Today’s reading: Num 35:1–36:13, 1 Cor 16:1–24, Ps 30:1–12

Today’s theme: Love is imperative

Today we learn that we are called upon to grow up and live in love before God and each other.

Numbers 35:1–36:13

A holy nation

All the cities that you give to the Levites shall be forty-eight, with their pasturelands. Numbers 35:7 (ESV)

The cities of the Levites were to be spread out across the land and serve as a reminder to the people of their calling to be a holy nation before God.

Our city of refuge

For he must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest, but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession. Numbers 35:28 (ESV)

We thank God that Jesus is both our city of refuge and our great High Priest. We run to Jesus our city of refuge and know we can stay under his protection for eternity because He lives as our High Priest forever as stated in Hebrews 4:14-15 and Hebrews 7:26-28.

Five wise virgins

The inheritance of the people of Israel shall not be transferred from one tribe to another, for every one of the people of Israel shall hold on to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. Numbers 36:7 (ESV)

The case of these 5 daughters of Zelophehad reminds us of the parable Jesus taught in Matthew 25:1-13. The five wise and five foolish virgins (Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah are the wise ones). The foolish virgins wanted to borrow oil from the wise but the oil was not transferable, they had to go and get their own. In the same way our inheritance in Jesus can not be transferred or imparted to someone else but belongs to us. Each person must pursue and maintain their own inheritance before God.

1 Corinthians 16:1–24

We have always met on Sunday

On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. 1 Corinthians 16:2 (ESV)

Further evidence that from the earliest days of the church, the body of Christ would meet for corporate worship on the first day of the week rather than the 7th day in honour of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as is also noted in Acts 20:7.

An open door for the gospel

for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 1 Corinthians 16:9 (ESV)

When Paul mentions the great and effective open door he is pointing to the great reception his preaching and the gospel message has found as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:12, Colossians 4:3 and Acts 14:27.

However as we know the gospel message always meets with resistance as it challenges the pride of man. It causes many adversaries to rise up, see Philippians 1:28 and 1 Thessalonians 2:2. We give thanks to God that hostility is no real hindrance to the gospel as Paul mentions in Philippians 1:12–14.

Grow up and live in love

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13–14 (ESV)

In Paul’s conclusion to this letter he summarises the practical imperatives he has been talking about throughout the letter. He calls the people of Corinth to be watchful which is a call to holiness and sanctification.

To stand firm in the faith is to uphold the gospel message as first preached and the godly traditions handed down to them. To act like men and be strong is to be mature in their thinking and behaviour.

The call for everything to be done in love reminds us of the overarching love theme of the letter outlined back in chapter 13. We are called to grow up and live out the faith in love.

Love is imperative

If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! 1 Corinthians 16:22 (ESV)

Love is not an option for us as Christians but an imperative command given by the Lord Jesus Himself in John 13:34.

Psalm 30:1–12

Angry for a moment

For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5 (ESV)

God is always displeased with sin and can never be indifferent to it. He judges sin with a holy anger. However for His people, God’s judgments and anger are short-lived and pass quickly while his favour lasts for our lifetime and on into eternity. We should be grateful today that God’s mercy, grace and love towards us outweighs His anger through Jesus.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 1 Corinthians 16

Today’s reading: Num 33:50–34:29, 1 Cor 15:35–58, Ps 29:1–11

Today’s theme: Our coming resurrection

We learn many lessons about the reality, nature, hope and sanctifying power of our coming resurrection which will happen for all believers when the King returns.

Numbers 33:50–34:29

Kill sin and cast it out

then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their metal images and demolish all their high places. Numbers 33:52 (ESV)

God calls on Israel to not only drive the people out of the land but to destroy their idols as well. The main reason these people needed to be driven from the land was because of their idolatry.

Idolatry brings demonic bondage to the idol worshipper. God wanted these false gods/demons cast out of the land so that the trap and alluring temptation of idolatry would be removed from his people. It would allow them to worship the true God without distraction.

We can apply this to our lives by killing sin wherever it is found in us and casting it out, see Galatians 3:5-6.

Deal firmly with sin (including your own)

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. Numbers 33:55 (ESV)

When we do not firmly deal with sin in our lives, the compromise we make will become like torment for us. We can not serve two masters (Matthew 6:24).

God’s abundant provision

Moses commanded the people of Israel, saying, “This is the land that you shall inherit by lot, which the LORD has commanded to give to the nine tribes and to the half-tribe. Numbers 34:13 (ESV)

God made abundant provision for Israel. Although they possess much of the land they never possess all of it. Not even in the times of David and Solomon. This points to God’s abundant provision for us in hearing and answering our prayers beyond what we requested, and providing abundantly more than we need or use. See Ephesians 3:20, Romans 8:32 and James 1:5.

Jesus said He has come that we should have an abundant life (John 10:10).

1 Corinthians 15:35–58

Our coming resurrection

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:44 (ESV)

Our future resurrection is not just an idea, it is a reality! We will be raised to life, our new bodies will be empowered by the life giving Spirit of Jesus who was the first to rise from the dead eternally. We will never die again but will become immortal. This is a great hope and we should believe and look forward to it with firm and solid faith.

We won’t just float around as disembodied spirits, no, we will have life. Physical yet spiritual life that will never end. John mentions that this hope will keep us walking in purity in 1 John 3:3.

The Lord’s return

in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:52 (ESV)

Those of us who are alive when Jesus returns will have our bodies transformed from mere human bodies to our new resurrected bodies that are immortal. We will then join the Lord along with the saints who will be raised when the Lord returns.

An interesting note is that when we die our spirits go to be with the Lord straight away. When He returns we will all receive the new, eternal resurrection bodies we have longed for.

The sanctifying power of the resurrection

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)

Our belief in the resurrection and the rewards that will be given to us in Heaven should spur us on and make us firm in our faith. We should be encouraged in our work for the Lord.

We have assurance that the sacrifices and work done for God and His kingdom are not done in vain and will be richly rewarded. So let’s abound in our work for the Lord and not grow weary in doing well. See Galatians 6:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:13 and Hebrews 12:3.

Psalm 29:1–11

The voice of the Lord

The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. Psalm 29:3 (ESV)

Jesus is the voice of the Lord, see John 1:1.

King over the storm

The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. Psalm 29:10 (ESV)

Jesus sits as king, enthroned over every storm and flood. God is sovereign over everything and is still in control in the midst of the storms of life.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Voice of the Lord

Today’s reading: Num 33:1–49, 1 Cor 15:12–34, Ps 28:1–9

Today’s theme: Pilgrims Progress

Today we are reminded to continue progressing and growing as we walk with the Lord in the light and power of His very real, essential and necessary resurrection. Without the full bodily resurrection of Jesus we have no hope

Numbers 33:1–49

Pilgrims progress

Moses wrote down their starting places, stage by stage, by command of the LORD, and these are their stages according to their starting places. Numbers 33:2 (ESV)

We are called to progress and grow as we journey with the Lord. The journey of the children of Israel points forward to the pilgrim like journey of every believer as we draw closer to God’s eternal Promised Land. As we walk with the Lord our faith will be tested but we must endure until the end to receive the reward. See 2 Corinthians 3:18, Hebrews 11:16, Hebrews 12:1-2.

1 Corinthians 15:12–34

The resurrection of Jesus is essential

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 1 Corinthians 15:17–18 (ESV)

Paul was correcting some bad teaching that the Corinthian church had started to believe. This was influenced by the word around them and possibly the misinterpretation of Paul’s own teaching. They had concluded that there was no resurrection.

Paul shows them that the implication of this error was that Christ did not rise from the dead. If that were true we could not be saved and would have no hope. The resurrection of Jesus and His death on the cross are both a part of one saving act by God. Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ there is no Christian faith.

God, all in all

When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15:28 (ESV)

Gordon Fee, a noted American-Canadian Christian theologian, comments well stating that… “Paul’s point is that in raising Christ from the dead God has set in motion a chain of events that must culminate in the final destruction of death and thus of God’s being once again, as in eternity past, “all in all.”” Fee, G. D. (1987). The First Epistle to the Corinthians (p. 759).

Psalm 28:1–9

Our Great Shepherd

Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever. Psalm 28:9 (ESV)

Hebrews 13:20 encourages us that Jesus is our great shepherd, He will carry us forever.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on 1 Corinthians 15

Today’s reading: Num 32:1–42, 1 Cor 14:26–15:11, Ps 27:1–14

Today’s theme: Harmony, peace and order

The thrust of today’s reading is that God desires unity around the truth for the church as we operate in harmony, peace and order. God does not want the church to be an unruly free for all, there should be order because God does not create confusion. We need to pay attention to the preached word of God and apply it to our lives instead of attending church to “do our thing” or “have our say”.

Numbers 32:1–42

Sin cannot be concealed from God

But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:23 (ESV)

As stated in Galatians 6:7, what we sow we will also reap, we cannot pull wool over God’s eyes. Justice for your sin will ultimately come on the day of judgement, or was ultimately satisfied through Jesus on the cross.

Just because Jesus has paid the price for our sins, it does not mean we can live in sin, this is wickedness and foolishness and God will not be mocked in this way. We cannot hold God to ransom, He is not a man, He is God!

1 Corinthians 14:26–15:11

Harmony, peace and order

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 1 Corinthians 14:33 (ESV)

This is the main point for Paul, he was dealing with a very unruly church in Corinth where there was a lack of order in the service, with tongues and prophecies being said over each other which resulted in no one benefiting as everyone tried to say their piece. James 3:16-17 paints a picture of the problems in the church at Corinth.

Instead of this, our worship should reflect the nature of our God. Mayhem and confusion are not characteristics of God (but these were the traits of the false gods). God is not the author or cause of confusion in the church, the charge for this lays at our own feet, so we must abandon all self-centred behaviour.

God desires harmony, peace and order in His church, for the mutual benefit of its members and for His glory, so let us reflect Him in our worship.

We don’t need questions to prophecy

the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. 1 Corinthians 14:34–35 (ESV)

Understanding the background to the problems in the church at Corinth, will help us to put these statements from Paul into their proper context. In the Greek tradition, prophecy like the ones coming from the oracle at Delphi, required questions being asked to prompt the prophetic utterance. It is likely that some married Corinthian women in the church, who were likely prophetesses themselves and involved in the weighing of prophesies, were influenced by their surrounding culture and asked questions as part of the service.

Paul wanted to make the point that unlike the oracle at Delphi and other forms of prophecy from the ancient world, prophecy in the church did not require priming questions, instead it was completely dependent on the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit. Paul addresses these women in this context, suggesting that they ask questions at home and not to disrupt the service, therefore the theme of order within the service remains.

First importance, the Gospel

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (ESV)

Paul made it clear that the thing of first or greatest importance is the Gospel message, which he summarises here.

Psalm 27:1–14

The Lord is beautiful

One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4 (ESV)

God is truly beautiful, just thinking about who God is as revealed in His word, is so wonderful. We should stop and savour God, His word and His presence. When we stop and look to God, we can ask Him questions and be confident that we will get answers.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on 1 Corinthians 15

 

Today’s reading: Num 31:1–54, 1 Cor 14:1–25, Ps 26:1–12

Today’s theme: Build others up

For the past few days we have been reading about the body of Christ, how we are a many members body with varying gifts. Today Paul makes the point that whatever gifts we have, we should seek to use them to build up and nourish the body. The gift that questions had been asked about were tongues and prophecy and so Paul uses these in particular, to make his point and gives guidelines for public ministry.

Numbers 31:1–54

The teaching of Balam

Moses said to them, “Have you let all the women live? Behold, these, on Balaam’s advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and so the plague came among the congregation of the LORD. Numbers 31:15–16 (ESV)

In Revelation 2:14  we hear Jesus tell us, through John, that the church at Pergamum were in a dangerous place of compromise, by some holding on to the teaching of Balaam who taught the Midianites to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel in the form of sexual immorality and idolatry.

Jesus calls on the church to repent of the sins of compromise and appeasement with the world. Balaam represents false teaching, while the women guilty of enticement represent compromise and sin, we must kill both of these with impunity. John Owen said: “…be killing sin or sin be killing you”.

1 Corinthians 14:1–25

Build others up

Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. 1 Corinthians 14:5 (ESV)

Paul’s main point in this section is to encourage the Corinthians who were fond of using the gift of tongues (the miraculous ability to speak unlearned human and angelic languages), to see the greater worth in prophesying (bringing a message from God under the direction of the Holy Spirit to the body of believers that is intelligible), as this builds up the body, which is one of his main points in the letter as a whole.

For the immature believer it seemed that the gift of tongues was one of the things leading to pride and a false sense of maturity. We should use our gifts to build up our fellow believers. Prophesying provides insight, warning, correction, and encouragement… tongues will do this too, only with interpretation.

Guidelines for public ministry

Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. 1 Corinthians 14:19–20 (ESV)

Paul made clear that he spoke in tongues more than everyone in the Corinthian church, but it seems he did this speaking in tongues “more than them all” in private.

Paul makes his point even clearer by saying that he would rather speak just 5 words that were intelligible whilst in the public assembly of the church, than 10,000 words in tongues which are not intelligible (without interpretation). So the point is made again that we should seek to build one another up, this should be the motivation behind the pursuit of and use of the gifts in the church.

God made our minds, not the devil. God wants our minds to be engaged and used for Him and His glory. In light of this, Paul calls the church to clear and mature thinking. As Christians we need to engage in the discipline of thinking, mediating on God’s word and using our God given intellectual faculties to build up and encourage one another in the Lord.

Psalm 26:1–12

Ask God to examine you

Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind. Psalm 26:2 (ESV)

We should walk with a pure heart before the Lord in integrity, then we can join David in this prayer asking God to examine us. The New Testament goes even further and reminds us to examine ourselves to see if we really are in the faith, see 2 Corinthians 13:5.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 1 Corinthians 14

Today’s reading: Num 30:1–16, 1 Cor 12:12–13:13, Ps 25:1–22

Today’s theme: A better way

The ‘better way’ that cuts to the heart of the controversy over varied gifts and the use of those gifts, is love. We could be very gifted both naturally and spiritually, but without love it is not worth anything. This should be the heart and driving force of the Christian’s life; love for God and love for others because when all the gifts lose their use in the coming kingdom, love will remain.

Numbers 30:1–16

God overrides our folly

But if, on the day that her husband comes to hear of it, he opposes her, then he makes void her vow that was on her, and the thoughtless utterance of her lips by which she bound herself. And the LORD will forgive her. Numbers 30:8 (ESV)

God is our Father and we are the Bride of Christ, so in this way, there is a spiritual lesson to learn. We may say or declare something which later becomes a prison or burden to us, but God can reverse the foolish things we declare in our folly and lack of knowledge, because His words and decrees are more powerful than ours and because we are in a relationship with Him. He is our covering, head and authority. Jesus told us to avoid foolish vows but to make our conversation plain by simply saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’, in Matthew 5:37.

1 Corinthians 12:12–13:13

People of the Spirit

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13 (ESV)

All Christians are baptised and have the Holy Spirit living in them. We are by definition, spiritual people or people of the Spirit. The Spirit is what essentially distinguishes us from the unbelievers and marks the beginning of our lives in Christ (see Galatians 3:2–3).

The Holy Spirit above all is what makes a person a child of God, without the Holy Spirit we cannot be born again. This common source and entry into God’s kingdom should cause us to walk in unity, despite cultural and ethnic diversity. We are a new community in Christ.

Purpose and function in the body

But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 1 Corinthians 12:18 (ESV)

We should not be focused on position but on purpose and function in the body. We have the gifts and position that God has given to us, He has arranged the body and He knows what will be the greatest blessing for the body as a whole and for the sake of the glory of His name and kingdom. So, let us joyfully embrace the purpose that God has for us in the body.

Interdependence in the body

which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 1 Corinthians 12:24–26 (ESV)

We have interdependence to one another in the body, God has designed the body of Christ in this way so that we care for one another.

We are not all the same

Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 1 Corinthians 12:30 (ESV)

The answers to these rhetorical questions are ‘no’. We are not all prophets, we do not all work miracles or speak with or interpret tongues etc. This is Paul’s point, we all have different gifts, callings and positions in the diverse but unified body of Christ.

Love, the better way

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1–3 (ESV)

Paul is now outlining the better way, which is not to use our gifts to outdo each other, build ourselves up, or in a competitive spirit, but to use these gifts in love for our fellow believers and to build them up.

Paul begins this line of reasoning by using three hyperbolic (extreme) examples of the use of spiritual gifts and endeavours, he pitches them against love and concludes that without love, these great gifts are nothing.

The gifts should never be used aside from love, otherwise the gifts can be abused and lead the one using the gift, into a false sense of security and ultimate fruitlessness (I am nothing, I gain nothing). Love is essential.

What love is and is not

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (ESV)

Paul gives us a wonderful poetic description of love, stating what it is and what it is not. Try replacing the word love with our own name, it is a good exercise to help you meditate on the way Agape love functions in your life.

Love will never be surpassed

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV)

When the new heaven and earth come and we see God face to face, the gifts will be surpassed but love will never be surpassed. Love is eternal and is more important than anything else in the Christian life.

Psalm 25:1–22

Ask God to lead and teach you

Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25:4–5 (ESV)

This should be the humble and needy prayer of our hearts today, how deeply we need God to teach and instruct us. Thank God that we now have the Spirit of Truth to guide and lead us into all truth, in accordance with God’s word as Jesus tells us in John 14:15-17, John 15:26 and John 16:13.

Friends with the Lord

The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. Psalm 25:14 (ESV)

Only those who fear and obey the Lord can truly be called His friends. In John 15:15 Jesus said “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on 1 Corinthians 13

Today’s reading: Num 29:1–40, 1 Cor 11:17–12:11, Ps 24:1–10

Today’s theme: Gifted to serve

The spiritual gifts given to us by God the Holy Spirit, are not to build up or to serve ourselves, every gift has been given so that we can serve others with them, this way we build the body and bring glory to God. We should not use our gifts to show off or to compete with each other. We also see the messianic meaning of the feasts.

Numbers 29:1–40

The meaning of the feasts

“These you shall offer to the LORD at your appointed feasts, in addition to your vow offerings and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your grain offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.” Numbers 29:39 (ESV)

All the Feasts point to spiritual realities in the New Testament, the following is adapted from the New Bible commentary: 21st century edition… “Passover points to Jesus’ crucifixion. The Feast of Weeks or Pentecost (firstfruits) points to the sending of the Holy Spirit and the firstfruits of the gospel harvest (Acts 2). The Feast of Tabernacles points to Christ’s second coming at the close of the age, marking the end of the harvest.

The time between the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles was a busy period when Israel laboured for the harvest. Similarly, between Pentecost and the second coming labourers are sent to reap the harvest among the Gentiles (Mt 9:37–38; 13:30–39; Lk. 10:2; Jn. 4:35). At the end of the age, the harvest will be gathered in and the weeds thrown into the fire (Mt. 13:39; Mk. 4:29; Rev. 14:15)”.

1 Corinthians 11:17–12:11

God created order for men and women

But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. 1 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV)

This first half of 1 Corinthians 11, is a part of the New Testament that is the subject of much debate among biblical scholars. One thing we can certainly see in the issues dealt with before and after this section, is that Paul is concerned with proper Christian conduct within the church.

The point Paul is driving home is that there is order, rank and authority in God’s created order and even in the relationship between the Father and the Son. This should be reflected in creation and most clearly in the church.

A pressing point for Paul was to address the Corinthians’ tendency to allow male and female distinctions to become blurred (under the influence of the secular world around them at the time) – we have the same issues in today’s culture which is trying to make sexuality and creation roles so androgynous, so as to lose the distinction all together.

We must uphold the image of God within the church, men must dress and act as men and women as women, not in competition with each other but complementing one another.

God’s purpose in division

for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 1 Corinthians 11:19 (ESV)

The divisions in the Corinthian church were sometimes along social lines and betrayed the message of the Gospel, by giving preference to the rich. Paul summarises this activity as unbiblical and points to the divisions as a tool that God would use to weed out the church and to distinguish between those who were genuine and those in the flesh.

In Church history, division in the church has given rise to the firmer definition of  our doctrines, creed and confessions, just like germs in a body give rise to antibodies making the body stronger.

Self examination

Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 1 Corinthians 11:28 (ESV)

We are reminded of this at every Lord’s Supper and must take the command seriously, we really need to examine our hearts towards God and our fellow believers and if we have not been walking as we ought to, then we should refrain from taking the Lord’s supper until we have made things right. Self examination should be a daily Christian discipline.

A variety of gifts

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 1 Corinthians 12:4–6 (ESV)

This is such a wonderful passage, God has given a diverse variety of gifts to the Church through the members of the Church, we do not all have the same gift, all our gifts and callings are different. Another amazing thing about this passage is that the entire Trinity is involved in the distribution of the varied gifts to the Church. The Spirit, The Lord Jesus and God the Father.

Gifted to serve others

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV)

Our gifts are not for us but for the common good of our fellow believers, we are not supposed to use our gifts to build ourselves up or for our own advantage, but to lovingly serve the body of Christ.

Not everyone gets the same gifts

to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:10 (ESV)

Tongues and the interpretation of tongues, is a gift of the Spirit given to some rather than to all believers.

Some today say that a believer does not have the Holy Spirit unless they speak in tongues but this is a mistake as speaking in tongues is one of the list of possible gifts given to individuals, alongside prophecy, healing, words of wisdom etc.

As the final verse states, we cannot decide or dictate which gifts we are given, the Holy Spirit apportions to each person individually, according to His own will.

Psalm 24:1–10

The King of Glory

Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! Psalm 24:8 (ESV)

Hallelujah, Jesus is the King of Glory!

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on 1 Corinthians 12

Today’s reading: Num 28:1–31, 1 Cor 10:23–11:16, Ps 23:1–6

Today’s theme: Free to serve

We have been made free in Christ, but that freedom itself is a test of our standing and heart in Christ. How will we use it, to serve ourselves or to serve others? We should of course do the latter, we have been freed to lovingly serve and build others up in the body of Christ.

Numbers 28:1–31

Daily dedication and devotion

And you shall say to them, This is the food offering that you shall offer to the LORD: two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by day, as a regular offering. Numbers 28:3 (ESV)

All these sacrifices find their ultimate fulfilment in Jesus, with the different types of sacrifices pointing towards various aspects of Jesus’ atoning work on the cross.

In this case we can also see a message for us directly. We should dedicate ourselves to consistent, daily, repeated (within each day, possibly the morning and the evening), times of prayer and reading the Bible (studying it and thinking it over). See Romans 12:1 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

1 Corinthians 10:23–11:16

Use freedom to serve others

“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 1 Corinthians 10:23–24 (ESV)

The Corinthians were very much concerned with their rights and their freedom to do what they wanted to do and what pleased them. Paul reverses this and explains to them and to us that, the freedom and rights we have in Christ are not for our own benefit but so that we can become servants of all (Mark 9:35), purposefully building up fellow believers.

Paul bases this thinking on the teaching and example given to us by Jesus in His sacrificial suffering and death on the cross. Let us lay down our rights, freedom and lives to serve and build others.

Will this bring glory to God?

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)

Paul was dealing with a new question in the church about eating meat that had been used in pagan sacrifice, this seemed like a grey area to the Corinthians which is why they asked the questions and contended over the issue.

Paul gives us a great test for assessing all the things we are not sure about… we can ask ourselves this question: “Will this bring glory to God?” We need to ensure that this is the overarching motivation in our hearts for everything that we do. We cannot compartmentalise our life so that a part of it brings glory to God and the rest is for our own pleasure – our entire life should bring glory to God.

Will this lead to salvation?

just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:33 (ESV)

Another guiding principle for our thinking and behaviour is the desire to see others saved.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on 1 Corinthians 11

Today’s reading: Num 27:1–23, 1 Cor 10:1–22, Ps 22:14–31

Today’s theme: A way of escape

God has made a way of escape for every temptation facing His children, this should give us confidence and bring us comfort as we persevere. Other lessons today include God’s heart for His daughters to receive an inheritance, made available through the cross of Jesus, which is prophesied in today’s psalm reading.

Numbers 27:1–23

God’s daughters

“The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You shall give them possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers and transfer the inheritance of their father to them. Numbers 27:7 (ESV)

The bible makes it very clear that God’s heart for women is one of love and justice. In the ancient world and in many cultures around the world today, women have no rights and are treated like possessions. This makes the boldness of these 5 daughters and God’s positive response so important.

Men and women are of course different, but in Christ we all share the same promises and inheritance. God has a purpose for every woman’s life, including those with no male covering.

We must be bold in approaching God to claim the inheritance He has for us. See Ephesians 1:3 and Hebrews 11:6.

Laying of hands

So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. Numbers 27:18 (ESV)

The baton of leadership would pass from Moses to Joshua. One of the qualifications for a godly leader is that they are filled with the Holy Spirit, Joshua was.

The laying on of hands was symbolic of the transferring or impartation of authority (or negatively the transferring of sins). This continues in the church, see Acts 6:6, 13:3, 1 Timothy 4:14, Hebrews 6:2.

1 Corinthians 10:1–22

Examples to learn from

Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 1 Corinthians 10:6 (ESV)

This gives us a context for reading the Old Testament. Here and in other places in the New Testament, we are told that the things recorded in the scriptures are there as examples and warnings for us to learn from. See Romans 15:4 and 2 Timothy 3:16.

The lesson to be learned here is that we should not follow our cravings and lusts which lead to sin and rebellion (and then to discipline or judgement), but to submit to God in joy.

The pitfall of self-confidence

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV)

Paul warns us against the pitfalls of self-confidence in our own knowledge or standing. We need to humbly rely on God or we risk falling.

A way of escape

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

In this particular case the tempting was the alluring power of idolatry, because of the suffering and persecution that abandoning its practise in Corinth would bring.

Our examples today may not be so obvious but we too are commonly tempted by our own selfish desires and held hostage by thoughts of being maligned socially among friends, family and at work, if we do not compromise and join them in the celebration of sin.

We must remember that God is faithful, He will give us strength to endure and provide a way of escape when we are under pressure to conform to the world. As the next verse says; take the way out and flee from idolatry or from whatever the compromising /challenging sin is that is tempting you or piling pressure on you.

Psalm 22:14–31

The Messiah would be pierced

For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— Psalm 22:16 (ESV)

This is one of the clearest prophecies of the crucifixion that Jesus would endure, it is mentioned in a time when crucifixion was not practised by the people of Israel (even in Jesus’ time, it was a Roman form of execution).

Gambling at the cross

they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. Psalm 22:18 (ESV)

The fulfilment of this prophecy is recorded in all 4 Gospel accounts, see Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:34 and John 19:23.

The finished work

they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it. Psalm 22:31 (ESV)

This points forward to Jesus finishing the work on the cross. John 19:30

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on 1 Corinthians 10

Today’s reading: Num 26:1–65, 1 Cor 8:1–9:27, Ps 22:1–13

Today’s theme: Love builds up

In today’s reading we see the faithfulness of God to His own plans and to those who trust in Him.  We are exhorted to love and serve one another rather than use knowledge in a selfish way, to outdo each other or lord it over others. Let us build up our Messianic community (the church), by serving one another in love.

Numbers 26:1–65

God’s plans cannot be thwarted

This was the list of the people of Israel, 601,730. Numbers 26:51 (ESV)

The total numbers in the new generation were not far from that of the first census (603,550 in the first compared to 601,730 in the second). If we are unfaithful to the Lord, it will not reduce the size of the Lord’s army but it will cause the size of our reward to diminish or to be completely lost. God’s plans and purposes always come to pass.

God proves Himself faithful

But among these there was not one of those listed by Moses and Aaron the priest, who had listed the people of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the LORD had said of them, “They shall die in the wilderness.” Not one of them was left, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. Numbers 26:64–65 (ESV)

It had been 40 years since the last census and all of the unbelieving generation had died in the wilderness. God proved Himself faithful in three ways:

1) He passed judgement as declared

2) He preserved the people through the wilderness journey

3) He kept the faithful Joshua and Caleb alive

As believers in Jesus, we are warned against being unbelieving and so never entering His rest, in Hebrews 3:7–4:2. We also learn that we lose nothing through faithfully waiting on God. We must find ourselves counted with the new believing and conquering generation, not with the unbelieving, wandering ones.

1 Corinthians 8:1–9:27

Love, over and above knowledge

Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 1 Corinthians 8:1 (ESV)

Paul is teaching the Corinthians that true Christianity is founded in love, not in knowledge.

Knowledge without love can lead to an elitist type of faith community, where those in the know are seen as superior to the ignorant. This is the opposite to the teaching of God’s word.

Self sacrificial love patterned after the love of Christ (shown in His death on the cross), builds up the church. Just because we know something does not mean we should act on that knowledge, we must first ask; “will this build up or hinder my fellow believer(s)?”

Today’s culture tells us that knowledge is power and that power gives us rights, but the bible teaches us that the real power is in serving one another, in love.

There is one God

yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 1 Corinthians 8:6 (ESV)

In an increasingly pluralistic society where it is popular to say that all religions lead to God, or that there are many gods, or even that we are gods – this verse is a refreshing reminder that the lying demons, false religions and wicked men are not really gods and cannot be compared to the one true God.

Idols are empty and without power, except over those that believe or fear them and the spirits behind them.

Psalm 22:1–13

The prophecy of the cross

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? Psalm 22:1 (ESV)

Jesus quoted this verse from the cross and in doing so, He points us to look at this psalm as prophetic and to understand His suffering, in light of it.

Prophecy fulfilled at the cross

“He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” Psalm 22:8 (ESV)

This is said to the Lord Jesus when He is on the cross, in Matthew 27:39–44. This also points to the fulfilment of prophecy. We can learn a lesson from Jesus’ response to those who dealt so cruelly with Him.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Love Builds Up