I Corinthians 14:1-13
As a plumber, I was occasionally sent to homes where the only person home didn’t speak English. Since I speak some Spanish, and understand some Navajo, I could sometimes figure out what the problem was, or at least get them to show me where things were. Sometimes, I had to call our parts man for help with Spanish, or one of the secretaries for help with Navajo speakers. In such cases, frustration became a problem for both sides.
The early church was in contact with many ethnic groups, and needed to communicate in the different languages. While the gift of tongues, like the other spiritual gifts, was very valuable, it was becoming a problem in the church, and Paul addresses the problem.
“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?” (I Corinthians 14:1-6)
Love is essential for every Christian, and all need to practice it. Spiritual gifts are needed, but the most valuable was that of telling people what God had said. Speaking in a language the others did not understand did not benefit any one except the one who spoke unless it was interpreted for the benefit of the others. Giving people a revelation from God, a prophecy, imparting some relevant knowledge, or teaching them what these things meant had value, but only if it was understood. If everyone spoke in other languages, they would be able to talk to everyone they met, but it would be better for everyone to share God’s word.
Unless a person is able to distinguish what a sound means, he has no clue what action to take. In towns where tornados are common, there is usually a siren sounded to alert people of the danger. Sirens are also sounded by police and fire trucks. If the people cannot tell which is which, they don’t know whether to get out of the way for a fire truck, or to run for the tornado shelter. The difference must be easily identifiable to prevent confusion and frustration.
“And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.” (I Corinthians 14:7-13)
When I first started to college, I had no car, so I attended a church within walking distance my first Sunday. When the preacher stood up to preach, he said “I feel like the Lord wants me to preach about another subject, but since I announced this other, that’s what I’ll be preaching about.” If he wasn’t going to preach what God told him to, I really didn’t see any need to go back, so the following Sunday, I caught a ride to another church I had heard about.
The preacher preached about the Hypostatic Union, using a large number of words I had never heard. After church, one of the people asked “wasn’t that a wonderful message?” I had to admit I didn’t have a clue, because I didn’t know what he was talking about. The next Sunday I went back to the first church. At least I understood them. I might get something out of their service, and they didn’t make me feel stupid.
After graduating from FLC, I went to Baptist Bible college, and finally learned that Christ’s being both God and man was sometimes called the Hypostatic union. If the second preacher had cared enough to explain that in his message, I’d probably have continued to attend his church.
The goal is to edify the church, not to impress them with our linguistic skills. If we are going to have to speak in language they don’t understand, we need to pray that God will give us the ability to interpret it so that they can understand as well.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Growing Up
I Corinthians 13:8-13
Have you ever seen a child of 5 or 6 walking around with a baby bottle in their mouth? Occasionally I have, and it is a little disconcerting. A child that age ought to have been weaned, eating and drinking adult food. In our area are a few parents who will not take the bottle away from their children. The children are usually quite spoiled and self centered, and tend to be fat. Doctors tell us that they tend to have health problems as a result of not eating properly.
Using the bottle encourages them not to eat properly, and to continue to act as babies. They substitute milk or juice for food requiring chewing, resulting in weakened jaw muscles and poor tooth development. Because they do not get a full spectrum of proper nutrients, their physical development is somewhat distorted, and muscles are weak. Disuse tends to make the digestive system sluggish as well. Only when the bottle is put away will proper development occur. Once the bottle is not needed, it becomes a hindrance rather than a help.
Before the Word of God was complete there was a need for prophets to get their messages directly from God and share it with the people. Before the teachings were written down there was a need for a miraculous form of knowledge. Before there were Christians of various cultures, a miraculous gift of tongues was needed to share the gospel with those of another language. Paul is very specific that when the need is gone, so will each of these gifts. He specifically names prophecy, tongues, and knowledge.
“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” (I Corinthians 13:8-13)
The need for all 3 has been greatly reduced, and we should not be surprised that we see few examples in our day. There will never be a time when love is not needed, however, and there will never be a time when love ends. Faith, hope and love will all continue when all the spiritual gifts have been eliminated. They are far more important than the spiritual gifts, and should be cultivated. All three are essential to the Christian life, with love being the most important.
Have you ever seen a child of 5 or 6 walking around with a baby bottle in their mouth? Occasionally I have, and it is a little disconcerting. A child that age ought to have been weaned, eating and drinking adult food. In our area are a few parents who will not take the bottle away from their children. The children are usually quite spoiled and self centered, and tend to be fat. Doctors tell us that they tend to have health problems as a result of not eating properly.
Using the bottle encourages them not to eat properly, and to continue to act as babies. They substitute milk or juice for food requiring chewing, resulting in weakened jaw muscles and poor tooth development. Because they do not get a full spectrum of proper nutrients, their physical development is somewhat distorted, and muscles are weak. Disuse tends to make the digestive system sluggish as well. Only when the bottle is put away will proper development occur. Once the bottle is not needed, it becomes a hindrance rather than a help.
Before the Word of God was complete there was a need for prophets to get their messages directly from God and share it with the people. Before the teachings were written down there was a need for a miraculous form of knowledge. Before there were Christians of various cultures, a miraculous gift of tongues was needed to share the gospel with those of another language. Paul is very specific that when the need is gone, so will each of these gifts. He specifically names prophecy, tongues, and knowledge.
“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” (I Corinthians 13:8-13)
The need for all 3 has been greatly reduced, and we should not be surprised that we see few examples in our day. There will never be a time when love is not needed, however, and there will never be a time when love ends. Faith, hope and love will all continue when all the spiritual gifts have been eliminated. They are far more important than the spiritual gifts, and should be cultivated. All three are essential to the Christian life, with love being the most important.
Monday, April 6, 2009
True Love
I Corinthians 13:1-7
Every election, politicians promise to reduce the deficit and make life easier for the American people. As soon as the election is over, they start spending money for the things they want and the deficit grows, resulting in a tax increase. Even tax cuts or refunds actually cost extra because of the way they’re done. The fabulous speeches were just words.
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” (I Corinthians 13:1-3)
Without love, the wonderful promises will never be fulfilled because they were only a way to get people to do what you wanted. Whatever action is taken will be for the purpose of attaining future cooperation, rather than interest in helping others.
Many of those with the greatest intellectual ability spend all their time designing puzzles to prove they are smarter than those who try to solve them, rather than trying to solve problems that those less gifted have not been able to solve, because they don’t care about other people. When their efforts are devoted to other peoples problems, it is only to those which will pay a quick big return. More demanding problems tend to be ignored as not providing sufficient return quickly enough. Such ability is worthless to God used in such a fashion.
The person who gives to charity because it is a tax deduction, or to build his reputation, rather than because he is genuinely concerned for the people who receive the help, has wasted his gifts, as far as God is concerned. Much philanthropy is nothing more than a way of relieving a guilty conscience or obtaining some personal benefit, and God is not pleased with it, because it is not based on love.
Several years ago, I knew a woman who always insisted on greeting everybody with a hug and a kiss. Such is greeting is very pleasant from some people, but from her, it made me very uncomfortable, Everything in her home had one of her children or grandchildren’s names on it. Each person was told how much they were loved and which items were for them. Anytime they did anything that displeased her, she would switch the names to show her displeasure. Her hugs and kisses made me uncomfortable after learning this. Clearly her love was a conditional, and manipulative.
Paul gives a list of characteristics of real love to enable us to distinguish the real thing. The fake confuses a lot of people who end up wondering why love is so unsatisfactory. Often those who have never experience the real thing reject it because it is not what they have come to expect, and don’t trust it as a result.
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” (I Corinthians 13:4-7)
Charity, or love remains kind, even when it is suffering. It does not try to make others feel guilty or hurt because of it’s suffering. It doesn’t lash out at others.
Love doesn’t envy. It doesn’t get jealous over gifts or compliments others receive. It doesn’t disparage what the other has done, or complain that someone else should have gotten it instead. Love rejoices in what the loved one received.
Love doesn’t consider itself superior to the other, and doesn’t treat the loved one as inferior, but as an equal, It doesn’t make slaves or demand service.
Love doesn’t humiliate those it loves, either by actions, or by talk. It doesn’t rail on people, or abuse them. It isn’t offensive.
Love is not selfish. It’s focus is not on what it wants, but is concerned about the needs of the other. It doesn’t use loving actions to get it’s own way, nor threats to withhold them.
Love isn’t easily angered or upset. It is patient and forgiving.
Love doesn’t assume the worst of it’s mate, doesn’t look for something wrong.
Love isn’t pleased with wrong doing by those it loves, but it also doesn’t ignore it either. It has a realistic view of the other person, and wants to know the truth. Real love isn’t blind.
Love takes whatever hurts it receives without undue complaints or quitting.
Love keeps on believing in the person, keeps on hoping, even though there is no visible reason for hope.
Love survives everything. It cannot be killed, though it may go into hibernation. A little warmth will bring it back out.
Such love is the natural result of the Holy Spirit in our life, and will automatically be manifested when he is in control. It’s lack is evidence that he is not in control.
Every election, politicians promise to reduce the deficit and make life easier for the American people. As soon as the election is over, they start spending money for the things they want and the deficit grows, resulting in a tax increase. Even tax cuts or refunds actually cost extra because of the way they’re done. The fabulous speeches were just words.
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” (I Corinthians 13:1-3)
Without love, the wonderful promises will never be fulfilled because they were only a way to get people to do what you wanted. Whatever action is taken will be for the purpose of attaining future cooperation, rather than interest in helping others.
Many of those with the greatest intellectual ability spend all their time designing puzzles to prove they are smarter than those who try to solve them, rather than trying to solve problems that those less gifted have not been able to solve, because they don’t care about other people. When their efforts are devoted to other peoples problems, it is only to those which will pay a quick big return. More demanding problems tend to be ignored as not providing sufficient return quickly enough. Such ability is worthless to God used in such a fashion.
The person who gives to charity because it is a tax deduction, or to build his reputation, rather than because he is genuinely concerned for the people who receive the help, has wasted his gifts, as far as God is concerned. Much philanthropy is nothing more than a way of relieving a guilty conscience or obtaining some personal benefit, and God is not pleased with it, because it is not based on love.
Several years ago, I knew a woman who always insisted on greeting everybody with a hug and a kiss. Such is greeting is very pleasant from some people, but from her, it made me very uncomfortable, Everything in her home had one of her children or grandchildren’s names on it. Each person was told how much they were loved and which items were for them. Anytime they did anything that displeased her, she would switch the names to show her displeasure. Her hugs and kisses made me uncomfortable after learning this. Clearly her love was a conditional, and manipulative.
Paul gives a list of characteristics of real love to enable us to distinguish the real thing. The fake confuses a lot of people who end up wondering why love is so unsatisfactory. Often those who have never experience the real thing reject it because it is not what they have come to expect, and don’t trust it as a result.
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” (I Corinthians 13:4-7)
Charity, or love remains kind, even when it is suffering. It does not try to make others feel guilty or hurt because of it’s suffering. It doesn’t lash out at others.
Love doesn’t envy. It doesn’t get jealous over gifts or compliments others receive. It doesn’t disparage what the other has done, or complain that someone else should have gotten it instead. Love rejoices in what the loved one received.
Love doesn’t consider itself superior to the other, and doesn’t treat the loved one as inferior, but as an equal, It doesn’t make slaves or demand service.
Love doesn’t humiliate those it loves, either by actions, or by talk. It doesn’t rail on people, or abuse them. It isn’t offensive.
Love is not selfish. It’s focus is not on what it wants, but is concerned about the needs of the other. It doesn’t use loving actions to get it’s own way, nor threats to withhold them.
Love isn’t easily angered or upset. It is patient and forgiving.
Love doesn’t assume the worst of it’s mate, doesn’t look for something wrong.
Love isn’t pleased with wrong doing by those it loves, but it also doesn’t ignore it either. It has a realistic view of the other person, and wants to know the truth. Real love isn’t blind.
Love takes whatever hurts it receives without undue complaints or quitting.
Love keeps on believing in the person, keeps on hoping, even though there is no visible reason for hope.
Love survives everything. It cannot be killed, though it may go into hibernation. A little warmth will bring it back out.
Such love is the natural result of the Holy Spirit in our life, and will automatically be manifested when he is in control. It’s lack is evidence that he is not in control.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Why Do We Need Gifts?
I Corinthians 12:28-31
"And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” (I Corinthians 12:28)
Here Paul gives a partial listing of the Spiritual gifts. In Ephesians 4:11-13 he gives a similar list, and explains why these gifts are given. Understanding what these gifts are and why they are given is critical to understanding I Corinthians 13 & 14.
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” (Ephesians 4:11-13)
These gifts were given for the perfecting, or preparing the saints, for doing what the ministry required, and for edifying or building up and strengthening the church on both the individual and corporate levels. The end result is to be a unity of faith and knowledge of Christ. The Holy Spirit will use them to teach us everything, and when he does, there will be no conflicts in our understanding, or our faith. Every Christian will measure up to the standard of Christ, as a perfect or completely matured copy.
The apostles were special messengers from God, to bring the whole message to the world. From the requirements in the book of Acts, it is clear that there would be no other apostles, with the exception of Paul, an apostle born out of due season. Paul talks of those who claim to be apostles, but are not, not meeting the qualifications.
Prophets told people specific points of what God said. I Corinthians 13 said that the gift of prophecy would cease when the word was complete, although it was still in effect when Paul wrote. Evangelists are ones who announce the gospel to those who have not heard. Philip is the example we are given, going where the gospel had not been heard.
The word pastor means sheep herder, and refers to one who tends the sheep, leading them to food and water, doctoring sicknesses, protecting them and accompanying them. Teachers are just what the word means, teaching them what is needed. Miracles were things possible only to God. Similarly, gifts of healing were for things doctors were not able to heal. Helps demonstrated concern for individuals, and governments were closely related to the job of the shepherd to protect and maintain peace. Different tongues were needed to communicate with people who spoke other languages.
The Holy Spirit puts these gifts into the church as it pleases him. None of the gifts are given to every one. As Paul asks, “Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?” (I Corinthians 12:29-30)
Clearly, the answer is no. Not everyone can be an apostle, or any of the other gifts. As I Corinthians 12:17 asks, “If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?" A body that was just an eye, or even had an eye on each hand and foot would not work very well. Thankfully, God did not put eyes everywhere on our body, nor did he do the church that way. “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” (I Corinthians 12:18)
A person can live missing one or both eyes, or even the hands, but not without a heart. In the same way there are parts of the church that are more critical than others, and we ought to desire those most critical parts, but there is something more important than any of the spiritual gifts that Paul wants to show us. “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.” (I Corinthians 12:31)
"And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” (I Corinthians 12:28)
Here Paul gives a partial listing of the Spiritual gifts. In Ephesians 4:11-13 he gives a similar list, and explains why these gifts are given. Understanding what these gifts are and why they are given is critical to understanding I Corinthians 13 & 14.
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” (Ephesians 4:11-13)
These gifts were given for the perfecting, or preparing the saints, for doing what the ministry required, and for edifying or building up and strengthening the church on both the individual and corporate levels. The end result is to be a unity of faith and knowledge of Christ. The Holy Spirit will use them to teach us everything, and when he does, there will be no conflicts in our understanding, or our faith. Every Christian will measure up to the standard of Christ, as a perfect or completely matured copy.
The apostles were special messengers from God, to bring the whole message to the world. From the requirements in the book of Acts, it is clear that there would be no other apostles, with the exception of Paul, an apostle born out of due season. Paul talks of those who claim to be apostles, but are not, not meeting the qualifications.
Prophets told people specific points of what God said. I Corinthians 13 said that the gift of prophecy would cease when the word was complete, although it was still in effect when Paul wrote. Evangelists are ones who announce the gospel to those who have not heard. Philip is the example we are given, going where the gospel had not been heard.
The word pastor means sheep herder, and refers to one who tends the sheep, leading them to food and water, doctoring sicknesses, protecting them and accompanying them. Teachers are just what the word means, teaching them what is needed. Miracles were things possible only to God. Similarly, gifts of healing were for things doctors were not able to heal. Helps demonstrated concern for individuals, and governments were closely related to the job of the shepherd to protect and maintain peace. Different tongues were needed to communicate with people who spoke other languages.
The Holy Spirit puts these gifts into the church as it pleases him. None of the gifts are given to every one. As Paul asks, “Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?” (I Corinthians 12:29-30)
Clearly, the answer is no. Not everyone can be an apostle, or any of the other gifts. As I Corinthians 12:17 asks, “If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?" A body that was just an eye, or even had an eye on each hand and foot would not work very well. Thankfully, God did not put eyes everywhere on our body, nor did he do the church that way. “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” (I Corinthians 12:18)
A person can live missing one or both eyes, or even the hands, but not without a heart. In the same way there are parts of the church that are more critical than others, and we ought to desire those most critical parts, but there is something more important than any of the spiritual gifts that Paul wants to show us. “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.” (I Corinthians 12:31)
Friday, April 3, 2009
Is Surgery Needed?
I Corinthians 12:12-27
A friend of mine was having some uncomfortable and embarrassing health problems. He went to the doctor to find out what was causing them and was told that his Thyroid was not functioning properly, producing too much of certain hormones. There advice was to have a series of treatments which would destroy the thyroids functioning completely, then take supplements to replace the necessary hormones. It would be essential to replace certain of the hormones as they regulated fat storage in the body and thus helped control weight. Without them , excess weight, heart problems, type II diabetes and heart and artery trouble were almost a certainty. The treatments were successful, and his Thyroid stopped functioning, eliminating the original problem.
A hormone replacement program was instituted and for a short time everything appeared okay. Within a few days, his eyesight began to deteriorate and within about a month, he had to take off work to have his glasses changed, he was unable to drive until new glasses were finished. Less than a month later it happened again, and was repeated several times, at great expense. A new optometrist recommended special stick-on lens adapters which could be replaced within a few minutes at much lower cost. They worked, but before long they were needing replacement every other week, and were costing almost as much as the new prescriptions,
A trip to the Mayo clinic revealed that the lack of one of the hormones produced by the thyroid was causing abnormal growth of the muscles around his eyes, distorting his vision. Additional hormones and surgery corrected the problem temporarily, but as it will be impossible to exactly control the hormone level, future surgeries are likely to be needed. Other problems are also beginning to develop. While it is possible for him to live with a non-functioning thyroid, my friend now wishes he had put up with the original problem, as it was less a problem than his current state. Sadly, new treatments have been developed that might have restored normal function to his thyroid if not for the treatments he was given.
My friend’s thyroid was a needed part of his body, and the church is a body with many needed parts, as Paul explains. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” (I Corinthians 12:12-14)
Sometimes people get the idea they want to perform a certain function in a church that someone else is doing and leave the church if they aren’t given the position. I Corinthians 12:15-20 describes this situation. “If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body."
God has put every person in the church where he wanted them. A piece which separates itself from the body soon dies. It’s loss also hampers the body from functioning properly. The separation is an act of rebellion against God. Going to another church is like trying to put a transplant into a human body. It should only be attempted by a qualified surgeon. The Holy Spirit is the only qualified surgeon. When he moves someone, the side effects will be minor.
My friend decided he could get by without his thyroid. Today he wishes he had tried a different treatment. He now realizes how valuable the thyroid is, even when it doesn’t function exactly as it should. To have corrected the problems would have been much better than eliminating it. Sometimes a pastor or church decides they’d be better off without a particular member, for whatever reason. They ignore the fact that God put them there because he wanted them there for a reason.
“And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” (I Corinthians 12:21-25)
What a wicked attitude that we have the right to eliminate what doesn’t please us, when God placed the person there to accomplish his purpose. Cutting off that part will nearly always destroy the part that is cut off and hurts the body from which it is removed. It is always better to heal a malfunctioning part if possible, than to amputate it, and Matthew 18:15-17 and I Corinthians 5 give directions in how to approach a situation where amputation may be needed. What affects one part affects the entire body.
“And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (I Corinthians 12:26-27)
Hurting or eliminating a member who doesn’t please us will hurt the entire church. Surgery in the church should only be done in the Holy Spirit’s power and direction. Too many people and churches have died as a result of unnecessary or improperly done surgery.
A friend of mine was having some uncomfortable and embarrassing health problems. He went to the doctor to find out what was causing them and was told that his Thyroid was not functioning properly, producing too much of certain hormones. There advice was to have a series of treatments which would destroy the thyroids functioning completely, then take supplements to replace the necessary hormones. It would be essential to replace certain of the hormones as they regulated fat storage in the body and thus helped control weight. Without them , excess weight, heart problems, type II diabetes and heart and artery trouble were almost a certainty. The treatments were successful, and his Thyroid stopped functioning, eliminating the original problem.
A hormone replacement program was instituted and for a short time everything appeared okay. Within a few days, his eyesight began to deteriorate and within about a month, he had to take off work to have his glasses changed, he was unable to drive until new glasses were finished. Less than a month later it happened again, and was repeated several times, at great expense. A new optometrist recommended special stick-on lens adapters which could be replaced within a few minutes at much lower cost. They worked, but before long they were needing replacement every other week, and were costing almost as much as the new prescriptions,
A trip to the Mayo clinic revealed that the lack of one of the hormones produced by the thyroid was causing abnormal growth of the muscles around his eyes, distorting his vision. Additional hormones and surgery corrected the problem temporarily, but as it will be impossible to exactly control the hormone level, future surgeries are likely to be needed. Other problems are also beginning to develop. While it is possible for him to live with a non-functioning thyroid, my friend now wishes he had put up with the original problem, as it was less a problem than his current state. Sadly, new treatments have been developed that might have restored normal function to his thyroid if not for the treatments he was given.
My friend’s thyroid was a needed part of his body, and the church is a body with many needed parts, as Paul explains. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” (I Corinthians 12:12-14)
Sometimes people get the idea they want to perform a certain function in a church that someone else is doing and leave the church if they aren’t given the position. I Corinthians 12:15-20 describes this situation. “If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body."
God has put every person in the church where he wanted them. A piece which separates itself from the body soon dies. It’s loss also hampers the body from functioning properly. The separation is an act of rebellion against God. Going to another church is like trying to put a transplant into a human body. It should only be attempted by a qualified surgeon. The Holy Spirit is the only qualified surgeon. When he moves someone, the side effects will be minor.
My friend decided he could get by without his thyroid. Today he wishes he had tried a different treatment. He now realizes how valuable the thyroid is, even when it doesn’t function exactly as it should. To have corrected the problems would have been much better than eliminating it. Sometimes a pastor or church decides they’d be better off without a particular member, for whatever reason. They ignore the fact that God put them there because he wanted them there for a reason.
“And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” (I Corinthians 12:21-25)
What a wicked attitude that we have the right to eliminate what doesn’t please us, when God placed the person there to accomplish his purpose. Cutting off that part will nearly always destroy the part that is cut off and hurts the body from which it is removed. It is always better to heal a malfunctioning part if possible, than to amputate it, and Matthew 18:15-17 and I Corinthians 5 give directions in how to approach a situation where amputation may be needed. What affects one part affects the entire body.
“And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (I Corinthians 12:26-27)
Hurting or eliminating a member who doesn’t please us will hurt the entire church. Surgery in the church should only be done in the Holy Spirit’s power and direction. Too many people and churches have died as a result of unnecessary or improperly done surgery.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Different Strokes Fo Different Folks
I Corinthians 12:4-11
Back in the late 1920’s the U. S, Government funded a solar housing project in New York. Solar energy was proposed to be the way of the future, and this project was to be the model. A thousand homes were built, and records of their performance were kept.
250 homes performed flawlessly, requiring no additional heating. Another 500 homes required approximately the same amount of additional heat as comparable homes in the area, but had over heating problems at times. The final 250 homes required nearly double the amount of additional heat as standard homes. Solar energy fell out of favor, and was not seriously considered again until the early 1970’s. Why?
Every house was identical in construction, but because of lot alignments, and for aesthetic reasons the houses were turned facing different directions. Houses on the south side of east west streets faced north while those on the north side faced south. Houses on north south streets faced east and west. This resulted in some of the solar collectors being properly oriented, and properly heating the homes while others were facing different directions. Those facing east or west received excessive sun in the morning or evening, and none the rest of the day. Those facing north received none, and acted to remove heat from the home. This was not reflected in the records that were kept. Realigning the collectors to meet the conditions would have prevented all the problems.
Different groups of people, in different locations have different needs. What works perfectly in one place may be ineffective or disastrous in a another location. This has been repeatedly demonstrated using prepared teaching curriculums in public schools and in churches. A program that worked very well in inner city New York, may be ineffective in Farmington, New Mexico and a total disaster in Toadlena, New Mexico.
Just as a cookie cutter approach ignores the needs of the specific home, a cookir cutter approach to building a church ignores the needs of a specific church, producing erratic results. The Holy Spirit understands the specific needs, and provides what is needed for each church to accomplish what is required so that no church comes behind in any area according to I Corinthians 1:4-7.
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” (I Corinthians 12:4-7)
The Holy Spirit may lead one church to do things one way and another to do them another. For example, one group may support individual missionaries while another puts their money into a fund which then distributes evenly. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages, and God did not specify that only one was acceptable. It is to be done according to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. It is the same Holy Spirit leading in both cases.
The Holy Spirit also sets the different people in the church that he wants there and gives them the gifts they need to do the job God wants done. The gifts may be permanent or temporary, and may be spread among a large number or concentrated in a few, This is the Holy Spirit’s choice.
“For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” (I Corinthians 12:8-11)
Since it is the same Holy Spirit, there will be no conflict between those who are walking in the Spirit. There will be a unity of purpose, working together to get the job done. To demand that others do things exactly as we do indicates an unspiritual condition. The Holy Spirit knows what is needed. We don’t.
Back in the late 1920’s the U. S, Government funded a solar housing project in New York. Solar energy was proposed to be the way of the future, and this project was to be the model. A thousand homes were built, and records of their performance were kept.
250 homes performed flawlessly, requiring no additional heating. Another 500 homes required approximately the same amount of additional heat as comparable homes in the area, but had over heating problems at times. The final 250 homes required nearly double the amount of additional heat as standard homes. Solar energy fell out of favor, and was not seriously considered again until the early 1970’s. Why?
Every house was identical in construction, but because of lot alignments, and for aesthetic reasons the houses were turned facing different directions. Houses on the south side of east west streets faced north while those on the north side faced south. Houses on north south streets faced east and west. This resulted in some of the solar collectors being properly oriented, and properly heating the homes while others were facing different directions. Those facing east or west received excessive sun in the morning or evening, and none the rest of the day. Those facing north received none, and acted to remove heat from the home. This was not reflected in the records that were kept. Realigning the collectors to meet the conditions would have prevented all the problems.
Different groups of people, in different locations have different needs. What works perfectly in one place may be ineffective or disastrous in a another location. This has been repeatedly demonstrated using prepared teaching curriculums in public schools and in churches. A program that worked very well in inner city New York, may be ineffective in Farmington, New Mexico and a total disaster in Toadlena, New Mexico.
Just as a cookie cutter approach ignores the needs of the specific home, a cookir cutter approach to building a church ignores the needs of a specific church, producing erratic results. The Holy Spirit understands the specific needs, and provides what is needed for each church to accomplish what is required so that no church comes behind in any area according to I Corinthians 1:4-7.
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” (I Corinthians 12:4-7)
The Holy Spirit may lead one church to do things one way and another to do them another. For example, one group may support individual missionaries while another puts their money into a fund which then distributes evenly. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages, and God did not specify that only one was acceptable. It is to be done according to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. It is the same Holy Spirit leading in both cases.
The Holy Spirit also sets the different people in the church that he wants there and gives them the gifts they need to do the job God wants done. The gifts may be permanent or temporary, and may be spread among a large number or concentrated in a few, This is the Holy Spirit’s choice.
“For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” (I Corinthians 12:8-11)
Since it is the same Holy Spirit, there will be no conflict between those who are walking in the Spirit. There will be a unity of purpose, working together to get the job done. To demand that others do things exactly as we do indicates an unspiritual condition. The Holy Spirit knows what is needed. We don’t.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Try The Spirits
I Corinthians 12:1-3
A lady told about coming to the United States for the first time as a young girl, just after World War II. She’d heard about taking showers, instead of baths, and couldn’t wait to take one. The first night in the hotel, she asked how to take one. Since the only restroom was at the end of the hall, she went in, locked the door and undressed. Stepping into the shower, she turned one of the knobs. Hot water shot out of the wall and hit her in the face. She panicked, fled from the bathroom and down the hall to get away. The people she was with couldn’t stop laughing when they realized what had happened.
Just as the Lady had had no prior experience with showers, The Corinthians had had no experience with the Holy Spirit, although they had dealt with religion for years. Their lack of knowledge made them susceptible to false teachings. It would be very easy for a false spirit to mislead them in various ways, and Paul will address this danger.
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” (I Corinthians 12:1-3)
The First thing that was needed was a way to identify whether it was the Holy Spirit, or a false spirit. A test was what was the attitude toward Jesus Christ. If he discounted or hated him, he could not be led of the Holy Spirit. If he acknowledged him as Lord, as the one he obeyed and served, he must be led by the Holy Spirit. John goes into more detail as to what this means in I John 4.
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” (I John 4:1-3)
The Holy Spirit empowers the Christian, enabling them to gain victory over sin. Paul tells us “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power” in I Corinthians 4:20. Acts 1:8 tells us the Holy Spirit will give power, and Romans 8:9 tells us that anyone who does not have the Spirit is not one of God’s. I John 4:4 describes this. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."
People who are led of the Spirit will hear God’s word and listen. This is one of the ways we know whether the spirit is from God. If the focus is on things of the world, and the world appears very receptive of their ideas, they are of the world, not of God. Being of the world does not mean there is no good there, but it is worldly, not godly. John says, ”They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” (I John 4:5-6)
Finally, an attitude of selfishness, or unloving ness indicates that the Holy Spirit is not in control, as the kind of love described in I Corinthians 13 is part of the fruit of the Spirit. I John 4:7-8 makes it very clear that a lack of love indicates that the spirit is not of God. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” Love is the very essence of God, and Jesus commanded us to love each other, John 13:35 says that this is the way the world may know that we are his.
Throughout I Corinthians, Paul has stressed the idea that the contentious attitude of the people was not of the Holy Spirit, clearly stating it in I Corinthians 3:1-4. If Jesus is truly Lord, there will be obedience to his word, victory over sin, and love to other Christians. If these are not there, then Jesus is not Lord in a persons life. He doesn’t rule their life. It is not Holy Spirit directed.
A lady told about coming to the United States for the first time as a young girl, just after World War II. She’d heard about taking showers, instead of baths, and couldn’t wait to take one. The first night in the hotel, she asked how to take one. Since the only restroom was at the end of the hall, she went in, locked the door and undressed. Stepping into the shower, she turned one of the knobs. Hot water shot out of the wall and hit her in the face. She panicked, fled from the bathroom and down the hall to get away. The people she was with couldn’t stop laughing when they realized what had happened.
Just as the Lady had had no prior experience with showers, The Corinthians had had no experience with the Holy Spirit, although they had dealt with religion for years. Their lack of knowledge made them susceptible to false teachings. It would be very easy for a false spirit to mislead them in various ways, and Paul will address this danger.
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” (I Corinthians 12:1-3)
The First thing that was needed was a way to identify whether it was the Holy Spirit, or a false spirit. A test was what was the attitude toward Jesus Christ. If he discounted or hated him, he could not be led of the Holy Spirit. If he acknowledged him as Lord, as the one he obeyed and served, he must be led by the Holy Spirit. John goes into more detail as to what this means in I John 4.
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” (I John 4:1-3)
The Holy Spirit empowers the Christian, enabling them to gain victory over sin. Paul tells us “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power” in I Corinthians 4:20. Acts 1:8 tells us the Holy Spirit will give power, and Romans 8:9 tells us that anyone who does not have the Spirit is not one of God’s. I John 4:4 describes this. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."
People who are led of the Spirit will hear God’s word and listen. This is one of the ways we know whether the spirit is from God. If the focus is on things of the world, and the world appears very receptive of their ideas, they are of the world, not of God. Being of the world does not mean there is no good there, but it is worldly, not godly. John says, ”They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” (I John 4:5-6)
Finally, an attitude of selfishness, or unloving ness indicates that the Holy Spirit is not in control, as the kind of love described in I Corinthians 13 is part of the fruit of the Spirit. I John 4:7-8 makes it very clear that a lack of love indicates that the spirit is not of God. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” Love is the very essence of God, and Jesus commanded us to love each other, John 13:35 says that this is the way the world may know that we are his.
Throughout I Corinthians, Paul has stressed the idea that the contentious attitude of the people was not of the Holy Spirit, clearly stating it in I Corinthians 3:1-4. If Jesus is truly Lord, there will be obedience to his word, victory over sin, and love to other Christians. If these are not there, then Jesus is not Lord in a persons life. He doesn’t rule their life. It is not Holy Spirit directed.
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