11.19.08
Posted in 1 Corinthians at 6:42 am by Administrator
Text: 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 Theme: Honor God with your body. Key verses: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God?” (v. 9a) “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (v. 11) “‘Everything is permissible for me’ — but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible for me’ — but I will not be mastered by anything.” (v. 12) “The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” (v. 13b) “But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Flee sexual immorality.” (v. 17-18a) “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (v. 1-20) What God said to me: Dwayne, this is dead-on stuff and exactly what you, my servant, needs to hear and heed today. I take very seriously any sexual sins my children commit. I made you as a sexual being. I gave you sexual desires. That is my gift to you. And only I, your Creator and gift-giver, understand how you can best fulfill those desires to bring you the greatest satisfaction and me the greatest glory. How dare you or any of my own take what I have freely given and use it your selfish ends. Do you know better than I how to satisfy your deepest cravings? I grow weary of repeating this basic theme with you. I am Your God. I am Your ultimate lover. Are you first of all truly joined with me so that we are one? That must be your greatest priority and goal. Nothing else, no physical pleasure, will take you to the heights of ecstasy like knowing and worshiping me. Paul was literally comparing the physical act of sexual union with the spiritual act of uniting with me. Be careful here. Paul was not in any way implying that union with me will bring you physical pleasure. But he was clearly saying though that holy union with me will bring you spiritual satisfaction and completeness. Dwayne, do you realize how few of my children have ever really embraced and experienced spiritual wholeness with me? It’s available to them all. Positionally they are already there. But practically, they rarely experience my abundant life and provisions. The reasons are many but yet they boil down to selfishness and sin. Many would rather be mastered by their bodies and their physical desires than mastered by me. Many would rather give up a lifetime of joy for a few moments of fleeting pleasure. What about you, Dwayne? Will you always choose me, and therefore always choose real life? What I said to God: God, my God, early will I seek You. My flesh longs You, my soul thirsts for You in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Thank You for speaking loudly to my soul this morning. I so needed to hear and comprehend the depth of this passage and this truth. Oh Father, please help me heed this warning and exhortation from Paul. I desire perfect holy union with You first and foremost. You are my true satisfaction. Nothing else will do.
Permalink
11.13.08
Posted in 1 Corinthians at 6:53 am by Administrator
Text: 1 Corinthians 6:1-7 Theme: It is better to be cheated by another believer than to go to court in front of non-believers. Key verses: “If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? (v. 1) “Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of  little account in the church!” (v. 4) “…one brother goes to law against another — and this in front of un-believers! 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? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.” (v. 6-8) What God said to me: Dwayne, I take it very seriously when my children don’t act like salt and light in front of a world I died for. What’s more, I am deeply offended and angered when they act worse than the world they are supposed to be saving! Paul was shaming the Corinthian church by saying that even no-account and carnal Christians are still better to judge than lost people. Don’t let lost people see your quarreling. You don’t want outsiders to see your fussing and disagreements within your home and family, do you? You don’t call your neighbors to mediate everytime you and your wife get into an argument, do you? Then why go to the unchurched to judge things they know nothing of, and that they should no nothing of? If you as my church really love those you are called to be lights to, then you will be willing to be offended and wronged rather than offend and be a stumbling block to those who don’t know me. It comes down to dying to yourself and your own rights. Paul was not saying let other Christians run all over you. However, if the matter can’t be resolved among yourselves, then it is better to let it go than to risk misrepresenting my Son and his church to the lost and dying and going-to-hell world. What I said to God: Thank You, precious and Holy One. I so appreciate You meeting with me and speaking so clearly to me this morning. I do see the supernatural logic in this passage. I do understand that we must die to ourselves and not insist on our own vindication if it might hurt or offend or confuse someone who is lost. Thank You for clear instructions like these in Your Word. Forgive us when we don’t heed or even know about such instructions. That is to our shame and for that we will give an account before You. Help me today to represent You properly in front of those who don’t know You. Help me respond and react the way Your Son would when He was hurt and wronged. In essence, help me be filled up with You rather than me…
Permalink
11.10.08
Posted in 1 Corinthians at 9:19 am by Administrator
Text: 1 Corintihians 5 Theme: We are to judge those in the body of Christ and deal with them scripturally and appropriately. Key verses: “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you…A man has his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?… I have already passed judgment on the one who did this…When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.” (v. 1-5) “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. ‘Expel the wicked man from among you.’” (v. 12-13) What God said to me: Son, this is a very difficult passage to absorb and even more difficult to apply. Yet, Paul was determined to preach and live the whole counsel of my truth and Word. On the surface it might appear harsh and loving what Paul is telling the Corinthian church to do with the immoral man in their local body of believers. Yet, to leave him there among them was like a cancer, like bad yeast that sours the entire loaf. As leaders of my flock you must deal quickly and effectively with such rebellious and outwardly sinful people. Notice there was a sense of arrogance among the church regarding this. It was as though they were above being corrupted by this man, like his behavior wouldn’t affect them. Or perhaps they thought their tolerance of his sin was an overt sign of their extraordinary love for the saints. But Paul knew the real reason was pride in their hearts — and no doubt pride in the heart of the one who was immoral. Dwayne, as much as you may want to, you cannot truly love someone who is in direct and deliberate opposition to my Word by overlooking their sin. You must expel that person from your fellowship. In doing so, you will save not only your congregation, but also that person. What I said to God: Holy Father, You are so right in saying we may not want to follow these apparently unloving and confrontational directions from Paul. Yet, I do see why what he says is true. And I acknowledge that we as leaders are responsible for the health of our congregations. To continue to allow outward rebellion will affect and eat away at everyone around. At the least it will produce a spirit of apathy toward Your clear precepts and laws. Right now I’m feeling real thankful I’m not a lead pastor, for those undershepherds must stand before You for what they allow and what they overlook. However, I know that I too have a responsibility to pray for and support my pastor — even in the hard decisions that might seem unloving and unwise.
Permalink
11.06.08
Posted in 1 Corinthians at 11:03 am by Administrator
Text: 1 Corinthians 4:8-17 Theme: Paul warns us against arrogance and comfort in what God has given us. Key verses: “We (apostles) are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!” (v. 10) “When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly…” (v. 12-13) “I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children…you do not have many fathers…Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I am sending you Timothy…He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere… Some of you have become arrogant…” (v. 14-18) What God said to me: Dwayne, be very, very careful that you do not become too comfortable with all I have blessed you with. When you do, you will lose your edge and drop your guard. You may even begin to think that what you have you somehow deserve or worked to achieve. Paul was one of my greatest and most faithful servants ever to walk your earth. Yet, you see how little he received or desired creature comforts. Why do you think you should have it any better? Paul wanted the Corinthians — and the church in general — to see his consistent walk with his talk, how that Christ really was his only hope, joy, comfort and goal. Can you say that about yourself? Will my Son say that to you at the Judgement Seat? What I said to God: Holy God, I acknowledge my sin of arrogance before You. I have become comfortable and settled in my Christian walk. I have taken for granted Your amazing and undeserved blessings of health, material posessions, peace with others, and human freedoms. If all that was suddenly taken away, would I still praise You? Would I cling to You in new and deeper ways? Do I in fact depend on You as my one and only Source? I fear not… Help me and my family love You and You alone, above ourselves and our “creature comforts.”
Permalink
11.03.08
Posted in 1 Corinthians at 12:00 pm by Administrator
Text: 1 Corinthians 4:6-7 Theme: Paul wanted us to understand why we shouldn’t boast in other people or in ourselves. Key verses: “I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, ‘Do not go beyond what is written.’ Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.” (v. 6) What God said to me: Dwayne, too many of my children take their eyes off of me, their true Source, and focus their attention and sense of belonging and pride in another person. While often their focus turns toward worldly personalities, like authors, movie stars and secular musicians, far too often my children place too much value on other believers. They tend to follow the teaching of one or two authors or preachers to the point of making their teachings infallible and without question. Be careful never to assume one or two people have it all figured out concerning my Kingdom and my Word. I give partial revelation to my servants, and they should be honored for their diligent study and faithful teaching. However, beware of rallying around men rather than looking to me for guidance and insight. Paul was wanting the Corinthians to understand this valuable principle — that no man deserves such a high level of credit and esteem. He didn’t make up the stuff he taught and wrote about. I gave it all to him. Likewise, others who read his writings should not think too highly of the writer but rather of the Author and Source of all wisdom and righteousness. What I said to God: Thank You, holy Father. You are my one and only true Source of help and peace and direction and instruction. Thank You for the many authors and preachers and mentors You have brought into my life over the years. But even with them, You were the One who led and taught me through their efforts and example. I pray that as You continue to exalt me and increase my platform and influence among your Body others will not look to me but look through me to You and You alone.
Permalink