Questions in 1st Corinthians - 2

5:12
For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?

6:1
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?

6:2
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?

6:3
Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
6:5
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?
6:7
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?

6:9
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,

6:15
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!

6:16
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.”

6:19
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?

7:16
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?

[Message No: 6889]

Power

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Christ Crucified
   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. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Zechariah 4:6

So he answered and said to me:
   “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:
 ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
 Says the Lord of hosts.

Romans 1:6

among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

Maturing

1 Corinthians 3:1-4

Sectarianism Is Carnal
   And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 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; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

Hebrews 5:12-14

Spiritual Immaturity
    For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Matthew 4:4

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

1 Timothy 4:6-8

A Good Servant of Jesus Christ
     If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

[Message No: 6888]

Obey the Word

Titus 1:5-9

Sometimes there are problems because unqualified people got into places of leadership or because places of leadership have not been filled.
The Greek word translated “Set in Order” in a medical term that means “To set a broken Bone”.
The Church body suffers when we avoid facing and solving serious problems.

Questions in Joshua

9:7
The Israelites said to the Hivites,  “But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty  with you?”

9:8
We are your servants, ” they said to Joshua.
 But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?”

Thoughts 

. God Incarnate is the end of fear; and the heart that realizes that he is in the midst, that takes heed to the assurance of his loving presence, will be quiet in the midst of alarm.  “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.”  Only be patient and be quiet. - F. B. Meyer

. God not only orders our steps.  He orders our stops. - George Muller

Questions in Amos

3:3
Do two walk together
 unless they have agreed to do so?

3:4
Does a lion roar  in the thicket
 when it has no prey?
 Does it growl in its den
 when it has caught nothing?

[Message No: 6887]

Man’s Problem – Sin

Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, and let us reason together,”
 Says the Lord,
 “Though your sins are like scarlet,
 They shall be as white as snow;
 Though they are red like crimson,
 They shall be as wool.

Proverbs 29:25

“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe”

Jesus told us not to fear other human opponents (Lk. 12:4-5). When we try to please others, when we fear what others may say or do to us, we place ourselves in a position of great vulnerability. Our lives no longer remain our own. We become captive to what others think, want, or threaten. We are only to trust the LORD and reverence him. In God is our safety, both now, and forevermore.

Questions in Nahum

1:6

Who can stand before His indignation?
 And who can endure the fierceness of His anger?
 His fury is poured out like fire,
 And the rocks are thrown down by Him.

1:9

What do you conspire against the Lord?
 He will make an utter end of it.
 Affliction will not rise up a second time.

[Message No: 6886]

Love for the Church

1 Corinthians 16:13-18

Final Exhortations

    Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.
   I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints— that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us.

   I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men.

Hebrews 11:13

“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.”

I'm not good at waiting for much of anything. I'm like the kids who have seen the catalogues for Christmas toys and are anxious for the big gift day. God does have a great Gift Day ahead for us. On that wonderful day, all our waiting will be over and our faith will become sight. Let's follow the example of these great heroes of faith, and welcome that day from afar, by anticipation, praising God for his victory through Jesus Christ in our lives.

The Watchman

Galatians 2:11-14

Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
   But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?

[Message No: 6885]

John the Baptist and Elijah

Mark 9:11-13

And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
   Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”

Matthew 11:14

And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Luke 1:17

He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

John 1:17-21

For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

    A Voice in the Wilderness

    Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

   He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
   And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”

  He said, “I am not.”
  “Are you the Prophet?”
  And he answered, “No.”

Malachi 4:5-6

[Message No: 6884]

In Enduring Suffering

Acts 16:19-25

But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.

   And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

      The Philippian Jailer Saved

     But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

In Bearing Annoyance

Acts 16:16-18

Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days.

  But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour

Am I grateful for God’s Goodness?

Romans 2:4

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Thought

"Should we feel at times disheartened and discouraged, a simple movement of heart toward God will renew our powers. Whatever he may demand of us, he will give us at the moment the strength and courage that we need." - François Fénelon

[Message No: 6883]

Geography

Joshua 24:1

Joshua choose a meaningful place for his final message, for Shechem held many memories for Israel. There God appeared  to Abraham  [Genesis 12:6-7], and there Jacob  had a “family revival” as he went to Bethel [Gen. 35:1-4]/

Shechem was near Mount Ebal where the people had rededicated themselves to the Lord after entering the land [Josh. 8:30-35].

Being in a special place can sometimes make it easier for us to meet with God.

Man’s Problem

Trouble – John 14:1
Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You believe  in God;  believe also in me.

Needs – Philippians 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs  according to the riches of his glory  in Christ Jesus.

Rejection – Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money  and be content with what you have,  because God has said,
  “Never will I leave you;
 never will I forsake you.”

Sickness – Exodus 15:26
He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep  all his decrees,  I will not bring on you any of the diseases  I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals  you.”

1 Corinthians 10:31

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

As humans, we are often quick to quibble over things we feel are important to us when others don't share our enthusiasm — especially food, holidays, and special events. This problem is often more a sign of insecurity than it is a mark of sincerity.

We are to do what we do based on our commitment to honor the Lord, not because others do it or approve of it. At the same time, we want to be careful about judging others for what they do or do not celebrate, eat, or drink. The bottom line when judging such things: Can we do it to honor the Lord?

[Message No: 6882]