Blessings Through Forgiveness

2 Corinthians 2


We know our Churches face the challenges of this world just to survive and that is bad enough, but when there is internal turmoil and divisiveness inside the Church body, then that is even worse.

Satan will try His best to make the power of the Church go away in this world and he has in many places already.

In 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul had addressed many issues that had divided the Church in Corinth.

By ignoring blatant sin among its members, the Corinthian church was further contributing to division and weakness in the members of this Church.

The Apostle Paul had given practical instructions from the Word of God on for how to deal with immorality in the church.

Today we are reading why Paul could not return to this Church at this time and why he wrote the second epistle to this Church at Corinth.

The biggest reason the Church faces so many challenges is because even though we are a saved people, we are still human and we still live in these sinful bodies of flesh!

Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

The Apostle Paul understood these things better than most other Church leaders.

One lesson we should learn is, that our Pastor should not be the cause of pain in Church discipline, this is the responsibility of the church body.

It is the "Body of Christ", the Church members that should bear the pain of Church discipline, guided by the Pastor and sticking to the Word of God in every step!

*****2Co 2:1  But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
2Co 2:2  For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

We can actually see the love that Paul had for this church.

We need to clearly understand the purpose of Church discipline!

The purpose of Church discipline is:
(1) To bring glory to God and enhance the testimony of the "body of Christ".
(2) To restore, heal, and build up sinning believers.
(3) To show the need for sound doctrine.
(4) To win a soul to Christ, if the sinning person is only a professing Christian.
(5) To silence false teachers and their influence in the church.
(6) To set an example for the rest of the body of Christ and promote godly fear.
(7) To protect the church against the destructive consequences that occur when churches fail to carry out church discipline.

Until the Church in Corinth had done these things it was not so important that Paul made another appearance to this Church.

It is never so important for a Pastor to pour his heart out to people who reject the Word of God, his time is better spent on those with receptive ears and open hearts!

Paul was committed to the purity of the Church and he would have been even more severe if he had come and none of his directions had been followed.

Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

These things had brought much ridicule to the Apostle Paul and it would be best if if he was not attacked again.

Our Pastors do not deserve to be attacked for preaching the whole council of God!

AND, The "Body of Christ" must stand up and insist on the truth of God coming from the pulpits.

*****2Co 2:3  And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

Paul's reason for writing was that if those in sin would repent, then there could be joy to all when he returned instead of more sadness on the part of Paul himself.

We can be sure that Paul was following the lead of the Holy Spirit in this case and had not done this thing on his own.

It is also best that the Church put the Lord first, for He is the foundation of the Church and put an end to all controversy.

We would be foolish to believe that everyone in the Church is saved but we cannot allow our Pastor to be the center of any controversy by undisciplined members!

*****2Co 2:4  For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

Paul had shed many tears over the things that were going on in this Church.

SO, Paul was writing this time to show his love for them all.

The purpose of the Pastor is to reach out to this lost world, lead the lost to Christ and then disciple them to give them strength!

This must be the goal for every Pastor!

This must be the exact same purpose for all the "Body of Christ"!

Just as Paul wanted no part of controversy, the same then should go for the Church.

Paul had only one desire for his children in the Lord.

Rom 1:11  For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, "to the end ye may be established";
Rom 1:12  That is, that I may be comforted together with you "by the mutual faith" both of you and me.

We must realize that it only takes one person to stir up trouble in any Church.

*****2Co 2:5  But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
2Co 2:6  Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

We must never forget, Church discipline has only one goal and that is to restore that one who has fell from "Grace".

Church discipline is not to run people off that we simply do not like!

There was a single person who had caused grief for this whole church.

It could have been that one who been so immoral but we also know that there were those in this church who had become opposed to the Apostle Paul and there is always a ring leader and some think this is the one because immorality is not mentioned in these Scriptures.

The truth is there was some one in this Church that was attacking God's man and causing much grief and pain and bringing this Church near to collapse.

**This thing had to be dealt with.

1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

**This man had to be stopped so God's man (Paul) could do what he was called to do.

Rom 14:4  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

We are not called to judge a man called of God to preach.

Many today are Mama called and Daddy sent!

If God is his master, then God will cause him to stand or he will fall.

**This Church at Corinth had many problems like all Churches do but this controversy could cause this Church to fail.

Php 1:27  Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Php 1:28  And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

We know we have a good Pastor here at Gethsemane and we simply cannot allow anyone here in our church to stir up any controversy because of the message he preaches.

But we also must be willing to forgive everyone who repents of their evil doings!

Remember it is not the Pastor who disciplines, it is the Church, the "Body Of Christ".

Paul had insisted this Church deal with this problem before he would return and they had.

But it was just as important that if this person repent that he also be forgiven and welcomed back into the family of God.

BUT, Some now felt that this should not happen and this person never be allowed back into the church.

We must first understand that church discipline is never to be about legal matters because church discipline is to only be about the will of God for His Church. The Church belongs to God!

The government disciplines those who break those laws

There will always be different opinions about church discipline and just like everything else we must depend on the Word of God to know what to do in these things.

What we know:

1) There was a man causing controversy in this church, in fact so much controversy that the Pastor had to ask this church to deal with it.

2) This church followed the advice of the Pastor and dealt with this problem.

3) Not everyone agreed that discipline was needed.

Not everyone agreed with the amount of discipline.

Some even believed that it was never to responsibility of the Church to do such things.

The pure fact is, that church discipline should have taken place before this controversy was allowed to fester and divide this church but also according to the Word of God.

AND, If this church had not done the right thing then the Apostle Paul would have stepped in and remember Paul had all the powers of the Apostles just as Peter and John and the other 9.

We know that the 11 Apostles had chosen a 12th and this is no slight on another good man but Jesus chose His own Apostles.

Paul cautioned this church:

2Co 13:2  I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, "I will not spare":

2Co 13:10  Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present "I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification", and not to destruction.

This church had forgotten the purpose of church discipline as most have today!

*****2Co 2:7  So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
2Co 2:8  Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

The Lord Jesus made these things pretty simple for us all:

Mat 18:15  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

First: any believer who attacks God's church and God's preachers must be corrected most of all, for his own sake.

Second: this person must be restored to a point that he loves God and all the people of God.

**There must be "forgiveness", if this person repented!

Luk 17:4  And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

**There must be comfort and encouragement given to this person, if he repented!

It would be shame and embarrassment to be told to repent or to leave the church.

1Th 5:11  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Th 5:12  And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
1Th 5:13  And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
1Th 5:14  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
1Th 5:15  See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

**There must be repentance from that offender! Once he had repented and demonstrated godly sorrow then the purpose of the discipline had been achieved!

If this person is not accepted back into the fold, these things could be more destructive instead of correcting, if "he be swallowed up in much sorrow".

Act 20:35  I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

**The church must go out of it's way to assure this person of the love of the church!

One of the greatest testimonies of the church is love. This is always notable to visitors. If we cannot show that same love for each other we are failing as a church.

If the mess has been straightened out, its time to get back to the work of God, the quicker the better.

Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eph 4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Joh 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Joh 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

It is this love that shows the proof of each and every church!

*****2Co 2:9  For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

Most of us when we think about Church discipline, we always forget the purpose of the Church.

As long as any church knowingly compromises with those who commit the sins of the world, then the church cannot focus on it's mission and it's ministry.

Any church that is being disobedient to the Word of God will allow controversy and division to rule in the church rather than God.

Remember the Church was purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ our Savior!

Rev_1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and "washed us from our sins in his own blood",

Eph_1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

These things being true, if that person or persons repent of their evil ways, then that same merciful love of God is to be shown to them!

The same condition of pardon and life that we have been given from the Lord, is that we believe that person or persons and offer that same mercy and love to them.

The Church is to be obedient in all things!

The Bible says: Let our conversation be as it becometh the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ.

We are always to love one another!

We associate sin with the soul but we are to hate the sin but never show hatred to the soul which is of great value to the Lord!

The Church is in the business of saving souls!

We can only be the fishers of men and only the Lord can save!

*****2Co 2:10  To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
2Co 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

**Notice the Apostle Paul forgave this man in order to help this church but also to help himself.

The entire nature of the Lord's Church is based upon forgiveness!

The Church exists only because God has forgiven our sins because of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ!

When the Church is unforgiving it is denying it's purpose of existing!

The church that does not forgive and restore after repentance, needs to close the doors because it has no reason to exist!

This is when the true Pastor of that church should take the lead, as did Paul.

**Paul also forgave this person for the sake of Jesus Christ ("in the person of Christ").

We must remember that Our Lord is so displeased with an unforgiving spirit that He will refuse to forgive anyone who is not forgiving themselves!

Jesus Christ expects us all to be just as forgiving as He is!

**Paul also forgave this man for another great reason, to keep Satan from taking advantage.

1) Satan would take advantage with that man if the church had not forgiven him and he would become a witness against the church and remain out in the world.

He may also have fallen into depression and despair and be swallowed up in sorrow.

2) Satan would take advantage on the Pastor. The ministry of that Pastor or church leader would have become ineffective. God would no longer bless the ministry of such an unforgiving man of God!

3) Satan would get a foothold in the church for the same reason. God will never bless the ministry of an unforgiving church!

Just as Paul states we must always be aware of Satan's techniques!

We should always consider that Satan has never had to change the way he does things, because his ways have worked for several thousand years, because we fall into his traps so easily.

Satan's mission is to tempt and destroy people and we must never help him because we will be betraying the reason Jesus Christ went to the cross, which was to save people!

We must remember the Word of God, our enemy is never our fellow man.

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Satan is always determined to cause the church to fail in it's mission!

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

AND, We should never question Paul's love for this church nor any church.

As men we can only be at one place at a time. Paul was lead by the Holy Spirit as it should be!

Besides, if Paul had spent all his time running from church to church at every little problem, his own ministry would have failed!

For this reason, God chose to give us these wonderful epistles to teach us the truths of God!

We need to listen as Paul describes what God had called him to do and in these things we can learn about our own Pastor.

*****2Co 2:12  Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
2Co 2:13  I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.

A true pastor will always be gripped with passion to answer God's call!

Every man called to preach, is called to preach "Christ's Gospel"!

We see Paul as a pastor who was gripped by passion to preach the full council of God.

We see that Paul still had a deep concern for a troubled church but Paul also had to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit!

Paul had planned to go to Corinth but God had other plans and those attacks on Paul's person had also made it an unwise thing to do.

Paul instead had sent his first epistle by Titus to this church but Paul's passion to preach could not be quenched and he answered what we know of as the Macedonian call, but Paul was saddened because he had not heard back form Titus.

Notice Paul could not sit still while waiting on Titus!

We know that our own Pastor simply cannot sit still when he knows that there is another soul that could be reached for the Lord!

Notice when God's called men are faithful to follow His lead, God will always open up another door for them.

What had God said?

Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

How did Paul feel about his calling?

1Co 9:16  For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
1Co 9:17  For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
1Co 9:18  What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

No matter what Paul was doing or where he was preaching or what church he was staring, he still had a great concern for troubled churches and we know for certain that every church has it's own problems.

Paul said "he had no rest for his spirit".

Here again we can see our own Pastor and see that no matter what he is doing or how busy he is, he has a great concern for his church!

Paul also had great "faith" in the Word of God as does our own Pastor!

*****2Co 2:14  Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

You see no matter what the world brings to hinder the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" if we follow in the will of God, and go through the doors that He opens there will always be victory!

The thing we need to remember is, just as Paul said the triumph was Christ's, Paul may not have felt a great victory for himself in Corinth but he knew Christ was victorious in Macedonia!

When Jesus Christ has triumphed over us, we will certainly have victory in our lives. Paul felt this victory even in his sadness for Corinth.

We can all be apart of this same victory of Paul when we yield to the calling of the Lord Jesus Christ!

You see no matter who that Pastor or that missionary is, there can be no triumph without the Lord Jesus Christ!

Our one job is to make known the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ wherever Christ has placed us. This is our missionary field until God opens some other door!

As ambassadors for Christ, we must believe in Christ, trust in Christ, be called of Christ, serve in Christ, minister in Christ, live in Christ, move in Christ, and be in Christ!

It is never about us because it must always be about Christ!

When we do these things then we become a sweet savour to Christ.

*****2Co 2:15  For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
2Co 2:16  To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

It is obvious that not everyone will respond to the "Gospel" but that is not our calling. Our calling is to make known the "Gospel" to all people.

We are not to pick and choose who we witness to!

Everyone who is a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ is very precious to Him!

The message of the "Gospel" is either life or death to that one that hears it!

The the unsaved lost,"those who perish", the "Gospel" we will then be the minister of death.

This is why the Christian is so hated!

The fact that they do not believe the Word of God is there own death sentence and all those who are dead to Christ now will remain dead to Christ throughout eternity!

This is another reason Christians are hated so, it is this message, but it is the Word of God.

AND, this is also the reason the world is trying to silence our true Pastors!

Joh 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

All those who accept the truth of God and believe, will pass from life to life. These can live now and then live eternity with God!

Joh 3:21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

The Pastor who holds to the complete Word of God without compromise, is being sincere to his calling.

*****2Co 2:17  For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Without a doubt even in Paul's day, he knew that there were many more who corrupted the Word of God than who preach the truth.

The true Pastor and the true Christian will always speak in communion and fellowship with the Lord!

The true Pastor and the true Christian will always have motives that are pure!

Our ministry is to serve God and help people.

Tit 2:7  In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Tit 2:8  Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

The true Pastor always speaks in the power of God and the presence of Christ Jesus and is therefore able to share that fellowship with others!

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Was Paul perfect absolutely not.

Is our Pastor perfect, he cannot be.

Are there any perfect pastors, preachers, missionaries? No

Our job is not to be perfect, our only job is to be true to the Word of God as best we can!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

Supporting The Work Of God

The Problem Of Inadequate Support

1 Corinthians 9:1-10:15


The lesson today deals with supporting those who are called of God to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As Christians we are obligated to not only support the Church and the ministries of the Church, we are to support those that preach the "Gospel"!

Some things to consider are these things:

1) Every preacher called of God should be supported in his ministry according to the limits of the ability of the church he serves!

2) No preacher should be supported unless he is willing to preach without that support!

3) Every preacher must be above suspicion, preaching is not a job, it is a calling!

*****1Co 9:1  Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
1Co 9:2  If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
1Co 9:3  Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
1Co 9:4  Have we not power to eat and to drink?
1Co 9:5  Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
1Co 9:6  Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

There were many in that day and even some today who questioned the apostleship of Paul.

If Paul was not called of Christ then his words might have no real meaning at all!

Not everyone who saw Jesus became an apostle, but no one became an apostle who had not seen the Lord and who had not been commissioned by Him!

There can be no apostles today for these reasons!

Paul had seen the Lord on the road to Damascus!

Jesus had spoken to Paul with His actual voice!

Paul had been commissioned, even with a special commission, to reach out to the Gentiles!

Paul was called of God to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Paul had not chosen this thing himself, he was just obeying the Lord and the Lord gave Paul the same authority as He had done to the other eleven!

Paul had the same "Christian Liberty" as all brothers and sisters in Christ have!

The truth is, this church in Corinth was just one of the places that proved the results of Paul's labor and his God given ability to lead the lost to Christ for salvation.

Paul had taught that because of the conditions of that day, it may be better to remain celibate and devote a life full time to the Lord's service but Paul also recognized that it was also good to be married.

In fact Paul taught that one was no more holy than the other!

Paul insisted that even the Apostles had that same right if they so chose.

There is no biblical requirement for the clergy to be celibate!

We know that Peter had a wife, and we are sure some of the others did also.

Paul was just as much biblically free to take a wife if he so chose to do so!

The Bible clearly teaches the support of the ministry and Paul and Barnabas could have expected this church in Corinth to help in that support but Paul chose not to do this for his own reasons!

The truth is, that the greatest work that anyone can do is to lead a lost soul to the Lord for salvation!

No other work on this planet is greater than this work that Christ Jesus has given us all to do!

In fact Paul was saying to these Corinthians that if anyone deserved to be supported by this church then he should be at the top of the list.

And Paul begins to explain:

*****1Co 9:7  Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

**The armies of this world are supported at the expense of the public.

Preachers called of God are the good soldiers of Jesus Christ, they are engaged in a warfare state in fighting the good fight of faith against all the enemies of the church!

It is only reasonable that they be supported by God's children!

**The church is the vineyard of God, those called to preach are the planters, the vine-dressers, and the laborers in God's vineyard and they should be able to partake of the vineyard!

**The church is the flock of sheep that belong to God.

It is the job of God's preachers to be that shepherd of those sheep until the true Shepherd appears to take us home.

He that feeds the flock should eat of the milk that is produced!

Is this not what the Bible teaches says Paul?

*****1Co 9:8  Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
1Co 9:9  For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
1Co 9:10  Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
1Co 9:11  If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

Paul knows that many in the church will question these things.

If God's man can produce what the people need, then he should profit from that production but on the other hand those who will not work, neither should they eat!

Those that would muzzle an ox while he is doing such work, would find that ox would get weak and production would suffer.

1Ti 5:18  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

God's laborers are certainly worthy of their reward!

Every preacher who plows and threshes in the house of God in hope of spiritual things, should also be a partaker of this hope!

The preacher should be supported by those he preaches to!

If one labors in the carnal world they live by the fruit of their labor, how much more should not one who sows "spiritual things" reap of the "carnal things" of those to whom he ministers!

*****1Co 9:12  If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

The Apostle Paul abilities were great. He knew the Old Testament from cover to cover. He had been trained at the feet of Gamaliel and finished in the top of his class. He had been trained to work with his own hands and he had been called of God and had all the powers of the Apostles but Paul did not allow any of these things to hinder his moral obligation to God's people!

After his salvation, Paul was more like Jesus than most all other men because he knew the mind of Christ toward all nations!

Paul willingly gave up his right to church support, that he might have the pleasure of saying he was a willing volunteer in the work of the Lord much like Isaiah.

Isa 6:8  Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? "Then said I, Here am I; send me".

Paul had nothing to prove to these Corinthians, Paul just cherished the fact that he could serve the Lord!

Paul said do you not know the Word of God?

*****1Co 9:13  Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
1Co 9:14  Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

What is the truth?

The priests and the Levites lived off of the offerings and the sacrifices that were brought to the Temple and before that to the Tabernacle.

Num 18:7  Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
Num 18:8  And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever.
Num 18:9  This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.

This teaching is very clear: The Old Testament ministers of the Word of God under the Law and the House of God, were supported by the people to whom they ministered to!

Should not God's ministers who were now under "Grace" also be supported?

What had Jesus taught the Apostles?

Luk 10:8  And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
Luk 10:9  And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Mat 10:10  Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

Supporting the ministers called of God is a fundamental principle that the Church should not neglect for it is a needed part of carrying the Gospel throughout this world!

As this is also needed teaching to the New Testament Church every preacher is to teach these things!

The Apostle Paul had his own reasons for not accepting support from these Corinthians which he went on to explain.

*****1Co 9:15  But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

The Apostle Paul clearly understood the evils that could result from "a paid ministry"!

We can see these things even more often in the modern day Church where those who support the minister then make demands of that minister, which he will comply with in order to keep his position.

This is not the intent of supporting the ministry!

Men who devote their lives to the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ deserve the support of the Church!

Those that just tickle the ears of the flock of God need to be run out of the ministry but that is what we see behind many pulpits today!

2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

It is not charity to support the true man called of God, it is deserved!

The true minister of God must be first a man, then a Christian, and then a messenger of Jesus Christ!

The Apostle Paul decided to relinquish any support from these Corinthians rather than give them another occasion to offer their reproach.

Many of them already questioned his apostleship!

It is easy to see as we follow these Scriptures that this church required a special touch from God's Apostle!

*****1Co 9:16  For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
1Co 9:17  For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

The Apostle Paul, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah, and every true man called of God already know that they could not keep the Word of God to themselves and they also understand the results of preaching the "Gospel".

Jeremiah said:

Jer 20:9  Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. "But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay".

Paul had only one goal and that was to gain other souls to the Lord!

Paul was willing to forgo comfort, profit, rest and any earthly prize in his goal of that "crown of rejoicing"!

1Th 2:19  For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
1Th 2:20  For ye are our glory and joy.

The Apostle Paul lived in dread of becoming a castaway.

Paul had no fear of being rejected of God but he did fear reaching a point when he was of no use to God and was cast aside in favor of someone more unselfish, more compliant, and more willing to give of themselves!

The life of the Apostle Paul will put us all to shame, who think we are serving the Lord, but God does not think on these terms, God only expects our reasonable service!

What reward was Paul seeking?

*****1Co 9:18  What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
1Co 9:19  For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

The Apostle Paul is saying that there is not enough money in this world that could replace the happiness he got from preaching the Gospel without cost to any!

It was of utmost importance to Paul for Christians to see that the rewards for serving the Lord are far more greater than any wage or reward that could be gotten from this world!

If this seemed to be boasting then in truth it is because it is the truth. The wages of the servant of God go far beyond salvation and eternal life, which should be enough if that was all we received.

The Bible says:

Isa 64:4  For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

Paul had powers given to him by the Lord but he refused to abuse any of those powers so he could concentrate on the pure "love of God"!

Paul had made this covenant with himself, at the beginning of his ministry and he stuck to it throughout his ministry!

Paul did not demand support for himself even though he taught the full Word of God which called for the supporting of those men God called into the ministry.

Every house of God should strive to support the man God has given them along with the maintenance of a place of worship and the proper outreach which should concentrate on discipleship and evangelism!

*****1Co 9:20  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
1Co 9:21  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
1Co 9:22  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
1Co 9:23  And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
1Co 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

It is a fact that in any race there can be but one winner!

If we refuse to even enter into that race, we will never have an opportunity to be a winner!

The prize to Paul was the "high calling of Jesus Christ"!

The Word of God gives each of us the rules for running in the race for sanctification and then glorification.

The course we are to run on is this world on which we live!

Unless we accept the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as the truth then we can never be a part of this race!

Jesus Christ ran His race and won and is now sitting at rest on His throne in Heaven until it is time to return to gather all His winners!

The encouragement to run is the "Grace of God", God's Riches At Christ Expense!

We can begin this race by running to Christ and our race will end when Christ runs back to get His children!

Running is moving forward and as Christians it must be our goal to continue to move forward all the days that God will give us. Standing still is still losing ground!

*****1Co 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1Co 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Racing, is normally a competition with a group. To strive, is that battle we face within our own selves and is an even more severe contest than the foot race!

The Apostle Paul exercised self-denial even abstaining from many things that would have made his own life more pleasant in order to gain the reward promised by the Lord!

Those that race for the glory of this world, can only win a crown that will fade away!

Those that race for the Glory of God, will obtain a reward that will never fade away and will be waiting on them when they get home to Heaven.

When we run the Christian race, and answer the call of God, we must take clear aim at the goals of Christ and cast away anything that hinders us, be indifferent to what bystanders may say, and consider that even a stumble can be a means of encouragement!

A boxer may shadow box to prepare for his opponent but we must never forget our opponent is Satan and he has been at this for more than 6000 years and he is a real adversary!

We must first win that battle with our own flesh before we can be a servant who will slave for the Lord or just be cast aside while God chooses someone else.

This was Paul's goal and our goals should be similar!

There are things we should remember in the Word of God!

Our God is powerful!

*****1Co 10:1  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1Co 10:2  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1Co 10:3  And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1Co 10:4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
1Co 10:5  But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Remember this Church at Corinth was full of people who thought they had reached their peak in Bible Knowledge and needed no further instructions.

Many today refuse to go to the house of God because they feel they are saved and have no further need of instruction and they are just as wrong as these Corinthians!

The people of Israel had witnessed with their own eyes the miracle at the Red Sea.

The people of Israel had seen the "Cloud by day" and the "Fire by night" that had remained with them day and night for 40 years.

The people of Israel had eaten of the manna that came down from Heaven and sustained them for 40 years.

The people of Israel had witnessed and drank of the water that had gushed from the Rock and that Rock was in "TYPE" Christ Himself, the true Living Water!

The people of Israel were eye-witnesses to how it could be only Jehovah God who could do all these things and yet they failed in their "Faith" and God was not pleased with many of them and they never entered into the Promised Land of God and they were over thrown in the wilderness!

These things are all examples for the Church to learn and understand!

*****1Co 10:6  Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Typology is used as a method of interpreting the Old Testament as it relates to the main theme of the Bible, which is "salvation" and out Christian walk after salvation!

Paul is saying that all these things are examples or "types" for our comparison!

The experiences of the Jewish people in their Exodus from Egypt are a great lesson for every believer.

All the Jewish people were a part of this Exodus and all were free from the "bondage of Egypt" but God was not pleased with most of them and they died unable to enter into the Promised land!

The Lord Jesus Christ died on Calvary's Cross and paid the sin debt for all human beings, but God is not pleased with all those that reject the Lord and the work that He did for all our salvation and they will never enter into the Promised Heavenly home!

Christians are not to lust after the things of this world.

Christians are not to murmur and complain because of persecution.

Christians are to set the example as the true children of God!

Even the "Grace" of God has it's limits!

*****1Co 10:7  Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

Some of these Israelite deliberately sat down, rejecting the Word of God, and worshipped an idol.

As Christians we must realize that anything that comes between us and our Lord is idol worship!

*****1Co 10:8  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

If we remember Balaam from the Old Testament, we know that he was unable to put a curse on the children of Israel because God simply would not allow it.

Though Balaam could not curse them, he did make a suggestion to King Balak of a way to cause Israel to sin.

Jesus Christ reminds the "Church Age" of the doctrine of Balaam in that day.

Rev 2:14  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

Temptation was the downfall of many a Christians in the day of Paul and it is so much the more today!

These Corinthians were surrounded by temples of worship to false deities and prostitution was used in most all of them to entice the worshipper.

So long as we are in this world we will be exposed to temptations and we need always to be on our watch against them!

*****1Co 10:9  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

To "tempt" is to "try to the uttermost" to see if God is as good as His Word says!

Every Word that God has given us is true!

We must praise Him for His "Grace".

We must trust by "faith" in His salvation!

We must also believe that those that reject the Lord will certainly see the wrath of God!

God is certainly everything His Word says He is!

*****1Co 10:10  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

If there be any doubt in your mind we can be sure that God hates a bunch of complaining people!

The fruit of the Spirit is joy!

It is our faith which will bring with it that joy!

1Pe 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

*****1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1Co 10:14  Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
1Co 10:15  I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

If there be any doubt that we should study the Old Testament Scriptures, then these words should put that to rest.

The Old Testament is given to us for our admonition!

Admonition means, for our attention, for our instruction in duties, for our direction, and for our caution and warning!

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

There is never a time until we reach Heaven that we do not need to be studying the Word of God!

God is "faithful"!

God will never allow us to be tempted beyond our own strength without making a way of escape!

These words are just as true as the words of salvation!

To flee, is to run away as fast as you possibly can from all these things God has warned us about.

Remember God does not warn us for the punishment, God warns us because He loves us so much!

The Apostle Paul was a Christian who set very high standards for himself after he was saved and even Paul failed from time to time.

Who are we to think that this sinful, evil world cannot touch us!

We are all just sinners, who are saved only by the "GRACE" of God and held together only by OUR OWN FAITH"!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

Christian Liberty

The Problem Of Abused Liberty

1 Corinthians 8


By definition "Liberty" is the opposite of "servitude" or "bondage". Liberty is then slaves or captives who are set free from oppression.

Throughout the Bible we can see that the main theme is that God will set His people free from spiritual bondage.

God has never ordained slavery!

It is God who has liberated all who believe by "Faith" from the bondage of sin, by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

What did Jesus preach?

Luk 4:18  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, "to preach deliverance to the captives", and recovering of sight to the blind, "to set at liberty them that are bruised",
Luk 4:19  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

What else did Jesus preach?

Joh 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Today our lesson is not so much about "liberty" as it is the abuse of our liberty that has been given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Bible says:

Gal 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; "only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh", but by love serve one another.
Gal 5:14  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Gal 5:15  But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

These things are important because as Christians we live in a world of idolatrous practices and where humans make them own selves gods!

So let's begin:

*****1Co 8:1  Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

Again we can see that the Apostle Paul is addressing a question that was sent to him in a letter from the house of Chloe.

What we will see is that in all cases of our freedom in Christian Liberty, the main theme of the Apostle Paul rest on the commands of Jesus Christ!

Mat 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38  This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40  "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets".

For those who think other wise the entire Word of God is based upon the Love of God for His created people!

The message of the Apostle is that every Christian ought to walk so as not to wound another brother or sister in Christ!

This is the way that Jesus walked!

If we remember from the Book of Acts, a question the Jews had was if Gentiles could really be saved if they did not first become a Jew and obey all the laws of Moses.

It was James, the half-brother of Jesus who stated the results of that decision.

Act 15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
Act 15:29  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Act 15:30  So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
Act 15:31  Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

It is a fact that there is only one God and His name is Jehovah!

We already know that the church at Corinth was full of "Babes in Christ" who had very liberal views.

We already know that times were hard with famine and increasing Christian persecution.

There were many false temples to idols and false gods in Corinth where animals were offered in sacrifice which usually meant that the remnants of those animals that were slain as sacrifices ended up in the local markets at a discount price or at great banquets in those temples.

Those of Jewish faith who had converted to Christianity would never consider buying such meat nor partake of what they considered unclean meat.

Those Gentiles who were now Christian saw no problems with consuming these things and they were right except for one thing.

This kind of knowledge can cause us to sin!

If knowledge of certain things causes us to place a stumbling block before any brother or sister in Christ then we have forgotten the law of Jesus Christ when He said "we are to love our neighbors as ourselves"!

When we put on an air of superiority over any other child of God we are committing sin not only to that brother or sister in Christ but to Christ Himself!

To edify, is to build upon the "Body of Christ" it is not to tear down!

*****1Co 8:2  And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

We must realize as Christians that every teaching of God is to be tempered with not only the "Love of God", but also the "Love For Each Other"!

When we use our "faith" as being superior to anyone, we are not on the right track in search of the knowledge of God.

We all stand on level ground at the Cross of Jesus Christ!

It is easy to see why this church at Corinth was having so many problems:

1Ti 6:3  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, "even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness";
1Ti 6:4  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
1Ti 6:5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

But to be obedient to the "laws of love" the two greatest of all commandments, is to be known of God!

*****1Co 8:3  But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

There are those who have a "think so" religion.

Christianity is not a "think so" but "know so" by "faith in Christ Jesus"!

The Bible says:

1Jn 5:13  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; "that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God".

The truth is that God knows all those who are His!

2Ti 2:19  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, "The Lord knoweth them that are his". And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Those that know God are known of God!

Gal 4:9  But now, "after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God", how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

And the truth is that we can only know love because God first loved us!

No one can be acquainted with God who does not love Him and show it in their actions toward all others!

This shoots down any theory of the Ecumenical movement that say all religions worship the same God!

To love God is to keep His commandments!

Joh 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

God gave us His commandments in what is now called the Bible, or the Word of God and these are the commandments that are to be kept.

Those that reject the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God will hear these words in the end:

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, "I never knew you": depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Those that cannot love the Lord Jesus Christ cannot know God and therefore cannot be loved of God!

All those that do not know or love the Lord Jesus knows nothing as he ought to know, because all else is nothing in this world because there is no other God but Jesus!

*****1Co 8:4  As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and "that there is none other God but one".

Therefore since an idol is only a figment of man's imagination, as is all false gods, then things that are sacrificed to those things cannot in any way harm the Christian!

Some look upon idols and false gods as demons.

Some look upon idols and false gods as evil spirits.

The truth is they all are only figment of man's imagination except for the One God Jehovah!

Isa 44:8  Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

An idol or false god is a name without a thing, a mere figment of the human heart!

Isa 44:9  They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed

This is one of the trivial things that Christians have a tendency to disagree on, but the pure truth is, it is only how these things affect the conduct of others that is of real importance!

As Christians we are not to consider the lawfulness nor the unlawfulness of these things for we are to always consider all questions of this kind on the grounds of the welfare of the "Body of Christ"!

We are to rate all things as they concern the love of our brothers and sisters in Christ!

*****1Co 8:5  For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

We should also consider that these Corinthians to whom Paul was writing, had, before their conversion to Christianity, worshiped many false gods in the heavens and also many lords on this earth!

All these things are only manifestations in the mind that are energized by Satan and his demonic spirits!

It is sometimes hard for the "Babe in Christ" to free their minds from the power of false religion!

It is even harder today for the new Christian to free their minds from the teaching of evolution, they been forced to grow up with!

It is a fact that our youth are being brain-washed by evolution and it's false theories that cannot even be proven.

1Ti 6:20  O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of "science falsely so called":
1Ti 6:21  Which some professing have erred concerning the faith.

BUT, It is not other humans themselves that are our enemies but it is the rulers of darkness that are our true enemy!

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

It is only "the truth" that make us free from all these things!

*****1Co 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

The testimony of the Scriptures reveal that their is only one true God!

All true science points to only one Creator who is One God!

We are all God's creation, created by His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

In contrast, evolution is the teaching of pantheism and ancient pagans, evolutionary atheism put together by modern, so-called, intellectuals.

All idols are nothing!

All false gods are nothing!

All teachings other than the Word of God will lead to nothing but sin and eternal damnation!

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

It is only Christ Jesus who can make a New Creation!

Joh 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be "born again", he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Rev 21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, "I make all things new". And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

All those that seek something new must come to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Baby Christians still struggle with some of these things and we must not ever place a stone of stumbling in their path to the truth!

*****1Co 8:7  Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

Some of these Corinthians just could not fathom eating meat that had been sacrificed to some idol or false god with a clear conscience.

Many of those were probably converted Jews but not all.

That had found freedom from all these things and they certainly did not want to fall back into their old false beliefs.

Those things simply did not have the taste of freedom and seemed in their conscience to be unclean.

To be quite honest once you have been removed from the filth of this world through Jesus Christ, you will simply not want to ever know that feeling of uncleanness again!

To be washed in the blood of Jesus is to feel a clean that only the Christian can know!

The truth is that no matter what God makes clean can never be soiled again but only in our own conscience!

But God says, all those with a weak conscience, weakness as a result of a past habit, are entitled to the respect and the exercise of patience from the strong Christian!

God says in fact, it is the strong Christian who is unrighteous to ignore the truth of these things!

Why?

These are all trivial matters that have no real importance to our Christian walk but we can allow them to ruin our testimony and harm the work of the Church!

*****1Co 8:8  But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

The truth is that the food we eat to sustain our flesh does not affect our standing before God!

Food like anything else can only harm us if we allow it to control our actions toward others.

Our liberty is forfeited when we allow anything of this world to be our master!

We have only one Master and He is the Lord!

Rom 14:6  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
Rom 14:7  For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
Rom 14:8  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

*****1Co 8:9  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

When we allow the trivial things of this world, that have no affect on our standing before the Lord but that thing may tempt another brother or sister to act against their own conscience, then that thing has become a sin to us!

What did Jesus say to the Church at Pergamos?

Rev 2:14  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

The Christian is to have patience, and not privilege!

The Christian is to show love, not knowledge!

When sin came into God's world, God did not first respond with wrath "but with love"!

For our redemption, God's wisdom made a plan!

God's power put His plan into action!

But it was God's love that made all these things possible!

All that Jesus Christ did and  suffered was because He loved us!

1Ti 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

*****1Co 8:10  For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
1Co 8:11  And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

Corinth had many temples to false gods and each one had great banquet halls where the meat that was sacrificed to idols could then be consumed.

For a "Babe In Christ" to witness a fellow brother or sister at the banquet table, how could they not think that this person was not bowing to that false god!

We would have that same problem today if a member in good standing, decided to witness in a place of ill report and some "Babe in Christ" or some other member, drove by and saw his car in that parking lot, they would only think the worse!

If the Church is the hospital for lost souls, and it is, then we are to build up our brothers and sisters and not tear them down!

The Church's job is to make disciples who will then make more disciples and on and on, until the Lord returns!

When we mingle with this lost world, we must be aware that all eyes are upon us, not only the lost but those of the church who may not yet possess the same knowledge we have and even though we are anxious to do right, we may in fact do more wrong by our actions, than good!

It is only God who can bring the lost to the point of salvation but if our actions cause a weaker brother or sister to loose their faith and not recover it, for whose sake Christ died, then we have sinned before the eyes of Christ!

If Jesus Christ died for our sins then we should also be willing to die for the sins of our own brothers and sisters and never allow our actions to harm the family of God!

Jesus Christ died even for all those that remain lost by their own choice but in the end even they will recognize the love of God when they all will bow before Him!

Any time we jeopardize the salvation of any soul we have pronounced the death sentence upon them if they never repent!

*****1Co 8:12  But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

As Christians how much we are willing to give of ourselves for another, shows the value of that other person!

Paul told husbands these things:

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Jesus Christ gave Himself for the Church. He gave it all, including His life!

When we are so caught up in our own faith in Christ that we ignore that one who is weaker in faith, then we are not willing to give all for the "Body of Christ"!

The only thing we must not do is to allow the preferences of that weaker brother or sister to cause us to go against the will of God for us!

The important thing for each Christian is to set the proper example for others in this life just as Jesus Christ did!

*****1Co 8:13  Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

Christian liberty is a wonderful thing but we must not insist on our own rights at the expense of injury to others!

We must not allow trivial things that have no basis on salvation to ever make another Christian stumble!

We must:

1Th 5:21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1Th 5:22  Abstain from all appearance of evil.

We must in no way allow ourselves to give anyone the appearance that we will do evil!

Our testimony is the greatest resource we have in this world that is dying before our eyes!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

Problems In Corinth

The Problem Of Judgmental Criticism

1 Corinthians 4


Criticism is the art of scrutiny and scrutiny means a critical examination!

A critic is one who has exalted himself to the position of "a judge" of others!

In the church many times there are those who seek to find the faults of others without considering their own faults.

We actually have only one Judge and He is also our Creator!

Gen 18:25  That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right"?

Paul will use two words that we must consider in these Scriptures.

**Ministers: The Greek word used for minister in this verse is "huperetes".

This Greek word has the meaning of an "under oarsman".

In the time of the Apostle Paul the "oarsman" were in the belly of the ship and they had only one job and that was to row on command.

They did not see in what direction the ship was sailing, their job was only to move the ship along in the direction that the Captain chose and at the speed that He chose.

In many ways the Church is like a mighty ship sailing through the Church Age and it the Ministers job to keep the ship moving while Captain, Jesus, chooses the direction and the speed of the Church.

**Stewards: A steward on the other hand was employed by a master to manage the daily affairs of that master, including in many cases the financial accounts but also the provisions for that family.

The truth is, that the Lord calls out certain individuals to be the ministers and the stewards of the Church.

He has many names but here we call this man the Pastor or the Preacher or the Evangelist!

Paul continues in Chapter 4

*****1Co 4:1  Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
1Co 4:2  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 

If we remember this Church at Corinth was a divided church and one of the things that they were divided about was the men who had come to preach to the church.

Some insisted Paul was the best and others Apollos, and others Peter and yet others who only considered Jesus Christ to be just another prophet and just a man.

Paul had already shown them the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul now was teaching that it was not so important who the messenger was that was sent of God.

Of most importance, were they indeed "faithful" to teach the "Gospel", were they "faithful" to the God they served and to His entire Word!

Christian stewards are to be stewards of the mysteries of God!

The mysteries of God are all those things of Jesus Christ, that were hidden in the Old Testament that are revealed in the New Testament!

Christians are also to be stewards of the manifold "Grace Of God"!

1Pe 4:10  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

God expects all those called to be Preachers, Pastors and Evangelist or wherever God calls each of us, to be faithful to His "Grace" and to share the literal biblical explanations of the mysteries of God!

These men are subject to God for their message and for their faithfulness to their calling but only God can give the increase to the Church!

It is the job of the Church to listen to the message that comes from the Word of God and not to judge the messenger who is sent of God!

We are only to compare that message to the actual written Word of God to know if it is a true message!

We are all accountable to God, who is our sure Judge, during our life time and in the end, when we will face God in judgment either at the "Judgment seat of Christ" or the "White Throne Judgment"!

If we are to be stewards of the Word of God then we must be faithful to the truth of the Scriptures!

*****1Co 4:3  But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
1Co 4:4  For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

The judgment of all humans lies in the hands of God. Mankind is not capable of judging each other!

We may or may not despise the judgment by others but in reality it amounts to almost nothing as compared to the judgment of God!

We live now in man's day and will continue to do so "until the Day of the Lord"!

Paul is saying that even though he has been found faithful in delivering the mysteries of God, he does not need man's approval and he continues by saying that he did not even assume the right of judging himself.

It is only the judgment of the Lord that has any real importance!

It is still a fact that we as humans live only on average around 70 years. This is certainly not enough time to gain enough wisdom to judge other human beings!

For most of us, it is only after our death that we will be remembered or judged for the things we accomplished in our lifetime and that usually only by our own families.

But one thing is sure and it is that if we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior in this life time we have now, then we can be judged and justified by the Lord even before our death!

Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

The heart of all humans is much to full of deceit to be an accurate judge of any other human being but only by their actions toward the Word of God!

Jer 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Jer 17:10  I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

*****1Co 4:5  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

In reality, we of the Church have no right to judge the messengers that are called into the work of the Lord.

If that Messenger is conveying the actual Word of God, "rightly divided", and in context, then our one thing is to listen to that message that is sent from God and concentrate on being obedient ourselves!

You see it is only the Lord that can see into our hearts and expose those "hidden things of darkness"!

Heb 4:13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

All things of our heart are naked and open to the eyes of the One who has called us out of the bondage of Satan!

If our own heart is the seat of our intellect and emotions, and it is, then only God can know what goes on in the mind of each of us!

The praise of God is so infinitely precious to all those called of God that it reduces to nothingness the value of human praise or of human blame!

Every child of God simply wants to hear these certain words in the end!

Mat 25:23  His lord said unto him, "Well done, good and faithful servant"; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: "enter thou into the joy of thy lord".

If our hope is not in the joy of the Lord then we need to question our salvation!

When we do not look forward to entering into the "joy of the Lord", then we will only become judges in this world and suffer loss because of it!

*****1Co 4:6  And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

Paul continues to show his love for these, his brothers and sisters in Christ, the Brethren. Paul also does not point out those that chose to follow the teaching of Apollos and those that have said that followed his own teaching because Paul knew they both taught the same message of the "Gospel".

Paul also did not mention Peter who at this time had not preached the "Gospel" in Corinth and may not have ever but was well followed in Jerusalem.

The message of Paul was that all the messengers called of God are laborers in the building up of God's Kingdom. No one more important than any other!

One would simply be the planter and the other the waterer because only God can give the increase!

To exalt one above the other would also be to depreciate one below the other!

When church members get puffed up, one against the other, it's like trying to build the House of God with a balloon rather than on the truth of God, which are to be the building blocks of every church!

These Corinthians were still full of emptiness rather than accepting that the gifts of God may differ in each individual, but the Word of God must remain the same in all of us!

God distributes gifts to His children according to their need and their abilities to perform the work that He has called on them to do and these things will never change until He returns!

*****1Co 4:7  For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

Even when we believe that one speaker or one preacher presents the "Gospel" in a better way we must realize any gift that they have came from the Living God!

God's gifts are not for bragging!

God's gifts are for using!

While bragging on or choosing one above the other we should also consider our own gifts from God "that we are not even using" for the work that God has called us all to do!

The truth is that God has given each of us gifts to use to carry the "Gospel" to the lost!

1Pe 4:10  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1Pe 4:11  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

We are arrogant to believe that God exalts His workers one above another!

We are not superior one above the other!

We absolutely have no right to sit in "judgment" one above any other!

When we glory, then we must glory in the Lord who has placed us where He wants us to be and has given us the tools we need, whether they be spiritual gifts or carnal gifts.

All we have belongs to the Lord!

Even John the Baptist was well aware of these things!

Joh 3:27  John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

*****1Co 4:8  Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

As "Babes in Christ" it is easy to have the opinion that you are saved and you need nothing else.

These Corinthians were full but they were not full of Christ, they were full of themselves!

In their own still fleshy minds, they believed they had already reached perfection in the eyes of God and really had no further need of any instructor in the Word of God.

They certainly felt they had no need to pick up their own cross and follow the Lord Jesus.

They forgot that before the "Kingdom of God" could come that they would also suffer.

They forgot that before there was a fullness of joy, there would be persecution.

They forgot that before the marriage supper of the Lamb, they must eat the meat of ridicule in this world.

They became self-complacent and self-sufficient and felt they had no sin and no need of anything else of God!

We should remember the Age we live in now, which is the last of the Church Ages!

Rev 3:16  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

These Corinthians were still blind to the complete truth of the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ!

They had one foot in the Church and still had one foot in the carnal world!

*****1Co 4:9  For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

It was obvious to these Corinthians the way the world was treating the Apostles of Jesus Christ.

It was obvious to these Corinthians that persecution followed the Christian where ever they were.

Many of this church had actually come from Jerusalem because of the persecution of Christians!

It should be sobering to us all that Christians, especially those Christian leaders such as the Apostle Paul are actually on a stage being carefully watched by the audience of the world, to point out every mistake of the Church and it's followers, ready to persecute and humiliate everyone in an attempt to stop the message of God!

These things are not going to change and to correctly understand these words of the Apostle Paul, we can see that for more than one reason, even the Angels of God also keep a close eye on each believer.

1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; "which things the angels desire to look into".

*****1Co 4:10  We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
1Co 4:11  Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
1Co 4:12  And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
1Co 4:13  Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

What is the difference between a true Christian and a counterfeit so-called Christian or even a carnal Christian?

The counterfeit is so full of themselves, rather than Divine Knowledge, that he thinks he needs no further instruction.

The counterfeit is so rich in his own grace, that he exalts himself above those who are spiritually poor.

The counterfeit is so confident in his confession of himself, that he would try to rule others who he believes are of a lower class of Christian than he.

The true Christian regards himself as the least of all Saints.

The true Christian submits willingly to suffering for Christ sake.

The true Christian repays all evil with good!

The Apostle Paul left the schools of higher learning, which would have led to untold riches, and devoted the remaining days of his life to the work of Christ, totally understanding that his only riches would come from his "faith" and the "Grace" of God!

Paul said in the eyes of the world, he was certainly a foolish man!

The model for the Apostle Paul was Jesus Christ Himself, who left the riches and glory of Heaven, to give his life in order that we might live!

How did Jesus respond to such people?

Luk 9:57  And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
Luk 9:58  And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Luk 9:59  And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Luk 9:60  Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
Luk 9:61  And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
Luk 9:62  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

The Bible teaches us that because of our loyalty to Jesus Christ,the world will despise us and consider us all mad and ignorant.

These Corinthians sought ways to make the teaching of the "Gospel" a means of becoming a celebrity and these "type" are still around today!

Christianity brings with it sacrifice, sometimes shame, many times suffering, and certainly a true work ethic.

But Christianity brings companionship in the greatest family of all, the "Grace "of God, and rewards that cannot be known of in this world!

The Christian must be a humble, and a meek, and a patient child of God!

The signs of the Christian are these:

1Co 13:11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1Co 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Paul said to these Corinthians, "you simply need to know the truth".

Who is the most important example for the Christian to follow?

1Pe 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, "leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps":

*****1Co 4:14  I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
1Co 4:15  For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
1Co 4:16  Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

We can be sure that the Apostle Paul did not write these books to the these Corinthians, nor to the Church, for the purpose of causing them shame and embarrassment!

The truth is that, the liberal church cannot survive and function for the good of God!

There is a great danger to the "Body of Christ" if the majority remain "Babes in Christ"!

This is what we see in the Church of the modern day and the Church no longer has the Holy Ghost power it once had!

It was the Apostle Paul who had caused the beginning of this church at Corinth, and to Paul these were his spiritual children and there are no spiritual grandchildren!

Paul, by example, followed the life of Christ as close as he could after his salvation and this should also be our goal!

Paul is simply saying that beyond the Lord Jesus Christ, no one cared as much for the Church at Corinth as much as he did!

Paul was simply rebuking this church much like a loving father would rebuke their own children!

I see this same thing here at Gethsemane, where through the years we have had many tutors who have come through to teach us the great depths of the Word of God, but it is our Pastor who teaches us as a loving father does his own children!

And Paul further more states, that no church can have a father who is not following the Lord Jesus Christ!

Mat 23:9  And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

We must never forget the One from which the New Testament Church had it's beginnings and that One is the Lord Jesus Christ!

Mat 16:16  And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God".
Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, "but my Father which is in heaven".

The Church at Corinth was begotten through the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" and it is on Jesus Christ that the Church must stand!

Paul said he was just filling in, until the Lord returned to fulfill His own "Gospel"!

Paul as a "faithful steward" of the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" said "you can follow me because I am following the Lord"!

It is a fact that good spiritual leaders will light the way for their followers to follow!

What is the job of the Pastor?

1Pe 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
1Pe 5:3  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
1Pe 5:4  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Paul was a church planter, who totally understood his calling by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Paul was not being arrogant nor was he conceited.

Paul explained himself to the Ephesians with these words:

Eph 3:8  Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

Many false teachers had come to the church at Corinth, just as happens today in most all places of worship!

We know that the Lord Jesus Christ cannot actually be seen with the eye but only with the heart until He returns, but the true man of God, such as Paul, would be more like Jesus than any false teacher could ever be!

The truth of the Church is not what we look like inside the Church, it is how we appear outside the Church!

We would be wise to follow the example of the Apostle Paul rather than the example of some false so-called man of God, who might speak great words but their lives tell a different story!

Paul had a another spiritual child of God who was following the Lord Jesus Christ by the example showed to him also by the Apostle Paul and his name was Timothy.

*****1Co 4:17  For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

No doubt that it Paul who had led Timothy to the Lord!

No doubt that Timothy was already on his way to Corinth as Paul was writing this letter and the letter had arrived before Timothy had gotten there.

It was Timothy's job to bring this church back to the teachings of the Apostle Paul!

Timothy was also a faithful steward of the "Gospel of Jesus Christ".

Paul was telling these Corinthians that Timothy would not only teach sound doctrine, but he would also put these people in remembrance of Paul's ways!

They could see with their own eyes, whether the child's walk was like those of his spiritual father and also in Jesus Christ!

It is a fact that a Man of God who generates in another the character of Jesus Christ, has done a greater work than any teaching that this world does!

But Paul also knew that not all in the church would be satisfied with Timothy but expected Paul to return himself.

Here again we see that Paul knew many in Corinth cared more for the speaker, than for the message, which is still the failure in many houses of worship today!

*****1Co 4:18  Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
1Co 4:19  But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

Those that still allowed their own pride to interfere with right judgment would still be puffed up.

There were many at Corinth that believed Paul feared to return to Corinth, which was certainly not true.

We should be very clear that the Apostle Paul had the same powers that Jesus had granted to all the other Apostles!

Most of that power was the fact that if an Apostle asked anything of the Lord, then it would certainly take place as Jesus told to the Apostles.

Mat 18:18  Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

*****1Co 4:20  For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
1Co 4:21  What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

Paul informed those that rejected this letter from him, that he could come with the rod just as easy as he could come in love.

It would be their own choice!

God gave us the freedom to choose but we must certainly know that there are consequences to every choice we make!

What is God's promise?

Isa 11:4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

We may not understand that "rod of the mouth" but it is very clear what God will do when He says He will slay the wicked!

Questions?

Let's Pray!