Resource Manager Posted February 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 26 February 2015 Exodus 39; 40Psalms 1021 Corinthians 10 "WE MUST NOT PUT CHRIST TO THE TEST" We have some challenging reasoning by Paul in today's 10th chapter of 1st Corinthians. He begins by reflecting on the experiences of Moses in leading the Israelites on into the wilderness after the events at Sinai. He draws parallels between the actions and reactions of God then - and in his day. All their food is miraculously provided by God. Paul sees parallels with God's work in working through Christ in bringing deliverance for sinners who seek a relationship with God through Christ. The Israelites followed Moses as we follow Christ. Sadly, in the wilderness, says Paul "with most of them God was not pleased … they were overthrown …" [1 Corinthians 10:5] And then he adds, " Now these things took place as examples for us" [1 Corinthians 10:5-6] "We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed ... " [1 Corinthians 10:9] Then he adds, "nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed ..." [1 Corinthians 10:10] Do we grumble? If so, what about? What did they grumble about? They had got used to the food and drink being miraculously provided and grumbled if it was not readily available; they wanted more variety, meat! We will read on Monday some words in Psalm 106 that are very much to the point! "Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. Yet he saved them for his name's sake ..." [Psalm 106:7-8] But, coming to Psalm 106:21 we read " They forgot God" and failed to reach the promised land. In what sense can we forget God? We do not cease to know that God exists – but we may forget his power, his all-seeing presence! “They did not remember his power” [Psalm 78:42] Paul had a portion of this power, he told the Corinthians, as we read in 1 Corinthians 5:4 “When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus” Returning to our chapter, Paul’s warning again jumps out at us, "We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did ..." Could we be over confident - that we will not do this? Paul warns, "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." [1 Corinthians 10:12] A final time of testing appears to be near at hand - is our faith such that we are sure we will endure to the end? Our final thought is from 1 Corinthians 10:13 " God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." God is faithful - we must respond with our own faithfulness. May we, as Christadelphians, heed the words Jesus sent through John to believers at Philadelphia, "Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world ... Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown." [Revelation 3:10-11]-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 27 February 2015 Leviticus 1; 2Psalms 1031 Corinthians 11 "... TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM" What is it to "fear" God? It does not mean to be afraid or scared of God - but rather - to be in awe of him: this is the sense in which we encounter the word in verses 11,13 and17 in today's Psalm 103, “so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him” We also encounter the phrase, "Bless the LORD, O my soul" in the 1st and 2nd verses. We 'bless' our children and we seek for the LORD to bless us, The LORD told Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to "bless the people" and "say to them, The LORD bless you and keep you ..." [Numbers 6:24] In our seeking to "bless the LORD" – what do we mean? We surely say this with a humble spirit of praise and thankfulness for the relationship he invites us to have with him. Then we noted the start of Psalm 104. "Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendour and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens ...". The discoveries of man in recent years reveal, among other things, the endless way the heavens have been stretched out. We read in Romans at the beginning of the month, "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" [Romans 11:33] We bless, i.e. we thank the LORD for so many things. How the angels must bless him! And what is at least part of their work? Remember what we read in Psalm 91:11, “he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” And now we note verses 20 and 21 in today's Psalm. "Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!" [Psalm 103:20-21] We know, as we read earlier this month, "he will send out the angels and gather his elect" [Mark 13:27] when our world reaches the climax of its godlessness and God acts to "punish the world for its evil." (see Isaiah 13:9-13). God's angels are, in a sense, an extension of God, we could say, his 'spiritual arms' by which he acts. We read in Hebrews. "the angels ... Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?" [Hebrews 1:13-14] That is clearly their physically unseen role toward us now - which will climax when they are sent out to gather "those who fear him" - and such will say, at that time, with all their heart, "Bless the LORD O my soul." -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 28 February 2015 Leviticus 3; 4Psalms 1041 Corinthians 12; 13 "THE GREATEST OF THESE IS ..." What is the most valuable thing to possess? It is not a material possession - not even gold, which was greatly used in making the Tabernacle and Solomon's Temple. Paul spells out to the Corinthians in today's chapter 13 what is the greatest attribute that a believer can - and must - possess. It is evident from his words in chapter 12 that the believers in Corinth were keen to possess gifts of the spirit. Most Corinthians had been idol worshippers and had previously possessed "gifts" of some sort. Paul, makes the point, "when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols" [1 Corinthians 12:2] He then adds, “however you were led” (“moved” – some versions) – referring to some ecstasy experiences. Such ecstasies have been practiced down the centuries and even in recent years in some tribal regions in Africa, some go into a trance to walk on hot coals and so forth! Paul summarises the varieties of genuine gifts that were now miraculously available. Why were these needed? We must remember that they had no Bible to read - so, says Paul, "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge ... to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy …" [1 Corinthians 12:7-10] From 1 Corinthians 12:14-20 Paul spells out the need for teamwork. In 1 Corinthians 12:25 he says there should be "no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another." Then we come to chapter 13 we note his declaration, "if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." [1 Corinthians 13:2] This chapter ends with his declaration of the situation after the gifts “cease” and “pass away” [1 Corinthians 13:8]. He makes a point we must take into our hearts. " So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." Let us all seek to develop "the greatest of these" - for when the kingdom becomes a reality - what we hope for and have faith in - will be fulfilled - but love will abide forever. How we live now will 'decide' whether we will too will abide forever. Today we must make sure we have laid the foundation to our thinking and living - by believing from our hearts the original gospel message Paul and other disciples taught as they followed in the footsteps of their (and our) Lord. Let us do the same. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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