The Church and Its Leaders

1 Corinthians 3

The Meat: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. We are not to adopt the standards of the world, for if the gospel of Christ does not attract people, neither will the trappings of the world. The world's ways are sneaky and lead us to imitate it.  The church must not place its eyes on its leaders, whether they are Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, Joyce Myers, or Benny Hinn. They have all the reward they are ever going to get...the adulation of man. The role of the church is to follow Him in every circumstance. We must follow Him in worship, in fellowship, in Bible study, in training and in music. We must forsake the world and everything in it to follow Christ and Him alone.
The message of 1 Corinthians is that Christ is preeminent. He is to be the focus of our message, whether it is from the Old Testament or the New. It is not at all about us, it is all about Him. He is the First and the Last and Everything In between.
Note: Something odd happened to the format. I don't know what happened as I typed it in Blogger as I usually do, but somehow it came out strange.

3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?

The milk: The leaders at Corinth were worldly and acted like babes in Christ. Saved, but not growing spiritually and not leading their flock to grow in Him. They had their eyes on different leaders.

The Meat: The leaders at Corinth were good at reading the words of scripture (the Old Testament) and giving superficial meaning to it, but they never presented the meat, the deep, deep meaning of the words. They never connected the teachings of the words to the meaning of the Word. They were not even so much as living by the Holy Spirit. They picked out favorites in the church and followed them. In other words, there was a form of politics going on at Corinth.

5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

The Milk: The people of the church at Corinth were divided, some following Apollos and others following Paul. 

The Meat: Apollos and Paul were to be seen as a team, each with his own talents and leadership abilities and taking a different approach, but both aiming at the same thing: a thorough knowledge of and faith in, and only in, God through Christ. They were to be seen as working toward the same goal of growing the church through right doctrine and right focus. 

10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

The Milk: Paul likened the church as a building being built and talked about how important it is to have a good foundation.

The Meat: The foundation of the church, everything it does and everything it teaches must be built on the truth of Jesus Christ. He is to be their rallying point, their focus. He is the in all, of all, through all, and by all of everything they do. If they don't get their teaching about Christ right, nothing they teach or do will be right. If they get that right, nothing they do will perish, whether by persecution, peril, or anything else the world can do to them.

16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

The Milk: We are God's temple and God will destroy anyone who harms it.

The Meat: Under the Old Covenant, the temple was a physical building complex where animal sacrifices were made. Under the New Covenant, there is no longer a physical temple. The Holy Spirit now lives in the hearts of believers. We are made safe in Him. We are led by Him. The temple is the aggregate of the hearts of people as they move toward the goal of reaching souls for Christ.

18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[a]; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[b] 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[c] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

The Milk: We fool ourselves if we think we are wise. We are not to boast about our leaders and we belong to Christ.

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SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Great is Thy Faithfulness-Chris Rice

A Study in Ezra Week 1 Part B

Ezra was a descendant of Hilkiah (Ezra 7:1), the high priest who found a copy of the law during the reign of Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:14). 

Ezra, as a priest, was unable to serve during the captivity, but he gave his time to a study of the Word of God — he was “a ready scribe in the law of Moses” (Ezra 7:6).  Ezra was a great revivalist and reformer.  The revival began with the reading of the Word of God by Ezra (Nehemiah 8).  He organized the synagogue, founded the order of scribes, helped settle the canon of Scripture and arranged the Psalms.

Chapter 1

Verse 1 — “Cyrus, king of Persia” was one of the most enlightened rulers of the ancient world.  He was a subject of predictive prophecy. He was named before he was born — almost 200 years before he became king of Persia. He is a type of Christ.

Verses 2-4 — “The LORD God of heaven” is a designation of God which is peculiar to Ezra, Nehemiah and Daniel. In the post-captivity books He is “the LORD God of heaven.” Cyrus gave permission to the Jews to: (1) return to the land, (2) rebuild the city of Jerusalem, and (3) rebuild the temple.

Verses 5-11 — Very few avail themselves of this opportunity (see Ezra 2:64, 65).  Most of the captives are now settled and satisfied in Babylon.  They still their consciences by giving generously to those who do return. Cyrus returns the vessels of gold taken from the temple by Nebuchadnezzar.

Chapter 2

Verses 1- This is about the return under Zerubbabel. Total number who return at this time under Zerubbabel:

Total congregation: 42,360. Servants and maids: 7,337. Singers, both male and female: 200. Grand total 49,897. There were 4,289 priests, 347 Levites.

Chapter 3 – Chapters are about the rebuilding of the altar and the temple. Notice how well organized the rebuilding of each is.

Verses 1-6 — Preparation is made for rebuilding the altar. The purpose of the altar was to make sacrifices to the Lord of burnt (cooked) offerings. Under the New Covenant, we do not have an altar at which to make sacrifices. We have only two sacrifices worthy of offering to God: The sacrifice of praise and the sacrifice of ourselves (Romans 12:1 & 2).

Verses 7-9 — Preparation is made for rebuilding the temple. We no longer have a temple. Under the New Covenant, we ARE the temple. God’s word is in our hearts in the person of the Holy Spirit. In fact, NONE of the ceremonial and/or legal requirements of the Old Covenant are applicable to those under the New Covenant.

Verses 10-13 — The foundation is laid with mingled songs of praise and tears of mourning (see Haggai for the explanation of this seemingly contradictory reaction to the rebuilding of the temple).

Chapter 4:1-24 —There were those who tried to stop the rebuilding of the temple. The enemies’ first effort at disrupting the rebuilding of the temple is to offer to become allies. This is absolutely rejected. In the second effort to hinder the work, the enemy seeks to disrupt the building by various means. The third effort to stop the rebuilding of the temple is a letter sent by the enemy to Artaxerxes with false accusations. The contents of the letter are given. The enemy succeeds in sending a letter to Artaxerxes, and he shoots back a reply that the work is to cease.  The suspension of work continues until the time of Darius, king of Persia.

Chapter 5 Verses 1-17 — Haggai and Zechariah encourage the people to resume rebuilding of the temple.  When the leaders are challenged, they appeal to Darius. Darius grants permission to resume the rebuilding of the temple. 

Chapter 6:1-22 — Darius issues a decree which confirms the original decree of Cyrus. The temple is rebuilt under the inspiration of Haggai and Zechariah.  God is identified here as the God of Israel (not Judah).  This means there were some from all tribes in Jerusalem at this time. Those who returned are likewise identified here as “the children of Israel.” The language here is more explicit: “all Israel.” The emphasis again is upon the Word of God. The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are observed again.

We see organization as a characteristic of God from the order of creation, the building of the temple, the rebuilding of the altar and the temple and in the rebuilding of the wall in Nehemiah. If we are to be like Him we must be organized.

God has once again (as in Esther) taken the necessary steps to ensure that the lineage of David is secure until the coming of Messiah.

A Study in Ezra - Week 01 - Part A

Four things to look for in Ezra:

1.  What does Ezra say about the character of God?

2.  What does Ezra say about God's love of His creation?

3.  What does Ezra say about God's plan of redemption?

4.  Whether Ezra relates to the Old Covenant or to the New Covenant...and how.

God told His people that if they chose to break their covenant with Him, He would again allow other nations to take them into slavery (Jer. 2:14–25). In spite of God’s repeated warnings from the mouths of His prophets, Israel and Judah chose to reject their Lord and to participate in the worship of foreign gods.

The Jews’ return from the Babylonian captivity seemed like a second Exodus, sovereignly patterned in some ways after Israel’s first redemption from Egyptian bondage. The return trip from Babylon involved activities similar to those of the original Exodus: 1) the rebuilding of the temple and the city walls; 2) the reinstitution of the law, which made Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah collectively seem like a second Moses; 3) the challenge of the local enemies; and 4) the temptation to intermarry with non-Jews, resulting in idolatry.

The decrees, proclamations, letters, lists, genealogies, and memoranda, many of them written by the Persian administration, attest to the sovereign hand of God in Israel’s restoration. The primary message of the book is that God orchestrated the past grim situation (captivity) and would continue to work through a pagan king and his successors to give Judah hope for the future (return). God’s administration overrides that of any of the kings of this world, and thus the book of Ezra is a message of God’s continuing covenant grace to Israel.

Here is an outline of Ezra:

I. The First Return under Zerubbabel (1:1–6:22)

A. Cyrus’ Decree to Return (1:1–4)

B. Treasures to Rebuild the Temple (1:5–11)

C. Those Who Returned (2:1–70)

D. Construction of the Second Temple (3:1–6:22)

1. Building begins (3:1–13)

2. Opposition surfaces (4:1–5)

3. Excursus on future opposition (4:6–23)

4. Construction renewed (4:24–5:2)

5. Opposition renewed (5:3–6:12)

6. Temple completed and dedicated (6:13–22)

II. The Second Return under Ezra (7:1–10:44)

A. Ezra Arrives (7:1–8:36)

B. Ezra Leads Revival (9:1–10:44)

 The events in the book of Esther are just about in the middle of the chronology of the book of Ezra.

 The book of Ezra witnesses that God keeps His covenants quite apart from the keeping of those covenants by the Jews. As people of the New Covenant, that must be considered welcomed news to us.

 Ezra, like Esther, is the story of how God kept the lineage of David complete until the coming of Messiah, Jesus, Christ.

Ezra reports how the sovereign hand of God moved kings and overcame varied opposition to reestablish Israel as Abraham’s seed, nationally and individually, in the land promised to Abraham, David, and Jeremiah.

The Birth of Jesus

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Jesus Presented in the Temple

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses,Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[b]), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”[c]

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
    you may now dismiss[d] your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[e] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”[f] 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

The events recorded in Luke's gospel are impossible. They violate all of the laws of physics, biology, anatomy and science as we know it. They are astonishing and are outside of the experience of men. They could not have happened.

But they did.

That's why we call them miracles.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

A Study in Esther Week 1

 (Get your Bible out and read the verses as we study ) 

The book of Esther has had its share of controversy. Some have said it does not belong in the Bible because it does not even mention the name of God. Others have used several of the “events” recorded in Esther to “prove” that God was at work.

The real reasons for the book of Esther being canonized are:

1) It reinforces the continuum that the rest of the Bible demonstrates.

2) If Haman had annihilated the Jews as he wanted to, the lineage of Messiah from God’s chosen people would have been interrupted and we would have had no Jesus Christ. Esther is the record of how that lineage was preserved by God.

The book of Esther MUST be read as a narrative. It is totally inappropriate to take a passage here and a passage there from Esther and apply it to our very dissimilar circumstances. Esther is a true story, in the end, about willingness to give one's life for God's cause.

The purpose of Esther is to demonstrate faithfulness to God in all circumstances. It is a post-exile story about Jews who stayed behind after most returned to Jerusalem after captivity. Babylon was conquered by Persia. Esther, because of her attractiveness to king Xerxes, becomes the queen of the land, and, by her selflessness, saves her people.

•    In chapter 1-2, Esther becomes the queen to Ahasuerus (Xerxes) of Persia. She was personally chosen by the King. “The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him” (2:17), probably because of her beauty and intelligence.

•    Chapters 3-4, Mordecai (Esther’s guardian) refused to bow down and pay homage to Haman a high official of the king. Haman becomes infuriated and plots to destroy all the Jews in the kingdom because of his pride. Mordecai hears of the plot and reports it to his Esther. “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” (4:14).

Often the phrase “for such a time as this” is used to try to inspire a person to rise above his circumstances. That might be a good catch-phrase but it does not refer to doing better. Nor does it support the idea that God has chosen you for a task relevant to today’s world. He might have, but such a thing is not indicated by this verse.

What Esther did was to place her life on the line to save her people.

The importance of laying down a life for God’s people should not be lost. It was through God’s people that the Christ, who would lay down his life for sin, came. He died for His people and for any who would repent of sin and turn to Him in faith, trusting in, and only in, His finished work at the cross of Calvary.

Furthermore, it was Christ who said, “…and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:38-39), and “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)

Esther said “…if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16).

So the question today is not whether you have been chosen for some special purpose at this particular time. The question is whether you are willing to lay down your life for the cause of Christ. Will you stand up for Him in any circumstance, even if it costs you everything? 

That’s what God did for you.