1 Corinthians 4:20 "For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power."
What is God's kingdom? It is His authority and right to rule over His creation. Within that kingdom is the territory and the people. This is what we are commanded to "seek first". But Paul is telling us God's kingdom is not just a concept to talk about. It is a real, living, dynamic force.
The word "power" here has a long definition, but it really sheds some light on the concept: "Strength power, ability. Inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth. Power for performing miracles. Moral power and excellence of soul. The power and influence which belong to riches and wealth. Power and resources arising from numbers. Power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts."
The root word behind our word "power" is also where we get the word "dynamite". God's kingdom is not a mild, quiet Sunday service. The very definition involves action, exertion, performing miracles, influence and resources of Heavenly riches and superior numbers. The power of an army on the march.
Don't be timid, Christian. Seek God's kingdom, God's authority and power in your life, first. When God has the authority in your life ("Thine is the kingdom"), then He will demonstrate His might through you ("Thine is the power"), and then He will get all the glory ("and the glory"). Amen!
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Envy, Strife, Division
1 Corinthians 3:3 "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"
A person walking in the Spirit of God looks and acts vastly different from someone walking in the flesh. In this verse, Paul lists 3 things that will not be found in someone who is walking according to the Holy Spirit - envy, strife, and division.
Envy has the idea of a contentious rivalry, trying to outdo someone else for pride's sake. Strife is more than just disagreeing, it is a bitter, resentful attitude toward those we disagree with. And division is pretty self-explanatory. The word comes from two words that mean "two" and "stand", literally you have a stance, I have a stance, and they are not one or unified, they are two separate things. This doesn't mean we won't ever disagree with fellow believers, it means that we should have unity on the fundamentals of the Gospel.
Am I walking in my flesh as a carnal man? Or am I being led by the Holy Spirit, seeking God and walking in His love, peace, and unity?
A person walking in the Spirit of God looks and acts vastly different from someone walking in the flesh. In this verse, Paul lists 3 things that will not be found in someone who is walking according to the Holy Spirit - envy, strife, and division.
Envy has the idea of a contentious rivalry, trying to outdo someone else for pride's sake. Strife is more than just disagreeing, it is a bitter, resentful attitude toward those we disagree with. And division is pretty self-explanatory. The word comes from two words that mean "two" and "stand", literally you have a stance, I have a stance, and they are not one or unified, they are two separate things. This doesn't mean we won't ever disagree with fellow believers, it means that we should have unity on the fundamentals of the Gospel.
Am I walking in my flesh as a carnal man? Or am I being led by the Holy Spirit, seeking God and walking in His love, peace, and unity?
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
One Thing
1 Corinthians 2:2 "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."
There is a beautiful simplicity to the Christian life. So many times we try and complicate things because it just seems like how it ought to be. Accepting and dwelling in simplicity is harder than attempting something complex and difficult. All the "-ologies" that surround the Bible have their place in understanding good doctrine. However, we must not let them impede the simplicity of the Gospel.
Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. That's all. The Son of God, dying on a cross for me. Love. Unmatched, unfathomable love. If this is our focus, our goal and driving force, if this is constantly on our mind and ever flowing from our lips, how would that change your life?
There is a beautiful simplicity to the Christian life. So many times we try and complicate things because it just seems like how it ought to be. Accepting and dwelling in simplicity is harder than attempting something complex and difficult. All the "-ologies" that surround the Bible have their place in understanding good doctrine. However, we must not let them impede the simplicity of the Gospel.
Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. That's all. The Son of God, dying on a cross for me. Love. Unmatched, unfathomable love. If this is our focus, our goal and driving force, if this is constantly on our mind and ever flowing from our lips, how would that change your life?
Friday, February 23, 2018
Power and Wisdom
1 Corinthians 1:22-24 "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God."
I've never noticed before how Paul shows how Christ is the thing that the Jews and the Greeks were both seeking even though they didn't know it.
The Jews knew history and the ancient prophesies. And even though Christ fulfilled all those prophesies, they still demanded a sign. Jesus' ministry was full of signs and wonders. Yet the biggest came when He rose from the dead, proving once and for all His deity and godhood. The Jews sought a sign, yet He was standing right in front of them - the Power of God Himself.
The Greeks were philosophers. They wanted some complex wisdom that they could really sink their teeth into. The Gospel (Christ crucified) was too simple. So simple in fact they saw it as foolishness. The Greeks sought wisdom, and yet the Wisdom of God Himself was standing right in front of them.
Jesus Christ is exactly what we need. God created us, God knows our every need. And if we'll let Him, Jesus will satisfy those needs like no one, and nothing else can.
I've never noticed before how Paul shows how Christ is the thing that the Jews and the Greeks were both seeking even though they didn't know it.
The Jews knew history and the ancient prophesies. And even though Christ fulfilled all those prophesies, they still demanded a sign. Jesus' ministry was full of signs and wonders. Yet the biggest came when He rose from the dead, proving once and for all His deity and godhood. The Jews sought a sign, yet He was standing right in front of them - the Power of God Himself.
The Greeks were philosophers. They wanted some complex wisdom that they could really sink their teeth into. The Gospel (Christ crucified) was too simple. So simple in fact they saw it as foolishness. The Greeks sought wisdom, and yet the Wisdom of God Himself was standing right in front of them.
Jesus Christ is exactly what we need. God created us, God knows our every need. And if we'll let Him, Jesus will satisfy those needs like no one, and nothing else can.
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Mystery
Romans 16:25 "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,"
We live in an incredible time. Up until Christ's coming, the salvation that was to come was truly a mystery. There was a hope, yet it was in the future, shrouded in the unknown. A Messiah would eventually come, but no one knew how or when. Nor did they fully understand how it would turn the world upside down.
Living today, however, we have the benefit of knowing what this mystery is! It has been revealed to us and now we know our standing before God, the Savior Who died to give us new life, how to receive His grace and mercy, and what eternity will hold for us. What a wonderful thought.
Yet some mystery still remains. We know our Messiah is coming back again, yet we do not know when. We hold out future hope, but we have no idea just how much that hope will transform our eternal lives when that day comes. As we wait for the final revelation, let us not get tired of doing good as God has called us. Let us run this race before us with patience, looking forward to the Reward that awaits us.
We live in an incredible time. Up until Christ's coming, the salvation that was to come was truly a mystery. There was a hope, yet it was in the future, shrouded in the unknown. A Messiah would eventually come, but no one knew how or when. Nor did they fully understand how it would turn the world upside down.
Living today, however, we have the benefit of knowing what this mystery is! It has been revealed to us and now we know our standing before God, the Savior Who died to give us new life, how to receive His grace and mercy, and what eternity will hold for us. What a wonderful thought.
Yet some mystery still remains. We know our Messiah is coming back again, yet we do not know when. We hold out future hope, but we have no idea just how much that hope will transform our eternal lives when that day comes. As we wait for the final revelation, let us not get tired of doing good as God has called us. Let us run this race before us with patience, looking forward to the Reward that awaits us.
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
A Unified Body
Romans 15:5-7 "Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God."
There are several key phrases in these verses that, if taken to heart, would do a lot to bring unity in the Church. We are called to be "likeminded...according to Christ Jesus". He is to be the center of Christianity (it's in the name really). Christians can differ on many things, however our minds ought to be the same when it comes to Jesus.
Once that mind is "like", we are to employ it together with our fellow believers along with our mouths to bring God praise. The bitter divide in churches regarding how to praise and glorify God (drums, no drums, etc.) is causing us to be unable to fulfill this Scriptural admonition.
And finally, we are called to receive each other as Christ received us so God gets the glory. The word "receive" could literally be translated "grant one access to one's heart". Just think - that is what Christ has done for us! The God of the universe has given us access to His heart and now He calls us to do the same with our fellow believers. This is not a simple "Hi! How are you this beautiful Sunday?" "I'm great. How are you?" "I'm good. Well have a nice day!" sort of conversation. That is not granting access to your heart and it is killing our churches. Receiving each other as Christ receives us is intimate, dangerous, raw, real. Life changing.
What steps can I take today to implement these admonitions in my life?
There are several key phrases in these verses that, if taken to heart, would do a lot to bring unity in the Church. We are called to be "likeminded...according to Christ Jesus". He is to be the center of Christianity (it's in the name really). Christians can differ on many things, however our minds ought to be the same when it comes to Jesus.
Once that mind is "like", we are to employ it together with our fellow believers along with our mouths to bring God praise. The bitter divide in churches regarding how to praise and glorify God (drums, no drums, etc.) is causing us to be unable to fulfill this Scriptural admonition.
And finally, we are called to receive each other as Christ received us so God gets the glory. The word "receive" could literally be translated "grant one access to one's heart". Just think - that is what Christ has done for us! The God of the universe has given us access to His heart and now He calls us to do the same with our fellow believers. This is not a simple "Hi! How are you this beautiful Sunday?" "I'm great. How are you?" "I'm good. Well have a nice day!" sort of conversation. That is not granting access to your heart and it is killing our churches. Receiving each other as Christ receives us is intimate, dangerous, raw, real. Life changing.
What steps can I take today to implement these admonitions in my life?
Friday, February 9, 2018
Strive
Romans 15:30 "Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;"
If you had to choose one word to describe your prayer life, what would it be?
Strive: "to endeavour with strenuous zeal, strive: to obtain something". Paul leaves no question as to what our prayer life ought to look like. He's speaking of an intense prayer life that has purpose and direction. A dedicated, tenacious drive.
And let us not forget Who it is we are praying to. The one and only God, the Creator and Provider, the Lover of our souls, the One Who gave all for us and died for us. The God of unspeakable love, mercy, and grace. He waits to be sought by us. But not halfheartedly. As He says in Luke 18 - we must always pray and not faint!
Therefore, we must strive. But not alone. We strive together with our fellow believers. So again I ask you, what word would describe your prayer life?
If you had to choose one word to describe your prayer life, what would it be?
Strive: "to endeavour with strenuous zeal, strive: to obtain something". Paul leaves no question as to what our prayer life ought to look like. He's speaking of an intense prayer life that has purpose and direction. A dedicated, tenacious drive.
And let us not forget Who it is we are praying to. The one and only God, the Creator and Provider, the Lover of our souls, the One Who gave all for us and died for us. The God of unspeakable love, mercy, and grace. He waits to be sought by us. But not halfheartedly. As He says in Luke 18 - we must always pray and not faint!
Therefore, we must strive. But not alone. We strive together with our fellow believers. So again I ask you, what word would describe your prayer life?
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