1 Corinthians 13-14: A continuation of chapter 12 into chapter 13: “But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.” (Verse 31 chapter 12)

We who are parents can probably best see chapter 13 as one of the most instructive chapters on living a Godly life for the benefit of others. The love we have for our children often allows us to experience a certain emotional attachment that we would gladly give up our lives to protect them, or we would gladly give out of our sacrifice to them. Though we daily sacrifice for them, the regimen becomes mundane, and we begin to often think our daily lives should be lived to get ahead in life, and the concepts offered in a Sunday morning message to live a Godly life becomes a short-lived goal. A mindset to change must happen. Romans 12:2, we studied that we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds and not to conform to the ungodly culture. This message must be preached and taught to every new generation so that living a Godly life becomes the norm because of how our parents lived and taught us. This message should be preached from time to time as a reminder that our circumstances do not last but God’s salvation for us does. Now if you’re only “considering” Godly living, well that is a good start but living it out is better as life builds its ups and downs on us. We have heard it said that God is love, and God, is love. In our language “love” can be described as a friendship, to be sexual, to be a parent, to be brotherly, to have sacrifices for those who cannot repay us which is the word being used in chapter 13, “agape”. Because love can be defined by a variety of actions in our language the Greeks gave us different words to describe those levels. We rarely use the word agape love in our conversations. Agape or charity is the word used in 1 Corinthians 13 to describe “an even better way” to use the spiritual gifts that have been given to us. The Corinthians knew the meaning since they spoke Greek but apparently did not realize they should use this type of love in their interactions with others. This goes even deeper, though, than just a “charity” of giving. There may be charity in our giving of things, but a certain pride often comes in that giving. This is a self-love called “philautia”. If you remember our study in Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira sold some land and gave some of the profits to the church. However, when asked if all the profits were given, they lied and said “Yes, all was given”; immediately they were struck down by the Holy Spirit because they lied, because they wanted the same accolades as what Barnabas received in the proceeding chapter, when he sold his property and gave all the proceeds to the church. Their self-love became their curse. What good is a spiritual gift if we use our gifts for our own benefit?

 Consider the profit Balaam, Numbers 22. Balaam was a prophet hired by Balak to place a curse on the Israelites who just defeated the Amorites on their way to the promised land. Balaam could only speak what God told him to speak and God told him to pronounced a blessing on the Israelites. This frustrated king Balak, but Balaam gave instruction to have the women seduce the Israelite men to “commit unfaithfulness against the Lord” (Numbers 31:16) that a plague came against the Israelites. For money Balaam sold out to Balak God’s chosen people. Balaam was killed in Numbers 31. Nothing good comes from the spiritual blessings given to us unless we administer the blessing in love (agape), for edifying of the Church. 

Do you know your Spiritual gift yet? Doctors can be healers just by the nature of their work. God allows Dr’s to be educated in certain things so they may administer their knowledge to heal the sick. A “good” Dr will acknowledge healings are healing that are given to some by the Lord. A Preacher will have the gift of prophecy which means to teach and stir people in scripture that they would be saved and to disciple others. A missionary would have the gift of “tongues” which means languages, so they may evangelize to a foreigner. Much more can be said about the “charismatic” movement on tongues. We will say this; the English word for babbling or making a gibberish sound would be called onomatopoeia. It would be saying a zipper makes a “zzziippp” sound. Jesus says in Matthew 6:5-37, “when you pray don’t be like the gentile who babbles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words…” Paul makes the same request but with “rules” for the unbelievers. Speaking in tongues is not for self-edifying but for the body of Christ edifying; for the unbelievers to hear in their language the prophecies of God. There must be an interpreter so that all can hear and all can be edified. If no-one is there to interpret then the person who can speak in tongues is to remain quiet. The gift of tongues or to say, the gift of speaking in different languages, may seem to some a very important gift but the gift of prophecy is far superior and uplifting to the church. Funny thing, I was part a prayer group on zoom during the lock down days on a Thursday. (I say “a Thursday” because that was my first and last time with that group) They did not tell me they were part of a group that believed in the gift of tongues. As we were praying for certain individuals’ gibberish babble started up. I thought, Oh my, what have I got myself into? So, as I read, “and all are speaking in other tongues and people who are outsiders or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?” verse 25. I smiled and said “Yes, you are out of your minds!

Chapter 12 gives a short list of gifts given by the Spirit to be administered by the children of God for the edifying of the church. One gift does not have superiority over another because they are all given by the same Spirit for the edifying of the Church. If your gift does not seem to be “producing fruit”, then maybe check your heart. Paul instructs us to “work out our salvation”, Philippians 2:12. Do you want your gift to just edify you? That would be like James saying you have not because you ask with the wrong intentions, James 4:23. We are to desire the greater gifts, perhaps those will come as we mature in Christ, Ephesians 4. Greater gifts mean greater responsibilities that will affect the overall growth and maturity of other believers. Bear in mind, all gifts are important equally as they build up the Church and the head, Jesus. 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, forgive us of our sin. Thank you, Lord, for this study to learn of the issues of that day are the same issues of today how to deliver Your word with love. Father, I pray You would increase the gifts in us that You’ve given us that Your Church would be edified. I pray Lord that we would humble ourselves by Your side and that we would not exult ourselves in the exercising of the gifts that You have given to us for Your edification. There are many examples in Your word Lord, we have to read, study, and hear about them in order that we may relate to them, that again today’s ways of doing things are much similar to those ways of long ago. Instill in us now Lord a fervent commitment to You by our study and by our proclamation of Christ as our Savior, Counselor, Friend, Teacher, 

Amen

David Mroz

There is work to do! Jesus said, “Open your eyes and look at the fields, because they are ready for harvest.” (John 4:35)   Jesus said, “I sent you to reap what you did not labor for, others have labored…” (John 4:38)    If you are a Christian, you have work to do. If you are a Christian, you are in ministry. No more excuses about not being trained to work in the economy of God because we have been given the Holy Spirit as a down payment for our inheritance (Ephesians 1:14) and the Holy Spirit has given us spiritual gifts to build the kingdom of God. I can hear some of you now saying that “I am not talented or educated enough to do such work.” Let’s see what scripture has to say about that.

First, let’s distinguish between talent and spiritual gifts. Talent is what man develops in his own heart and body, mainly for his own gain. Sometimes it will better humanity and sometimes it will better his own prospects. To be talented is to be human.  A spiritual gift is a gift given by Jesus, Ephesians 4:8, to be administered by the Holy Spirit for the prosper of God’s kingdom and the glory of Jesus. To have a spiritual gift you must be saved by faith, that Jesus died for your sin and was raised on the third day according to the scriptures and now live for Jesus. All who have been saved are given a gift, verse 7. All gifts are not the same and some gifts are a continuation of our talent, but the focus is now being used to better the kingdom of God and bring glory to Jesus. If we are saved and our intention is to bring glory or recognition to ourselves there will be no power in the gifts we receive. Our intentions become self-motivated and self-promotion. Ask yourself this, “Why would God enhance the gift He gave me to promote myself or the devil’s kingdom?” He won’t. But, if we use our spiritual gift to promote Jesus and the kingdom of God, power will be displayed. Having a “spiritual gift” only means we have been given this gift by Jesus and does not mean mystical. 

Now, what does scripture say about lack of talent or education to be used in the kingdom?  After being led out of Egypt, the Egyptians gave to the Israelites “whatever they asked for. In this way they plundered the Egyptians.” (Exodus 12: 35-36) God had instructed Moses to build a Tabernacle, Exodus 35, and to take up an offering from the people which was so great Moses had to request the people to stop in their giving, Ex 36:6. Now, here is the exceedingly great foretelling of this age, Moses had “summoned every skilled person in whose heart the Lord had placed wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work of constructing the sanctuary.” (Exodus36:2-1) We see the spiritual gifts given to men and women not only to build the Tabernacle but to teach the skills to others. The building of the Tabernacle had to be specific to God’s design. These men and women knew those specifics which are described in Exodus 37 because God had instilled these instructions into them. The point here is that we have been given gifts to work in the kingdom. Like the men and women in Exodus using their gift to build a structure for the kingdom with the “plundering” from Egypt, we are to use our spiritual gifts to build the kingdom of God. If we sit around and do nothing, waiting to be imparted knowledge, we will be useless in God’s kingdom! Be warned, least we fall, this is the Holy Spirits interaction within us for the benefit of another for their salvation and your obedience. Begin to do something and your gifts will become clearer to you if you do not already know what they may be. Using our spiritual gifts for our benefit will only place you on the shelf of uselessness. Begin to work in the kingdom on day 1 of our salvation. God will provide for your training by the Holy Spirit. You will begin utilizing the gift of the Spirit given to you for God’s economy which is the salvation of souls and the destruction of self-dependency.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, forgive us our sin. Our walk, humbly by Your side, will help us to see the gift you have given us to administer as our work in your kingdom. Our walk, humbly by Your side, will help us depend on you so we will not be caught up in self-promoting with the gift you have given us. Our walk, humbly by Your side, will give us the love for our work in Your kingdom that truth will be given in love. As Your word says, each have been given a spiritual gift by the same Spirit. Help us to recognize this as it is described as one body, each part affecting the other, that in love we speak and act in truth for the betterment of Your kingdom. 

Amen

David Mroz

October 16, 2024

1 Corinthians 10

“So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.” Did you know that we have the capabilities not to sin because of Christ and the Holy Spirit that abides in us; but we are sinners, 1John 1:8, “If we say, ‘We have no sin,’ we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Let us not be prideful and think we are not sinners. The capability not to sin as a Christian may be there but will never be reached in this realm.  We as Christians are Saints that sin, because all sin is manifested by our heart, what we take in or internalize from the world, by the temptations that we experience. How do we interpret and handle temptations? Does it make us feel guilty or do we brush it off and say, “I am only human”, or like the above statement, being prideful that we have the ability to overcome sin.  Of course, we are human and as Christians the Holy Spirit abides in us, giving us strength to persevere through the temptation.

 So how do we handle temptation?  In English, the word “temptation” has a negative notation. In the Greek it has added  meaning “to prove” or “to test”. This word would only be defined by the context of the paragraph. For example, Got tested Abraham when He was told to sacrifice his son Issac, Genesis 22:1-19. The test could have turned into a temptation that would have resulted in a sin had Abraham said, “Are you sure?” and disobeyed. Job is another example of being tested. Job 2:10, ‘“You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept only good from God and not adversity?’ Throughout all this, Job did not sin in what he said.” When God tests us He tests us to bring out righteousness and He will not test us with evil.

Romans 6:12, “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.” Our sin begins in our bodies, the heart more specifically. The devil and his minions do not cause you to sin. They may have some external cause but the Bible is clear, “He who is in you is more powerful than he who is in the world”, 1 John 4:4. You say I was tempted but scripture is clear too, God will not allow supernatural temptations to overcome us but only that that is common to man. Oh my, how can this be? Temptations are difficult. Why does the Bible say that temptations are only those that are common to man? How do I overcome them?

Let’s look at Revelation 3:14-22. The church at Laodicea was a church that was prestigious and overconfident, rich and in need of nothing, Rev 3:17. Jesus uses the illustration of them being neither hot or cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth, Rev 3:16. The hot or cold is neither good or bad but is referencing the aqueducts to move hot mineral water in from Hierapolis and cool fresh water in from Colossae. The water from both aqueducts had to travel many miles to reach Laodicea and the hot water cooled down and the cool fresh water became lukewarm. The mineral water had medicinal benefits for the body to bathe in and the fresh water was for consumption. The point: both, the hot mineral water and the cool fresh water, had its benefits but because they were far from the original source the benefits were reduced to vomiting out of His mouth. They were far from the source, so the benefits were reduced. Jesus is our source. In trials or temptations, the only way out of them all is by enduring them, going through them, James 1:2-4, and Jesus said He would never leave or forsake us but endure, Psalm 94:14.

Jesus said, “And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:13. In other words, help us not to internalize our circumstances to be drawn into sin. Help us to endure through our circumstances trusting in you as Abraham did, as Job did. Not to be overconfident that we cannot be tempted because we can. Pride comes before the fall, Proverbs 16:18. We are all human, and we will all sin even as a Christian. God is faithful and will provide a way out, you have the responsibility to take that way out. In your failure to take the way out, God can still use a broken vessel, 2 Timothy 2:21. Your sin cannot take you out of His hand, John 10:28.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, forgive us of our sin. You are our source for everything. You have been patient with us through our sin. Your temple, our bodies, are dirty on the inside from time to time. Holy Spirit, cleanse us. We pray that we wait upon you, to endure the challenges of life, not to internalize our circumstances, not to blame or complain but to endure. That our patience will be perfected in You, Lord Jesus. Day by day, moment by moment let us give to You, all of us so our sin becomes less and less.

Amen

October 2, 2024

1 Corinthians 8-9

Have you noticed that “a soft answer turns away anger,” proverbs 15:1? I Have. I have also been the person with the anger that has been calmed because of someone’s soft spoken words. My testimony was preserved because of someone’s wise action towards me. Over time, I too, became aware that I can turn away someone’s anger towards me with a gentle response. My knowledge did not happen overnight. How do we learn or become knowledgeable on certain things? I think that depends on the individual.  Having knowledge of things gives many a confidence that may exhibit “arrogance” towards others. I have been guilty of that, too, just ask my wife and kids. Much of the knowledge given to me was not anchored in love. This is brought to our attention by Paul because of a question posed by the Corinthians. Paul affirms we all have knowledge (verse1) and we are to seek knowledge and teach knowledge (Jeremiah 22:17) but how do you apply knowledge? The Corinthians asked this indirectly by asking how they should respond to those who took offense to the eating of meat offered to idols. 

God separated His people by telling them to eat certain thing and not to eat certain things, Leviticus 11. This instruction was for their separation among the nations, but it was also to instruct them of being pure and to obey by faith this command. Jesus then, fulfilling the Old Testament, declares all foods clean, Mark 7:19 because it is what comes out of the body that is impure. Peter experienced in Acts 10:13-15 a declaration to “not call food impure that God has made clean.”, and eat. In Jesus, the freedoms given to us should be restrained by the love we have for Him. Because, if we sin against our brothers, who have “little” knowledge, we are sinning against Jesus. Paul knew this firsthand. In Acts 9:5 Jesus knocks Paul to the ground as he was traveling to Damascus to persecute the Christians. Jesus said, “why do you persecute Me?” Paul had to ask who He was. Jesus replied, “I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting.” In a larger sense, whenever and however we sin against our brothers in Christ, we are sinning against God, against Jesus, against the Holy Spirit. 

The Corinthians were not the only people with knowledge combined with love problems. You remember Romans 14 about the weaker brother and the more mature brother. Like a marriage, a weaker vessel to the stronger vessel. We should not consider the weaker vessel the “lesser” vessel because they aren’t. Can you imagine treating your spouse as the lesser vessel? Some do, in some religions the woman is considered the lesser vessel. The weaker vessel should be cared for, nurtured in Christ that their growth will be sufficient in Christ. You, as the stronger vessel, will also grow. Your compassion for those who continue to be burdened by worldly things, continue to be burdened by lack of knowledge of Jesus, will grow in your walk with Christ, humbly by the Lord, Micah 6:8. 

You will not stay the same. Paul illustrates in chapter 9 his credentials and the responsibilities he has to the church and the church has to him. Paul has been upholding his part and even called himself an apostle to the Corinthian people, verse 2. The Corinthians from what I read, did not support him financially. However, Paul did not hold his authority over them to gain financially but did hold it over them to guide them morally and to instruct them in their culture change, from worldly idol worshipping to trusting by faith in One God, One Savior, One spiritual relationship in Jesus, the Christ, our Savior.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Forgive us our sins. Please keep us learning Your ways for our lives that we may instruct a weaker believer. Help us to consider us as a weaker believer in comparison to the vast knowledge and illustrations You give us in your Word and in our experiences. In our learning Lord, help us to learn. In our witness, help us to exhibit in love. In our teaching, help us to instruct with love. You have taught us with love by Your patience. You have witnessed Your love for us on the cross. May we desire this love You possess more and more daily.

Amen

-David MrRoz

September 25, 2024

1 Corinthians 7

The simple message of this passage is verse 17, “Let each one live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command in all the churches.” We are to continue in our life path as long as we are not in defiance to GOD’s way. Our inner self should change, and we should be better husbands/wives, we should be better at our jobs, we should be better friends, etc. When I suggest we should be “better” I am saying internally. Our attitudes towards our circumstances. 

The Corinthians needed guidance in their new walk. Some felt a new Christian should get a divorce to be totally devoted to the ways of the Lord. These were the Gentiles. The Jews felt they needed to be married to carry out the Lord’s instruction to “be fruitful and fill the earth”, Genesis 1:28. It is thought Paul was married because he was a member of the Sanhedrin which required members to be married. We never read about her in scripture and Paul would say, “I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain as I am.” (Verse 8) Notice he includes widows, so the thought is Paul’s wife had died. The last thought being pure speculation, Paul continues his instructions, “But if they do not have self-control, they should marry, since it is better to marry than to burn with desire.” (Verse 9) So there is a choice to be made and in either choice you will not sin. 

Having the gift of singleness is not always easy as well as having the gift of a spouse not being easy. Both should be praised and honored. The issues many single people face today can be exaggerated with the thought that no-one wants to be with me. Depression can set in. A single person who knows the LORD should exam their life and become prepared to not have the gift of a spouse. Perhaps in time God will provide for this as he did for Isaac, Genesis 24:15. A single person needs uplifting and we as their brothers in Christ should uplift them.

Therefore, be thankful if you are not married because your concerns would be divided, those for your spouse and those for God. Having the gift of a spouse, we are instructed not to divorce but to be in continual relationship with our spouse’s. Being a Christian means we are a better spouse internally. We have many instructions in scripture on being a better spouse. We are to remain in this aspect of our lives. Can you imagine the chaos if all Christians got a divorce? God is not the creator of chaos. 

So, may I challenge you?   You married and single people, become a better person by obeying God. Internally, your walk with Christ will become stronger. Your compassion for the lost will grow. You will be less about yourself and more for Jesus and His gospel for others. Externally, your “American Dream” will become less about worldly, material things and more about your humble walk with GOD. You will become less, and Jesus will become more, as John the Baptist said in John 3:30, and that will be ok with you. In everything give thanks to God, (1 Thessalonians 5:18)  and be about the things of God. What are the things of God you ask? It would be different for each of you but reading scripture and prayer and counsel with other godly people can help lead you. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive us our sin. Lead us in all aspects of our lives. Help us to be about Your ways for us. Help us to be godly in our responses. Help us to be better single people, married people, to be a better friend, a better worker, to be better internally with gratitude and appreciation towards Your will for our lives. 

Amen

-David MrRoz

September 11, 2024

1 Corinthians 6

As we reflect on these first 6 chapters concerning the early church, we see problems that existed then, are still present today. Our eagerness to follow Christ once we become saved can become a zealousness of energies that may lead us to stagnation. You ask, “that’s an interesting statement, how so?” Well, I am glad you asked. By faith we become saved, trusting in Jesus that His death and resurrection paid our sin debt. I believe that. You believe that. We are then instructed to go to church, read our Bibles, join a small group but somehow, some of us just don’t “get it”. Our small group has had men come and go. They were on fire to learn the “ways of God” Psalm 25:4, “Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths.” But some have fallen away. Could it be the 4 types of soils Jesus taught?  It’s as if the illustration of the four types of soil presented by Jesus in all Three gospels become a reality. (1) Seeds, or the message, fall on the path being walked on quickly get eaten up by birds, so the hearer ignores the message for salvation. (2) Some fall on rocky ground and begin to take root, eagerness, but quickly fades because there was no leadership or guidance when hard times came, interest waned. (3) Some fell where weeds began to choke the message, indicating culture events and one’s own life events have taken priority over maturing in Christ. And finally, (4) seed that fell on good soil which produced a good harvest indicating maturing and living for Jesus. We have all been in one of these stages. As we progress through this life we become more or less receptive to the gospel message. Take charge of your heart by surrendering your heart to Christ through prayer. Charles Spurgeon said, “Prayer itself is an art which only the Holy Ghost can teach us. He is the giver of all prayer. Pray for prayer-pray till you can pray.” And we studied in Romans 11:36, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” If you have a thought or an inkling to pray, you must pray!

We should be in a surrendering state to Jesus, to the Holy Spirit, so we will not be misled by a talented speaker who is in the preaching business for money. Remember, God gives, freely and generously, wisdom and knowledge to those who ask but to ask in FAITH, James 1:5. 

Cultural guidance will lead to destruction, we see that everywhere. This is the world’s wisdom. And what did we learn about the world’s wisdom? It is foolishness and those who cherish it cannot learn of spiritual wisdom, 1 Corinthians 1:19. Culture says, “I have my rights and you violated them therefore I am suing you,” I am guilty of this, out of ignorance though. Sensuality and debauchery are cultural. Sex is everywhere and tempting us with physical pleasures. Have we read our Bibles to better understand the consequences.  We read our bodies are the temple of God, the New Covenant. The temple of God is no longer a building. We have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Do not defile God’s temple, your body, with immorality. Be of the mindset that all your actions are being watched by our Savior. I pray it persuades you away from defilement of God’s temple. 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, forgive us of our sin. Help us to have an eagerness to learn Your Word, to be followers of Your guidance and to cherish all opportunities as gifts from You. Help us to return to You in our time of disparity.