Be Ready

13Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13

As Paul finishes his first letter to the church in Corinth, he leaves them with these strong and encouraging words. Paul first warns them to be on guard because the enemy is waiting to attack. We need to be aware that Satan is looking to attack us at our weakest point, therefore we need to be prepared when those attacks are coming. Paul tells us to put on the full armor of God in Ephesians 6, thus equipping ourselves for the battle that is at hand. When we have the full armor in place, we are able to stand firm in the faith, not being thrown and tossed around by the enemies arsenal. However, we should not boast because we are strong or courageous, we should be humble and rely on the strength of the Holy Spirit to help us through this tough spiritual battlefield.

Father, help me to stand firm against the enemies attacks. Teach me through your word how to be strong and courageous in the midst of the spiritual battle that is taking place within my life. I desire nothing more but to walk side by side with my Lord.

Your Servant
Chris

Victory over Sin and Death

54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

What a great and profound truth found in these verses. Charlie Hall wrote a beautiful song titled, “Marvelous Light”. Here are some of those lyrics to his song:
Sin has lost it's power,death has lost it's sting.From the grave you've risenVICTORIOUSLY!Into marvelous light I'm running,Out of darkness, out of shame.By the cross you are the truth,You are the life, you are the way

God has given us the most incredible gift, Jesus Christ. When we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we too can claim victory over sin. I sometimes tend to forget just how amazing the resurrection of Jesus Christ was and how I should be running into marvelous light because I have been forgiven and now am living in the Light out of darkness.

Father, thank you that you loved me so much that you sent your Son to die on the cross for my sins and be resurrected on the third day. Help me to run toward the cross and proclaim your truth that you have defeated sin and death.

Your Servant,
Chris

Edifying the Church

"Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church."
1 Corinthians 14:12

The purpose of the spiritual gifts is to serve and build up the church (see 1 Cor. 12:7). The Corinthians, however, sought to promote themselves through the exercise spiritual gifts and, therefore, they sought what they believed to be the most impressive gifts (i.e. speaking in tongues). The desire to impress others and promote ourselves through Christian service is a contemporary temptation as well. It is good to be eager concerning spiritual gifts but let our eagerness be to discover and utilize the gift(s) God has given us to promote Christ and build up His church. Our attitude should be that of John the Baptist when he said, "He must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30).

Father, keep me humble and appropriately eager to use the gifts and abilities that you have given me to glorify Jesus by building up His church.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

True Love

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging symbol." 1 Corinthians 13:1

The love chapter comes at the middle point of Paul's instruction to correct the misguided thought and practice concerning spiritual gifts in Corinth (1 Cor. 12-14). The number one corrective is love. No matter how gifted we may be or how diligent in the exercise of our gift, if we lack Christ-like love it amounts to nothing in God's estimation. Love is first, the gift is second. We must always seek to serve in genuine love as it is described in this chapter. This is His kind of love and it is possible in our life as we maintain a growing love relationship with Him.

Father, May your love fill my life so that as I utilize my gifts in Your service it may be a sweet song and not a grating sound in your ears.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Finding and Filling our Place

"But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body." 1 Corinthians 12:18-20

God gifts and places each of us in His church with a view toward a healthy and fully functional body. Our tendency is to desire another person's gift or role but God does not need us in their place. He needs us in the place He has shaped us to fill. We seek personal gratification but God seeks kingdom growth. If the body existed with only a few prominent gifts it could never function effectively to accomplish God's kingdom purpose. If we will surrender our own desires to do what He desires we will find joy beyond what we can imagine and He will be glorified.

Father, help me to be content and faithful where you have placed me and faithful with the gifts that you have entrusted me so that Christ's Body may healthy and fully functional in our church.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

PASS IT ON

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,… 1 Corinthians 11:23

On Sunday mornings, Pastor Mark is preaching through Galatians and we have seen how Paul defends his presentation of the gospel and his calling from God. 1 Corinthians 11 has another reference to Paul’s credibility—he gives the Corinthian church a lesson on the Lord’s Supper and explains how he has first hand knowledge of this event: God told him about it.

God instructed Paul, who was then faithful to teach others what he had received.

We receive instruction from the Lord (okay, probably not on the same level as Paul) and we can pass on to others what we have learned. We can tell others how to receive Jesus as their Savior and we can share with other believers the truths that God is showing us in scripture. Most likely, anything from the Lord that has blessed your life will bless others as well.

Today, Lord, help me to be ready to share with others what I have received from You. Thank you for being my God.

Singing as I go,
Jim

Temptation and Victory

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. and God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

We are not born again with an immunity to temptation; it is the common Christian experience. However, one of the enemy's tactics is to isolate us in a sense of shame and defeat in which we think there must be something wrong with us because we struggle with temptation. Don't buy into that lie. We all struggle. But we can all be victorious as well. God sets us up to succeed in the face of temptation. When tempted we must learn to look to our faithful God for the strength to bear it and the way of escape. As we learn to do this we will win a double victory. First, He will enable us to stand. Second, and most wonderful, our experience of temptation will drive us closer to Him.

Father, help me to learn to look to You when I am tempted that I may live in the victory that You enable. Help me to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ who also struggle with temptation.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Running the Race

"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." 1 Corinthians 9:5

Discipline is essential for progress in athletics or any other endeavor in which we desire to succeed. Discipline is also essential for progress in our Christian walk. The undisciplined athlete though having great talent will not ultimately win the prize. The undisciplined Christian will not realize his or her full potential in serving and glorifying Christ. The disciplined training that an athlete undergoes for a temporary reward should not surpass the spiritual discipline that we undergo for an eternal reward.

Father, forgive me for so often forgetting the magnitude of the 'race' that I am running in Christ. Keep me mindful of it that I may apply the discipline necessary to 'win the prize.'

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

"Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." 1 Corinthians 8:1

Possessing, or thinking that we possess, greater knowledge than others can lead to an inflated ego. Having love (God's kind of love) leads to serving others for their good in Christ. Knowledge without love leads to self-promotion. Knowledge guided by love becomes a tool to build others up in Christ.

Father, help me to possess knowledge with humility and to use knowledge in love for the edification of my fellow Christians.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Not Your Average Blog Entry

"But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband....for it is better to marry than to burn with passion." 1 Corinthians 7:2, 9

Sex is not a dirty word. The sexual relationship is God's beautiful creation to be enjoyed in the context of marriage. Outside of marriage abstinence is God's plan. Inside the marriage "one flesh" is God's plan. Many problems occur in our society from reversing God's plan in either case. I read an author recently who suggested young people are waiting too long to get married and this is the cause of much sexual immorality in our culture. When we delay marriage for careers, bank accounts, luxuries, etc. we put ourself in a position to either prolong abstinence or compromise God's plan. Only a few are called to extended abstinence the rest are called to intimacy and procreation in marriage. Let's appreciate, honor, and teach the appropriate attitude and practice of God's gift.

Father, I thank you that you have created all things for Your glory and our blessing. Help me to value the gift of sexual intimacy, to honor You in my private life, and to responsibly teach the next generation Your ways.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

The Consequence of Disunity

The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 1 Corinthians 6:7

Paul is disappointed in the Corinthian church because they have allowed disputes within their church to spill over into the courts. In his desire to restore unity, Paul doesn’t attempt to resolve their disputes or act as a mediator for them, instead he rebukes them. He tells them that they are already defeated.

Within the church, whether we win or lose disputes is of little consequence. Our disagreements don’t have to rise to the level of litigation before they negatively effect people’s perceptions of us, the church or even God. Christ told us that people would know that we were His disciples according to the love that we had for one another (John 13:34-35). Therefore, the relationships that we have with our brothers and sisters in Christ must be characterized by a love so full of grace that it draws people to God. Otherwise we have already failed. (Also see Phil. 2:1-4)

Father, create a spirit of unity within our church that is so powerful that the community around us is drawn to you because of our love.

The Priority of Purity

"Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast--as you really are." 1 Corinthians 4:6-7

In the context of a discussion on church discipline, the apostle used the image of yeast taken from the Passover meal. Yeast in this case represents sin. Before the Passover celebration, Jewish parents would hide pieces of yeast throughout the house then the children would search for them to remove it from the house. In the same way we are to search our lives and church for sin and seek through God's grace to remove it. As a little yeast works its way through a whole batch of dough and causes it to rise, so a little sin can infect and impact the whole church. Purity in the church and in the individual life of the Christian is of utmost importance if we desire to experience God's blessing and usefulness to Him.

Father, may Your Holy Spirit search my life today and help me to remove the infection of sin through Your grace in Christ. Keep me from being an infection in Your church and useless in Your kingdom. Make me pure with Your own purity in Christ.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Stewardship

"For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" 1 Corinthians 4:7

Each of us is unique with certain gifts and abilities. Paul asks, "who makes you different from anyone else?" The answer is obviously, "God." We cannot take credit for those things that we do well or those areas in which we may excel beyond others. We are what we are and we are able to do what we are able to do through the gracious work of God in our lives. Paul also asks, "What do you have that you did not receive?" The answer is "Nothing." What we have as well as what we are able to do is a gift from God. So there is no grounds for boasting of our abilities or possessions but there is a need to faithfully steward our abilities and possessions. "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2).

Father, I thank You for what You have entrusted to me. I ask you to help me to be neither proud nor discontent but to faithfully steward this awesome trust to Your glory.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Construction

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 1 Corinthians 3:10

Together, we are building a church—and individually, we are building fully devoted followers of Christ. We are always adding to the lives of other believers, figuratively nailing on spiritual teachings and bricking in obedient lifestyles. In the same fashion, we are always working on ourselves. The idea is to be a good builder, putting in the labor needed and building according to plan.

But each one should be careful how he builds. In construction, a builder uses quality material, skillfully assembled in the correct manner. For the Christian, this translates into knowing God and living in obedience to His will. It also relates to teaching others and guiding them to follow God’s direction.

This construction metaphor also applies in another sense. When I’m out of fellowship with God, it’s like I’m building with the wrong material and using the wrong tool. In some cases, it’s as if I wreck a well-crafted part of the structure. And if my shoddy workmanship damages someone else’s progress, well…we don’t EVEN want to go there.

But each one should be careful how he builds…with each stage of construction fashioned out of love for God and for each other.

Father, make me a careful builder, working according to Your direction in the lives of my brothers and sisters in Christ as well as in my own life.

Your fellow worker,
Jim

Spiritual Power

"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom but on God's power." 1 Corinthians 2:4-5

An old hymn reminds us, "All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down." In serving Christ Paul relied heavily on the Holy Spirit. As he shared the gospel with the lost Paul was keenly aware that the powerful working of the Holy Spirit was far more important than the appearance of eloquence or wisdom on his part. As he taught the saved he was aware that spiritual truth can only be taught and understood by the working of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual work is accomplished only by the Holy Spirit's powerful working through spiritual men and women who are submitted to Him.

Father, forgive me where I have attempted to rely on my wisdom or smooth presentation to get the job done rather than on Your Holy Spirit. Make me more and more conscious of my need for the Holy Spirit and more and more dependent on Him.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Praising God Not People

⁴I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. ⁵For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— ⁶because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. ⁷Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. ⁸He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

Paul, opens his letter to the church at Corinth with his customary salutation and words of thanksgiving. But notice that in giving thanks for the believers in Corinth Paul is praising God, not the people in the church. Based on how he began verse 4, “I always thank God for you because . . .,” we might expect him to list characteristics about the Corinthians that make them praise-worthy. Instead, he points to the work of God in their lives. His grace. His faithfulness. Paul’s words of encouragement were not mere words of flattery. He points very clearly to God as the source of his gratitude and their value. Our worth is rooted exclusively in the things that God has done in our lives. He brings significance to our existence. (also see verse 26)

Father, thank you for calling me by your grace. My desire is that my life would declare your glory. I invite you to use my weaknesses to display your power for others to see.

Peace through Strength

"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." Romans 16:20

The phrase we have often heard concerning the need to maintain America's military power is "peace through strength." The peace of God is won through strength also. God's peace comes through his powerful triumph over His enemy and ours, Satan. God crushed Satan through the cross of Christ. By the power of the cross God will crush Satan in our lives so that we may walk in victory and peace. The peace of God does not come through passiveness but through forceful action on God's part. Those who would walk in peace and victory must arm themselves for battle relying on God's resources (see 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:11).

Father, thank you for the peace you have won through the cross and for the victory that you are able and willing to win in my life. Train me to walk in Your peace and victory day by day.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Freedom or Love

"It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that will cause your brother to fall." Romans 14:21

In matters of conduct which are debated ("gray areas") it is better for us to lay down our freedom in order to protect our Christian brother or sister from stumbling. Love (see 14:15) is more important than freedom. If I love my fellow Christian then I will consider his or her spiritual growth and well-being above my own freedom. If the exercise of my freedom in gray areas could cause them to stumble then I will act for their benefit rather than my own. The temptation is to say to our brother "Grow up!" but the call of Christ is to lay down my desires in order to help them grow.

Father, fill me with the kind of love for my fellow Christians that makes me willing to lay down my own rights and desires to build them up.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Our Coming Salvation

"And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." Romans 13:11

The call to submit to governing authorities (13:1-7) and to love our fellow man (13:8-10) is bolstered by awareness that Jesus' return is approaching. Paul urged the first century believers to live with expectation of Jesus' coming and to let that expectation motivate holy living. In the same way every generation of believers must live with this expectation and motivation because in truth 'our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.' We do not know the exact day of His return but each passing day brings it one day closer.

Father, fill my heart with a joyful anticipation of Jesus' return that motivates a joyful daily obedience in my life.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Basic Requirment: Total Transformation

Romans 12:1-2a
"Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

Paul has transitioned in the letter from the theological perspective to the practical side of a Christian life. Paul encourages us to offer our lives as a living sacrifice to God. One may ask why? Paul gives us the answer, because of God's mercy. We don't need to forget the ulitmate sacrifice that was made on the cross. I think to many times I tend to take what happened on the cross for granted and get comfortable in my walk with Christ. Sacrifice is a word that I don't want to hear, yet Paul reminds us that we should be continually offering our lives as an act of spiritual worship to God who has redemmed us by His grace. When we continually offer ourselves, we are transformed by the Holy Spirit. What does this transformed mind look like? Re-read Romans 12:9-17, Paul gives us a glimpse in these verses.

Father, my prayer is that you would transform me. I confess that I am weak and not able to do this on my own. Help me to understand how to offer my body as a living sacrifice that is pleasing to you.

The Depths of God

"Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and his paths beyond tracing out!" Romans 11:33

There is an unfathomable mystery about some of the ways of God. His wisdom and knowledge so far surpass our own that we cannot begin to understand all that He has purposed or does. We are not without any understanding of God because He has revealed to us those truths about His person and ways that we need to know. In regard to what can be known about God and His ways we should be diligent students. In regard to what is beyond our comprehension we must trust Him and praise Him for His greatness. What kind of God would He be if I could completely understand and simply explain Him? Not the kind of God we need.

Father, you are deep beyond my ability to fathom. I have only begun to wade into the shallows of Your wisdom and knowledge and already I am in over my head. I praise you for the depths that are beyond my knowing and gladly trust You to rule all things in accordance with Your plan.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark