Tag: Believe

Posted in Adoption, Exhort Pray Praise...

She(I)Wont Back Down

Posted on by Christy Petty

An amazing Godly, woman, in my life spoke out with God’s truth. 2nd Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. cConvince, drebuke, eexhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

The movie, October Baby, had convicted her of a truth she already knew, she was compelled to speak out. Abortion is wrong.  Matthew 10:27 Whatever I (Jesus/God) tell you in the dark.  speak in the light and what you hear in the ear preach on the housetops.

It would have been easier, to have just kept this truth, so many others already take a stand. Making it public, stating on Facebook, sharing in groups, her belief in the TRUTH, took courage.  Matthew 10:38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

But she knew God’s word and knows she is commissioned to share, for the hope of others. 2nd Timothy 3 16 uAll Scripture is given by inspiration of God, vand is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for 3instruction in righteousness, 17 wthat the man of God may be complete, xthoroughly equipped for every good work.

Knowing that possibly family and friends who are not believers even believers who aren’t willing to stand for truth, may turn their backs on her. For standing and speaking for God’s truth. Matthew 10: 37 He who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

Standing up speaking truth convicts those not in truth, and so many will attack the messenger of truth.Matthew 10:22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.  But he who endures to end will be saved.

She stood for those who can not speak for themselves. Proverbs 3:88 gOpen your mouth for the speechless,In the cause of all who are 2appointed to die.9 Open your mouth, hjudge righteously,And iplead the cause of the poor and needy

Abortion is wrong. Killing a child is wrong. Retribution is expected, by God for injury to a child in the womb. Exodus 21:2222 “If men 4fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that 5she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall spay as the judges determine. 23 But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, 24 teye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

God does not say IF. God does not say there are extenuating circumstances. God says DO NOT .Exodus 20:13 s“You shall not murder.

Proclaiming truth, in this world,  is not easy.  She was accused. She was attacked. She was told it is only her ‘opinion’. John 8 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.

Those that can not hear, that attacked her, that condemned her, believe the LIE. They would rather not hear, rather attack one they love, They accuse her of being unkind. What if this causes someone to not believe because of the condemnation they feel now. John 8 43 eWhy do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. Satan is  the father of lies,  and really good at it, most don’t even know they are listening to him.

She does not back down. She stands and repeats the truth, stands against the opposition. Risks attack again. She does not compromise for the sake of the lie. Matthew 10:28  And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

She knows among those who will not hear, there are some who need the truth Matthew 10:6 Go rather to the lost sheep, …..

She will not despair over those who choose to not hear. She has obeyed. John10:14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.

You can not hear from someone you do not listen to.. John 8 47 jHe who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

They would rather be of this world belonging to the world and the ‘comforts’ of it. The Liar is their god. John 8 44 You  are of your father the devil, and the gdesires of your  father you  want to hdo. He was a murderer from the beginning, and idoes not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him

Truth is Jesus. Truth is God. Truth is The Word. She knows, through Him. She is sharing the truth, in love. John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

She does not compromise in order to keep relationships with ‘man’. Those who have believed the lie of the TRUTH must be watered down, are believing in the lie.Jeremiah 17:5 Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength whose heart departs from the lord

 She did not let peer pressure change her, nor stop her from doing what God asked of her. Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ

 Even when they attacked her character. Matthew 10: 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.

Because she knew  Mathew 10:32 Therefore whoever confesses me before men him I will also confesses  before my Father who is in heaven

And she knows Mark 9:37 “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”

 To abort a child, is to forbid a child a life.Mark 10:14 He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.

Never, for the sake of peace and quiet deny your own experience or convictions  Dag Hammarskold

Matthew 10:34 Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth.  I did not come to bring peace but a sword.

By Tom PettyWell I won’t back down, no I won’t back down
You could stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won’t back downGonna stand my ground, won’t be turned around
And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down
Gonna stand my ground and I won’t back downChorus
Hey baby, there ain’t no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground
And I won’t back downWell I know what’s right, I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin’ me around
But I’ll stand my ground and I won’t back downHey baby there ain’t no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground
And I won’t back down
Posted in 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 10

Posted on by Christy Petty

10 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware(ignorant) that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

Even though  you are now believers, and it is okay to not be bound by ‘THE LAW’ this does not mean you are ‘all good’ to God, and won’t stumble. The Israelites had God present with them day and night working miracles for them day and night, feeding them literally physically. They were rescued by God, yet they strayed, they turned their back on God and worshiped idols, disobeyed God, and God left ‘MOST” of them.  I think this is ‘Don’t get cocky, you may not be as ‘saved’ as you think. “

6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. The Israelites desert tour is for believers to glean from. The consequences they suffered for their disobedience are a warning to us.  7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”] 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt provoke Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.  Complained that what God gave them, freedom, food, protection was not enough-. They were DESTROYED by Satan. Satan is the instigator of our sinning, so we will be destroyed. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. God told us of the Israelites disobedience and consequences so we can learn from them. 1st we can understand that to believe is to abide, the Isrealites were led by God, freed by God, cared for by God, yet they did not but their trust in Him and obey, they turned to their own way, and they were destroyed, separated from God. 2nd to understand is being child of God, an Isrealite, a believer does not MAKE us right, we have to chose to not be sexually immoral, not worship idols, not provoke God, not fall into the temptations of the destroyer.

12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.   All believers need to know they are fallible, the LAW was given so we can govern our selves. Believers can ‘fall’ dishonor God, sin, then will have consequences, God will judge ALL sin.  God gave us instruction to protect. Believers are to apply their belief in God with obedience and rely on Him and not their own strength. God allows, not produces, temptation. God will allow it to refine us, even to the point of physical death, in order to retain our souls. 

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I will digress some here, Paul does I think 😉  The question presented in 8:10 of eating of things offered to idols,I THINK, is still being discussed by Pau,l as well as being obedient to THE LAW for man’s sake. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. Yeah right! Paul is appealing to what he is trying to convince them to be, wise.  16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.  Poetic? Believers are all one body, through Christ. Christ blood is blessing, poured out. Bread, Christ’s body, broken.  The ‘body’ of Corinthian church is broken with dissension, and back biting and accusations are flowing from the church, instead of blessings

18 Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? The sacrifices made to altar is food for the priests, caretakers of the temple. It is their ‘pay‘ 19 What am I saying then?.  That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? NO 20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. Those that make sacrifices to idols are making sacrifices to demons, they know it that is why they do it. Don’t have anything to do with the people, the food is not the issue.  21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. You can not do as the worldly, associate with the worldly and serve God. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?  An unspoken reprimand here is to these Corinthians who are wagging their fingers at the silliness of those who are telling them they are bad for eating sacrifices made to idols. These Corinthians have just admitted they are associating with idolaters and being in the presence of their idols and worship, because they are eating their sacrifice food.  

This is convicting to ME, a Thai restaurant in town has ‘idols’ with glasses of water and apples etc in presence. These make me a bit uncomfortable, I have wondered if it is wrong of me to patron this restaurant, as a matter of principle. I have my answer

23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.   So even though the Pud Thai and Basil Chicken is the best, it does nothing to glorify God for myself, nor those who I am to example.

25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; 26 for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”   Asian restaurants with no visible idol worship are fine to do business with. Don’t ask don’t tell policy 😉

27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake;[f] for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”[g] 29 “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? 30 But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?   What you don’t know won’t hurt you. It is not the food, no curse is on the food. IT IS the knowledge of sin and compromising for it that will hurt you, and others.

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

 THEREFORE, to answer these questions, these issues you have brought to me:  Bear with my imagination of the questions ‘they’ may have presented to Paul. My theory, based on the answers Paul gives
  • Who is best based on whom they were baptized by?1:10-3:21
  • The smarter, richer and more educated a believer, the more Holy? Right? 4
  • Should someone like you Paul receive payment for their work for God? 4:11 9:1-27
  • Those of the body in sin, are okay, because they are of the body, especially the important ones. We will overlook, or even compromise the Word for them. 5:3-9
  • Jo Blow and Who Zit are going to court, to settle a dispute. 6:1
  • Since we are believers and saved by grace, we can really do what ever we want, right? Like we don’t have to abide to all the silly sex with spouse rules right?. 6:12
  • Mr. Pius has not had sex with anyone so he is really really special dude, he even has a fiancé, but is not ‘taking’ her, shouldn’t every follow his example? She on the other hand wants to have a real marriage, so is considering leaving him to marry another, she is wrong, right? 7:1-17
  • Pete suggests everyone be circumcised to show they are really believers. 7:19
  • Virgins are way better than everyone else, right? A good father keeps his daughter from ever marrying, right? 7:25
  • There are some believers who have problems with other believers who eat food that has been sacrifice to idols. This is pure silliness isn’t it?  8-9
  • OR Mrs. Accuser says she saw you eating at the Jones’s and it is known they always get their meat from the butcher who gets his meat from idolworshipers.com. We thought you should know that we know you did such a thing. 8-9
In all of the things you do, do it to the Lord. Know that the Law did not save you Christ did, and because of that you should want to abide to the commandments of our God, in the hopes to bring even more to choose Christ.  It is a small thing to ask, after all, He gave his life for YOU.
Posted in 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 8

Posted on by Christy Petty

8 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.  My thought is Paul is going through the letter from the Corinthians, asking him what to do about these things happening with us…We don’t know what they said, nor the context, but it looks like from Paul’s response and reprimands previously those asking are trying to find fault in others within their body. They are using their ‘knowledge’ their prestige, what they are proud of in themselves as the reason to point out what others are doing wrong. Paul, I believe, begins this way, “Knowledge puffs up, love edifies’ because of this. This is a reprimand to their attitude behind the question.  Paul is letting them know if you are sure you know it all, above the others, then you are not doing for God, out of love. God knows who loves him, God knows what is truly the desires of the heart. 

4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, Paul continues to answer the question, because it deserves a response even though they were asking for the wrong reason. we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. An idol is nothing, even if a man says it is, it still is nothing.  5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), man has made up a lot of things to worship wood ones and pretend Zeus, etc.  6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. For US, Paul and those he answers the question to KNOW there is only one God.

7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; some who are now believers for some, with consciousness of the idol, Those who in the past believed in this idol, who thought it to be important. Maybe like a catholic today who rubs their beads? until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. Some may not know any better, they are caught up in the past misconception.We do know that eating something or not, rubbing the beads or not, has nothing to do with our belief in God, nor his acceptance of us. 

9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? You who ‘young’ believers look up to know that idol food is not a bad thing, but they still do. If they see you it causes them to wonder, to question your walk, your integrity, then theirs.  11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. You know this causes those younger, confusion, that they think idol offered food is evil, yet you do eat in front of them, maybe to taunt them? 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. Paul then says, go the extra mile basically, instead of causing turmoil for and with the weaker brother. 

If a friend is a recovered alcoholic you should not ask them to a wine tasting party, he could abstain, but how much fun will he have watching everyone else? . If your sister is gluten intolerant you would not plan her birthday at Johnny Corinos, even though they do have a couple of gluten free meals to offer, the bread will still be there. How is that a special treat for her, take her to Outback who even has a GF dessert to offer. If your neighbor believes that her prayers are heard by her praying with her prayer beads in her hands, or if she wears red shoes on her hands, you should not tell her differently, this could be how she ready’s her heart and mind for God,.  WE know he hears either way, but she needs know too!

Paul, I, all of us that believe;there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live, are WE. We believe that God’s word, the Bible from Genesis 1:1 through Revelations 22:21 is the Truth, every word, today, yesterday and tomorrow. If WE deviate from the Truth ANY at all, we cause someone to stumble. If we change the gospel to exclude anyone or to include everyone, we cause someone to stumble. If WE decide our interpretation of the word is more loving and more accepting, and fits this world better, than what God really said, we cause someone to stumble. If WE decide punishment/consequences/ for sins and disobedience is just to harsh, we cause someone to stumble. If WE decide we have more knowledge than God, we cause someone to stumble, and WE ALL FALL DOWN

Posted in 1 Corinthians

1Corinthians 5

Posted on by Christy Petty

4:14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

I feel like 4:14 -20 are the ‘pre’ of 5 as well as the post of before 4;14. Paul has been telling the Corinthians of their pride, their arrogance, their being immature. He says he is not telling them all of this to embarass or hurt them, but toI help as a father giving instruction to a child would. This whole letter is reprimand. I think Paul is working up to  5.

5 It is actually reported The puffed up may not of expected the news to reach Paul of this.   that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named[a]among the Gentiles Jewish peoples thought themselves better than the Gentiles, so this is a bit of an insult—that a man has his father’s wife! My assumption is this is a step mother, or I think Paul would have said ‘his mother‘.  2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. This person must be Jewish, probably of high standing, because of the previous pride talk. It seems because of prestige this person is above reproach.  3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. Paul judged this person wrong. Paul judged. We CAN judge wrong, and the person who does wrong and still be ‘Christian’. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Do not allow one to be in sin and condone it, tell a brother he is in sin, so he can repent. How many times do we over look a sin, an abomination in God’s eyes, because it easier, to be kind to the sinner, to be compassionate? Have you thought that that ‘turning a blind eye’ could actually condemn a person? That lying to someone about  The Truth could keep them from eternity with Christ?

6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened.  I see this as for an individual and as a group of believers. We can not have a ‘little’ sin in our lives, in our congregation. A little yeast makes the bread rise. A little wheat makes a gluten intolerant sick.  For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us I8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Paul is not just talking about adultery here, he is talking about any sin, all sin. He started this with their arrogance, their pride, their beleiving of something other than the one and only truth. This group of believers, this group of leaders and teachers have corrupt principles, Spiritual pride and teaching false doctrines. Their sin is opening the door for Satan and closing it on Christ. They are involving the whole church, ruining the whole batch with the bad yeast.

9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. Paul is explaining that he was not referring to the ‘bad’ people of the world to not associate with, because that is a given. Paul is telling them they must break fellowship with those doing ‘bad’ within their church. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.  Dont even eat with this person. Satan has come into our churches and our lives and has given us liberal concience when it comes to sinners within the church. If we call a sinning person a sinner we are condemning we are not being ‘Christian’ we are not having mercy, not showing grace, being too ‘black and white’, judging. Satan tricks us into thinking we are being ‘bad’ and accepting the sin. We ARE to judge sin, and those in sin, We are to confront those in sin. We are to remove ourselves from sin and those ‘practicing’ sin.Even with in the church.

 

12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. God judges the world, we don’t need to concern ourselves with keeping unbelievers in line, God will Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” The evil person IS on the inside, in the church, a believer, or wanting to be.  Paul is explaining the responsibility of believers to other believers is to hold them accountable for their sin. Believers know God, and know what God expects of us. We should. 

 

Posted in 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 4

Posted on by Christy Petty

4 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. This is continuation of last statement. Paul and Apollos and Cephas, any ‘preaching’ the gospel, are, belong to, Christ. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. It is REQUIRED of a steward in Christ to be faithful.   3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court.In fact, I do not even judge myself. Paul is now saying the same as before except applying to himself. They, man, may judge him to be faithful or NOT faithful, that is no concern of Paul’s, he does not even pass judgement on himself, because…. 4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God. God WILL reveal the reasons behind why we do what we do.

6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. 7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?  Paul lets them know he has used himself as an example, not because it is he in question, but they. He tells them do not speculate what the word means, ‘do not think beyond what is written”, . The puffed up, seems to be saying don’t think you are better than or understand more because you know differently than another, because what ever you know only comes from God anyway.  I think of these ‘new’ theologies that pop up, or reemerge. Someone thinks they ‘get it’ more than everyone else, write a book, on their epiphany and translate God’s Word into what they want, to match their theology, and WA LA” dissention. 

8 You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! I think Paul says, you don’t have to have people like us get you to heaven, you can get there yourself, with belief in Christ. 9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!  Not sure if Paul is complimenting or being sarcastic. If you conclude this with “14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.” I think he is saying something like we are not the ‘in’ people because of all of the worldly shameful things we have gone through for Christ and you snobs would not have anything to do with us if you had found us on the street and not known us. 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.  These Corinthians have not suffered to be believers, to preach, to teach, being believers is easy for them, no one has gone to jail, they live well, yet they fight and fuss over something as minimal as who baptised whom. Their only true ‘job’ is to discipline themselves and yet they don’t. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Paul is their spiritual leader/father, the one who can and will instruct them with God’s word 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.  Do as I do. Abide my instructions. Timothy is there to teach you, I taught him.18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. Some of you don’t think I will show up to tell you , “you are screwing up.”. Those that think they are bigger and better, more powerful than Paul, and God  19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.Paul is letting them know that no matter how much they talk it up, try to lie about or manipulate. It does not matter how powerful they are in the church, they can not over throw God.  I think of those who are in places of power elders, deacons, preachers, who will work all things to their good. Who twist God’s word to fit their agenda. Who spin the truth and intimidate the sheep to get ahead. Those who benefit for their own personal gain from the church. Who think they have the power. God will show them what power is.  21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?   A Godly man,Paul, teaching The Word is giving believers opportunity to straighten up and repent on their own, or he will come and punish, discipline, admonish. So to discipline believers IS Godly.  To spare the rod is wrong. To confront those in sin is correct! It sounds as if Paul is saying there will be consequences for sins. It sounds like Paul holds these believers accountable for their actions. It sounds like Paul is not excusing this church and it’s leaders from sin just because he loves them.    We must be faithful to God’s commands not mans.

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 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.