Month: August 2012

Posted in 1 Corinthians, Bible Study

1 Cornthians 2

Posted on by Christy Petty

Corinthians 1:27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which have might. ( I hope I am considered foolish and weak in this world)

This time I will try to break down the scripture a bit more–

Corinthians 2:1 – Begins with AND. Paul is continuing from telling the Corinthians that they are wrong to put so much worth in people, in prestige. In himself. He tells them he was NOT all knowledgable of the Gospel nor a great speaker when they first met him. How could he be? He was raised Jewish, and knew Jewish law, and Jewish beliefs, Jesus was not part of that.  What he himself knew of the Gospel, was nothing. He admits that. BUT what he preached was from the Holy Spirit, from God. Paul tells them that there is no way to know what God’s plan is, but through God. The only way man can understand God, Jesus, The Word is with the Holy Spirit.  I have a good friend who is a Preacher/teacher/ who has taught me a great deal, who speaks and preaches with the Holy Spirit leading him. I hear God when this man speaks. I know it. This same man, when not preaching/ teaching, not presenting the Word, is a lot of times an ass, I think. He can be condesending, arrogant, sarcastic and a bit of a tyrant. (I love him, though and would not wish him any different). It is this what I hear Paul saying, ” I don’t know anything, how to act, how to talk, how to preach, I am a proud Jew, all by myself, but with God…. I can tell you what the Word is and I have all wisdom to do so, for God. “

2:12 Now we(believers) have received, not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, (Holy Spirit)that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.  We have the Holy spirit so we can KNOW and understand our gift, (salvation, eternally life)  from God

13 We speak of the things freely given to us,(Salvation,Eternal Life) as the Holy Spirit teaches and leads.

14: Those who are not believers, who have not received the Holy Spirit think all of this God/Jesus/salvation from eternal separation from God is just mumbo jumbo, because they have no Holy Spirit to interpret for them.

15 Those who do believe and have the Holy Spirit have the ability to judge, know, interpret all things that go on in life on this earth and God’s word. believers doing as the Holy Spirit leads are doing as Christ so judgement can be made of them.

The Holy Spirit is my direct line, my internet connection to God. He sends me all the information, all the wisdom I need through the Holy Spirit. I do not need to rely on the thinkings of a man to know God, to know what God wants of me, to know God’s plan, the Holy Spirit gives me all of the wisdom I need to do for God. Sometimes the wisdom is attained when I ‘hear’ through another, sometimes it is just placed on me, all the time it is in God’s Word.  I have all the answers to what I need, I only need to use the good sense God gave me, the Holy Spirit.

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Posted in 1 Corinthians, Bible Study

1Corinthians 1

Posted on by Christy Petty

I am going to blurb, comment, discern, process through 1 Corinthians. I am not going to break each verse down as I did before, just those I NEED to. Mostly describe what I get from it.

Paul is writing to the church of Corinth. First Paul affirms God loves them and reminds them why. His opening lines are more like when we have issue with anyone we love and want to discuss, we don’t go storming in and tell em off. We let them know first that we care for them. We get in the door and start with the tea, before they get mad and spit in it.

Paul does not really butter them up though, does not say I hear good of you, like he did others in other letters.  In 1:10 he jump right in, and tells them he knows they are arguing over who presented the Gospel to them basically. Some say this is over who baptized whom but I don’t think so.  I read 1:14 to be more like- ‘Man ,you guys are arguing over who told you about Jesus and salvation I would hate to see what you would do if it were over baptism, I sure am glad I did not baptize  many of you. ‘  He then tells them that it does not matter who preaches, teaches, baptizes, it is all about Christ and if they think their salvation is anything but about Christ then they don’t got it.

I see this like the different church denominations we have today. Christian churches. Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Church Of Christ, Lutheran, Episcopal, Bible Church, Free Grace Bible church, Southern Baptist etc. So many get caught up in their way of baptizing, their membership, church attendance, all being a condition of being part of their church, when the name above the door does not matter. The 1st Whatever does not save us from our sins, our baptism does not save us from our sins, our name on the church rolls does not restore us to God, only Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection can give us eternal life with God.

Of course this is within one church though. The people are vying for ‘position’, (it goes into this in 18) using how, or from whom, they became believers through as the standard of importance. I would guess how long, and what verses of Torah/Bible they could recite and their ‘education’ and place in society was entering in.  Not much different from today.

1:18 Paul pretty much tells them if they are basing their salvation on what they ‘know’ and whom they got that knowledge from they are fools. He uses the scribes, who are those who wrote the Bible down, over and over again, studied it a great deal and then the Greeks who are known for they learning to say they can not save themselves only God’s power can, and he will also destroy their wisdom. I love 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.– As if, God could be foolish or weak. 😉

26 Paul still is explaining that these people are putting too much merit into the power, prestige, and wisdom of man. God does not use the rich and famous to do his work. God uses the weak to achieve to shame the strong and mighty. God does this so we can see it IS God’s might and not ours!  David was the youngest of his family. Joseph was the youngest, before Benjamin.

Genesis 37:2 This is the account of Jacob’s family line.Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah,his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate[a] robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

Moses was the youngest. Exodus 7:7 7 Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.  David .Samuel 16:10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of theLord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

I can not think of any man God used to be a catalyst in his plan who began in a place of power or prestige. You might suggest Paul, but Paul had no power nor prestige among the Gentiles, they despised him, until he became a believer in Christ, and then he lost all the power and prestige of the Jewish leaders. And we all know Jesus, God as Man, was not looked upon by society of any one of importance, Isaiah 53:2He has no form or comeliness And when we see Him,There is no beauty that we should desire Him.

I have heard many times people being afraid or unsure to stand up for their beliefs because they think those in power must know more than they, must be closer to God than they, can quote more scripture than they.Some equate length of time going to church, ‘being a Christian’ with being ‘knowledgable of God.  They are intimidated by these people of prestige. The truth is it is the ‘weak’,  those who are NOT puffed up by their might (checkbooks) and wisdom (degrees) and theological teaching , that God uses, because we are humble enough to be used.

It is NOT what you know. It is not who you think you are. It IS who you know. Jesus Christ.

Posted in Exhort Pray Praise...

Eat More Chicken

Posted on by Christy Petty

With the recent events of Chick Fil A I did some research of my own of the who said what, exactly, I just don’t trust the media to get it straight. 

“The company invests in Christian growth and ministry through its WinShape Foundation (WinShape.com). The name comes from the idea of shaping people to be winners.

It began as a college scholarship and expanded to a foster care program, an international ministry, and a conference and retreat center modeled after the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove.

“That morphed into a marriage program in conjunction with national marriage ministries,” Cathy added. 

Some have opposed the company’s support of the traditional family. “Well, guilty as charged,” said Cathy when asked about the company’s position 

“We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.

 “We operate as a family business … our restaurants are typically led by families; some are single. We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families. We are very much committed to that,” Cathy emphasized. 

“We intend to stay the course,” he said. “We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles.””  The full interview can be found here

HMM so where exactly does this say Chick Fil A discriminates against homosexuals?

Then, we have this comment “I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say ‘we know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage’ and I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about” This is an excerpt, but if you listen, it seems to be in answer to his feelings on the problems family, children, have from having only one parent influence. This is NOT news!

How does one find discrimination in these statements, Menino?   “You can’t have a business in the city of Boston that discriminates against a population,” Menino told the Boston Herald.

None of this would have made the news, none of this would have made Chick Fil A record amounts of money this past Wednesday. If Boston Mayor, Chicago Mayor and San Francisco mayor had not decided to try to take over matters, just as Lucifer did.  But they did. And it backfired.

Chick Fil A, Dan Cathy, is a Christian, a believer in God. Being a Christian he believes all of God’s word, and he strives to live his life according to God’s instruction.  Chick Fil A is a company that is centered around biblical standards. This is what ALL believers are called to do, even if they are not CEO’s of Chick Fil A.

1Timothy 2:24 And ca servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, dable to teach, epatient, 25fin humility correcting those who are in opposition, gif God perhaps will grant them repentance, hso that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and iescape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

As believers, servants of the Lord we are to Matthew 28:19mGo 3therefore and nmake disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20oteaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am pwith you always, even to the end of the age.”4Amen Jesus does not say if you feel comfortable doing so. Jesus does not say do not speak my word, instruct, teach, if it makes them uncomfortable, or convicts them of their sins.  Jesus/God says “teach to observe all the things I have commanded you”.   to  “correct those who are in opposition” . Opposition to GOD, to God’s word.

Correction. Being told you are wrong. Hearing we will have consequences, dire consequences for our ungodly choices, causes, fear, pain, anger. Because man is PROUD of himself and his right to make his own choices. And no one, not even God will tell him what to do.

2Timothy 3But know this, that ain the last days 1perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, 2unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 btraitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 chaving a form of godliness but ddenying its power. And efrom such people turn away! 6 For fof this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able gto come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 hNow as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: imen of corrupt minds, jdisapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, kas theirs also was.

Man is prideful. Someone in a position of ‘authority’, a mayor, a congressman, celebrity, an elder , anyone who people may listen to when they speak, anyone who can influence with their opinions, is in danger of becoming a minion for the Prince of Pride, the ruler of this world, Satan. Pride is why Lucifer rebelled. Pride is what drives him to try to drag each and every man down to the lake of fire with him. He wants to ‘win’ even though he has already lost.

1John 16 For all that is in the world—xthe desires of the flesh and ythe desires of the eyes and pride of life3—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And zthe world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.18 Children, ait is the last hour, and as you have heard that bantichrist is coming, so now cmany antichrists have come. dTherefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 eThey went out from us, but they were not of us; for fif they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, gthat it might become plain that they all are not of us.

Interesting that those who are against Dan Cathy and Chick Fil A, who are standing for the homosexuals, and the those discriminated against of the world, were slinging the hateful words. Pointing the finger. Condemning. All Cathy said was the truth, God will judge the world. Our complacency about everything, divorce, same sex marriage, sex outside of marriage, adultery, that will be judged, by God.  Those of this world, (seems to be mostly liberals) discriminate towards everyone who will not embrace the ways of this world. Chick Fil A does not ban homosexuals from their establishments. Yet these worldly’s banned Chick Fil A from their cities.  Jude 16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they tmouth great swelling words, uflattering people to gain advantage

Does God say homosexuality is a sin? Yes (Genesis 19:1-13; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9). Romans 1:26-27,  1 Corinthians 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous2 will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: xneither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,3 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Homosexuals, thieves, greedy, swindlers, SINNERS.  Romans 3:23 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 

It is not the sinner, it is not the person, it is the wanting to stay in sin, it is condoning the sin, it is not wanting to overcome the sin that is the issue.

As believers we are to strive to not stay in our sin. To struggle, to endure, but to make the choice to leave our old sinful desires behind.  Ephesians 4:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.  As believers we are to honor Christ 1 Peter 3:1515 But 4sanctify 5the Lord God in your hearts, and always vbe ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the whope that is in you, with meekness and fear;  We honor him by stating and living our belief in him and showing our obedience. We are to share God’s word, with all, in the hope that we can all be united with Christ someday Ephesians 5:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

Believers should be seen and heard from, and standing in lines and causing traffic jams everyday, without fear..  2 Cornithians:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,