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Monthly Archives: October 2019

Planning for the Future

In the closing chapter of First Corinthians, Paul talks about the future. He lets the church know where he and his team are going. This gives us some insight into how we should look forward.

After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you — for I will be going through Macedonia. Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
1 Corinthians 16:5-9

One of the things that I notice right away is Paul’s reliance upon knowing God’s will for his life. It’s something that we need to come to grips with, in our generation.

The apostle sought out God’s best every step of the way. So when he looked ahead, he kept that in mind. He knew what he wanted to do and where he wanted to go. But he always qualified it by saying “if the Lord permits.”

All that means is that he didn’t yet know God’s perfect will concerning that trip yet. He had faith that at some point it would become clear to him where he was to go.

It’s unfortunate that in our generation there are many believers who take no thought of what God wants them to do. They make their plans based on their own wants and desires. Then they bring these plans to God for His blessing.

We’ve fallen into the trap of planning out our lives without first seeking God’s will. That’s the very definition of godlessness. Yes, it is possible to be a godless Christian.

We need to learn to hear from God first and then set our plans according to His will. In this way, we’ll know that our path is blessed even before we ask God to bless it.

Of course, there’s another side to the issue. Just because it’s God’s will for us to do something doesn’t always mean that it’s going to be easy. God opened a door of ministry for him, but Paul acknowledged that there was going to be great opposition.

That seems to be the story of most successful ministries. A great door opened for a powerful work. While at the same time, there’s great opposition. That’s why problems are never an indicator of whether or not you’re in God’s will. You need to hear from Him before you start.

I also notice Paul providing for those under him in ministry.

If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. No one, then, should refuse to accept him. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.
Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.
1 Corinthians 16:10-12

The thing that I see is that there’s no sense of competition. Paul never felt the need to prove he was better than anyone else.

Too often in ministry, leaders seem to think that they have to keep others down. They don’t want to see their “protégés” reaching a higher level than them. Leaders don’t want to lose their status. Personally, I think that it would be an honor to have trained someone who is doing a great work for Christ.

We need to be seeking the wisdom of the Holy Spirit for every aspect of our ministry. Only then will we see the results that will point to the power of God at work.

Question: How do you plan what you’ll be doing in the future?

The Grace of Undetached Missions Giving

04 Oct

As Paul writes to the Corinthian church, he encourages them to give to the starving saints in Jerusalem. Israel was experiencing famine at this time. Paul was calling on the Greek churches to help them.

His words to the church should inspire us to adopt a whole new mindset concerning our missions giving.

Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.
1 Corinthians 16:1-4

The first thing that I see is that Paul’s exhortation was not something special for the Corinthian church. He had prescribed this manner of giving for all the churches under his ministry. In his command, I see four major truths associated with missions giving.

Missions giving is for everyone. At least with these gentile churches, they met the first day of every week. It was during this meeting that EVERYONE was to seek God and give according to how they were prospering.

Please note that this collection was not the tithe that went to the upkeep of the local church. This was a special collection to be stored up for when it would be released to the specified missions project.

This is not just an exhortation for the well to do. It’s for everyone, rich and poor alike. God doesn’t look at the size of the gift, but the condition of the heart. We give because we want to be a blessing to someone else.

How much you give is based upon how thankful you are. This goes right along with what I have been saying. It’s not about the quantity of the gift.

I have to look at my life and take inventory. How has the Lord been blessing me? Am I thankful for His blessing? Do I want to be a blessing to others?

The fact is that when you pass on a blessing to others, you’re making room for a blessing in your life. There are those who say that it’s wrong for me to teach this. “We should give with no thought of receiving a blessing.” If that’s the case, then Jesus is wrong, because He was the first one to tell us this truth (Luke 6:38).

Don’t simply send your missions giving, take it personally. This is one of those areas where I think that the modern church has missed it. We collect money for missions and then send out a check every month. It’s neat, clean, and detached.

According to Paul, there should be a missions team in each church that goes to visit the missionaries. They are the representatives of the church on the mission field. American Christians would gain a whole new perspective if they could see what was required to serve God in other parts of the world.

Missions giving is an act of grace. When we give to missions, we’re an extension of the arms of Christ. We’re giving more than just money, especially if we bring it personally.

We’re giving love, encouragement, and fellowship to those who are in need of it the most. In many cases, those in the field are away from family and friends for years at a time. You may be that taste of home that gives them the strength to continue victoriously.

Please take Paul’s message to heart. Be an active part of missions. Give what you can. Then, don’t let it end there, but trust God to bring you an opportunity to travel and visit a missionary. It will be one of the best experiences of your life.

Question: How have you involved yourself in missions?

Giving Ourselves to God

02 Oct

I’ve been posting about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Paul goes into great detail explaining the importance of His rising from the grave.

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:57-58

In the context of this verse, Paul has just told us of the defeat of death and sin. By rising from the dead, the Lord proved once and for all that they had no hold over Him.

Paul concludes this section by talking about our victory in Christ. The resurrection is the foundation for our victory in this life. We know that the victory is ours in Christ, no matter what the situation may look like right at the present moment.

So in this passage, Paul uses the word, therefore. It’s because we know that Christ is victorious – past, present, and future – that we can give ourselves fully to God. We already know the outcome, so we can give ourselves willingly.

The problem is that willingly and fully are two very different things. I can willingly serve God with only part of my life, time, and resources. The real victory comes when I willingly give all to Christ.

Jesus Christ is returning soon. The clock is ticking. God wants to do great things in our generation. The question is; do I want to be a part of it, or simply watch what happens in the lives of others?

Please understand that this has nothing to do with your abilities. It has everything to do with your willingness to fully commit your life to God. The Macedonian churches are a great example of this in the Scripture.

For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.
2 Corinthians 8:3-5

This is one of the most miraculous verses in the Bible. How can you ever give beyond your ability? I don’t know, but that’s Paul’s testimony of what they did.

I believe that the key to all this is found in verse 5. Paul said that they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us.

Your first calling is not to a church or a ministry. It’s to God Himself.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t commit yourself to a church. What I am saying is that committing yourself to a church without first giving yourself to God is counter-productive.

It’s only when you first give yourself to God, that you can accomplish something beyond your ability. That’s when people notice that it’s God working in you. Only then will God get the glory from your life, and people will be attracted to the Gospel.

Question: How fully committed is your life to God?

The Spirit and the Word

Monthly Archives: October 2019

Planning for the Future

The Grace of Undetached Missions Giving

Giving Ourselves to God

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