Category: Bible Study

Posted in 1 Corinthians

1Corinthians3

Posted on by Christy Petty

3:1AND I brethren could not speak to you as to spiritual but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ  The ‘and’ is an addition to what Paul was speaking of earlier, he is adding to the list of admonishment to them, or a list of what he needs to present to them.  What ever it is, he is continuing on his lecture to the Corinthians.

Paul explains that he did not speak/teach the Gospel to them as if they already knew all about God, as if they were spiritually ‘in tune’. He says he spoke to them, taught them  as if they were not aware of Christ, nor understood the ways of Christ.  Because they did not.   I am reminded of Keith and his first class of Algebra in college. Somehow in his transfer back into Texas from Arkansas in his high school years,he never had to take an algebra class to graduate. (some people are sooooo lucky) That first day in  college algebra, and the professor begins writing out the problems on the board, Keith has absolutely no clue what it means. Keith is a smart guy, he just has never heard of any of the algebra stuff before.  My dad, who majored in math was able to speak to him as a ‘babe’ and introduce the basics and Keith was able to mature and understand the college class quickly. This is the Corinthians, they believe in Christ, they are taking the course, they just have no pre knowledge of Him.

Paul talks about when he first presented the gospel and taught of Christ to them, in the past. Then throws in “I fed you with milk and not with solid food, for until now you were not able to receive it and even now you are still not able.” – Paul is telling them they were immature, of course, when they first learned of Christ. The point here,  they had not ‘grown’ any. They were still immature, they were still being ‘childish’.  3:3 for you are still carnal (unknowing ‘mere men’ of the world, Satan’s world,  )  The example of being immature: envy strife, and divisions among you.  Paul is shaking his finger at the people of Corinth.

Paul goes back to the original ‘tale’ he has been told of them, that they are fighting over who is their favorite teacher- He or Apollos. – They are fighting over worldly,silly matters.  Later he is going to speak to them of the things they SHOULD divide over.

Paul tries to explain that he nor Apollo’s ‘did’ anything, it was  God. It is not what man does. Paul brought The Word, he presented, he planted. Apollo’s built on that, he provided further information, he taught, he gave them ‘water’ to grow. But it is actually God who provided both, and allows the growth.  3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers, you ar God’s field, you are God’s building.

Believers are built/planted on the foundation of Christ. 3:11 for no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ.

Paul Continues:

3:12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver,precious stones, wood, hay, straw each ones work will become clear; for the DAY will declare it because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each ones work of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on endures he will receive a reward.  If anyones work is burned, he will suffer loss but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

I think Paul is going on a bit of a righteous rant here.  I think the building with precious jewels or straw is about the prestige these people are basing their ‘holiness’ on, that he spoke of earlier. Yet, I can see he may also be using this to say, it is not the importance of you but the ‘importance’ of the work you are doing for God, too. He is saying it may ‘look good’ to all the people and yourself, but on the Day, (judgement?) God who already knows, will reveal what your ‘work’ ( YOU) is all about.

This is the ‘refining’ we are told of often. Refine silver, burn away the worthless ugliness and you are left with pure silver. God will burn away all the worldly, self righteous, sinfulness of all we do, to expose the pureness of it/us. Hopefully, there will be something left, when He is done.

Remember, this talking to from Paul is to believers in the church of Corinth. These people are saved from eternal death, they will have eternal life with God, BUT, they will still have the chance of loosing EVERYTHING but their salvation, dependent on the ‘meaning’ behind their works for God.

3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?   Ok, Paul seems to have jumped from our judgement and refinement…. 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. for the temple of God is holy, which temple your are. Paul may have finished and started another paragraph. OR he could be that he is still talking to, those of us who chose to do wrongness to the point of having nothing but our salvation left. Those who have caused their own ‘destruction’.  This could be an ‘example’ : God destroys those who ‘defile’ a temple(building). So he has the ‘right’ to burn everything up from us, for our defiling our selves with our bad works.

3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness.: and again, : The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise ad they are futile'”.    Paul is repeating himself from 1:18. Don’t be proud of what you know. Your degree, your background, your position in life. That means nothing to God, it gets in the way of God.   God is pretty black and white about men who think they know it all. Who decide for themselves they are instruments of God because of their place in society and letters behind their names, or how many pats on the back they can achieve from man.

Proverbs 3:7Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. Ecclesiastes 7:16Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?Jeremiah 8:9
The wise men are ashamed, They are dismayed and taken. Behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD; So what wisdom do they have?Jeremiah 9:23Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;Romans 1:22Professing to be wise, they became fools, Romans 12:16Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdomProverbs 16:18Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Job 21:14Yet they say to God, ‘Depart from us, For we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.

3:21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Chephas, or the world or life or death or things present or things to come  all are yours. And you are Christ’s and Christ is God’s.

Don’t be worshiping, glorifying, paying homage to,idolizing seeing your salvation, in man. In teachers, in preachers, in elders, in what you consider leaders of your church. (And don’t be wanting this kind of attention either!) No man has wisdom or knowledge of God above any other.  God does not say: ‘Seek wise counsel from those who went to seminary and have PH.D’s’. God does not give access to The Word of God, the Holy Spirit to just those of prestige and money. God does not tell those who are teachers and preachers and elders that they are a chosen elite few,and they should lord over others. God emphasizes they are to be servants of the body of believers. AND they are accountable for teaching false doctrine. Matthew 186 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

God gave the Holy Spirit to all who BELIEVE, so that ALL can have knowledge of God and a relationship with God.

John 14:26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Acts 4:31And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness

The curtain was torn, and all have access to God. Mark 15:37,38 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.,  Hebrews 10:19–20 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,

All is ours. Through Christ. We have all things because of Christ. Christ is in us, through us, for us, about us. Christ is in Paul, Apollos, Billy Graham, Charles Stanley, Christy , Yvonne, Keith, Lee, Fred, Evan, Ken, Peter ,Brian, Ashton, Chephas, Jackie, Martin Luther, Teri, Linda, Sandy, Jody, Meg, Tim, Juanita, Stephen, John…….

We who let our selves be fools ARE Christ’s and Christ is God’s

 

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.

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 Ephesians, Exhort Pray Praise...

Ephesians 6:18- Conclusions

Posted on by Christy Petty

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  In the Spirt, we are to pray about everything, for everything, and prayers and requests are specifically stated as two different things.  We have the full armor on, and we are to pray. Weilding the word of God, bound by truth, more actions for us to do.  I think of faith with out works is dead.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray for the Lords people.  Believers. It does not say pray for all the people of the world, nor the lost, but for the Lords people.  Our prayers for others is obviously needed also. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,  I pray often that my words not be mine but Gods, that he lead my mouth, he put the words in me.  I have a pastor friend that is pretty much a regular guy, a bit of an A#$ at times, but when he preaches/teaches I learn and hear so much of God, I think this is what we should all ask for as well as pray for those in leadership.   20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Fearlessly.  Another prayer I pray often for myself and others, that they have the Courage, and Strength to stand on God’s word and do his will- Man/Satan so often ‘gets his way’ because we let fear cause us to stumble.   21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you. 23 Peace to the brothers and sisters,[c] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.   What Paul said, to you. 

So here we are all suited up, wearing an armor, to battle the evil that will come against us. Praying for others. 

Posted in Ephesians

Ephesians 6:17 Sword of the Spirit

Posted on by Christy Petty

17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.Take the Sword of the spirit. The spirit has a sword. And it is the word of God, the God Breathed Bible.  Out of all the pieces of armor,the only weapon is the Word of God. The shield, the armor protects, it defends, but the sword is used in a defensive and an offensive way, to attack, to cut, possibly to annihilate , to defend and stop one from attacking. We are to take up the Word of God and use it to defend, to protect, to wield off evil. 

 

To use a sword you must know how. You need to know your sword, know the weight of it in your hand, be able to use it. The sword must be polished, and sharpened, the edges not marred nor changed. If the metal breaks or rusts away it is ruined. We must know Gods Word, hear it, study it. We must take care to not allow His word to become distorted in our hands.  

 

With out a weapon all we can do is just stand, in our armor. Yes, we can raise our shield, our faith, but we can not stop the attacks. We can stop the attack with God’s word, our sword. We could pierce the heart of an unbeliever with God’s word, and they too could take on their armor. 

It is interesting, too, that we do not need other weapons. God’s Word is enough.  Also the weapon we are to take on is one that is used in close combat. Not one we shoot away from us, like and arrow. A sword is used in close combat, the trial is felt up close and personal. 

 

What is the substance of our sword? 

Hebrews 4:12 the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.– Living Powerful, Discerner,sharper than two-edged sword. God

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path  Lamp, it illuminates, shows THE WAY

John 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.   Truth

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  Jesus

I think about a knight fighting, holding the shield up, blocking the blows of incoming evil as he swings the sword. The skill used with a sword, standing firm, jabbing into unprotected areas of the opponent. A sword is not just used to deflect, like the shield, it is used to conquer. A soldier does not just knock the opponent down. The warrior does not use the sword to scratch the skin. The sword is used to stop the enemy, in his tracks, so he can not attack again. God’s word can destroy the enemy.

Posted in Ephesians

Ephesians 6:17 Helmet of Salvation

Posted on by Christy Petty

17 Take the helmet of salvation

A blow to the head can kill. You do not even have to draw blood, penetrate the bone, a hit on the head can cause an internal bleed and your brain is crushed by the pressure and you die.  Many head injuries you do not die instantly, the blood leaks in and slowly kills the brain.  Many head injuries , the body dies after the brain dies.  

My brother, Kirk, had vertigo.One day after a long day of construction work, he came home very dizzy, and he passed out and fell in his drive way.  Kirk was 6’3” . The full force of that tall frame coming straight back and hitting the concrete fractured his skull, and caused his brain to ‘bounce’ forward, his brain was bleeding from the back and the front.  Kirk’s brain began to swell. Within 36 hours there were no longer any brain waves, his brain had died, yet his body had not. When the machines that caused his heart to beat, and his breath to flow were turned off, his body no longer functioned.  Physical Kirk died at 32. Spiritual Kirk continues on, eternally.  

During the 36 hours Kirk seemed alive, his heart beat, his lungs took in air. I held his hand, I talked to him, his body was there. I wanted him to be alive, so he was. The doctors ran tests and found no blood was moving through his brain, that there were no brain waves. Though he seemed alive he was dead.  

Had Kirk been wearing a helmet, as any 32 year old male would do as everyday attire 😉 , he would be alive today, physically. We have our children wear helmets as they bicycle. Helmets are used by  skiers now, because the bump on the head on the slopes have killed many. Helmets save us from death. 

The helmet of salvation saves us from eternal death. Remember dear old Satan in the garden? The lie he spoke to Eve4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. Adam and Eve did not die immediately from eating the fruit,. But they did begin the ‘bleed’. The relationship between their source of life, eternal life, God was cut off. Their God brains died. Though they had living bodies they were spiritually dead, their bodies begin to deteriorate, and die, eventually they will return to the dust they came from. And their spirits would continue on, in Death, separation from God. Death is separation from life, and it too is eternal.

With the helmet of salvation, our bleed is healed. Our relationship with our God is renewed. We have eternal life, instead of eternal death. The helmet of salvation gives us eternal spiritual life.

Romans 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned

More in a week…. I would love any input…

Posted in Ephesians

Ephesians 6:16 Shield of Faith

Posted on by Christy Petty

Ephesians 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with    we must actively use our faith.  An actual shield does nothing, even if it is the biggest and the strongest, unless it is picked up and held up as a barrier to the blows. James 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.    Faith needs a whole study of it’s own. Faith is something to be had, something to exercised, it is belief. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is  our first line of defense: we have the rest of the armor, but we weaken the blows, deflect some completely with the shield. We guard the against the onslaught of attack.  The body can take so many blows, even if it is protected. Matthew 14:31  Peter believed in Jesus, he walked on water, yet when he let doubt in, he sank. Doubt came past his little faith shield. Faith did not change the Truth, did not remove the righteousness, but the lack of sank the man, in the armor.  Faith gives us the power to move forward to push against evil. The doubt the worry, the fear hits us when we let our faith down., when we stop believing that God does work all for our Good, when we listen to man and the hopelessness of the world Matthew 17:20. ………which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. With my faith, I am able. To stop ALL the attacks from Satan. Satan is attacking.

The main thought I have, I MUST take up my shield, I must take the action. God does not do it for me. He does not make me use my faith. My action matters a great deal.  Any thoughts of yours?

The Helmet of Salvation is next.  Without Salvation from Death, we have no reason to live.