Getting Ready For The Lord’s Return

There is one wrong attitude we must take care to avoid. We must not sit back and say, “Let’s just wait and see what happens.” We dare not think like this. We dare not live like this. We must get ready for the Lord’s Return. At the heart of 1 Corinthians 15, there is a …

Supporting and encouraging one another in the Lord

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbours for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: ‘The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.’ For everything that …

The light of Christ’s love is leading us on to the fullness of his glory.

What is the world saying to us about Jesus Christ? What does the Word of God say to us about him? The two voices say something very different to us. The voice of the world is the voice of unbelief. The voice of God's Word is the voice of grace, and it is the voice …

Are we content to live our life at the surface level? or Are we looking for something more than that?

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:2). Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me (Psalm 42:7). The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God …

Peace with God, the grace in which we now stand, the hope of the glory of God

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2). Peace with God, the grace in which we now stand, the hope of the glory of God: …

We preach God’s Word. It is only when God is working through us that our hearers are truly blessed.

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.  So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labour …

May we never become so taken up with ourselves that we forget Jesus Christ and all that He has done for us (Journey though the New Testament: 1 Corinthians).

1 Corinthians 1- 6 Paul preached ‘Christ crucified’ with a determination ‘to know nothing except Jesus Christ crucified’(1:23; 2:2). This is the message of our salvation. All the glory belongs to God: ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord’ (1:31). We come to know God when ‘the Spirit’ leads us to ‘Jesus Christ’ (2:10-13; …

The Kingdom Of God: 1 and 2 Corinthians

The kingdom of God is a power. Paul tells us, "The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power" (1 Corinthians 4:20). It is the power of God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, breaking into our lives and transforming them. "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God …

Responding to God’s Word (43): One day when heaven was filled with his praises…

We preach Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23). What we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord (2 Corinthians 4:5). As I was reading these verses about Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, I found this song of praise, arising in my heart. May God help each of us to think, often, of Jesus, …

The Word and the words (4): The sower, the reaper and the Lord

"Don’t you have a saying, “It’s still four months until harvest”? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying …

“Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

We are not alone in our struggle against Satan. Jesus, our Saviour is with us, We do not stand in our own weakness. We stand in the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have a Saviour. Jesus is our Saviour. God has reached out to us in love. He has come to us in …

What does it mean to believe in God?

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15, verses 3 and 4). There are many people who say that they believe in God, but when they're asked …

God’s Word still speaks to us (69): Receiving Jesus Christ, the Saviour of sinners, and bringing others to him

And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My …

Impossible?

But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him (Acts 2:24). This turns the world's way of thinking on its head. It's the exact opposite of what the world says to us. The world tells us that people don't …

Remembering the Lord, rejoicing in Him and looking forward to His return

Easter Sunday Evening: Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 114; 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8; Luke 24:13-49 Remembering the Lord, rejoicing in Him and looking forward to His return ‘O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your Name... You have done marvellous things’ (Isaiah 25:1). We remember what God has done for us. He sent …

God’s Word still speaks to us (64): God’s power is at work in and through us. Let us give all the praise and all the glory to him.

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain (Psalm 127:1). Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, 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 15:58). Now to him who is …

Let’s Live As Resurrection People!

1 Corinthians 15:1-45 Here, we learn of Christ’s resurrection: the fact - ‘Christ has been raised from the dead’ - and the meaning - ‘the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep’ (20). * We look back to His resurrection. We ‘remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead’ (2 Timothy 2:8). * We look …

Holy Thursday: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-5

‘When I see the blood, I will pass over you" (Exodus 12:13). Beyond the Passover, there is Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed for the forgiveness of sins (John 1:29; 1 John1:7). “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).   * What do we mean when we say, …

Christ died for us. Let us live for Him.

Thursday in Holy Week: Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17 Christ died for us. Let us live for Him. Here, we focus attention on two verses which emphasize the importance of being saved by the Lord and going on to live for Him: ‘when I see the blood, I will pass …

1 Corinthians 1-4

In these chapters, there is a recurrent emphasis on giving glory to God alone. We have no right to steal away any of the glory from God. The way of worldly wisdom is denouncerd as a direct contradiction of the way of God, grace and glory.

Knowing Christ and making Him known

Tuesday in Holy Week: Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 71:1-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; John 12:20-36 Knowing Christ and making Him known ‘I, the Lord, am your Saviour, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob’ (Isaiah 49:26). We are not to keep this to ourselves. God wants ‘all mankind’ to ‘know’. ‘Jesus, the Name to sinners dear, the …

1 Corinthians 5-9

Here, Pauil speaks about some practical issues whuch had become problems for the Corinthian Christians. As we read these chapters, it is very important that we grasp this important ptrinciple: the Christian life is to be lived. It is more than a theology to be embraced and a message to be preached. It's a life …

1 Corinthians 10-11

In chapters 10 and 11, Paul speaks of the Lord's Supper: "The blessing-cup that we bless is a communion with tyhe body of Christ" (chapter 10), As we read his words, in chapter 11, regarding the Lord's Supper, may we never forget that Christ is the substance of the meal. He is the Rock, our …

1 Corinthians 12-14

Here, Paul speaks about spiritual gifts, He emphasizes that everything should be done to be done "to benefit the commuunity" (chapter 14). Everything should be done in the spirit of "love" (chapter 13). When our lives are being shaped by the love of Christ, we will live, less as a motley crew of isolated individuals, …

1 Corinthians 15-16

In chapter 15, Paul speaks to us about Christ's resurrection and our resurrection. He has been raised from the dead, and we will be raised with Him to eternal life. Hallelujah! Christ is "the second man... from heaven, the man who has undone the harm brought upon humanity by "the first man", Adam. In Christ, …

Holiness and love

Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany – Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18; Psalm 119:33-40; 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23; Matthew 5:38-48 Holiness and love Holiness and love - the two belong together (Leviticus 19:1, 18, 34). God calls us to live a life of holiness, a life of love. Through His Spirit - the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of …

Praying Through God’s Word: 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 1:1-2:5We thank You, Lord, that our faith is “not based on human wisdom.” Our faith comes from Your power at work in us (1 Corinthians 2:5). Our faith is nothing without Your power. Without Your wisdom, we are fools. How do we receive Your power and Your wisdom? – We receive Your power …

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time: Isaiah 8:23-9:3; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13,17; Matthew 4:12-23 "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light" (Isaiah 9:2). The prophecy has been spoken - ‘To us a Child is born, to us a Son is given...’. The prophecy has been fulfilled - ‘Today in the town of David …

Good News for everyone

Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany – Isaiah 49:8-16a; Psalm 131; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; Matthew 6:24-34 Good News for everyone: Jesus Christ is our Redeemer. ‘I, the Lord, am your Saviour, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob’. We are not to keep this to ourselves. God wants ‘all mankind’ to ‘know’ (Isaiah 49:26). ‘Jesus, the …

God places the highest value on our salvation.

2 Chronicles 1:1-17; 1 Corinthians 6:1-20; Psalm 94:1-11 We are to place value on the most important things. God places the highest value on our salvation (1 Corinthians 6:19). Those who share God’s values will ask for “wisdom and knowledge” (2 Chronicles 1:10), and “not ... for wealth, riches or honour .... “ (2 Chronicles 1:11). …

Let us go on with the Lord.

2 Chronicles 24:1-25:28; 1 Corinthians 16:5-24; Psalm 102:18-28 During the time of the Old Testament kings, there was much “turning away from following the Lord” (2 Chronicles 25:27). In such times as these, we need to be encouraged to go on with the Lord: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men …

More Of Christ And Less Of Self!

1 Corinthians 5:1-6:11 ‘Your boasting is not good’: May we never become so taken up with ourselves that we forget Jesus Christ and all that He has done for us: ‘Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us’, ‘you were washed… sanctified… justified in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the …

Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord… your labour in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Jeremiah 48:1-49:6; 2 Timothy 1:1-18; Psalm 119:81-88 “A curse on him who is lax in doing the Lord’s work!” (Jeremiah 48:10). We should not be lax in doing the Lord’s work, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a Spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). Through …

Before we can become witnesses, we must be worshippers.

2 Chronicles 2:1-5:1; 1 Corinthians 9:19-10:13; Psalm 97:1-12 Worship and witness belong together. The building of the Temple speaks to us of the priority of worship. Before we can become witnesses, we must be worshippers. The ministry of Paul speaks to us of witness: “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible …

When our love for the Lord gets very weak

"Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians" (Exodus 14:30). What a mighty deliverance! They had come out of Egypt. Now, they were crossing the Red Sea. We think of what God did for his people, Israel - and we give thanks to him. We think of what he has done for …

Thank You, Lord … for victory over death … beginning here-and-now.

"Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57). Towards the end of the great resurrection chapter, this verse proclaims Christ's victory over death - "Death is swallowed up in victory" (verse 54). We are to serve the Lord wholeheartedly, We are to serve Him with the firm conviction that "our …

The Word and the words (13): God’s salvation covers our past, our present and our future.

"I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11). "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing" (Psalm 23:1). I lack nothing - God has given us a full salvation. It's a salvation that covers our past, our present and our future. -- We begin by emphasizing that God's salvation covers our past. "He makes me lie …

Your love, O Lord, supported me.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-3:22; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Psalm 94:12-23 “I know that everything God does will endure for ever” (Ecclesiastes 3:14).In the constant flux of life in this world, here we have something which must never be forgotten. There are many circumstances in life which are confusing – “How do you know, wife, whether you will save …

Encouraging one another in the Lord

We encourage one another in the Lord when we gather together for worship (Hebrews 10:25). The preaching of Christ strengthens our faith (Romans 10:17). What a great encouragement it is to know that "God is pleased through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21).

Let us not lose sight of what God is doing in our day.

"A wide door for effective work has opened for us. There are many adversaries" (1 Corinthians 16:9). Let us not lose sight of what God is doing in our day. It is much greater than we realize. He is building his Kingdom. Let's look beyond the problems and difficulties we encounter in the work of …

Without love, everything else is nothing.

Ecclesiastes 7:1-9:12; 1 Corinthians 7:36-8:13; Psalm 95:1-11 “Do not be over-righteous, neither be overwise” (Ecclesiastes 7:16). This is not a protest against wisdom and righteousness. It is telling us that, in our wisdom and righteousness, we must not become proud like the Pharisees. “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1). Without love, …

Hearing and Obeying God’s Word

Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany – Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37 Hearing and Obeying God’s Word For Israel, a real turning to the Lord with ‘all the heart and soul’ involved obedience to ‘His commandments... written in this book of the law’ (Deuteronomy 30:10). We are not left wondering what God …

Looking beyond physical love to spiritual truth

Song of Solomon 1:1-4:16; 1 Corinthians 12:1-26; Psalm 99:1-9 God uses the physical as an analogy of the spiritual. In 1 Corinthians 12, “the body” symbolizes the Church. In Song of Songs, the theme is physical love. By the Spirit of God, the physical language points beyond itself by using imagery which is suggestive of …

Touched by love, we learn to love.

Song of Solomon 5:1-8:14; 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13; Psalm 100:1-5 There is physical love (Song of Songs). There is the love spoken of in 1 Corinthians 13. There is the love of God – “For the Lord is good and His love endures for ever” (Psalm 100:5). The more we consider what the Scriptures say about …

Speaking the Word of God with boldness

You have heard that it was said... but I say to you (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28, 31-32,33-34, 38-39, 43-44). If we are to follow Jesus, in teaching God's Word, we will need to speak words of reproof and correction (2 Timothy 3:16). In the ministry of reproof, we will need to say, "This is not what …

God believes in you, he has high hopes for you, and he keeps on loving you when your love fails.

In 1 Corinthians 13:13, we read about "faith, hope and love." What do we think about when we read about faith, hope and love? Do we think about ourselves? or Do we think about God? Faith When we think about our faith, we become painfully aware that our faith is not always strong. Often, it …

Now I belong to Jesus – not for the years of time alone, but for eternity.

"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand" (Psalm 16:11). This verse means a lot to me. It was given to me at the time when I set out on a life of ministry. It tells us that …

To God be the glory!

"He who glories, let him glory in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:31). Salvation is never something that we earn. It's always God's gift. When He saves us, He doesn't reward us for our good works. He saves us - despite our persistent failure to live the kind of life that pleases Him. He saves us …

Don’t get your fingers burned.

Don't get your fingers burned ... You might set fire to the rest of you!! "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire" (1 Corinthians 3:15, King James Version). These are challenging words. What does this mean? Let's look at some of the other translations, …

Are things going from bad to worse?

We look at today's world, and we wonder what the future holds for us? None of us has a crystal ball. We have no way of saying what lies ahead of us. Is this all that we can say? or Can we say more than this? People wonder, "Is this the beginning of the end?" …

Are we speaking to ourselves?

We speak the Word of the Lord in today's world. Is anybody listening? We cannot get away from the undeniable fact that many people have given up on God. Why, then, do we keep on speaking the Word of the Lord? Is it because we're determined to keep on being traditionalists, people who refuse to …

Do you feel like you can’t get through the day?…

Do you feel like you can't get through the day? What are we to do when it all seems too much for us? These are the times when we need to remember that it's not too much for the Lord. Think of the bad things that are happening to you, but don't stop there. Think …

Appreciating what Christ has done for us through his death on the cross

The gospel of free grace says, "You were bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 6:20). It tells us, "You were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:18-19). Christ has paid the price of our redemption by taking upon himself the penalty for our sin. We are invited to receive all the blessings …

Jesus Christ – our sure foundation

"For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have - Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11). Jesus Christ is our sure foundation for this life and for eternity. Without him, we are wandering around aimlessly in the wilderness of our life. Jesus puts us on the right road, the road that leads …

The Lord loves us – and He calls us to love Him and love one another.

Exodus 34:1-6; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Exodus 34:6 invites us to focus our attention on the Lord our God - The Lord is the compassionate and gracious God. - The Lord is the God who is slow to anger. - The Lord is the God who is abounding in love and faithfulness. Here, in this verse, …

Eternal Love

The love of God is eternal love. It's the love of the eternal God. His love comes to us from before the beginning of time (Ephesians 1:4). It takes us on to beyond the end. Sometimes, when our heads go down, we think, "This the end. I can go on no longer." When, in love, …

I told you so.

I told you so ... Often, these words are spoken with the kind of pride that takes pleasure in putting other people down. How different are the words of Paul, "Pride puffs up. Love builds up" (1 Corinthians 8:1)! Where did Paul learn to love like this? He learned it from the Lord. Jesus loves …

Raised with Jesus

"On the third day he will raise us up, that we may live in his presence" (Hosea 6:2). As  we read Hosea's words, we think of Jesus - "he was raised on the third day" (1 Corinthians 15:4). Jesus' resurrection points forward to our resurrection in him - "we know that the one who raised the …

We must pray that our words will be empowered by the Spirit of God.

I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power (1 Corinthians 2:3-5). Here, Paul draws a contrast between "wise and persuasive words" and "a …

The battle is not yours, but God’s.

2 Chronicles 18:28-21:3; 1 Corinthians 15:35-49; Psalm 102:12-17 Those who were armed for battle received this message from the Lord: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 21:15). Now, we fight many battles. There will come a Day when these battles …