Good morning. Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. At first that seems arrogant – we would never have the audacity to tell someone to do that of us. However it does say as Paul imitated Christ, not everything he did. I praise you because you hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you. Now traditions in the church can be a bad thing. A church has been doing a certain thing for dozens of years. When it was first started, it may have been a great thing; but now they dare not do anything differently, and anyone who suggests doing something different is a heretic. The traditions Paul is talking about are those from the beginning of the church on the day of Pentecost. And now what many have made to be a controversial verse. But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. Some have used that verse to say that whatever the husband says, the wife must submit to it without ...
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Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?
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Good morning. Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? The Catholics believe that the communion (wine) is turned into the actual blood of Jesus. Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? They believe that it is turned into the actual body of Christ. We believe that it symbolizes both. Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread. Paul then goes back again talking about things sacrificed to idols. Then: Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. He goes back to talking about eating meat sacrificed to idols. Then: Whether then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. If only we practiced that every day of our lives, we would never do anything wrong. Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved. ...
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
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Good morning. In context, the following verse is talking about situations similar to those that came upon the Israelites when they had a “bad hair day” and rebelled against the Lord; but it is apropos to things that we are tempted to do in our everyday lives. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. Part of the reason that I said that in context it was talking about what the Israelites went through is the use of the word endure. You normally do not talk about enduring temptation; but that is exactly what they did not do – they did not endure the situations, but rather rebelled against the Lord. However, the verse is true in our everyday lives. We are tempted to do some thing. We feel like we cannot resist it; but God will show us a way out – to not succumb to the temptation. It ...
These things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come
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Good morning. Paul continues telling of the different instances in which the Israelites sinned and complained about what they went through in the wilderness. He even tells what awful things came upon them and sometimes mentions how many died. These things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. As you have heard many times, history repeats itself. We need to make sure that that history does not repeat itself with us. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. If you read the accounts Paul talks about, you will see that they became arrogant instead of humble. They acted like they did all of the miracles and not God. The same thing can happen to Christians today. God performs some miracle in their lives or for their church, and they take credit for it. They get what we call a “big head“. Then they won’t listen to God when He tells them to change something in their lives. Father...
Our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and that rock was Christ.
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Good morning. Paul now goes back to Israel‘s experience during and right after the exodus. Our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and that rock was Christ. All of those things were symbolizing what Christians go through. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. Even though they had what they had dreamed of all of their lives in Egypt, they were still not satisfied with what God gave them. Too many Christians are the same way. At the time they get saved, they rejoice greatly because of what they were brought out of. But after a relatively short time, they go back to behaving the way they did before they got saved and complain about “what God has done to them”. They got zapped in the wildernes...
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win
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Good morning. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. When people are in a physical race, they don’t just lollygag; they put forth full effort and try to win. We should do that also in our Christian life. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Their reward will soon fade away, but ours will last forever. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air. We should not be living our lives aimlessly; but we should have a purpose, and everything we do should be to fulfill that purpose. I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. Sometimes we have to reject the desires of our physical body in order to achieve a higher goal. Our body wants to eat, but we need to fast. Our body wan...
I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
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Good morning. The Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel. So he was saying that he and Barnabas should not have to take care of themselves. For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. Paul had no choice but to preach the gospel. It wasn’t just a job to him; he was divinely directed to preach by the Lord Jesus Christ. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. And then he lists various categories in which he behaved acceptably to both sides of the issue. However, he did not compromise himself or the gospel. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. Father help us to do the things necessary to bring others to Christ without compromising the gospel. Help u...