I Corinthians 9
Proof of Paul’s apostleshipverses 1-2
Am I not an apostle? Am I not free?
Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?
Are not you my work in the Lord?
If I be not an apostle to others – yet doubtless I am to you
for the seal of mine apostleship are you in the Lord
Right to expect support for the ministryverses 3-6
Have we not power to eat and to drink?
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?
OR I only and Barnabas
have not we power to forbear working?
Illustration of others who gain supportverses 7-10
Who goes a warfare any time at his own charges?
who plants a vineyard – and eats not of the fruit thereof?
OR who feeds a flock
and eats not of the milk of the flock?
Say I these things as a man? OR say not the law the same also?
FOR it is written in the law of Moses
You shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox
that treads out the corn
Does God take care for oxen?
OR say he it altogether for our sakes?
FOR our sakes – no doubt – this is written
that he that plows should plow in hope
and that he that threshes in hope
should be partaker of his hope
Support for preaching the gospelverses 11-14
IF we have sown to you SPIRITUAL things
is it a great thing if we shall reap your CARNAL things?
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
Do you 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?
EVEN so has the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel
should live of the gospel
Paul never used privilege of paid ministryverses 15-18
BUT I have used none of these things – neither have I written these things
that it should be so done to me – FOR it were better for me to die
than that any man should make my glorying void
FOR though I preach the gospel – I have nothing to glory of
for necessary is laid upon me
yea – woe is unto me – IF I preach not the gospel
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
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
Paul becomes all things to all menverses 19-23
FOR though I be free from all men
yet have I made myself servant unto all
that I might gain the more
and to 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
to them that are without law – as without law
(being not without law to God
BUT under the law of Christ)
that I might gain them that are without law
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
AND this I do for the gospel’s sake
that I might be partaker thereof with you
Example of running a raceverses 24-27
Know you not that they which run in a race run all
BUT one receives the prize?
So run – that you may obtain
AND every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things
now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown
BUT we an incorruptible
I therefore so run – not as uncertainly
so fight I – not as one that beats the air
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
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 11 If we have sown to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? (4687 “sown” [speiro] means scatter, to spread, conceived of as placing or scattering seeds on the ground for future growth, to disperse, or labor)
DEVOTION: Paul is willing to make a comparison between his planting Biblical truth among the congregation of Corinth and the farmer who plants physical crops of corn and wheat and other things.
He is stating that it should follow that if he is laboring to feed them spiritual food from the Bible, he should be able to receive physical food and drink from the congregation. He is feeding them and they should feed him.
Every pastor should be feeding their congregation the spiritual food found in the Bible. They should be giving milk in every sermon to those who are baby Christians. He should also be giving meat to those who are mature believers. Those who are called young men should be fed as well.
So each sermon should contain enough food for all three groups to walk away with their appetite satisfied. No one should leave the church hungry. Too often this doesn’t happen on a regular basis.
CHALLENGE: Pray for your pastor to be able to accomplish this task each Sunday.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 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. (1849 “power” [exousia] means jurisdiction, privilege, capacity, freedom of choice, mastery, authority to rule, right, strength, or liberty of doing what one pleases)
DEVOTION: There should be closeness between those who are learners and their teachers. Here Paul is saying that there is a relationship between those who have preached and those they have preached to. There is a special relationship between those who have presented the Gospel to those who that have accepted the Gospel through their ministry.
Paul used this word six times in this chapter to peek our interest. Paul states that he has the availability of the privilege of having the people of Corinth support him for his ministry.
He did not take this privilege because he didn’t want to share the glory related to presenting the gospel. There is a reward that the LORD gives to those who preach the Gospel with the right motives. Paul’s motives were pure in the sight of the LORD. He didn’t want that to change. No one had bragging rights. Somehow, he thought that if he took wages from the people that would have hindered the gospel. Sometimes people think that all the preacher is interested in is the money associated with the ministry.
Paul wanted this troubled church to realize that he cared because he wanted to serve the Lord. He would rather have died working for a living than to take anything from them. There are many who are in ministry only for the money. Paul was preaching because he couldn’t stop preaching. There can be a time in a preacher’s life when he wants to stop sharing the gospel with people but he can’t. Those who can should.
The Word of God expresses the fact that those in ministry need the support of those they minister to. A pastor needs to be free from the need of raising support, so that, he can devote all their time to ministry. The workman is worthy of his hire. If a pastor doesn’t work, he should not be paid. But if a pastor works and the people don’t pay him, they will have to answer to the LORD for their actions. The LORD cannot bless a church that doesn’t take care of the pastor. If the pastor takes more than he should, he will have to answer to the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Respect the office of the pastor. Support your pastor. Encourage your pastor through special gifts. Pray for your pastor. Also, support your missionaries: local, national and foreign. We praise the LORD daily for those who support Small Church Ministries.
: 14 Even so has the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. (1299 “ordained” [diatasso] means command, appoint, set in order, give orders, arrange, ordain, prescribe, give instructions, or enactments)
DEVOTION: If the pastor feeds the congregation properly he should receive compensation for his work. It is stated that a message should take one hour for each minute preached on a given Sunday.
Too often people think it is easy to preach. The pastor just gets up and preaches for thirty minutes to an hour and that is all the work he does all week. That is a wrong attitude.
A Biblical pastor wants to feed and care for the flock from Sunday to Sunday. He is available to help those who need help at any time during a day or night. He is visiting the neighborhood around the church to reach more individuals for the LORD. He has his personal devotional time and prayer time. He cares for his family to make sure that he remains qualified for the ministry.
The Bible is plain in the responsibilities of a pastor and these verses are plain in what the congregations responsibilities are toward their pastor. If they pay the pastor too little they will have to answer to the LORD. If the pastor takes too much he will have to answer to the LORD.
No pastor should suffer regarding adequate salary if he is feeding the flock God has given him. The leaders of the church should regularly talk with the pastor regarding his financial needs. If he is not able to pay his bills on time it is a poor testimony for the church.
CHALLENGE: The principle is plain that those who are in ministry should be given a wage that allows them to serve properly.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 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. (96 “castaway” [adokimos] means reprobate, rejected, not standing the test, not approved, unfit for, unqualified, worthless, failing to meet the test, disqualified or disreputable)
DEVOTION: Paul was concerned that he finish the race that was set before him. Life is a race. It is not a sprint but a marathon. In a marathon you have fast times and slow times. You try to have a set pace and stick to it but sometimes that doesn’t work.
He wanted to finish his race well. He wanted to keep his body under subjection to his objections in life which were recorded in his letters to the churches.
He didn’t what to go down any rabbit trails and lose sight of his objective which was to glorify the Father in his entire ministry. He wanted to preach the gospel to all that he met. He wanted to be all things to all men so that he might save some. He wanted to see those under his ministry maturing in the faith. He wanted the churches to work for the glory of the LORD.
One of the statements he made sounded like he didn’t want to tread water. He wanted to keep moving for the LORD. His ministry was never done until his death. That is what he meant by finishing the race well.
He was not concerned with being in competition with the leaders of the church at Corinth. He wouldn’t mind coming in after them in the race, he just wanted to finish. There was no pride.
We need to do the same in our life. We should have the goal of finishing well the course the LORD has set before us. Our ministry is different than Paul but we still have a ministry to finish. Our gifts have to be used in the local church to see that it moves forward because of our gifts and not backwards because we are not using our gifts.
He didn’t want to fail to meet the test. He wanted to stand before the LORD at the Judgment Seat of Christ and hear the words “well done, my good and faithful servant.”
Our desire should be the same as that of Paul. We should want to hear the same words. Just reading these devotionals will not save you. You need to repent of your sins and ask Jesus to come into your life. There needs to be change of direction. Then you have finally entered the race that will please the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Run your race by the use of your gift for the LORD. Start today if you haven’t started yet.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Templeverse 13
Altarverse 13
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Law of Mosesverses 8, 9
For it is writtenverses 9, 10
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 9, 21
Law of Godverse 21
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Jesusverse 1
Christverses 1, 12, 18, 21
Lordverses 1, 2, 5, 14
Jesus Christ our Lordverse 1
Gospel of Christverses 12, 18
Law of Christverse 21
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Warfareverse 7
Plants a vineyardverse 7
Feed a flockverse 7
Manverse 8
Without Lawverse 21
Weakverse 22
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Glorying voidverse 15
Preach not the gospelverse 16
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Work for the LORDverse 1
Examinedverse 3
Powerverses 4-6, 12, 18
Lead verse 5
Brethrenverse 5
Hope verse 10
Sown spiritual thingsverse 11
Reap carnal thingsverse 11
Sufferverse 12
Gospel of Christverses 12, 18, 23
Minsterverse 13
Preach the gospelverses 14, 16, 18
Live of the gospelverse 14
Willingly preachverse 17
Rewardverses 17, 18
Servant to allverses 19-22
Saveverse 22
Run the raceverse 24, 26
Strive for the masteryverse 25
Temperate in all thingsverse 25
Incorruptible crownverse 25
Subjection of bodyverse 27
Preachverse 27
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Jewsverse 20
Under the Lawverse 20
Church (New Testament people of God)
Apostleverses 1, 2
Seal of mine (Paul) apostleshipverse 2
Apostlesverse 5
Cephas [Peter]verse 5
Barnabasverse 6
Minister about holy thingsverse 13
Preach the gospelverse 14
Live of the gospelverse 14
Glorying verse 15
Dispensationverse 17
Castawayverse 27
Last Things (Future Events)
Incorruptible crownverse 25
Castawayverse 27
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
QUOTES regarding passage
11. Paul becomes specific. The opening conditional clause implies that the condition has been fulfilled: ‘If, as is the case, we sowed …’ Paul’s sowing was his preaching at Corinth which had established the church there. He speaks of sowing, and he might have added that he did some reaping. But the precise function exercised is not important at this point. His concern is rather with the fact that anyone who labours to produce the harvest is entitled to a share in that harvest. Paul had laboured in spiritual things among them. He was fully entitled to receive from them a material harvest. (Morris, L. (1985). 1 Corinthians: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 7, p. 134). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
9:11–12. With biblical support for his views, Paul returned to his own situation. Since he had sown spiritual seed in Corinth, he had every right to reap a material harvest of reasonable pay for his work. This passage is used today to support the idea that ministers of the gospel should be paid for their efforts. Paul argued that the Corinthians benefited from his ministry. For this reason, he had an even greater right to support than the other church leaders whom the Corinthians evidently supported.
In verse 12b the apostle hinted at the forfeiture of rights that he would talk about in later verses. He had every right to be paid, but he did not use this right. Instead, he put up with all kinds of troubles rather than do anything that would hinder the gospel of Christ. (Pratt, R. L., Jr. (2000). I & II Corinthians (Vol. 7, pp. 147–148). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
9:11. Paul’s third illustration grew out of verse 10 and his discussion of Deuteronomy 25:4, but it concerned a basic principle of community reciprocity: beneficial service should be rewarded. If Paul had been used to bring spiritual riches to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 1:5), material recompense was surely not too much to expect. (Lowery, D. K. (1985). 1 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 523). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Paul correctly saw a spiritual principle in this commandment: The laborer has the right to share in the bounties. The ox had plowed the soil in preparation for sowing, and now he was treading out the grain that had been harvested. Paul had plowed the soil in Corinth. He had seen a harvest from the seed he had planted. It was only right that he enjoyed some of the fruits of that harvest.
First Corinthians 9:11 enunciates a basic principle of the Christian life: If we receive spiritual blessings, we should in turn share material blessings. For example, the Jews gave spiritual blessings to the Gentiles; so the Gentiles had an obligation to share materially with the Jews (Rom. 15:25–27). Those who teach us the Word have the right to expect us to support them (Gal. 6:6–10).
We have reason to believe that Paul did accept financial support from other churches. The Philippian believers sent him two gifts when he went to Thessalonica (Phil. 4:15–16). “I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service,” Paul reminded the Corinthians (2 Cor. 11:8). Apparently other ministers had accepted support at Corinth (1 Cor. 9:12), but Paul preferred to remain independent “lest we should hinder the Gospel of Christ.” He wanted to be the best example possible to other believers (2 Thes. 3:6–9). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 599–600). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
9:11 material things. Financial support. See note on 1Ti 5:17. Cf. 2Co 8:1–5.
9:12 others share the right. Apparently, the church had financially supported other ministers. endure. False teachers sought money. Paul wanted to be certain he was not classed with them, so he endured not accepting support, so as not to offend. Cf. Ac 20:34; 2Th 3:8. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Co 9:11–12). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
The apostle here shows that it is quite right and proper that the Lord’s servants should be supported by the Church of God. “Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges?” If a man is a soldier, he is not expected to support himself; the country for whom he is fighting takes care of him. “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? Say I these things as a man? Or saith not the law the same also?” And then he uses an apt illustration from the law of Moses. It is written in the book of Deuteronomy (25:4), “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.” The reference is to the old-fashioned way of threshing corn or wheat. The ox goes around and around and treads it out. How inhuman it would be if the ox becoming hungry would not be permitted to munch a little of the grain as he treads it out. The law permitted him to have some for himself. “Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith He it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written.” There is an admonition here, something for the people of God to take note of: “That he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.”
And so he lays this down as a principle, “If we have sown unto you spiritual things,” that is, if the servant of Christ gives his whole time and energy to the study of the Word of God in order to prepare himself the better to minister the things of the Lord, if he turns from what people call secular life, “is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?” Just as the ox finds its food in the work it is doing, so the Lord has appointed that His servants should be cared for by those who receive benefit from the ministry that they give. “If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power”—we prefer to forego our own rights in order that you may see that our service is an unselfish one and in order that the heathen may not say that we are in the ministry for what we can get out of it. “Lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.”
It is perfectly true that they that minister about holy things should live of them. These words refer to the priests in Judaism for they were sustained by tithes and offerings. “They which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar.” In our dispensation while there is no distinct priesthood, and all believers are priests, yet they that give themselves to ministering the Word are to be sustained by the people of God in that work. “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” But if a servant of Christ says, “I choose to forego that privilege, I am able to support myself and still carry on the work of the Lord,” he is free to do it. Paul says, “I have chosen that path, I do not want one of you to say that a selfish motive actuated me. I preach the gospel, but I have nothing to glory in; I am a servant. My Master sent me to preach it. He put necessity upon me, yea, I find myself in trouble if I do not preach it.” “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” I wonder if that word has been forgotten by many who once gave themselves to the ministry of the gospel, but today seldom mention the great truths whereby men and women are saved. Is it not a sad fact that many today who are looked upon as evangelastic preachers never tell sinners that Christ died for the ungodly, never proclaim the saving power of the Lord Jesus, never exalt the cross as the only means of redemption for poor sinners? What an account to face before the Lord some day! wish that a minister of Christ who gives himself to what he calls a social program, merely ethical preaching, might be awakened through these words of the apostle, “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” Our responsibility is to make Christ known as the only Saviour of sinners. If I do this thing willingly, if I gladly go forward preaching the gospel for the name’s sake of the Lord Jesus, by-and-by when I stand at the judgment-seat I shall be rewarded. (Ironside, H. A. (1938). Addresses on the First Epistle to the Corinthians. (pp. 253–256). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
Ver. 11. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, &c.] The preachers of the Gospel are compared to sowers of seed; the seed they sow is the word of God, which is like to seed, for its smallness and despicableness in the eyes of carnal men; and yet as the seed is the choicest which is laid by for sowing, the Gospel is most choice and excellent to true believers; like, seed, it has a generative virtue through divine influence; and whereas unless sown into the earth, it brings forth no fruit, so neither does the word, unless it has a place in the heart, where, as seed in the ground, its operation is secret, its increase gradual, and its fruitfulness different. The ground they sow upon is very various; some of their hearers are like the way-side, careless, ignorant, and on whom no impression is made; others are like the stony ground, who though for a while they express some affection and liking, yet not having the root of grace in them, whenever persecution arises, forsake the hearing of it; others are like the thorny ground, which are at first very promising, and greatly reformed, but inwardly full of the cares and lusts of the world, which choke the word, and make it unfruitful; and others are like the good ground, who are made good by the grace of God, understand the word, receive it, hold it fast, and in whom it is fruitful: sowing requires skill and art, and so preaching the Gospel does, and that more than human; and is constantly in its returning season to be attended to, notwithstanding the winds and clouds, and so the ministry of the word, notwithstanding all reproaches, persecutions, and afflictions; and as the same sort of seed, without mixture, and in plenty, is to be cast into the earth, so the same, pure and unmixed Gospel of Christ is to be preached, and that without keeping back any thing that is profitable: and once more, as the sower, when he has cast his seed into the earth, waits long and with patience for its springing up and increase, so do the faithful dispensers of the Gospel: and what they sow or minister is of a spiritual nature; it comes from the spirit of God, he is the dictator of it; he by his gifts qualifies men to preach it, and by his power makes it effectual to the souls of men; and through it conveys himself to them, as a spirit of regeneration and sanctification: the matter of the Gospel is spiritual; it contains spiritual doctrines, such as justification, pardon of sin, adoption, regeneration, &c. and are what concern the souls and spirits of men, and their spiritual and eternal welfare: is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? meaning temporal ones, what concern the flesh, the body, the outward man, and the support thereof. The argument is from the greater to the less, and much the same with that in Rom. 15:27. The difference between carnal and spiritual things is very great; the one has a vastly superior excellency to the other; and therefore if for carnal things men receive spiritual ones, they can be no losers thereby, but must be gainers; nor should it be thought any hardship or burden upon them, or any great and wonderful thing done by them, to support and maintain such who are so useful to their souls, and the spiritual welfare of them. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 663). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
Since Paul “planted” the church (I C. 3:6-9), he should enjoy some of the proceeds from it. God is concerned about oxen, but the main point in Deuteronomy, and with Paul, was receiving compensation for one’s work. Paul expressed this concept explicitly in vv. 10-12a. Then finally, in v. 12b (and v. 15), comes Paul’s main point. He surrendered these privileges to avoid hindering the spread of the gospel.
(p. 1787, The MOODY Bible Commentary
by Michael Rydelnik and Michael and Michael Vanlaningham)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
On Being A PASTOR by Derek J. Prime & Alistair Begg
Only good can come from bringing every member on the church membership roll before God in prayer in daily rotation, and asking for His help in identifying each member’s gift, and for wisdom to encourage its use if its employment is not already obvious. (p. 57-58)
…..
We will do well to be asking ourselves at something like six-month intervals, “Are there gifts God is giving to members of our church fellowship that we need to recognize and encourage?” I takes discipline to ensure that an important subject like this is not forced to the bottom of the agenda by the pressure of other business or even by being considered unimportant. If we are to teach God’s people to be prepared for works of service, then we must make sure that those works of service are recognized, begun, and completed. (p. 58)
Jonathan Edwards for Armchair Theologians by James P. Byrd
Today many mainline Protestants think of preaching as a form of religious communication, delivered in the church by a ministry, usually once a week, with most sermons lasting no longer than thirty minutes. With this view of preaching in mind, imagine what it was like in Puritan New England, where ministers typically preached three times each week, with each sermon lasting up to two hours. (p. 7)
Puritans looked to the sermon for trustworthy instruction on politics, culture, and the news of the day. (p. 7)
As a cat lets a mouse think it is free while in reality the cat is in total control, so the devil fools sinners into thinking that they are free and properly religious while all the time the devil is in control until he finally devours them. (p. 21)
The Royal Rout to Heaven (Studies in First Corinthians) by Alan Redpath
If a man is to stand the test as a child of God – not merely as a minster, but as a Christian anywhere – he must be able to produce credentials to indicate that he is genuine. I believe the world is tired of religion that is a sham. People want to see in the hearts and lives of those who profess Christ the characteristics of the genuine article. (p. 107)
We are not to be judged by our success nor by the number of conversions produced by our ministry. We are not to be judged by our creed or doctrine, for people are not primarily interested in what we believe. We are not to be judged by our orthodoxy nor by the particular associations which we may keep in the fellowship of the Christian church. There is one thing by which a Christian is going to stand or fall, and that is his reality with God. Are the marks of Holy Spirit unction about him in his daily walk? Is there a clear and authentic right to his testimony so that, although people may not agree with what he says or how he lives, they cannot dispute the fact that the man is close to God? (p. 107)
You have a right to good food, of course, but have you ever denied yourself one meal that something extra might be given to the Lord, or that extra time might be spent in prayer and the Word? This is the practical meaning of fasting. (p. 108)
Paul vindicates his apostleship by pointing out things that were absolutely legitimate, but to which he has said “no” for the Lord’s sake. (p. 109)
I do not wish to be uncharitable, but isn’t it sad that in so many instances Christian people move in their own little watertight compartments and never launch out into somebody else’s situation at all? They are locked in; their circle never touches the circles of unbelievers. They move only in their little circle of Christian fellowship; very seldom do they take the plunge outside in order to win another for Christ. I believe perhaps the greatest need of all in our evangelical circles today is that we might have the boldness in Christ to cross some of the barriers that exist to win others for Him. “Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel!” say Paul. (p. 110)
The plagues on Egypt intensify.
INSIGHT
Frogs and gnats? Boils and hail? Water into blood? What strange plagues! What reasoning went behind the selection of plagues? Were they chosen at random, or was there design behind it? Though we might not always be able to discern it, the God of omniscience does nothing without design. The Egyptians worshiped odd and debased gods. Each plague was designed to strike at the credibility of an Egyptian god and manifest the barrenness of belief in these objects.
God does the same today. Our gods are fortune, power, beauty, talent, and intelligence. There’s nothing wrong with them as servants, but when we worship them, they are cruel. God shows the barrenness of worshiping them by allowing people without them to be deeply joyful while those who worship them are tortured. Again, today, God’s personal mark of blessing is the fruit of the Spirit and not necessarily of the vine. Joy is found in God, not things. (Quiet Walk)
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Behold, He Cometh
“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.” (Revelation 1:7)
This striking verse, which deals with the return of Christ, contains several aspects well worth our study.
First: “Behold, he cometh.” This event is still future, but it is as sure as if it had already taken place. Christ will return.
Second: “They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). His coming “with clouds” was also prophesied in Daniel 7:13; Matthew 26:64; Acts 1:11; and elsewhere.
Third: “Every eye shall see him.” Who is included here? Certainly everyone living at the time, both Christian and non-Christian. But also the saved dead and raptured saints will be present (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Can it be that the unsaved dead will likewise “see” Him come? Those who died without Christ should be vitally interested. Either the coming rebellion will defeat Christ and free their spirits from Hades, or they will soon face certain, final judgment.
Fourth, notice the different reactions. His tormentors will be in horrible distress; those who “pierced him” will be in inexpressible anguish as they realize the awful consequences of their actions. Who pierced Him? Certainly Israel, but the collective sins of all men of all ages pierced Him. Some have gained forgiveness and will gladly see Him come; others have refused and will “wail” at His return.
Saints in heaven and on Earth will delight in His coming. To them, it means release from persecution, justice on their persecutors, and a righteous kingdom established. It will mean questions answered, imperfections removed, the curse repealed. Any distress felt for friends and loved ones still living in rejection will be swallowed up in the rightness of the action. (JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
THE POWER OF GOD
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2:15
The plan of salvation displays to us, in a way that nothing else does,the power of God. The power of God was manifested in the Incarnation when He prepared a body for His Son and worked the miracle of the virgin birth—and what marvelous power! But not only that. I rather prefer to think of it like this: It is as we look at God in Christ and all that He did in Him and through this plan of salvation that we see His complete power to master everything that is opposed to Himself, everything that is opposed to the best interests of man, and everything that is opposed to the best interests of this world.
For the fact is that the whole problem has arisen in this way. One of the brightest of the angelic beings that were created by God rebelled against God and raised himself up against Him. That is the origin of Satan. He is a power, a person, an angel of great might. He is as great as this: He deluded a man and conquered him, thereby making himself the god of this world and “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). The power of the devil is something that we seriously underestimate. He believed he had overturned all the work of salvation when the Son of God went to the cross.
But, says Paul in Colossians 2, it is there Satan made his greatest blunder, for by the cross God “spoiled principalities and powers,[and] he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (verse 15). Christ met Satan face to face in single combat and routed him; at the cross He fulfilled the promise given to man at the beginning, when Adam was told that the seed of the woman would bruise the serpent’s head. This was the plan of salvation.
A Thought to Ponder: The plan of salvation displays to us the power of God.
(From Saved in Eternity, pp. 50-51, by Dr.. Martyn Lloyd-Jones).
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