Exhort Pray Praise… – Page 2

46 days to 50- Age Old Question

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Christy Petty

What is my purpose in life? This is a wonder I think we all have at some point in our lives.

The happenings of life,struggles, success’, trials,births, failures, tragedies, deaths, interventions, blessings, the ‘Wonder Why?” of lives. 50 years of wonder has given me answer. 50 years of wonder has given me the reason for my happenings. To make purpose of me.

The purpose of life is to glorify God.Isaiah 43:7⁷Everyone who is called by My name,Whom I have created for My glory;I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”I do that by becoming what He intends me to be. He is the potter I am the clay. Isaiah 64:8 But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand. The happenings; His hands on my life, my yeilding, or not, to His molding, the water, the temperature, the air flow, the glaze, the firing,all of this is what makes me. The difference in me and clay, I have a choice to conform-Believe,obey,abide.

The Negatives and positives happenings are necessary to make our purpose.

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

It is Satan that brings our doubt. Satan/the world has taught us that no good can come from the bad. This is not true.This leads to hopelessness. We have to put away that way of thinking ,that doubt Ephesians 4: ²²to ^oput off ^pyour old self,⁶ which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through ^qdeceitful desires, ²³and ^rto be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴and to put on ^sthe new self, ^tcreated after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. And once we remove the doubt we can literally do all things.

Matthew 21:21So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.

My being adopted is a happening,God purposed to make me me. Satan has used it to throw (wonder)doubt of my need for existence.

Why didn’t my bio mother keep me? Why did I have to be ‘abandoned’? Why do I exist, since my own did not want me? Am I an accident to even God? If I am then I was not intended to be. What purpose is there in me, in my being born, if no one wanted me anyway?

What a bunch of crap Satan has dished out in doubt!! God planned me even if my bio’s did not. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

God created me on purpose Psalm 139:13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

For purpose Colossians 1:16b all things were created by him and for him Ephesians 2:10 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them

My adoption has shown the purpose for 50 years. I can preach the value of, the meaning of unconditional love, because I received that from my parents, my family. I know what that is. I know what it is to be adopted to become what you were not born of. I understand the relation believers have with our adoption from sin/Satan to our Father God. I have witnessed the mighty hand of God in His reaching past mans laws and choices to bring my bio’s and me together. I know reconciliation as the prodigal son. I know faith hope and grace because of my adoption happening.

Trial happenings in : Evan born with congenital deformity, and more. Kirk dying 6 weeks later. These trials added to the at least monthly dashes to the hospital with Brian’s ‘attacks’ from, what we years later found were, esophagus spasms from ulcers from untreated celiac. The question “Why does God do bad things to us?” was presented to me sometime in the midst of this. Had it not been for the happenings of great mentors (Mamaw, Mamie, Dad) and teachings from God in the past I would not have known the answer. God does not do these bad things. God does not cause the ‘bad’ on purpose, but he does make purpose out of it all.

Evan. He has purpose, is purpose, gave me purpose. He was predicted to be exceptional even before he was born, none expected that included him being ‘less than perfect’ by the worlds standards. That lack of worldly perfection has shown me, and others God measures perfection by different standards than we. I learned God speaks audibly, I just have to listen. God speaks, sometimes I just don’t understand. That does not make God wrong, nor me. I just need to learn to understand. What he says, like Evan is not always what I expect, but it is right. Evan asphyxiated and died and was brought back to life, 3 months after his cleft was repaired. I was on my knees in my home, as the paramedics were trying to find an airway, I cried out “ You just gave him back, why are you taking him.” God responded as loudly as those calling out from the bedroom, that they had an airway “ I am not TAKING him, he is always mine.” God speaks, in volumes. This statement meant more than Evan was now breathing.

Kirk dying at such a young age, was not what God desired for him. But ,choices made, led Kirk’s physical life to end here. God saw the whole picture, Kirk reached his purpose with God. Kirk is eternal, the love he had from and of God will exist in his art, his music, our hearts, his daughter and grandchildren. John 10:²⁷ⁿMy sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸^oI give them eternal life, and ^pthey will never perish, and ^qno one will snatch them out of my hand My fears of death were relieved as I mourned my brother, and wondered if my 6 week old son would survive. God makes a purpose OF our tragedy.

The happenings of my children. Gives me purpose. God showed me his purpose for me and my existence, his perfect purpose and design for my children, in each conception. There was opportunity, before marriage for me to have become pregnant, I had ‘unprotected’ sex before I was married. My son’s were each conceived through 1 ‘try’ without protection. With each pregnancy a prayer was for each to have exceptionally beautiful eyes. Each do, and each exceptional. Lee has almost black eyes deep and always smiling, Brian has hazel eyes, huge with gorgeous lashes, Evan has blue eyes framed by dark black lashes. I prayed for my third baby to have O blood, not wanting him to suffer through the ABO factor my other two did, because their being A and myself O. Evan has O blood. My happenings have taught me prayers are answered no matter how small. Ask and I shall receive.

The Celiac/gluten intolerant gene that courses through our blood, a happening that has effects for myself, my son, my family and everyone that I can reach. The years of searching for a diagnosis and cure, strengthened our faith in God. We learned we could not, should not depend on man to heal, the great healer is God and the doctors only a tool. I see the miracle in Brian’s health and growth in spite of horrible illness The strength and courage God placed in that little boy was inspiring. God gave me the desire and will to accept this life change, as a positive, for us all. We have been given many opportunity to share and support. Lives will be changed, maybe even saved, because we have been blessed with gluten intolerance. John 15:16–17¹⁶You did not choose me, but ^zI chose you and appointed you that you should go and ^abear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that ^bwhatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

The house that God built. Building our house happened. We were given the opportunity, the resources to build the house beyond our dreams. God placed the idea in our hearts. He educated us in Financial Peace. We learned to rely on God for everything; the sell, the profit, the workers we hired, the weather,the 5th wheel we found comfort in for a year, the design of the home, the materials we bought. I literally stand on the firm foundation everyday and know HE is my Provider, my Rock.

Life could have happened differently. Bio’s could have married and kept me. Mom and Dad could have ‘taken me back’ at the 6 month trial time. Kirk could have laid on the couch instead of going outside and falling in drive. We could have ignored Brian’s illness, and just pumped him with meds. I could have skipped giving Evan the food he choked on. But that is not how it happened. God knew that before it began. God knew the wrong decisions I would make, the few right ones too He knew the hurts I would suffer. God has provided the fixes and strengths all the while to make me a vessel for Him.

The ultimate strength, the major happening, is the snoring lump I wake up next to every day. I would not be without him. He really does complete me and I him. Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 16 years into my creation, the Potter added Keith, at the lake in cowboy boots and a swimming suit. I was weak and mushy making all kinds of bad decisions and pretty much alone, I needed someone, I needed direction, I needed strength, so God added Keith, the polymer to my clay. Of all of the happenings in my life Keith is the only one that would not have happened differently. Maybe a different time or place, but I know Keith and I were planned by God specifically. Eve for Adam, Sarah for Abraham, Rebekah for Isaac Christy for Keith… all planned specifically by God, for God. My purpose on this earth is to be Keith’s, his lover, his helper, his irritant, his support, his adored, all for the glory of God. Ephesians 5:23 (23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior

PURPOSE: the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists

The REASON God threw me on that wheel 50 years ago?

Ephesians 14 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 11:17-32

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Christy Petty

Paul is moving on to another issue–But the main issue is still, their NOT BEING OF ONE CORD, they are not a unified body.

17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. After all the other he has spoken of, yeah these Corinthians have divisions, issues. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you. The Lord’s supper is not dinner with friends! Eat at home, worship and respect the Lord in his home.23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat;[b] this is My body which is broken[c] for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood[d] of the Lord. . 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner[e] eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s[f] body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

Communion has been turned into an interesting ritual by the different churches. Catholics and Baptist have communion only exclusive to ‘their own’. Methodist and Bible Church’s open communion, to all who believe. Some use wafers some use baked bread. Some use communal cups others little individual cups. Some must go to the ‘land’ of Holy of Holies to receive others sit in their seats and it is passed to them. Some insist on baptism as a prerequisite. Some do it weekly, others monthly, some just at Passover/Easter, some at weddings.

There are a lot of man-made rules attached to communion today. Must be of this religion or that. Must have no sin. Must be baptized in this church or that. Must kneel. Must have a clean heart. Must not hold any anger towards a brother in Christ. Must have no unforgiveness. Must be forgiven. Must be wine. Must not have ever had wine.

I have heard the scripture 1 Corinthians 11:27 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner[e] eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s[f] body. with Matthew 5:23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. used at communion to ‘tell’ the partakers to make sure they have the ‘right heart’ to receive the elements. Some will say Paul was talking about ‘examine yourself’ as to if you have divisions amongst yourselves, then throw in Matthew 5:23, which is totally different speaker and time and context, to prove you have to be all hunky dory with you fellow church goers before you have communion. I disagree with this interpretation by man, to dissuade communion of man and their Father.

In 17-19 Paul does reprimand for the discord in the church. The Corinthians are a dysfunctional group of people. There are those that think they are better than others, powerful because of their education and social status. The are pointing fingers and condemning the actions of the lowly and holding themselves and their cronies at different standards. Paul is disgusted by them. We have to imagine what was told him about the Lord’s supper mayhem. Remember Paul has a list of ‘problems’ and questions from these people and reports about these people. The church is NOT one. He is saying you are coming together for communion, for what? It shows their hearts are not for ‘the body’ in the way they conduct the communion it is a literally a drunken brawl. It is like a church picnic where people bring food only for themselves and don’t share. Or worse, like bringing breakfast burritos into church service and eating it and washing it down with the communion wine. This church has no respect for others nor God. After pointing out they have no reason to have communion, he starts to explain how to have communion. If they dare. 😉

Communion is for the believer to remind themselves of the price paid for them. Jesus’ life. To remember His body, the bread of life, was given to us, so we might ingest it and have life eternally. The literal body of Christ was broken so the Holy Spirit can dwell in us. The blood of Christ was spilled, he died yet conquered death, so that we too can have the opportunity to escape death, eternally. To have communion for any reason other than recognizing the price Christ paid for the believers eternal life is disrespectful, to say the least.

I venture to say, it also wrong for a man to interfere with the communion of a believer and God, based on man’s judgement of man. We are to judge our own hearts. We judge to know we,ourselves, are realizing the sacrifice made for us, each time we take communion. If we are not ‘perfect’ if we are angry, unforgiving, unforgiven, accused, fearful, doubting, in sin, have adversity in our lives, wouldn’t this be the time we most need to commune with God?

She(I)Wont Back Down

Posted on February 5, 2013 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

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 9

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Christy Petty

^8:9But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. ¹⁰For 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? ¹¹And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?¹²But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. ¹³Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

These first few lines I think are linked to 8, remember this is all one letter, Paul is not writing chapter and verse, he is writing a letter. 9 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? Paul does not have to ‘abide’ to man rules or superstition, because he is ‘Free’ a believer, his salvation is not based on pleasing of man, he is making this point to say- I do ‘comply’ to the weakness of these people because it doesn’t matter, it is not a MY way versus THEIR way. ²If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. Here I wonder also if Paul is not answering another question from the Corinthians? ³My defense to those who examine me is this: ⁴Do we have no right to eat and drink? ⁵Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? I think now Paul is moving on to make some more points, using the previous as the way to approach. ⁶Or is it only Barnabas and Iwho have no right to refrain from working? ⁷Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? It sounds like Paul is defending their being able to receive pay, expenses, meals, gifts, on their mission.

⁸Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? ⁹For it is written in the law of Moses,“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Let the ox eat as he works, benefit from his efforts. Is it oxen God is concerned about? ¹⁰Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. God did not tell us this in his word to make sure the ox were treated humanely, it was an analogy. ¹¹If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? ¹²If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? The Corinthians should share, and allow the missionaries to receive. Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. Paul does not ask for pay, nor demand it, or set a fee. If they did then people may not hear, because they only see this as a business for Paul- i.e. televangelists. ¹³Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, Priests and such ate the offerings given to temple and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? ¹⁴Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.¹⁵But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. Paul deserves to benefit, but he does not take, so that it does not take away from the teaching of God, in people’s eyes. ¹⁶For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! Paul preaches Gods word because GOD has him do it, the spirit leads him to, it is not because he wants the credit or pay. ¹⁷For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. If Paul does his ministry for THE pay it no longer a ministry, but a job. ¹⁸What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ^[ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel. Paul is not saying don’t give to us, he already said others receive and God even says to give to the ‘ox’ , what he is saying he does not set a ‘price’ to his work, an hourly charge, he gives the gospel free, and IF someone should want to give to him that is to give to him, because he asked for it.⁹For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; Paul is not ’employed’ to anyone, nor slave to anyone. He does not HAVE to comply to any persons wishes, he chose to be a servant of God, and thus putting himself in the place to serve all mankind. ²⁰and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law,^[c] that I might win those who are under the law; Paul takes on his ‘Jewishness’ in order to relate to Jew’s , to present the gospel so they may hear. ²¹to those who are without law, as without law Paul does NOT abide to Jewish law for the sake of the ‘Jews’, not a slave to it. He is not entangled by the law, so he can speak with those who are not ‘Jewish’.(not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), The law is still ‘obeyed’ because it is still what is desired by God, that we be ‘morally correct’. We obey the law not to be ‘saved’ but because we are saved. that I might win those who are without law; ²²to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. This is what he spoke of before of those afraid to eat certain foods, ‘weak’ in faith, he does not lord over them, I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Paul ‘uses’ all the experiences, knowledge, God gave him so he can relate to those he presents the Gospel to That I may save SOME, Paul does NOT say ALL. ²³Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. Paul does this, gospel giving with no pay, because he wants salvation for all, not just himself. ²⁴Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Here in this world, only 1st place wins. Run in such a way that you may obtain it. When you race you race to win 1st place, live your life as a believer, so you can reach, win, that 1st place. ²⁵And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.When a ‘runner’ in a race you are conditioned, you train, you eat correctly, you live ‘right’, in order to win Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown,In the world we get a trophy, it gets dusty and rusty and eventually sold in garage sale. but we for an imperishable crown. We believers are racing for a trophy that does not go away, ever. ²⁶Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Run, live your life with the certainty of knowing you will/have obtained that crown. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. Paul hits his mark, not a swing miss, he knows what he battles; sin, enemies of the gospel, evil²⁷But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. This is reasoning of why Paul strives to not cause others to stumble, to put his needs aside, to humble himself, to abide to the law (not for sake of law but Christ) so that those who he preaches gospel to, are not blinded by his ‘sins’ and they miss their mark, because of him. Paul says ‘discipline my body’, Paul has to make himself do correctly, even Paul, an apostle, one so obviously ‘chosen’ by God to preach the word, he has to discipline himself to do, what he should. Paul is practicing what he just preached he is showing the weak he too is weak.

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 8

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Christy Petty

8 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.²And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. ³But 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.

⁴Therefore 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. ⁵For 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. ⁶yet 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.

⁷However, 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. ⁸But 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.

⁹But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. ¹⁰For 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. ¹¹And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?¹²But 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? ¹³Therefore, 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

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 6

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Christy Petty

5:12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.” Paul is continuing to explain that is not only ‘OK’ to judge and expel one within the church, but it why it is….6 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? Why would you go to someone who does not believe in God nor his law to make decisions for you?2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people believers will judge the world? be in a place of superiority over the ‘worldly’ unbeleivers, possibly the example for. And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?Believers have the wisdom of God, the leading of God3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? the unbeliever angels, the evil angels, believers are superior to. Also Christ did not die for angels, he died for man. How much more the things of this life! If we have a future of being with God, so important that we are chosen and received by God, then shouldn’t believers be able to rely on wisdom from God to solve problems? 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? Why go to someone with no knowledge, mere worldly knowledge with problems? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? Paul is really pointing out how stupid they are being, accepting the sexually deviant, the liars, the ‘powerful’ and not judging right from wrong themselves. 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already Not only are they not standing for what is right, they are suing each other over issues. All issues CAN be solved with the truth and believing the truth and standing on THE TRUTH, you can not debate the truth . Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. They, the believers, are cheating, lying, manipulating not being TRUTHFUl so they can get their worldly way. Have you ever stretched the truth, omitted some facts,(truth) in order to get a ‘good‘ thing, to oppose evil? All in the name of God? That is cheating, That is doing wrong. Paul is talking to church goers, admonishing for their lying 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?Pretty black and white, many do not want this to say, will not get to inherit the kingdom of God, but that is what I read. Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.I did not write this, nor say this, Paul did as a spokesman for God, it is in God’s Word, THE TRUTH. Paul is speaking the truth,in love, just as he is telling all believers to. And that is what some of you were. (sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, greedy, drunkards, slanders, swindlers) I can not think of anyone, myself included who can not claim one of these titles. But you (those who know they are these, sinners, and accept Jesus Christ as their only WAY)were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. When you believed, that became who you WERE and not who your ARE.

12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. Paul is speaking to the ‘believers’ arguments for salvation, their belief in Christ, is their excuse to NOT be a slave to the ‘law’, they are saved by grace so they can be as immoral as they like.13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will hasn’t happened yet raise us also. We truly only exist for God. God has saved us, for after this world life. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? This statement puts far more meaning into sex, even what we consider non meaning, no ‘love’ involved sexual encounter, BINDS two. For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Believers become a part of Christ, Holy Spirit dwells within a believer.

18 Flee from sexual immorality. Remember this stems from and adulterous affair a step son(we hope) is having with his step mother, and the church turning a blind eye to it, because of the people involved. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Satan tells us it is our body, if it feels good do it, and IF it hurts anyone it is just ourself. WRONG. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? Believers in Christ, HAVE received the Holy Spirit, God gave us this. You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. I was bought at a huge price, I am not worth that price. The body of THE perfect Man, Jesus, God with us, was destroyed for me. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

THEREFORE HONOR GOD WITH YOUR BODIES.

Don’t eat wheat. Exercise. Cut back on carbs. Cut back on sugar. Self Discipline. Sleep. Sex with your husband/wife. Relax. No Drugs. Dress well. Read the label, if you can’t pronounce it don’t put it in. Don’t get drunk. Get a great haircut. Get a massage. Smile. Pray. Honor God.

1 Corinthians

1Corinthians 5

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Christy Petty

^4:14I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. ¹⁵For 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. ¹⁶Therefore I urge you, imitate me. ¹⁷For 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.

¹⁸Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. ¹⁹But 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. ²⁰For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. ²¹What 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‘. ²And 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. ³For 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’. ⁴In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁵deliver 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?

⁶Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? ⁷Therefore 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 I⁸Therefore 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.

⁹I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. ¹⁰Yet 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. ¹¹But 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.

¹²For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? ¹³But 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.

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: