Author: missionspaul

Inflated ego, puffed up, judgmental, boastful, parading wealth and wisdom, arrogant yet devoid of true power.

1 Corinthians 4

Who am I speaking of?

Surely not the leaders of our world? Christian leaders? Surely not the latter?!

The descriptions are what Paul was having to address of the leaders on the Corinthian church in the first century.

Faithful servants, looking for the return of Christ, the last instead of being the first, foolish in the world’s eyes, hungry and thirsty, in rags, suffering, without possessions, categorised as rubbish in the eyes of the world, loving, gentle and powerful.

Who am I speaking of?

These descriptions are that of Paul and Apollos, examples and true ambassadors of what a Christian leader should be like.

What has to be said and what needs to be acknowledged is that there are still not many fathers in the church, v15.
If there were then we would confidently be able to say that the first descriptions do not apply and the second do.

Pray for more fathers.

The greatest, the most amazing, the most influential, decisive, the best anointed, the fabulous, the charismatic, life-changing …..
1 Corinthians 3

None but a coward dares to boast that he has never known fear.”
― Ferdinand Foch

It is common for those that are farthest from God, to boast themselves most of their being near to the Church.
Matthew Henry

No athlete was ever victorious because he did his boasting in advance.

—Roy L. Smith, Tampa Morning Tribune, Tampa, Fla., Feb. 1, 1940.

Joseph Smith boasted that he did more than Jesus to keep a church together.
“God is in the still small voice. In all these affidavits, indictments, it is all of the devil–all corruption. Come on! ye prosecutors! ye false swearers! All hell, boil over! Ye burning mountains, roll down your lava! for I will come out on the top at last. I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet . . . ” (History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 408-409).

“I’m not the greatest; I’m the double greatest. Not only do I knock ’em out, I pick the round.” Muhammed Ali

Boasting is the outward form of the inner condition of pride.
John Piper

The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.
Mark Twain

It is always the novice that exaggerates
C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape letters

So then no more boasting about men, v21

Paul not only knows who he was sent to and what he had been sent to do, that was to preach the gospel, but he also knew how he would do this.
1 Corinthians 2
I did not come with, v1
“My methods are not what you expected, I did not come with superiority.”

I came with focus, v2 I resolved that everything else was a distraction. I will control my thinking. My thoughts were not determined by my circumstances or people, but by who and what I had been sent to do. No compromise, no deals and no negotiation.

I came with humility, v3 I didn’t come trying to get to the top, sweet-talking my way up there. I didn’t come stepping on people to be heard, trying to somehow get an advantage. I came forgetting about myself and thinking of others.

I came with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, v4. It wasn’t my demonstration nor my power, but His. I don’t want anyone looking at me but Him.

For Christ did not send me …1 Corinthians 1:17
v10-17
God did not send you to be popular, to get a following, v12
He did not send you into a competition.
You were not sent to be the Saviour, v13

Those on mission have to continually assess and perhaps realign themselves to the reason why they were sent.
Knowing what you should not do will serve your true mission.
So …
Who are you sent to?
What are you sent to do?

People
Romans 16
There are people who have all played a part in my journey.
Servants, fellow workers, dear friends, hard workers, outstanding fellow prisoners, people I love, those tried and tested, whole families, relatives, those in the Lord, who worked very hard and who became mothers to me. 28 individuals in total plus their families.

There are people who are still with me today in this journey. Fellow workers, relatives, administrators, hospitable workers, professional people, people who became like brothers to me. 8 individuals in total.

All these people are special to me.

But then there is one person. Only one who is able. He alone who establishes all things.
It is Him who is to be truly praised above all others.

Today, thank the Lord for those who journeyed with you over the years. Thank them if you still can.
Thank the Lord for those who are still with you. Honour them.
But pause and thank the Lord for being the only One who has made all things possible.
Amen!

3 things we don’t often say:
Romans 15

God is pleased with the work I do, v17

I have finished the work I am meant to do, v23

Others are blessed by God when I am with them, v29

We should say these more often!

Lists …
I grew up in a time when most Christians had lists. These lists were never produced it was like an oral tradition passed down through the generations dependent on which church you attended.
On this list there were things like:
The cinema
Make up
Clothes
And these things Paul mentions
Food and drink.
Sabbath.
The lists showed whether someone was a true Christian.
Maybe some people still have lists.
Romans 14 tells us that we should live our lives with other people in mind. Not that we try and get them to conform to what we think is acceptable but that we allow them to be who they are. They don’t come on our list.
Similarly we don’t use our freedom to offend. We don’t try and get on their list.
It will be a good day when there are no lists.

The powers that be …
Romans 13
The powers that be are there because God appointed them.
For the Christians, living under the wicked Roman Emperor, Nero, they would find this hard to swallow.
You may also. For your powers that be may not act anything like God.
You may struggle to obey them.
Your government.
Your manager or supervisor.
Your spiritual leader.
All these can make things difficult for you.
In turn you may want to belittle, rebel and usurp the authority above you.
But strangely God has them there for a season.
They are serving a bigger picture than just your life here and now. You are part of that big picture so submit, do what’s right and respect those people.
For when you do this you are in line with God.

Some people do not like do not’s
Romans 12
However I like these ones …
Do not let your culture fashion you, v2
Do not let your success fashion you, v3
Do not let disappointment fashion you, v11
Do not let hurt fashion you, v14
Do not let your titles fashion you, v16
Do not let injustice fashion you, v17
Do not let the desire to win fashion you, v19
Do not let sheer evil fashion you, v21

What’s trying to fashion you today?
If it’s not God, then do not!

A few things for the chosen …
Romans 11

1. The chosen know it is all about the chooser.
v5 Grace!! You were chosen by it.
v7 Nothing of you!! You cannot do anything to be chosen.

2. The chosen do not boast about being chosen.
v20 Fear is part of our faith.
v22 The experience of God’s kindness is a choice the chosen have to continue to make.

3. The chosen understand about miracle grafts.
v23 Second chances! God grafts His people back into the place they should be in.

4. The chosen have guarantees.
v29 No matter what has happened gifts and calling are never cancelled, never!

5. The chosen must know mercy
v32 The chosen have got to experience sin so they can fully know the Saviour.