Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 13:5-6 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1 Corinthians

*Note: Our standard recording device malfunctioned. I apologize for the audio distortion in this sermon.
-Casey

Last week we read in verse 4, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”

Today we read (v. 5), “It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

God’s people are not to act in a brash, self-centered, impatient or begrudging fashion. This is clearly referring to the way we are to treat others (Ephesians 4:32), “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you,” (James 2:8), “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right.”

Love is gracious, not only toward fellow believers but also toward unbelievers. Many Christians have forfeited the opportunity to share Christ, because of their own rudeness to an unbeliever over some habit that the Christian may consider sinful and displeasing.

God’s love does not seek center stage, in reference to significance or position.

If God’s love is in us, we will be different from the people of the world. Instead of being preoccupied with self; we will have and express a concern for others.

The Bible indicates that the last days will be marked by selfishness (see 2Timothy 3:1-4). We live in a fast-paced, rapidly changing world that breeds anxiety, confusion, irritability, and an increasing concern for self,

We all need to spend more time in prayer and the Word of God, before we engage anyone, our spouse, children, our fellow believers, and those who belong to the world.

God’s love doesn’t keep a record of wrongs! Wow! Paul is using a bookkeeping term, meaning to make a permanent record in a ledger, where it can be accessed whenever needed.

The same idea is used to represent a recording of God’s forgiveness to those who trust in Him.
Acts 3:19, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.” Romans 4:8, “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”

The OT expresses this in Psalm 103:12, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

In God’s ledger, the Lambs Book of Life, the only entry after the name of every true believer, is “righteous.”

Someone once suggested that love forgives and forgets; but more correctly, God’s love remembers and still forgives, completely. God’s Love is not rude, self- seeking, or easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs because it holds no grudges. God’s forgiveness is eternal!

God’s love (v. 6) “does not delight in evil but instead rejoices with the truth.”

As God’s children we seek and celebrate truth, all that is good; while at the same time we despise all that is evil, all that is bad, according to God’s definition.

More and more we find our world declaring, “anything goes,” “everyone is free to do what is right in their own eyes.” God commands us (Romans 12:9), “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Too often godless people are given praise and acclaim today. Too often a heinous act is made into a best seller or a movie, where wretched sinful behavior is popularized even idolized.

Christians are not immune to the subtle, and not-so-subtle, influences of the society around them. The most popular magazines, books, and TV programs are those that glorify sin, and mock God’s righteousness and truth.

Listen! Taking part in sinful attitudes and sinful behavior is wrong, unrighteousness, either directly or indirectly, is a display of a lack of love for God: for God’s love doesn’t rejoice or delight in evil.

God’s love is tough toward evil and tender toward truth. In an unsaved person sin is clear evidence of a lost soul, it is in fact expected behavior; but for a believer to participate in or tolerate evil, is evidence of disobedience and being out of fellowship with God. God’s people are to remove themselves from evil and seek after what is good.
See 1Corinthians 5:11; 2Thessalonians 3:5-6.

Christians aren’t to delight in or tolerate evil, or to take part or rejoice with those who do such things, for God’s Love rejoices with the truth, while turning away from evil.

The majority of people today are deceived, believing that Truth doesn’t exist as absolute, but is relative, i.e., “whatever is right or wrong for me at any given time will depend on what is going on and how I feel about it; for there is no absolute standard for good and truth.”

Most people no longer distinguish between good and evil, true and false; but God’s people will seek to honor Him by exalting His Word and putting down evil!

Repeatedly, in the Gospels Jesus says He is “telling [us] the truth.” The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth and lives in each and every true believer and follower of Christ. The Word of God is God’s Truth; we are sanctified [set apart to serve God] by His Word (John 17:17), “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

Everything that conforms to the nature and character of God is Truth. Anything that does not conform to the Word of God and the Life of Christ is false (a lie) and should be both exposed and despised.
Proverbs 3:5-7, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

Christians are new creations, belonging to God, for His eternal purposes (see 2Corinthians 5:17-21).

Have you heard and responded to the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 8:1; 10:9-10, 13)? Do you delight in His truth? Ephesians 2:10 says, “we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

It has been said that living the Christian life is much like riding a bicycle; if you want to stay upright you have to keep peddling, unless you are coasting!

God’s Love hates evil but rejoices in truth. Anything that doesn’t please and honor God is bad, anything that comes between you and serving your Lord is evil.

How can you know the difference, keep from falling? See Joshua 1:8; Romans 12:1-2; 2Timothy 3:16-17.

If you want to live for Christ, you must feed upon the Word of God daily, seeking to know and to apply it to your life, while at the same time serving in a local church where God’s Word is taught and modeled, that you might be conformed to the character of Christ, which will lead you to have an increasing desire to expose and exterminate all that is false, evil, and bad, while at the same time, you’ll have an increasing desire to pursue, cultivate, share and proclaim all that is true, admirable, and good, according to the Word of God which has been revealed to us in Christ.

Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 13:4 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1 Corinthians

Last week (13:1-3), we studied some of God’s gifts to the Church: those who

speak God’s truths with clarity and power; those who act upon great faith; those who care for the poor and needy; those who suffer even to the point of death, for the sake of Christ.

Paul’s final evaluation is that no gift, no matter how great, has value if it doesn’t exemplify God’s love [agape = self-sacrificial, unconditional, willful, resolute, active].

Jesus is the embodiment of God’s love (John 13:15), “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends,” (1John 3:16), “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”
Love is patient… The Greek verb, means to endure, “to be long-tempered,” or “not easily angered.”

The New Testament often records how patient Jesus was with His dull minded disciples; but more remarkably the Religious Leaders who openly showed contempt for Him; leading to Jesus’ arrest, flogging, and crucifixion; yet, on the cross He cried out, (Luke 23:34) “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
2Peter 3:9, “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Love is kind… The meaning here is kindred, a tender and fervent, affection like we have for our own flesh and blood (family). Kindness is a mark of true Christian love; reflecting God’s attitude toward us, His children, in spite of all our ineptitudes and idiosyncrasies.
Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

God’s love shows kindness, even when tired, hungry, mistreated. In fact, it is often when we are exhausted that we are most likely called upon to be kind and patient with others.

The love described in 1Corinthians 13 goes far beyond our understanding and ability, for it is unconditional and resolute, even in the face of rejection and aggression.

When Stephen was being stoned (Acts 7:60), “he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep [he died].” A love that divinely forgiving and long-suffering is way beyond any natural human ability.

Most of us are not very willing to suffer even for those we get along with; let alone for those we don’t like or don’t even know .

Are you willing to put another person’s needs above your own; to give up your own comforts or wants, or to turn the other cheek, at a moments notice, on any given day without warning, probably not, like most of us.

Most of us like to stay in our comfort zones and we don’t want to suffer; but as servants of God, our main purpose is to show God’s love, to be patient and kind. Love does not envy… Godly love does not selfishly want or desire what others have or who they are.

Cain’s jealousy (Genesis 4) led him to kill his brother. Joseph’s brothers resentment of him (Genesis 37) drove them to sell their younger brother into slavery. King Saul (1Samuel 18-20) coveted David’s popularity among the people so much that he repeatedly tried to kill him.

Envy resents the good fortunes of others: it says, “if I can’t have it, nether can you!” What a contrast: the love of God is patient, kind, and concerned about others; envy is concerned only with self.

Love does not boast, it is not proud… Prideful people have an exaggerated sense of their own importance, and their primary interest is in themselves.

Our world says, “If you’ve got it, flaunt it.” “If you are good and you know it, show it!” But God’s Word says, love doesn’t brag, and it doesn’t look down on others as being lesser in value or worth.

C.S. Lewis said, “A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you’re looking down, you can’t see [anything] above you.”

Peter Marshall prayed, “Lord, where we are wrong, make us willing to change, and where we are right, make us easy to live with.”
Proverbs 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Pride is one of the Christian’s greatest enemies, simply because a boastful person is so full of himself he is of no use to others, and is incapable of helping anyone else.
Jeremiah 9:23, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,’ declares the LORD.”

There is only one reason for a person to boast, and that is because they acknowledge their need for, and they have received, God’s gift of forgiveness and eternal life.
Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith –and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.”

When we compare ourselves to God, we come up short; humility is the only right way to approach God (James 4:6), “God opposes the proud,but gives grace to the humble.” Humility is also the best way to approach one another (1Peter 5:5), “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”

John the Baptist could easily have been boastful, even arrogant, for it had been 400 years since God sent a Prophet to speak to the people on His behalf: John was that Prophet, and he broke the long silence between God and Israel by announcing and then preparing the way for the Messiah, the Son of God (see John 1:19-29).

God’s Son is the fullest expression of God’s love; when you repent of your sins, confessing Jesus as Lord, and believing in Him as Savior, you become a recipient of God’s Love, for the purpose of using it to serve others (see 1John 4:7-21).

Jesus died for us that we might live for Him.
Ephesians 5:1-2, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

You cannot know or experience God’s love, let alone reach out to others with God’s love, if you have not come humbly to Jesus Christ, seeking forgiveness for your sins, while receiving eternal life (see 1John 5:11-13).

God’s Love [agape], is patient, it is kind, and it desires for everyone have what they need; God’s love allows us to boast only of our own weaknesses, for it is in and through our weaknesses that the love and power of God is made known, being sovereignly displayed, for God’s glory and honor, and for the benefit of others.

Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1 Corinthians

13:1… The Corinthian’s prized the gift of speech. They enjoyed listening to many eloquent orators of the day.

The power of persuasive speech is a great gift and our history records many who have stirred people to do great things, even to engaged in battles that led to death.

Patrick Henry declared, “give me liberty or give me death, and a nation rose up to fight for freedom.

Winston Churchill, in response to grave concern of Hitler’s plans to invade the British Isles,” proclaimed: “We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender!”

Human words have the power to curse or cheer, hurt or heal, inspire or infuriate. Paul is reminding us that our words, without the love of God, are like the sounds of cymbals or gongs, without any orchestration or melody.

People will be more interested in hearing about the God who loves them, if they first experience God’s love, for them, through you and me.

D.L. Moody once said, “We must get people to love us first, then turn them over to Christ.”

Jesus said (John 13:34), ”A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another,” (14:15), “If you love me, you will obey what I command,” (15:12), “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
13:2a… Not only is love greater than the most gifted speech; love is greater than prophecy!

Biblical prophets spoke God’s truth, so people could know and understand God’s plan, purpose, and provision of the Messiah, Jesus Christ!

Paul insists here, that without God’s love, even the proclamation of God’s revealed truths is lacking.
John 5:39, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about Me.”
John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
13:2b… Paul compares God’s love to the ability for one to understand “all mysteries” (divine truth). Without love for others, even this great gift, amounts to nothing.
13:2c… Man possesses more knowledge today than ever before. Scientific information is being recorded in such abundance, that even the brightest can’t stay up with it. The truth is, all the knowledge in world can’t solve humanity’s biggest problem – SIN; in fact, in many ways, more “knowledge” just seems to exacerbate the problem.

Knowledge is important, but knowledge must be immersed in love in order to be effective. Love allows God’s principles and precepts to transform lives, for genuine Godly love will always result in action.

St. Augustine said, “[Love] has hands to help others. It has feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men.”

We often fail God, not because of a lack of knowledge; but because of our lack of love. Many Christians have considerable knowledge about God, but they lack God’s love. Knowledge without love is static! But knowledge with love is dynamic: life giving, nurturing, edifying, maturing, reproducing.
13:2d… The faith talked about here is the kind that gets things done (Matthew 17:20), “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Without faith, we cannot please God, in fact, faith is the foundation on which love can grow, for we must come to Christ in faith before we can know God’s love. Hebrews 11:1-3, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and
that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

George Sweeting, past President of the Moody Bible Institute said, “Faith is great, but love is greater. Faith has priority, but love has preeminence. Faith is the beginning; but love is the goal. Faith connects the soul with God, and God is love. Faith is the means that God uses to bring us into His love, but faith without love leaves us bankrupt.”
13:3a… Most all of us have given to the “poor,” at some time, by donating food, clothing, toys, or dollars, but you know, it is almost too easy for us to just write a check, or to just drop something off; it is very easy for us to distance ourself from a sincere sense of caring.
Too often we give out of a feeling of obligation rather than out of a sense of gratitude for what God has given to us, which should move us to share with others in need. Some people give out of guilt, others give in order to be recognized, but both of those reasons are wrong!

The activity and attitude of the early church models a the reason and manner for our giving (Acts 2:44-45), “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.”

The early Christians believed that God’s gifts were meant to supply the needs of all and should, therefore, be shared. What was not essential for their own needs they shared with those who had needs.

Our benevolence must be defined by God’s love. It has often been said, “One can give without loving, but one cannot love without giving.” – Amy Carmichael 13:3b… Martyrdom is not common to our experience today, but it was at the time of Paul’s writing. Execution by burning at the stake was a horrible death suffered by many Christians who died because of their faith.

But martyrdom can be motivated by fanatical devotion to a cause rather than out of a love for Christ, e.g., many of you have seen pictures of Buddhist monks who set themselves on fire to make a pint about nonviolence; but when human sacrifice is motivated by self-interest or worldly causes, there is no spiritual value or significance.

During the Vietnam war, a young man in Washington, D.C., set fire to himself and burned to death, his reason was to publicly protest the war he felt was wrong.

Paul is saying that for a person to purposely suffer for any reason, besides their love for God, will produce absolutely nothing, and will not gain anything of value.

As humans we are very good at rationalizing and justifying a great many things, even our so called giving to those who are less fortunate, or our willingness to “suffer” in any given situation for what may appear to be a sacrifice on our part.

We are good at hiding or camouflaging our real motives, but God knows the very intentions of our heart and our motives are laid bare before Him.

God loves us so much that He provided His own Son as the sacrifice for our sins. God also provided His Spirit to live in us so that we might experience God’s love daily, and so that His love would cause changes in us as we are conformed to the character of Christ, with Whom we will spend eternity in heaven.

The lifelong goal for many is power, fame and fortune, while satisfying all their passions and desires in this life.
But God says (1John 2:15-16), “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world.”

In 1Corinthians 13:1-3, Paul contrasts God’s love with the ability to speak with great eloquence, to proclaim the mysteries and wisdom of God, to have supernatural faith, to deeply care and share with those in need, and even the wherewithal to die for the sake of Christ; in final evaluation, not one of these has any value if they are not done out of a genuine love from and for God.

What a great joy it is to personally experience God’s Love, and what a great blessing it is to be able to share God’s Love with others. That is why He has saved us!

Ephesians 3:14-21, For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1 Corinthians

In verses 12-26, Paul explains that every believer is a member of the one universal body, the Church; and God has provided everything we need, through a variety of spiritual gifts, that we might work together to further the kingdom of God, while blessing one another out of love.

Paul begins (v. 28a) by reminding us how God has sovereignly and abundantly equipped His church. First there are those men of God who have been set in place [appointed] to serve: apostles, prophets, teachers.

The basic meaning of apostle (apostolos) is, “one sent on a mission,” this is primarily used of the twelve disciples, including Matthias, who replaced Judas (Acts 1:26), and of Paul, who was uniquely set apart as an apostle to the Gentiles (Galatians 1:15-16), “God, [set] me apart from birth and called me by His grace… that I might preach Him among the Gentiles.”

Apostles were chosen personally by Christ and they had to be witnesses of His resurrection (Acts 1:21-22; Romans 1:1). Paul was the last one to meet those qualifications (1Corinthians 15:1-9), and when the NT was completed, the office of apostle ceased.

There was also Barnabas (Acts 14:14), James, Jesus’ brother (Galatians 1:19), and a few others who are implicated, through their association with Paul, to be apostles; but one thing is clear, all the apostles were authenticated as being sent by God “by signs, wonders and miracles” (2Corinthians 12:12).

NT prophets were specially gifted men appointed by God, for the purpose of proclaiming God’s Word, either by revelation (prior to the completion of the Bible) or by reiteration (explaining what had already been revealed).

When Paul ministered locally in the Antioch church he was referred to as a prophet (Acts 13:1), but elsewhere he is always called an apostle (Galatians 1:1).

The prophets messages were judged by the apostles (1Corinthians 14:37), “If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.”

So, there were apostles and then prophets to proclaim God’s revelation for our redemption from sin; and these men were authenticated by signs, wonders and miracles, giving testimony that they indeed spoke on behalf of God.

This third office in verse 28, “teachers,” became very important for equipping and exhorting the church; for after the Bible was completed, there were no longer any apostles or prophets.

The OT prophets disappeared from the landscape when the OT was completed, about 400 years before Christ, and the NT apostles and prophets also ceased to exist after the NT was completed, for the church was established (Ephesians 2:20), “upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets.”

Ephesians 4:11-12, “It was He (Jesus Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, to the building
up of the body of Christ.”

Evangelists were given to preach the message of Christ to the lost, while pastors and teachers (grouped as one calling, pastor-teacher) were given to the church, for the purpose of nurturing, protecting, equipping, and sending out believers.

Pastor-Teachers are called by three different terms, pronouns, in the NT (see Acts 20:17, 28; 1Peter 5:1-3).
Elders, Who they are to be [spiritually mature, morally straight, men of integrity]. Overseers, What they are to do [manage and direct the affairs of the church]; Pastors/Shepherds, How they are to serve -[feeding (teaching), protecting, and caring for God’s Flock.

These men are not authenticated by miracles and signs and wonders, like the apostles and prophets were (before the Bible was completed); these men are validated by God (1Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9), in order to accurately and comprehensively teach God’s Word, serving (1Peter 5:3) as “examples to the flock.” 2Timothy 4:2-5, “Preach the Word,; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

Paul (v. 28b) notes several categories of spiritual gifts – miracles, healings, helps, administrations, and speaking in tongues. Some of these are temporary gifts: miracles and healings, as we discussed last week, and tongues, which we will discuss at length in the upcoming chapters.

The gift of helps is similar to the gift of service (Romans 12:7), it is the ability to take upon yourself the burdens of others; this is an important gift for the church.

The gift of administrations (to pilot a ship), is to manage or govern diligently (Hebrews 13:7, 17).
Verses 29-30… The importance is that God doesn’t intend for everyone to have the same gift; all spiritual gifts are given for the edification of the whole body of Christ, we each ought to use whatever gift we have for God’s sovereign purpose. 1Peter 4:10, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

Verse 31… The depth of this verse is unwrapped in chapter 13, the more excellent way being love [agape].

Seeking showy gifts or being unwilling to serve as God has gifted you, displays a failure to understand that you are perfectly gifted by Christ; but you must obey by serving in the church where God has place you.
Ephesians 5:1-2, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Colossians 3:15-17, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” 23-24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1 Corinthians

Last week we studied verses 1-11, with the pivotal verses being (v. 7), “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good,” and (v. 11), “All these [the gifts given to believers] are the work of the one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines.”

In our study today (vv. 12-27), Paul stresses the diversity, unity, and single purpose of the members of the church.
Verse 12… Paul uses the analogy of a human body to exemplify the interrelationship we have as members of Christ’s Body, the church; Paul uses this analogy also in Romans, Ephesians, and Colossians.

When we consider the uniqueness of the human body with all its different parts and organs and systems, it is indeed an amazing creation of God – one body, yet so many parts, working together in synergetic unity.

The Body of Christ, the Church, is made up of every believer, past-present- future, forming one spiritual organism containing all the followers of Christ; there are many Christian denominations, organizations, institutions, agencies and groups, across the world, and yet, there is only one true church, and (v. 12) “So it is with Christ.”

We are made one in Christ! There is no true spiritual life or connection to the true church, apart from Christ.
Verse 13… John, baptizing people in the Jordan River, who were confessing their sins, said (Matt. 3:11), “there is one coming after me who is more powerful than I. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire.”

Jesus, as Savior, baptizes with the Holy Spirit, bringing forgiveness and eternal life in heaven to all who believe in Him; Jesus, as Judge, baptizes with fire, symbolizing the judgment and eternal condemnation of hell to everyone who reject Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

Paul is not talking here about water baptism, for water baptism saves no one, and is only an external washing symbolizing an internal washing that has taken place by the Holy Spirit, it is an identification with God’s Son.

Paul is speaking here of Spirit baptism, this happens at salvation, when the Spirit of God indwells and marks a person as God’s own property (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Everyone who repents and believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is baptized into the Body of Christ; in fact, you cannot be saved without God’s Sprit in you, and there are not multiple baptisms of God’s Spirit; there is only one Spirit baptism (Ephesians 4:4-6).

The baptism of Christ with the Spirit of God, takes place when you are eternally born again, born of the Spirit of God (John 1:12-13).

In John 14, Jesus on the last night with His disciples before His arrest, says (vv. 16-17), “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth… you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.”

Verses 14-17… The church of God is a body with many members, each member is spiritually gifted to serve; but in Corinth, some of the believers weren’t happy with their “giftedness,” they were envious of other’s gifts.

Every believer is a gift to the church, but in order to be effectual with their gift they must serve others, while at the same time bringing glory to God; to refuse to use your spiritual gift in serving is to say “NO” to the Holy Spirit and to deprive the church of God’s blessings.

Again, the body of Christ is made up of many different members, if there was only one part it could not function, and yet, God intends the members to operate in unity, for the purpose of accomplishing His will.
Verses 18-19… For any believer to not be gifted is simply impossible, and for any believer not to use their gift to serve in the church, is to rebel against God.

We are placed in a body to work together, and we are all very necessary; if we all had the same giftedness and served in the same way doing the same ministry, most of us would be unnecessary, but that is not the case.

None of our human body parts has its own will to act and move, but is instead controlled by our mind, or we might say, our head. Well, the same is true in the church, but Christ is the Head, and God has placed the members of HIs body, each one of them, right where He wants them to be, that they might together, do His will.

When the body parts aren’t working in unison, for the purpose of bringing edification to the other members and honor to the Lord, or when believers aren’t content with their own spiritual gifts, or are unwilling to serve using those gifts, the body is unproductive and impotent.
Verses 20-21… Paul emphasizes the dependence we are to have on one another’s gifts, ministries, and callings.

Some Christians (many of us, at times) act as if we are so complete in Christ we don’t need one another; but nothing could be further from the truth, we are made to work in unison, as many members in one body, mutually dependent on each other.

Take Jesus for example, He was God in the flesh, and yet He spent three years of ministry in companionship with the twelve men who were His disciples, and before returning to the Father in heaven, Jesus again fellowshipped with His human followers and friends.

The apostle Paul traveled thousands of land and sea miles with other believers as companions (Barnabas, Mark, Silas, Luke); Paul encouraged other believers while being encouraged himself by them (Romans 1:11-12), “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong– that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”

Why do some Christians never seem to get involved in serving in their local church?

There are those who don’t feel they have gifts, or they are unaware of their gifts because they fail to step out and begin serving; instead they let others do all the work.

There are also those who feel they are above the need for help from others (v. 21), “I have no need of you.”

Both, those who evaluate themselves as having no value, saying, “they don’t need me,” and those who give themselves too much value, saying “I don’t need them,” are viewing themselves wrongly; no member of the body of Christ is self- sufficient, and no member is insufficient.
Verses 22-26… Eyes, ears, nose, mouth, hands, are all readily seen by all, but what about the parts of the body that aren’t seen: liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, spine?
Are they any less important? What about parts of the body that are unpresentable [shameful], those considered private that really ought to be covered [modesty]?

Not to stretch this analogy too far, but in the body of Christ are members who are more out in front (teaching, leading, managing); and those who serve out of view (maintenance, landscaping, going shopping for supplies, visiting shut-ins, changing diapers and wiping snotty noses in the nursery, or mopping up toilet overflows.

Mutual respect, support, and encouragement, is what God desires, so that there is no division within the body; but that we have (v. 25) “the same care for one another.”

In fact (v. 26) “if one member suffers, all should suffer with him/her; if one member is honored, all members should rejoice with him/her.

If someone in the body is hurt in some way or suffers loss, we come alongside to console and comfort them; if someone in the body is blessed, we rejoice with them.

The body of Christ is not a place for envy or rivalry, malice or disdain, inferiority or superiority, it is a place where love and care for one another is expressed and encouraged, as we each seek and proclaim the truth.
Verse 27… As Christians, we are to seek unity within the family of God, for although we come individually to Christ as Lord, we are immediately placed into the body of Christ, the Church, along with all those for whom Christ died; and we have each been spiritually gifted, fully equipped (Ephesians 2:10), “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Bible Text: 1Corinthians 12:1-11 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1 Corinthians

Verses 1-3… Paul stresses the importance of what he is about to teach them (Chapters 12-14) about the oneness of the body of Christ and the unity in which we are to express the gifts of the Spirit (v. 1), “Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.”

Interestingly, the word “gifts” is not in the original manuscripts, but is used here to emphasize the connection between the believer and the gift given to the believer, i.e., spiritual people have spiritual gifts bestowed upon/within them, by the Father for the whole body of Christ, in essence, every believer is a “gift” to the church, through the Spirit of God’s bestowment of these gifts.

The Corinthian church was the most gifted church in the NT, it was also the most carnal and corrupt church in the NT. As we move through chapters 12-14, we’ll see that the Corinthians emphasized the gift of tongues more than any other gift, placing an incorrect priority on this “showy” gift of tongues (speaking known languages, that were unknown to the speaker).

Paul reminds them (v. 2) that some of them “were influenced and led astray to mute idols,” for many of them had been involved in pagan worship before coming to Christ (v. 3), “Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed,’ and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.”

In the Roman Empire, every citizen had to proclaim “Caesar is Lord,” but genuine Christians could not do that. In the same way, no one can genuinely say “Jesus is Lord,” apart from the work of the Spirit in that person.
John 1:12-13, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God– children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” Jesus said (John 3:3, 5-6), “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (John 6:44), “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

To be genuinely “spiritual,” is to have the Spirit of God in you, placed there by the Father, because of your belief in the Son. To truly say that “Jesus is Lord,” is to be born again, born from above, born from the Spirit of God.
Verses 4-6… Notice, there are different kinds of gifts, different kinds of service [ministries], different kinds of workings [effects]; but there is only one in the same Lord and God, Jesus Christ.

The word used in verse 4, translated in the NIV as “different,” is a word that means “varieties,” this is important, because God clearly loves variety. Just think for a moment about snowflakes and fingerprints, no two are the same; there are billions of them uniquely different. As Christians we all belong to one Father in

heaven, but we are each different, and that diversity in the body of Christ is very unique and important.

Another interesting word here is the word rendered “gifts,” the Greek word is charisma, meaning grace given, and so, these gifts are grace gifts — we can’t earn them or choose them or acquire them in some way, for they are freely and sovereignly given as gifts from God.

God gifts us so that we can do (Ephesians 2:10), the “good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do,” in Christ Jesus, always in unity (Ephesians 4:4-7).

Instead of seeking spiritual gifts, we should be using the gifts God gave us, serving in the church as a gift of light to this dark and corrupt world.

We each ought to be praying for God to reveal His gracious gift in us, that we might use it to bless the church and to bring honor to God.

God has given each of you a spiritual gift that will be a benefit to other believers, but you have to serve in order for it to become effectual, i.e., in order to discover and use the gift God has given you, you must actually serve others, you must engage in the good works God prepared beforehand for you to do.

One major problem in the church today is a generation of attenders who come to sit, spectate, socialize, or to be entertained; and in the end they either inwardly applaud what they hear, are totally indifferent toward it, or they mock and belittle it; but one thing is for sure, they do not come to serve anyone, let alone God.

Listen, one of the greatest joys in this life is to serve other people in the name of the Lord, and the only people who are genuinely fulfilled and content in the local church are those who are actively serving, using the gifts God has given them to bless others and to honor God.

I do not believe the Scriptures allow for any person to walk in the Spirit without exercising his or her gift in a manner that serves and benefits other believers, while at the same time bringing glory to God.

To refuse to use your spiritual gift is to say “NO” to the Holy Spirit and to deprive the church of God’s blessings.
Verse 7… This is the pivotal verse in this section, for Paul is clearly, loudly, stating that we have been gifted by God for the benefit of others!

Sadly, many believers are like spoiled children on Christmas morning, unwilling to let their brothers or sisters touch, let alone play with their gifts. They act like they personally picked out and paid for their own gifts.

Do you know that God intends for every member of the body of Christ to both serve and to be served? Too many believers have decided that they will only serve when it is convenient for them.

The church needs servants who are willing to make longterm commitments, to serve faithfully, earnestly, dependably, and honorably. The church cannot be effective if its members aren’t using their gifts in service.

Some people will say, “I’ll help out when I can, when it is convenient.” “If no one else will do it, call me, and if I’m not doing something else, I’ll try to help.”

In many churches, the congregation thinks the pastor, the “paid guy,” is supposed to do all the work. Wrong! You are not just spectators, as we will see in verses 12-30, for we are all members of the body of Christ and we have functions to perform, every single one of us!
Verses 8-10… Paul references a variety of gifts within the body of Christ, without going into great detail about each one, yet clearly showing the diversity of these gifts within the church.

As we move through this chapter into chapters 13 and 14, we will explore and

define many of these spiritual gifts; but for now, Here is a “Reader’s Digest”

definition of each of the gifts Paul cites in verses 8-10.

message [word] of wisdom = The ability to understand and apply the Words and Ways of God.
message [word] of knowledge = The ability to understand the mysteries of God’s Word.
faith = The ability to trust God in the midst of very turbulent times, when there seems to be no hope.
healing = Temporary sign gift used by Jesus, His apostles, and those commissioned by Him, prior to the completion of the Canon of Scripture.
miraculous powers [miracles] = Temporary sign gift used by Christ and His apostles to authenticate they were messengers and prophets of God, speaking for God, with authority from God, e.g., casting out demons.
prophecy = Proclaiming the revealed message of God for exhortation, edification, and consolation.
distinguishing between spirits = The ability to discern between true and false spirits and doctrine.
speaking in different kinds of tongues = Temporary sign gift by which a speaker would speak a language unknown to himself, but known to his listeners.
interpretation of tongues = Temporary sign gift by which a person would interpret a language unknown to himself, but known to others who were present.

Verse 11… The Holy Spirit manages, administers, and distributes spiritual gifts to the Family of God. These gifts are given because of God’s great love for us and as an expression of the unmerited favor of His GRACE (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense), given in response to the sacrificial death and sovereign resurrection of God’s Son.

These gifts from God are not to be sought by us, we can’t acquire them, as they are gifts, given by God; these gifts are to be received by us and then used in service within the body of Christ for the common good and mutual edification of all believers.

Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1 Corinthians

1Corinthians 11:17-34, “The Capstone of Worship.”
The Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for us to follow: Water Baptism and Communion.  At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus came to John the Baptist and was baptized, setting an example for us to follow (a believer’s identification with Christ as Lord).  At the close of His ministry, Jesus turned the Passover meal into the Last Supper, or Communion (a believers’s identification with Christ as Savior), telling His disciples to do this in remembrance of Him.

Passover celebrated Israel’s freedom from the bondage of slavery in Egypt under the Old Covenant; the Lord’s Supper celebrates our freedom from the bondage and penalty of sin under the New Covenant.

At the birth of the Church (Acts 2:42) the believers came together for the apostle’s teaching (God’s Word), fellowship [koinonia = intimate and participatory sharing], breaking of bread (Communion], and prayer.

Church [ekklesia] means the community or body of genuine believers worshipping God, it never means a building or meeting place in the NT.

It was the practice of the believers to have potluck fellowship meals that would end with the greatest example of our unified worship of Christ, Communion.

Verses 17-22… The church in Corinth had evidently turned the potluck meals into something unholy, more reflective of a time of indulgence and drunken revelry, with quarreling and arguing being quite common.

It would seem the wealthy would bring their food and eat it up before the less fortunate arrived, unwilling to share with those who were needy.

The poorer believers would come to this fellowship meal expecting to share in some of the abundant food brought by the wealthy, only to find that the food and drink had already been consumed, creating division in the church, instead of the unity God desired.

The focus here (v. 20) is on the the Lord’s Supper, which was being dishonored by the indulgent and selfish behavior of those who perverted the holy sacrament of Communion by willing to share with one another.

Paul says (v. 21) they were coming together for the meal before Communion, but not thinking about the needs of others, eating and drinking indulgently until some were not able to get any food or drink, while others were taking in excess, even to the point of drunkenness.

This is supposed to be about unity and sharing with one another (v. 22), so Paul rebuked them saying, don’t you have houses to eat and drink in?  Do you dispose the church of God, are you purposely shaming those who have nothing?  Communion is a special occasion for the church, and selfish indulgence and lack of love for one another is out of place here.

Verses 23-26…  This is not Paul’s opinion, this is the word of the Lord, recapping the night Jesus was betrayed and then arrested.  Jesus gave thanks, broke the bread and said (v. 24), “This is My body, given for you, do this in remembrance of Me.”

The body represents the whole person of Christ, everything about Him, the prophecies foretelling His coming, His immaculate conception, the announcement of His birth in Bethlehem to the shepherds, His name and incarnation, His sinless life, His ministry, His sacrificial death and sovereign resurrection: the plan, purpose and provision of forgiveness and eternal life from God.

Hebrews 10:10, “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Paul goes on to tell us (v. 25), that after the meal, Jesus gave thanks, saying this is the new covenant made effectual through His own shed blood.

Jesus says, do this in remembrance of Me. This is a command for us to follow, just as being baptized is also commanded by the Lord that we should obey.

Neither of these ordinances (water baptism or the Lord’s Supper) will save us, but they identify us as God’s servants, seeking to honor and obey the Father and Son.

John 5:22-23, “The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent Him.

John 12:26, “Whoever serves Me must follow Me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves Me.”

John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”

Paul says (v. 26), that when we celebrate Communion, when we participate in the Lord’s Supper, we testify to the world that we belong to God through Jesus Christ until He comes (again – Revelation 1:8, 18).

At the Lord’s Table, we come in humble reverence, remembering all He has done, and yet with great anticipation of His return, for He will take us to be with Him forever, in the Kingdom of the Father and the Son.

Verses 27-29…  Paul warns us, that taking Communion in an unworthy manner makes us “guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.”  What does that mean?

We should soberly and sincerely consider all Jesus did for us on the cross, and also what God requires of us; we ought (v. 28) to examine our relationship with God, God’s Word, and God’s people – are we feeding upon the Word, applying it to our life, encouraging one another toward love and good deeds?

For (v. 29), when we come together for worship, for fellowship, for participation in the Lord’s supper, we ought to do so in a manner that brings glory and praise to God. Verses 30-32…  If we are impudent or irreverent toward Christ’s sacrifice, showing disrespect and disdain by our self-centered attitudes and behaviors, God may bring His judgment, leading to sickness, even death, upon those who disgrace and dishonor His Holiness.

1John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us all our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”

Verses 32-34a… Paul says, self-centered indifference toward other Christians has no place in the Family of God, especially when celebrating the Lord’s Supper, the Centerpiece and Capstone of all Christian worship.

Verse 34b…  Evidently Paul will give more instructions on worship when he arrives in person, more on this later.

Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 11:1-3 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1 Corinthians

Read 1Corinthians 11:1-3… I don’t believe it would be prudent to try and go

any further in this very difficult chapter without first taking the time to explore the depth and breadth of what verse 3 means when it says that the head of Christ is God, the head of man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man.

“Headship” is a God ordained principle and practice through which we are able to understand both the simplicity and the complexity of the relationship we have with God Almighty, the relationship God the Father has with God the Son, the relationship husbands have with wives, and the relationship men have with women.

In the beginning, God created a man and woman, male and female God created them, and God blessed them and told them to have children and to rule together over His creation (Genesis 1:27-28).

Man was created first, then the woman was made from some of the man’s flesh, and then she was brought to him, at which point we see that the man was made to be the leader and the woman was made to be the perfect helper suitable for him.

God named Adam, Adam named Eve (the one placed in the position of naming has authority over the one being named), and so, Adam was placed as the head over Eve (Genesis 2:7; 2:15-23). Adam and Eve were literally made for each other, perfect companions. Eve was not just a suitable helper, she corresponded uniquely to Adam. He completed her as she did him.

Adam and Eve were in total harmony and unity; in fact they were innocent, naked, without shame, for they knew no evil, and had no impure thoughts (Genesis 2:24-25).

As the “head” Adam was not superior to Eve, and as the helper she was not subservient to Adam. Adam had the responsibility to lead and Eve was to willingly submit to his leadership. Adam considered Eve as one with him in every respect, she was not a second class member of creation, she was not one of the animals; she was his wife, his co-worker and fellow steward over creation.
Read Genesis 3:1-7… Our very worst day is recorded here, when the devil attacks the authority [headship] of God – remember in 1Corinthians 11:3, God is the head of Christ, Christ is the head of man, and man is the head of woman. The serpent doesn’t talk to Adam, but instead bypasses him and goes straight to Eve.

Eve, by nature, is designed to help, to follow. And this beguiling and beautiful serpent in the tree calls to her, speaks to her, not to her husband Adam, but to her.

Eve wasn’t given the responsibility of naming the animals, neither did God give direct orders to Eve concerning the tree in the middle of the garden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; in fact, all that happened before Eve was created (Genesis 2:15-18).

In Genesis 3 Eve is taunted by the serpent asking her about what God had actually said concerning this tree he is now speaking from (v. 1), “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree of the garden?’”

This causes some confusion for Eve, remember, God gave the instruction to Adam and he should have passed them on verbatim to Eve; but notice (vv. 2-3) Eve’s response, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say,

‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

Now, God didn’t tell Adam that he would die if he touched the fruit, but we don’t know what Adam passed on to Eve, perhaps he told her she was not even to touch the fruit from this tree, just to keep her away from it.

Either way, the serpent now tempts Eve to be deceived, for he tells her she can become like God herself (vv. 4-5), “You will not surely die.” “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Perhaps the serpent even reached out with a piece of the fruit and touched Eve with it, saying, “see, you didn’t die. Adam, isn’t telling you the truth.”

Eve is captivated at this point (v. 6), “she saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom (she believed the serpent), so she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.”

Eve was totally mesmerized and deceived by the serpent, and very poorly led by Adam. She had been instructed not to eat the fruit, and yet the one who had told her that was right there with her, disobeying his own directions by eating it. Talk about really bad leadership!
Read Genesis 3:8-13… After they had disobeyed, Adam and Eve hid when the LORD came to them (v. 9), God called to the man, “Where are you?” To which Adam said (v. 10), “I’m afraid because I’m naked.” Hmm. God asked him where he was, not what if he was clothed.

What is God really asking here (v. 11), “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

Godly leadership will admit to its mistakes, but Adam puts the blame on both God and the woman (v. 12), “The woman You brought to me, gave me some of the fruit and I ate it.” God now confronts Eve, and she also passes on the responsibility (v. 13) saying, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

The New Testament confirms that Eve was indeed deceived, in 2Corinthians 11:3, Paul writes, “Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning.” This serpent was indwelled by Satan himself, the Deceiver (Revelation 12:9), “the serpent of old… called the devil and Satan, deceives the whole world.”
1Timothy 2:13-14, “Adam was formed first, then Eve. Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who
was deceived and became a sinner.”

Adam wasn’t deceived, but he openly disobeyed, bringing the weight of original sin upon himself, not Eve (Romans 5:12-17; 1Corinthians 15:21-22).

Satan’s attack on God’s headship has led to worldwide strife between God and mankind, and between all those who live on the earth; ultimately his attack on God’s authority will lead to his own destruction (Genesis 3:14-17).

The Sovereign Victorious Head over everything is God: Creator, Sustainer, Lord, Savior, and Judge, all of this, through Christ (Colossians 1:16-20). 

Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 10:14-17 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1 Corinthians

There is but One God Who put on flesh, lived among us, and provided birth into God’s eternal family, by believing in God’s One and Only Son (John 1:1-4, 12-14; 3:16; 10:27-30; 14:6-7).

When we take the cup and the bread at the Lord’s Table, we claim oneness with God and with each other, as God’s children (v. 17), “we who are many, are one body.”

1Corinthians 10:18-22… The Levites who served in the Temple were allotted portions of the animals that were sacrificed on the alter to God, by eating the sacrificed meat they fully identified with God (Leviticus 7).

Pagans offer sacrifices to idols, fake gods, Paul says here, “to demons.” The meat from those sacrifices was often sold in the meat markets in Corinth, some were right next door to a pagan temple; this was troublesome to Christians who had come out of those cults.

But those idols are nothing, for there is only One True God, and those who serve Him are to have nothing to do with pagan worship and the feasts that they celebrate.

When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we remember and honor the sacrificial death and sovereign resurrection of God’s Son, Who is both Lord and Savior.

Pagan sacrifices honored demons, and God’s people were not to participate in or condone such things. Do you remember what happened when the Israelites (vv. 7-8) were worshipping the golden calf, while Moses was up on the mountain with the LORD? God put to death 23,000 of them for their idolatry, revelry, and sexual immorality.

1Corinthians 10:23-24… We have freedom in Christ; we are not under the Law, nor required to follow special diets, wear certain clothing, keep sabbath regulations or perform religious rituals (Colossians 2:16-17, 20-23).

We are free to do and to experience a great many things, but that doesn’t mean everything is good for us, or honoring to Christ. Our purpose in Christ is not to be self-centered, but instead, to be service-centered: first to God, then to God’s people, and then to the unbelieving.

Jesus commanded: Love God, love your neighbor.

1Corinthians 10:25-27… After Pentecost, some of those who had become Christians, were invited to have dinner with their unbelieving friends; the meat served for dinner was very likely purchased from a market where sacrifices to idols and pagan deities was sold.

Paul says, don’t worry about it, don’t make a big fuss about where the meat came from, so as to offend the unbelievers over an issue of food; Christians were free to eat any meat without reservation of conscience (Acts 10).

1Corinthians 10:28-30… If however, you are eating at the home of an unbeliever, and with you is a new believer, or one who has not yet learned that he is free to eat meat that was sacrifice to idols, and the unbelieving host states that the meat is from idol worship, Paul says, don’t eat it!

It is better to offend the unbeliever than to offend the believer whose conscience may be harmed by this issue; for the Lord Himself taught that it is by our love for fellow Christians that we show we are true believers and followers of Christ (John 13:34-35).

In 1Corinthians 8:8-9, Paul says we are no worse off if we eat meat, and no better off if we don’t; neither one commends us to God, but we should treat others the way we ourselves want to be treated – this is the Royal Law, the Golden Rule of Scripture.

To restrain yourself for another’s sake is gracious, even godly, it is the Christian thing to do. We ought to consider our influence upon others; what we have the freedom in Christ to do, should be weighed against the harm we might do to another’s conscience, by flaunting our own freedom in a way that genuinely offends them.

If we purposely hurt someone or cause them to stumble in their faith, by insisting on having our freedom to do something in their presence that previously held them captive, we are sinning, for we are seeking our own pleasure at the expense of another’s welfare.

I need also to say here that there are situations when it is not about a person’s conscience, or about causing them to stumble spiritually, but instead is about their pet peeves, dislikes, or personal preferences; that is a quite different situation. Listen, just because someone is offended or doesn’t agree with your freedom of choice, is not necessarily a good reason to abstain.

Love always instructs us not flaunt our liberty before someone who feels strongly about something because of sincere convictions; but denying behavior just because it supposedly offends someone is not necessarily beneficial, as it does not help those in the church, who are bound by legalism or immaturity, to grow.

Paul gives the reason why you or I should not do something we have the right to do, something that there is no clear teaching in God’s Word to forbid or discourage us from doing so, for he says, (1Corinthians 8:13) ”Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.” What a selfless attitude!

As servants of God and brothers and sisters in Christ, we may, at times, need to allow others the freedom to express themselves in ways that we are not necessarily comfortable with; and we may, at times, need to restrain our freedoms for the sake of not injuring the conscience of a weaker brother or sister in Christ.

1Corinthians 10:31-33… We should not purposely offend others over issues of food, drink, clothing, religious practice, or sabbath keeping. For whatever we do should bring glory to God, encouragement to God’s people, and God’s message of salvation to the lost (1Peter 2:9-17).

Christianity is a personal relationship with God through Christ, allowing us to know and to obey His Revealed Word (the Bible) by demonstrating the new life He has given us, as we proclaim His message to everyone who will listen (1Corinthians 15:3-4), “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

Paul says (v. 33), “I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved,” for Christianity is not about personal freedoms and individual rights concerning clothing and diet, nor about religious rituals and regulations concerning Sabbath keeping and forms of worship. *Romans 10:9-10, 13

Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1 Corinthians

My priority is to teach the word of God accurately and comprehensively, so
that you might know what it says, what it means by what it says, and how that is to be applied to your life.

In our Scripture today, Paul begins with a history lesson, recalling the Exodus of Israel from Egypt, after God had sent 10 plagues to free Israel from bondage.

Read verses 1-4… Paul uses several interesting expressions here: under the cloud, passed through the sea, baptized into Moses, spiritual food and drink, and a spiritual rock that followed them.

Exodus 13:21 tells us that God’s presence was manifested to Israel in the desert in the form of a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire during the night.

And it was by God’s power that Israel was able to cross the Red Sea, for God opened it up and held back the waters, until all the Israelites had passed through, and then God closed it up and drowned the Egyptian army that was chasing them.

The people were said to be baptized into Moses, i.e., they acknowledged Moses as God’s appointed leader or head over them, and so they followed him; just as Christians are said to be baptized into Christ, in that we believe and receive Him, acknowledging Him as God’s One and Only Son, being both Savior and Lord (Romans 6:1-10), and as the head of the Church, all Christians.

In verse 4, Paul says that all the Israelites “ate of the same spiritual food and drank of the same spiritual drink, for they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.”

The Jews had a legend that said the rock Moses struck to bring forth water followed them throughout the desert wanderings to provide water; but Paul makes it clear that rock [petros – large stone or boulder] which followed them was Christ [petra – a massive outcropping of rock, like a mountain or cliff].

Think about it, Jesus is called (Psalm 95:1), “the Rock of our Salvation,” and He is (Jeremiah 17:13), “the spring of living water,” and (John 4:10, 14) He “gives us living water,” and whoever “drinks this water will never thirst,” for he will have “eternal life.”

Paul is saying that the presence of the Christ/Messiah, God the Son, was with the Israelites in the desert, protecting and providing for them.

Read verses 5-10… Paul is telling us that most of the Israelites in the desert did not please God. Even though they had the blessings of God and His presence, providing for them food and drink, they were disobedient and fell into sin, causing many of them to die.

Paul says that their sinfulness and its consequences is to be an example to us so we do not set our hearts on evil things, here expressed as idolatry, immorality, challenging God, and grumbling or complaining.

Corinth was built around idol worship – it was a city with many pagan temples; in fact the temple to Aphrodite [the goddess of love, beauty and sexual pleasure] had some 1,000 temple prostitutes.

Some of the Corinthians who had come to Christ were now falling back into idolatry – Paul warns them (v. 7), “as it is written: ‘The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry [NASB stood up to play – meaning to caress, i.e., sexual relations].

Paul is reminding them of what Israel did while Moses was up onto the mountain with the LORD, receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 32:1-10).
1Corinthians 10:8 says Israel’s immorality resulted in the death of 23,000 (Exodus 32:19-29, 33-35).

Were these Israelites really trying to honor God by worshipping a golden calf, displaying such pagan and immoral behavior? Idolatry was the first commandment given by God to Moses (Exodus 20:3), “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Idolatry was abhorrent and detestable to God, for it is a sin of the heart when we put anything in the seat of worship besides God.

Many churches today practice various forms of idolatry and immorality through false doctrine, pagan ceremonies and godless practices, e.g., secular music and pagan bands, prochoice or pro-abortion agendas, by condoning same-sex marriages and allowing unmarried couples who are sexually active to actually participate in the life of the Church, unhindered and undisciplined.

1Corinthians 10:9 recaps the event in Numbers 21, after God provided manna to eat and water to drink, the people complained and tried God’s patience (vv. 5-9). God then sent fiery serpents and many Israelites died; but when anyone was bitten, if they looked to the bronze snake on a pole, he would live, just as all those who look to Christ on the Cross will be saved (John 3:14-18).

1Corinthians 10:10 speaks of the destroyer (the same as the passover angel) coming against grumblers (Numbers 16), after God had brought judgement against some men who rebelled against Moses and Aaron; the people complained about God’s justice, and God killed 14,700 of them with a plague.

God doesn’t take kindly to those who express disdain for His authority and justice, let alone His precepts and His preeminence.

1Corinthians 10:11-13… This all has been written down to warn us against trying and testing God’s patience and provision, as if we were somehow equal to God or able to stand in His presence and correct Him.

We must not let pride get in the way, and we must understand that God may very well try and test us, but never to do evil; in fact in Matthew 6:13 we are to pray, “do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” God assures us that in every situation we are more than conquerors, when we accept the provision of God’s Word, acknowledging and applying its wisdom and power to our life (see Joshua 1:8; Proverbs 3:5-6).