1 Cor 15-16

I found this to be a tough read. 

Corinth is in Greece, outside Athens and their philosophies were steeped in “feel good ” culture.  The Greeks believed in a release of the soul, but not of a Resurrection.  Paul is telling them plainly that without the Resurrection, your Faith is futile!  We as Christians talk about the virgin birth of Jesus or the death on the Cross.  Well man can be born.  And a man can die on the Cross.  The Resurrection is only the Work of the Lord.  It is the foundation of Faith.  Not that Jesus lives, not that he Died.  But that He rose again.  Paul even states that without that your ritual of Baptism is a waste.

“Let us eat and drink,
      for tomorrow we die.” 1 cor 15:32

This is a quote form Isaiah 22.  When men would go to war they would say such a phrase, rather than trusting in the Lord.  We have friends that live a like of “let’s enjoy life now…we could be dead tomorrow”.  If you are with Christ you never die, and you live accordingly.  You have eternity.  If you have friends (or a husband) that has this motto of life.  RED FLAG.  “Bad company corrupts good character.”

1 Cor 12-14

• Spiritual Gifts
• Love
• Prophecy and Tongues

It is fitting that Paul would write about Spiritual Gifts and then after that talk about the Body of Believers coming together with our differences.  This is not the full list of Spiritual Gifts given by the Lord but the ones that were most given at the time of this church. 

Then we read probably one of the most popular readings in a modern wedding ceremony.   Read 1 Corinthians in the context that it is written this time (maybe for the first time).  It was not written for marriage, it was written for life.  God is saying through Paul, you can have all the talent and gifts in the world but without Love they are pointless.  Example, have you ever worked with the homeless, or the less privileged?  The condemned? The unsaved?  You can come into their life with all the wisdom, giving, knowlwdge…you want but if you don’t come in with LOVE toward them, it was a waste of your time.  And let me tell you it is HARD!  People who don’t know the Lord ACT like they don’t know the Lord.  So how do we treat others, especially the ones that don’t deserve it.  WHy do I say the ones that don’t deserve it….we have read several times Jesus desires Mercy from us…Mercy means love for the underserved.  So what does that look like to Jesus?  We treat that person with patience.  We are kind to them.  We do not boast about ourselves, or in our heart are proud.  We are not rude to others or self-seeking.  We are self-controlled in our anger, and we don’t keep track of someones errors.  We protect them, and we trust them.  KNOWING that Love will not fail.  Tending to someone in any other way,  other than the above may fail. 

Tongues and Prophecy.  A topic that makes many of us uncomfortable because we don’t understand ot believe it.  Church then was not like it is today.  There was no central meeting place often, there were no Lifeway Beth Moore Classes, heck there was not even a BIBLE!  SO what did they talk about? How did they know what to talk about?  How did an unbeliever come in and know what they were talking about? How did the church grow without a Bible to consult?  Prophesying was speaking with a message from the Lord.  In other words, a Spirit driven conversation.  God would use people with the Gift of speaking to speak Truth and Preach in the name of Jesus.  Prophezizing is still a major gift today and many of those gifted people may become pastors, or ministy workers, counselors, even authors.  God Inspired SPeaker.  (Sha often jokes that this is one of my gifts, and maybe it is since I feel I have nothing to do with  the blog most of the time)

Tongues.  I know what you are thinking?  What in the World is this? Is it real? Fake? Today? Back then only? Seriously? 

Here is my 2 cents on it.  Ready?  ok…Yes it is real!  How do I know…IT’S IN THE BIBLE.  But what it is and why is it?  picture being Paul and going to a foreign country that never saw Jesus do miracles, never knew Jesus, did not see the resurection….etc.  And then goes into their town and Preach repentance and a New lifestyle without “proof” of the Messiah.  Well speaking in Tongues is a proof of the Holy Spirit, just like on the day of Pentecost.  When Paul spoke in Tongues it was for the UNBELIEVER to hear and say “Holy Cow…that is supernatural!” and begin to inquire and learn in the church.  Tongues does not edify the Lord in any way.  Preaching the WOrd of God (prophecy) does.  Speaking in tongues was a SIGN for the unbelievers to know that Paul was with God, Immanuel, inside him in the form of the Holy Spirit.

So what about today? Well, why not.  I believe God can do anything He wants.  DO I think it is done today from the Lord?  Well, we  have the written Word, soooooo not sure why God would need to have someone speak in tongues.  But if He does, well he says it is for a specific reason, it is done for the unbeliever, and interpretation will be given.  I did see it once and I am certain it was FAKE.  It had no biblical backing to it whatsoever.  It was in a church (not what God said), it was a women (not what God said) and no one interpreted it(Not what God said).  However, if I have been in a setting with sound doctrine, (not cult like) Yes I would believe in Tongues.  Why not.

Does anyone need clarification of the Woman in church thing?  I know I got a bunch of strong women thinking :What in the world was that??

1 Cor 9-11

I don’t want you to only love half of what God says in the Bible I want you to LOVE every single word. Sooo I after you read today I want you to openly discuss anything that made your right eyebrow to go up.  Deal?  People who have never read the Bible or have only read parts have caused the WORLD to take scriptures out of context rather than reading the whole chapter, (or sometimes just the whole paragraph).  You HAVE TO get all this.  This is not like listening to a President election speech where you can only clap at the parts that you like.  You need to AMEN all of this today.  Ok?

Chapter 9:  Let me break this down real easy: have you ever thought “Ohhh my G. Look at the pastor’s car?  Can you believe the staff all have houses in nice sub-divisions?  I mean c’mon.  If they were really dedicated to the church they would live humbly, not take all the money from he church for their own life, they would give it to the poor.” 

Read Chapter 9.  Why should people who work for the church be any different than the standard of living of the congregation?  Why should they be any less?  WHy don’t we turn the mirror on ourselves and say “I am a christian JUST LIKE THEM, why am I not living in less so I can feed the poor?  Cmon people, if it’s good enough for us…it should be good enough for them.  It is extremely biblical from the beginning of time that those who work as a profession for the Lord should be compensated just like everyone else. (for what they do…they should be making a lot more)

Chapter 10.  WOW.   I loves history!  There are actually 2 separate events here and I would LOVE for you to take the extra time maybe later to read both the stories.  One of my Passions is for people to read the Old Testament NOT to understand the New Testament better but to understand GOD better.  Click on the below readings.  Click the bible address for the Bible Reading then click the word blog if you need some help with it to go to the blog post that was on it.

Exodus 32: The Golden Calf Blog

 Numbers 21:4-9:  The Bronze Snake Blog

 Chapter 11.  Public Worship.  If any of this confuses you PLEASE speak up.  Here is my 2 minute sermon on the public thing.  You are your husbands wife.  When you wear something inappropriate you are dishonoring your husbands AS WELL as the Lord.  In the context of the time period, Just because some ladies chose not to cover their hair (a custom), and they were free in Christ not to,  it disrespected their husband.  Modern day example, just because you are free in Christ to wear a tight shirt or jeans too tight….DON”T!  Ya hoochie mamma!  It disrespects your husband and  the Lord.

My last comment today is regarding the last supper.  I found the whole half chapter on it interesting because back then they would “Feast” while taking the last supper and when they did they would eat and drink inappropriately.  But the part that got me was the  Phrase: Man ought to examine himself before he eats the bread and drink of the cup.  I think too often people (or religions) take the Communion TO BE  right with the Lord.  Actually, we are supposed to take it BECAUSE we are right with the Lord (or not at all).  Let me put it to you this way, if you are living in sin and know it…we are NOT to take the Eucharist.  It is a SIN to take it under those circumstances.  Get me?  I think you know who you are.

1 Cor 5-8

How do we really think of sin?  Do we think less of it since we live on a Forgiven Side of the Cross?  Well we might, but God never changes on it.  As you read this keep in mind that there is no “building” yet called “the church”.  Scatterings  of small groups congregated in places or homes to discuss such topics.  Paul is letting them know much of what they think the Cross means is wrong.  For example, in 6:12 Is everything “Permissable?”  They assumed since the SIN was forgiven that it was “ok” now. Ummmmm do we think the same way?

Chapter 5: “DOn’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?”  Yeast  is symbolic of sin.  It is remembered at the Passover Festival when they Feast on bread without yeast in it. (today called Matzah)

Chapter 6: Lawsuits among believers.  If both sides were truly following Jesus…why would there be a lawsuit worthy of a pagan court decision?  And Sexual immorality, listen, God thinks no less of the sin of immoral sex than when he did since the beginning of time.

Chapter 7:  CHristian Marriage.  Remember when reading today that Paul is writing to the CHRISTIANS.  We are His people, His children, and all these letters we are reading are pertaining to us.  SO if you have any questions in your heart I am certain that these letters and the next few weeks will for sure give you guidance.

Chapter 8:  Food sacrificed to idols.  This is not just about buying meat in the marketplace that was improperly offered this is about Social Gatherings.   It is about setting an example.    Read the last verse, it is not about us not eating meat, it is about setting the example: if the social and “intake” you are visiting is not to the Lord’s standards THEN be a light!

(There is a lot in these 4 chapters, if anyone questions any of them and wants to talk about it e-mail me)

1 Corinthians 1-4

When you read this remember the church did not have the written New Testaments yet.  So listening to a great preacher and not “following” him was difficult.  The church in Corinth was divided into 4 “cliques”.  Followers of Apollos, Cephas (Peter), Christ and Paul himself.  But here is the next BIG topic on the table: The Cross.  As Paul says it was their stumbling block.  What does that mean?  Here are the views regarding Jesus death

• The Jews expected the Messiah to restore the throne of David.  A political king. A royal!  They saw him as a criminal on the Cross.
• The Greeks did not believe in the resurrection.  See the Greeks were followers of powerful Greek gods and goddesses.

They both considered death on the Cross weak and Defeat.  We as believers see the Power of the Cross.  The death and Resurrection was the Victory over Satan and death.  Does everyone get this, even the most intelligent men on the planet?? No.  Why? because it is a heart issue, not a head issue.

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.

Paul says it will frustrate the intelligent.  I urge you to watch the movie “Expelled” with Ben Stein and hear the Darwinist’s try to explain their own foundation.  Even they trip over their stupid theories.

Now as far as CHapters 3 and 4.  Listen to me, if it pops out…HE is speaking to you .  ONE of the clearest ways to hear a message from the Lord is through His written Word.  Take these chapters to heart!

1 Corinthians Overiew.

This is so cool.  See up to now we have read about the letters written to the Churches, even the General letters and they all regarded the “outside” factors.  For example,  the persecution or the false teachings that were going on in the world.  This time we are reading about the “inside” of the church and the troubles they are having.  This book is as modern as the day it was written. (uhh they all are)

First, the city of Corinth,  was a rich town just outside Athens.  Consisting of about 300,000 free citizens with 450,000 slaves by the 2nd Century.  Theaters would hold about 14,ooo and many many pagan worships went on,  including the 1000 prostitutes in the city limits.  The temple in town was a temple for Aphrodite, the love goddess!  Cleary sexual immorality is a huge part of the lifestyle.  To help you with an image, have you ever been to Southbeach Miami? OK 10 times worse because most of the orgies were public and acts of ritual.

So while Paul was in Ephesus, 2 things happen. 

1.  One, he receives a report that the Church in Corinth had party  divisions, has a known case of incest, there were court cases between members, they were abusing the “freedom” in Christ, and general chaos including poor respect for the Lord’s Supper. 
2. Second, he received a letter from them on advice concerning marriage, problems over food and social functions held at church, proper prayer, spiritual gifts and finally the true meaning of the resurrection.

We will be in both 1 and 2  Corinthians  for eight days (It’s going to be good!).   Here is the schedule:

Nov 29: 1Cor 1-4
Nov 30: 1Cor 5-8
Dec 1: 1Cor 9-11
Dec 2: 1Cor 12-14
Dec 3: 1Cor 15-16
Dec 4: 2Cor 1-4
Dec 5: 2Cor 5-9
Dec 6: 2Cor 10-13