1 Corinthians 14: Will You Prophesy?
Verse of the Day: (V1) “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.”
1. Prophesy (V1-18)
V1 “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.”
Though God blessed Apostle Paul with many spiritual gifts, including the gift of speaking in many tongues or different languages, yet Paul affirmed that his best gift from God, beside charity or love, was prophesy or preaching of God’s word. The greatest joy for Paul was preaching God’s word and witnessing the miraculous salvation of precious souls repenting their sins, and receiving Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord.
V18 “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:”
2. Peace (V19-33)
V19 “Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”
Though God bestowed Paul with the gift of many languages, yet he would rather speak only 5 words of a language that people would understand, than to speak 5,000 words of a language that confused them and no one understood it. In other words, Paul desired that his words must edify and encourage the people to know the God of peace, and make Him known to others. He would never desire to impress others with his gift of languages if they could never understand him. Indeed, God is the God of peace and not of confusion.
V33 “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”
3. Prophet (V34-40)
V37 “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”
Paul declared that the real test of the true prophet or spiritual man was when he believed that Paul’s writings were inspired by the Holy Spirit and were God’s commandments. Indeed, Paul’s writings were profitable for doctrine, for reproof of the sins of man and for instruction in righteousness. Paul did not just write God’s word but he lived by God’s word and he did everything decently and in order, and for God’s glory, honour and praise.
V40 “Let all things be done decently and in order.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to prophesy that Jesus loves, forgives and saves!
1 Corinthians 13: Do You Have Charity?
Verse of the Day: (V13) “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
1. Cymbal (V1-7)
V1 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”
Though God bestowed Paul with the gifts of prophecy and faith, and chose him, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to write 14 of the 27 books of the New Testament of the Bible or God’s Word, namely, Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon and Hebrews, yet he confessed that he was a noisy cymbal and good-for-nothing if he had no charity or love. Indeed, love is God’s greatest gift, because it was love that God sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross and shed His blood for the sins of the whole world.
V2 “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”
2. Child (V8-11)
V8 “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”
Paul explained to the Corinthian Christians that though they were once like children when they first became Christians and only knew certain part of God’s Word, but as they matured in the Lord, they realised that love was truly the greatest gift among God’s gifts.
V11 “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
3. Charity (V12-13)
V12 “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
Paul concluded that though there were 3 great gifts: faith, hope and love, yet he affirmed that love was the greatest among them. One day in heaven we shall have no need of faith and hope as we shall see our God, however, we still need love, because God is love!
V13 “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to love everyone including my enemies as You are love.
1 Corinthians 12: Are You Gifted?
Verse of the Day: (V31) “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.”
1. Gifts (V1-12)
V1 “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.”
God through Paul taught the Corinthian Christians that every Christian was blessed with spiritual gifts because they were ignorant thinking that only the apostles were blessed with gifts. Though we may have different gifts yet we have the same Spirit to lead us to use our gifts to bless others. Let us therefore be humble when we have many gifts, and be contented when we have few gifts, because every gift is from God, and for His glory.
V4 “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”
2. Gentiles (V13-27)
V13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
God through Paul reminded the Christians that regardless of whether they were Jews or Gentiles, and blessed with many or few gifts, they must worship together in one Spirit because they were baptized into one body of Christ. Indeed, let us love and care for one another in the church as we are members of the same body with Jesus Christ as our Head.
V25 “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.”
3. God (V28-31)
V28 “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”
Though God has blessed the Christians in the church with many different wonderful gifts such as preaching, teaching, interceding for others, helping others, leadership and administration, and knowing various languages, yet they must use them in the most excellent way which is to lead others to the saving grace of God. Indeed, God’s best gift to us is salvation so that we have a glorious heaven to gain and a fiery hell to shun when we repent our sins and believe and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour.
V31 “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for Your wonderful gifts so that I may lead others to You!
1 Corinthians 11: Will You Follow Christ?
Verse of the Day: (V1) “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
1. Christ (V1-15)
V1 “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
Paul encouraged the Christians to follow him as he followed Christ. Paul was able to do that because his life was a life completely dedicated and committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, Paul was willing even to die for Christ. He also taught the people with regard to leadership at home and in church. The man is the head of the family, Christ is the head of the church, and God is the head of Christ. Though the husband and wife are to love and respect each other, yet the husband is the head of the family. Similarly, even though God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are the Trinity, yet God is the head of Christ.
V3 “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”
2. Church (V16-19)
V16 “But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.”
Paul commanded the Corinthian church to discipline members who were contentious and had no respect for the church leadership as well as the program, and especially, the conduct of the Lord’s supper which was an important ordinance to remember the death, burial, resurrection and return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Instead of participating the Lord’s supper in a serious and sober manner, they were taking it lightly and even disrespectfully.
V18 “For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.”
3. Chastened (V20-34)
V28 “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”
Paul warned the Christians to examine themselves when they would partake the Lord’s supper, otherwise God would discipline and chasten them. In fact, God punished those who misbehaved at the Lord’s supper with sicknesses and even death. Indeed, let us follow Christ and truly examine ourselves that we be worthy in our words and deeds to participate the Lord’s supper, and receive God’s great blessings and not chastisement.
V32 “But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to follow You now and forever.
1 Corinthians 10: Will You Escape Temptation?
Verse of the Day: (V13) “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
1. Escape (V1-22)
V13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
Apostle Paul through the Holy Spirit commanded the Corinthian Christians that though God was faithful who shall provide a way for them to escape from their temptation, yet they must themselves flee from it. The people of Israel time and again sinned against God, not because God was not faithful to them, but because they failed to flee from idolatry and temptation, and hence succumbed to them, and reaped the consequences of their sins.
V14 “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.”
2. Edify (V23-30)
V23 “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”
Paul explained to them that though they had the liberty to do what was right before God, such as eating food offered to idols, yet they must be careful not to stumble the young believers who might be struggling with their weaker conscience. Indeed, we must be godly examples to these young Christians, that we edify them, instead of stumbling them.
V28 “But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:”
3. Eat (V31-33)
V31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Indeed, whatever we do, whether we eat or drink, let us do all for the glory of God. The essence of God’s teaching is that we put Jesus first, and Others second, and Yourselves last, so that we can have the JOY of God. Those who experience our joy of God shall then come to know our Lord Jesus, and receive Him as their personal Saviour and Lord.
V33 “Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to escape temptation by fleeing from it.
