increase. He is the One who gives us the wisdom and knowledge. He is the One who calls and anoints. He is the One doing the work of God. We are just His vessels, His servants. Here I am, God. Do whatever you want to do.

Every preacher must come to his people
with the mind of Christ.
-Donald MacLeod-

Flawed but Usable

I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.

1 Corinthians 1:14-15

Underline this verse. Look at the humility of Paul. He was not building himself up. He was lifting up Christ, not Paul. This message is for you and for me. Do not try to build up your name. Do not think about your name. It is about Christ, not about us.

God wants to work in me and through my life. Why? He has so much to do in my life and through my life, but before He can use the vessel, He has to fashion it. It is like the potter and the clay. What does He do with the lump of clay? He has to work on it. He has to fashion it into something usable. It takes days, weeks, months and years for God to mold us and shape us into vessels He can use.

We are not perfect vessels. We are flawed but usable, because we are in the Master’s hands. We are only usable by Him. Once you think you are finally finished, perfected, He says, “Yes, I am taking you home. Now you will be perfect.”

As long as we are here, we are imperfect. We are going to make mistakes. We are going to trip and fall. We are going to make so many mistakes, but if God is for us, who can be against us? That is the bottom line. If God is using our lives, we do not have to be perfect; we have to be available to Him.

Christians are made, not born.
-Jerome-

Preach God’s Word

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

1 Corinthians 1:17

What was Paul’s mission? To preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What often happens in ministry? We get so caught up in programs, we forget to preach and to teach. It is pretty heavy. We are here to preach, to evangelize, to expand our borders and tell people they are lost. This is not just for pastors; it is for everyone who calls themselves a Christian.

It is important we are sensitive to people. We need to be ready in season and out of season, to have the boldness to say, “This is where it’s at. This is what is going to happen. This is the bottom line.”

Look at what Paul said, not with wisdom of words. What does that mean? How many times do we want to impress people? We use big words and quote commentaries, and yet the message has not even penetrated our hearts. We cannot teach the Word of God, unless it has pierced our own hearts.

We can be educated, but if we do not know the Word of God, we are ignorant. We have no hope. I do not care how many degrees you have; they do not matter, if you do not know God. You have to know God and preach Christ.

The only thing we have to give people is the Word of God and the hope of Jesus Christ. Nothing else can replace Christ and the message of salvation — nothing!

Education is a progressive discovery
of our own ignorance.
-Will Durant-

Submission Brings Unity

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

1 Corinthians 1:17

Can you believe it? The Cross of Jesus Christ is of no effect if the messenger is not empowered by the Holy Spirit of God. You can preach all you want. You can say whatever you want, but you will have no power. If you are not the true messenger, nothing will happen.

What happens to keep you from being the messenger? Division — not being one with Christ and not being one with people. Having your own agenda. Doing your own thing. Building your own kingdom. It will never work. God will not work with division.

What do we need to do? We need to submit — submission is the key to unity. The word is hupotasso, which translated means, “to arrange under,” with hupo translated as “under” and tasso translated “to arrange.”

We need to be under Christ. The only way to get under Christ is to humble yourself and become a servant for Christ. Then God can give you the message, and you can become the messenger, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

As God’s messengers, it is important for us to submit to Christ and to the leaders God sets over us. Then we can serve in unity through the power of the Holy Spirit.

A dead creed is of no use; we must have our creed
baptized with the Holy Ghost.
-C. H. Spurgeon-

Power of the Cross

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18

We want to understand the Cross of Jesus Christ is the power unto God. The power of God comes from the Cross of Jesus Christ — knowing Christ. What is the Cross? It is the instrument of death. It is dying to self.

As Christians, we understand the message of the Cross. Even though it is an instrument of death, we understand the power of the Cross. Without the death of Christ on the Cross, we would still be perishing eternally in our sins.

To people in the world, the Cross of Jesus Christ is nothing. It is stupidity. They do not believe in the power of the Cross. Look at all the people who wear crosses as jewelry and have no idea of its significance. They see it as something pretty to wear around their necks.

It is so important to recognize what the Cross means, if you are going to wear it. It is not pretty. It is an instrument of death and torment. When people were crucified, they suffered tremendously. When Christ was put on the Cross, He suffered and He was an innocent man. He suffered to save you and to save me.

The suffering of Christ on the Cross produced great power, because as He died on the Cross, He took on all our sins — past, present and future — and gave us salvation. That is the power of the Cross. That is the true message of the Cross.

A crossless Christ would mean no more
than a Christless cross.
-Vance Havner-

Wisdom of the Cross

For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

1 Corinthians 1:19

Notice what Paul is proving. The philosophers, the astrologers, the astronomers, all the people in colleges who think they are smart, have no wisdom in the eyes of the Lord. Their wisdom is foolishness to the Lord. They are not really smart.

What is the message? Without the message of the Cross, men are fools. They have no wisdom and they cannot make wise decisions. Can you believe it? It is all about the Cross of Jesus Christ. It is not something big. It is something little. Not big words, just a little word, the Cross — the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Think about it. When you go to college, you learn these big words to impress people, but that is not what it is about. People are impressed when they see Christ working in us and working through us, without saying one word. That is a greater testimony.

We have to understand, the Word of God is true wisdom. The knowledge of Christ and the Cross gives us hope. Without God’s Word and the message of the Cross, we are without hope. Who could we impress as people heading for hell? No one. We have no wisdom, no power and no strength outside the Cross of Jesus Christ.

The cross is the resting place for sin, the tomb for
self and the throne for our fears.
-Harold St. John-

Tests and Temptations

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

1 Corinthians 1:20

Paul was making a distinction between God’s wisdom and the wisdom of the world. The wisdom of the world is to destroy your life. The wisdom of God is to die to self and to be used by God — to be smart and not to be foolish.

Think of how many people are very foolish people. Every Sunday they hear the message, every Sunday, but there is no change.

If you took alcohol or drugs, if you got caught up in sex, let me tell you this: until the day you die, there is going to be temptation; there will be tests. When you fail a test, you will have to retake the test. You will never go beyond it until you pass the test, and retaking it could be harder than taking it the first time.

You really have to understand, we are all going to be tested. We all have different tests we go through. It is up to us to be spiritually strong, as we reckon the old man to be dead, as we are in the Word of God, as we are developing, growing and maturing and as we are aware spiritually. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers and rulers of darkness which are trying to disqualify us.

The bottom line is this: do you want to be used or do you want to be put on the shelf? You make the decision — no one else.

There are as many forms of temptation
as there are Christians.
-Edward Donnelly-

Satan the Great Tempter

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

1 Corinthians 1:21

Can you believe it? Through the simple message of preaching, people reject God and become foolish; but we who believe have become wise. The simple message of preaching the Cross of Jesus Christ — the message of salvation — leaves people ignorant or wise. Think about it.

Why is it so many more get destroyed, perish and go to hell, while so very few understand the message of the Cross and get saved? Think about it.

Do you know what it is? It is the appetites of the flesh — carnality. It is drugs, alcohol, prosperity, money, power, women and just about everything in this world. Every one of us has our weaknesses, and we have our problems. Satan is the greatest tempter. He studies you day and night, waiting for the right opportunity, the right time to hook you. What is his ultimate goal? To disqualify you from service and destroy your life.

This happens over and over again to all of us. You really have to be aware of it. In order to have discernment, you have to spend time with God and ask Him to show you the dark areas of your heart. Ask Him to reveal what needs to be transformed in your heart, those things that can really disqualify and destroy you. What can put you on the shelf when God has done so much in your life?

Satan, like a fisher, baits his hook according
to the appetite of the fish.
-Thomas Adams-

They Missed the Signs

For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 1:22-24

Isn’t it cool? The power and wisdom of God is for those who listen, for those who obey, for those who take the Word of God seriously. You are different from the Jew and the Greek. They did not want to hear it.

The Jews were looking for a sign, and the signs were all around them. When Christ came, He fulfilled 300 prophecies from the Old Testament. How many more signs did they need? They wanted a conquering Messiah, so they did not see the signs.

The Greeks were smart in the knowledge of the world, with Plato, Socrates and all their philosophers, but think about how they missed the way of the Cross, because it was foolishness to them. They were only wise in the eyes of man, but what does the Bible say in 1 Corinthians 3:19? For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.

With this verse, we should not be surprised when people reject the message of salvation. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, the message of Christ crucified is foolishness to the unbeliever. To us, it is not foolishness; it is the greatest message of salvation for all.

The cross of Christ is the most revolutionary thing
ever to appear among men.
-A. W. Tozer-

Strength of the Cross

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 1:25

Underline this verse. The weakness of God is stronger than men. Think about it: the weakness of the preaching of the Cross of Jesus Christ, the weakness of saying, “I am weak, Lord, I cannot take it. I am not going to go there; I am not going to see that; I am not going to do that, because I know I will fall.” You have to come to a place of surrender in your life. You have to know how strong you are and how weak.

The Bible says when you think you are really strong is when you are going to fall. When you think you can handle things, you cannot handle them. There is no way. Billy Graham has said four things are the root of man’s sin: power, money, women and pride. Those things destroy people’s lives. What is amazing is you never expect it to happen to you, but as Satan studies you over time, he looks for the right thing and the right time to bring full war against you — to destroy your life.

That is why Paul is writing this letter to the Corinthians, because they were totally carnal. There was so much sin; he had to address it, because Paul was a man of the Cross. That is what kept him usable. Physically, he was small and unattractive, but spiritually, he was a giant. Look at the power behind him. It was the power of the Cross. The Cross of Jesus Christ is the key — praying, studying, preaching, delivering the message — the power.

The cross was not a tragic failure;
it was a triumphant rescue.
-Vaughan Roberts-

Be Content with Who You Are

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

1 Corinthians 1:26

Notice, Paul calls you to check out your calling. What is your calling? What has God really called you to do? That is one thing I tell young people, “When you get called, do not look at everything you want to do. What does God want you to do?”

Look what Paul said. People who are called are not the smartest, the strongest or the bravest. People God calls are vessels willing to be used by God for His purposes in His wisdom, strength and courage. Why? Then God gets all the glory. We cannot say we did it. It is the Lord.

Many times, people get involved serving in the ministry, and they begin to look at other people and their gifts and talents. They start coveting. They want those gifts in their own lives, but God tells them, “No.” He is not going to give them those gifts. He wants them to be content where they are.

Why would you want to go beyond what God has given you the power to do? That is how people destroy themselves. You have to be content with who and where you are. Do not try to be anyone else. Be who God made you to be.

It is always sad when people do not want to be who God wants them to be. They are denying the plan God has for them.

God is the source of all truth, and every discovery
is a means of glorifying Him.
-Gene Veith-

Used for God’s Glory

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.

1 Corinthians 1:27

This verse is the heart of Calvary Chapel. We are not the smartest or the most beautiful people of the world. We are just people who want God to use our lives. We are happy to be weak, because then we are strong in the Lord. We do not rely on our own wisdom or strength. We rely fully on the Lord to empower us.

The greatest works done in the world have not been accomplished by man; they have been done by God. Men may be the vessels God chooses to use, but it is always His work. It is never done by the strength of men.

Paul recognized Who was the power behind the work. In Philippians 4:13, he said, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

This is such an important message. All through the Bible, we see men and women God used to accomplish His plan. They were not perfect. Abraham lied. Moses misrepresented God. Rahab was a prostitute. David fell into sin with Bathsheba. Paul had many infirmities. Peter spoke foolishly. We could go on and on.

Why did God use them? They were willing vessels who gave God the glory. We cannot take the glory. The glory belongs to Him.

The weakness of man sets the stage for
the display of God’s strength.
-Author Unknown-

Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

Matthew 5:43-44

There are not many men we celebrate in our nation, but one of them was the 16th President of the United States. President Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1861 and served until he was assassinated in 1865.

Lincoln did not come from wealth and privilege. He was a true self-made man, or should we say God-made man. He came from a poor family and was self-taught. Can you imagine, he went from teaching himself to read and write to becoming the President of the United States?

I believe God is the one who appoints leaders. He is the one who really elects our representatives. Sometimes, He allows good men to lead and sometimes bad. Either way, God looks at the character of the man.

When you look at the writings and speeches of Lincoln, it is clear; he was a man of great character and moral integrity. It is also clear he knew the Bible. So often, he spoke as if he were reading from the Bible.

I believe his godly character was the reason God appointed him to the Presidency. God saw a man seeking to make friends of his enemies. During one of the most crucial times in American history, God raised up a man to bring unity to the nation.

Let’s take time today to thank God for His wisdom and to pray for our elected officials.

The best way to destroy an enemy
is to make him a friend.
-Abraham Lincoln-

Bought by His Blood

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

1 Corinthians 1:30

Look at the riches we have in Christ. I get blown away when I think of all Christ has done for me. When you look at the blessings from God, through the shed blood of Jesus on the Cross, it is hard to believe people turn from God. They would rather have the things of the world than the blessings of God.

Notice the four things Paul says we receive: wisdom from God, righteousness by faith in Christ, sanctification and redemption. Without these things we would still be separated from God. Through Christ, we have true fellowship with God.

By the blood of Christ, we have access to the wisdom of God. Where is this wisdom? In His Word — the Bible. We will find the answers to life’s questions in the Word of God — not worldly wisdom, but perfect wisdom from God.

Through the sacrifice on the Cross, we can come before the throne of God, because we have the righteousness of Christ. The moment we are born again, we are sanctified, made holy, and also set apart for God’s purpose.

We are bought by the blood of Jesus Christ. Christ’s redemption is for all of us, because we all are in need of His atoning blood. We are all born into sin, but Christ has redeemed us and paid the price for our sins. We all need to recognize the great gift we have through the blood of Christ.

Christ’s blood is heaven’s key.
-Thomas Brooks-

Valentine’s Day

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:3

Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians is called “The Love Chapter.” It is often used in weddings, and many people have quotes from this chapter hanging in their homes. Most people focus on verses 4 through 8, the ‘Love is. . . .” verses.

I really like verse 3 of this chapter, because it shines a light on our motives. God looks at our hearts — at the motives we have for our actions. On the outside, we can appear to be the most loving and kind people, but God looks at the inside, at the heart.

God says, “You can do all the good works you want, but if you do not do it in love, or you do it grudgingly, it is worth nothing.” It will burn in the fire when you stand before the Lord.

Wow! Think of all the things you have done for others. Did you do them to be recognized? Did you do them to promote yourself? Did you do them because God has called us to love one another and serve one another?

You have to understand, God is true love. He is our example of true love. He sent His Son to die for us. Jesus was beaten and put on a cross for us. How well do we live up to those examples of love? Think about it!

Love never asks, “How much must I do?”,
but “How much can I do?”
-Frederick Agar-

His Redeeming Blood

. . . that, as it is written, “He who glories,
let him glory in the LORD.”

1 Corinthians 1:31

Okay, recently, we talked about the four things we receive when we accept Christ as our Savior. We have been bought with the blood of Jesus Christ. How many of us can say we have redeemed and sanctified anyone? No one — not one of us — only Christ!

We have to give the praise, the glory and the honor to Jesus Christ. We are nothing but dead men walking, without the blood of Jesus Christ. We have nothing to offer anyone in this world, except the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ. We are nothing, so we should never bring attention to ourselves.

Give the glory to God for what He is doing and what He has done in your lives. When you talk to people, tell them what Christ has done for you. Tell them about the gift of His blood. Give all the glory to God.

It is not about us. It is all about the Lord, and I always promote the teaching of the Word of God. You do not have to impress anyone. Impress the Lord and He will take care of whatever He wants to do in your lives. Be who you are and give God all the glory and honor for who you are.

I am just a servant. That is all we are, servants of the Lord Jesus, redeemed by His atoning blood. We should start and finish with the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Life is not worth living apart from redemption.
-Oswald Chambers-

Deliverance from Sin

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

Romans 6:1

Now, in order to understand what Paul is talking about, we talked about the Cross of Jesus Christ. No one can really live up to the Cross of Jesus Christ, if they live a life of sin. That is the bottom line. There is no possible way.

Why? Sin separates us from God. Sin quenches the Holy Spirit of God. It is the missing of the mark. Paul wants to make sure we understand there is deliverance from the power of indwelling sin. Notice what I said — there is deliverance through the power of God, unto salvation.

Now, should we take advantage of the deliverance Christ provided on the Cross and continue to practice sin? No way! We cannot abide in Christ and continue in sin. It is an impossibility. We cannot call ourselves Christians and practice sin.

Notice, I said we cannot practice sin. We all sin and fall short of the grace of God, but we cannot consciously choose to live sinful lives, thinking God’s grace will cover us. If we continue to practice sin, are we really repentant? Have we really been born again of the Holy Spirit, if we choose sin instead of righteousness? I do not think so.

Paul is exhorting every one of us to consecrate our lives to Jesus Christ and choose to live our lives holy and acceptable to Him.

It does not take great men to do great things;
it only takes consecrated men.
-Phillips Brooks-

Denial of Self

Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

Romans 6:2-3

Paul is talking about our past, present and future. He is talking about us as believers. We need to recognize the power of sin and the power we now have received through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, as we have died. Dying means denial of self — denial of your appetites.

One thing we know for sure, we have an enemy by the name of Satan, but we have another great enemy, self — the flesh. Think about how many people blame Satan, when it is not Satan, it is us. We are our worst enemies. Why? We do not know how to reckon the old man to be dead. That is a real important teaching, reckoning the old man to be dead.

Paul brings up an interesting question. If we have been saved by faith and baptized in water, representing death and then rising with newness of life in Jesus Christ, can we continue to sin? No we cannot.

It is so important to understand, because our flesh always wants to resurrect. It is a constant battle, no matter how long you are in the Lord. That is how believers get destroyed; they think they are strong in themselves. The only way to suffocate the flesh is the Cross and dying to self. We need to recognize the sin nature we carry with us and die to self every day.

The first lesson in Christ’s school is self-denial.
-Matthew Henry-

Newness of Life in Christ

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:4

We should walk in the newness of life. Paul was making a point. If we really have been born again of the Holy Spirit, if we are really Christians, then we are not walking in our old ways anymore; we are walking in our new ways. That is the power of the resurrection, and it is newness of life. We are not what we used to be. We are different.

We recognize, as Satan comes along and tries to tempt us, come against us and bring us back to our past, we have to stand firm and walk in the newness of life. There is no power in the past. The power is in the present and looking towards the future.

I recognize I am weak. I am clay, so I have to examine my life. What are the appetites or passions I deal with every single day of my life? Am I feeding them, or am I starving them to death, those passions? Whatever I feed, that is who I am. I want to make that real clear.

Who do you want to be and how do you walk in the newness of life? If you feed the flesh, you will walk in the flesh. If you feed the spirit, you will walk in the spirit. You need to pray and read the Word of God every day. That is the only way to walk in the spirit and put the flesh to death.

Regeneration has made our hearts a battlefield.
-J. I. Packer-

Live a Resurrected Life Daily

For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.

Romans 6:5

This is so important. We are united with Christ in the likeness of His death, which leads to the assurance, we are also united with Him in His Resurrection. Wow, that is heavy! We put our flesh to death at the Cross of Jesus Christ, and just as the tomb could not hold Christ, we have no reason to fear death, because it has no hold over us.

We celebrate the Resurrection on Sonrise Sunday every year, but think about how important the Resurrection is every day, not just once a year. It is every day. Why? Because our appetites, the flesh, along with Satan, the adversary who hates us, are always throwing things our way and trying to tempt us and make us fall.

Paul is talking about the passion and the power of the Resurrection, which keeps me abiding in Christ, as I am looking at His Cross. Why? I am resurrected in Christ Jesus.

The Cross represents my death with Him. The Cross not only leads me to death in Him, but also it reminds me the Cross is empty. It speaks of the Resurrection of Christ. The Cross could not hold Him down. He overcame the Cross, and He rose again three days later. He gives us the same power today, to be able to live and be sustained by His power daily.

We are more sure to arise out of our graves
than out of our beds.
-Thomas Watson-

Set Free From Sin

. . . knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

Romans 6:6

Wow, there is so much in this verse! There is no excuse for any Christian to be enslaved in sin. That is the bottom line. When we become enslaved by sin, it is because we have made the choice. We have the choice to die or to live.

One thing really spoke to my heart as I was reading and studying Romans 6. We really need to be disciplined in our lives, not just sometimes, but all the time.

We cannot take things lightly because of the days we are living in. The way the enemy is capturing, destroying, tripping, wounding and even killing people today, tells me we cannot let our guard down, but we must always be ready.

It really hurts you when someone is wounded or crippled; when they fall, it is very hard personally and for the body of Christ. Yet, every one of us has the opportunity to avoid the traps, because we have the Word of God. Paul said in Romans 6:7, For he who has died has been freed from sin.

We have been set free from sin. There is no excuse. We make the choice either to stay with, or walk away from, what God is doing in our lives. Remember, the battle has already been won. Satan lost at the Resurrection of Christ. We just have to choose to die with Him at the Cross.

Nothing provokes the devil like the cross.
-C. H. Spurgeon-

Reckon Sin to Be Dead

For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

Romans 6:10-12

This is a heavy chapter, and these verses are the heart of this chapter — reckoning the old man to be dead. Christ died on the Cross once and for all, but we have to die to our flesh, every day. We have to reckon the old man, our fleshly appetites, to be dead, hour by hour, sometimes minute by minute.

For some, it seems an impossibility; not giving in to temptation is hard. We are not just fighting our flesh, but Satan who has studied us and knows what temptation to throw us to feed our flesh. That is why it is so important we do not feed our flesh.

How can we be victorious and walking by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, successful in what God called us to do? We have to starve our flesh to death and feed the spirit with God’s Word and prayer. We have to live in Jesus Christ, in obedience to the Cross of Jesus Christ.

This chapter needs to be studied and dissected by every one of us individually. If you really want to be used of God, memorize Chapter 6 — know it inside and out. It deals totally with sin, the power of sin and the greater power of the Resurrection.

The resurrection of Christ is our receipted bill.
-Donald Grey Barnhouse-

George Washington’s Birthday

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”

John 13:14-15

As the first President of the United States of America, George Washington had a huge responsibility. He not only had to lead a new nation, but his actions would set policies for future leaders.

Think about it. He did not follow anyone but a king in England who was hated by the people. He had been a great military leader, and the people were looking to him as an example. How were we going to run this newly founded nation?

He could have been a good example to the people or a bad example. He could have taken advantage of the people, or he could have served them. He had many options and decisions to make.

Since we celebrate him still today, I believe he made good decisions, and he was a good example to our people. He was a man of good character and good moral standing.

I like this quote from his first inaugural address to the nation: “The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained.”

From the beginning of his Presidency, he recognized God as the Ruler of order and right. He knew he needed the guidance of God in order for the nation to be blessed. He was a wise example, because he followed God.

Example, whether it be good or bad,
has a powerful influence.
-George Washington-

Trained By God

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Galatians 6:9

Paul is such an example to every Christian. Look at his life. The first thing he did after he got saved was spend ten years in the desert, waiting for God to train him for what He intended to do with Paul’s life. He waited for God’s due season to go out and minister.

Today, I see how quickly people want to get into the ministry, but they are not ready. God has not trained them up yet. You have to have more than a testimony to give to people. You have to leave them with something lasting. What does the Word of God do? It builds up, it feeds and it makes you grow spiritually. It makes you healthy. It makes you sharp.

When I got saved, it took me 4 1/2 years to really get rooted and grounded in God’s Word. As I was going out, trying to start ministry, it was not happening, because God knew I first needed to know God and His Word. God trained me with Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and the Shepherd’s School.

It takes discipline to sit and study God’s Word. You have to spend time in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening in the Word of God. If you are going to share God’s Word, you better have something God has first given to you before you share it with others. Wait for God to prepare you.

If I only had three years to serve the Lord, I would
spend two of them studying and preparing
-Donald Grey Barnhouse-

Spiritual Maturity

From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep.

2 Corinthians 11:24-25

Paul the Apostle wrote to the Corinthian church, because they were having many problems — huge problems. They had lawsuits, a man living with his stepmother, a lack of wisdom and knowledge and a problem with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. What was going on was just horrible. They had not grown spiritually and could not handle these situations.

I want to make one thing clear. Spiritual maturity does not come from time; it comes from experience walking with the Lord. It comes from spending time with God. It is not how long you have been in ministry; it is what you have gone through in ministry. That really is the key to ministry.

When you think of Paul the Apostle, all the things he faced, you can see the spiritual maturity. He was beaten, insulted, cast down and stoned. All the things he faced because of the name of the Lord, because of the ministry, caused him to mature in the Lord.

Each person is going to mature according to their investment in their spiritual walk. If you do not give your whole life over to the Lord, you will not mature spiritually. You cannot be a part-time Christian and have the kind of walk Paul had with God. He served the Lord with his whole life.

Growth is not the product of effort, but of life.
-Augustus H. Strong-

Sit at the Feet of Jesus

. . . in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils
among false brethren.

2 Corinthians 11:26

As I was searching the heart of Paul, I could see he was hurting. Paul had been through so much. He was pouring out his heart to the Corinthian church. In 2 Corinthians, he speaks of all his sufferings.

He said, “This is what the ministry is all about. It is getting beat up, kicked and spit on. This is what it is.” Think about it. It is not about living the high life. It is about living the simple life. It is caring for the people and feeding the flock of God. Being a leader in the ministry means knowing God intimately and living a life of holiness — being an example. Trials and temptations will always be there, but you have to rise above them.

As Christians, we have to be students of God’s Word. That is the only way we can live our lives as examples — reflecting Christ. God has to pour into us, so we can overflow with His word to others, both believers and non-believers. God has to empty us of ourselves in order to fill us up with Himself.

We should be sitting at the feet of Jesus like Mary Magdalene and not be so busy working. We should be listening to the Lord and worshipping the Lord, so He can transform us and can speak to us. Then we will have something to say, and people will have something to hear.

Salvation is free, but discipleship
costs everything we have.
-Billy Graham-

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

James 1:5-6

True wisdom comes from God. Human wisdom divides, because human wisdom is motivated by human desires. Human wisdom is limited by human knowledge. Only God can give you true wisdom, because he has infinite knowledge.

Today, with human wisdom in the churches, we see an emphasis on programs, instead of the Word of God. What do young kids do today? They play video games and spend time on the internet. They want to be entertained. They do not want to sit and just listen to a sermon. That is how they get into mysticism, candles, dimming the lights and all these experiences.

With God’s wisdom, we stick to the Word of God. It never changes. It is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Spiritual principles withstand the passage of time and culture.

You have to do what God called you to do. Do not look to other people. It is about the anointing of God and waiting upon God to speak loud and clear. If you do not, you will never get to the place God wants you to be.

Wisdom is God-centered.
-Michael Parsons-

Only the Cross Satisfies

But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

2 Timothy 4:17

We have all been tempted. We all get tempted. We all have our problems and difficulties. We all trip and fall, but like Paul said, “Who else can I go to? What else can I do, if the message of the Cross burns in my heart?”

Nothing in this world will satisfy, but the Cross of Jesus Christ. It is the power unto salvation. It is the power of God. You look at the Cross of Jesus Christ, and you know the Lord is coming soon. We are going to have to give an account one day, and we are going to have to answer to the Lord.

Until the day we stand before the Lord, we need each other. I need you to lift up my hands and pray for me. I need to pray for you and for my wife, for my children, my grandchildren and the church. Why? This is not our ministry or our church, it is the Lord’s. We are just His servants.

In our lives, it is really not our calling; it is God’s calling and God’s enhancement in our lives. He makes us who He wants us to be, not what we want to be. We have to remember that. We have to be who He wants us to be. Be genuine in your call of God. Allow God to use your gifts and talents in the way He wants, so He can express Himself through you. He has the best for you, beyond what you could ever imagine.

It is not great talents that God blesses,
so much as great likeness to Jesus.
-Robert Murray M’Cheyne-

Deny Self

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:1

As Christians, we are called to walk according to the Spirit, not the flesh. How do we do that? We have to die to ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to work through us. Then we will have the power of God — the dunamis power of God.

How do we die to self? We have Christ as our example. The power of God is on the Cross of Jesus Christ. It is the instrument of dying to ourselves — to be alive in Jesus Christ.

We need to respect God’s Word and respect God, so other people can respect us. Otherwise, if I do not respect God’s Word, the work of the Holy Spirit or the power of the Resurrection in Jesus Christ, then how can others respect my life? Think about it. They cannot because they do not see death. Instead they see lust and ambition. They see the works of the flesh instead of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in my life.

In Matthew 16:24, Jesus told the Apostles to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Jesus Christ. In order to understand the cross, to be able to pick it up and to follow Jesus Christ, there is a denial of self.

Without the Cross of Jesus Christ, you cannot be a follower of Jesus Christ. Why? Because you are not dead; you are alive to your selfish wants.

Self is the chief end of every natural man.
-Stephan Charnock-

Are You Carnal or Spiritual?

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:1-2

In this verse, Paul was calling the believers in the city of Colosse to seek Christ and the things above, not the things of the world. It seems the early churches had a problem with carnality. Remember, Paul went out to preach to the Gentiles, so the cities he went to and preached to were pagan. The people worshipped foreign gods.

This is important because the Christians in this city were living in carnality. Instead of becoming spiritual men and women, many of these believers became carnal Christians.

It is so sad, but we see this in the church today — carnal Christians. What we need to understand is what a carnal Christian is. It is not just being in sexual sin. Being carnal means you are operating in the flesh. You can be a gossiper, a division maker or causing strife. If you are operating in the flesh instead of the spirit, you are acting carnally.

Those who truly walk by the Holy Spirit are peacemakers. They are not causing problems, but seeking ways to bring peace. Acting according to the Spirit is a sign of spiritual maturity. Christians who act carnally are spiritually immature. Do you want to be led by the Spirit or by the flesh? You choose.

No man is living at his best who is
not living at his best spiritually.
-W. Marshall Craig-

All Things to All Men

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.

1 Corinthians 2:1

Paul was talking to the Corinthian church. When he came to them, he did not come as an intellectual. He did not come as a professor. He came as a shepherd. He came as a servant of God. They understood his message, because he made it simple.

Think of how many classes you have attended and wondered what the professors were talking about because they used big words. They could have said the same thing simply, but they were trying to impress.

I had to take pneumatology, eschatology and all the other doctrinal classes for my degrees. Those are theological terms for the study of the Holy Spirit and the study of the Last Days. You need to know these words if you are going to seminary, but for every day conversation, they are not important.

In 1 Corinthians 9:22, Paul told us, I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. What does this mean to you and me? We need to think about who we are talking to — who is our audience. If we are talking with a pastor, we can use formal terms. If we are talking to a new believer or a non-believer, we have to speak in terms they can understand. We need to have the balance between the knowledge and the ability to have a simple conversation about doctrine.

The more Christian a person is, the simpler will
that person’s life be.
-D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones-

The Way of the Cross

. . . . declaring to you the testimony of God.

1 Corinthians 2:1

Paul came to the people of Corinth, who were a heathen people, speaking as a simple man — speaking to non-believers. He was exposing the Word of God. What was really cool about it is he went to Corinth to proclaim the testimony of God.

What is the testimony of God? It is the Cross of Jesus Christ. Imagine how theological he was, and yet he taught the simplicity of the Cross of Jesus Christ. He knew big words and impressive speeches did not save people. They were saved by the sacrifice made on the Cross. That was exactly what he gave the people.

We have to really examine our hearts and our motives when we are speaking to people. Are we trying to impress people with our knowledge? Or, do we truly want them to understand the way of the Cross? That is a very important question we must ask ourselves.

Paul is such a great example to us. He had one goal — to declare the testimony of God to those who did not know Him. Paul humbled himself and became nothing, so he would not be a stumbling block, and God could use his life fully and completely.

Be like Paul — a man or woman fully committed to declaring the way of the Cross.

Only a burdened heart can lead to fruitful service.
-Alan Redpath-

Power of the Cross

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.

1 Corinthians 2:1

Paul started preaching the Cross in 1 Corinthians 1, and continued on in Chapter 2. He reminded the saints of his ministry among them, how he sought to glorify God in everything he did through the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Paul was an intellectual person, and yet he came as a simple person, sharing his heart with people concerning the Cross of Jesus Christ — the effect the Cross had on his personal life. He told them how he found God and God found him.

As a humble servant of God, Paul never expected God would use him to write 14 doctrinal letters to the churches — which became 14 books of the Bible. When he wrote 1 Corinthians, he was dealing with the problems and situations in Corinth: fornication, adultery, lying, cheating and suing fellow Christians.

In 2 Corinthians, he dealt with himself as a minister and what ministers of the Gospel, true ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, have to go through with Satan and in this world. He talked about how he was beaten, stoned and left for dead. He talked about how there was power behind his preaching — the power of the Cross.

The power of the Cross is available to each one of us when we seek to serve Him and submit to His plans for our lives. Seek God and not self.

Until we cease to live for self,
we have not begun to live at all.
-J. R. Miller-

Jesus: the Simple Teacher

For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

1 Corinthians 2:2

Paul the Apostle said, “All I want to know is Jesus. I do not care about anything else, but who Jesus Christ is.”

Think about Jesus. He is the Master Rabbi. Did He speak over the heads of the people? He was so simple in His teaching. Preaching, teaching and healing were all He did. Who did He choose? He chose simple men, Peter, James and John, who were fishermen. Paul was the only one who was qualified to be a professor, yet he was the simplest teacher.

Look at the life of Peter. When he was in Caesarea Philippi, the Lord said, “Give me the definition of eschatology.” No, what did He really say? “Who does man say I am?” It is that simple.

Peter answered, “You are the Son of the Living God.”

Then Jesus said, “Peter, you did not learn that in school. God gave it to you as a revelation.”

Paul said if you are not inspired by the Holy Spirit, you have nothing to say. If you speak intellectually, with notes and facts, but no inspiration, you have nothing to share. The Spirit of God brings conviction. It is the way of the Cross.

Christianity . . . is the revelation of God,
not the research of man.
-James A. Stewart-

The Cross: Freedom or Foolishness

For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

1 Corinthians 2:2

In this verse, Paul takes you back to 1 Corinthians 1:18, For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

What was the most important thing? The crucifixion of Christ and nothing else. We are crucified with Christ, and through the Cross comes the power of God. It is through this power we are able to live according to the Spirit and not the flesh.

We need to get rid of the appetites of the flesh, so we can be spiritual and understand what God is saying to His church. The carnal mind does not understand the things of God, because the carnal man is double-minded. He knows of God, but does not walk with Him.

To the natural man, the things of God are foolishness to him. Why? The natural man is not connected to God. His spirit is dead.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul was emphasizing the distinction between the three: the natural man, the carnal man and the spiritual man. Paul was a spiritual man. He was focused on Christ and Him crucified. That is what I like about Paul. He was devoted to the Lord fully and completely. Are you?

As long as the world stands, the cross will seem
foolishness to natural man.
-J. C. Ryle-

True Strength in God

I was with you in weakness, in fear,
and in much trembling.

1 Corinthians 2:3

Can these really be the words of Paul the Apostle? I see Paul as a spiritual giant — a man among men, unafraid of men and the world around him. Here, we see the vulnerability of Paul. He was just a man, with all the weaknesses in flesh and blood man.

Paul was telling them he was scared to death. After everything he had gone through, you would think Paul would be self-confident. Before the people, Paul was strong in the Lord. He did not rely upon his own strength.

In this verse, Paul emphasized his personal demeanor. He was not afraid of persecution from man. In himself, he was afraid to go and teach them, because he felt he was not qualified, yet God had chosen him. He was humbled.

I see many people who are self-confident, but there is nothing behind their confidence. They do not have the power of God. They have only the power of self, which is total weakness before the Lord.

I love what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:10: Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

When we are weak, we are strongest, because we are trusting in God, not self.

One test of a person’s strength is his
knowledge of his weaknesses.
-Author Unknown-

God’s Preservation

“For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Esther 4:14

The Feast of Lots, Purim, begins today at sundown. It is a celebration of God’s great preservation for the people of Israel. You see, God’s hand has always been upon His people, Israel. From the beginning, it has always been His perfect will to have communion with His people. Because of their relationship with God, the children of Israel have always had an enemy, Satan.

Mordecai knew of God’s protection for His people. He knew if Esther did not agree to help the people, God would raise another to save the people. Mordecai did not say, “God may raise another,” but, “deliverance will arise for the people.” He was so sure of His God. He held onto the promises of God.

I find it interesting; Haman was trying to wipe out the Jews in Persia, modern day Iran. Today, we see the president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, threatening to wipe the nation of Israel off the face of the earth. This is no coincidence.

Satan has been stirring up enemies of the nation of Israel for centuries. He has been trying to eliminate the Jewish nation, using one heathen nation after another. Satan will never succeed. Why? The Jews are the chosen people of the One True God. That is why they can celebrate year after year.

God rules and overrules.
-William S. Plumer-

God Our Protection

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

Genesis 3:15

The children of God have had a natural enemy since the beginning, in the Garden of Eden. God told the serpent He would put enmity between the serpent and the woman. He was speaking of the birth of Jesus Christ. He would come and destroy the power of Satan.

As children of God, Satan is our enemy. He has come to rob, kill and destroy us because we are children of the King. We are children of Jesus Christ, who came and saved His people from the judgment brought upon them in the Garden of Eden.

Think about it. Satan came to Eve in the Garden of Eden and lied to her, causing her and Adam to sin against God. Because of their sin, they were cast out of the Garden of Eden, and the curse was put upon man.

God the Father sent Christ into this world to restore fellowship with us. He provided atonement for our sins in order for us to have fellowship with Him, but Satan is still at work in this world. We will suffer, but we have God’s protection.

“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20).

What God intends, he decrees; what God permits,
He has foreseen.
-Arthur C. Custance-

Speaking in Wisdom and Power

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

1 Corinthians 2:4

This is such an important verse. You need to underline it, understand it and memorize it. Notice, Paul did not get his wisdom from books or professors. He received his wisdom from the Lord.

When he opened his mouth, he spoke with power. It was the Holy Spirit. It was not himself. The Holy Spirit was speaking through him.

Do you know what the word demonstration means in this verse? Literally, it means “legal proof or presentable to the courts.” It is when you are bringing the evidence before the judge, which is what Paul was bringing. And what is the evidence? The Holy Spirit of God. He is the evidence of who we are and what God has done for us.

The world cannot say the same thing. They have no power, so there is no evidence of power. Why? They do not have the Spirit of God. Without the power of God, they have no wisdom. They only have the wisdom of the world, which is foolishness to God.

The world does not understand the wisdom of God. They do not understand it because they are natural men. As Christians, we not only understand the power and wisdom of God, we can use it in speaking God’s truth.

Heavenly wisdom is better than worldly wealth,
and to be preferred before it.
-Matthew Henry-

Limitless Knowledge

. . . that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:5

Notice what Paul was telling the people of Corinth. We cannot put our trust in men and the wisdom of men. Only the power of God is worthy of our faith and trust. Man’s wisdom is nothing to God.

Because the Corinthians were intellectuals, they were studying and debating. They were studying and giving all the knowledge they learned from Plato, Socrates and all the philosophers who influenced their lives.

Paul told them there is power in knowledge, but it cannot compare with the power from the Cross of Jesus Christ and the Bible, because it is divine. It is supernatural power. Man’s wisdom in this world is natural. It is of this world, so it is limited. It is not of God who is limitless.

Think about it. When you go to college, even if you get a doctorate degree, you are only knowledgeable in one area. You do not have limitless knowledge, and there is always someone who knows more than you know. No one is really an expert in their area of study.

Read your Bible. After going through the Bible every year, for 40 years, listening to Pastor Chuck and reading almost every commentary, I still have questions in my life. The knowledge of God is limitless. We should read our Bibles to get everything out of it we can, but we will still have questions.

The wisest person in the world is the person who
knows the most about God.
-A. W. Tozer-

Desire to Know God

. . . that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men
but in the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:5

If you have the wisdom of man, then you have no power of God. You are a natural man. Where is the power of God? It is in salvation, through the wisdom and knowledge of God, to the power of the Holy Spirit. It empowers us and makes us new creatures in Jesus Christ.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

What was my greatest desire when I came to the Lord? I had a desire to know God, so the following day, I had to get a Bible. Who put that in my heart? The Holy Spirit. What made me go back to Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa? The teaching of God’s Word. It is through the teaching of God’s Word and the work of the Holy Spirit, I will come to a greater knowledge of God and a closer relationship with Him.

When I visited other churches I was so turned off. When I left them, I left the same way I came in — empty. When I heard the teaching at Calvary Chapel, I left filled with the Word of God. I thought, Wow! I have food for a week.

No matter what church you attend, be sure you are being fed, spiritually. Without the teaching of the Word of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, you will starve to death, spiritually.

If you wish to know God you must
know His Word.
-C. H. Spurgeon-

Seek Spiritual Maturity

However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

1 Corinthians 2:6

There are baby Christians and there are mature Christians. A baby Christian needs milk. A mature Christian needs meat. The lack of spiritual maturity was a big problem in the Corinthian church. Paul was concerned because the believers of Corinth continued to grow in their worldly knowledge, but not in spiritual things.

What does God think of worldly knowledge? God breaks all the things of this world down to nothing. Everything the people had learned in an intellectual way, reading the books of other men and listening to lectures, was worthless. They were empty because they had nothing divine. It was all from this world, and it would all come to nothing. It would vanish, leaving an emptiness of life.

Look around you. People are the same today as in the Corinthian church. When I am at the airport, I always watch the people. I see them reading all kinds of novels. Are novels going to help them spiritually? No.

What will feed you spiritually? The writings of men like Tozer, Murray and most importantly, the Bible. You want to read books from the writers who really spent time with God. They are the people who are going to feed your spirit and help you mature as a Christian. They are going to challenge you to be men and women of God.

There are no short cuts to spiritual maturity.
It takes time to be holy.
-Erwin W. Lutzer-

Mysteries Revealed

However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory.

1 Corinthians 2:6-7

What is the wisdom of God? It is simple. It is the Cross of Jesus Christ — that God would send His only Son, Jesus Christ, to come and die on the Cross, to die for the sins of the world. Can you believe how simple it is? That is what Paul was talking about. The Cross, for Paul, Peter, James and all of them, was an incredible factor in the wisdom of God.

It was all revealed by Jesus in Matthew 16:24, Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

There is power in the Cross of Jesus Christ, and He calls each one of us to take up our own crosses daily and follow Him. In the Cross, we embrace Christ and the wisdom He has for each one of us.

As you read and study the Bible, you become powerful in the Word. Every time you open up the Word of God, more is revealed to you. Think about how you have read your Bible every year. This time, in this chapter, God reveals another mystery. It is so cool when He speaks through His Word. You have read the same passage so many times, but this time, God reveals more of Himself.

Mystery is beyond human reason
but it is not against reason.
-Os Guinness-

Prepared for Persecution

. . . which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

1 Corinthians 2:8

The leaders of this world do not know anything. If they knew anything, they would not hate Jesus. What do non-believers do when you talk to them about the things of God? They get mad at you. They do not want to hear it. They do not understand. They are lost.

If they only knew who they were putting down, it is not us. They are rejecting Jesus Christ. When they do not accept you, do not get offended. They are not accepting Him. When you get put down, they are not putting you down, they are putting Christ down. Everything has to do with Him, not you, so do not get offended. Do not get hurt. Know you are being called to be a disciple of Christ.

Remember what Jesus said in Luke 7:23, “And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” He was preparing the disciples and is preparing us for the times we are put down or persecuted.

It is very important. If you do not get this fact in your mind and in your heart, then you will never really get to the next level where God wants you to be in your teaching, in your witnessing, in your study time, in your private time. You will not develop. You will not grow.

They hated Christ enough to kill Him. They will hate us more for loving Him.

Persecution is the legacy bequeathed
by Christ to His people.
-Thomas Watson-

Revelation, Inspiration and Illumination

. . . which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

1 Corinthians 2:8

If the government leaders and spiritual leaders understood the Bible, if they understood the power of the Cross of Jesus Christ, they would never have put Him on the cross. Yet they did. Why? They did it because they were ignorant. They were foolish. They did not understand the supernatural things of God.

Paul was talking about revelation, inspiration and illumination. As a non-believer you read the Bible as a piece of literature — like any other book. There is no revelation, inspiration and illumination.

When you come to Christ, the first time you open the Bible, God opens your heart, mind and eyes, spiritually. The first thing you notice when you read the Word as a believer is how God reveals things about Himself — things you never noticed before. This is revelation.

Inspiration is the work of God moving through His chosen vessels to produce His written Word. This is how God used men throughout time to write the many books of the Bible in a clear and concise way.

As Christians, we pray before reading our Bibles, for the Lord to open our hearts and minds to the truths of the Bible. What we are praying for is the illumination of God’s Word.

The natural man can never be educated into
apprehension of divine truth.
-Vance Havner-

God’s Great Love and Greater Plans

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

1 Corinthians 2:9

Wow! This is a heavy message from Paul, but it was not a new message. He was taking the people back to Isaiah 64:4. I like how he began the verse, For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, . . .

Paul was telling the people how great God’s love is and what amazing plans He has for them. His plans are far greater than anything they could imagine or ask for themselves.

Isaiah said God’s great love and amazing plans were not just for us. They were from the beginning of the world. God had great plans for you before you were even born. He is just waiting for you to love Him. How simple.

Think of how many people say they love God. Paul said when you say you love God, you can be a natural man, and it is only a religion you are talking about, not a relationship.

When a natural man is born again, the love he has for God opens the doors for great opportunities. Because God is infinite and we are finite, we cannot possibly understand the things God has prepared for us. Your greatest dreams are nothing compared to what God has planned for you when you love Him in spirit and in truth.

The greatness of the Promiser enhances the
greatness of the promises.
-A. R. Fauset-

St. Patrick’s Day

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 28:19

Saint Patrick was a missionary to Ireland. He was born in Britain, kidnapped and forced into slavery in Ireland. He escaped back to Britain, where he studied to become a priest, and returned to Ireland to bring Christianity to a heathen nation.

It would seem Patrick took this command from Jesus very seriously. After living among the Irish people, he knew they were lost in their Celtic religion and traditions. Growing up the son of a deacon, he knew God’s Word, and the Lord gave him great compassion for the people who had enslaved him.

The Celtic religion was polytheistic. They worshipped many gods. Patrick sought to introduce them to the One True Living God, existing in three persons. He had to teach them the Trinity — one God in three persons.

Patrick was able to teach the people the Trinity using the Shamrock, a popular St. Patrick’s Day symbol. We always hear of the four leaf clover, but those are lucky because they are uncommon. The normal clover or shamrock actually has three leaves. There are three distinct leaves which make up one clover.

Think about how simple it was for him to use the symbol of Ireland to teach a great biblical doctrine. He could have taught them using great theological terms, but it was much simpler to use God’s creation. What a lesson for us as we go out and share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

The doctrine of the Trinity is basic to
the Christian religion.
-R. B. Kuiper-

The Deep Things of God

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:10

God has revealed His plans for us. We are no longer ignorant. When we study, when we read, we understand because God shows it to us. Then we can give to other people God’s revelation in His Word.

When you think about the deep things of God, what are they? The deep things of God include redemption, atonement, justification, glorification — all these great doctrines of the Bible.

How many of you have really studied these doctrines? In order for us to really settle in God’s Word, we need to be theological in our own beliefs. Theology is the study of God — how He sent His only Son to redeem us through atonement, justified us by faith, and we will be glorified when we die, in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, with a new body, a new heart and a new mind.

Being born again of the Holy Spirit is kind of weird to people in the world. When they look at a person who has changed, many are in disbelief until they see the attitude, character and life of the person changed over a period of time. Then they become believable.

When God has changed our lives, we can be used to reveal the things of God.

The simplest word of faith is the deepest word of
theology: Christ died for our sins.
-James Denney-

Born Again

For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 2:11

No one really knows you like you know yourself, because of the spirit in you. You know who you really are. You can play the game and fool people around you, but you know who you really are, and of course, God knows.

The natural man understands himself, but he does not understand the things of God. He cannot because he does not have the Spirit of God. We understand the natural man, and we understand the things of God, because we have both the spirit of man and now the Spirit of God.

When we came to Christ, we had a transformation by the Spirit of God. We used to be natural, ruled by the body and soul, but the spirit was dead. When we are transformed, the Spirit is in control of the soul, and the body is dead. That is why we say we are born again of the Holy Spirit — regenerated, transformed, atoned for, redeemed, justified by faith.

When we are born again of the Holy Spirit, we have reckoned the old man to be dead. We now have the Spirit in control of our lives. However, if we do not reckon the old man to be dead every day, the flesh will try to take over.

We all carry the old man around with us every day. Do not allow him to control your life. Live a Spirit-filled life.

We are not so to live as if we had
nothing but a body.
-J. C. Ryle-

Spiritual Riches

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

1 Corinthians 2:12

What has God given you? How about love, grace and mercy. Think about it. It is not about money, which is worldly wealth. Think about the spiritual things God has given to each of us. We are super rich. According to Paul, we are billionaires in the Kingdom of God, not materially, but spiritually.

Paul wants us to understand what true wealth is, so when we share with other people, we share with the Spirit of God in us and working through our lives. This way we do not discourage, we do not put down, we do not push others away, but people see the power of God in our own speech.

The way we act in public and the way we act in the privacy of our own homes, whatever we do, we have to be men and women of the Spirit of God.

I like what Paul said in verse 12, because he contrasts the world and the Word of God with the Spirit of God. How do we get these things God has given us freely? We have to read our Bibles.

The Word of God educates us. It matures us. The Word of God uses us to share with other people. We become walking encyclopedias for the Bible, because we study, meditate, memorize and we speak the Word of God. God has given us spiritual treasures, and He wants us to share them with others.

A Christian is the world’s Bible.
-D. L. Moody-

Share God’s Wisdom

These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

1 Corinthians 2:13

I am glad Paul wrote this here. This is describing the process of revelation, which is written for us through the Scriptures. Then, receiving the truth from God, Paul goes on to describe the process of inspiration, by which the truth of God is communicated to us, and we communicate it to others. It comes through the power of God’s Holy Spirit, by studying God’s Word. Otherwise, you cannot communicate anything.

These things are so important to understand. God speaks to us of spiritual things, but He provides the means for us to understand. He has given us His written Word, the Bible, and an interpreter, the Holy Spirit.

If we are not one with God, we are unable to understand the wisdom of God because it makes no sense to us; it seems like foolishness. Only the man of God, who is seeking godly wisdom, ever has a chance of understanding the wisdom of God.

God has not given you the understanding just for yourself. You are to share the wisdom of God with others. You are called to give these same tools to others, so they can understand and study the wisdom of God. As God teaches you, through the work of the Holy Spirit, you are called to share these spiritual riches with others, causing them to seek the wisdom of God.

Our secrets are for sharing.
-J. A. Moyer-

The Holy Spirit: With, In and Upon

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:14

Who is the natural man? A person who is never born again of the Holy Spirit. When you talk to him about spiritual things, he will look at you with no conviction, no understanding. Many times, we get mad because they do not understand, but we have to remember, it is the Holy Spirit who opens the eyes of the spiritually blind, not us.

Years ago, when I got saved, I read this verse, and the Lord reminded me; I cannot convert anyone. It is the work of the Holy Spirit. People look at you and ask what you are talking about.

If the Holy Spirit begins to speak to them, what is the first thing you see? There will be conviction. He is with them and He will not leave that person alone. They are going to have to make a choice, accepting Him or rejecting Him, being born again of the Holy Spirit or continuing in their old life.

This is where the Spirit continues. When you make the decision to give your life to Christ, then the Holy Spirit comes in you. First He was with you, and now He is in you. He gives you the ability to read and understand the wisdom of God, His Word. Then He will come upon you when you are baptized with the Holy Spirit. Now He will begin to manifest His gifts in you (1 Corinthians 12).

Without the Spirit of God we can do nothing
but add sin to sin.
-John Wesley-

Discernment and Judgment

But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.

1 Corinthians 2:15

You cannot take things at their face value. You have to judge all things. You have to ask yourself, “Is this of God? Is this of the devil? Is this of the world or is this of the flesh?” You have to judge it. You have to have discernment.

Now spiritual discernment is very important, and it goes right along with what the Apostle Paul has been teaching us. Like spiritual wisdom, spiritual discernment comes from God. It does not come from man’s wisdom.

How do we get spiritual wisdom? We read God’s Word, and we ask the Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds to His Word. It is the same with spiritual discernment. We have to know God’s Word, and we have to rely on the Holy Spirit in order to judge all things.

We are to judge all things and use spiritual wisdom and discernment, but we, ourselves, are judged by no one but God. He is the only one who can judge us. That is why He knows our hearts. You cannot impress people. You have to impress God.

In the world, people will judge you, but their judgment means nothing. In the end, no one will escape His judgment. Use the spiritual discernment God gives you, so you will not have to worry about judgment.

There will be no possibility of standing before
Christ but by standing in Christ.
-William Secker-

Natural, Spiritual and Carnal

For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:16

We have the mind of Christ by being born again of the Holy Spirit of God. We are able to see the difference between the natural man, the spiritual man and the carnal man.

We have to understand, the natural man is blind, dead in his sins. He does not have the spiritual eyes to even recognize he is dead in his sins. The spiritual man is mature, studying God’s Word, knowing God’s Word and able to share God’s Word with people. God has opened the eyes of the spiritual man, and he is able to see the differences.

The carnal man is striving. He is living with one foot in the world and the other foot with God. He is never pleasing to God. He is always pleasing himself and other people. God is displeased with this person. He cannot use this person the way He wants to use him. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul tells us they get chastened by the Lord because they do not listen. They do not get what God is saying through the truth of the Word of God.

We each need to realize, we all make a choice. We all start out as natural men and women. The Holy Spirit convicted us, and we gave our lives to God. Now we have to choose to walk with Him every day, so we do not become the carnal man.

The difference between worldliness and
godliness is a renewed mind.
-Erwin W. Lutzer-

The Full Counsel of the Lord

“Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole
counsel of God.”

Acts 20:26-27

In some churches, the pastor only preaches topically, so he chooses his favorite topics in the Bible to preach. Without the full counsel of the Lord, the people will not develop and grow spiritually, because they are not balanced. They are not going book by book, chapter by chapter through the Bible. That is why they struggle in their lives. They do not have godly counsel to guide them.

When we go from Genesis to Revelation, we have no excuse. Everything we need to know is there for us. There are things we do not understand now, but one day God will reveal them to us.

He says of the things He is revealing to us, “When I reveal it to you, then you are accountable. I hold you responsible now.” So, we have to be careful. If we are responsible, we will have no excuse for ignoring the counsel of the Lord.

Remember what Paul said in Hebrews 12:6, “For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”

We do not have to wait to be taught the Bible. We should be reading and studying our Bibles every day. We have God’s written Word available to us. What a blessing to be able to know God, through His Word. Take advantage and learn the whole counsel of God.

Apply yourself to the whole text, and apply the
whole text to yourself.
-J. A. Bengel-

Continue to Serve

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:6-7

Wow! Think about Paul and what he had gone through in his life, serving the Lord, as he came to this point in his life. He had been poured out as a drink offering to the Lord. Following his Damascus Road experience, he had been fully devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing discouraged him from serving the Lord and preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. Wow, what an example Paul is to each one of us, individually.

I have had great examples, in my life, of men like the Apostle Paul. They were men who preached and taught the Word of God right up to the end of their lives. I remember Dr. Van Cleave, at 95 years of age, teaching the Book of Romans for our Bible College. He was still teaching the Word of God at the age of 95!

I also remember Dr. Duffield and Dr. Orr. They were great men of God. Dr. Orr was a genius. He was one of my Fuller Seminary professors. All these men preached in West Covina for me, so many times. They taught the Word simply, so the hearts of people could be touched by the Lord. They had hearts like Paul.

All of us need to continue serving the Lord, giving people the Good News of Jesus Christ, no matter how old we get.

The Gospel is neither a discussion nor a debate.
It is an announcement.
-Paul S. Rees-

Supernatural Wisdom and Knowledge

John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.”

John 3:27

You need to study, pray and really dissect the Word of God. You cannot wait for someone to teach you; you have to do your own personal study. Why? If someone comes and asks you a question, can you give them an answer? How do you give them an answer, if you have not studied God’s Word? You need to study God’s Word. You want the supernatural wisdom and knowledge of God. When you take the time to study God’s Word, He will give you answers.

Today, people want to impress others with their degrees and education. The wisdom of man does not impress me. When I got saved, I could hardly read. When I first started teaching and preaching, I could not even speak English well, but God honored my diligence in studying His Word.

You will never get to where God is taking you, until you submit to Him and say, “Here I am God, whatever you want to do with me, do it.” It is like Isaiah, who said, “Woe is me for I am a man of unclean lips.” God said, “I will take care of your old life first, and then I can use your life to get the Gospel out.”

If you are reading and studying, God will honor your desire to serve Him. God will enable you and you will receive from heaven all you need to proclaim Him. God is just waiting for willing servants to go out and preach the Word of God, and He will rain down His wisdom and knowledge from heaven.

Next to Christ I have one joy, to preach Christ my Lord.
-Samuel Rutherford-

Hold Fast

Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

2 Timothy 1:13-14

Look at what Paul told Timothy. He said to hold on securely to the words Paul had taught him. Paul had committed the teachings of Jesus Christ to him, so the Word of God would not end, but continue to be preached around the world.

Do you know what the Lord showed me? The Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Mormons study what they believe. If you talk to Christians, they do not know what they believe. It makes me sad. Christians have not held securely to the Word of God. They do not know what they believe.

Imagine how many Christians have neighbors who ask them questions about God or the Bible, but they do not know the answer. We are supposed to be students of the Word of God. Paul said we need to have an answer for anyone who asks.

If you do not study, pray and spend time with God, then you will not be used by God. He wants to use people who have the knowledge of God — those who are not ignorant. When we are ignorant, what happens? God cannot use our lives, we are in danger of being deceived, and we can cause others to be deceived.

We each have a responsibility to learn God’s Word and hold fast to the teachings of Christ.

Knowing God is your single greatest
privilege as a Christian.
-Sinclair Ferguson-

Embrace the Cross

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Romans 1:16

Paul the Apostle was a fearless preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was persecuted, stoned, shipwrecked and put in prison, but they could not stop him from proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to both the Gentile and the Jew.

Why? Why would Paul suffer all those things? It was the Cross of Jesus Christ. The power of salvation comes from the Cross of Jesus Christ and Paul knew this, he was sure of it, and he embraced it with both hands.

The Cross of Christ had set Paul free from the bondage of the law, and he could not help but tell others what Christ had done to set him free. Remember, he said the power of the Cross is salvation. We received salvation through Christ, who submitted to the will of the Father and died to Himself.

The full realization of what Christ did on the Cross caused Paul to endure every trial and every tribulation, in order to preach salvation to those lost and perishing. He was empowered by God in the midst of the persecution.

It is the same today. Men and women are giving their lives, rather than renouncing their faith in Christ. They have fully embraced the Cross of Jesus Christ and been empowered to endure the torment. We cannot be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ and still have victory. We must embrace the Cross.

The cross is the cost of my forgiveness.
-Author Unknown-

Carnality in the Church

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Romans 8:5-6

The problem of carnality was huge in the early church. Paul had journeyed into the most carnal cities and cultures of his time, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many people came to the saving knowledge of Christ, but just like us, they were still carrying around that old man, the flesh.

Paul had to write to the Corinthian church and to the Romans, reminding them to live according to the Spirit and not the flesh, because the people in the church were continuing to walk in their carnal ways. He was not able to be in each city, but he heard what was going on in the church. There were lawsuits, fornication, adultery, abuse of the gifts of the Holy Spirit — all results of the flesh.

We see the same thing in the church today. It is sad when you find these issues within the church. You wonder why people would want to come into church.

We need to realize, Satan does not just deal with the non-believer; he deals with the carnal person, the person who is walking by the flesh, the person who is split spiritually. This person has one foot in the world and one foot with Christ. He has nothing to defend himself with, and there is nothing God can say through him. Unless you have really been in the presence of God, He cannot use you.

The devil allows no Christian to reach heaven
with clean feet all the way.
-Martin Luther-

Empowered by the Holy Spirit

“And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”

John 16:8-11

John wrote about the Holy Spirit in Chapters 13 through 16. In John 16:8-11, he introduced sin and righteousness. He assured the believers they would be empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome the devil, the world and the flesh.

We have that same assurance today. After Christ went home to be with the Father, the Helper (John 16:7) was sent to empower the believers. We can walk by the power of the Holy Spirit. He enables us to say “no” to sin and walk in righteousness to Him.

Then our lives can reflect Christ to other people, and they do not get stumbled, but they get built up. If they are living for the world, they can be convicted, because they see the transformation in our lives.

We do not have to walk in bondage to our flesh, the world or the devil. We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit, who is given to each one of us freely and individually. If we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, we are free.

Earlier in John’s Gospel, Jesus said, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

The Christian’s birthright is the power
of the Holy Ghost.
-Lionel Fletcher-

Palm Sunday

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Zechariah 9:9

Palm Sunday is the day Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, while the people cried out in celebration: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ The King of Israel!” (John 12:13b).

In just a few short days, the people would change from a worshipping people to a lynch mob, crying out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” (John 19:15).

I think it is important to look at the people of Jerusalem and what caused them to change so dramatically over night. Why? It can happen to you and me. It may have already happened to any one of us.

The people changed their minds, because they were following the crowd. They were going along with the religious leaders. They did not question the motives of the leaders. They assumed their priests were godly men, leading them in righteousness and truth.

During this time, the people did not have Bibles. They went to the synagogues and were taught by the priests. Even though they did not have the Word of God in their hands, they had been taught since childhood. They were without excuse.

We can never assume. We have to read our Bibles and know God’s Word, so we will not be led astray. It is easy to get caught up with the crowd, but it is better to be one with Jesus, than one of a thousand without Him.

He who excuses himself accuses himself.
-Gabriel Meurier-

Betrayal Fulfilled

“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He.”

John 13:18-19

Jesus was speaking of the betrayal of Judas Iscariot. The psalmist spoke of the betrayal in Psalm 41:9: Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.

This is such an important verse to look at, not just during the Passion Week, but when we look at the life of Christ. When Jesus came down from heaven, the course of His life had been determined. He knew what He was coming down to do. Nothing was a surprise to Him.

He had chosen Judas as one of His disciples, knowing Judas would betray Him in the end. The psalmist said Judas was counted as one of Jesus’ friends. Wow! Think about that.

How do you feel when someone close to you betrays you or turns away from you? It is awful! It is like a knife in your back.

How could Judas walk with Jesus for three years and then stab Him in the back? He did not just gossip about Jesus or stop being His friend. Judas turned Jesus over to death. Why? God’s plan, . . . that the Scripture may be fulfilled.

Faith is reason at rest in God.
-C. H. Spurgeon-

Seizure Fulfilled

In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”

Matthew 26:55-56

Palm Sunday, the multitude was praising the Lord, crying out, “Hosanna, Hosanna,” but within the week they were coming against Him with clubs and swords, as if He were a criminal — someone they feared.

Again, just as Jesus was not surprised by the betrayal of Judas, He knew the crowd was going to come for Him. In Matthew 26:46, He said, “Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

Jesus was not surprised by what was taking place, but I think He was sad. He was a victim of betrayal by a close friend, and the people He had taught, fed and healed were turning against Him. He knew they would do it, but how sad it must have been for Him.

The same thing happens with all of us. God has such great plans for us, but then we decide we are going to do things in our own strength and mess up God’s plans. He knew we would do it, but He had such hope for us.

Jesus had great hope for the multitude, But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.

Our Lord’s life was ordered by his objective.
-Ken Robins-

Transgressor Fulfilled

With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.”

Mark 15:27-28

When Jesus was put on the cross, there were two thieves crucified on either side of Him. He was completely innocent. He was without sin, and He was nailed to a cross between two common criminals.

This happened to fulfill the Words God had given to Isaiah the prophet in Isaiah 53:12: . . . And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

He was numbered with the transgressors, so He could make intercession for their transgressions, so He could take upon Himself the sins of the world — my sins and your sins.

Wow! Now we see God’s plan. Jesus allowed Judas to be one of His disciples, knowing he would betray Him. Then He allowed the multitude to take Him into custody, even though He could have called down twelve legions of angels to defend Him (Matthew 26:53). He did not say a word to defend Himself, but allowed them to nail Him to a cross. All this was done, So the Scripture was fulfilled.

No, all this was done for us. It was done so Christ could take our sins and pay our debt. All this was done to reconcile us to God.

There is not a ray of hope outside of substitution.
-D. L. Moody-

Prophecy Fulfilled

Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: “They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.”

Matthew 27:35

Tomorrow is Good Friday and the beginning of the Passover. We began the week with Palm Sunday, the day Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, while the people cried out, “Hosanna, Hosanna,” fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9. Throughout the week, we looked at the Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Christ, and here we have one more.

In Psalm 22, we see the crucifixion of Christ foretold. In verse 1, the psalmist begins with these familiar words, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? These are the very words of Jesus in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34, when Jesus was hanging on the cross.

In verses 7-8 it says, All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, “He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”

This is a perfect description of what the people did to Jesus, while He was on the cross. Verse by verse, Psalm 22 speaks of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, fully and completely. So, why did the people do it? They knew God’s Word, and yet they still crucified Him, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet.

Good Friday/Passover

“You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

Matthew 26:2

Today is a significant day for both the Jews and the Christians. On this day, Christ was delivered up to be crucified, and it began the Jewish celebration of Passover, at sundown. Today is Good Friday and the beginning of Passover.

In Matthew, Christ warned His disciples, it would be no ordinary Passover celebration. It would be the ultimate Passover. There would be no need for the blood of lambs to cover their sins. The Lamb of God would shed His own blood to cover their sins, from the past to the present and into the future.

That is what Passover was for the Jews. They understood the reasons for the shed blood of the sacrificial lambs, but they missed all the prophecies pointing to the final Sacrificial Lamb.

It was not just Christ proclaiming to be the Messiah, there were signs. There were so many prophecies fulfilled. Why did they miss the Messiah? He was not what they were looking for.

They wanted God to establish His kingdom here on earth. They wanted Christ to overthrow the Roman government and take control of Israel. They read the Word of God, but they did not accept what God was telling them. It was never His plan to set up His kingdom here.

Sometimes, we miss the Messiah, because things are not what we want or expect. God has a plan, and it is bigger and better than anything we could imagine. We have to trust in Him, have faith and embrace the Cross of our salvation.

One drop of Christ’s blood is worth more
than heaven and earth.
-Martin Luther-

Passover

Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?”

Mark 14:12

The Passover is a very important celebration for the Jewish people. Every year, they remember and celebrate God’s deliverance from their slavery in Egypt.

In Exodus 4, God had sent Moses and Aaron to speak to the Pharaoh and demand the release of His people, but Pharaoh would not release them. God sent one plague after another, and yet Pharaoh would not be persuaded. The Scriptures say, after each plague, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened.

Finally, God told Moses to have the people kill a lamb and put the blood on the sides and top of the door. God was going to pass through the land of Egypt and strike the first born of both the animals and the people. The blood would be a sign to God to pass over the house, because the people inside were His.

When Pharaoh’s own son was killed, he gave up and let the people go. Pharaoh and the people of Egypt were devastated by the deaths and wanted God’s people to go. Pharaoh told them to go and worship their God and to bless him, too. Pharaoh recognized the power of God.

From the beginning, it was God’s intention for the children of Israel to keep this celebration. In Exodus 12:14, God told Moses, ” ‘So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.’ “

God has delivered you and me through the blood of Christ, and we should celebrate every day.

Salvation originates not in man but in God.
-Simon J. Kistemaker-

Rejoice!

And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.

Matthew 28:9

Rejoice! Today is Resurrection Day. It is the day Christ won over death and rose from the grave, setting the captives free. Rejoice! Today is the day of our salvation.

Our Savior was beaten, mocked, spit upon and nailed to a cross, to save you and me. He willingly went to the cross for those waiting in Abraham’s Bosom. He endured great pain and suffering for His disciples. He bled on a cross to wash away my sins and your sins, so we could have fellowship with God.

Every time I go to the empty tomb, every time I read the events leading up to the crucifixion, I am humbled to think God did all that for me. I was dead in my sins, and Christ died for me, giving me eternal life.

All the way back to the beginning, God had a plan to redeem the children of Adam and Eve. Nothing is a surprise to God. He made man, knowing we would be sinners, and yet He loved us enough to create us and redeem us.

It is so hard to imagine the great love God has for you and me. Think about it. After all He went through, the first word He had for the disciples was, “Rejoice!” He was rejoicing for us. He suffered for us, so He could rejoice in our salvation. WOW!

It is not your hold of Christ that saves,
but His hold of you.
-C. H. Spurgeon-

Led By the Lord

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

Colossians 3:1

We are living in very dangerous days today, in the church, not just outside the church. As I have been studying, it is clear, the church is carnal, and we cannot deny it. At this time, as men and women of God, we really have to have discernment. We have to really know God’s heart and those who work with us.

God intends to do such a tremendous work in these last days, not with the many, but with the few. I really believe it is with those who are truly seeking and pursuing after God’s heart.

Listening to the heartbeat of God is very important. When you hear the heartbeat of God, there is nothing else you really want to do, because He leads you to a true peace in your life. You do not have to strive. The doors opened are cool, and the doors closed are cool, too. You want to be content in the Lord.

I think that is one of the problems in the church today. People are not content in the Lord. We are trying to do something maybe God has not called us to do. Then we are frustrated. When God opens the doors, when God guides and provides, it is so smooth, and you have peace in your life.

People will always want to come along and tell you what you should be doing, but as a Christian, you really need to be led by the Lord.

The business of our lives is not to please
ourselves but to please God.
-Matthew Henry-

Be Vigilant

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains.

Colossians 4:2-3

Today, the church needs order and discipline. What does that mean? It means you have to be disciplined with your time — the time you spend reading, studying, praying and waiting. Paul exhorted the people to continue in prayer, so God’s Word could go out, because he knew prayer and God’s Word were the most important things, not activities.

You can have all kinds of activities and programs. We will never run out of activities, but what does God desire? He calls His people to be in prayer and read His Word, so He can spend time with us. That is His desire, spending time with us.

We need direction. I do not know what God wants in my life unless I read and pray. I do not want to be in a place God does not want me to be in. If God wants to take me from here to another place, I am open to it. I am open to whatever God wants to do. I see so many needs, and my time is limited.

I really feel the Lord has been speaking to my heart. Looking at the world and what is happening in the Middle East, everything is aligning itself according to God’s Word. We have to know God’s Word, so we will walk according to His plan for each of us, individually. God is calling us to be vigilant!

The alternative to discipline is disaster.
-Vance Havner-

Power of the Holy Spirit

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

Acts 13:4

Look at Paul the Apostle. His life was controlled by the Holy Spirit. Paul was led by the Spirit. He went where God led him. This is an important lesson for each one of us. Who controls your life? Is the Holy Spirit really active in your life? Is He alive?

According to Paul’s writings, the people would sometimes glorify or exalt him. They were glorifying Paul, when they should have been glorifying God.

We see the same thing happen many times today. People begin to look at man as their Savior, instead of Jesus Christ. This should never happen. We are all just vessels to be used by God, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Without God’s wisdom and knowledge, without the Holy Spirit, you could not teach and you could not preach. Think about it for a moment. What would you tell people? It is the Holy Spirit. Think about when Peter, John, James and all these men were writing the New Testament, they had no commentaries. The Holy Spirit gave them commentary to write.

It is really important we understand the Holy Spirit is omnipresent and omniscient. He is with us all the time. He is giving us insight, wisdom and knowledge. If we rely on His prompting, He will send us out.

The Christian’s birthright is the power
of the Holy Ghost.
-Lionel Fletcher-

Wake Up: Time is Short

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.”

Mark 13:8

I do not know if you see it, but I see the Rapture coming. I have one foot in this world and one foot out. I am ready to leave here. I am serious. That is how critical it is.

We are in the most critical time of world history, and God has given us just a little taste of the disasters to come with tornadoes and storms. The Book of Revelation says there will be hail, 100 to 200 pounds each, falling on the earth. No island or mountain will be found on the face of the earth in the last seven years of world history. Everything going on right now is pointing to what is to come. God is speaking loud and clear.

If you read the Book of Revelation, it clearly tells us we are getting ready for a great disaster. It is coming. I am not trying to scare anyone, but it is overdue already. The Lord is speaking as loud as He can for people to wake up. People are playing games. They do not believe it; they are enjoying their sin.

When there are major disasters, people die, but many people do not even care. They just go about business as usual. I really believe, with all my heart, God is speaking out. He is yelling and screaming, telling us to wake up. He is trying to wake up the church. Wake up: time is short!

In this liberal age we tend naturally to avoid any
thought of God’s judgment.
-David Watson-

Spiritual People

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:1

Spiritual people are those who are born again of the Holy Spirit, who have manifested God’s grace. Paul could not speak to the Corinthians as spiritual people; they were carnal, as infants in Christ. This is sad.

It is a shame when you meet people who have been in the Lord ten or more years, and they are still babies. They do not really know the Lord. They are still in infancy. What happened to their maturity?

What do I mean by infancy? If you have been in the Lord for a long time, and you continue to do the things God brought you out of, or you have gone back to them, you are carnal. You are still a baby and have not matured in the Lord.

If you do not stop doing whatever it is you were doing in the world — drugs, alcohol, sex — then you are carnal. You are not developing, growing or maturing. Instead of being fountains of living water, you are dead fountains. You are making no difference in the world today.

What does it mean for the church today? All their entertainment, programs and testimonies do not last. People will be moved emotionally, but spiritually, they will not grow. They need the teaching of the Word of God in order to become spiritually mature.

All growth that is not towards God
is growing to decay.
-George MacDonald-

Maturity Brings Conviction

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:1

If there is no teaching, no feeding, no instruction, then there is no conviction in the hearts and the lives of the people. With conviction comes spiritual maturity, as God speaks to me about the things I do or say.

What brings conviction to my life? When I get up in the morning, read my Bible and go through the Scriptures. Then, God speaks to my heart and prepares my day, not just today, but throughout the whole week. I cannot count on reading once or twice a week, but every day I have to hear from the Lord.

We think once we have done our devotions, we can just go through the day without any problems. Listen, a day in this world is a day on the battlefield — every day. It is not being on vacation. It is a spiritual battle every day.

It is really important, as we become spiritual men and women of God. As we really look at what God is saying and doing, we can then give answers to people, because we have been read up and prayed up. We have been filled with the Holy Spirit. Then, we are ready to give to people that which we have first received of the Lord.

I want the conviction of the Holy Spirit in my life. I want to grow spiritually, so God can use my life. God wants to use each one of us, but we must be spiritual.

When we stop growing we stop living
and start existing.
-Warren Wiersbe-

Grow Through the Word

I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;

1 Corinthians 3:2

Do you think a little baby can develop and grow on a diet of milk for 20 years? There is no possible way. Paul was very hurt when he heard of the Christians in the Corinthian church. He was surprised they had not grown spiritually.

Paul’s teaching to the Corinthians was very limited, because they were not maturing. They did not know basic doctrine, so he had to teach them like first graders and not adults. They had not memorized their ABC’s yet.

I think of how many people, all over the country, are in the same position as the Corinthians, and Paul is saying to them, “I cannot go any further with you.”

It blows me away when I think of the thousands of people we have been able to teach the Bible, over the last 40 years. I receive letters and emails from people around the world who have listened to my teaching. It is incredible what God has done through the teaching of His Word. It is not us. It is the Holy Spirit speaking to people. God uses us to get the Word out and then God transforms the lives of the people.

It is so important to spend time before God, reading every day and memorizing Scripture. You have to study God’s Word, waiting before the Lord, for Him to speak loud and clear. You can only grow spiritually through the Word of God.

The mature believer is a searching believer.
-John Powell-

Evidence of Carnality

for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

1 Corinthians 3:3

Paul now gives you the signs of carnality: envy, strife and division. These are all works of Satan. They are not evidence of a spiritual person but a carnal person. What is the difference between the world and the carnal person? There is no difference. There is no transformation. There is no change.

How do we become transformed and show evidence of the spiritual man or woman? You have to be full of the Holy Spirit 24/7. You have to die to the flesh every day, sometimes every minute of the day. You have to be read up and prayed up. That is the bottom line.

I know I cannot do it all the time without the help of the Holy Spirit. I can get in the flesh so easy. Then I need to repent before God and really pray. We all fall at times but it cannot be our daily way of living. There has to be a transformation in our lives, as we submit to the Lord and open our hearts to God.

I think people today are spiritually sick. As we draw closer to the Last Days, we are going to see true spirituality and true carnality. We see it today with the economies crashing and natural disasters around the world. What we see is envy, strife and division abounding. What is in your heart? Is there evidence of the Holy Spirit in your life or evidence of Satan?

Regeneration has made our hearts a battle field.
-J. I. Packer-

Self-Promotion: A Mark of Carnality

For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

1 Corinthians 3:4

Listen to this real carefully. Here in verse 4, the Lord really revealed something to my heart. Paul was saying, “You do not have to promote yourself. We are to promote Jesus Christ.”

What do we see in the world today? What do we see on television today? People promoting themselves. We live in the generation of reality television. Everybody is trying to be a celebrity.

What do the Scriptures say? Promotion does not come from the east or the west. It comes from the Lord. He lifts up one and takes down another. I love that. I do not want to be anywhere God does not want me to be. I want to be in His perfect will.

If He wants me to be a toe, I will be a toe. I will be content in darkness, if that is where God wants me. It does not matter, if that is where God has me. I have to remember, the toe brings balance to the whole body. It is a very important part of the body. I can stand on one foot because of my toes. If I did not have them, I could not do it.

Paul spent time really addressing the signs of carnality because they bring destruction. Self-promotion is carnality and it will destroy the believer.

Most of the trouble in the world is caused by people wanting to be important.
-T. S. Elliot-

Remain a Humble Servant

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?

1 Corinthians 3:5

Who am I? Who is Chuck Smith? Who is Billy Graham? We are ministers. In the Greek it is Doulos, servants. We are all servants to the community.

Musicians, pastors, leaders, athletes; everyone in this world wants their name in big lights. We want to be known more than Jesus Christ. That should never be. Jesus is the true celebrity. It is His name we should see in lights.

God chose everyone He has serving. As we go to lunch, as we go to the stores, wherever we go, we talk to people and God uses our lives but we do not convert people. We are being used by God. We are just vessels, going out and spreading the Word. We are not building a foundation for ourselves. We are building God’s foundation.

We are not here to build our kingdoms. There are many needs in the body of Christ. If people start getting their eyes on you, praising you and trusting in you, then they do not have a firm foundation. They will be on shaky ground if their foundation is built upon man and not Christ.

God wants to use each one of us to promote His kingdom. Remember it is all about Him. As God uses your life, you have to change and grow spiritually but you have to remain a servant. Paul was a mighty servant of God.

The right manner of growth is to grow less in one’s own eyes.
-Thomas Watson-

Holocaust Remembrance Day

They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You:

Psalm 83:4-5

God’s Church

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

1 Corinthians 3:6

You see the true humility of Paul in this verse. He never lifted himself above others or thought himself more important. He realized the real work of the church was done by God, not him, not Apollos, not you and not me.

I have done those things at one time or another. I have planted and I have watered, but I have never given the increase. We all plant and water, but God gives the increase. God is the One who builds the church.

I am the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Golden Springs and I have many leaders serving with me but this is not my church, this is His church. These are God’s people, not my people. I am here to serve Him. I want to see God do mighty and powerful things like never before, so He can continue to do even greater and greater things.

I have been in the ministry for 40 years and I have seen people come and go. I have seen them fall and get destroyed, because they got puffed up. They could have been restored but they forgot it is all God’s work, not their own.

It is really important we understand, without God there is no increase, no increase at all. God is the one who builds. God is the one who gets the glory and honor. He is the one who takes down the one and lifts up the other. We are just vessels He uses to plant and water.

Man does what he can, and God what He will.
-John Ray-

To God Be the Glory

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

1 Corinthians 3:7

Remember this verse. It is such a short verse but Paul made two very important points. First, we have to realize we are nothing. Everything we are and everything we do is by the grace of God. It is not us. It is all God.

Second, Paul tells us it is God who gives the increase. This is the second time. Do you think this is important? Yes! When God repeats something, it is important you take note. God is the one who lifts you up. God opens the doors or closes the doors.

One thing often happens when God begins to use young people. They become prideful. It can happen to any of us. We are natural people, flesh and bone. It is a great weapon of Satan, to make us think the work is ours and not God’s.

Paul the Apostle was such a great motivator, leader, teacher and theologian. He could defend the faith better than anyone. He could have gotten puffed up and gone his own way, but he went to Arabia for 10 years to spend time with God. He did not go into the ministry immediately. He waited upon the Lord.

Seriously, who are we? Nothing but dirt, and God has chosen to use us because He loves us. He wants us to be instruments of His righteousness.

Whether you are watering or planting, give God the glory.

If we insist on our glory, God will withdraw His.
-John Blanchard-

Examine Your Motives

Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

1 Corinthians 3:8

Paul was telling the people and warning the church about a coming day of judgment. We know the non-believer will go to the White Throne Judgment, but Paul was speaking to the believer here. He was talking about the Bema Seat of Christ, the works of gold, silver, wood, hay and stubble.

I love what he said because it separates me from you and you from me. Everyone is an individual. I do not have to answer for you and you do not have to answer for me. I am going to answer for myself. That is the bottom line.

I do not have to impress you and you do not have to impress me. Do not be so worried about other people. Worry about yourself, because you are going to have to stand before God one day. You are going to have to give an account to God.

There are going to be people who will stand before God and ask, “Where is my reward?” They will hear, “I am sorry. There is nothing for you. Everything burned up.” Why? They had the wrong attitude. It was done with the wrong motive.

Remember that word, motive. What is your motive in what you are doing? Is the motive to promote yourself or to really build the Kingdom of God?

Man cannot cover what God would reveal.
-Thomas Campbell-

Fully Submitted to the Lord

Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

1 Corinthians 3:8

This is bottom line. At the end of your life, the real you will come out. What you have really done for Christ. That is where you may suffer the loss of rewards. What was the intention of your heart? Why did you do it, so people could praise you and lift you up? You will receive nothing for that. It will burn in the fire. Only what you do for Christ will last, period, nothing else.

If you are always getting glory from people, they are lifting you up, then it is just a matter of time. You are going to trip, fall and be destroyed. The gifts and talents God has given to you, He is going to take away from you. There will be no more anointing in your life. The anointing of God is what keeps us moving.

It takes a lot of work, prayer, studying, reading and waiting on the Lord, to be used effectively by Him. God speaks to people through your life. They may come to you with questions but they are coming to receive from Him. They want to know what God has to say in His Word. You are the instrument. You are the vessel. That is the bottom line.

God will use your life wherever you are. He can do great things in your life, privately and publicly, when you submit your life fully to Him. When you fully submit to Him, you will be rewarded when you stand before Him.

God will be glorified in the punishment of sin as well as in the reward of obedience.
-Thomas V. Moore-

Spiritually Cultivated

For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

1 Corinthians 3:9

What do you do with a field? A field has to be cultivated in order to bring forth fruit. In the same way, we have to be cultivated spiritually if we want to be fruitful.

For 40 years, I have been cultivated by God. Chuck Smith will be 84 this year. Think about how long he has been cultivated by God. Some of you are babies in the Lord still. You have a long way to go, but if you stay humble, keep listening, studying, praying and you allow God to do the work in your life and use your life, then you will be fruitful.

If we are still here in 40 years, you will be able to teach the young guys what I am teaching you today. You will look back and say, “Wow, Chuck Smith was right.” He will be long gone, but the fruit will continue.

He also calls us God’s building. We are the Temple of the Living God. Even though we have imperfect bodies, the Holy Spirit dwells in us. If I am God’s building, full of the Holy Spirit, then I have to be careful what I do with my body.

Paul is telling us we have to be cultivated by God, so we can live fruitful lives. By allowing God to cultivate our lives spiritually, our bodies can be used by God for His glory.

A machine can do work; only a life can bear fruit.
-Andrew Murray-

Responsibility

According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.

1 Corinthians 3:10

This is why I am here — the grace of God. Each one of us are walking with the Lord and serving in His ministry by His grace. Again, Paul is telling us we are vessels of the Lord. It is not about us. It is about the Lord.

Paul is also giving us this great warning. He is talking to the whole team. We each have a responsibility for what we do with what the Lord has given to us. He is not just talking to pastors; every Christian has a responsibility for how they build on the foundation. God makes you responsible, because you are part of the building — part of the ministry.

When I read this verse, I thought, “Wow, Lord. No wonder there is such great responsibility, such care and such urgency in my heart.” I do not think people are taking this warning seriously today. I think many are building on a false foundation and they are going to cause others to fall. Paul warns us to take heed. That means there is an accounting.

Paul laid the foundation and it was built upon the Rock, Jesus Christ. The foundation has to be solid. It has to be on the Rock. Do not build on sand, it will not last. This is so important. Paul tells us to be careful how we build on His foundation, His ministry.

Responsibility brings accountability.
-Ken Robins-

Christ is the Center

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:11

I have circled this verse in my Bible. I do not ever want to forget it. The foundation is Jesus Christ. He settles the issue. It is not the Catholics, Lutherans, Baptists, Calvary Chapel, it is Jesus Christ. He is the Rock of our salvation. He is the Rock of theology. He is it, bottom line.

Paul made sure, all the way through the letter, the center of the Christianity is Christ. That is the foundation. The foundation is Christ.

Jesus told us He is the Rock in Luke 6:47-48, Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.

Wow, amazing. Jesus Christ, the Rock of our salvation. My testimony, my life, my study, my giving, my teaching, everything has to be centered in Christ. The more Christ, the better your ministry will be.

Now, if Christ is the foundation, if He is the Rock, why would you build on anything else? When your world seems to be collapsing around you, turn to Christ, the Rock of your salvation.

How divinely supreme is our Lord above all others!
-D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones-

Spiritual Riches

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

1 Corinthians 3:12

When I was thinking of Paul the Apostle, in writing this tremendous letter, about the foundation we need to build upon, then the building of our works, it really opened my eyes.

We are builders, building on the foundation that is Christ Jesus. Take every one of the materials mentioned for building and look them up in the encyclopedia. Some of them have lasting value and some are worthless. He starts out with the most valuable at the top, which is gold. Everybody wants gold. It is shiny and valuable. The last thing he lists is straw, which is worth nothing.

He was warning, not the non-believers. He was warning Christians. Are you building on the foundation of Christ with things of lasting value like gold, silver and precious stones or will your works have no value and burn in the fire like wood, straw and hay?

This is really important. You may say you do not care about rewards but you will care. In the Kingdom Age, you will care. You better read the Book of Revelation.

Many people think they have built with gold but they may be surprised when it is all put into the fire. Examine your lives. What has lasting value?

Treasures in heaven are laid up only as treasures
on earth are laid down.
-Author Unknown-

Rewards and Gifts

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

1 Corinthians 3:12-13

You should not boast. You do not know what is going to last until you stand before Christ. In your human nature, you think everything is cool, but it may not be. What is the motive behind what you are doing? Is it to build your kingdom or is it to build God’s Kingdom? Is it to build your name and your fame or is it to build the name of Jesus?

It is all about being honorable and having integrity, if you want to be a man or a woman of God. It is not about being cool. Remember, we are all dealing with people’s souls. We are dealing with people’s lives.

As God’s people, we need to understand there is a day of judgment coming. We are Christians and have come to know the Lord Jesus Christ, so our sins have been taken away by His blood. You were born again, a Christian, but you are still going to stand before God and He is going to look at your works.

What is of real value when you stand before God? The fire will reveal it and God will say, “This is what you get. Everything else is gone.” If you are standing there before the Lord and He says, “Nothing came out of the fire.” You will be saved by the fire. Why? Salvation is the free gift of God.

Our salvation is a pure gratuity from God.
-Benjamin B. Warfield-

Worldly Riches

each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

1 Corinthians 3:13

Paul used the word Day with a capital “D” not little “d.” He was talking about the Bema Seat of Christ. Everything will be tested there. What is the value? You will be evaluated on who you really are. You can play the role here, but if it is not real, it is going to burn up. You did it all in vain.

I talk to these businessmen and I tell them it is great, you build a big company, you make a million dollars but who gets the glory. In the end, what are you going to have if you are not witnessing, praying and reading? If you are not serving the Lord, then you are not building spiritually. You are only building physically, for this world. Everything in this world is going to collapse and burn. Then you will stand in the presence of God totally naked, without anything.

What kind of foundation is the church building? Think about it. We are talking to Christians. Are we really building our relationship and our foundation in Jesus Christ? When we stand before the Lord and He opens up the books, is there anything written there of value.

What will you hear? ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant,” or “You did all these awesome things but they all burned up. You can come into the kingdom, because salvation is the free gift of God, but you will not rule and reign with me.” Think about it.

No kind of riches is a passport to the kingdom of heaven.
-C. S. Lewis-

Do Not Suffer Loss

If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

1 Corinthians 3:14-15

Without works, without rewards, you will be in heaven because salvation is the free gift of God. You will get into heaven, but Paul said you will suffer loss. Think about that statement. You will suffer loss. You will realize nothing you did was of any value to the Lord. That is really heavy.

Today, people come to church and they listen, but what are they really doing for God? If Christians really got on fire for God, do you think the church would be normal? Every church would be jam packed, because people would have the zealousness, the fire of God in their hearts. They would want to be in the house of the Lord learning, so they could go out into their communities to win people for Christ. That is the passion God gives to you.

Many times people get angry with God, because He is not doing something in their lives. He has not given them this or that, but God knows what is best for each one of us. He says, “My ways are not your ways. My thoughts are not your thoughts.” God knows what He is doing. He is building godly men and women He can use, if they are willing to submit.

By the grace of God we are saved. He saved us and now He wants to use us. If you allow God to use your life, you will not suffer loss.

The way of uprightness is the way of heavenly wealth.
-C. H. Spurgeon-

Holiest of Holies

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

1 Corinthians 3:16

The word he uses here for temple is the holiest of holies in the Old Testament. It was within the Tabernacle of God, where the priests could only enter in once a year. He would have to be consecrated to God. If there was sin in his life when he entered the holiest of holies, he would be killed instantly.

In the Old Testament, the holiest of holies was within a building. Here, Paul was talking about a spiritual temple. Your body, whether you take care of it or not, it is the temple of God. As we take care of the church building, how much more should we take care of the temple of God, which is within our bodies?

Often, people get disqualified, because they have not taken care of themselves, not spiritually, but physically. Why? When you do not take care of yourself physically, it means you do not care what happens to you. You do not want to be used by God.

Think about how many people do not take care of themselves, get sick, and feel so bad because they are not being used by God. Many times, they are young but they did not take care of themselves, physically or spiritually.

As much as we take care of ourselves spiritually, we need to take care of ourselves physically too. The longer you live, the more God can use your life.

We are not so to live as if we had nothing but a body.
-J. C. Ryle-

Defiled Christians

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Paul has been talking about salvation and works. If you believe in eternal security, you would say, “You can never lose your salvation. If you say you can lose your salvation, then you were never really a Christian.”

Paul was working towards a crucial point here. He wanted to be sure they understood what he had said up to this point, so he asked, “Don’t you know? Now that you know all this, do you not know, you are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

He was emphasizing their position in Christ. As Christians, they had become the temple of the living God. The people of Corinth were corrupting the temple of God with all the things they were doing. They were not living holy lives.

Now the reason I am explaining this is because of the sicknesses in the church today. There are Christians watching porn, stealing from their employers or employees. They are cussing, fornicating, lying, cheating, not paying the government and they make excuses. They have defiled the temple of God

If you are a Christian and you are doing these types of sins, you will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Paul said God will destroy you.

Unsaintly saints are the tragedy of Christianity.
-A. W. Tozer-

Purposing to Sin

If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

1 Corinthians 3:17

After 40 years, I know the reason some people say they are eternally secure. It is because there is something wrong in their spiritual lives. They want to be eternally secure, because they are sinning. They cannot really be set free in their relationship with God, because they are in sin.

They are fighting with people to keep their salvation, because the Holy Spirit has been speaking to them, convicting them. The Bible says if we are really true believers in Christ, then immediately the Holy Spirit brings conviction.

People come to the church for biblical instruction. They say they have been a Christian for 20 years but they have been in an adulterous relationship with a woman for 10 years. Wow! Have they been listening to the service? Is the Holy Spirit speaking to them?

If there is no conviction, they are not children of God. They are playing church. Remember, if a person is a true believer in Christ, the Holy Spirit brings conviction.

I am concerned for the church. Why? A little leaven leavens the whole lump. What happens is we influence other people. If we think it is okay to purposely choose to live sinful lives, we will influence others to do the same.

Worst of all my foes, I fear the enemy within.
-John Wesley-

Godly Choices

If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

1 Corinthians 3:17

You and I are the temple of the living God. Your body belonged to you when you were not a believer. Today, God has paid the price for your body, soul and spirit. We have to be consecrated to the Lord.

If this is God’s body, we have to honor it. Spiritually, it has to be maintained. If you are not maintaining the temple, there are going to be problems. If you compromise in one area of your life, you will compromise in other areas of your life.

You have to make some decisions in your life every day. These decisions affect your life and they affect the body of Jesus Christ. While you are in church, you may make great decisions. That is when you are on your best behavior. What are you doing when you are out in the world or in your own home? Are you still making godly choices?

You do not have to answer to me or any other pastor but God knows. He sees everything. Remember, when you compromise in your life, in the temple of the living God, you are bringing leaven into the church. Do not listen to Satan when the Holy Spirit is trying to convict you. Do not make excuses; make godly choices. If you choose to compromise, God will destroy the temple. WOW! What does that mean? There is no eternal security.

Nothing is trivial here if heaven looks on.
-Vance Havner-

National Day of Prayer

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.

Psalms 33:12

This country has a long heritage of men and women of prayer. Our nation was founded on godly principles. Men and women left England on ships, braving the harsh conditions of the Pacific Ocean, in order to have the freedom to worship God in truth. They did not want to be subjected to the false religion with a false king. They wanted to serve the King of kings and LORD of lords.

That is where we come from, years of men and women escaping the tyranny of kings and governments who wanted to control how they worshipped the one true living God. That is why we pray.

We pray, because these countries started out right. There were men and women of prayer leading the countries around the world but something happened to change them. What was it?

I think a nation of people slowly loses their religious freedoms when the people of God fall asleep. When we take our freedoms for granted, we do not fight for them. When we take our freedoms for granted, we assume they will always be there.

We are a nation chosen by God. He will be here for us, but will we choose Him? Take time today and every day to pray for our nation and its leaders.

All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing
-Edmund Burke-

Eternal Perspective

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

1 Corinthians 3:18

Paul warned us not to be deceived, and today we see many are deceived. They think they can take drugs, cuss, drink alcohol, do all the things of the world and still go to heaven because they are going to church and they read the Bible. That is baloney. You will never inherit the kingdom of God with worldly living.

God is going to come, at the Rapture of the church, and the carnal people are going to stay behind and the spiritual people will be taken. Then all hell is going to break loose.

Imagine the torment for people who knew God’s Word but lived carnal lifestyles. They will know why they have been left behind at the Rapture of the church. It is going to be heavy. They will be witnessing to people, “I was in the church but I got left behind. My mom and dad were taken, my son was taken but I was left behind, because I was playing church.”

I look at what is happening today, the tornadoes, the earthquakes and wars. The Bible tells us at the end there is not going to be another flood. God is going to take care of the world by fire.

We are not living for this world. This is a fallen world. The world we are going to live in is a perfect world. Live your life with eternity in mind.

The future life only brings to fruition the seed sown here.
-Geoffrey B. Wilson-

True Slaves

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1 Corinthians 4:1

Immediately, what caught my attention, as I was studying and reading is Paul started with the word consider. He was saying, “Think carefully about us and who we are.” When people consider us, or think carefully about us and our lives, what do they see? Who do they say we are? Think about it.

Paul clarified who they were, servants. The word used here is not the Greek word doulos. The word used is huperetes, which means an under-rower on a ship. They were on the bottom of the ship, the worst place to be. They were chained to one another and they were real slaves. They really worked.

The under-rower is the one who serves and does not complain, does not murmur, but does it because he has been entrusted to do it.

It seems, not just in the ministry but in different places, people want to climb the ladder. They do not want to be under-rowers. They are not content to be where God has placed them or with what He has entrusted them.

God created you, He made you and He knows you in such a way. God has made every single person in this world today, with the gifts and the talents to do what He has called them to do. The work He has and the gifts and talents He has for you, He gives freely.

We are born into permanent service.
-David H. Chilton-

Faithful Stewards

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1 Corinthians 4:1

Notice, Paul put everyone together, servants and stewards. Stewards of what? Stewards of the mysteries of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Both servants and stewards work for someone else. They do not determine what they will do with their lives. Their masters tell them what to do and they submit to their master.

The servant, or under-rower, was the lowest position on the ship. Paul was saying, literally in the Greek, we are not captains of the ship. We are the lowest servants on the ship. I like that. We are not captains of the ship.

This is not my church. This is Christ’s church. You are not in charge. I am not in charge. He is in charge. We have to get that in our minds.

I am going to go to the next step, and the next step is real heavy. If you do not learn to be an under-rower, you will never be a steward, which means you will never take care of God’s things and He will never be able to trust you. He only trusts faithful people. That is what this speaks of, faithfulness.

When it comes to the things of God, you have to really be faithful to the things God calls you to do. You are not dealing with man, you are dealing with God. You are dealing with eternity. You are dealing with the eternal, not the temporal.

Faithfulness knows no difference between small and great duties.
-John Ruskin-

God’s Mysteries

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1 Corinthians 4:1

Paul blew me away at the beginning of 1 Corinthians 4, verse one. He said, “God has entrusted you as a steward of the mysteries of God.” What does that mean? A mystery is something difficult or impossible to understand or explain. A mystery has to be revealed to you.

What does God do? He reveals to us all His mysteries. Why? He wants to use our lives. If He can trust you, He will reveal things to you. If He cannot trust you, what can He really do with your life? If you are faithful in the small things, He will make you greater in the bigger things. That is all the way through the Scriptures.

Sometimes I say, “Why me,” and you might say the same thing. I think of my life and everything God has given me, as a steward, and what He has given to me, as an under-rower. I never dreamed in my life, I would be in this place. I had my plans but they were not God’s plans.

Maybe you have your plans, but they are not God’s plans. It is not until you really submit, surrender and align yourself with the perfect will of God, becoming a servant, an under-rower, obedient to the small things, then God can make you a steward of His household. Only then can He reveal His mysteries to you. Wow! Think about the mysteries of God!

With God there are mysteries but no mistakes.
-Michael Griffiths-

House Managers

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1 Corinthians 4:1

Paul was clearly defining our place in Christ. We are not only servants but also stewards, house managers. In the Greek, it means a servant who is in charge of the household.

Remember Joseph, Jacob’s son? Before he was thrown in jail, he was sold to Potiphar by the Ishmaelite’s, and Potiphar made him a steward. He gave him the checkbook and everything he possessed. Everything Potiphar owned was now under Joseph’s control. Potiphar totally trusted Joseph.

Can you imagine the responsibility we have as God’s stewards? Think of how many people mismanage what God gives to them. That is heavy. If we mismanage the things of God, how can God move us on? How can God take us to the next level, if we are not trustworthy stewards? How can He take us to the next place, so we can do the will of God?

Paul was trying to teach the church. He said we are under-rowers and stewards, not common stewards, but, stewards of the mysteries of God.

Can you believe it? He did not trust you with a million dollars. He gave you more than a million dollars. He gave you the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That is better than money. That is better than the most valuable thing in the world.

Stewardship is what a man does after he says, “I believe.”
-W. H. Greaves-

Faithfulness Required

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

1 Corinthians 4:2

Underline the word required. This is the Lord’s requirement, be found faithful, which word means trustworthy. Can you be trusted? Can you be trusted with what God has to say or with whatever He gives you? Why? One day we are going to give an account. You are going to give an account of your wife or husband, your children, your bank account, all you have you will give an account for.

It is really important we understand, living here in the United States, we have so much. We have heat, air-conditioning, cars, water and food, whatever we want. The Bible tells us, to whom much is given, much more will be required, and so what do we have to do? We have to be good stewards. We have to manage the best we can, so when we stand before God, we will be able to give a good account.

When a person is not a good steward, they do not really have the fear of the Lord. When you have the fear of God, you cannot cheat Him. People do not really fear God, but they are expecting the blessings of God. They try to negotiate with Him, “God, I am going to give You this much and then You can give me back a little bit more.”

Paul makes it clear, we have to be faithful, trustworthy with what God has given us, and the calling of God in our lives has to be trustworthy.

God requires no more than faithfulness in our place.
-William Gurnall-

God Our Only judge

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

1 Corinthians 4:3

Paul was now addressing those who attacked him, his enemies, the Judaizers. He was actually talking to the Judaizers, who were constantly creating problems for Paul, so he would not be loved but be hated. You see, Paul was such a man of God and he had such a heart for God, he spoke truth and people were convicted.

It is interesting, what happens to people when they are convicted or feel threatened. Instead of searching their hearts and changing those things God finds offensive, they make themselves look better, by demeaning others.

Paul never demeaned people. He knew his heart and shortcomings, so he did not have to put down others to feel good about himself. Instead of judging them, Paul was pouring out love to these guys, because he was concerned for their eternity, and he was warning them about their actions.

We should be more concerned for people’s eternity, than with what they have done to us. Once they die, they are lost forever. We can be just like them, judging and demeaning, but what have we gained. If we do not care for people’s souls, how will God be able to use our lives?

Remember, God is our only judge, not man.

We do all for eternity.
-Thomas Brooks-

Mother’s Day

But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

1 Thessalonians 2:7

I love the example Paul the Apostle uses in his letter to the Thessalonians. He told the people they came and ministered to them as a nursing mother cherishes her own child. He paints such a picture with these words.

We have all seen a mother with her newborn baby. She takes such care of the child and has so much love for the baby, it shines in her face. As the child grows, you see her joy as the child takes a first step, says their first word or gives them a hug and kiss.

In the same way, a child has such a bond with their mother. For the first nine months of their lives, inside the womb, they hear the heartbeat of their mother, they hear her voice. She is their lifeline. They are cherished and nourished in their mother’s body.

It is because of this strong bond, mothers have such a strong influence in the lives of their children. Throughout the Bible, we have examples of mothers who encouraged their children to do the will of God and those who led their children down the path of destruction.

I pray this day; every woman would recognize the great honor and responsibility God has given them to nurture and cherish their children.

If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been.
-Robert Brault-

Israel’s Independence Day

Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you,
and you shall live.” ‘ “

Ezekiel 37: 4

I have been studying Ezekiel 36 and 37. In these chapters, the prophet Ezekiel talked about the dead bones and how they would come together with flesh covering them. Then they would stand up. It was the rebirth of the nation of Israel.

This prophecy was fulfilled in 1948, on May 14. Once Israel became a nation again, the Jewish people came back to the land from all over the world. There were only 650 thousand Jews in 1948. Today, there are about 6 million in Israel and they keep coming from around the world. God said He would call them from the four corners of the earth back to the Promised Land.

The significance of the rebirth of Israel is tremendous. The Jewish people are the only people without a country for so long to maintain their heritage and not blend into the cultures where they lived. After many years, scattered around the world, they still maintained their cultural identity. Why are they the only people to experience a rebirth of their nation? God! They have the promises of God. We have the promises of God!

Today, it is just amazing to see what is happening in Israel and the Middle East. The Lord can come for His church at any time. That is the only thing left.

There is a living God. He has spoken in the Bible. He means what He says and will do all He has promised.
-J. Hudson Taylor-

Judged by Fire

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

1 Corinthians 4:3

Who do we think we are, when we start judging one another? Think about that. Who do we think we are? Paul said, “You are judging me, you are judging Apollos and you are judging Peter, but why don’t you look at yourselves?”

Paul never, ever pointed the finger at another person. He did not even judge himself. This is a pretty heavy statement. I do not know if I could say the same about myself, but Paul said it. I could easily judge myself — real easy.

I think it is so important we understand what Paul was teaching. He never got upset when people criticized him, because he knew his Master’s judgment was more important. I like that. He knew God’s judgment was more important than Paul’s judgment on other people or their judgment of him.

Ultimately, God is going to judge you and He is going to judge me. That is the bottom line. You do not have to give an answer to me. You have to give an answer to God. He is the One who is going to examine your whole life. He is going to look at your tithing, your serving, your witnessing and everything you have done for the Lord and He is going to put it into the fire. Whatever comes out of the fire will be your reward, and if nothing comes out of the fire, you will go to heaven but you will have no reward, nothing. Man’s opinion means nothing in comparison to God’s judgment.

The power of man can never reverse the sentence of God.
-Thomas V. Moore-

Invest In Eternity

For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.

1 Corinthians 4:4

Notice what Paul said, I know of nothing against myself. Now, I know I cannot say the same about myself. Can you? That is a hard thing to say. He was saying there was nothing they could point their finger at in his life. I do not think anyone but Paul could say that.

You can judge me, and I can judge you, but who judges in the end? God, He is the One who is going to judge. One day, He is going to open up the books and judge, at the Bema Seat of Christ. He will take our gold, silver, wood and stubble, everything we have and everything we have done in our lives since we came to Christ, and put it into the fire. Then He God will say, “This is what is left. This is your reward, “or, “Nothing is left, but you are saved by the fire, because salvation is My free gift to you.”

We should be investing eternally, more than ever before. Whatever we do, we need to do our best, because God keeps the record. One day, everything will be revealed by the fire. If you are truly honest, you examine your life and you are open to criticism, then you can learn. Then, you can truly invest in the eternity.

Paul was willing. Whatever God wanted to do, Paul was open for it. That is why he said God was the only one to judge him. His motives were judged by God. He knew he had invested well.

Eternity depends upon this moment.
-Thomas Manton-

God Reveals the Heart

For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.

1 Corinthians 4:4

I thank God; He is the One who will judge me. Many times, we are misjudged by others: our wives, husbands, children, friends and sometimes strangers. They do not know who you really are. They do not know your motives.

The same is true when we judge others. We do not know their hearts or their motives. If we do not pray and really seek the Lord, then we can make mistakes.

Paul knew he had to be in prayer and God’s Word to give these warnings to the churches. He did not take his responsibility to the churches lightly. If you read his letters, he was experiencing heavy pressure, because he had to rebuke brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Paul could no longer minister alongside of them, because they had become hindrances in the ministry. They were carnal people — not spiritual people. They were carnal people who made problems for churches and for pastors through strife. That is why he was saying he did not want to judge, God is the One who judges, but he knew what was going on. God had revealed it.

When there is strife in the ministry, God will reveal it, in order to clean up the church. It is not man’s judgment, but God’s.

If men refuse to be taught by precept, they must be taught by punishment.
-Thomas V. Moore-

Eternal Perspective

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

1 Corinthians 4:5

This is so cool, because the goal is not only to do the things we want to do for God, but we need to be convicted by God, always looking toward eternity.

He said not to worry about other people but worry about yourself. The Lord is the One who is going to come and judge. There is a day of judgment coming, so we should not waste time worrying about other people. We need to take the time to examine our own lives and what we are doing.

How is your faithfulness to God and the things He has entrusted you with? Are you doing the things He has called you to do?

Not only the things we do will be revealed but the hidden things in our hearts. Can you believe it? Everything we think quietly, not speak out loud, is going to be revealed. The voices will be heard. You will be shocked at some of the things revealed. You will not be able to believe the things you thought and said in quiet.

When all is revealed, the praise will come from God, not from people. Each one of us will want to hear Him say, “Hallelujah! My good and faithful servant, come on in. Look what I have prepared for you.”

If you look past the world, you put your head up into eternity.
-Thomas Goodwin-

Armed Forces Day

For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Psalm 91:11-12

The United States Armed Forces have been fighting a war against terrorist since September 11, 2001, in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the world. Our men and women in the military have been called upon to uphold freedom in every corner of the globe and they do it with selfless honor. They leave families and friends to serve wherever they are sent.

I am so thankful for the men and women who have sacrificed everything to serve this country in the Marines, Navy, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard. When I go before the Lord in prayer, I always lift them up to Him for strength, wisdom and protection.

It is great to have this day to stand and salute those serving our country, but one day is not enough to express the gratitude our nation should have for military.

What is so cool is God never forgets them. He has given His angels charge over them, to bear them up, wherever they are. What a great comfort we have in God’s Word.

Take time to thank someone in uniform today. Even if you do not agree with military force, remember, they provide you the freedom to have your own opinion. Semper Fi!

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.
-Elmer Davis-

God Pleasers

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

1 Corinthians 4:5

What was Paul saying? Everything that has happened, past present and future, one day the real truth of our motives is going to come out of the fire. We can judge one another, but we do not know the condition of the heart. One day, God is going to reveal it, not man. Were things done honestly or deceitfully?

If we want to accomplish what God has for our lives, we cannot focus on others. We have to be on the same page with God and allow Him to deal with each person individually.

The main thing you must have in your life is peace, emotionally and spiritually. In business or ministry, everyone has to be on the same page. In order to function well and do God’s will; we have to all be on the same page.

This principle is the same for every ministry or business. We cannot fight with one another or be frustrated and serve the Lord. If there is a problem, there is a solution. The solutions then bring peace.

When we all work together to accomplish God’s purposes, what happens? Then each one’s praise will come from God. Problems occur when we become man pleasers instead of God pleasers.

A man’s heart is right when he wills what God wills.
-Thomas Aquinas-

Be Content

Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.

1 Corinthians 4:6

Paul was pointing out a major problem, a flaw in man. When people are not humble and they are not connected to the Holy Spirit, they are not really flowing with the Holy Spirit and they become puffed up. They become arrogant. They become a thorn in the side, and they become a hindrance to the true work of God.

I hope and pray everyone understands what Paul was saying, because it is a huge warning. If you really and truly want to be a faithful under-rower, a servant, if you want to be a true manager of whatever He has given to you, the small things and then the bigger things, then you better start with God first.

We need to be attached to the Lord and not to man. We talked about this problem before, being in competition with one another. I have a big church and you have a little church. I have a big business and you have a little business. Now, we are in competition, not focused on the Lord.

It is the same in your neighborhood. Your neighbor gets a Mercedes Benz, so you want a Beemer, always trying to keep up with the Joneses. God tells us not to compete, but be content. If someone has more than you, thank God for it, but do not covet. Rejoice with them, as God has blessed them.

Envy is a coal that comes hissing hot from hell.
-Philip James Baily-

How Humble Are You?

For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

1 Corinthians 4:7

Paul asked the Corinthian church three questions in this verse and they need to be answered by the church today. The first thing he asked was, “What makes you different? Are you so special?” Paul the Apostle identified one of the missing ingredients in so many leaders– humility. Are you humble?

We each need to recognize it is not about me. It is all about God, who called me, teaches me and anoints me. God opens the door and shuts the door. It is not about us. It is about Him. It is about Jesus Christ.

We can only live in the present, looking toward the future. The best thing you can do in your life is figure out who is going to take your place. Did you do your job in teaching and discipling people, with the same vision given to you?

Times change but the Word of God never changes. The Word of God brings me to a place of stability — a balanced life — in the Lord. Apart from Him, I can do nothing. He is the Logos, He is the Word.

Remember, Christ is our greatest example of humility. It is not I who live but Christ who lives through me. That is the bottom line. We are nothing. He gives you the knowledge, the wisdom and the passion.

I believe the first test of a truly great man is his humility.
-John Ruskin-

Humility Not Pride

For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

1 Corinthians 4:7

The second question Paul asked the church in Corinth was, And what do you have that you did not receive? Everything you possess; every gift, every talent, every possession was given to you. Who gave it to you? Christ.

That is why so many people go to school and become knowledgeable but they do not give credit to God. Who gave them a great mind? God, but man likes to take the credit. People like to say they are the product of their education.

I would rather be taught by God than by a school full of professors. Before I ever went to college, I was taught by Calvary Chapel. That is where I learned my theology. If I had gone to college after I got saved, I would not be here today. Honestly, I was blown away by what they were teaching.

When I went to school, there were 300 to 400 pastors and missionaries graduating. Last year, when I went back to speak at the graduation, only seven people graduated with a degree in ministry. The rest were computer geniuses.

Christ is no longer the priority. People, in their pride, think they can have everything by their own hands. There is no humility and realization that everything comes from Him. It is not me or my knowledge.

Humility is the repentance of pride.
-Nehemiah Rogers-

Humble Servants of Christ

For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

1 Corinthians 4:7

Paul the Apostle was burning with three questions. The third question was, Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? Does that speak about pride? Of course it does. They were taking the credit. They had no humility.

God has given me everything. It is His gift, given to me, so I cannot boast and take the credit. I can do nothing apart from Jesus Christ. I do not care what I read or what I study. He is the One.

When I get up to speak and teach, He is the One who anoints me or I will speak in the flesh, and people will know it. They will know if I am inspired by the Holy Spirit. If I get up to teach but I have not really studied and prayed, people are going to know it. They will look for a church that teaches God’s Word.

Paul is not just speaking to pastors but to all who are ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is speaking to every Christian, called by Christ. I think it is really important to know the heartbeat of Jesus Christ, the One who has called you, anointed you and the One who is sending you to do the work of God, not your work. It is not your foundation. It is His foundation. He is the Rock of our Salvation.

I was but a pen in God’s hands, and what praise is due to a pen?
-Richard Baxter-

Humbled to be Usable

You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us — and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!

1 Corinthians 4:8

The Corinthian church had a problem with pride. They thought they had accomplished all these things on their own, so Paul said to them, “Do you know what, I do not want to be part of you.” He wanted to be part of Christ. He did not want to be among the popular groups.

I think everyone really needs to be careful of the friendships they have and the people they hang out with in the church and outside of the church. It can either make you or it can break you. It can ruin you.

Why did God chastise, rebuke and judge Israel? They did not study the Word of God. They wanted to be popular, like the rest of the world, so brought they in their household gods and did everything like the world.

What did God do? He departed. He said goodbye and then He chastened them by bringing Babylon and Assyria, the Medes and the Persians, then Alexander the Great and finally the Roman Empire. In the Last Days, the revival of the Roman Empire will come. Think about it.

The children of Israel believed in themselves, but God wanted them to realize humility is the key to usefulness. If you really want to be used, you have to be humble. You cannot just say you are humble. You have to be humble.

Until a man is nothing, God can make nothing of him.
-Martin Luther-

Feast of Weeks

“Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.”

Deuteronomy 16:16

The Feast of Weeks or Shavuot, in Hebrew is celebrated 50 days after the Passover. It is one of the Jewish festivals instituted by God when the people could come and give offerings to the Lord. For this celebration, the people would offer the new grain of the summer wheat harvest to God.

Shavout is also one of three feasts when the Jewish men were required to go to Jerusalem to appear before the Lord. The offering of the harvest and the men going to Jerusalem were outward signs of the people’s obedience to the Lord and their gratitude to God for His provision.

It is so important to recognize the purposes God had for these feasts — remembrance and obedience. If you have read the Old Testament, you know the children of Israel had a hard time remembering to be obedient. Look at the Book of Judges. How many times did the people forget about God, fall into disobedience, were punished by the enemy and then finally cried out to God for mercy?

You see, God instituted the feasts because He knew they needed the reminders. He knew they would stray, so He did everything to keep them safe.

Sacrifice without obedience is sacrilege.
-William Gurnall-

Pentecost

“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Acts 1:4-5

After Jesus was crucified on Passover, He was put in the tomb and He rose from the dead, appearing to His disciples and hundreds of other people over a period of 40 days. Just before He ascended to heaven, He told the disciples to remain in Jerusalem. He promised God would pour out His Spirit upon them, the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit was given 50 days after the crucifixion of Christ. A new covenant was established between God and Israel on this day, as prophesied by Jeremiah, “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah — “

It is not a coincidence God established a new covenant with the children of Israel at Pentecost. That is exactly what the Feast of Weeks was pointing to, the covenant between God and His people.

At the Passover, God provided for Himself a sacrificial Lamb, Jesus Christ, for all time. At Pentecost, He established His new covenant, based upon the perfect sacrifice of His holy Son. Our sins were forgiven; past, present and future and the Helper was sent, the Holy Spirit.

The work of the Holy Spirit is as needful as that of Christ.
-Donald Macleod-

Memorial Day

Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

Nehemiah 5:19

This was the cry of Nehemiah. He was not asking for gratitude from the children of Israel. All he did to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and lead the people was done for the Lord, not for the praise of the people. Nehemiah had the right attitude. His service was unto the Lord, not unto man.

Today, we take time to remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, for you and for me. They gave their lives in defense of freedom, not just here in the United States but around the world.

Many are so thankful for the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform, but some never really think about it. Their freedoms and liberties have been paid for with the blood of brave men and women.

That is why Nehemiah’s cry is so comforting to me. Those who have given their lives serving this country will always be remembered by God. He recognizes the great honor and courage they displayed. He was there with them.

That gives me great comfort, as I remember and celebrate the lives of the friends we lost in Vietnam. I will always remember them. They will be with me always. Do not ever forget the courageous men and women who have preserved our liberties at the cost of their very lives.

We come, not to mourn our dead soldiers, but to praise them.
-Francis A. Walker-

Suffer for the Lord

For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world,
both to angels and to men.

1 Corinthians 4:9

Paul continued to address the issue of pride and said, “I am going to tell you the truth. We, the Apostles of Jesus Christ, are nothing. We are dung.” That is who we are compared to what God says in His Word.

We have to realize, ministry is not a place of promotion. Listen carefully; it is a place of suffering. Followers of Christ will suffer and they will minister to suffering people. You cannot make people happy by implementing programs. Only God’s Word brings comfort to people suffering.

The bottom line is we are nothing. The world hates us. They despise us. We are the last. We are killed because we will not give in to the world. That is why we are despised. We are not going to play their game. That is what Paul was saying. “We already know Who we believe in. We know Who our Savior is. We know what we have been called to do — suffer.”

Does that bring me down or discourage me? No. Why? Remember, in Nehemiah 8:10, he said, “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” We will suffer but we will have our joy in the Lord, not in man or the things of the world. I would rather suffer for the Lord and spend eternity with Him than have all the pleasures of the world and be separated from Him.

Suffering … is the badge of the true Christian.
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer-

Suffering, Death and the Cross

For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world,
both to angels and to men.

1 Corinthians 4:9

Why do you think, when Paul got saved, he immediately went to Saudi Arabia for 10 years? He needed to spend time with God, in order to come back and be the theologian God wanted him to be.

I have been in the ministry for 40 years and I am still learning. God is still chipping away at me. He is still speaking to my heart about things and issues in my life. He will be doing it until I die. Why? Because we do not become like Him until we die and become perfect.

While we are here, we are tried and we have to check our hearts and check our motives. We have to look at ourselves, not in the mirror, but by the Word of God. How do we measure up to the Word of God?

Paul finished this verse by saying, for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

The ministry is not about popularity but about suffering, death and the Cross of Jesus Christ. Paul understood this and was teaching it to the church, both in word and in deed. Because Paul knew the Cross of Jesus Christ intimately, he was able to say to Caesar Nero, “Jesus Christ is Lord,” without fear.

Suffering prepares us for eternity.
-David Kingdon-

God’s Sufficient Grace

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!

1 Corinthians 4:10

These people were lifting themselves up and Paul was saying, “We are nothing but trash.” Think about people who are always talking about their greatness. They have never really tasted the Cross of Jesus Christ.

After being so healthy, all of my life, I have had to face the knowledge that I am really weak, like Paul said in this verse, We are weak, but you are strong!

I have had to deal with this whole issue of physical illness. It is weird. I am fully conscious. I just lose track of what I am saying and I cannot come back to my conversations right away. I just have to wait and let it pass.

I have asked the Lord, like Paul, to take them away and He has told me, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9). These episodes happen, but God is in control. He knows what He is doing. I do not, but I trust Him, because I want to finish well.

We all face trials and difficulties but we have to know, in our weakness, He is strong. God has a plan for each one of our lives and He wants us fully dependent on Him. Do not think you can face the trials of this life on your own. You will fail. Trust in God.

No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.
-William Penn-

Christians Suffer

To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.

1 Corinthians 4:11

Can you believe it? They did not have food. They were poorly dressed, beaten and homeless. Paul said these words and yet, we hear these same words from so many today. Do Christians really suffer? Doesn’t God save His people from these trials and afflictions?

God has saved us eternally. He has promised us life eternal with Him. He has not promised us heaven on earth. We live in a fallen world. Christ told us we would be persecuted as His followers, but through all trials and afflictions, He promised the Comforter. He did not leave us orphans.

Are you thankful for what God has given you? Think about it. Are you content where God has you and with what He has provided? To really be a disciple of Jesus Christ, you are not storing for the future.

The Disciples of Christ never did. They gave it all away to serve Christ, and God provided for them. The Christians and the Apostles were facing a time of true Christianity. They were fully dependent upon the Lord, and He never failed them.

You have to come to that place in your life where you not only know God, but you are fully dependent on Him — trusting Him for your needs.

God promises no immunity from crosses.
-Richard Sibbes-

Imitate Christ

And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat.
We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

1 Corinthians 4:12-13

Notice everything the Apostles went through. They were reviled, persecuted, defamed and treated as filth. Can you imagine? Through all of it, what was their response? They blessed, endured and entreated the people. They ministered to the people, while they were mistreated.

Who does that sound like? Their actions reflected their master, Jesus Christ. While Christ was persecuted, mocked and run out of town, He blessed, healed, endured, entreated and provided eternal life for the people.

We are each called to imitate Christ. Remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. I do not thing Paul was making a suggestion. He was telling the church of Corinth how to live their lives.

Think about it. Are you sure you want to be in the ministry? Are you sure you want to serve the Lord? Things are going to get bad. We see the persecution of the church growing, and even here in America, people are trying to silence Christians. Read your Bibles. Things are not going to get easier; they will get harder. If you do not trust God now, how are you going to trust Him when things get bad?

Persecution is the legacy bequeathed by Christ to His people.
-Thomas Watson-

Great Humility

being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

1 Corinthians 4:13

Notice, Paul was talking with great humility. The Apostles of Christ had learned humility at the feet of Christ. What did Peter say? Be clothed with humility (1 Peter 5:5).

We have no reason to be prideful. I can do nothing in my own power. I am nothing without Christ, who called me, anointed me, is using me and is going to resurrect me. When I see myself, my inner man, I am forced to be humble because I know the wretched man I am.

When writing to the Romans, Paul said, O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24-25).

Wow! Think about what Paul was saying. He was fully committed to the Lord. He traveled around the world, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He had endured many trials and tribulations. He was a tremendous saint and yet, he saw the real man, under the tent and said, O wretched man that I am!

Paul knew he was saved through the work Christ did on the Cross and not by anything he could do. His hope and trust was in Christ. Have you recognized the wretched man, or woman, you are and placed your trust in Jesus Christ?

True humility makes way for Christ and throws the soul at His feet.
-J. Mason-

Warning: Examine Your Motives

I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.

1 Corinthians 4:14

Paul spoke to the Corinthian church with tenderness, as a father. He did not want to shame them. He was not putting them down. He was revealing the truth, not to shame them, but to warn them. He warned them as his children. He wanted them to know there was no security for tomorrow.

God wants to use our lives, but you have to put your hope and trust in the Lord. Do not put your eyes on the things of the world, because they will perish. They cannot be your security, because we are all going to die.

Have you ever seen someone die and take all their stuff with them? Never, they leave it for someone else. What did Paul say? We should be used for the Kingdom of God. That is eternal. That is in the bank of heaven.

He said one day, we are going to stand before the Lord, at the Bema Seat of Christ, and give an answer to the Lord for everything, our motives. He is going to put everything into the fire and evaluate it, to see the real you. If it all burns, you will receive no rewards but you get into heaven because of God’s grace.

In the times we are living, we need to be aware of our motives for doing what we are doing. What are your motives? Do you need security? Your security is in Jesus Christ. It is real important to understand what God is doing, because many people today are putting their trust in the things of this world, not Christ.

The test by which all conduct must finally be judged is motive.
-A. W. Tozer-

Warning in Love

I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.

1 Corinthians 4:14

Paul was like a father to the people in the church. He was not rebuking them, but he was telling them, warning them, in love. If he did not love them, he would not care about their actions. He was concerned for their souls.

You have to remember, every time a pastor or even your own dad talks to you about something, it is not because he is mad at you, but because he sees things you do not see in your own life.

When people come to me with a warning or a concern about something in my life, if I do not see it, I check it out and I go to prayer with it. I am not God and I cannot see everything. I do make mistakes. I do get in the flesh.

It is really important for you to check your heart out today. If people would be in love with what God has given to them, they would be more productive, because they would be doing it for eternity. They would not be looking for time for themselves, but more time to get the Gospel out. Idle time is the devil’s time. I promise you. It will destroy you.

Paul spoke to my heart through this whole chapter in the Book of 1 Corinthians, as he was talking and warning the believers. He said, I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. So, I am warning you in love. Be careful what you do.

When love is felt, the message is heard.
-Jim Vaus-

Godly Exhortation

For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you
through the gospel.

1 Corinthians 4:15

Look at the love Paul had for the Christians in Corinth. He looked upon them as his children. He felt the responsibility to warn them and make sure they walked with the Lord. He made sure they had the truth of the Gospel and were not led away by false teachers. That is pretty heavy.

It is the same with my own children. They do not have to listen to me, they have a will, but at least I warn them. I warn them and I pray for them, then I can have clean hands before the Lord. They can do whatever they want to do, but I warned them.

As a pastor, I have seen, not just my kids, but my children in the faith come back, weeping and crying, saying, “Man, I messed up.” That is what happens. People who do not listen to the warnings are going to get hurt. It is really important to hear the heartbeat of God. Paul the Apostle revealed God’s heart in his letters.

We can only learn the heartbeat of God through the teaching of God’s Word and godly people who exhort us. We are all naive and need God’s Word and godly men and women in our lives who will exhort and warn us.

I get exhorted as I listen to Pastor Chuck. Who in your life loves you enough to warn you? Who do you love enough to exhort? Exhortation is very important.

We cannot hold a torch to another’s path without brightening our own.
-Ben Sweetland-

Speak Truth

For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you
through the gospel.

1 Corinthians 4:15

Do not twist the Scriptures. Speak the truth, even if it hurts people. God will take care of the rest. When you speak the truth in love, God will take care of the rest.

If you do not tell a person the truth, but lie to them to keep their friendship, you are not a true friend. A true friend will tell you the truth, no matter what, because they love you and they want the best for you.

Look at Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, or any of his other letters. It may seem like he was too harsh with the people, but he really spoke the truth in love. He loved them so much; he risked hurting their feelings to save their souls. He always had eternity in mind.

I have made many mistakes in my life but I know one thing. I love God with all my heart and soul, more than my wife, children or anyone else. I am thankful for the people God has put in my life who have loved me enough to speak the truth to me. They loved my soul enough to point out my mistakes.

When we speak to our families, friends, strangers, we always have to have eternity in mind. We have to love their souls. Then we will speak the truth, and we will be open when people speak the truth to us.

Speak boldly and speak truly. Shame the devil!
-John Fletcher-

Teach the Next Generation

Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

1 Corinthians 4:16-17

Why would Paul tell them to imitate him? Paul imitated Christ. Then, as a reminder, Paul sent Timothy to them. He had been trained by Paul. He was an imitator of Paul, so he knew the ways of Christ. Paul not only sent a warning, but someone who could assist them with godly Christian living.

Timothy would remind them of Paul’s ways in Christ, not in the flesh but in Christ. Paul was teaching them discipling, training up the next generation. This is the key to Christianity. We all have to be willing and able to train up the next generation.

This is what Chuck Smith has done. Look at what the Lord has done through Him. He has raised up the next generation. He is a man of character and integrity, which has been seen for more than 60 years in the ministry.

God made him a shepherd over many sheep, giving him 1500 churches, four conference centers, KWAVE and other properties. He was faithful in the small things, and God gave him the greater things.

We only have one life to live and it will soon be passed. The only thing that will last is what we do for Christ. What will we pass to the next generation?

If we can teach Christ to our people, we teach them all.
-Richard Baxter-

Choose: The Rod or Love

What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

1 Corinthians 4:21

Why do you think Paul was asking this question? You do not have to ask me this question. I prefer love and gentleness to the rod. We all would rather have someone come to us in love, with a spirit of gentleness, but sometimes you have to use the rod. There are times you really have to be strong and speak the truth, even if it is going to hurt people.

I would rather do what God has called me to do and offend people for the truth than to be a compromiser. I never want to be a compromiser. I do not serve any person. I serve the Lord. I serve Jesus Christ.

The reason Paul asked the question is because we all make the choice between the rod and love, with our actions. If we are obedient and open to exhortations, people will come to us in love and gentleness.

If we are rebellious, constantly doing the same thing over and over again, after we have been warned or exhorted, then we will be approached with the rod. It would seem love and kindness did not work for us.

It is real important to understand, we make the choice between the rod and loving kindness by our actions. We cannot hold someone else responsible when they are just being obedient to the Lord.

Responsibility walks hand in hand with capacity and power.
-John G. Holland-

Informed, In the Word and In Prayer

“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”

Matthew 10:21-22

Do you know what this verse makes me think of? What we see happening in our world today. The way our country is changing and the laws are changing; I think, as citizens of the United States of America, we really need to be concerned with what is happening. I do not think everyone sees the full picture.

We are in deep, deep trouble — deeper than we have ever been. I was talking to Chuck and one of the things we are concerned about is where the church is heading, with more entertainment and less teaching or preaching. Churches are trying to keep the people by pleasing the people, instead of speaking truth. I do not think God is pleased. I do not think God will bless.

I think we really need to read up on the issues in the world today, and be informed. The church is being monitored. Everything being said from the pulpit is monitored for “hate speech.” In schools, kids are warned if they speak out against sin. It is considered “hate speech.”

We have to be informed and we have to spend time in the Word and in prayer, trusting the Lord in these last days for whatever He wants to do in our lives.

Sovereignty of God

Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,

2 Corinthians 2:12

Paul’s life is a testimony to the sovereignty of God. Where God leads, He will provide, every time. He opens the doors, no man can close and shuts the doors, no man can open. He has a plan and a purpose for each of our lives and is waiting to guide us, if we are willing to listen.

I have never had to worry about the ministry. It has always been the Lord providing, leading and guiding. I do not know what God has for the future, but since we did the documentary, Taking the Hill, God has opened some huge doors. We are going all over the country showing the film in churches and veteran facilities and I just found out we are going to show it at the Pentagon.

All these things are happening for a reason and God is in control. He is the One doing the work, and He is the One who is going to take us to the next level. Whatever God has planned, it is all up to Him.

I am telling you this because God wants to do far and beyond anything you can imagine for you, individually. You have to get out of your little box and allow God to use your life the way He intends, not the way you want to be used.

Paul was never in a box. He was criticized and he was put down but he trusted in the sovereignty of God. He followed God, not man.

If God lights the candle, none can blow it out.
-C. H. Spurgeon-

Fruitful Lives

The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.

Psalm 33:10-11

Now, let me ask you a question. How does your life play in God’s plan? How does your life work out in God’s plan? You have to know. If you do not know, you are going to get messed up. You will waste time, you will waste money and you will waste years. Seriously. You will have nothing but problems if you do not know what God has called you to do.

The problem with so many people today is they see other people and all they want to do is imitate what everyone else is doing and not what God really called them to do. Do you want to be like everyone else, or do you want to be what God called you to be? You have to honestly answer this question.

When we are not content with the calling God has in our lives, we become useless to God. How can He use the gifts and talents He has given to you, if you are unwilling to serve where He has placed you? What is worse, how can you be used effectively, if you are trying to do something God has not equipped you to do? Do you think you can do the work of the Lord in your strength, with your wisdom and knowledge? No way.

When we walk with God, seeking His plan and His purpose in our lives, we will have fruitful lives. We will be blessed and we will bless others.

God knows what He is going to make of us.
James Montgomery Boice-

Great or Small in the Things of God

And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?”

Luke 12:42

God is calling each one of us to be faithful and wise stewards, house managers of the things God has called us to do and the things God has given to us. Everything we have, God has entrusted us with. Are you going to use it to further His kingdom or to build our own kingdoms? Will we be wise with the things of God or waste them?

What many people do not realize is, often, they do not have much because God cannot trust them with it. He cannot give you more, if He cannot trust you to be a good steward. You can read it in the Gospels. That is why He said, “If you are faithful in the small things, I will make you greater in the bigger things.” That is not just money. That is everything in life.

I think it is really important, we understand, in this verse, Jesus was talking about the faithfulness we have to the things of God, but first our faithfulness to God.

Before God makes you a ruler over His household, He wants to see how you manage your home. Then God can say, ” I can trust you,” or, “I cannot trust you. I am sorry.” If He cannot trust you, He will keep you in the small things.

The use of our possessions shows us up for what we actually are.
-Charles Caldwell Ryrie-

Stewardship

He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’ ”

Luke 16:1-2

When God starts blessing people, what is the first thing they do? They start bragging about it. It is not yours. It has been loaned to you. You are a steward, a house manager. God wants to see how well you manage His things. Look at the parables in the Gospels, about stewardship.

How can God trust you with something bigger, if you cannot take care of the small things? He will not. You will always stay the same. God will not open those doors.

God has really spoken to my heart about Christian stewardship. It refreshes my mind and refreshes my ministry. It refreshes me to get convicted about things I may not be doing. Reading these parables makes me examine my heart and my stewardship. Have I been responsible with the things of God? I think it is real important we examine ourselves before the Lord, often.

The ministry is not a place of comfort. It is not a place to enrich ourselves. Understand that. By making wise choices with the little money you have, God sees your stewardship. As God blesses you with much more, you need to be wise with it. If not, God will take it away from you.

Our temporary stewardship will determine our permanent ownership.
-John Blanchard-

Greed

Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”

Haggai 1:5-6

Remember what happened in Haggai’s time? They were hiding their money in the ground, and God said, “The more you put in, the more I take out. I put a hole in the bottom.” Why would God do this? Greed! They built their houses but were neglecting the Temple of God. They were not seeking first the Kingdom of God. They were more concerned with themselves than with God.

This is not just an Old Testament story. This is a lesson for each one of us today. Is your heart and mind set on the things of God or are you more concerned with your wants? Notice, I did not say your needs, but your wants.

The Lord is our great provider. He knows what we need and He takes care of us. We stray from the things of the Lord when we are consumed with our wants, the cars, the clothes, the jewelry and all the possessions. None of these things are bad, but if they become our priority, they have become our gods.

You need to understand the lessons in the Bible, especially if you are going to call yourself a Christian, a follower of Christ. You cannot truly walk right with the Lord, if you do not know Him, and you cannot know Him, if you do not know His Word.

If your desires be endless, your cares and fears will be so too.
-Thomas Fuller-

No Regrets

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!”

Jeremiah 18:5-6

We should never expect anything from God. It is all by the grace of God, we are who we are. It is not the way I teach, it is not the way I speak, it is all of God. He is the one who has called each one of us. He will enable us to do the things He has called us to.

God has transformed your life. He is molding and shaping you into what He wants you to be. When you get stiff and hardened, He will take you, like the potter with the clay, and throw you back down on the wheel to reform you. He will rework you until you learn your lesson or until He has you the way He expects you to be. Sometimes, it takes a lifetime for some people.

When we refuse to conform to the will of God, we are put on the shelf or we are put back on the potter’s wheel to be reworked. Think about the wasted years. God had a plan for your life but you missed the plans of God, because you wanted your will and not God’s will.

Do you know how many times I have sat with believers who have said, “I remember this and I remember that,” and, “I could have done this and I could have done that.” Well, you could have but you did not. Regrets — there should be no regrets. You do not want any regrets at the end of your life.

By suffering God’s will, we learn to do God’s will.
-Thomas Case-

Father’s Day

And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

Mark 14:36

Jesus went before God the Father, as He was preparing for the crucifixion. He cried out, “Daddy, deliver me from this situation.” Jesus cried out to the Father, just as our children cry out to us when they are faced with trials and uncertainty. They cry out, “Daddy, help me!”

When I read this verse, I am reminded of the responsibility I have as a father. I know that I am not expected to be God, but I am expected to love, watch over, admonish, exhort, build up and encourage my children, just as God, the Father, does with each one of us.

Abba, Father is the example given to all men throughout the Scriptures. There are many other examples of earthly fathers but all fall short when compared to our Father in heaven. I think the stark contrast is what God wants us to see.

God does not want us to be like the many earthly fathers we see in the Scriptures. He does not want us to play favorites like Isaac or David. He does not want us to spoil them like Eli the priest. He wants us to imitate Him.

When I think about the kind of father I want my sons to be, I pray they imitate God, not me. I have fallen short, but they have a great example in our Abba, Father.

There is no parental abuse in the character of God’s fatherhood.
-Alistair Begg-

Christian Liberty

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13

Do not use your liberty as an opportunity to feed your flesh. What incredible wisdom Paul had for the churches. What he spoke to the Galatian church still ministers to us today. We should not take advantage of our Christian liberty to feed the lusts of our flesh.

I hear this statement from people all the time, “I am not really an alcoholic. I can drink a beer or a glass of wine. It is my liberty.”

If you have made this statement about alcohol, you are correct but do you think you are in control? You are not in control.

If you are in ministry and you are in the public eye, you cannot drink or give in to your flesh. Once people find out what you are doing, you are done. They will not respect you and God will not use you the way He wants to use your life.

The Bible has given us the rules we need to follow as leaders. He has given us the Word of God. Common people can do whatever they want, but when it comes to the leadership of the church, they have to be blameless — holiness in the church.

If you serve under those premises, you will be in big trouble. The Bible says your sin will find you out. Once your sin finds you out, you are marked for the rest of your life, and no one is going to trust you, because you leave doubt in people’s minds.

Liberty is turned to license by self.
-Walter Chantry-

Lusts of the Flesh

For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil; But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.

Proverbs 5:3-4

In the whole Bible, no one is better qualified to speak to us about the immoral woman than Solomon. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines, and they turned his heart away from God. Solomon knew what he was talking about and the consequences of falling for the immoral woman.

In Proverbs 5, he was warning the young men to stay away from this woman who seeks to entice with her smooth and practiced ways. He warned. On the surface, she seems beautiful and seductive, but underneath it all, she is a two-edged sword, and she brings death.

This is a huge warning for all of us. After being on the Calvary Chapel board for 40 years, I have seen so many pastors, leaders and sheep fall into sexual sin. It just grieves and breaks my heart to know so many have fallen with women, so many.

I am not talking about people in the world. This is a real problem in the church. We see it and hear about it in the world every day, with celebrities and professional athletes, but I am talking about the church. Men and women who know God’s Word are falling in sexual sin every day.

How can that be? There is no fear of the Lord. There is no conviction. People are fulfilling the lusts of their flesh and starving their spirits, so the flesh is stronger than the spirit.

Our eyes, when gazing on sinful objects are out of their calling and God’s keeping.
-Thomas Fuller-

Entrapped

With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, With her flattering lips she seduced him. Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,

Proverbs 7:21-22

It is interesting, in Proverbs Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and even 9, Solomon spoke about the whorish woman. She is a woman who loves to deceive men, even though she may be married, she has an agenda, she is totally empty and she does not really know God.

She looks for a naive young man, or for a husband who may be having problems at home with his wife. She knows exactly what to say to him and how to draw him to herself. It is interesting because men are very vulnerable. They are the easiest prey in the world, when it comes to women. She does not have to be beautiful, but men are easily entrapped because of the lust of the flesh. It’s heavy stuff.

I would not talk to you about this, but I know how many people have fallen. Many have fallen, and they keep falling. I once counseled a young man who was married and had two beautiful daughters. He was a business man and he fell; fell, after being faithful to his wife for many years.

I really do not know how it happens, but I know one thing, they are probably not in the Word of God. They really do not believe in the judgment of God. There is no fear of God. It is crazy how these whorish women have a way of seducing the young men and the old men. That is why it is such a problem in the church.

Nature is content with little, grace with less, but lust with nothing.
-Matthew Henry-

Lust in the Church

For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world.

1 John 2:16

Whenever I teach on the lust of the flesh, someone will come up to me and say, “It will never happen to me.” If you do not have your guard up, I guarantee it will happen to you. In your weakest moment, you will fall. It can happen to any one of us. The lust of the flesh is not only about sex. It is money, pride and so many things in the world, ready to take people down.

If you expect to be in ministry, then you need to have integrity. Do you remember the scandals back in the 80′s? There were very good pastors on the radio and teaching the Word of God, until it was found out they were having sexual relationships with women in their churches.

This can happen in any church. Years ago, back in West Covina, we had two leaders fall into sexual sin in our church. I just happened to walk down the hallway and saw something. I left it alone. Then, a couple of weeks later ,I saw it again and then the third time I knew something was happening. The female leader and a pastor had been intimate, and they had to be exposed.

This is the reason the lust of the flesh is addressed in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. God knows our hearts. He knows how easily we are lead astray by our flesh when we do not read the Word of God, when we do not pray and when we are not in fellowship. I wish I could say it only happens in the world, but read your Bible. Look at King David. The stories are there for our example

Lust is felt even by fleas and lice.
-Martin Luther-

Do Not Flirt with Sin

“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Matthew 26:41

The Bible says we are not to flirt with sin — not to flirt with sin. Why? The flesh is weak. In our flesh, we will fall. We cannot submit to the temptation or even get close to it or we entertain the temptation.

Dale and I have talked to the guys here about it many times. Whether you are single or married, you should not be alone with a woman, even if you are giving them biblical counsel. Only meet with a woman to counsel her one time, always in public and with another person, never alone.

I never take women to lunch. I always go with Dale or another guy. I make sure when I travel, I take someone with me. If there is no one traveling with me, I make sure to meet up with someone where ever I go. Why? We need accountability. We need to have integrity.

When I was in my 30′s and 40′s, I had opportunities all the time, because I was traveling so much. I did not do it because I had done it in the world. After coming to the Lord, I did not want to do it again. I learned my lesson. I had hurt my wife deeply when I was a non-believer.

In Christ, we are supposed to be the salt and light of the world. Think about how it affects your family, your friends and the people you work with, when you fall, woman or man. All of a sudden you have lost trust. You are marked. Nobody can trust you anymore.

Learn from the words of Jesus. Watch and pray, then you will not enter into temptation. You will be focused on the Lord, not the flesh.

Better shun the bait than struggle in the snare.
-John Dryden-

Feed the Spirit

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Galatians 5:16-17

It is really important we understand what Paul said to the church in Galatia. There is a battle going on within us. It is a battle of wills, between the Spirit and the flesh. Who wins this battle is determined by who we feed.

We have to live in this world, but we do not have to partake in the things of the world. That means we have to be careful of the places we go, the things we watch on the television or the computer, the things we listen to and even the people we spend time with.

Think about the city of Corinth and the temple prostitutes. When they came down from the mountain to seduce the men, they went after all the men. It was not only non-believers; it was believers.

We are just like everyone else. We are still in this sinful body, with its struggle between the things of the flesh and the things of the Spirit. The world will appeal to your flesh. It will entice you with all the things you think you are missing.

It is heavy stuff, and I would not beat the drum if I did not think many of you could be in danger. Any one of us can fall in the flesh, with cell phones, computers, the internet and the movies. Satan has many tools available to entice your flesh, so you better feed your Spirit with God’s Word and spend time with Him in prayer.

The man who has never been tempted doesn’t know how dishonest he is.
-Josh Billings-

God’s Omnipresence

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,

1 Peter 2:11

Peter told us we have to abstain or stay away from fleshly lusts, because they fight against our very souls. This is a warning. Do not feed your flesh and you will save your soul.

This morning, I thought I would hit this hard because it is going out all over the world. Today, in the church, people are hypocritical and they act real pious, yet they have a problem with pornography. They cannot control it. It has overtaken their lives.

A fleshly lust does not have to be pornography. It can be women in bathing suits or shorts. It can be anything. Satan knows what you need to feed your flesh, and he will give it to you. Satan will give it to you free of charge.

I know what I am talking about. I have been tempted. That is the one reason I do not go to movies and I have not gone to the movies in years. I made a decision in my life. I do not want to be tempted, and I do not want to be a bad witness, if I am in a theater where a bad movie is playing.

The Bible says to flee all appearance of evil — all appearances of evil. It is not only movies; you have to think about the kind of music you listen to, the words you say and the jokes you tell. You do not have to worry about what I think. You are doing everything in front of God, and He keeps a record. He is the one who sees and He is the one who hears everything, He is the One who is there, all the time, omnipresent.

We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him.
-C. S. Lewis-

True Repentance

Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.

2 Corinthians 7:9

What gets me, what really destroys my faith sometimes, is when I hear about Christian pastors and leaders falling in sin. We have seen it, even in our own leadership. We had one of the pastors fall here too.

Now, any one of us can fall in sin. If we do not guard our hearts, we all will be tempted, and any one of us can fall. What really bothers me is when someone is in sin and yet they have the gall to stay at the pulpit — to stay in the ministry. Then, when they are found out, they want to repent.

That is not true repentance, my friends. Repentance is when the Holy Spirit convicts you, you come forward and you say, “I messed up my life and this is what I have been doing.” You do not hide it. That is the Holy Spirit. That is true repentance.

When someone gets caught, that is not repentance. You cannot trust a person who only repents after getting caught. When you find out they have been doing it for five or ten years, that is not repentance. If they would not have gotten caught, they would still be doing it.

That is why Paul told the Corinthians, he rejoiced in their sorrow because it led to repentance. That is what God desires of us, godly repentance. He desires that we come forward in conviction and confess our sins, not continue in them until we are caught. That is not repentance.

The teaching and the hope of being forgiven while persisting in sin is a great moral impossibility.
-A. W. Tozer-

God is With Us

Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?”

Genesis 16:13

When Hagar ran away from Abraham and Sarah because Sarah had treated her harshly, God met her in the wilderness. He knew her situation and instructed her to submit to Sarah. He also told her He had a plan for her and her son. He would multiply her descendants. A nation would be born from her son with Abraham.

Imagine, God had been with her, an Egyptian woman. He knew her situation. He knew how Sarah had treated her, but He also had a plan for her and her son.

God is with us. He sees our situations. He knows our every thought and action. This brings me great comfort, but it also makes me think about my actions. Do I represent the Lord in my thoughts and actions, or do I reflect the world?

Think about someone putting a little camera in your pocket that you did not know about. What would they see? They could watch every move you make. They could watch and hear your conversations. Would you be embarrassed by your actions or words? Would you be ashamed?

We should not worry about what people will hear or see us do. We have to always keep in mind; God is with us all the time. He does not need a camera. He sees and hears everything, and still loves us. God wants to bless us and, in His great love for us, He has a plan for our lives.

The love of God does not measure you by eyesight.
-Frederick Sampson-

Cost of Discipleship

For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,

Luke 14:28-29

I made it a real deal in my life to count the cost of discipleship and not go to movies, listen to dirty music or do anything that would hinder my walk with the Lord, because I am a shepherd. If I am going to have the power to preach, then I need to live a life wholly devoted to the Lord.

Every Christian needs to live a sanctified life and count the cost. Remember what the Bible says, “To much is given, much more is required.” I understand there is no one perfect in the church, but human imperfection must never be an excuse for sin.

You can always tell who is sincere and who is insincere. When I have dealt with people who are really remorseful and sorry because of what they have done, you can see it in their lives because they come broken.

It is important to count the cost of discipleship, because our actions affect those around us. It is not just about us. Our sins affect the people we love and can even affect those we work with or even those we barely know.

We are disciples of Jesus Christ and people are watching us. Some are watching us to see how to live their lives as Christians and others are watching to give God a black eye. They want to point out the hypocrisy of Christians. If we really count the cost of walking with Christ, we will not bring shame to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus didn’t commit the gospel to an advertising agency; He commissioned disciples.
-Joseph Bayly-

Seek To Please God

Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, And he who hates correction will die.

Proverbs 15:10

Church discipline is not a group of pious policemen out to catch a criminal. It is a group of broken hearted brothers and sisters, seeking to restore an errant member in the family of God. When there is true repentance, we want to get a person and bring them back into the fold, not throw them out.

In the Old Testament, Solomon taught us the principles of church disciples in the Proverbs, and in the New Testament, Paul followed up on the Old Testament teachings and gave us instruction in the Book of 1 Corinthians. He said if you have a brother living with his mother-in-law, and they do not want to repent, then you need to excommunicate them until they repent.

Can you imagine how many people would be excommunicated today? There is so much sin in the church. We find out about couples living together outside of marriage and attending church every Sunday. Married couples are separating and sleeping with other people. There is so much sexual sin. That is why the Holy Spirit cannot do His effective work in the church. I am convinced of it. Nothing is going to happen until the church repents. Churches are afraid to speak up, because they are afraid to lose people. We have to be God pleasers, not man pleasers.

This has been really convicting in my life. It has been really powerful for me in my life as a shepherd. I really need to know how to protect the body of Christ and how to protect my own family.

There is no point is praying for spiritual growth unless we do our best to live disciplined Christian lives.
-Nigel McCullough-

Sin Among Us

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles — that a man has his father’s wife!

1 Corinthians 5:1

Paul did not waste time with small talk. He hit them hard, right from the first verse of Chapter 5. He said, it is actually reported, which means, “it is common knowledge,” in the Greek. Everyone knew what was going on in the church.

He then made the distinction between the world and the church. There was sexual sin in the church that was not even found among the Gentiles. He said, “It is among you,” the church. He made it clear, this letter was addressed to Christians, not to non-believers.

What was the sexual immorality in the church? A man was sleeping with his father’s wife. Look at what God said in Leviticus 18:8, The nakedness of your father’s wife you shall not uncover; it is your father’s nakedness.

The law is the same in the Old Testament and the New Testament, incest is forbidden, having sex with children, including your own, is forbidden. Your punishment is stoning to death. They would have to be killed.

The world is becoming more corrupt. It is like Sodom and Gomorrah. The problem was not Sodom and Gomorrah. The problem was Lot. He compromised. He moved into the city and became part of them. Do we have sin among the church today? You better believe it, and Paul is telling us we cannot compromise and allow it to remain in the church.

There is no such cruelty to men’s souls as clemency to their sins.
-George Swinnock-

Flee From Sexual Immorality

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles — that a man has his father’s wife!

1 Corinthians 5:1

Think of how many people have been disqualified from serving the Lord because of this sin — sexual immorality. Do you know what I do not get? I do not get people who drink, lie, steal, fornicate and commit adultery and they stay at the pulpit. They stay in ministry and pretend nothing is wrong. They have no shame.

This is what Paul was going to tell this church. They had no shame. How can you allow sin in the church? It is God’s holy place, for people to come and learn; to get commissioned to go out and reach the world for Jesus Christ.

We are each on a mission. My mission has never changed. When I was called, anointed by the Lord and put into the ministry, I knew exactly where I was heading. I knew God had a purpose for my life and I had to align myself with God. I could not allow sin to hinder God’s purpose for my life.

If we want to stay true to the calling of God, we have to get to know Him through His Word, so we can recognize His voice. When we hear from the Lord, we stay true to the calling He has placed in our lives, and we do not have time to pursue sin. We flee from sexual immorality.

The moral character of the soul depends upon its central object.
-David Thomas-

Be Aware of Sin

And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.

1 Corinthians 5:2

I like how Paul began Chapter 5. We should be mourning over sin. I like that term — mourning over sin. That is the key. We have to be mournful when it comes to our sin or the sin of others. We mourn because sin brings death and destruction to the believer.

They were not mournful. Paul said, you are puffed up. The translation of the Greek word, phusioo, to be puffed up is a good translation but not the best. I like the Greek word, hubris, which means arrogant. He was saying, “You are really arrogant.”

There are many arrogant people. They boast in their sins. They have not mourned or repented.

When people are boastful or arrogant in their sin, instead of mournful, they cannot continue to be a part of the church. Look what Paul said. He called for separation from those living lives of sin.

I want to make it loud and clear. You should not fellowship with anyone in the church who is living in sin. The Bible tells us, we are to cut fellowship with people practicing sin. We are to give them over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh (1 Corinthians 5:5).

Many times, people do not get it. They think people are so nice. Well, they may be nice, but they are in sin. The longer you sit in the church, and hear the good news, the greater the judgment will be in your lives, if you choose to live in sin.

It is one thing for sin to live in us; it is another for us to live in sin.
-John Murray-

Pride and Arrogance

And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.

1 Corinthians 5:2

Paul pointed out the problem right away — pride, arrogance. Do you know what I have seen, as a pastor? When people are in sin and they really, truly repent, they come into my office and say, “I am in sin.” When you are truly repentant, you confess your sins.

When people get caught, there is no repentance. You cannot trust a person who waits to get caught, instead of repenting. You can only trust a person who comes to you and tells you they are in sin and they step down from ministry, so the Lord can work in their life.

I have high respect for that person. A person who continues to do ministry and live a life of sin has no shame and I have no respect for them. They are hypocrites.

How can you continue to be in ministry and have a girlfriend or be with someone else’s wife? How can you practice sin and watch pornography or go to dirty movies, and then come into the house of the Lord and think you are serving God? You are serving someone else, not God. You are serving yourself. You are serving the devil. You are bringing leaven into the church.

That is why we sometimes have to remove people. We want holiness in the camp. You cannot be two people and live like a hypocrite. That is what the Bible teaches.

Pride is the mask of one’s own faults.
-Author Unknown-

God’s Judgment

For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed.

1 Corinthians 5:3

I love this. Paul said, “Even though I am not there, I know what is going on and I have made a decision about how to handle this situation.” He heard the reports and the Lord had revealed the sin to Paul. He did not waste time, he made a judgment call.

I have been in the same position as Paul. We were not living in Chile and yet, when we went to visit the church in Chile, we saw the sin. Like Paul, I saw the sin as soon as I got there; I knew something was definitely wrong there. God revealed the sin right away.

The problem was the pastor was in adultery. He was also stealing money from the church. Yet, he continued to preach. He had no shame, until he was found out and God put him on the shelf. He is still on the shelf today.

God does not mess around. He does not allow sin to continue in His church. No one can get away with their sin for very long. I cannot get away with my sin. I wish I could but I cannot. The Bible tells us, to whom much is given, much more is required (Luke 12:48). Judgment will be heavy upon you, if you are a hypocrite in the church, in the ministry.

Even though Paul was absent, he already had judged, because he knew what God’s Word says. He already knew what was going on and he knew God’s judgment. It is not our judgment, it is God’s judgment. God has already told us, we cannot allow sin in the church.

In God’s ultimate judgment He gives sinners over to their sins.
-R. C. Sproul-

Independence Day

Therefore if the Son makes you free,
you shall be free indeed.

John 8:36

The fourth of July, in the United States, has been celebrated as our national day of independence since the final signatures were collected on the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. On that day, the Colonies declared their independence from England. They declared independence to live and worship God with freedom from oppression.

In this election year, we know there is no freedom from government. We also see the freedom to worship God slipping away, as many of our rights are being taken away. Many accuse Christians of hate speech when we speak God’s Word, when we teach about sin.

What we have to remember, as Christians, we are strangers and pilgrims in this world. We are merely passing through (Hebrews 11:13). Our home is in heaven and the only true freedom we have is in Jesus Christ.

When Jesus spoke these words, He was speaking of freedom from sin. I think Paul recognized the freedom He had in Christ when he was imprisoned. He realized that they could imprison his body but they could not imprison his soul and spirit. From his prison letters, you can read of the joy Paul had while he was physically imprisoned. He lived his life knowing he was free indeed.

Let’s live our lives knowing true freedom only comes through Christ.

The only perfect freedom is serving God.
-Malcolm Muggeridge-

Ruled by the Spirit, Not Sin

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

1 Corinthians 5:4

Notice how much Paul spoke about the Spirit and the importance of the Spirit leading, guiding and empowering our lives, not the flesh, the Spirit.

The Bible is very clear. What does sin do? Sin grieves the Holy Spirit of God. He will not work where sin abounds. You might think He is working, but He is not. He does not work according to our plans.

Sin is nothing new. It is from the past, to the present and into the future, because man is imperfect. Man is selfish. Man is proud and has his own agenda, not God’s agenda. The only way you can have God’s agenda is if you are a broken person. Then God can say, “I am going to fill you, because you have emptied yourself. Now I am going to use your life.”

If you really want God to use your life, you have to be careful with your friends, your family and with what you say and do, because God is with us always. He is omnipresent. Remember what Paul said, “Whatever you say in your chamber is going to be publicized from the rooftops.” You cannot hide from God.

Paul was upset because God wanted to use the church in Corinth, but there was sin in the camp. How can God really move through the leadership, the pastor and the congregation of lambs, sheep and goats? Think about it. He will not until you remove the goats.

If we are ruled by sin we shall inevitably be ruined by it.
-Matthew Henry-

Destroy the Flesh

deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 5:5

Wow! You might be wondering what Paul was saying. He was using strong words. This person was a Christian and Paul said to give him to Satan. Let Satan have him. Let Satan break him.

This person was either going to break and go back into the world serving the devil, or the devil would chasten him in such a way that he would come back to the church broken. He was going to run back to God. Satan was going to put him through hell on earth. Paul was saying, “Put him in the hands of hell. Let’s see what happens to their flesh.”

The problem is the flesh. We have to allow Satan to destroy the flesh. Paul gave us Romans 5, 6, 7 and 8 to speak to us about the flesh and the spirit — reckoning the old man to be dead. Read it.

What blows my mind is the boldness of Paul calling for this person to be excommunicated. Do we have the right to do that? You bet. We can tell people, “Do not fellowship here anymore; leave until you get right with God.” Why? If you leave him in the church, he is going to infect the church.

Here it is biblically, scripturally, what we need to do with people who practice sin in the church. There is a purpose behind it — the purging of sin. There is leaven in the camp, so you have to get rid of the leaven. We are interested in his spirit, not his flesh. We want to save the spiritual man, not the carnal man.

We are members of a spoiled species.
-C. S. Lewis-

Sin Affects and Infects All

deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 5:5

God does care for the sinner, but God cares so much, He wants the sinner to repent. God shows His great love for us because He cares if the sinner repents. Why? If a sinner does not repent, Satan is going to have a field day with that person.

I would not want to be in the hands of Satan, and God does not want us to be in the hands of Satan. God knows, Satan will try to destroy that sinning man or woman.

It is incredible how God tells us to turn them over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh, so the spirit may be won in the Day of the Lord. That is what Paul was teaching. God is concerned for our eternal salvation. He wants us to see past our temporal situations.

In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul revealed his pastor’s heart. His concern was not just for the sinning Christian but he saw the whole big picture. He was talking to the church, because he did not want the sin to infect the whole church.

I have heard people say their sin is nobody’s business. They are not hurting anyone. That is a lie straight out of the mouth of Satan. When we sin, our sin infects those around us, and not just the people we love. Think of your witness to the non-believer, when you choose to sin. You have blown your witness. Sin affects and infects everyone around us.

Evil enters like a needle and spreads like and oak tree.
-Author Unknown-

No Power in Sin

Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

1 Corinthians 5:6

Imagine that. One person’s little sin ruins everyone here. Think of all the sin in the church today. It is no wonder the Holy Spirit cannot do His effective work. I am serious. God is moving but not the way He should or wants to move.

This generation has become so silent. Do you know why? Because of sin. You really have nothing to say, because you have no power. The only way you can speak the Gospel of Jesus Christ is through the power of the Holy Spirit, as God’s Holy Spirit is the only One who can do it, through the vessel He uses.

That is why we need to return to the holiness of God. He is talking about purging out sin. He said, “You are glorifying, full of pride, and it is not good. Do you not know a little leaven, leavens the whole lump?”

He was saying a little sin infects the whole church. The whole church will be infected. He gave us examples. In the Old Testament, we see Achan in Joshua 7. In the New Testament, you have Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. You have the old covenant and the new covenant; both of them are the same. What did God do? He killed them.

Now, He might not kill you, but He has other ways and methods of chastening you. You cannot get away with sin. I promise you. I have never been able to get away with my sin. I know He will not let you either, if you are really a Christian.

There is terror in the Bible as well as comfort.
-Donald Grey Barnhouse-

No Little Sin

Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

1 Corinthians 5:6

Paul was using the word leaven because in the Old Testament, leaven was always used as a type of sin. Remember when the children of Israel left Egypt, they brought unleavened bread with them. They were leaving the sin behind and going forward in holiness with the Lord.

What is incredible here is what Paul points out about the amount of leaven or sin. It only takes a little leaven to leaven a whole lump of bread dough. It is the same for us. It only takes a little sin to infect a person, and it spills over to infect the whole church. The whole church is infected by me and you, with our sin.

What happens to the Holy Spirit when the church is infected with sin? He becomes grieved and then there is no holiness — no holiness in the camp. Why? Everyone is doing their own thing and no one is living in holiness to the Lord.

If we are not honest, if we are not repentant and we do not have a vision of God, then something is wrong with the people in the church. They are not getting the message.

How can you sit in church every week and hear the teaching of God’s Word without conviction? How can we practice sin, have no shame and continue to do sin? If God is not using your life, you better re-examine your life and make sure you are living in holiness unto God.

If there is anything worse than our sins, it is our infinite capacity to rationalize it away.
-Charles Colson-

Glory in God, Not Sin

Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

1 Corinthians 5:6

It is important to notice, Paul was not talking to the world. He was talking to the church. He told them it was not good to glory in sin.

Why is this important? We hear people brag about their sin all the time. They talk about how much they drank, the women they have been intimate with and even cheating on their spouses. We hear these things when we are shopping in the store, waiting in line at McDonald’s or walking down the street. People in the world love to boast in their sins.

Here, God was chastising the church because the Christians were glorying in their sin. Wow! Can you imagine? There were people in the church bragging about their sin.

As Christians, we are to glory in the Lord, But “he who glories, let him glory in the LORD” (2 Corinthians 10:17). We glory in the Lord, because He is holy. He is just and His grace and mercy are without end.

If the Bible tells us to glory in the Lord, how then can we glory in sin? We are hypocrites if we glory in God and then glory in sin. We are saying they are both good; they are equal.

When we see another brother or sister in the Lord boasting about their sin, we need to stop them and exhort them to repent. We should be ashamed of our sin, not boastful. There should be conviction when we sin, not pride. If there is no conviction in sin, a person needs to examine their heart before the Lord.

Sin not only makes us unlike God but contrary to God.
-Thomas Watson-

Get Rid of Sin

Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

1 Corinthians 5:7

Purge out the leaven or yeast, a symbol of impurity. Isn’t it amazing? He takes us back to the Passover, because in the Passover they did not have leaven. Everything had to be unleavened. God was removing the sin.

What is incredible, in Exodus 12, at the first Passover, God commanded the lamb was to be killed and the blood was to be sprinkled on both sides of the door and above the door, so the angel of death would not wipe out the children of Israel. It was all symbolic of types in the Old Testament. It pointed to the Cross of Jesus Christ, the death of Christ, the redemption and atonement for our sins.

It is really important we understand; if this is the Gospel, if this is the Word of God, then I need to decide what I am going to do about what I have learned. What am I going to do with the truth of the Gospel? Am I going to obey God?

In the same way God removed leaven from the children of Israel when He led them out of Egypt, a type of the world, we have to clean up the camp and get rid of the leaven from our lives. God does not want excuses. He wants you to do what He has called you to do.

God called me and God called you. We have to recognize the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and remove the sin from our lives. We have to enter into a covenant with the Lord.

Sin is God’s one intolerance.
-W. E. Sangster-

Newness of Life

Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

1 Corinthians 5:7

Get rid of it. Paul said, “Get rid of the leaven, so you can become a new lump.” We are to be a new creation in Christ. When we become a new creation, we still mess up and sin, but we get a second chance, a third chance and a fourth chance, when we repent.

Most importantly, whatever you were in the world; you do not have to be again. God will make you a new lump. He will refresh you. He will recycle and reuse you, if you are willing. God will do it.

Paul went on to say, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

Notice, he brings up the redemption we receive through Christ. We cannot be redeemed on our own, because the church has no purity. God’s blessing comes through our character, as we are submitted to Christ. The godly character we possess in our lives only comes through Christ. Then, God can use our lives powerfully.

Paul finished this verse with the great Passover, which was a foreshadowing of Christ on the Cross. The reason He was sacrificed for us, the reason for Christ’s death, was to get rid of sin. The greatest event in history was the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

That is what we all must do; die to self and rise with Him in the newness of life only He gives to us.

There is no death of sin without the death of Christ.
-John Owen-

Repent and Get Right

Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

1 Corinthians 5:8

What was Paul saying? When you come to the communion table, do not come with old leaven. We have to deal with our sin, and repent, before we enter into communion with God.

We cannot come into the presence of the Lord with the sin of malice or wickedness. What does that mean? We cannot have evil intentions in our hearts. When we come before the Lord, we must have clean hands and pure hearts.

God does not want us to come before Him with leaven, or sin. He wants us to come into His presence with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Those are two good things in the Christian life; be sincere and be truthful.

I love how Paul lays it all out for the people. He does not play games. The church had a problem when they came together for communion, so Paul gave them clear instructions.

He said, “Before you come together to enter into communion with God, get rid of the sin in your life. Repent in sincerity and truth. Do not come into the presence of the Lord with evil intentions.”

This exhortation is for us today. Before we come into the church, we must deal with our sin. We have to look at our intentions. If we are not right with the Lord, we need to repent and get right.

You should never think of sin without repenting.
-Philip Henry-

Do Not Stand In Agreement with Sin

I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

1 Corinthians 5:9-10

In a lost epistle of Paul’s, he wrote to the Corinthian church about keeping company with sexually immoral people. He was not referring to 1 Corinthians or 2 Corinthians. There was a third letter Paul had written to the Corinthians, but they did not follow Paul’s instruction or they did not understand, so Paul is bringing it up again. He was clarifying who the sexually immoral people were and commanding them not to associate with people like this.

I do not think they ignored Paul’s warning. I think they thought he was talking about the people of the world, but he is not talking about the world. It is impossible to completely avoid worldly people. We work with people in the world who are fornicators, adulterers, homosexuals or liars. Most of us do not keep fellowship with them. We do not go to their parties.

Why, if we do not have fellowship with worldly people, do we stay in fellowship with Christians we know are practicing sin? I am talking about someone in the church who is cheating on their spouse, the boyfriend and girlfriend who are sleeping together or the person living in homosexuality.

Paul said not to keep company with this person. Why? When you stay in fellowship with sexually immoral people and you know they are in sin, you are saying you are in agreement with their sin. Do you agree with their sin?

Keep such company as God keeps.
-Author Unknown-

Eternal Perspective

But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner — not even to eat with such a person.

1 Corinthians 5:11

In verses 9 and 10 of 1 Corinthians, Paul exhorted the church to not keep company with sexually immoral people — those who were Christians practicing such sin. In verse 11, Paul went on to expand the list of sinners we should avoid. Isn’t that heavy?

Now, you may say it is not your place to judge. The Bible says we should not judge. I hear this all the time, but what is Paul doing? He is exhorting the church to be pure and to seek holiness. He is concerned for their salvation. He is looking toward eternity.

When you have a family member or a friend who is living in sin, do you ignore it or do you pray for them and exhort them? Aren’t you concerned for their souls? Don’t you want to see them in heaven?

This is the purpose of discipline, not to destroy, but to save. Paul is going to let us know in 1 Corinthians 6 that such people will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Read Galatians 5 and Ephesians 5, where Paul defined it further.

When we have people in our lives who are practicing sin and they think they are fine, they are going to heaven, we have to exhort them. If we really love them, we are going to turn them over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh, so their souls will be saved. Remember!

We do all for eternity.
-Thomas Brooks-

Church Leaders

For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?

1 Corinthians 5:12

We do not have to judge the world. The world is already judged. Keep your eyes open in the church. Be careful who you are with and who you are promoting to leadership.

In 1 Timothy 5:20, Paul told Timothy, Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure. What was Paul talking about? Paul was talking to Timothy about church leaders. Paul told him to act impartially and without prejudice. Before he raised someone up to leadership, Timothy had to observe their lives and not act in haste.

If you are not careful, you will ruin leadership and you will ruin a person who is put into leadership before they are ready or mature. Paul was saying not to put your friends in leadership, because they admire you. When people start telling you how wonderful you are, you better be careful.

You want people who are truthful. If they see something wrong with you, they are going to tell you, because they love you. You do not want to have anything to do with people who do not tell you the truth. They will destroy your life. They will make your life miserable. They will ruin your leadership.

How do you know who to give authority? You appoint people to the ministry when God tells you, not because you are short of people. You are going to be responsible for whatever ministry God gives to you. If you are the leader, you are supposed to lead and not be led by other people.

The pursuit of power can separate the most resolute Christians from the true nature of Christian leadership.
-Charles Colson-

Recognize the Danger

But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

1 Corinthians 5:13

Paul was very strong in his exhortation to the Corinthian church. Many people do not like Paul, because they think he was too harsh — too judgmental. I love Paul. He knew the Word of God and he was not afraid to stand for righteousness. Why? He had the fear of the Lord. He was in awe of the Father.

The reason Paul was able to say these things to the churches was because he was not interested in pleasing man. He had a heart to serve the Lord and to see people get saved. When he looked at a person, he saw their souls and he wanted them to enter heaven.

I do not think Paul was too judgmental. I think Paul had such a great love for the people. He wanted to protect them, so he said, “Put away that evil person. Do not hang out with them. Do not be with them.”

Why? Remember back at the beginning of 1 Corinthians 5, Paul said a little leaven leavens the whole lump.

Paul did not want them to be infected by the person’s sin. He knew the sin would spread and ensnare many in the church, so he warned them against those in the church who were living immoral lives.

I think it is funny how we avoid immoral worldly people but we will still hang out with Christians who are living lives of sin. If we recognize the danger with the non-believing sinner, we have to see the greater danger with the believing sinner.

A sin is two sins when it is defended.
-Henry Smith-

Called to be a Servant

So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

Acts 18:3-4

Reading about the life of Paul, he really exhorted me to be more vocal and bold with pastors and leaders. I am not worried about whether people like me or if I do not have any friends. I have a mission and a call to finish it. I will do it, even if I have to do it alone. I will do it.

I think it is really important we understand; God has not called us to be lazy. He has called us to work hard. Paul the Apostle worked four hours a day as a tentmaker and then he taught and preached at night. He was full-time in the ministry.

I look at Pastor Chuck Smith and other people in the ministry, all the men I have traveled with. We have been all over the world in the mission field, but when we started in the ministry, we worked full-time in the world. We followed the example of Paul the Apostle.

If you are in the ministry, you have to have an open ear to do anything God asks you to do, without excusing yourself. Remember, if you want to be in the ministry, if you think God is calling you to the ministry, He is calling you to be a servant, not a master, a servant.

God is calling each one of us to serve in His ministry in some way. You do not have to be on staff at a church or in a ministry to be in the ministry. God wants to use your life, right where you are. Are you listening for His voice?

He is no Christian who does not seek to serve his God.
-C. H. Spurgeon-

A Divided Heart

I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.

Psalm 9:1

Recently, I heard the most amazing study concerning prayer. My Assistant Pastor, Dale, gave it to our staff and I was sitting outside. He gave the message after I had spoken to our leadership on a Sunday morning.

On Sunday mornings, we get together before the services begin, to pray with the staff and leadership. Many times, we sit there and sit there but nobody prays, so I stopped and told them, “We are here to pray. We need to pray, so pray!”

That is what the Lord has shown me in the Psalms. We need to be people of prayer, but there are people who should not be in leadership because they do not have the heart of prayer. They want status, but ministry is not like that. Ministry is not about fame. It is about serving the people. If you are called here, then you are here. You cannot have a divided heart.

That is why I am really strict when it comes to my staff. I do not want them to get involved in other places and I do not do it either. We have to be focused on what God has called us to do here with His people, to be in the church and to train the people who are here. I want to hear the heartbeat of God for our church and for our people — the people God gave to us here. It should be the same for every shepherd.

If you are going to serve in the church, you cannot have a divided heart.

When the heart is right, the feet are swift.
-Thomas Jefferson-

Sacred Ministry

They shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they come into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister in the holy place, that they do not incur iniquity and die. It shall be a statute forever to him and his descendants after him.

Exodus 28:43

The ministry is something sacred. In the Old Testament, when you were the High Priest, you had to make sure you were right with the Lord when you went into the holiest of holies. If not, you were going to be killed.

That was the reason they tied a rope to his right ankle once a year. As long as the bells were ringing it was cool, but if the bells stopped ringing, they knew he had died, but no one would go in. They would pull him out with the rope.

He had to examine his life every time he went into the house of the Lord, because his life depended on it. We do not take it so seriously today, and people do not do check their hearts before entering the house of God. Think about it. We are each the temple of God today. Do we examine our lives and recognize we are in the holiest of holies every day?

How much time do you spend with God in the morning when you wake up? What kind of direction do you think you are going to get if you have not spent time with the Lord?

We have to examine our lives every day. We have to be led and anointed by the Holy Spirit. We have to get into the Word of God and listen to God’s voice daily. That way, He is going to direct our whole day.

The Holy Spirit is always in, with and by the Word.
-Philipp Spener-

Fear of God

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Corinthians 7:1

Paul really gives us some deep insight here today. We should really fear God. We should really examine our hearts and lives before God. Do we really, really want to serve? Remember, to whom much is given, much more is required and the battles will be greater for those who serve the Lord. The temptations will be greater.

Why? Satan wants to sift you out and God is going to allow temptation in your life to test you. If you fail the test, you have to take it over again, until you pass it. You have to remember that. Do you know how many people have to retake the test until the day they die, and they never pass it?

When you pass the test, look at what God has on the other side for you. What God will do will blow your mind. That is why leadership, to be a leader, a missionary, a pastor or a teacher, whatever God has called you to do, with God you have to give it your all, or do nothing at all.

Think of all the people who go out to serve and then six months later you hear they fell. Instead of establishing a work, the work is killed. The bad reputation is left. Someone has to come and clean it up.

If you expect God to use your hands, heart and life, for the valuable Gospel of Jesus Christ, then you better think about it twice. It takes commitment, dedication and holiness unto the Lord.

The fear of God is the soul of godliness.
-John Murray-

Fully Submitted to God

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 22:14

I have been asking the Lord to really speak to people in leadership, because I really feel many are called but few are chosen. Leadership in the ministry is not for everyone. Everyone is called to godly service but not everyone is called to be a leader.

God is the One who calls. God is the One who anoints. God is the One who raises up and takes down. He is the One who commissions and gives you a mission in life. That mission never changes.

When you are really called by God and you know your calling of God, everything else is secondary and your calling comes first. It makes you follow the Lord before anything or anyone else. You want to hear from Him. You want to know what He has to say. You want to know, scripturally, if something is biblical or not, so God can really anoint you to do the work that has to be done.

God is going to accomplish His work with or without us. He gives us the privilege of serving in His ministry. He used a donkey in the Old Testament and He can use a donkey again today, if we are not willing to really submit our lives to serving Him.

Each one of us has to align ourselves with the purposes and the will of God. Otherwise, we do not flow with the Holy Spirit. If we do not flow with the work of the Holy Spirit, we will be taken out and God will use someone else. If you want to be chosen by God, you have to submit your life to Him, fully and completely.

Terms with God must always be His terms, not yours.
-John Hercus-

A Zealousness for God

Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.

1 Timothy 5:22

This is a problem in the church, a real problem. People think they can be in leadership or they can serve in the ministry, because their best friend is serving in the ministry. What do we do when our friends want to serve with us? Do we pray first and seek the will of God? No, we do not wait on the Lord and we lay hands on them.

This should never be. God is so clear, speaking to Paul and to Timothy. It is really a danger to lay hands on someone suddenly and give them the authority of leadership.

The Lord is the one who raises up and takes down. You can ruin a person by bringing them into leadership before they are spiritually mature. You can ruin them for the rest of their lives. If they are not called, if they are not anointed by God, then they will be operating without the power of God. Do we want people serving God’s people without His anointing? Of course not!

Paul the Apostle really demonstrated this character when he picked people like Timothy, Titus, Luke and all his leaders. These were men who had a zealousness for God. You could see the anointing of God. You could see they had a vision and passion to do what God called them to do. They did not have to be told, they just did it.

If you want to serve in the ministry, you really have to examine your hearts before the Lord and ask for His anointing.

The Christian worker must be sent; he must not elect to go.
-Oswald Chambers-

Wheat or Chaff

“His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Matthew 3:12

I am going to be speaking boldly today, because I really feel God wants to throw out the chaff and keep the wheat. He is correcting the church, because the church has turned carnal and cold. The church is doing its own thing. The people are not following the leading of the Holy Spirit.

That is what happens to people. They do not follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is not something you just say, “I want to be a leader.” You cannot be anything apart from God. God is the one who elects, God is the one who chooses, anoints and uses people to accomplish His will, not your will.

Many times, because of popularity or emotions, people want to serve in the ministry. Because they see a need here or there, they are moved by emotion to get involved, but then their emotions wear out and they quit. Then, what happens to the work of God? What happens to the people they are serving?

As Christians, God wants us to serve in His Kingdom, but only God knows what each one of us is called to do. Do not try to be something you are not. Do not pretend you are godly, and cause God to remove you.

You only have one life to live and it will soon be passed. The only thing that will last is what you do for Christ, period. Nothing else counts.

Spirituality is not gained by service; it is unto service.
-Lewis Sperry Chafer-

Heed the Warning

And say: “How I have hated instruction, And my heart despised correction! I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me!”

Proverbs 5:12-13

Every person needs to read Proverbs 5, 6, 7 and 8. They really are a great warning, not only to the young men, but to the married men. As you look at history and the church today, you can see there is a problem with sexual impurity — sexual impurity is huge right here in the church. It should not be.

Over the years, our nation has been built on pornography, with nightclubs, strip clubs, porn magazine and videos. They are available freely to any one of us; I am not talking about the non-believer, but to any one of us, Christians!

What blows me away is when I am teaching to audiences of 1000, 2000 or more and they are nodding in agreement with me, but many of them are in sin. They are adulterers, fornicators or homosexuals. There is no conviction concerning what is being spoken.

What has happened? It seems the heart has become really callused, real hard. When you start agreeing with the pastor, while you are in sin, there is something wrong with your heart — something is wrong with your conscience. At that point in time, there is no conviction of the Holy Spirit.

When you do something wrong, immediately the Holy Spirit tells you to repent. If you do not and you believe you are okay, the Word of God is no longer effective in your life and you are in trouble. Heed the warning!

Lust and lucre follow one another as closely as kin, both seducing the heart from the Creator to the creature.
-A. R. Fausett-

Sins of an Unrighteous Nation

Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach
to any people.

Proverbs 14:34

Solomon’s warning rings true for our nation today. Righteousness exalts a nation, but there is no righteousness today. We can see the reproach sin has brought to our nation. You may not agree but it is clear, there is no righteousness today.

We have become a nation controlled by our lusts, not by the Spirit of God. It is incredible; it is not just the pornography, it is the lustful thoughts and the intents of the heart and how they are fulfilled by a person. People no longer deny their flesh; they give in to it either through pornography, adultery, fornication or homosexuality. Whatever it is, this country, this nation, this world is filled with lust.

What is wrong with Americans? What is wrong with the church? How come we are not a big voice? No matter what the media and politicians try to tell you, this nation was founded on Christian principles. We were founded as “One nation under God.”

Something is definitely wrong when sin is accepted and the voice of the church is being shut down. When the Word of God is considered hate speech but every perversion spoken of in the Bible is not only accepted but praised as being normal, the handwriting on the wall. Each of us has to make the choice to stand for righteousness.

Surely, we see 2 Peter 3:3 happening today, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,

Natural desires are at rest when that which is desired is obtained, but corrupt desires are insatiable.
-Matthew Henry-

Pursue God

“‘Therefore you shall keep My ordinance, so that you do not commit any of these abominable customs which were committed before you, and that you do not defile yourselves by them: I am the Lord your God.’”

Leviticus 18:30

Moses ended Leviticus 18 with this verse, warning the children of Israel to keep God’s laws and not commit the customs of the heathen nations. What were the customs Moses was warning against? He was giving the laws of sexual morality.

Moses did not beat around the bush. He spelled out the laws of morality very clearly. He said it was an abomination for a man to lay with any relative: mother, sister, aunt, niece, etc. It was a sin to commit adultery with your neighbor’s wife or for a man to lay with a man in homosexuality. It was forbidden for people to have sex with animals. That is bestiality. All these things, God knew would be a temptation for the children of Israel.

Think about it. In the Old Testament, the penalty for these sins was death. If you were a virgin and you had sex with someone, immediately they would kill you. The penalty would be death.

Today, we have the grace of God that has been given to us. People are no longer put to death for sexual immorality. This is why people take advantage, because of the grace of God. There are no consequences, so people are pursuing immorality instead of righteousness.

This warning was for the people of God. It is for us, not the world. God knows our hearts are wicked, so He warns us to pursue Him, not sin.

Morality is not only correct conduct on the outside, but correct thinking within where only God can see.
-Oswald Chambers-

Faithful to the Call of God

as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

I love Paul. He always blows me away when I read his epistles to the churches. He had such a great heart for the people. He loved them so much; he did not let them get away with anything. He was quick to write in both comfort and exhortation. I do not think the churches appreciated his exhortation as much as they liked his praise and comfort!

Many times, I have heard the same thing from people who hear me teach the Word of God. They love when I teach all the good things about God’s love, grace and mercy, but they do not always like it when I preach against living a life of sin, or taking advantage of the grace of God.

When the criticism comes, I am reminded of my call and Who called me. I know God called me to exhort pastors and to exhort the body of Christ. That is my mission in whatever time God gives to me. I am going to exhort and comfort the church. Why? I have such a great love for the body of Christ and I have such a huge responsibility to God. Those are the two things driving me.

When I look at the church today, I think there is a lack of honesty and of holiness. There is a lack in the church and people do not see sin as sin. There are many who do not teach against sin, but I do not know how you can teach the Word of God without teaching against sin. We all have to be faithful to the calling of God. He is Who I will stand before, not man.

Faithful to God is our first obligation in all that we are called to do in the service of the Gospel.
-Iain H. Murray-

Repent and Return

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”

Matthew 5:13

This was a warning to the church. Jesus was speaking to believers. He began by saying we are to be salt to the world. We should be examples to the world, causing them to thirst for God’s Word, as they see our lives.

Then Jesus gave the warning. If we are not examples of Christ, drawing men to God, then we are good for nothing. We will be thrown out to be trampled on.

Jesus was calling us to holiness. He was calling us to be examples to the world. That is what He was saying when He called us salt and light. We should shine with the love and light of Jesus Christ.

The church needs to be reminded of this warning. There are so many problems in the church, the body of Christ; it is not surprising the church is no longer salt and light to the world.

We have such a great responsibility. We have the answer for the world. It is Jesus. Yet, non-believers will never believe us if Jesus is not effective in our lives.

We have to repent and return to our first love and spend time in God’s Word, as the Holy Spirit ministers to us, so there is a change of attitude, heart and mind.

The church can do many things after she repents, but she can do nothing else until she repents.
-Vance Havner-

Dare We

Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?

1 Corinthians 6:1

Starting in verse one of Chapter six, Paul brought up another big problem in the church. Paul rebuked the Christians for taking their friends, Christian friends, to the heathen courts of the world. He said, “Dare any of you”. Paul was asking a question because he could not believe they would go against another believer in front of the world.

He used the word another, which means “another brother,” literally in the Greek. Paul wanted to know why they would bring another brother before the unrighteous. Who is the unrighteous? The unrighteous is the world, the non-believer.

If another brother has done wrong to us, who do we bring them before? Paul said to bring the matter before the saints. He was making a distinction between the world and the church. He knows the non-believer lies and cheats. He is not careful in his judgment. As believers, we really have to do what is right. Otherwise, God will deal with us.

Think about how many Christians have gone to court because they got hurt at work but it was not really a bad injury. They put a lawsuit on the company, just to get money. This happens all the time, just so they can have a little money without working. Think about people who lie about injuries, and say they cannot work, so they can collect welfare.

Think about the lies, the conniving and the wolf behind the mask. These are things we find, not only outside of the church, but inside the church. Paul said it should never be. We need to stand on God’s Word.

If you stand on the Word you do not stand in the world.
-Vance Havner-

The Lord’s Judges

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters

1 Corinthians 6:2

Wow! That really spoke to my heart, because I never thought about this –one day, you and I will judge the world. After Christ comes again in the Second Coming, in the Kingdom Age, we are going to judge. We are going to judge for the Lord.

Imagine — we are going to stand and judge people, before they go into the Kingdom Age, at the Second Coming of Christ. When Jesus comes, He will set it all up, dividing the goats and the sheep. He separates them before they even go in.

We come back with Him and He will establish the Kingdom Age, but according to Daniel 12 and Matthew 25, a 45-day judgment will take place before the Kingdom starts. It is a 45-day judgment given to us, when Christ will judge.

Paul was telling them, “Do you not know the saints, the Christians in the Kingdom Age, will judge the world and if the world will be judged by you; are you unworthy to judge the smallest little matters?”

Think about it. Do you have to pay a lawyer? Do you have to go to court? If you are really a Christian, you should settle any disputes you have between yourselves; between one person and another person. Paul really hits it hard here, especially for the Church, especially for believers.

Secular sanctions do not work. Morality needs the divine sanction of a judgment day.
-Gordon H. Clark-

Judge in Love

Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

1 Corinthians 6:3

In 1 Corinthians 6:2, Paul told us we will judge man, before the Kingdom Age. He went on to reveal more in verse 3. We will not only judge man, but we are going to judge the demons, the ones incarcerated in the abyssal and the demons Satan is using today to deceive people. They are going to stand before us, and we are going to judge them!

That is amazing! We are going to judge men and angels, one day.

Notice this; Paul made things clear and simple. If we are going to judge men and those who are eternal, demons and Satan, then why should we have such a hard time taking care of business right here on this earth? Christ has given us the authority.

That is the reason we will judge, because the authority has been given to us by Christ. If we are operating with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we should have more wisdom than the courts of the world to judge what is righteous and what is not righteous.

I think we go to the courts because we have a desire to win, a desire to be right. Sometimes, we have to be willing to swallow our pride and not be the victors. We may be right and the other person may be wrong, but we do not have to hurt and destroy one another.

We have to do all things in love — love for one another. That is the authority Christ has given to us; to judge one another in love and not bring our issues before the worldly courts.

Love rules His kingdom without a sword.
-Robert Herrick-

The Wise Among Us

If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?

1 Corinthians 6:4-5

Paul was pointing out the position of the non-believer in the eyes of the church. They are the least esteemed. He told them they should not trust those who are least esteemed in the church to judge the things concerning your life.

Who does Paul tell you to find to judge between the believers? They need to appoint a wise man from among them. They were not to go out and find a stranger but a believer who knew them and knew the situation.

It is the same in the ministry. You need people in leadership who have proved themselves and are mature in the Lord. They must be men and women of their word, who live their lives in prayer and holiness. Without mature leaders, you cannot run the ministry God has given to you.

That is why Paul says, “Lay hands on no man suddenly.” You have to watch the life of a person and see their walk with the Lord. Is there spiritual fruit in their lives? This is so important, because people can be respecters of persons.

You need to put people in authority who will be able to judge fairly and not be biased because of friendships. We need to find the wise among us and trust them to be godly judges.

No man is really wise unless he lives in the will and for the glory of God.
-Geoffrey Grogan-

Accept Responsibility

But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!

1 Corinthians 6:6

Notice Paul’s attitude. He is shocked. He cannot believe a Christian would take another Christian before the world’s court to settle a dispute. Why would a Christian trust an unbeliever to judge with wisdom? The unbeliever does not even have the Spirit of God, so where does their wisdom come from? It comes from the world.

Remember what Paul said about the wisdom of the world in 1 Corinthians 3:19? For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. The wisdom of the world is considered foolishness to God, so why would we trust the wisdom of man over the wisdom of God? That is crazy! That is what Paul was saying. That is why Paul was shocked.

We see it all the time when we talk to people. They have made business deals with another believer and things have not worked out. Now, they want to sue the person to recover their money.

I always ask them, “Did you really pray and seek the Lord before you went into the business deal with this person?” Most of the time, they say, “No, but they are a Christian.” Look, being a Christian does not mean you are a great businessman.

Whenever we enter into an agreement with another person, we have to pray and seek God’s wisdom. Then, we will not be put in a position to sue someone in court. We have to accept our responsibility in making a bad decision and not shame the Lord before the courts of unbelievers.

Responsibility brings accountability.
-Ken Robins-

Peace with God

Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?

1 Corinthians 6:7

Notice here in verse 7, Paul said, “You think you are winning, but you are really losing.” He said, “Now therefore, because of everything I just told you, here is my advice. Why don’t you just accept the wrong?”

Why do we try to get back instead of accepting the wrong done to us? It is because of pride. We have to win. We have to be right.

It is the same when we are in the wrong. If you made a mistake, you say, “I am sorry, I made a mistake. I am wrong.” Many times, we do not take responsibility for our mistakes. Instead, we defend ourselves, right away. We defend ourselves, and we begin to make excuses for our failure.

Paul gave us such good counsel here; why do you not rather accept the wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? If you pursue someone to get even, you will lose in the end, because you will bring a black eye to the Lord.

Imagine what the unbeliever thinks when two Christians are battling in court over money, property or ideas. They think, I am glad I am not a Christian, or, Look at these Christians. They are no different than me and my friends. So, you may win in the courtroom but before the throne of God, you have lost.

As long as I have peace with God, I do not have to get even with anyone.

Better a lean peace than a fat victory.
-Thomas Fuller-

Carnality is the Heart of the Problem

No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!

1 Corinthians 6:8

In verse 8, Paul revealed the heart of the problem. You want to do what is right but you are not right with God. You are not right with people. That is why you are doing what you are doing.

It was Christians going to court with other Christians — bringing lawsuits against Christians. They were doing it because they had no conviction. He said, “You do wrong and cheat your brothers and sisters in the faith and you think it is okay because you are not right with the Lord.”

Why was there no conviction? Their hearts were calloused. They were ripping off the people, coming against them, talking against them and judging them. These were not unbelievers, these were believers.

Paul was pointing out the real problem. It all came back to carnality. They were carnal Christians. They were not acting like spiritual men and women. They were acting just like the men and women in the world. That is why they were judging and coming against one another. Their hearts were not right before the Lord.

When we begin to reflect the world instead of reflecting the love, grace and mercy of Christ, we know we are not walking in the spirit but in the flesh. When people do not see a difference in our lives, and they see us like the worldly people around us, we know we have become carnal Christians.

We are called to deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow Jesus.

Sin may be clasped so close we cannot see its face.
-Richard C. Trench-

Do Not Be Deceived

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Paul did not sugar coat his words. He came straight out with the truth. I love Paul, because he was upfront with people. He spoke the truth here in 1 Corinthians, in Galatians, Ephesians and on and on in the epistles. Because he was concerned for their souls, Paul was straight out with the truth of God.

What was the truth? He told them, the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God. They will not go to heaven! Then, he went on to make it even clearer by listing those who will not inherit the Kingdom of God. The warning was so loud and clear.

Paul said, “I want you to understand one thing, Christian, you need to be abiding in Christ, because if you are doing such sins, you will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” He was saying, “Do not be deceived.”

I think many people are deceived. They think they can dabble in sin and still go to heaven. Many people even think they can practice sin and still enter heaven. If you believe you can play with sin or practice sin and still inherit the Kingdom of God, you have deceived yourself.

Read your Bible. Know the Word of God. Paul was warning the Corinthians and he is warning us today. All these people will go to hell. They will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

All sin is folly; all sinners are fools.
-C. H. Spurgeon-

Transformed

And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:11

Underline this verse, such were some of you. What were some of us? Look at 1 Corinthians 6:10, fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners. . . .

We were these things but we were washed, we were sanctified and we were justified in the name of Jesus Christ, by the Spirit of our God. There was a transformation by the power of the Holy Spirit, a transformation of our lives.

None of us were transformed by our will power or by our own strength. We were all transformed and washed clean by the saving power of Jesus Christ. We were justified by the sacrifice He made on the Cross.

We were all these things and yet Christ died to wash us, sanctify us and justify us. Why? Paul told us in Romans 5:8, But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

If God loved us enough to send His Son to die for us and transform our lives, what should we do? If we are transformed, we are not to live like that any longer. We have new lives, a new way to talk, a new way to walk and new mannerisms in the Lord.

As sinners redeemed, we need to walk in the newness of life, abiding in Christ.

The saints are walking pictures of God.
-Thomas Watson-

Free by God’s Grace

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

1 Corinthians 6:12

Paul was speaking of our liberties. He said, All things are lawful for me, which means I can do whatever I want to do. If I want to drink a beer or if I want to go out and commit adultery, I can do those things. I can do whatever I want to do but there is a condition.

Look what he said, All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. So, all things are lawful for me to do, but they are not helpful. I can drink, take drugs or commit adultery, but these things are not good for me. They do not help me in my life and my walk with the Lord.

Then Paul went further. All things are lawful but not helpful AND I will not be brought under the power of anything. What is Paul saying? When we do these things that are not helpful, we go back into bondage.

Peter said the same thing in 2 Peter 2:22: But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

Paul was saying, “You guys, I can do whatever I want but I do not want to because I want to be holy in the Lord. I want God to use my life.”

Paul was talking about my goal, walking with the Lord. I want to run the race, and I want to be a winner. I do not want anything to keep me from being free by the grace of God. I want nothing to hold me down, nothing.

Gospel liberty is a liberty from sin, not to sin.
-Thomas Hall-

Sexual Liberty

Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

1 Corinthians 6:13

Paul continued to speak of Christian liberties. He was spelling out clearly, the need for Christians to get their fleshly desires under control. Remember, in 1 Corinthians 6:12, he said, All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

The church in Corinth was taking advantage of their liberties and going back into bondage to their fleshly desires. They were living as carnal Christians because they fed the flesh instead of the spirit.

Paul was speaking directly to the people about the sexual carnality in Corinth, because they had problems with the temple prostitutes seducing the young men. He told them flat out, the body is not for sexual immorality. The body is for sex in marriage, yes; with your wife, yes; or your husband, yes, but apart from marriage, with your spouse, no way.

Our bodies are for the Lord. We become the Temple of the living God. God lives in us and, if we have sex with a prostitute or outside of marriage, we are joining the Temple of the Lord with a prostitute. Wow, think about it.

If we damage the Temple of God, we grieve the Holy Spirit of God and we cannot be effective in what God has called us to do. We have to consecrate our bodies to God.

All life should be subject to the kingly rule of God.
-Martin Buber-

Certainly Not!

And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!

1 Corinthians 6:14-15

Look at the strong words of Paul when he asked the people if they should join a harlot with Christ, Certainly not! Literally, what he said was, “never should it ever be.” With Christ living in us, being with a prostitute was making Christ one with a prostitute. I do not think they realized what they were really doing until Paul pointed out their great sin.

Sexual sin was a big problem in the city of Corinth. With the Temple of Aphrodite offering its 1000 prostitutes just above the city, sexual promiscuity was normal behavior for the people of Corinth. It was one of the major attractions of the city and people came from miles around to the city, just to visit the temple prostitutes.

Because sexual immorality was so common in their culture, the church at Corinth needed Paul to be bold and point out the error of their ways. They could no longer live as they lived before they accepted Christ as their Savior. It was an impossibility.

We see the same thing today in the church. Look at all the Christians having sex with their girlfriends, or husbands going out on their wives and wives going out on their husbands, committing adultery. They are not listening. They are not reading their Bibles. They are ignoring the warnings Paul had for the early church and has for you and me, today. Should we practice such sin? Certainly not!

Carnal desire is a gulf that is never filled up.
-Thomas Manton-

One with God

Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.”

1 Corinthians 6:16

At the very beginning of creation, in Genesis 2:24, God said, Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

This was instituted from the very beginning, a man and woman becoming one flesh. Now, Paul brought it up again in speaking to the Christians in Corinth. He was speaking strongly, showing them this was from the beginning. It was not something he made up. This came from the Lord. God created sex between one man and one woman. When they came together in marriage, they become one flesh.

I do not think Paul could have made it any clearer for the church in Corinth and it could not be any clearer for you and me today. The Word of God does not change, even if the moral values of a culture change. What God said at the beginning and Paul brought up again in his letters still apply today. They are lessons and warnings for all of us.

I once heard, when you have sex with a person, you are really having sex with them and all the other people they have had sex with. Why? They have allowed their bodies to become one with all those people. Think about that. Why would you want to expose your body to all those people? You are not just becoming one with one person but many.

God said, “Be holy, as I am holy.” That should be our goal. Be one with God.

Holy living is loving God.
-Charles Colson-

Flee From Sin

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

1 Corinthians 6:18-19

According to Paul, we have no excuse for sexual sin. What should we do when faced with sexual immorality? We should flee from it. He said to run from sexual immorality and the temptations to commit sexual sin. That means we do not play with sexual sin. We do not see how close we can come to the line, before we cross over.

I think the problem with Christians today is they want to see how close they can get to sin without getting burned. I can tell you, the closer you get to the flame; the better the chances are you will get burned.

Why do we put ourselves in such a position where we are sure to fail? We do not fall into sin. We run to sin, but Paul tells us to flee from sin.

Why should we flee from sexual immorality? This is a sin against our own bodies! This is pretty heavy stuff Paul was talking about. When we commit sexual sin, we are committing this sin against ourselves. Wow!

This is an even greater sin because your body is no longer yours! If you have submitted to Jesus Christ, you take orders, you do not give orders. You do not do your own thing. God wants to use your body to glorify Him — glorify God, not glorify the flesh.

I beg you, just as Paul did, flee from sexual immorality!

No sinful act desecrates the body like fornication and sexual abuse.
-R. C. H. Lenski-

Put Away Sexual Immorality

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1 Corinthians 6:20

We were bought at a great price. What was the price? The blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross paid for you and paid for me. Young people and older people need to hear this, because there is so much sexual sin in the church. We know it is outside the church but inside the church too. It is horrible.

The consequences of sexual sin are long reaching with venereal diseases, herpes and AIDS. It is sad. We have seen so many young couples, wives and husbands, who have gone out on each other, and they have brought diseases home, some have even died of AIDS.

They may escape disease but their marriages end in divorce because of sexual immorality. They break up and go from one relationship to another in a never ending cycle, because they will not stop the sexual sin. They continue to live lives of sexual immorality.

If you cannot make it in your first marriage, what makes you think you can make it in your second marriage; especially when you take the baggage with you into the second marriage, seriously. You can overcome sexual sin only in the Lord.

If you are divorced and you are looking for a spouse, pray and ask the Lord. Then, He will bring the person you need to spend the rest of your life with. But until you get your life right with the Lord and give up the sexual sin, He will not bring you a godly wife or godly husband. He will not bless you in your sin.

Lust is like rot in the bones.
-Author Unknown-

Secure in the Lord

“And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”

Ezekiel 39:6

God will send fire on Magog to show them He is the Lord — to show them He is in control. The people of Magog live in the security of the coastlands. They are secure in their location and their possessions but they are not secure in the Lord.

Chapter 39 of Ezekiel is a prophetic chapter. It speaks of things to come and we can see the writing on the wall in what is happening in the world today. People have become secure in their things, in their money. People no longer look to God for their security.

As we see the economies of the world failing, one by one, surely we are not deceived into thinking our security is in money or prosperity. As the church, the Word of God has warned us time and time again to trust in the Lord, not man and not money.

I think God has been speaking loud and clear, because of how many people in the corporate world have misspent money. Think about the millions of dollars spent on their fancy cars and fancy houses, and now they are concerned about just making payroll.

As I was praying, I was asking the Lord what is going to happen to people who have put their whole security in their finances. It is a major problem in America, it is a major problem in the world, but I really believe with all my heart God is allowing it to happen to align Himself with the church. The church needs to wake up and walk righteously for God.

Materialism is suicidal.
-Michael Griffiths-

Crucified Lives

“He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”

Luke 24:6-7

We have a new class to raise up leaders in the church called Crucified. We have about 32 people; ages 14 all the way up to 40, males and females. Many of them are young Christians, and have not even read through the Bible. For the first class, I let them share their vision with the group. It was great to hear what is in their hearts.

We are living in a time when we have to be very particular in choosing people for leadership. The reason I say this is because of the times we are living in. People need to really be willing to crucify their flesh and live holy unto the Lord.

I am going through the Bible with Pastor Chuck’s studies and I am in Luke, where he is talking about the crucifixion of Christ. He said Pilate was an incredible leader. He could have let Jesus go, but it was already predicted what would happen.

The majority of Christ’s first coming prophecies were fulfilled at the end of His life, when He was going to be crucified. Imagine His faithfulness to the Lord. He could have come down from the Cross, but He submitted to the will of the Father. Why? God had a plan and it included His crucifixion, but it did not end there. The coolest thing about God’s plan is that it went on to His resurrection and our redemption.

That is why we live crucified lives — we are redeemed!

The cross was not a tragic failure; it was a triumphant rescue.
-Vaughan Roberts-

Fear of God

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Corinthians 7:1

When we look at the promises of God, found throughout the Scriptures, they should inspire obedience and discipline in our lives. God’s promises should cause us to desire His holiness. Discipline is very necessary in our Christian lives today, because discipline brings the fear of God into the church.

As a church, we are not going to put up with sin. Why? This is God’s ministry and we are going to run the church according to God’s Word, the Bible. It is not because we want to be mean. Surely, we do things in love, and we do them through the grace of God

In 1 Corinthians 5:5, Paul was very strong when instructing the church what to do with a believer living in sin: deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Wow, if unbelievers read Chapter 5, they would say, “How can Paul say turn him over to the devil?” He said to turn him over to the devil for the destruction of his flesh. The flesh will be destroyed, so the spirit will be saved at the end. Why? Paul wanted him to go to heaven.

That should always be our intent. We should never look at people and want them to go to hell. We want them to go to heaven. Paul used strict judgment and punishment, so they will not do it again. Think about how many people do not learn the lesson. They do it again.

If men refuse to be taught by precept, they must be taught by punishment.
-Thomas V. Moore-

Listen to the Warning

Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

1 Corinthians 7:1

Notice, it is good for a man not to touch a women. Why? If you touch a woman sexually outside of marriage, you will be disqualified. You get disqualified from ministry — immediately. You cannot be in the ministry.

The thing you have to understand, I have seen this happen, not just once or twice or five times. I have seen it so many times in the last forty years, with people who said they would never fall, and they have fallen. They have fallen into sin.

Back in West Covina, we had some really good leaders in the 70′s and 80′s. We were dealing with many young people from all of the high schools. It was so sad to see some of the guys we trained and discipled get disqualified, because of sexual sin.

Think about the possibility and how God wanted to use these people, the gifts and talents God had given to them, and how they disqualified themselves. God does not disqualify you, you disqualify yourself. You disqualify yourself as a single person or a married person.

Many pastors believe once you get divorced you cannot be a pastor. Pastor Chuck takes a different stand. He believes people can be restored, in a period of time, if they are truly repentant. I believe you can be restored, but there will always be consequences. It is better to listen to the warning of Paul!

Disobedience has a price.
-James Philip-

Clean Hands, Clean Walk with Jesus

Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

1 Corinthians 7:1

I talk to people all the time who are in this predicament. The single person wants to be used by God, but, at the same time, they cannot maintain. They cannot stay holy before the Lord. Other people have told me, “I am done with it, I am done with relationships.”

Honestly, biblically, you should not be looking for a wife or a husband. Honestly. The Lord brought Eve to Adam. He was not looking for a wife. When you look for a wife, you may pick the wrong wife. If she is not what God intended, she will be a thorn in your flesh, or he will be a thorn in your flesh. I have seen it.

Paul was teaching the people to stay pure. His relationship advice was celibacy. Notice again, what Paul said, It is good for a man not to touch a woman. The word touch means to have a physical relationship. Paul simply said it is better for the single person, not only to be single, but to stay pure to God.

Remaining pure, you can keep yourself in the love of God and also stay active in the ministry God calls you to. It is important to remember; clean hands, clean lips and a clean walk with Christ. When we stay pure before the Lord, He will use our lives in a mighty way.

God does not demand a beautiful vessel, but He does demand a clean one.
-R. A. Torrey-

Marry in the Lord

Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

1 Corinthians 7:2

The big problem Paul found in the city of Corinth was sexual immorality. In his letters, he was talking to Christians, not non-believers. The believers in Corinth were having problems. They were men and women, just like you and I, with desires. We are deceitful creatures by nature.

Notice, Paul was establishing the principle of God’s order of marriage. He was clear; every person should have one husband or one wife, and be content.

It is really important we understand, marriage is not easy, there are struggles, there is tension and there is stress. We are human and we bring our sinful natures into our marriages. We love each other but we are selfish, so it will not be flowers and sunshine all the time. Many times, marriages experience the most pressure from the outside. There are so many opportunities for the enemy to split up our marriages.

What is cool, even though marriage is hard, those who marry in the Lord will work out their situations and problems. They will never divorce, no matter how bad it is, because they do not want to bring shame to the Gospel and they do not want to bring shame to their children.

Don’t look around for a life partner, look up. Any other choice than God’s will mean disaster.
-Author Unknown-

Affection

Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

1 Corinthians 7:3

This is a very important verse. This is something that gets marriages in trouble. If the husband is not nice to his wife, they are going to have problems. If couples are having arguments and fighting, what is the first thing a woman does? She says, “Do not touch me.” This causes major problems in a marriage.

Why? If the wife is bitter, she will not be affectionate with her husband. She will not give the affection due to her husband if he is not nice to her.

It is easier for guys than women. God created them different from men. They are more emotional than guys. If their feelings are hurt or they do not feel their husbands love them, they are not going to let their husbands touch them. They will not be affectionate if they are not loved by their husbands, or treated right.

Think about it. A woman may have been at work or at home with the kids all day. Then she cooks and cleans. She is a real woman of God, like in Proverbs 31. The man comes home, plops down and watches television. Then he wants to go to bed and she says, “No. It does not work that way.”

There has to be a relationship. You have to be open to each other. Paul is talking about a godly relationship.

It is not marriage that fails, it is people that fail.
-Harry Emerson Fosdick-

Two Become One

The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

1 Corinthians 7:4

The guys are marking this verse with a highlighter and underlining it, “Your body belongs to me.” I can hear them quoting it to their wives. It is the first verse they have memorized.

Listen, this is what Paul was saying. When you got married, you were two different people. Then, you became one. You become one, not two. You cannot use your bodies as a weapon. There will be problems in a marriage. It cannot go on like that.

What will happen when you use sex as a weapon? Even though you may be intimate with one another, it is not really the way God intended it. God gave sex in marriage to bring intimacy between two people who love each other. How can we turn around and use it in a hateful way.

Men do not care. They can just go ahead and have sex without the emotions, but not women. Women are different; their hearts will grow hard and they will become bitter if they are not treated with the love God intended a husband and wife to share.

We have to look at marriage the way God intended it. Marriage is a union, where the two become one, dependent one upon the other.

A pledge to take a woman for his wife commits a man to sharing life in its entirety.
-Walter J. Chantry-

Come Together

Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

1 Corinthians 7:5

If there is not going to be sexual contact in the marriage, it is because we are praying and fasting about our marriage. It is not for a year or six months. Later, Paul said if your husband or your wife is having problems sexually, break the covenant and come together. If not, there are going to be problems in the marriage.

Why will you have problems? Satan is going to come in like a flood and bring all the temptation you need to fall in sexual sin. He studies each one of us and he knows exactly what to use to tempt us.

We are not only fighting against the temptations of Satan. We are also fighting a battle against our own lack of self-control. As a married couple, there is no reason to open the door to the temptation or test the boundaries of our self-control. We need to be spirit-controlled.

When you fast and pray, God is going to solve the problem. You do not have to deprive yourselves for a long time. After a short period, it is better to come together again, so you do not give Satan the opportunity to tempt you beyond your self-control.

There is no estate to which Satan is more opposed as to marriage.
-Martin Luther-

Be Like Paul

But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

1 Corinthians 7:6-7

Paul was saying, under certain circumstances, it was all right for a married couple to abstain from sex. Paul had been married but his wife was no longer with him. We do not know if she died or left him, but he was not living as a married man. Living as a single man, Paul wished every one had the gift of singleness, like he did.

When I look at the life of Paul, I realize it would be so cool. It is a great gift. You do whatever you want to do in the Lord. I have seen missionaries who are single men; they are very effective serving the Lord, with no distractions.

If you do not have the gift of singleness, you will not be able to serve the Lord full power, because you will always be wondering, “Where is my wife,” or, “Where is my husband.” It will be a distraction.

It is very important to wait on the Lord. God knows what is best for us. In His love, He will bring us the person who is best for us. If you are single, if your wife dies or your husband dies, you should only marry in the Lord. While you wait on the Lord, remain celibate, just as Paul did. He waited on the Lord and God used his life tremendously.

There is always a danger of marriage taking the razor edge off the passion for Jesus and souls.
-C. T. Studd-

Seek the Will of God

But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am;

1 Corinthians 7:8

Paul said it was good to remain as he was. What was Paul’s life? He was a Pharisee, so we know he was married. In all his writings, we do not read about a wife, but we know he had to have been married to be a Pharisee. Paul was either a widow or his wife left him when he became a Christian.

I believe Paul had the gift of singleness. He did not get another wife. His heart, mind and soul were set on serving the Lord. He had no distractions in his life. He was willing to go and do anything the Lord called him to. It is so cool.

If God gives you the gift of singleness, you can serve in a better capacity. You can serve the Lord with your whole heart, mind and soul, just like Paul. Seriously.

Like Paul, you do not know if your wife is going to die or your husband is going to die. If you are in the ministry full time, you have to think ahead, and pray ahead. What does God want to do with your life?

If you are single, a widow or divorced, you have to make a decision in your life. Are you going to seek a wife or husband, or are you going to seek to serve God and allow Him to bring you a spouse or not?

Jesus taught us that we are to be obsessed with living according to the will of God.
-Herbert W. Cragg-

Lust Controls the Heart

but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

1 Corinthians 7:9

All through Chapter 7 of 1 Corinthians, Paul exhorted the Christians to remain single and be celibate, so they could focus on serving the Lord without distractions. Paul lived his life alone, with the exception of the few companions the Lord brought to him as he traveled, so he knew what he was talking about. These were men Paul trained for the ministry.

While Paul thought it best to serve the Lord as a single person, he knew not every person had the gift of singleness, so he said, “If you cannot be alone and live without a husband or a wife, then get married.” Why? It is better to marry than burn in passion. It is better to marry than to go on lusting. You are committing adultery in your mind.

Literally, in the Greek, it means, to have continual sexual desires, and eventually given in to them. If you are continually lusting in your mind, you are distracted from serving the Lord. You are not able to serve the Lord with your whole heart, mind and soul.

Paul gives us some great advice. Single, married or unmarried. I think it is important for each one of us to ask God, the Holy Spirit, to examine our hearts and minds and see where we are in our own personal lives. Do you have the gift of singleness? Can you commit fully to the Lord?

Lust and lucre follow one another as closely akin, both seducing the heart from the Creator to the creature.
-A. R. Fausset-

God Hates Divorce

Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.

1 Corinthians 7:10

Paul began the second half of his letter in Chapter 7, verse 10, with the problem of divorce. This is not only a problem today, but in the church at Paul’s time, there was a major problem with divorce, especially living in Corinth. Think about all the problems they had in Corinth.

He started out by clarifying his position and God’s command. He said this is not my command, this is God’s command. Paul was just God’s messenger. This was a command from the Lord. He wanted to make sure they truly understand the sacredness of marriage.

Today, we need to understand the sacredness of marriage. I think people take it too lightly. They have a little problem here, a little problem there or they cannot get along, and they go file for divorce. We are Christians. That is not a good reason. There are people who have been married a long time. They have gone through hell, and the only reason they have not divorced is because they believe in the declaration of God’s Word.

Believing in the sacredness of God’s Word demands obedience — obedience. I do not care about your opinion. I care about God’s Word — His command. This is real important because the church is getting more liberal. That is not in line with God’s Word! Think about it!

Divorce is always a tragedy no matter how civilized the handling of it may be.
-Lawrence S. Kubie-

Obedient to God’s Command

But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

1 Corinthians 7:11

In 1 Corinthians 7:10, Paul told the women of the church not to depart from their husbands. It was a command, not from Paul, but from God. Paul made it very clear; he was speaking on behalf of the Lord. It was not his opinion.

Now, in the next verse, he clarified a women’s position, if she does depart from her. husband. She does not go out and find a boyfriend or a new husband. She is to remain unmarried or go back with her husband.

Many people today would find this verse outdated or unreasonable. They would want to believe it is not for the church today, but it is for Christians today. This is a command from the Lord. God does not change His mind to stay up with the culture.

I have friends whose wives have left them after they got saved. Some have reconciled with their wives after many years and some wives never returned. God has to do a great work in the hearts of both the spouses who leave and the spouses left behind.

It every situation, it is all about obedience. Remember, Paul said it was a command of God. If you choose to depart and get married again, you are disobeying the Lord.

Jesus has spoken; His is the Word, ours the obedience.
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer-

God’s Desire for Marriage

But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.

1 Corinthians 7:12-13

In Chapter 7 of 1 Corinthians, Paul the Apostle was addressing many issues on marriage for the church in Corinth. He was talking to the believers, because they were acting like the people in the world, the heathens. Their lives did not reflect Christian living. In many cases, they were living worse than those in the world.

Paul began by first speaking to the married believers in the church. He told the women not to depart from their husbands. If they did, they were to remain unmarried or return to their husbands.

In this verse, Paul spoke to those who were married to non-believers. Again, he said, do not leave or divorce your wife or husband who is not a believer if they are willing to stay married.

We see the depth of God’s desire for married couples to stay together. Remember what Jesus said in Mark 10:9, “Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

It is so clear. God hates divorce. I will say it again and again. Be obedient and stay married. It is not easy, but it is God’s desire.

Love is the root, obedience is the fruit.
-Matthew Henry-

Sanctified — Set Apart

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

1 Corinthians 7:14

This is an important verse. Why should a Christian man or wife stay married to an unbelieving spouse? The unbelieving husband or wife is sanctified. They are not saved, but they are sanctified — set apart. Not only is the spouse sanctified, but the children are holy. Again, they are not saved, but they have been set apart.

This verse really opened my eyes. When I was first married to Sharon, before I was saved, I was sanctified, because Sharon was a believer and she was saved. Her relationship with the Lord sanctified our home. I did not even know, until I read this. My wife being a Christian kept our home separate to the Lord, even though I was not saved.

Now you can see one of the reasons it is important not to leave an unbelieving spouse. When the husband is not saved, he may be the head of the home, but he is not the spiritual leader. The wife is spiritual leader. Then it is like a protection, a ring the Lord puts around your family for the husband and wife and the children.

In the Lord, we should not marry an unbeliever (2 Corinthians 6:14), but many new believers are already married before they get saved. If your spouse is not saved, you sanctify your home, husband and children.

The family is the supreme conductor of Christianity.
-Henry Drummond-

Peace in Your Home

But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.

1 Corinthians 7:15

Paul told us, in 1 Corinthians 7:12-13, not to leave an unbelieving spouse if they choose to stay with you. Then, yesterday, in 1 Corinthians 7:14, we saw how the saved husband or wife sanctifies a family. They sanctify the unbelieving spouse.

In this verse, Paul addressed the issue of an unsaved spouse leaving. You can really see the problems they were having in the Corinthian church. If there were not so many problems, Paul would not have had to give instruction for every situation. He saw the problems and he addressed them one by one. He made sure there was no room for guessing. He said, “This is what the Lord said.”

Here is the instruction for the believer, when the unbelieving spouse does want to leave. Paul said, “Let them go.” You will not be in bondage to the relationship if they leave. You are free from them. Why? Peace. God has called us to peace, not striving.

If an unsaved spouse leaves and does not want to be with you anymore, you go in peace. There has to be peace in your life. There has to be peace in the lives of your children. When you have peace in your home, you know God is ruling and reigning.

Where there is peace, God is.
-Author Unknown-

God’s Clear Instruction

For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.

1 Corinthians 7:16-17

Paul gave us counsel for those married, single, divorced and widowed. The Word of God has told us what to do. I think this is important, because we do not have to guess or try to figure it out on our own. God has given us clear instruction on how to live our lives in every season of life.

As Christians, this is so important. When people come to you and ask for godly counsel, you use the Word of God, not your own opinions or experiences. Take them to the Word. You have to show them what God said in the New Testament. You have to take them through the New Testament, so they see how God’s Word is consistent from one book to the next. If you do not give them the Scriptures, they are just going to say, “Well, my counselor told me this.”

You have done your job when you have given them the Word of God. After you give people the Word, you have to warn them, “Now that I have given you the Scriptures, you are responsible.” I gave the Word of God, and His Word does not come back void. It is the only thing of value we have to give people.

Philosophy and religion may reform, but only the Bible can transform.
-Brian H. Edwards-

Free Gift of God

Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.

1 Corinthians 7:18

There was a problem among the Jews. Salvation was given to the Jews first, then, in the Book of Acts, we see how God sent Paul to preach to the Gentiles. When the Gentiles came to know the Lord, the Jews wanted Peter to talk to the Gentiles.

According to the Christian Jews, if the Gentiles were going to be Christians, they had to follow some rules. There were three things they had to do: keep the law, get baptized and get circumcised.

Those were the three requirements in Jewish law, in order for them to be Christian Jews, but this was one of the reasons the Gospel was given. Circumcision was not salvation.

It is really important we understand what Paul was dealing with. In Corinth, among the Greeks, there were some Jewish people. They believed, in order to be saved, you had to be circumcised. Then after you were circumcised, you had to keep the law and get baptized, but that is not the Gospel message.

We should not be in bondage or put others in bondage to anything Christ did not give to us. Salvation is the free gift of God, not something we earn by works or deeds.

Our salvation is a pure gratuity from God.
-Benjamin B. Warfield-

Faith Not Works

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.

1 Corinthians 7:19

Many times, people get caught up in baptism. There are churches that teach you are not saved unless you are baptized. Think about it. They say if you are not baptized in water, you are not saved. If you die without baptism, then you do not make it into the Kingdom of God.

That is not what the Bible teaches. When you go through the Book of Acts, it is incredible how many times, in each chapter, the Holy Spirit is mentioned — the Holy Spirit. The whole Book of Acts is about the Holy Spirit. What the Holy Spirit was sent to do in the body of Christ — in the church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I think it is really important we understand, Paul the Apostle was dealing with legalistic people. At the same time, he was dealing with a people who worshiped many gods. The Greeks were very good philosophers. They loved philosophy, with Plato and Socrates. That was just the Greek culture. They understood works and not faith.

Then, Paul the Apostle came along and said it was really important for us to understand our relationship with God. It is not based on works. It is based on faith — faith in Jesus Christ, period. There are people who get hung up with doing good works. They think they have peace with God. They think they get all these Brownie points, and it is not really true. Baptism does not save us, a relationship with Christ does.

What saves is faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.
-J. I. Packer-

Recognize the Laborers

And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

The first Monday of September is the day we take in America to recognize the laborers, the working class. Most employees have the day off and will have picnics, pool parties or barbeques. That is how Labor Day is celebrated in America.

That is how we celebrate Labor Day, but what does Labor Day mean? Why do we celebrate this day? Our country was built by the working men and women who came here from around the world. People could not come here and sit around. They came and built a nation.

Look at the verse above. Paul the Apostle urged them to recognize the laborers around them and those over them in the Lord. He said to recognize those who admonish you. It is the Lord who calls each one of us to work. In the Proverbs, we see verse after verse about the lazy man. It is the working man who prospers and is blessed by the Lord.

How beautiful it is when we recognize the hard work of those around us and those above us. We are each called to work where God has placed us. Today, take the time to give thanks to the Lord for your fellow laborers and pray for them.

Man was made to work, because the God who made him was a ‘working God.’
-Sinclair Ferguson-

Called To Serve

Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.

1 Corinthians 7:20

It is really important we understand; Paul the Apostle was giving solid doctrine. Each of us needs to remain in the calling God called us. He knows what He is doing, and we do not need to second guess Him or help Him.

This is so important, because many times we do not stay true to the calling God gives us. There are people who like to tell us what our calling is, even if it does not agree with what God has already shown us. When people try to tell me what God has told them to tell me, I tell them I will give it to the Lord and see if He shows me the same thing. God will tell me if it is really of the Lord.

Sometimes, we do not stay true to our call because we want someone else’s call. We like their call better. We want to be an eye, when we have been called to be a toe. We want to be seen. We do not want to be in the dark, in a smelly shoe.

Remember, we will only be successful in serving the Lord when we are serving according to His will and His purposes. We will be frustrated in ministry if we try to do something God has not called us to do. God will bless our lives when we serve Him fully and completely, in the way He has called us.

Church greatness consists in being greatly serviceable.
-Richard Baxter-

Slave by Choice

Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.

1 Corinthians 7:21

In order to see a slave, a real slave, we do not go to the New Testament. If you want to see a real slave, where do we go? We go back to the Book of Exodus. There we see a real slave was one who was bought in the market. After being bought at the market, he was brought home and given his duties.

According to the contract, the Jewish contract was given for a slave to be in your home for six years. In the seventh year, you would have to release him, give him freedom. Before the end of the sixth year, you would ask your slave, “Do you want to stay or do you want to leave?”

A slave may choose to stay and say, “I have been here six years. You have treated me so well. I have a wife and a child here. I love you, and I want to stay with you.”

They would take him over to the doorpost, put his right ear against it and drill a hole through his ear. They put an earring on your ear. The earring told people you were a slave by choice.

That is who we are as Christians. We are not forced to be here. We are slaves by choice, because we want to serve God. We want to love God. No wonder Paul uses the word slave all the time.

The most willing service to men is rendered by those who are bent on pleasing Christ!
-Geoffrey B. Wilson-

Free in Christ

For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

1 Corinthians 7:22-23

While I may be a slave, in the Lord, I am free. When we come to the Lord, we are made free. We are no longer slaves to man. We become free in Christ.

Before I gave my life to Christ, I was a slave to the world. I was a slave to my sin. I was a slave to the anger that controlled my life. When I gave my life to the Lord, I became a free man.

Then, check this out, he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. Christ frees us from our bondage to the world when we choose to become slaves to Him. Remember yesterday’s devotion? We are slaves, who have freely chosen to serve our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.

Paul the Apostle ended this verse with such an important message. We were bought at a huge price. We cannot forget that. The cost for us was the Cross — the Cross of Jesus Christ. That is heavy!

I believe, when people walk away from the Lord, when they go back into the world and become slaves of men, they have forgotten the price Christ paid for them. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Do not be a man pleaser, be a God pleaser.

Christ’s blood has value enough to redeem the whole world, but the virtue of it is applied only to such as believe.
-Thomas Watson-

Sustained by Christ

Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.

1 Corinthians 7:25

Paul gave advice to the unmarried. Now concerning virgins, the unmarried, notice what he said. I have no commandment from the Lord, which means Paul is saying, “This is my opinion. This is not the Bible. This is my opinion.”

Paul gave his opinion, but he qualified his opinion. He told them why he was able to give an opinion on a subject God had not addressed. God had made him trustworthy. God had called him to speak to the Gentiles. God had anointed him and prepared him during his time in Egypt. Paul believed he was giving sound advice, in the Lord.

In the next verse Paul tells us what his advice was to the virgins, the unmarried. I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress — that it is good for a man to remain as he is: (1 Corinthians 7:26).

What was the present distress? The threat of the Roman persecution was before them, remember, the Romans were killing Christians. Look at the life of Paul. He was persecuted by the Jews and imprisoned in Rome. He knew the dangers and told the unmarried to remain single — seek the Lord, grow close to the Lord. Only Christ will sustain us in times of persecution.

The weight of glory makes persecution light.
-Thomas Watson-

Pursue God First

Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

1 Corinthians 7:27

The church was experiencing great persecution at this time. You only have to read the Book of Acts and the epistles of Paul to see Christians were being persecuted by both the Jews and the Roman government. It was a very difficult time, and Paul wanted to focus the church on pursuing God — a relationship with Him.

God hates divorce, so Paul told them to stay married if you are married. If they were single, they should remain single. Why? He wanted them to pursue God. They were getting sidetracked in their fleshly pursuits. We have to remember; when Paul came to the Corinthians, fornication was accepted.

Paul already explained how God gives some single people the gift of singleness. If He gives you the gift of singleness, you never have to be married. You will not be stumbled. You will not be lusting. It is a gift God gives.

If you cannot handle being single without stumbling, then you need to pray for a husband or a wife, so you do not stumble. Notice, you pray for a husband or wife. You wait upon the Lord; you do not go out looking.

It is so important we spend our lives, single or married, pursuing the Lord first, and allow Him to handle the rest.

A man’s heart has only enough life in it to pursue one object fully.
-C. S. Spurgeon-

Focus on the Lord

But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

1 Corinthians 7:28

Notice what Paul was saying. There was a persecution going on from the Roman government. It was very hard for a husband and wife to be put into the hands of Rome. They were sure to be killed.

Think about that. They were going to be killed, and not just the husband and wife, but their children too. They were living in very difficult times, and they could not protect their families from the ruling Roman government.

Paul said it was not a sin to marry. Remember, in 1 Corinthians 7:25, he said it was not a commandment from God not to get married. It was what he recommended. It was Paul’s opinion, as a trusted servant of the Lord. If a virgin married, she was not sinning.

Throughout 1 Corinthians 7, Paul was exhorting the church to remain as they were and focus on serving the Lord. He wanted them to concentrate on their relationship with the Lord and the best way to serve without distractions.

That is my concern for the church today. We need to be focused on our relationship with the Lord. When it is right, our relationships with others will be right.

Service is the overflow of super-abounding devotion.
-Oswald Chambers-

God First

But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none,

1 Corinthians 7:29

Wow! What was Paul saying? He said, “The time is short.” For Christians, the time was short because the persecution was great. They were killing Christians. Paul was exhorting, “Do not put your marriage as your first priority. Put your marriage with Christ first. Do your work in the Kingdom of God first.”

No matter where you are in your life, God has to be first. If you are married, God has to be first, or your marriage will not work. It will not work. If you are worshipping your wife or your husband, you are wrong. You are definitely going against God’s Word, if your wife, husband or children come before God.

You have to understand what was going on here, husbands and wives were being fed to the lions in the arena. They were being killed. The time was short. What had God called them to do?

Paul the Apostle was also speaking of the future. Time is short. We see the signs of the time all around us. The Lord is coming. What has God called you to do for the furtherance of the Kingdom? What are you doing with your life?

The Word of God never yet prospered in the world without opposition.
-Iain H. Murray-

Patriot Day

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”

2 Chronicles 16:9

Look at the incredible warning in this verse. The LORD looks throughout the whole earth to find those who are loyal to Him and He stands strong on their behalf. The people of Israel no longer had hearts loyal to the Lord, so He told them they would have wars.

God desires our obedience. He has tremendous plans for us, things we cannot even imagine. All He wants is for us to turn to Him and be faithful to Him, set aside the idols in our lives. Think of the plans God has for you. Could your plans ever be better than God’s plan? No way.

Think about the great love God has for you and for me. He sent His Son down to the earth to sacrifice His life for us. Who else has shown you such great love? No one, not one person. God desires we would have loyal hearts to Him.

When things happen like the tragedy of 9/11, He desires we would turn to Him. He would comfort and strengthen us in every tragedy of our lives. Today, turn your life over to the LORD and allow Him to be strong on your behalf. That is His heart’s desire, to comfort and strengthen you.

Jesus treats wars and natural disasters not as agenda items in a discussion of the mysterious ways of God, but as incentives to repentance.
-D. A. Carson-

Hold On To Eternity

those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.

1 Corinthians 7:30-31

The people in Corinth were worldly people. When the people gave their lives to the Lord, they were still influenced by the culture they had been raised in and still lived in. As Christians, Paul was telling them not to get caught up with possessions. If the Lord was coming, they were to take things as light as possible, to be ready when the Lord came.

In Romans 11, Paul said God has a number of Gentiles who are going to be saved, and when the last Gentile is saved it is a done deal. The Lord will take the church in the Rapture. That is why every altar call is important. If the last person to be saved, male or female, gets saved, boom, we are out of here. It is a done deal.

Look at how Paul finished this verse, For the form of this world is passing away. We should not be attached to material things because everything is temporal. It is passing away. We do not take any of our possessions with us when we die or at the Rapture.

If everything is passing away, how should we live our lives? We need to concentrate on the eternal — hold on to the things of God. They have lasting value.

The real value of a thing is the price it will bring in eternity.
-John Wesley-

Seek God’s Will

But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord — how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world — how he may please his wife.

1 Corinthians 7:32-33

You see the difference between the single and married. The married worries about the things of the world and how he can please his wife. The wife is always concerned about different things.

Anyone who is single is going to be totally sold out to the Lord, until God brings a wife. He cares for the things of the Lord, because he is completely focused on the Lord and his relationship with Him. There are no distractions.

Notice, Paul was speaking to the men in verses 32 and 33, but he gave the same instruction to the women in verse 34: . . . The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, . . . But she who is married cares about the things of the world — how she may please her husband.

I have known amazing woman who served the Lord fully, while they were waiting on the Lord. They were married to the Lord. They kept their eyes on the Lord. They did not go out seeking a husband.

We need to seek God’s will for our lives. It will be hard for both the married and the single to serve the Lord, if they are not seeking God’s will for their lives.

To walk out of God’s will is to walk into nowhere.
-C. S. Lewis-

Serve Without Distractions

And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

1 Corinthians 7:35

Underline this verse. Paul was giving this exhortation for their benefit. He wanted to assist them in living their lives totally sold out for Jesus Christ. That was the life of Paul. He was totally sold out for the Lord Jesus Christ. No matter what he suffered, no matter who came against him, he lived his life fully and completely for Jesus.

Remember what Paul said to the church in Philippi: For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). How many of us can say the same thing? We may be able to say it, but would we say the same thing if we had gone through the same things Paul experienced? No way. I do not think we would.

Paul did not want to control their lives. He wanted to bless them. He wanted them to experience the same joy in serving the Lord with their whole hearts, without distractions.

If you are single, serve the Lord without any distractions. Wait upon the Lord. When He brings you a husband or a wife, you will both have hearts to serve the Lord. When a husband and wife put the Lord first in their lives, they will be free to serve the Lord together without distraction. Single or married, we have to be single minded unto the Lord.

Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.
-Jim Elliot-

Marry Only in the Lord

A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment — and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 7:39-40

I want you to underline this verse. Today, people seem to skip over this verse. With all the divorce in the church today, we really need to listen to what God has to say in His Word. Look what Paul said: A wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives.

As long as the husband is alive, you do not marry someone else. When can you remarry? If the husband dies you can remarry, but only in the Lord — only in the Lord. You cannot get married apart from the Lord. He will not bless your marriage.

Paul was speaking to the women but this verse applies to both men and women. If you choose to get a divorce without biblical grounds, which is in the case of sexual immorality, you do not go and remarry. That is what Paul was saying. This is very heavy.

Remember, Paul was speaking to the church. He was speaking to Christians. Those who walk with the Lord should not be divorcing. God hates divorce. If you were divorced before you came to the Lord, all things have been made brand new, but do not divorce and remarry in the Lord. He cannot bless that marriage.

Liberty unregulated by law degenerates into anarchy.
-Lowell Fillmore-

Rosh Hashanah

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.’ “

Leviticus 23:23-24

At sundown, Rosh Hashanah or the Feast of Trumpets will mark the beginning of the High Holy Days. Before it begins, the shofar, ram’s horn, will be blown to call the people to repent and remind them the High Holy Days are coming.

It is called a feast but it is not a celebration. It is a very serious and solemn time for the Jews. According to Jewish tradition, God writes every person’s thoughts, words and works throughout the year in the Book of Life. They are weighed on a scale and if the good outweigh the bad, your name will be written in the book for another year on Yom Kippur.

Think about your thoughts, words and works this year. Do you think the good outweighs the bad? It can be a scary thing to think about. We can hide from people but we cannot hide from God. He sees everything — every thought and deed. He knows the motive of our hearts, even when others think we have done the right thing. What was your true motive?

When Jesus came, He paid the price. When we give our lives to the Lord and abide in Him, we do not have to worry year to year. Our names are in the Book of Life and the blood of Jesus covers our transgressions.

Man sees your action, but God your motives.
-Thomas á Kempis-

Atoning Blood of Jesus

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

2 Timothy 4:1

For the Jews, this is a very solemn time, the High Holy Days. It is a time to weigh your thoughts, words and works, to see if you were good enough to make it into the Book of Life for another year. They are trying to get in the book year by year. What a heavy burden. Can you imagine your eternal salvation resting in your own hands? Can you imagine having to earn your way into heaven? Now way. I cannot. I know who I am.

Paul the Apostle told Timothy, Jesus Christ is the judge of the living and the dead. We will stand before Him at His appearing and the Books will be opened. Sounds scary, right?

It is not scary to me. I have a Savior and He paid the price on the Cross for my sins. He paid for you too. When you open the Book to see my thoughts, words and works, the pages are covered with the atoning blood of the Lamb of God. They have been blotted out.

My hope and trust is in Jesus Christ. I cannot rely on myself to make it into heaven. I am a sinner and I need a Savior. When I gave my life to Jesus Christ and made the choice to abide in Him, my name was written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. There is nothing left for me to do. What great assurance we have in our Savior!

Christ hath crossed out the black lines of our sin with the red lines of His own blood.
-Thomas Brooks-

God Will Bring a Helper

And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

Genesis 2:18

This was the principle for marriage before the law. God does not want people to be alone at all. Before the law was ever given, God spoke. People often want to rest in the law, but in Chapter 2 of Genesis, we have the first ordination, the first marriage put together by the Lord.

It is really important for the young guys and young girls to understand. They do not have to go looking for a boyfriend or girlfriend. You need to wait upon God to bring you the mate you are going to spend the rest of your life with. That is what the Bible teaches.

The reason people get themselves in trouble as boyfriend and girlfriend is they cannot contain themselves, so they fall into sexual sin. They are human and their hormones are waking. Physically, that is what it is, but spiritually, God has given us the order, how to do it right before God, so God can honor your marriage.

In this chapter, man had been created and God saw the emptiness of man, so what did God do? The Lord God said it is not good for a man to be alone. I will make him a helper.

God will bring you a helper — not somebody who is going to make you stumble. That is not what God planned. That is not of the Lord. That is the flesh. That is selfishness. God has to be the one to do it.

Marriage is a covenant consecrated by God.
-Author Unknown-

One Man, One Woman

Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.

Genesis 2:19

Wow! Look at the authority given to man, and whatever Adam called each living creature, that was the name. You can tell man was created as a genius in the beginning. God gave Adam the authority to name all the animals. Imagine that.

In verse 20 it says, So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.

This is so cool, because as Adam was looking out there, he looked at the animal kingdom and he knew there was no animal comparable to him. He knew his helpmate was not out there.

I want to put it in modern terms. Adam was not turned on by a giraffe. The perversion of man today turns him on to the sin of having sex with animals. It is crazy when you think about it.

From the beginning, God created man to long for a woman. Even when there was no woman created, Adam recognized the animals were not created to be his helper. That is so important to recognize. God established one man and one woman right from the beginning.

Before man had any other calling, he was called to be a husband.
-Henry Smith-

Ish and Isha

And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.

Genesis 2:21

When God saw there was not a helper in the animal kingdom comparable to Adam, what did God do? God stepped into the picture. Not Adam. God put Adam to sleep, so He could create a woman for him. He created the woman from Adam’s own body. God created Ish and Isha in the Hebrew, man and woman.

Adam went into a deep sleep and God took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in its place. The word rib in Hebrew is not like our English word for rib. There is no actual word in Hebrew for rib. It means a curved side or the place closest to man’s heart.

In verse 22, after God made the woman for Adam, He brought her to the man. Notice, God brought the woman to the man. Was Adam looking for a woman? No. What do guys do today? They go out looking for a woman. You have to wait. God will bring you the one who will with be you until you die. Seriously.

Before God brought the woman to the man, he was not satisfied at all, but now he says this is it, this is what I want. An animal was not the right helper for Adam, and God did not make another man for Adam. God brought Adam a woman, and Adam recognized she was perfect for him.

God did not create woman to be a competitor but to be a companion.
-Frederick Sampson-

Love Your Chosen One

Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth. As a loving deer and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; And always be enraptured with her love.

Proverbs 5:18-19

Solomon was speaking to his sons, instructing them to stay faithful to the wives of their youth. He said, “Do not go looking for a newer, younger woman, but be content with the wife God gave you when you were young.” Love the wife or husband you were blessed with.

Today, we see the problem goes both ways and adultery has become common instead of being shameful. This message is for both the men and women to stay faithful to their spouses.

I am going to get into this whole thing real heavy, because it is a real problem, not only in the world but in the church. Why do guys commit adultery, and why do women commit adultery? Christians no longer have the fear of the Lord. They read the Word of God but they do not apply it their lives. They do not think the wrath of God is for today’s church.

Even in the midst of his sin, Solomon, with his 700 wives and 300 concubines, realized the truth of God’s Word, given in Genesis 2. God said, “One man and one woman.” Solomon said, “Love the woman you chose in your youth.”

First a man must choose his love, and then he must love his choice.
-Henry Smith-

Divorce Leaves a Mess

“But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.”

Matthew 5:32

Divorce is such a hard issue to address but we have to look at what the Bible teaches. Here, Jesus was very clear when speaking of divorce. He told the people exactly what the Bible teaches. If your husband is verbally abusing you, hitting you or cussing you out, it is not cause for divorce. You have to give God an opportunity to work.

What do you do? You separate, not divorce. How do you know God is not going to change your husband? Do you know how many marriages have split up just to get back together again? Many. They separate, pray, wait upon the Lord and come back together, after God has done a work.

One of our friends from high school was married and divorced. When he came to the Lord, he had a beautiful girlfriend for many years. During those years, God started working in his heart and his wife’s heart. He split with the girlfriend, came back and remarried his wife.

What does it take? Obedience — we have to be true to the Scripture. If you do not obey the Word of God, you will make a mess of your life. God has given us His Word to live by, to have fruitful lives. He desires to bless us in our marriages.

Divorce is a bombshell.
-Andrew Comes-

Give Up Self

The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”

Matthew 19:3

It is important to really look at what Matthew wrote here. The Pharisees came to test Jesus. How many times do we test God? How many times do married couples test the Lord? They test the Lord just like the Pharisees. They are acting self-righteous, just like the Pharisees did with Jesus.

According to the Scriptures, is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason? No, God’s Word is very clear. In Matthew 5:32, Jesus said, But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

Apart from abandonment, found in1 Corinthians 7:10-16, sexual immorality is the only other biblical reason for divorce, and yet God would prefer we forgive. Man does not want to forgive. We want to do things our way, not God’s way, so what did man do? The Pharisees made all these laws. If she salted your meat too much, you could divorce your wife, give her a certificate of divorce. It is crazy.

Marriage is not easy. You have two different personalities coming together to live as one. That is hard. The only way to have a happy marriage is to be married in the Lord. Give up self and seek God.

A successful marriage demands divorce; a divorce from your own self-love.
-Paul Frost-

Stick to the Word of God

And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ “

Matthew 19:4

God gave the direction for marriage right from the beginning, in the Book of Genesis, before the law was given. If it was not the truth, why did Jesus go all the way back to Genesis? In the Gospels, He quoted Genesis, written before the law was ever given. I bring this up because some people argue, “That is Genesis; the law was not given until Exodus 20, so it is not valid.” No, Jesus was quoting Genesis, not Exodus.

The Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus when they asked Him about marriage. They knew God’s Word but they chose to follow the laws they created, even if it was not in line with God’s Word. He said before the beginning, God made male and female, “So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate”,/em> (Matthew 19:5-6).