March 26, 2009 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4

The Change in Paul's Plans
This is what we are proud of, and I can say it with a clear conscience: In everything we hav edone inthe world, and especially with you, we have had an honest and sincere heart from God. We did this by God's grace, not by the kind of wisdom the world has. We write to you only what you can read and understand. And I hope that as you have understood some things about us, you may come to know everything about us. Then you can be proud of us, as we will b eproud of you on the day our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. I was so sure of all this that I made plans to visit you first so you could be blessed twice. I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and again on my way back. I wanted to get help from you for my trip to Judea. Do you think that I made these plans without really meaning it? Or maybe you think I make plans as the world does, so that I say yes, yes and at the same time no, no. But since you can believe God, you can believe that what we tell you is never both yes and no. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, that Silas and Timothy and I preacehd to you, was not yes and no. In Christ it has always been yes. The yes to all of God's promises is in Christ, and through Christ we say yes to the glory of God. Remember, God is the One who makes you and us strong in Christ, God made us his chosen people. He put his mark on us to show that we are his, and he put his Spirit in our hearts to be a guarantee for all he has promised. I tell you this, and I ask God to be my witness that is true: The reasons I did not come back to Corinth was to keep you from being punished or hurt. We are not trying to control your faith. You are strong in faith. But we are workers with you for your own joy. So I decided that my next visit to you would not be another one to make you sad. If I make you sad, who will make me glad? Only you can make me glad--particularly the person whom I made sad. I wrote you a letter for this reason: that when I came to you I would not be made sad by the people who should make me happy. I felt sure of all of you, that you would share my joy. When I wrote to you before, I was very troubled and unhappy in my heart, and I wrote with many tears. I did not write to make you sad, but to let you know how much I love you. ~2 Corinthians 1:12-24~

The lesson from this passage is to trust in God's promises. There was a misunderstanding of Paul's visit to Corinth, and unfortunately, all his plans failed and he had to visit the Corinthians to take care of some matter. Meanwhile, a group of false teachers try to accuse Paul of doing wrong. They make stuff up and tell the Corinthians about them, then Paul has to respond to those accusations to prove himself innocent. In all this, the Corinthians still aren't spiritually mature enough to rely on solely God, so they struggle. Paul had mentioned earlier in 1 Corinthians, that he and Apollos are just human beings, being used by God, but the true leader is God, and that's who we all should rely on.

We need to not rely on our own feelings, on our wisdom, on other people, on other people's opinions, and etc. We need to just rely on God, and his promises...this is one of the most important ways to spiritual growth. We tend to rely on each other a lot...then when that other person lets us down, we get so disappointed that we throw away that relationship. For example in romantic relationships, and also with our spiritual leaders. We need to build our lives on the perfect relationship with Jesus Christ. Only He can meet our deepest needs, and therefore we can form perfect relationships with others who have the same base/foundation in their lives.

March 23, 2009 2 Corinthians 1:2-11

Paul Gives Thanks to God

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the Father who is full of mercy and all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us. We share in the many sufferings of Christ. In the same way, much comfort comes to us through Christ. If we have troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation, and if we have comfort, you also have comfort. This helps you to accept patiently the same sufferings we have. Our hope for you is strong, knowing that you share in our sufferings and also in the comfort we receive. Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the troubles we suffered in Asia. We had great burdens there that were beyond our own strength. WE even gave up hope of living. Truly, in our own hearts we believed we would die. But this happened so we would not trust in ourselves but in God, who raises people from the dead. God saved us from these great dangers of death, and he will continue to save us. We have pur our hope in him, and he will save us again. And you can help us with your prayers. Then many people will give thanks for us--that God blessed us because of their many prayers. ~2 Corinthians 1:3-11~



In this passage, Paul is acknowledging God for who He is. He starts off by praising God. Then he goes on to acknowledging the things God has done for him and the Corinthians. Furthermore, he goes on to telling the Corinthians about their sufferings and how, although they were suffering and gave up everything, God took that opportunity to show them that He is always with them, no matter what. That we need to trust not in our own understandings, but in Him. This passage is a simple passage of praise and gratitude towards God. But I believe it is a really important passage. Throughout our lives, we take many things for granted, we rely on ourselves, trusting in our own understanding...we forget to lean on God at times...we forget to thank Him and praise Him...and etc. We should always remember that God is with us no matter what. We need to constantly thank Him, and constantly praise Him in everything we do. We also need to learn to lean on Him, to trust in Him. And finally, we need to pray about these things, and have hope/faith in God.

March 11, 2009 1 Corinthians 16:13-24

Paul Ends His Letter ~1 Corinthians 16:13-24~

Be alert. Continue strong in the faith. Have courage, and be strong. Do everything in love. You know that the family of Stephanas were the first believers in Soutehrn Greece and theat they have given themselves to the service of God's people. I ask you, brothers and sisters, to follow the leading of people like these and anyone else who works and serves with them. I am happy that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achiacus have come. You are not here, but they have filled your place. They have refreshed my spirit and yours. You should recognize the value of people like tehse. The churches in Asia send greeting to you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you in the Lord, as does the church that meets in their house. All the brothers and sisters here send greetings. Give each other a holy kiss when you meet. I, Paul, am writing his greeting with my own hand. If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be separated from God--lost forever! Come, O Lord! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.



This passage is of Paul saying his farewells to the Corinthian Church. It consists of a brief summary of all that happened throughout 1 Corinthians, words of encouragement, and also final farewells. Paul directs them to, "Be alert. Continue strong in the faith. Have courage, and be strong. Do everything in love." Those are all the points we covered in this book, that the Corinthian church lacked. He also encourages them to follow faithful leaders and to show love to newcomers, to be welcoming. Finally, he ends with reminding them of God's love and of God's grace. God loves us and he gives us grace, for this, we need to love him with all that we can. Just as Paul loved the Corinthian church.

March 10, 2009 1 Corinthians 16:5-12

Paul's Plans ~1 Corinthians 16:5-12~

I plan to go through Macedonia, so I will come to you after I go through there. Perhaps I will stay with you for a time or even all winter. Then you can help me on my trip, wherever I go. I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to stay a longer time with you if the Lord allows it. But I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a good opportunity for a great and growing work has been given to me now. And there are many people working against me. If Timothy comes to you, see to it that he has nothing to fear with you, because he is working for the Lord just as I am. So none of you should treat Timothy as unimportant, but help him on his trip in peace so that he can come back to me. I am expecting him to come with the brothers. Now about our brother Appolos: I strongly encouraged him to visit you with the other brothers. He did not at all want to come now; he will come when he has the opportunity.



In this passage, Paul explains his plan for his life. Even though he leaves, he wants the Corinthians Christians to continue to live for God. Three points: 1 make plans to live for God; 2 God's will may involve opposition; and 3 one person's desire is not necessarily God's will for you. He shares with them that they should take advantage of opportunities, in this case, ministry.

March 9, 2009 1 Corinthians 16:1-4

The Gift for Other Believers ~1 Corinthians 16:1-4~

Now I will write about the collection of money for God's people. Do the same thing I told the Galatian churches to do: On the first day of every week, each one of you should put aside money as you have been blessed. Save it up so you will not have to collect money after I come. When I arrive, I will send whomever you approve to take your gift to Jerusalem. I will send them with letters of introduction, and if it seems good for me to go also, they will go along with me.



In this passage, Paul instructs the Corinthians Church to do the same thing as the Galatian churches. This is to save up little bit of money each week in order to send them to other believers elsewhere. Overall what does this account to? Christian giving, all by the grace of God! The point is not to be like the Galatian churches, but to learn to give generously through the grace of God. And through that, the people receiving will also receive a message by the actions of those who give.

March 8, 2009 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

What Kind of Body Will We Have? ~1 Corinthians 15:35-58~
But someone may ask, "How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have?" Folish person! When you sow a seed, it must die in the ground before it can live and grow. And when you sow it, it does not have the same "body" it will have later. What you sow is only a bare seed, maybe wheat or something else. But God gives it a body that he has planned for it, and God gives each kind of seed its own body. All things made of flesh are not the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds have another, and fish have another. Also there are havenly bodies and earthly bodies. But the beauty of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the beauty of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of beauty, the moon has another beauty, and the stars have another. And each star is different in its beauty. It is teh same with the dead who are raised to life. The body that is "planted" will ruin and decay, but it is raised to a life that cannot be destroyed. When the body is "planted," it is without honor, but it is raised in glory. When the body is "planted," it is weak, but when it is raised, it is powerful. The body that is "planted" is a physical body. When it is raised, it is a spiritual body. There is a physical body, and there is also a spiritual body. It is written in the Scriptures: "The first man, Adam, became a living person." But the last Adam became a spirit that gives life. The spiritual did not come first, but the physical and then the spiritual. The first man came from the dust of the earth. The second man came from heaven. People who belong to the earth are like the first man of earth. But those people who belong to heaven are like the man of heaven. Just as we were made like the man of earth, so we will also be made like the man of heaven. I tell you this, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot have a part in the kingdom of God. Something that will ruin cannot have a part in something that never ruins. But look! I tell you this secret: We will not all sleep in death, but we will all be changed. It will take only a second--as quickly as an eye blinks--when the last trumpet sounds. The trumpet will sound, and those who have died will be raised to live forever, and we will all be changed. This body that can be destroyed must clothe itself with something that can never be destroyed. And this body that dies must clothe itself with something that can never die. So this body that can be destroyed will clothe itself with that which can never be destroyed, and this body that dies will clothe itself with that which can never die. When this happens, this Scripture will be made true: "Death is destroyed forever in victory." "Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your pain?" Death's power to hurt is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But we thank God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. So my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Do not let anything move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your work in the Lord is never wasted.

In this passage, Paul illustrates resurrection for the Corinthian Church. He uses an analogy for our bodies to seeds. Just as seeds are buried into the ground in the form of a simple seed and comes out of the ground (grows) into a healthy plant, totally different from the original seed, our bodies do the same thing. We are buried underground when we die, then something rises...not our physical bodies...we don't go walking around like zombies...but our spiritual bodies rise. Paul also mentions that Heaven does not allow flesh and blood to enter...those things are perishable, but because Heaven and all things in it are everlasting, the physical body cannot rise.

Another point that Paul comes across is that there will be a generation in the future, that will not have to experience physical death in order to exist eternally. That is the day the Lord comes back. We can only exist eternally because Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, has passed away for our transgressions and by this, He was the first man to die and rise. Following His example, as long as we have been saved...have stepped into salvation, we will also be able to do the same.

March 7, 2009 1 Corinthians 15:12-34

The Resurrection of the Dead ~1 Corinthians 15:12-34~
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he "has put everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

In this passage, Paul is discussing the resurrection of the body after death. The Corinthian Chrisitans did not believe in the body resurrecting. They thought of the after-life as only a soul thing, but Paul was explaining the truth. It is said, if our body is not raised, then Christ is not raised. If Christ is not rasied, preaching is useless. If our faith is futile, we are to be pitied more than all men.

Christ is the forerunner of all resurrections. He is the one and only that was raised from the dead, and never died again. Every single day, we go through turmoil as Christians. Although we may not receive physical hostility, especially here in the states, it's still hard for us to speak to non-Christians. Many people are still hesitant to listen to the words, or to open up their hearts to take in anything. But still, we should try and try and try.

March 6, 2009 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

The Good News About Christ ~1 Corinthians 15:1-11~
Now, brothers and sisters, I want you to remember the Good News I brought to you. You received this Good News and continue strong in it. And you are being saved by it if you continue believing what I told you. If you do not, then you believed for nothing. I passed on to you what I received, of which this was most important: that Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say; that he was buried and was raised to life on the third day as the Scriptures say; and that he was seen by Peter and then by the twelve apostles. After that, Jesus was seen by more than five hundred of the believers at the same time. Most of them are still living today, but some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all he was seen by me--as by a person not born at the normal time. All the other apostles are greater than I am. I am not even good enough to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But God's grace has made me what I am, and his grace to me was not wasted. I worked harder than all the other apostles. (But it was not I really; it was God's grace that was with me.) So if I preached to you or the other apostles preached to you, we all preach the same thing, and this is what you believed.

In this passage, Paul is re-examining Christ's resurrection and the gospel. Paul is talking to the Corinthian Church, telling them to remember, to never forget, the good news that he brought to them. The good news about Christ dying for our sins, for being buried and raised to life on the third day, and also being seen by his disciples after his resurrection, then by more than five hundred believers. Finally, he says that he was able to see Christ, although he is so unworthy.

This is where Paul brings up God's grace...that he was only able to see Christ through God's grace. That through this grace, he was able to work harder, not by his own might, but by God's. He's telling the Corinthian Church that they are in the same situation. That not only should you believe the good news about Christ, but through that belief, you will receive salvation and grace. And through those we are able to do God's will, sharing, spreading the wonderful messages of God, the gospel.

March 5, 2009 1 Corinthians 14:26-40

Meetings Should Help the Church ~1 Corinthians 14:26-40~
So, brothers and sisters, what should you do? When you meet together, one person has a song, and another has a teaching. Another has a new truth from God. Another speaks in a different langauge, and another person interprets that language. The purpose of all these things should be to help the church grow strong. When you meet together, if anyone speaks in a different language, it should be only two, or not more than three, who speak. They should speak one after the other, and someone should interpret. But if there is no interpreter, then those who speak in a different language should be quiet in the church meeting. They should speak only to themselves and to God. Only two or three prophets should speak, and the others should judge what they say. If a message from God comes to another person who is sitting, the first speaker should stop. You can all prophesy one after the other. In this way all the people can be taught and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are under the control of the prophets themselves. God is not a God of confusion but a God of peace. As is true in all churches of God's people, women should keep quiet in the church meetings. They are not allowed to speak, but they must yield to this rule as the law says. If they want to learn something, they should ask their own husbands at home. It is shameful for a woman to speak in the church meeting. Did God's teaching come from you? Or are you the only ones to whom it has come? Those who think they are prophets or spiritual persons should understand that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. Those who ignore this will be ignored by God. So my brothers and sisters, you should truly want to prophesy. But do not stop people from using the gift of speaking in different kinds of languages. But let everything be done in a right and orderly way.

When is a church a really a church? Is it only on Fridays and Sundays when we just gather? Then how many people make a church? Two? Three? Ten? Fifty? Hundreds? Thousands?
When we gather, what do we do? We teach, learn, minister, share, use our spiritual gifts for each other, and etc.

Paul's saying that when we Christians meet as a church, we need to meet as a body. We are all parts of a body, and the spiritual gifts that we have received are the different functions of the parts of the body...herego, we need to work with each other to properly function as a whole! Like scripture says, "When you meet together, one person has a song, and another has a teaching. Another has a new truth from God. Another speaks in a different langauge, and another person interprets that language." We should have a purpose for gathering, and that purpose should be to help the church grow.

March 4, 2009 1 Corinthians 14:1-25

Desire Spiritual Gifts ~1 Corinthians 14:1-25~
You should seek after love, andyou should truly want to have the spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. I will explain why. Those who have the gift of pseaking in different languages are not speaking to people;they are speaking to God. No one understands them; they are speaking secret things through the Spirit. But those who prophesy are speaking to people to give them strenght, encouragement, and comfort. The ones who speak in different languages are helping only themselves, but those who prophesy are helping the whole church. I wish all of you had the gift of speaking in different kinds of languages, but more, I wish you would prophesy. Those who prophesy are greater than those who can only speak in different languages--unless someone is there who can explain what is said so that the whole church can be helped. Brothers and sister, will it help you if I come to you speaking in different languages? No! It will help you only if I bring you a new truth or some new knowledge, or prophecy, or teaching. It is the same as with lifeless things that make sounds--like a flute or a harp. If they do not make clear musical notes, you will not know what is being played. And in a war, if the trumpet does not give a clear sound, who will prepare for battle? It is the same with you. Unless you speak clearly with your tongue, no one can understand what you are saying. You will be talking into the air! IT may be true that there are all kinds of sounds int eh world, and none is without meaning. But unless I understand the meaning of what someone says to me, we will be like foreigners to each other. It is the same with you. Since you want spiritual gifts very much, seek most of all to have the gifts that help the church grow stronger. The one who has the gift of speaking in a different language should pray for the gift to interpret what is spoken. If I pray in a different lanugage, my spirit is praying, but my mind does nothing. So what should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. IF you praise God with your spirit, thsoe persons there without understanding cannot say amen to your prayer of thanks, because they do not know what you are saying. You may be thanking God in a good way, but the other person is not helped. I thank God that I speak in different kinds of languages more than all of you. But in the church meetings I would rather speak five words I understand in order to teach others than thousands of words in a different language. Brothers and sisters, do not think like children. In eveil things be like babies, but in your thinking you should be like adults. It is written in Scriptures: "With people who use strange words and foreign languages I will speak to these people. But even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord. So the gift of speaking in different kinds of languages is a sign for those who do not believe, not for those who do believe. And prophecy is for people who believe, not for those who do not believe. Suppose the whole church meets together and everyone speaks in different languages. If some people come in who do not understand or do not believe, they will say you are crazy. But suppose everyone is prophyesying and some people come in who do not believe or do not understand. If everyone is prophesying, their sin will be shown to them, and they will be judged by all that they hear. The secret things in their hears will be made known. So they will bow down and worship God saying, "Truly, God is with you."

Different lanuages...in this chapter, different languages stands for speaking in tongue. When people speak in tongues, different people do it in different ways. Some people may truly speak another existing language that they may never have learned, and other people speak in the typical tongue. Most of the time, the surrounding people do not understand what these people may be saying, although there are some of those who have been given the gift of understanding and translating tongue.

The Corinthian Church had a problem with speaking in tongues, not that they couldn't do it, but that they abused it. They spoke in tongues to bring praise to themselves, they did it without meaning. When speaking in tongues, you're praying with your spirit, but you also need to pray with your mind, which they did not do. Paul says that we shouldn't be seeking speaking in tongues, but we should be seeking prophesying. Speaking in tongue is a very selfish things, because most of the people around you won't understand what you are saying, but when prophesying, everyone around you can be affected. Verse 1 says, "You should seek after love, and you should truly want to have the spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy." Once again, love is mentioned...that love is supposed to be for the benefit of others, to show that we care about each other. Taking that love, we should seek prophecying over speaking in tongues within a church, so that others may benefit.

March 3, 2009 1 Corinthians 13

Love is the Greatest Gift ~1 Corinthians 13~
And now I wil lshow you the best way of all. I may speak in different languages of people or even angels. But if I do not have love, I am only a noisy bell or a crashing cymbal. I may have the gift of prophecy. I may understand all the secret things of God and have all knowledge, and I may have faith so great I can move mountains. But even with all these things, if I do not have love, then I am nothing. I may give away everything I have, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothign if I do not have love. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures. Love never ends. There are gifts of prophecy, but they will be ended. There are gifts of speaking in different languages, but those gifts will stop. There is the gift of knowledge, but will come to an end. The reason is that our knowledge and our ability to prophesy are not perfect. But when perfection comes, the things that are not perfect will end. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I stopped those childish ways. It is the same with us. Now we see a dim reflection, as if we were looking into a mirror, but then we shall see clearly. Now I know only a part, but then I will know fully, as God has known me. So these three things continue forever: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.

Love...Agape...in this passage, Paul speaks about love, about its greatness, about what it is, about what it does. The Corinthian Church had several problems as mentioned in previous chapters...all these things can be avoided, if they had LOVE! In everything we do, we need to have love, otherwise it's nothing...we are nothing. Continuing from the previous chapter about spiritual gifts, the only way we can fully express these gifts is if we have love.

The world today stresses, the current times, the present, the material things, and etc. These things make it harder for us to have the Christian love mentioned in this chapter: agape, unconditional love. Humanly love, affection for each other, will fail sooner or later, but this love, agape, is God's love. The bible strictly mentions that it will never fail, it will never end. No matter how affectionally we love a person or a materialistic thing, that'll all end sooner or later, when Christ comes...then we will know that the only thing we have is agape, which endures forever.

March 2, 2009 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Gifts from the Holy Spirit ~1 Corinthians 12:1-11~

Now, brothers and sisters, I want you to understand about spiritual gifts. You know the way you lived before you were believers. You let yourselves be influenced and led away to worship idols--things that could not speak. So I want you to understand that no one who is speaking with the help of God's Spirit says, "Jesus be cursed." And no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," without the help of the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve but the same Lord to serve. And there are different ways that God works through people but the same God. God works in all of us in everythign we do. Something from the Spirit can be seen in each person, fo the common good. The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom, and the same Spirit gives another the ability to speak with knowledge. The same Spirit gives faitht to one person. And, to another, that one Spirit gives gifts of healing. The Spirit gives to another person the power to do miracles, to another the ability to prophesy. And he gives to another the ability to know the difference between good and evil spirits. The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak in different kinds of languages and to another the ability to interpret those languages. One Spirit, the same Spirit, does all these things, and the Spirit decides what to give each person.



In this passage, Paul discusses the different spiritual gifts we might have been given by God. Not everybody has the same gift/talent, but those unique talents should be used for the right reason. When we are given these gifts, we are given them in order to expand the kingdom of God. That's what they were used for in the biblical years...to reach out to those who were unbelievers: miracles, prophesies, and etc. Spiritual gifts are given for the advantage and salvation of others. We need to use our gifts to glorify God and expand His kingdom. The greater the gift one has received, also comes greater temptations...that person will need more grace in order to keep himself/herself humble and spiritual.



Being a leader is also being given a gift, whether it be leading, organizing, teaching, praise band, ability to handle finances, and etc. These are all gifts that we, as a leaders team, have received, and we need to continually ask for the grace to keep us humble and spiritual. Let's continue to use our gifts/talents, so that all the glory may go to God!

March 1, 2009 1 Corinthians 11:1-16

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
Being Under Authority ~1 Corinthians 11:2-16~
I praise you because you remember me in everything, and you follow closely the teachigns just as I gave them to you. But I want you to understand this: The head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered brings hsame to his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered brings shame to her head. She is the same as a woman who has her head shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off. But since it is shameful for a woman to cut off her hair or to shave her head, she should cover her head. But a man should not cover his head, because he is the likeness and glory of God. But woman is man's glory. Man did not come from woman, but woman came from man. And man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man. So that is why a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. But in the Lord women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. This is true because woman came from man, but also mans is born from woman. But everything comes from God. Decide this for yourselves: Is it right for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Even nature itself teaches you that wearing long hair is shameful for a man. But long hair is a woman's glory. Long hair is given to her as a covering. Some people may still want to argue about this, but I would add that neither we nor the churches of God have any other practice.

In this passage, Paul talks about manhood and womanhood. In verse three, Paul states a principle fact: God has authority of Christ, who has authority over man, who has authority over woman. This is not to state inferiority, but this verse actually shows that the relationship is a Trinitarian relationship, just like the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All three are different, but at the same time equal! Same thing for us, there are men, and there are women, men are equal and distinct in their manner, just like the Trinity, at the same time, women are equal and distinct in their own manner.

In no way, is the Bible stating that men and women are inequal. The point Paul is trying to make is that we need to be strict about our sexual identity, but we also need to learn to relate to each other. Especially in marital terms, if the man doesn't relate to the woman and vice versa, the relationship won't work. An example of this is the Father related to the Son, and the Son to the Father.

Just like that, we need to submit to each other. Jesus submitting to the Father is shown to be one of the hardest submissions for a human being. We need to follow that example and submit to the Father, but also need to submit to each other, as brothers and sisters. This way, the church can function, if we have those who aren't willing to submit to each other, we won't get anywhere within the church.