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1 Corinthians 8

9/24/2014

1 Corinthians 8:1
"...But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church."

If we think we know it all and have no room in our heart for love we are going to drive people away and make them have no interest in who Jesus is. When the Holy Spirit is leading us our hearts are full of love and we use love to answer and show people what we believe. He, the Holy Spirit, will always give us the correct answers and the knowledge we need to treat and care for people in a way that is loving. In verse 2 Paul goes on and says, "Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much." This is because they do not open their heart to learn and grow and that is what our entire walk is: learning and growing to be more like Jesus.

Paul shares in Philippians chapter 3 verses 12-14, "I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." Now that is using the knowledge and understanding that is from God and realizing He has more for us and we will never stop learning and developing into the image of Christ. If love and knowledge don't work together then we have people that are thinking they can do it on their own and without Jesus our knowledge lacks the love that is needed to make a difference.

In verse 3 Paul says, "But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes." When God is first and we are focusing on Him, He will give us everything we need for any situation that might arise. Life will happen and happen fast, we don't have a say in a lot of what goes on but we know that God is always giving us the way out so we can use it to glorify Him. That's how we can have peace in all situations and we can have joy when it seems impossible. We know that with God nothing is impossible and the more we learn (seek) the more we will understand and the more we live out or apply that knowledge the more we will grow because He will move us. We need to come willing to hear and do and then grow and be just like Jesus who is showing us how important it is for us to Love God first and then love our neighbor as ourselves. Amen

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Proverbs 3

9/19/2014

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Proverbs 3:1
"My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart."

He says never forget, that takes us studying all the time so we have it in our hearts. God's word is alive and active so as we open it, it is working on us and we are growing. When this is constant in our lives we don't forget it and we continually change to be like Christ. Verse 2 says, "If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying." When we store His commands in our hearts we feel the peace and joy that the Holy Spirit gives and the things of this world don't cloud out what God is showing us. When we aren't growing our mind continues to think of things of this world and what our flesh desires and we don't live satisfying lives.

Verses 5-6 go on to say, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take." When we have our hearts filled and we trust in Him we seek His will and He shows us what to do in all areas of our lives and people not only see a Christian but a fully devoted follower led by the Spirit of God.

In verse 18 it says, "Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly." This is amazing to me because all through God's word we see that we have to co-labor or join in on a relationship, plainly we have a responsibility to learn and then do what we are learning. Never is it a one way street. In verse 18 the words embrace and hold tightly are our reaction to something God is giving us (free) just like His Son going to the cross and bridging the gap to the Father. Hold tightly and embrace what Jesus did and let it fill our heart so when we hear the Spirit guide us; (we actually hear the Spirit guide us.) there will be no mistake on what is good and right because God's word teaches us this and when we open it asking we will find the answers. If we don't open it we will find the world and what it has for us more than not.

This always makes me think of what Jesus says in Matthew chapter 6 verse 23, "But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!" When we store His commands in our heart, when we hold tightly to wisdom and embrace it and when we trust in the Lord our light is light and we shine just like Jesus, desiring to do only what God is showing us. Then as we grow we are excited to go and share our faith and make disciples. The more we fill ourselves with the word of God the more we learn to know Jesus and the more we know Jesus the more we hear the Holy Spirit who is in us showing us how the word will keep us focused on living as a citizen of heaven not trying to please the world. Amen

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Proverbs 1

9/16/2014

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Proverbs 1:7
"Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."

It takes discipline to continue to grow and be like Christ. We are to surrender our will when accepting Christ and that takes discipline and wisdom. It says the foundation of true knowledge, (not worldly knowledge) is fear of the Lord (Reverence). When we revere something we will take the time to learn about it and when we learn about it we will have the discipline to do or study it consistently. As we're walking in discipline look at what it says in verse 10, "My child, if sinners entice you turn your back on them!" We can't let the world show us what to do or how to live, we must turn to God and believe that He will show us exactly what we need.

Verse 19 goes on to say, "Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life." Without discipline in all areas of our life we will struggle to feel like we need the world more than we need God. When we think we need something so bad it robs us of life. Discipline keeps us focused and focus keeps us seeking God and what He has given us to be successful here on earth.

As I read on in Proverbs chapter 1 verses 32-33 really made me think. "For simpletons turn away from me - to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency. But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm." Complacency is a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defeat, or the like; self satisfaction with an existing situation. When we believe that there is no effort or discipline in our life after we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior we are fooling ourselves. Our complacency will destroy the foundation of truth that we know from the Lord. Discipline keeps us joyful in all situations that happen to us in life. We are not easily suede by our troubles because we are disciplined in our co-laboring with the Lord.

We don't say why God because God shows us why, we just say thank you. The why's aren't bad, but they are not needed when we have the discipline to study God's word and pray everyday for wisdom. We won't know it all but we will know what God wants us to and that will keep us full of joy and peace in whatever the world throws at us. God loves us and sent His one and only Son to show us how to love someone back and the Holy Spirit is in us to guide and comfort us while we live in this temporary home waiting with great excitement for the time Jesus returns or we take our last breath.

If we want true knowledge that God has freely given then we must quit being complacent about learning and growing in the Lord and have the discipline to say no to the worlds entices and yes to the Spirits direction. Amen

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1 Corinthians 5

9/8/2014

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1 Corinthians 5:10-11
"When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don't even eat with such people."

We have to make sure that the person (Jesus) whom we say we believe is being seen in our lives, and that we are making an effort and working on living that belief out. If there is no change in our behavior after knowing Christ there is no reason to say we are a believer. Paul says, "...I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges..." Indulges means to yield to an inclination or desire. Also to allow oneself to follow one's will. When we indulge in something we are purposely going against what The Spirit is showing us and living for ourselves. Jesus said in Mark chapter 8 verse 35, "If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it."

If you say you are a Christian or a (believer) it doesn't make you sin free but your heart is changing because God has given us His Spirit to guide, comfort and teach us what is right and holy. When we don't have a relationship, even though we say we believe, it's hard to have transformation. We might have information but that does us no good. When we hang out with other believers it should be a time of challenge and joy and hope because we know we are new in Christ.

If people say one thing and do another we as believers need to help them see the truth. Paul continues on in verses 12-13 by saying, "It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it is certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scripture say, 'You must remove the evil person from among you." This seems harsh but we need our direction and our obedience. That is why we read God's word, pray and co-labor with Him to learn and change. Jesus perfects our faith, the Holy Spirit comforts us by reminding us what is right and wrong and also about the strength we have because of Jesus.

We are not looking for people to stay away from we are looking for people we can love and help guide or disciple so they become fully devoted followers and doers of the word not just hearers of the word. We also will never be perfect and need to continue to ask, seek and knock so our lives show what we believe about our eternal destination. Amen

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1 Corinthians 3

9/3/2014

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1 Corinthians 3:2-3
"I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren't ready for anything stronger. And you still aren't ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn't that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren't you living like people of the world?"

What stood out to me was the part that said, "You are still controlled by your sinful nature..." When we are seeking and growing we shouldn't be controlled by who we once were but who we are in Christ. This takes a partnership with God; saying thank you for what tools you have given me - I'm going to believe and use them. God is so good all the time that He set us up for success not failure, all we have to is believe (truly believe) where we let God transform us into the image of Christ. That looks like unselfish desire to do God's will not follow our will.

In verses 5-7 Paul goes on to say, "After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God's servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow." God makes it grow - He has given us His word and Spirit and when we take what we hear and what we see and seek wisdom God gives us that wisdom. It grow's by God in our lives and us taking the time to let Him in our hearts. (God has given us His Spirit) Romans 5 verse 5 says, "And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love." Our hearts are full of His love and we can grow to not be lead by our sinful nature but have the Spirit lead us to all truth.

Verse 11 says, "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have - Jesus Christ." Jesus is the only way to the Father and He is our example to live our lives by. The Holy Spirit is in us showing us exactly how Jesus lived and what He would do. When we are lead by the Spirit we are working with the foundation and growing. We all should desire to move from milk to solid food, and know that with every step there will be trails and tribulations that try an keep us on milk. When we believe and stay focused on Jesus we don't get set back by our sinful nature but move toward the Spirit. Amen

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1 Corinthians 8

Proverbs 3

Proverbs 1

1 Corinthians 5

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