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Wholehearted commitment

So very often I come across families who have given their whole lives to the Lord and His Church. It isn’t just one generation but throughout the generations. I was privileged to lead the funeral service for a retired minister’s wife this week. Frances Dyson was married to Colin who Pastored the Church that his daughter now Pastors and whose 3 sons are also committed into serving different churches as well as the same one as their grandparents. Wholehearted commitment from one family to the Kingdom of God.

It would be easy to overlook these final verses of the letter to the Corinthians Church. If we do, we miss some important truths.

 “You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, 16 to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labours at it. 17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.” (1 Corinthians 16 v 15-18)

This family were the first converts in that Greek region. They were ‘devoted’. It is the sense that this is more than just volunteering to help the Church but that they were wholeheartedly committed to it. But who were they? Did they have a title? It didn’t seem to matter. They didn’t need one they just met the needs of the people.

It is remarkable that Paul tasks the Church to submit to such people. He is not saying submit to the apostles and the prophets etc. But he is saying those who serve with wholehearted commitment need submitting to. This isn’t based on title or social status or a formal appointment. It is based on the fact that devoted people look like Jesus. Christian Leadership emerges from service not the other way round.

These verses show us that wholehearted commitment in serving others is the hallmark for what calling truly is. It is for every believer and it needs to be acknowledged. When it is in place then it is the spiritual refreshing that many need, even Paul. It is a deep restoration and comfort by simply being present.

If your Church has these people then acknowledge them and thank God for them. If you are one of them, well done, keep going, we need you!

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The big 5 things Paul requires of every Christian

Out of nowhere, except perhaps that he is now drawing to a close this letter to a divided Church, come 5 big commands of Paul that is needed in our lives today.

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.” (1 Corinthians 16 v 13-14)

  • Be spiritually vigilant. Is anything potentially damaging your spiritual well-being? Be on your guard. Be discerning. Be self-aware, people-aware and influence-aware. Don’t let your faith be damaged.
  • Hold on to the core Christian beliefs. Be anchored to what you believe. Stand firm in the faith.
  • Have the inner fortitude when going through the challenging season you are in. Have the moral courage to resist the cultural viewpoints that are anti-Christian. Be generous where others are more focused on gain. Be truthful when it is easier to be quiet. Be strong and be courageous are twinned together to call fort a resolve even when it is difficult, unpopular or costly.
  • And do all of the above without letting go of love. Without love all the above traits have a dark side to them.

These 5 things form a framework for good Christian living. All of them are needed especially love!

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Apollos said NO

What can we learn from the fact that Apollos said he wasn’t going to go back to visit the Corinthians Church?

“Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.” (1 Corinthians 16 v 12)

We don’t know why Apollos was ‘unwilling’ to go to Corinth even though Paul had asked him to and we can assume from ‘now about our brother ‘ that the Church had asked for him to visit. But we can hardly blame him for we know from the beginning of this letter that his name was being used within the whole divisiveness of the Church.

  1. Paul’s leadership was not that of a dictator where everyone had to do what he said. Apollos said No.
  2. You can urge but you cannot force.
  3. If you want to say No then that’s your prerogative.
  4. There are some moments when to walk back into a divisive place is not the right thing for you.
  5. The right time for you to do something is not necessarily when your diary or others say so but when you feel you are ready.

Maybe today you just have to say NO to someone or something that others may see as important but for you it has to wait because you are simply not ready. It is not the right time for you.

And that’s okay, says Apollos.

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Timothy … look after him.

Leaders also need protecting.

“When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭16‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ )

At a time when to chase after celebrity Pastors and leaders seems a favourite pastime for some, Paul wants to protect Timothy. Why?

  1. There were things on his cv which some may want to disqualify him for. “Don’t let him be looked down upon’ was either because he was young or inexperienced or both.
  2. He was doing the work of God regardless what people thought and Paul said he was actually a colleague. We should judge less on personality or status and rather evaluate their commitment to the work.
  3. Being a Church leader can be an intimidating experience. Paul doesn’t want Timothy to fear.
  4. Paul wants Timothy to continue, he wants him back! How many fall by the wayside because they never experienced peace?! Paul desires continuity.
  5. Paul knows that every leader needs a spiritual parent to watch for them. 
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The Gospel does not sit on the path of least resistance.

Ephesus was a major commercial and religious centre. It was a major crossroads to that region of the world. If Ephesus was won then many could find Christ.

I wonder if someone reading this today is about to move into or is already in the centre of a major influential place, workplace or neighbourhood. The invitation from the Spirit is maybe to remain and invest your life into that place because God wants to us you beyond your understanding.

The Apostle Paul had such a place.

“But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭16‬:‭8‬-‭9‬)

This last week I was listening to one of my Pastors talking of how their children’s work had grown to over 100 and yet there was also a price to pay as they faced some opposition. Other Pastors were listening and then they began to share of the successes and favour from God that they were seeing but also the cost that they were having to pay. This combination of effectiveness and opposition seems to have always been with us. 

Paul says he has more than a door of opportunity for the gospel but that it was a great door! The opportunity is what is keeping him there. The opposition is not driving him away. 

Significant opportunities often come with significant opposition and it doesn’t mean you are in the wrong place it often means you are exactly where God wants you.

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Treading carefully

IF’s, But’s and Maybe’s are not necessarily the vocabulary of unbelief. We are living in times of the most amazing declarations. Themes for conferences are often presumptuous boasts to actually outdo the other conference across the road. They may mention God but they may not have checked beforehand to see if He approves. We are so sure of ourselves!

Paul was a seasoned sojourner. He knew what it was to follow the Spirit’s leading which meant that anything could happen, changes could take place and things may not work out the way he had thought at the beginning.

“After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.” (1 Corinthians 16 v 5-7)

We should not let go of our firm intentions so long as we have created space for adaptation. Change is ever before us and wisdom makes plans with openness of hand. Christ is the higher authority that has sovereignty over our lives and so we do well to tread carefully, if the Lord permits.

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From Resurrection to Giving on Resurrection Day

And we move from a wonderful chapter of the evidence and the application of the resurrection of Christ and of ourselves to what we do on Resurrection day, on Sundays, on the Lord’s day and as Paul calls it ‘the first day of every week’.

“Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.” (1 Corinthians 16 v 1-4)

How do we move from the heights of Resurrection to that of giving money?

What does Paul expect to happen in our church services on Sunday? Is it in alignment with what is happening in 2025? He had already told the Galatian churches to do this.

  1. Giving should involve a focus on the poor. This was the collection for the mission in Jerusalem. Whether individuals should be giving restrictively to the poor or they give to the Church and collectively the amount is sent to the poor that may not be as important  as to make sure that the Church members all put God first for His mission whether to the poor in the city and town they’re in and beyond to the nations of the world.
  2. Giving is for everyone. “Each one of you …” The rich and the poor. Those who have much and those who have little. In fact personally I have found it is those who have the least who give the most proportionally.
  3. Give proportionally. The beauty of the tithe (10%) is that it is proportionate to what we have. We give in keeping with our income.
  4. Giving should be planned. Don’t wait for the collection and see what’s in your pocket. Get ahead. Fill in a standing order form and/or set money aside before you spend it.
  5. Giving needs to be entrusted to those who count it, bank it, administrate it, send it and then ultimately use it.

Are you ready to give this Sunday?

There are so many initiatives for giving. Here’s one that is still going well and has been a blessing to so many since it was created in 2014.

https://www.elim.org.uk/Articles/531023/Pound_by_Pound.aspx

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The Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus, part 12

I didn’t think we would reach 12 parts and I just stayed with the title even though we moved from the evidence of Jesus to the evidence for our resurrection and then to all that this means for us now. But this has to be the best chapter for understanding the powerful resurrection that Jesus has brought.

Paul concludes this section and takes us right back to the beginning, when in verse 2 he wrote, “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”

He is confident that because Christ has been raised and every believer will be then it will all have been worth it.

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15 v 58)

Throughout this chapter Paul has argued for the reality of Christ’s resurrection. He clearly gives evidence that Christ’s resurrection happened but that it becomes the very foundation for our faith.

He ends by calling us to stand firm. In a world which changes so quickly, values are being diluted all the time and faced with constant challenges we are called to be immovable, rooted in the truth of the resurrection.

Let nothing move you means that nothing, no challenge, no persecution, no doubt, no worldly temptation should shake you from this core belief.

We are not to simply stand still in our hope and faith but we are to be actively participating in the mission of God. Wholehearted commitment and total dedication is what Paul means for us to give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord.

We will not be disappointed in the end. We will look back and say we have lived a life which had meaning and that was full because our labour was not in vain.

So today hold on. Remain. Work. It matters. Do it all in the light of the resurrection of Christ and of yours!

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The Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus, part 11

Death is our ultimate enemy. It either comes without warning or it announces its arrival and slowly creeps towards us in an almost torturous way. Either way we have not managed to defeat it. The truth is for many of us death hurts. It hurts those who are left behind. In what is a prophetic evidence for the resurrection of Jesus and ourselves, Isaiah looks forward to a day in the future when mourning is over because death is swallowed up by victory. When every believer has received a new resurrected, imperishable and immortal body then Isaiah’s prophecy will be fulfilled in its entirety.

“On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken. 9 In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” (Isaiah 25:6-9)

The hurt that death brings for those still alive, the sting, the pain of numbed children, broken men, burdened and tired women, these are who God focuses on in this last days meal.

Paul knows this passage very well and quotes from it:-

“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15 v 54-57)

God in this last days battle which chapters 24-27 in Isaiah reveal, pauses and with compassion, stoops down to wipe away each tear of grief and brokenness. With joy, relief and expressions of worship the people say, “This is our God.”
Death can be a fierce enemy. It can destroy not just the body but relationships. It can be feared, it wants to be feared. Pretence will not stop the pain that it always brings.
But it does not have the last word!
Death is defeated, it is no longer an enemy, for life and hope comes. This is what Isaiah saw. This is what Paul speaks of.
This is what Christ our Saviour brings. He is our resurrection and life. We live in this reality. This is our experience.
Surely this is our God!

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The Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus, part 10

This amazing chapter moves from the resurrection of Jesus to our resurrection and it will return as Paul continues to give us amazing promise after promise. Here’s another:-

“I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15 v 50-54)

All of your weakness and decay and all that is fragile and limited will not enter the realm that God has prepared for you. Isn’t that amazing?! If you are waking today and life is just one struggle then look ahead to what is before you.

There is a mystery (v51), a divine secret that is beyond our understanding:- Some Christians will be alive when this event happens. (Paul uses sleep as Jesus and the other apostle did for those who have passed away; it’s a much better description!) The alive Christians and those that are ‘asleep’ will be instantaneously, miraculously, transformed  and our mortality is swallowed up by LIFE.

God has prepared a complete transformation for His people and yet our humanity though fundamentally different will still be recognisable.

This means today we live with hope. We may have struggles, limitations and we may grieve for those who have died. But sorrow lasts only for a night. There is a morning, a sounding of the trumpet when all things will be changed but our very essence, our personality, our core identity remains. We will not be replaced but renewed.

At the sound of the trumpet transformation will come. And victory, complete, total, overwhelming victory will be ours! Amen!