Author: missionspaul

I am disturbed
1 Corinthians 12

Last week I was privileged to be in the DRC. It has had I believe one of the most profound effects upon me than anywhere in the world to present. Moving as near as was safe to do to the rebel areas we were taken to very brave communities. So why the profound effect?
Was it the fact that they were living underneath an active volcano which clearly had erupted not so long ago? Was it the fact that last year the rebels came and looted, destroyed the farming, raped the women, killed and maimed the men? Was it the fact that these people despite their trauma were so thrilled to be worshipping God with passion, their faith still strong in God?
Maybe. But I actually believe I have been so effected because I connected to these people with the recognition these were my faith family. They are part of the body of Christ of which I am also.

Last night a Pastor from Pakistan posted a video on facebook of Christians being brutally massacred. I was speechless. I was numbed. I was deeply moved. It stayed with me overnight. Was it because of the act upon them? Was it because of disgust that a crowd gathered to watch? Maybe. But I believe it was because of the connection that I have with these people. They are my brothers and sisters in Christ. They are part of the body of Christ of which I am also.

They are the body of Christ that I am part of. There are many parts but one body, v20.
I cannot say because they are a people so different to me, have a different language to me, live culturally so very different, in a different part of the world that I have no responsibility to them. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it, v26.
I belong to them and they to me. I cannot forget them nor should I, v27.

This is why I do what I do. Please join me.

Will the meetings today do more harm than good?
1 Corinthians 11:17
When they met men and women were competing to be the prominent person and those within marriages were the worst!
Within their community they couldn’t cope with the differences between each other and so they just argued.
When they took communion, it was more like a bring your own buffet and there was plenty of alcohol available, it was more like a party than a remembrance of a sacrificial death and a selfish party at that.
The problems were within their worship.
So will the meetings today do more harm than good?
I guess that will depend on whether we have finished duelling with the opposite sex appearing to be more spiritual than the other. Let the women look up in wonder of God and the men bow their head in submission to God.
It will depend on whether our differences are so important that we stay together in division or separate and go to the other church round the corner.
It will depend not on the style of communion we take but whether being in communion we honour the body of Christ.
I guess for some the meetings will do more good and sadly some will do more harm.

If only …
1 Corinthians 10
If only people could finish as well as start, v1-5
Maybe today the crowds prefer the starting line and what will happen and what will be experienced rather than the finishing line and what did happen and was experienced.
The starting line isn’t exhausting.
Many start few finish.

If only people could live in light of Christ’s death, v14-22
Some either over emphasise the Lord’s Supper, communion or mass turning it into something supernatural and others under emphasise it turning it into something unrecognisable to what Jesus had in mind.
Why don’t people having partaken in Christ learn to die like him? Some are doing this right now but others are concentrating too much on living.

If only people could be free without hurting others, v22-33
But they use their freedom to please themselves.
Often pleasing yourself will hurt someone else.
There needs to be a new understanding of freedom.

If only.

I’ve got some questions:
1 Corinthians 9
Do you know your authority to speak? v1
Do you actually have an experience of the Lord? v1
Do you know your task? v2
Do you have evidence of good works? v2
Do you feel settled in your lifestyle? v3-7
Do you see yourself in the Bible? v9-10
Do you surrender your own selfish gain? v15-18
Do you know freedom from people’s expectations? v19-23
Do you serve God with passion? v26-27
Do you discipline yourself in order to win? v26-27

Do you say YES?

I can do what I like
1 Corinthians 8
No you can’t.

The time is short
1 Corinthians 7
Married? Then realise you’re not in it for yourself but the other person.
Single? Remain as you are.
The time is short.
Separating or divorcing? Don’t bother.
Married to the unbeliever? Remain as you are.
The time is short.
Desertion? Let it be.
Pleasing man (becoming circumcised) is pointless.
The time is short.
Held back by man? Don’t let that become your identity.
Complicated lives? Simplify them.
The time is short.
Engaged? Then marry.
Widow? You are now free so act like it.
The time is short.
When the time is short then that becomes the main focus and helps with the decisions.
Is the time short for you?

Are your sins in the list?
1 Corinthians 6
Some Christians get so angry with the sins of other Christians.
We don’t like seeing ourselves on the sin list.

Allegedly, Charles Spurgeon invited D.L. Moody to speak at an event he hosted.

Moody accepted and preached the entire time about the evils of tobacco, and why the Lord doesn’t want Christians to smoke.

Spurgeon, a cigar smoker, was surprised at what seemed to be a cheap shot levelled by Moody, using the pulpit to condemn a fellow minister.

When Moody finished preaching, Spurgeon walked up to the podium and said, “Mr. Moody, I’ll put down my cigars when you put down your fork.”

Moody was overweight.

We are all on someone’s sin list.
But not God’s.
Because we were washed, sanctified and justified!
It’s those 3 declarations which mean we are in the kingdom of God, within the rule of Christ.
Thank God for Jesus!

Church problems!
1 Corinthians 5

A man slept with his step-mother which obviously not only wrecked his father’s marriage but brought a severing of their own relationship. What did the church who believed they were so amazing do? Nothing!
So Paul wades in and starting from this situation begins to talk about other sins and what to do when they get into the church.

And some interpret the chapter with a campaign of: Kick it Out!
Church attendance is down but at least we have got rid of the sinner.

The sexually immoral Christian – the person whose own selfish gratification is the most important thing.
The greedy Christian – the person who is solely focused on getting more and more.
The Christian who looks like they worship God but don’t – the person who’s own image is more important than that of God’s.
The rude Christian – the person who is not concerned about others because ME is always above everything else.
The drunk Christian – the person who has no self-control because self is all encompassing.
The cheating Christian, the ones who say they are something but are not or those who allow themselves to appear to be givers but are not – the person who wants to look good.

Don’t associate with these people. Don’t sit down and eat food with these people.
Why?
It’s not the activity as such but the main reason behind that activity which is the reason. The main reason is “It’s all about ME, it’s not about HIM” mentality.
There is no room for the selfish ME in the kingdom.
If you associate with that person by eating with them it means you are agreeing with their selfishness.
This selfish living is not welcome in the church. It’s not a reflection of the body of Christ. The unbeliever should not be confused. They should see Christ clearly.

If we are going to kick people out of the church then let’s get rid of those so-called Christians who are wrapped up in themselves. They are not a true reflection of Christ.

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