Pause for thought

In the previous chapter Paul emphasises his freedom to do anything, But in 9:24-10:13 he reminds us that to live a truly fulfilled Christian life it involves both freedom and discipline.

Israel quickly forgot their deliverance from slavery in Egypt and fell into many sins. so that a whole generation were destroyed. This was written not simply as an historical account in the Bible, but more importantly as a warning to the church of the last days (fullness of time 10:11) We must see to it that we never think our freedom gives us a licence to do what ever we please.10:6-11.

Temptation happens to everyone so don’t accept the devils lie that you have been singled out for special attention. You are not on your own others are tested and have overcome so can you. God will always show you a way out and will limit any temptation you face.

Memory verse

God is faithful. He will keep temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so you will not give in to it. 1 Corinthians 10:13. N.L.T.

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Pause for thought

“He who pays the piper calls the tune” Paul was not reliant on the financial support of the Corinthians, which meant Paul was able to work not only for the local church but for everyone by bringing them to Jesus Christ 9:19.

Some find it hard to be all things to all men, so that they might lead them to Jesus, because of their own or others Christian scruples. However I believe we must not be afraid to venture forth from the comfort of the cosy church circle if we are to bring Jesus to those who have not yet met Him.

Jesus promises to be with those who go and make disciples of all nations baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Matthew 28:19

memory verse

When I am with those who are oppressed, I share their oppression so that I might bring them to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ. I do all this to spread the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9 :22-23 N.L.T.

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Robert and Pam send love and blessings to you all this New Year.2023

Facts or feelings?

Many people, Christian or unbeliever are governed by their feelings rather than by the facts. Feelings can change according to how our day has been or what we ate for supper last night!
Everyone needs peace and the New Year seems like a good time to make a fresh start and reset our clocks. But for we mortals that is an impossibility without the help of Almighty God.
The Bible is full of Gods promises that are factual and if believed will do far more than simply reset our clocks for 2023!
Because God is Eternal and Faithful He will always keep the promises He has made to you in His Word the Bible. God the Holy Spirit takes the words of God and reveals them to our hearts.
For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead,you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the scripture tells us, “Anyone who believes in Him will not be disappointed Romans 10:9-11

The default mode of the Christian is peace which is ours by believing the Word of God, and not relying on our feelings.

Pause for thought

Those who serve the Lord by ministering to the church are absolutely entitled to payment, it is our responsibility to care for our Pastors teachers and other spiritual leaders seeing that they are adequately supported, Paul reminds us of the words of Jesus in Luke 10:7.

Perhaps some in Corinth thought that if Paul was a true Apostle he should be willing to accept some wages. But for Paul how could he claim payment for preaching the gospel that he was compelled to preach? Paul had no choice in the matter of preaching the gospel, but was free to give up his rights to financial support by the church. For Paul his wages were the satisfaction he had in preaching the gospel without expense to his hearers, and then choosing to work with his hands to meet his daily needs 9:17-18

The marks of Paul’s Apostleship were 1 That he had seen Jesus Christ in person. 2 That it was Jesus Christ Himself who had called Paul to be an Apostle . 3 Paul’s ministry was effective in building the church in fact the Corinthian believers were themselves the evidence of Paul’s Apostolic ministry 9:1

A verse to think about

If I were doing this of my own free will, then I would deserve payment. But God has chosen me and given me this sacred trust, and I have no choice. 1 Corinthians 9:17

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Pause for thought

It’s all to easy for anyone of us to develop a “know it all “ attitude! Strong Opinions are like noses they have holes in them! 8:1 Have you ever felt amazed that other believers don’t see things as you do? remember Knowledge can never do what love can “Build up the Church” 8:1

How are we to enjoy the freedom Jesus died to give us? A truly free Christian is one who is attentive to the Holy Spirit, and therefore seeks to build up other Christians in love. Even if something is harmless to you if it is likely to cause harm to another Christian it must be given up 8:9

Memory verse

While knowledge may make us feel important, it is love that really builds up the Church. 1 Corinthians 8:1 N.L.T.

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Pause for thought

Surprise! You may be just where God wants you 7:20.

Do you believe you can do Gods work and live faithfully for God wherever you are? We don’t have to move geographically to hear God’s voice or know more of His presence. Make no move unless you have definite direction from God, remember God speaks through the Bible and will confirm His message to you through the witness of the Holy Spirit to your spirit, and often by the witness of the Holy Spirit through fellow Christian’s 7:17.

Some new Christian’s who are already married find themselves married to an unbeliever, but that does not mean you can’t live for Christ, God knew who you were married to before you believed in Jesus, it could just be Gods plan to save your spouse through your witness 7:16.

Christians find themselves in dead end street because of wrong assumptions about the place they live or church they attend or the unbelieving spouse they feel stuck with. Instead believe that God has placed you where you are, and make the most of every opportunity to serve Him there.

memory verse

You must accept whatever situation the Lord has put you in, and continue on as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches 1 Corinthians 7:17 N.L.T.

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Some of you may notice from time to time the odd typing mistake but I can’t blame spell check for wrongly introducing todays audio message! Thanks to everyone for overlooking my mistakes.

Pause for thought

Because of the prevailing immoral culture in Corinth that included the belief that human bodies were primarily for sexual gratification, the church took what they mistakenly thought was a godly view and were promoting sexual abstinence in marriage, and even discouraging marriage altogether 7:1.

The Corinthian church was over reacting to the culture of their day. But someone had wisdom enough to write to Paul for his advise 7:1.

We must never let todays culture dictate the way we are to live. Paul wrote “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its own mould” Romans 12:2 J.B. Phillips. Christians who listen to God know how to act rather than reacting to the cultural pressures of the day.

Memory verse

You wives must remember that your husbands might be converted because of you. And you husbands must remember that your wives might be converted because of you. 1 Corinthians 7:16 N.L.T.

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Pause for thought

It seems that the Corinthians had misunderstood Paul’s teaching on Grace and freedom to mean that they were free to indulge the flesh. Christian’s faith does not mean we are free to sin, it means it makes us free not to sin. 6:12

“food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food” likewise some thought that freedom meant that they were free to abuse their own bodies, they did not understand what it meant to belong to Christ 6:13

Our present bodies will be transformed when Jesus returns but our mortal bodies will in some way be reflected in our new spiritual bodies 6:14

These bodies of ours have been made made holy “set apart” as a dwelling place for God, Jesus died to give us a redeemed soul and a pure body, these bodies are not our own to do with as we like, they each belong to Jesus Christ to be used for His glory.

A verse for remember

But the person who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him 1 Corinthians 6:17 N.L.T.

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Pause for thought

One day we Christians shall judge the World, in the meantime we should be able to deal with any disputes that arise in the church, for we have the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the mind of Christ 6:2, 2 Peter 2:4. Matt 8:11.

For a Christian to go to law against a fellow Christian is to fall very short of genuine Christian behaviour. If there is genuine Christian love in the heart he should prefer to suffer loss and injury rather than inflict it 6:6-7.

A verse to remember

Why not accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourself be cheated? 1 Corinthians 6:7a N.L.T.

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Pause for thought

“God will not bend the rules” quote DR R.T. Kendal

The Corinthian church was not only guilty of overlooking sin in their ranks they seemed proud with themselves for tolerating sin. But it showed they had a false notion about God’s Grace 5:1-2

Freedom from sin and guilt, and freedom to enjoy all of God’s good gifts doesn’t mean that that we are allowed to do whatever we please. Don’t fall into the trap of believing that because Christ has forgiven us from all our sin that this means we may continue to live in it 5:2

This sinning brother was still a Christian but living worse than a pagan, he was to be delivered to satan so that his flesh would be destroyed bringing about a change of heart and action. This judgement was to be a mutual act by the whole fellowship and done in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the knowledge that the Man would be saved at the return of the Lord 5:5.

This was an act of love not an act of punishment, it was to remind the whole church how easily sin can take control of an individual Christian and spread throughout the church like yeast spreads in dough or like the proverbial rotten apple in a basket of sound fruit 5:6.

While we must not gossip and criticise our fellow Christian’s sometimes as a body of believers it becomes our business to come together to judge situations in the local church. But note it is none of our business to judge unbelievers 5:12.

A verse to remember

It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who are sinning in these ways 1 Corinthians 5:12 N.L.T.

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Pause for thought

The Corinthians had split into cliques each following their favourite preacher who they thought was the only one who taught the truth! In their pride they forgot that their preferred minister like all the other ministers were simply servants of Jesus Christ 4:6

Spiritual pride is possibly among the most horrid sins for a Christian to get entangled by, it is a major cause of disunity in the local church. Spiritual pride begins its grip on Christians who fail to crucify their flesh ( old self) this person remains a carnal (baby) Christian. Spiritual pride makes a person unteachable they think they are so full of light that there is nothing more to learn, and display a judgemental attitude towards others by evaluating whether they are as good followers of Christ as they mistakenly think they themselves are. Paul addresses this very sin when he writes. Well it matters very little what you or anyone else thinks . I don’t even trust my own judgement on this point. My conscience is clear, but that isn’t what matters. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide 4:3-4

No individual local church has a monopoly on the truth we need each other and we can learn from each other, just like the saying (no man is an island) nor is any church.

Memory verse

So be careful not to jump to conclusions before the Lord returns as to whether or not someone is faithful. When the Lord comes, He will bring our deepest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. And then God will give to everyone whatever praise is due. 1 Corinthians 4:5 N.L.T.

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