1 Corinthians 13
In the last verse of chapter 12, Paul tells us that he will show us "a more excellent way". He wrote this after discussing the spiritual gifts. Then, in this chapter he wrote that everything is meaningless without love. Love is the greatest gift!
Desire it! Desire to have the greatest love of all!
(1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV) "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
(1 Corinthians 14:1 NKJV) "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy."
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Desire to preach the Gospel!
(1 Corinthians 9:16, 17 NKJV) "For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship."
Woe to people who do not preach the Gospel. It doesn't matter if you want to or not, but I pray that you'll desire it! It's one of the greatest and most fulfilling vocations out there, and you are missing out on a great deal if you don't enjoy and give your best in evangelism!
Woe to people who do not preach the Gospel. It doesn't matter if you want to or not, but I pray that you'll desire it! It's one of the greatest and most fulfilling vocations out there, and you are missing out on a great deal if you don't enjoy and give your best in evangelism!
Endure... all things!?
(1 Corinthians 9:12 NKJV) "If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?
Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ."
What struck me here is the last part. "...endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. Christianity is not about Christ. The moment your rights end is the the moment Christ rises up in your life. Christianity is about spreading the Gospel. Yes we still have our rights. But we lay them down of our own accord if they will hinder the Gospel. If not, then exercise your rights! Nothing's wrong with it!
Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ."
What struck me here is the last part. "...endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. Christianity is not about Christ. The moment your rights end is the the moment Christ rises up in your life. Christianity is about spreading the Gospel. Yes we still have our rights. But we lay them down of our own accord if they will hinder the Gospel. If not, then exercise your rights! Nothing's wrong with it!
The world is passing away
(1 Corinthians 7:31 NKJV) "and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away."
This world will pass away! Let us not misuse the world! Let us not get entangled with the world! Let us not fix our eyes on the world!
I'm sorry, gadgets. I'm sorry, fancy cars. I'm sorry, computer games. I'm sorry, luxurious living. All of you are beautiful... but you will pass away. I'll fix my eyes on those that won't.
This world will pass away! Let us not misuse the world! Let us not get entangled with the world! Let us not fix our eyes on the world!
I'm sorry, gadgets. I'm sorry, fancy cars. I'm sorry, computer games. I'm sorry, luxurious living. All of you are beautiful... but you will pass away. I'll fix my eyes on those that won't.
He called me while I'm here... why is that?
(1 Corinthians 7:24 NKJV) "Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called."
There must be something God wants me to do. There must be something God wants me to do with what I have in my hands now. There must be something God wants me to do with the situation I'm in. And whatever it is, IT MUST BE DONE!
There must be something God wants me to do. There must be something God wants me to do with what I have in my hands now. There must be something God wants me to do with the situation I'm in. And whatever it is, IT MUST BE DONE!
Ever thought of being forever single?
Paul said that he would rather have all people become single like him to serve the Lord. He did not forbid people to marry, he just heavily encouraged the Christians to live a life of singleness...
I have to see what he sees while writing these words. The Holy Spirit was upon him when he wrote these down, so the Holy Spirit is actually the one telling us about this. Before I prepare myself for marriage, I should really catch the vision he has. I should really understand the gravity of those words. Then will I understand the value of marriage in God's eyes.
I have to see what he sees while writing these words. The Holy Spirit was upon him when he wrote these down, so the Holy Spirit is actually the one telling us about this. Before I prepare myself for marriage, I should really catch the vision he has. I should really understand the gravity of those words. Then will I understand the value of marriage in God's eyes.
Unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
(1 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV) "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?"
Be wise! Be spiritfilled! Be just! You are a son of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!
If you can't make up your mind as to where you should treat your friends, whether in KFC or McDonalds, will God entrust to you the salvation of your community? Of your city? Of your country?
If you have to ask your mentor or your pastor how to wash the dishes in the church, or how to mop the floor, you really have some serious issues...
Don't be dumb, man! Dumb people belong to heaven! Be like Jesus!
Be wise! Be spiritfilled! Be just! You are a son of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!
If you can't make up your mind as to where you should treat your friends, whether in KFC or McDonalds, will God entrust to you the salvation of your community? Of your city? Of your country?
If you have to ask your mentor or your pastor how to wash the dishes in the church, or how to mop the floor, you really have some serious issues...
Don't be dumb, man! Dumb people belong to heaven! Be like Jesus!
Judgment starts from the inside out
(1 Corinthians 5:11, 12 NKJV) "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. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?"
Purging starts from within the Church. Cleansing starts from within. It starts with me, because I am inside. I abide by the greatest standards of all. I must be blameless.
If you want to see the whole world become holy, that holiness will be demanded from you. That works great, 'cause we don't want a world run by hypocrites, right?
So be blameless! You can do it! With Christ!
Purging starts from within the Church. Cleansing starts from within. It starts with me, because I am inside. I abide by the greatest standards of all. I must be blameless.
If you want to see the whole world become holy, that holiness will be demanded from you. That works great, 'cause we don't want a world run by hypocrites, right?
So be blameless! You can do it! With Christ!
Discipleship is also parenting
(1 Corinthians 4:15 NKJV) "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."
There are many leaders in the world, but less are the rightful fathers. Discipleship is about leadership... but it's also about parenting.
Therefore I urge you, imitate me. (1 Corinthians 4:16 NKJV)
There are many leaders in the world, but less are the rightful fathers. Discipleship is about leadership... but it's also about parenting.
Therefore I urge you, imitate me. (1 Corinthians 4:16 NKJV)
Be Faithful! Someone's watching!
(1 Corinthians 4:2 NKJV) "Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful."
Faithfulness is examined of you in ALL ASPECTS of your life! Take a moment and ponder... what are all the aspects of your life? God is observing you!
(1 Corinthians 4:9 NKJV) "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."
We are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. God is watching us. The angels and the demons watch us. People watch us. We are on display. Be wise therefore! And be strong! And be fully dependent to God!
Faithfulness is examined of you in ALL ASPECTS of your life! Take a moment and ponder... what are all the aspects of your life? God is observing you!
(1 Corinthians 4:9 NKJV) "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."
We are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. God is watching us. The angels and the demons watch us. People watch us. We are on display. Be wise therefore! And be strong! And be fully dependent to God!
Hard work has rewards!
(1 Corinthians 3:8 NKJV) "Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor."
There really is a reward. Hard work, therefore, is not useless. There are eternal rewards waiting for us, depending on the work that we have done! Yes, grace is more than enough! But that grace will give us much more grace because it will cause us to work harder, and with work comes reward! Let's all strive to work harder for the Lord!
There really is a reward. Hard work, therefore, is not useless. There are eternal rewards waiting for us, depending on the work that we have done! Yes, grace is more than enough! But that grace will give us much more grace because it will cause us to work harder, and with work comes reward! Let's all strive to work harder for the Lord!
Wisdom and Maturity IS Spirituality
(1 Corinthians 2:6, 7 NKJV) "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,"
And (1 Corinthians 2:10 NKJV) "But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God."
The preceding verses tell us that the mature talk about wisdom, but that is wisdom that is not of this world. The verses also tell us that that wisdom is revealed only by the Holy Spirit. By this logic, we find out that the mature are those deep in the Holy Spirit! Maturity therefore is measured by one's intimacy and unity with the Holy Spirit!
(1 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV) "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."
Di kasi deep!
And (1 Corinthians 2:10 NKJV) "But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God."
The preceding verses tell us that the mature talk about wisdom, but that is wisdom that is not of this world. The verses also tell us that that wisdom is revealed only by the Holy Spirit. By this logic, we find out that the mature are those deep in the Holy Spirit! Maturity therefore is measured by one's intimacy and unity with the Holy Spirit!
(1 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV) "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."
Di kasi deep!
God will crush Satan at your feet!
(Romans 16:20 NKJV) "And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen."
AMEN!!! I receive!
Need I say more!? Amen has already been said! AMEN!
AMEN!!! I receive!
Need I say more!? Amen has already been said! AMEN!
Love is a debt
(Romans 13:8 NKJV) Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Love is a debt. Love is a debt to everyone; it must be repaid. They have done nothing for us to owe them love... that's why it is called love. That's what God's love means... unconditional... and unfailing... and ACTIVE.
To owe someone means you really have to do something about it. Debt is not a state of comfort; but of restlessness.
Only then will you have really fulfilled God's law. Are you a Christian or not?
Love is a debt. Love is a debt to everyone; it must be repaid. They have done nothing for us to owe them love... that's why it is called love. That's what God's love means... unconditional... and unfailing... and ACTIVE.
To owe someone means you really have to do something about it. Debt is not a state of comfort; but of restlessness.
Only then will you have really fulfilled God's law. Are you a Christian or not?
Leadership comes with diligence
(Romans 12:8 NKJV) "he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness."
Leadership should be exercised WITH DILIGENCE!!! It really takes diligence for leadership to be acceptable and pleasing to God! Leadership is shepherding. It takes love, skill and diligence... you really need diligence!
If you love someone, you have to be strong for that someone. You have to be able for that someone. It takes diligence.
Leadership should be exercised WITH DILIGENCE!!! It really takes diligence for leadership to be acceptable and pleasing to God! Leadership is shepherding. It takes love, skill and diligence... you really need diligence!
If you love someone, you have to be strong for that someone. You have to be able for that someone. It takes diligence.
Grace and... sacrifice!?
(Romans 12:1, 2 NKJV) "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Can grace and sacrifice come hand in hand? Yes! The passage here mentioned "therefore", meaning this is a conclusion of the previous statements. The previous statements talk about grace and being grafted into the family of God. I can say that sacrifice is not only not redundant, but also the perfect response to God's grace! The sacrifice being discussed here is about offering our bodies and minds as living sacrifices! And by this, God means that we should offer our everything for Him! My perspective about the "therefore" of Paul not including the spirit is that the spirit is already righteous and sold out to God upon salvation. But the body and the mind are to be subject to God as well! This is our struggle. Paul "beseeches" us to do this! It means it should really take effort!
Can grace and sacrifice come hand in hand? Yes! The passage here mentioned "therefore", meaning this is a conclusion of the previous statements. The previous statements talk about grace and being grafted into the family of God. I can say that sacrifice is not only not redundant, but also the perfect response to God's grace! The sacrifice being discussed here is about offering our bodies and minds as living sacrifices! And by this, God means that we should offer our everything for Him! My perspective about the "therefore" of Paul not including the spirit is that the spirit is already righteous and sold out to God upon salvation. But the body and the mind are to be subject to God as well! This is our struggle. Paul "beseeches" us to do this! It means it should really take effort!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
On true repentance
I was praying to the Lord that He would lead me to true repentance. I know His grace and His love, they are unfailing and unconditional. But I want to be deeper with Him. And for that, I desire true repentance.
And while praying, He made me say these words: true repentance is consistency.
I then stopped. I was taken aback. I pondered on the thought, and criticized it in every way. I concluded that yes, it is not the definitive equation of true repentance, but an angle of it, and a byproduct of it. But those words were rhema to me.
So i leave you with the thought:
true repentance is consistency.
I found it deep. Please stop for a while and meditate on it.
And the amusing thing is, it also roughly equates to "get your ass off of your feelings and move in the realm of faith, which never fails and never misses a step"!
And while praying, He made me say these words: true repentance is consistency.
I then stopped. I was taken aback. I pondered on the thought, and criticized it in every way. I concluded that yes, it is not the definitive equation of true repentance, but an angle of it, and a byproduct of it. But those words were rhema to me.
So i leave you with the thought:
true repentance is consistency.
I found it deep. Please stop for a while and meditate on it.
And the amusing thing is, it also roughly equates to "get your ass off of your feelings and move in the realm of faith, which never fails and never misses a step"!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)