Category: Devotions

There are 2 paths of life to walk down. You get to choose. In fact you have already chosen. There are moments in any church and in any generation when correction needs to be brought because the followers of Christ are in danger of veering to the wrong path.

The Apostle is addressing the Corinthian divided church. They have taken their eyes off the path they were on and have begun to speak and behave like the world they were in. The culture of that generation was one where intellectual achievement was something to not only be desired but to be championed. It had creeped into the culture of the Church. Intellectual achievements, philosophical arguments and all the knowledge one can attain had become badges of pride. It was as if this made up for a great church. What about today? Would we say the same? Would we add other things? What is in our culture? What do we see every day? Is it entertainment to attract the masses? Is it everyone has the right to be whoever they want to be? Marketing? Make it look great and it will be more plausible. Attraction is the key. Would Paul mention these things if he was writing to the church today? What techniques are being used today that come straight from the culture we live in?

These questions are difficult to pose and even more so to answer. The reason being is that in themselves there isn’t anything necessarily wrong.

Yet Paul reminds them and therefore we are reminded too: we are people of the cross.

“Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ²² Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” (1 Corinthians 1 v 20-25)

Where are these people? Step forward. Bring the very best of the culture of the day. Whether that be signs, wisdom, teaching, philosophy, entertainment, social-media engagement, inclusivity, the list goes on throughout the generations. In themselves they are good. But God calls them foolish! Why?

• They do not bring us into relationship with God and they do not bring salvation, v21.

What does?

The Cross! (v23)

It is a complete different path to walk down.

It has a complete different set of expectations.

Victory through surrender, life through death and strength in weakness is the Wisdom of the Cross and the foolishness of the world.

This is countercultural to the world we live in. It was for Paul’s generation and it is for ours.

We are constantly being encouraged to showcase our achievements, win every argument and accumulate either knowledge, money or status. Vulnerability is to be avoided, no limitations, be independent, be you! It sounds good but the cross makes it foolish.

The Wisdom of the Cross says that the real power for living is found in sacrificial love, humility and the radical giving of our lives.

When we kneel at the cross then we see not a man or a woman, not a Jew or a Gentile, not a rich or poor person, neither do we see an individual of the 1^st century or that of the 21^st. We see the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, indeed God Himself.

I have seen all over the world the mutilated bodies at the cross, men, women and trans-genders at the cross, lepers at the cross, HIV and all kinds of diseased bodies at the cross. I have seen royalty and governmental officers at the cross, wealth and education at the cross and I have seen entrepreneurs and entertainers at the cross. All that I have listed are not who is actually at the cross. The genders, the bodies, the status and the achievements are not at the cross. Hearts are. Eternal spirits are. And it is there at the cross where the true transformative power of God is known. It is there at the cross where a radical reimagining of power, success and identity is known. It is there where the old becomes new. The focus is not on the outside but the inside of the person. They become clean, they become children of God and they are repurposed to live the opposite of their world. It may look limiting but it is liberating, it may sound illogical but it is a wisdom that is given not earned, it may appear weak but it is powerful and above all the priorities of our life are changed for we don’t live for personal achievement, status or decision but we live for others, we love with the love of God and we sacrifice the way Jesus did.

This is the Wisdom of the Cross.

Paul is addressing the division of the church.

The reason for division is because we think we are right, wise and we have the whole truth. The reason for division is this, we are right and everyone else is wrong.

If Paul was alive today he would be writing to us and probably quoting Isaiah as he does here.

“For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” (1 Corinthians 1 v 19)

So why quote from the prophet Isaiah? The verse in full is this:-

“Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.” (Isaiah 29:14)

He does so because:-

• The prophet is speaking to the people of Judah during a time when they have become complacent and their discipleship has weakened. The Corinthians are in a similar situation. The divisions have weakened their discipleship. It still does.
• God declares He will astound them with wonder upon wonder. The Corinthians thought they were clever: their wisdom, intelligence and philosophy were added to their preaching for better effect. We still do that and we throw in other aspects of entertainment to marvel the crowds or try to create them to listen to our preaching. Yet when did the message of the cross ever need such help? The cross is the wonder upon wonder that diminishes all attempts from the wisdom and intelligence of man,
• The arguments of who they ‘follow’ that have caused the division in the Church at Corinth will come to nothing; they will in fact be destroyed. They are futile arguments because they are not in alignment with the wisdom of God. Today’s arguments and divisions are the same.
• The call that Paul brings springing from prophet Isaiah is still calling to us today. We have to live our lives differently to this. Instead of mere intellectual knowledge we must cultivate a spiritual wisdom; instead of pride we must walk in humility; instead of knowing it all we must acknowledge that we don’t hold that trait for we serve a God who moves in unexpected ways.

Paul is addressing the divisions and the quarrels in the church. He brings them all back to the most unifying of symbols, the greatest act of love, the cross.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1 v 18)

It is the centre of what we believe.

It is the offence of the gospel.

It is why there is only one way to heaven through Jesus Christ.

It is why Jesus is more than a prophet.

It is why Jesus is the Son of God, God Himself.

It is why those who put their trust in Him will never die but be raised to new life.

He was not resuscitated later. He did not faint. The suggestion that the Roman soldiers had somehow crucified the wrong man is ludicrous. The chief priests and Pharisees slandering Jesus on the cross knew it was Jesus.

The soldiers who crucified Jesus were experts in the cruel art of crucifixion. Every historian concedes the truth that crucifixion was the death sentence, no one survived.

In fact many died under the Roman flogging. Prior to this, Jesus had suffered hermatidrosis, where in the extreme stress he was under in the Garden of Gethsemane sweated blood. Jesus was giving out large amounts of blood from the flogging and then he is nailed to the cross.

The word excruciating comes from the crucifixion. There was nothing in the language that could describe the intense anguish during the crucifixion. Excruciating means ‘out of the cross’.

Many people believe that Jesus had also experienced hypervolimic shock during his torture.

If Jesus had come down from the cross and recovered later, what kind of condition would he have been in to inspire and motivate his followers to lay their own lives down for a lie that he had been raised? According to legend:-

Andrew was crucified in Greece

Batholomew crucified upside down in Georgia.

James son of Alphaeus stoned to death in Jerusalem.

James son of Zebedee killed in prison by beheading.

Peter crucified upside down in Rome.

Philip crucified upside down in Hierapolis.

Thomas speared to death in India.

It just doesn’t make sense

It is easier to accept the fact from Jewish writers as well as Christian historical writers that Jesus did die on the cross.

Foolishness to some but for us who are being saved by it we know it is the power of God.

The cross has taken us into a whole new way of life.

The cross has reconciled us to God and God to us.

The cross has provided complete forgiveness of our sins.

The cross has brought about a decisive victory over sin, death and the power of evil.

The cross is a demonstration of the love of God to His world.

The cross is a declaration that we are now made right before God.

The cross is a model of sacrificial love and example to how we should live our lives.

The cross is indeed the power of God to us who are being saved.

And in this context of the division of the church, why is this important? Why does Paul introduce the power of the cross? The death of our Lord Jesus sobers the mind or at least it should do. The sacrifice of Jesus laying his life down highlights whether we are doing the same for others. He does so because the cross is the healer of the church. If we are also carrying the cross then it becomes difficult to hit our brothers and sisters with it. Paul will have more to say. But for now we will dwell on the power of God in the cross.

We come to the division within the church at Corinth.

“What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ”. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? ¹⁴ I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵ so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. ¹⁶ (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (1 Corinthians 1 v 12-17)

We can sum it up this way: they had taken their eyes off Jesus. Even the ones who said, ‘we follow Christ’ carries an air of smugness in the context of the major division with everyone else. Baptism seemed to be playing a part so that you became a disciple of someone other than Jesus. Do we have those problems today? I think we know the answer.

There are times when I struggle to understand the arguments the Church divides over. There are plenty of people who are more well-read on subjects and articulate the arguments better than I could. The more I get older the less I am sure of. However, these verses help me to realise knowing what is NOT is as important (maybe more so) than knowing any new theory or argument etc.

Paul says:

1. I know Christ is NOT divided. For when we have a Christ for this group and a Christ for that group then our eyes are off Jesus and are on ourselves.
2. I know the Cross has NO OTHER NAME attached to it other than Christ. There are great men and women around the world. They carry graces on their lives that are outstanding: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher. But their name or their office is not worthy to hang on the cross.
3. I know the Call is NOT TO BE POPULAR, to get a following, to enter into a competition, to be the Saviour. Knowing what I should not do helps serve my true call. Those who are operating within their calling continually realign themselves to the reason why they have been called. For Christ did not send me …. but to ….

Making sure I know what is not helps me to keep my eyes on Jesus and off others and even myself.

This letter from Paul to the church in Corinth came about because of a letter from the church (1 Cor 7:1) but also because of a group pf people that travelled to see Paul in Ephesus. They were from Chloe’s household. Chloe must have been wealthy and she was most probably the house church leader making up part of the Corinth Church. It had not taken long since Paul had left for these house churches to become divided over loyalties and other major problems which we will eventually get to.  In all of them we have to keep the first 9 verses in mind as we now go through the letter. It was like Paul saying, ‘This is who you are, this is what God has done for you, so why on earth are you behaving as you are doing?” Clearly Paul is upset. So let us get in to what he says.

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. ¹¹ My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. ¹² What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1 v 10-12)

Chloe had trained her people to speak up. It was part of their values of the house church. They were not wanting to see division. They were against party politics. They didn’t like what they were seeing in the Church. This wasn’t the Church that Paul had birthed nor the Church that Jesus died for. Sound familiar?

So they spoke up. And so must we. These are the reasons why I think we should.

• Dissatisfaction

If they had not spoken out then dissatisfaction would have been silenced. Their dissatisfaction was a cry for help. They were not arrogant enough to join in the fight and become as divided as the others. Their dissatisfaction led them to the right person, the authoritative voice who could bring about the change that was needed.

• Transparency

If they had not spoken out then perhaps it would never have been addressed. Paul had a letter from the ‘Church’ (7:1) but it wasn’t about the divisions, rather it was about questions over behaviour and doctrine. Sometimes the Church likes to focus on certain aspects and be blind to the important matters of love (something Paul majors on later in the letter).

• Love

If they had not spoken out they would have denied their own genuine love for a united Church. What you love drives you.

• Responsibility

If they had not spoken out they would have been disobedient to all that Chloe had taught them to be or ordered them to say. They would have turned their back on their commission and for that moment in time, their calling and responsibility.

• Higher purpose

If they had not spoken out then it would have shown they had not understood the vision of the church which was to ultimately glorify God and spread the gospel.

They had to speak out and so should we.

This was a church that had seen many people come to faith in Christ. It was a large church with small groups but these were not healthy, they were cliques and each had their own charismatic ‘hero’. The most challenging of groups were those of rich and poor. They wouldn’t even sit together at the Church fellowship events. Church teaching that called for righteous living had been on the decline and this showed in the pews. The leaders were struggling to hold on to their authority as no one was listening anymore. Everyone was doing their own thing without the slightest concern for one another. Some were taking their fellow believers to court and others were not interested in whether or not they hurt them by their own behaviour. They loved the charismatic gifts, the louder and more dramatic the better. But no one was too concerned about love.

Welcome to the Church. This is Corinth. And this is the Apostle Paul’s first letter to them. He co-wrote it with a man known by everyone, Sosthenes, or perhaps he transcribed as Paul dictated his letter. He wrote it probably from the city of Ephesus around AD53-55 and he did so because someone had told him of how I described the church above.

“Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1 v 1-3)

So the Church that I described is receiving a letter from the Apostle addressing these problems. How will he commence that letter? If he is angry then the opening doesn’t show this. He certainly doesn’t start letting off steam.

It helps us. We may not write letters anymore but we still respond. When things have gone wrong; when Christians are hypocritical; when the Church is not what it should be: how do we respond? Do we just let our anger spill over to them or about them to others? If you see a Christian wander from the truth how do you bring them back? The final question and probably the most difficult: if you have heard that Christians have spoken against you what do you then do?

The way Paul commences his letter gives us some help towards having a more Christ-like response:

• Be confident about yourself. Know your own position in God. Have no doubts about your own calling. Step forward knowing that you are here for such a time as this appointed by God.
• Remind the person/s of their position in God. They belong to God. They are not just a church they are the church of God. It is God’s church. Not yours and not theirs.
• Bring God into the front end of what you are about to say. It is easier to confront when God’s presence is acknowledged. He has cleansed them and separated them for a life with Him. Paul is thanking God for what He has done in their lives.

There are times in all our lives when we have to confront people who are just wrong. Paul certainly helps us with these 3 principles. Don’t go in angrily but do go in confidently, knowing these people belong to God and they do have an experience of Him.

So how are you going to live the rest of your life? Productive lives Titus 3 v 14-15 

Big question for a Wednesday morning I know!

But this is how Paul wraps his letter up to Titus. 

“Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives. Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.” (Titus 3 v 14-15)

If you decide today to continue to do what is good and if you focus on the urgent needs of others then this will mean your life is productive according to Paul. 

It’s not a bad idea is it?

Thinking of others more than your own feelings and desires.

The world would say production is the other way round. 

Perhaps the way Paul ends the letter with the message of grace is actually the only way anyone of us will accomplish spiritually productive lives. May it be so for all who read this today!

Thank you for journeying with me through this amazing letter to Titus.

Note:

 Please permit me to say one more thing. It is around 8 years since I asked for money through these blogs. But I do so right now.

Over the last few months elim leaders across the world have been praying for a young boy, the teenage son of one of the pastors of elim global. He had awful cancerous tumour and we were praying for a miracle.

This morning at 430am I was able to have a video call with Pastor Weros, his wife and family who were around the hospital bed of Justin, in Bali. Justin had a few minutes before passed away into the presence of Jesus. Hearts are broken obviously and yet also the financial burden is high. They need to bring the body back home, to the island of Sumba and then prepare for the funeral. So today I am asking if you could send anything you have to the UK Elim Missions office, marked ‘For Justin’ to the following:

Account name: ETC EFGA International Missions Board. Sort code 30-91-87. Account number 01439364. Transaction reference: For Justin.

 

Tomorrow I will get a picture of 2 of my friends, one is Ugandan and one is a Brit. They are meeting for the first time. They are both close friends and tomorrow they will meet and I hope will become friends. This is what I love about the power of friendship.

The Apostle Paul knew the power of friendship.

“As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. 13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need.” (Titus 3 v 12-13)

Artemis was an important goddess in the Greek pantheon, tradition says this one became the bishop of Lystra and yet what we definitely know is that was a friend of Paul.

Some think Tychicus was originally one of Paul’s students. He was one who definitely accompanied Paul on his mission journeys and yet probably more important than all this, the student had become a friend of Paul. 

Zenas the Christian lawyer has been venerated as a saint by the Catholics but before this he was a friend of Paul.

Apollos was definitely a significant leader in the Church originating from Egypt. A colleague and most importantly a friend of Paul.

Titus is told to meet Paul in Nicopolis for the winter break. Where it was (in Greece) is not as important as the fact that Paul wanted his friend Titus to be with him.

Artemis, Tychicus, Zenas, Apollos and Titus, friends of Paul. 

Right now who do you class as your friends? 

I don’t mean people you once knew.

I don’t mean Facebook friends.

I mean friends who you still send, support and cheer on in ministry, v12.

I mean friends you ask to spend time with, v12.

I mean friends you connect your other friends with because you know they will be supported, v13.

We all need friends. Let us thank God for them. Let us not abandon them.

“But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.” (Titus 3 v9-11)

I wonder what Paul would say about the foolish controversies and arguments that exist today in the church? We may not be concerned about genealogies and the law of Moses but nevertheless we see division.

In contrast to what people thought was important, within this letter, Paul is focused on practical living and behaviour. He could no doubt debate and probably win those who want to argue things that are nothing short of ‘foolish’. But he would rather focus on the simple Word of God. Keeping the main thing the main thing. 

Ever find yourself in a heated conversation asking yourself why you are arguing this particular topic? 

Is it helpful?

Is it encouraging?

Is it edifying?

Some people are not only involved in such controversies they are actually ‘divisive’. 

We do well to draw from Paul’s advice given to Titus: try and convince a divisive person to stop behaving the way they are and if they don’t change then make a decision to turn way from them.

Interestingly Paul doesn’t advocate for continuing to try to persuade the person nor to publicly humiliate them but to leave them alone and presumably taking into account what Paul says elsewhere, leave them to God. 

Why waste your life walking with divisive people?