The day with dianne Louise

For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: 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, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Then He appeared to over 500 brothers at one time; Most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one abnormally born, He also appeared to me. 1Cor 15:3-8   It is easy enough for a few persons to lie or create a story but for 527 sightings of Jesus, in several different lots and times, this would be much ore difficult. Paul is giving evidence validating Jesus' authenticity.   Whilst ironing tonight I watched a show that the Brits are quite fond of. They seem to produced them in volumes. This one was a history of Rome and its religions and those that threatened them. The presenter was obviously not a Christian and ad...

Now brothers, I want to clarify for you the gospel I proclaimed to you; you received it and have taken your stand on it. You are also saved by it, if you hold to the message I proclaimed to you-unless you believed for no purpose. 1 Cor 15:1,2   When I became born again I received the fullness of the gospel. It brought life to my soul, filled me with joy and totally satisfied me.   Establishing my life in Christ I took a stand on the word, in all it entailed. I did not cut out the bits that made me uncomfortable, in fact I did the opposite, I embraced it, allowed it to work in my spirit and soul, challenge me, bring me to repentance and construct me as a dwelling in Christ.   Salvation is not a one-off experience, it is daily and on-going, it is living and active, just like the word of God. Daily I apply the word to my life and allow it to fertilize, chastise, revive, refresh, renew.   Jesus Himself told us the parable about the wise man who built his...

If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord's command. But if anyone ignores this, he will be ignored. Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other languages. But everything must be done decently and in order. I Cor 14:37-40   Paul is outlining decent and orderly behaviour with regard to prophesy and speaking in tongues. There seems to have been disarray at Corinth and Paul is bringing teaching that will correct this and lay a foundation for progress beyond this time.   The fact that Paul says: 'if anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual.' indicates there was a problem. Remember at the beginning of this book Paul rebukes the people for their arrogance and pride. We meet many who think they are God's gift to the church, to bring order, yet they carry either a religious spirit or critical spirit and therefore operating in self-will and rebellion and thus ignored fo...

Since God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints, the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church meeting. 1Cor 14:32-25   Now, this seems to be a red rag to a bull, yes? I am glad I had the opportunity to read books written about Paul's teaching and realise that there was another story that we do not know about. I can already see great disorder with everybody babbling away, loudly in tongues without interpretation, everybody wanting to have a say and because no one knew what was being said women talking out of order trying to work out what was being said.   It is always important to look at the big picture. Paul was trying to bring order. In regard to his attitude to women, he is generally very favourable and ...

Therefore the person who speaks in another language should pray that he can interpret. For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What then? I will pray with the spirit and I will also pray with my understanding. Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will the uninformed person say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up. I thank God I speak in other languages more than all of you; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in another language. Brothers do not be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking. 1Cor 14:13-20 Praying in tongues is for you, in your prayer closet, between you and God, unless you are motivated to do so in a church gathering and have an interpretation. I spe...

Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy. For the person who speaks in another language is to speaking to men but to God, since no one understands him: however he speaks mysteries in the Spirit. But the person who prophesies speaks to people for their edification, encouragement, and consolation. The person who speaks in another language builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church. I wish all of you spoke in other languages, but even more that you prophesied. 1Cor 14:1-5   Praying in tongues is essential for me, the times I do not know how to pray the Spirit does, in these times praying in tongues builds me up. I remember as a new Christian speaking out in tongues in the church I was saved into. There was no interpretation and the pastor graciously explained I was a new believer who was expressing my love for God. I quickly realised that prophesy was the way to go.   Prophesy in the church today seems to be don...

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things. For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known. Now these three remain: faith, hope, love. But the greatest of these is love. 1Cor 13:11-13   When I approach the Christian life from a childish perspective, what is in it for me, I am missing the point. Reasoning like a child, thinking like a child is very small and limited. There is no insight, no depth of understanding. there is only: I am hurt, you hurt me, stop it or I want to leave.   Love that revolves around what I get, is small, it is limited. Love that revolves around the picture that Christ sees is broader and more gracious.   Tomorrow I have another confrontation. I am having to contain my thoughts and emotions or I will mess things up. God know what the best outcome is, n...

Love never ends. But as for prophesies, they will come to an end; as for languages, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when the perfect comes, the partial will come to an end. 1Cor 13:8-10   As I read this I think: but we know love comes to an end, we fall out, move on and do away with old relationships, yet how can 'love never end?'   Now, if God's love never ends, we know nothing. Really we know nothing. In all we know on this earth, the cleverest of us all would have to say: "I don't know this love! My love fails me."   If love should never end, then we need to find this love so that we can love above all, through trial, through persecution, through unfairness, through drought, through prosperity. What is this love like? Verses 4-7 tells us. it is patient and kind, not puffed up with self, forgets all wrongs, rejoices in truth, it bears all things, believes all things, ho...

Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, Hopes all things, endures all things. 1Cor 13:4-7   We all love it when we are recipients of such love, and struggle with giving of such love, yet when we do find the zone where it lives, ah the tranquility, peace and contentment that abides there.   I sense this love around people the Holy Spirit is ministering to, it is very attractive. I sense it in situation in which the Holy Spirit is involved, He is this. Therefore, it is smart to search Him out and hang around Him.   The Holy Spirt has no evil or selfishness in Him. He is pure love. He is all about restoration, healing and deliverance, peace and liberty.   Want more love, find the Holy Spirit, He h...

If I speak human or angelic languages but do not have love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have a gift of prophesy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body in order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1Cor 13:1-3   Being able to speak all manner of languages at the right time is a high prize, but if I have this gift for the gift's sake alone or even to boast, it is empty and worth nothing. There probably is only One who speaks all languages and he is filled with love for those who speak such languages.   Being able to prophesy is a very desirable gift, but if it is sought for the sake of having it alone, without the love to motive it, it is nothing.   Understanding mysteries is desirable, I love solving mysteries, I love uncovering them in the word of God, but what...

Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it. And God placed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, managing, various kinds of languages. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in other languages? Do all interpret? But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way. 1Cor 12;27-31   The word 'church,' here refers to the universal church, not just the local group of believers.   We are not all the same or share the same ministry. Heaven forbid! The Lord loves diversity and order and gives us exactly what we need.   Paul indicates the order of importance of the ministries in the early church. Not all work miracles or heal people. Notice these two are well behind apostles, prophets, teachers.   The first three keep order, lead, direct and train up the body. Then...

So the eye cannot say to the hand,  " I don't need you!" But even more, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary. And those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable, we clothe these with greater honour, and our unpresentable parts have a better presentation. But our presentable parts have no need of clothing. Instead, God ahs put the body together, giving greater honour to the less honourable, so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honoured, all members rejoice with it. 1Cor12:21-26   In my church we have a man with long dreadlocks come every Sunday night. He is dressed like a hobo, which I imagine he is. He sits right at the back of church, he barely speaks, but he listens and takes it all in.   This man, I imagine, would not be welcome into many places of renown, but I am grateful he...

For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body- so also is Christ. For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body- whether Jews or Greeks, Whether slave or free- and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. So the body is not one part but many. If the foot should say, "Because I'm not  a hand, I don't belong to the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I don't belong to the body, in spite of this it still belongs to the body. If the whole body were an eye where would the hearing be? If the whole body was an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed each one of the parts in one body just as He wanted. And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? Now there are many parts, yet one body. 1Cor 12: 12-20   Paul is sensibly presenting a visual illustration to make a point. I get it! Do you? Each one of us is vital to the body so that it can function ...

Now concerning what comes from the Spirit, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you used to be led off to the idols that could not speak. Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is cursed," and no one can say "Jesus is Lord," except by the holy Spirit. Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person. A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial. To one is given a message of wisdom through the spirit, To another, a message of knowledge in the same Spirit, To another faith by the same Spirit, To another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, To another, the performing of miracles, To another, prophesy, To another, the distinguishing between spirits, To another, different kinds of languages...

For I received from the Lord, what I also passed on to you: on the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said: "this is My body, which is for you. do this in remembrance of Me." In the same way, after supper He also took the cup and said, "this cup is the new covenant established by My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord. So a man should examine himself: in this way he should eat the bread nd drink the cup. For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgement on himself. This is why many of you are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep. If we were properly evaluating ourselves, we would not be judged...

Now in giving the following instruction I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For to begin with, I hear that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. There must, indeed be factions among you, so that those who approved are recognised among you. Therefore, when you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord's Supper. For at the meal, each one eats his own supper ahead of others. So one person is hungry while another gets drunk! Don't you have house to eat and drink in? Or do you look down on the church of God and embarrass those who have nothing? Should I praise you? I do not praise you for this! 1Cor 11:17-22   Do you have problems in your church? After reading this I would hazard to guess you would be grateful. I can understand why we have small pieces of bread and small cups of juice so that these excesses no longer occur.   The above scripture is spoken to the car...

But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of Christ. 1Cor 11:3 From verse 3-16 Paul is teaching about head coverings. In the Corinthian climate pagan women did things in a way that identified with pagan ways and one of them was speaking in public with their heads uncovered, even going so far as to shave their heads and give their locks in sacrifice to their gods. Pagan men covered their heads. Paul was bringing the church there into order. We do not have such issue but I thought the above scripture was relevant. If every man knows that their head is Christ, that they are accountable to Him, I wonder would they do things differently? If the man is accountable up-line they are also accountable down-line for their wives. Women were accountable to their husbands. In a godly family these principles apply without a legalistic bent, but rather in love. Each of us rail against injustice and abuse. But rebellion ...

Imitate me as I also imitate Christ. 1Cor 11:1   Being able to say this is a comfort to those who follow. However, we who follow need to follow with discernment. Is the one we are following imitating Christ? This is the key. Many have followed to death in religious zeal. Each of us need to have a living relationship with Christ ourselves. We need to know the word of God. Is what is being done what Christ would do?   Each one of us need to be an example to others. Are we behaving as Christ would do? We need to live in the vine so that our behaviour represents Christ and is empowered by Him. I cannot be good in myself because my sin nature loves to sin, but in Christ I can do all things. Amen!   The people Paul is writing to saw Paul live out Christ in their midst. They had the example and nowhere else to go in excuse for sinful behaviour.   When we stand before the Lord we will be accountable for our own behaviour and the choices we made. Yes we had a ...

Everything is permissible, but not everything builds up. No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person. 1Cor 10 :23,24;31   Being free, totally free, all things are allowable, but not all things are good. When we seek freedom to the detriment of others, we fail to love. Seeking the good of others releases them to their own freedom.   So many people are liberated as we give them freedom to be who they are. In turn this then opens them up to receive from us.   Liberating others enables us to enjoy all they are. There is deep treasure in all people, if you bother to look, to wait, to listen, to observe. Try it, it is liberating! Amen!

I am speaking to you as wise people. Judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we give thanks for, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are one body, for all of us who are many are one body, for all of us share that one bread. Look at the people of Israel. Do not those who eat the sacrifice participate in what is offered on the altar? What am I saying then? That food offered to an idol is anything? No, but I do say that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? 1Cor 10:15-22   Again we look at the sin of presumption that partners with arrogance. Arrogance makes one feel immune to the problems before it. It is a false sense of security. The other side of arrogance is it fails to hear the heart of the body and more impor...

Don't become idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink; and got up to play. Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in a single day 23,000 people fell dead. Let us not test Christ as some of them did and were destroyed by snakes. Nor should we complain as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us, on whom the end of the ages has come. So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it. 1Cor 10:1-13   The reference that Paul gives at the beginning of these passages relates to the children of Israel building the golden calf, getting up the next morning to make offe...

Now, I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, all passed through the sea, and all were baptised into Moses, in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock, that followed them, and that rock was Christ. But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness. Now these things became an example for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did. 1Cor 10:1-6 I have spoken many times about the golden thread woven throughout the Old Testament, representing Jesus. Paul could see it. Here he tells us that the significant spiritual things that happened to the children of Israel in the wilderness were because of Christ. He was the spiritual water that flowed from the believer, and here in the Old Testament He is attributed with being the Spiritual water that flowed from the rock, providing water for all the people and their ...

Don't you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a crown that will fade away, but we a crown that will never fade away. Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified. 1Cor 9:25-27   Having been involved in training for racing I understand discipline. it was only last winter that I was getting up early to train in swimming 2km. However, the greatest discipline I have experienced is that of a child of God. The discipline of my emotions, my attitudes, my thoughts, my words, my actions all come from the discipline of the Lord. His discipline is not harsh, conversely, He leads me to overcome.   Whilst it is good to be involved in earthly races and quests there is...

Although I am a free man and not anyone's slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law- though I myself am not under the law- the win those under the law. To those who are without the law, like one without the law-not being without God's law but within Christ's law-to those without the law. To the weak I have become weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some. I do all this because of the gospel, so I may become a partner in its benefits. 1Cor 9:19-23   I am one of those ridiculous people who goes so far in identifying with others I start to mimik their accents. I am so draw to their accents and I start to reflect it back to them. I am not being rude, or 'taking the mickey' as we Australians would say.   Wanting to hear the stories of others is a good start. La...

For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because an obligation is placed on me. And woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with a stewardship. what then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my authority in the gospel. Although I am a free man and not anyone's slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people.1Cor 9: 16-19   Paul did not choose missions, God chose him. Yet Paul walked into that calling willingly and therefore his reward was one marked by God.   Walking in our calling, willingly brings a reward. Being a minister of the gospel carries a great reward. There is no greater joy than watching a lost soul come to Christ. It brings back memories of my finding freedom, oh what joy!   Paul chose to make himself a slave, he willingly submitted to God's plan. I am willingly submitted t...

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, for you are my seal of apostleship in the Lord. My defense to those who examine me in this: Don't we have the right to eat and drink? Don't we have the right to be accompanied by a Christian wife like the other apostles, the Lord's brothers, and Cephas? Or do Barnabas and I alone have no right to refrain from working? Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who shepherds a flock and does not drink the milk from the flock? Am I saying this from a human perspective? Doesn't the law also say the same thing? For it is written in the law of Moses, 'Do not muzzle an ox while it treads out grain.' Is God really concerned with oxen? Or isn't He really saying it for us? Yes, it is written for us, because he who plow ought to plow in hope of sharing the crop. If we have sown spiritual things ...

Some have been so used to idolatry up until now that when they eat food offered to idols, their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not make us acceptable to God. We are not inferior if we don't eat, and we are not better if we do eat. But be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, the one who has this knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, won't his weak conscience be encouraged to eat foods offered to idols? Then the weak person, the brother for whom Christ dies, is ruined by your knowledge. Now when you sin like this against the brothers and would their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never again eat meat, so that I won't cause my brother to fall. 1Cor 8:7-13   What sensitivity we need. What do I do that causes others to stumble? Is there something that I consider free that to them is a stumbling block? One thing that...

About eating food that is offered to idols, then, we know that "an idol is nothing in the world," and that "there is no God but one." For even if there were so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth- as there are many "gods" and many "lords"- yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from Him, and we exist for Him. And there is one Lord Jesus Christ. All things are through Him, and we exist through Him. 1Cor 8:4-6 We are not yet discussing food offered to idols and again we find a gem. "An idol is nothing in the world!" I am going to a land where idolatry is stapled to the character of the nation. Yet wicked spirits rule the lives of those who worship idols. Why would they not want to be free? In our western world where we have the benefit of worshipping the true and living God, we see many turn from such worship to idols made with their own hands, ease and indulgence of one self. Yet, where things go wrong, as th...

About food offered to idols. "We know that we all have knowledge". Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up. If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it. But if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.   1 Cor 8;1-3 I know these scriptures go on the address the opening sentence. However, I wish to talk about the heart of the passage. At present God is dealing with me in a close way. I am constrained to keep a very short account. It is as if He is before my face and judgements, reactions or thought I once had, are no longer acceptable. I now know a new way. We form opinions based on knowledge, our own knowledge and depending on the foundation of that knowledge, it is often flawed. Thoughts will come along as we interact with others, live life, do business. There are volumes of thought patterns we are used to processing daily. However, I am learning to take my thoughts captive and evaluate them in the light of God and His word....

A wife (woman) is bound as long as her husband is living, but if her husband dies, she is free to be married to anyone she wants- only in the Lord. But she is happier if she remains as she is, in my opinion. And I think that I have the Spirit of God. 1 Cor 7:39,40 There are two keys in the scriptural passage: Not marrying until the previous husband is dead; if she should marry to marry a Christian. I can hear the uproar. I want to remarry. My husband treated me bad and I deserve happiness. I know, I am a divorcee and my husband wanted another woman. I left because of abusive behaviour but my husband wanted another wife. Therefore, I wanted another husband. However the intervening time has made me very careful and the longer the time the more I enjoy my space and relationship with the Lord. We truly must wait on God and allow Him to be Lord. It is our carnal nature that wants another flesh relationship, but we must sort ourselves out or we will repeat our folly and it becomes more...

I want you to be without concerns. As an unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord- how he may please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the things of the world- how he may please his wife- and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world - how she may please her husband. Now i am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but becUse of what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction. 1 Cor 7:32-35 Tonight i am attempting to write this on my mobile. The adds are right in my face and very distracting. I am attempting to concentrate on the things of God and being visually disturbed by the adds floating just down on the left. I think it ia the computer tomorrow. Tonight i went out to be with a bunch of unsaved people. I left my mobile in the ca...

About virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. Therefore I consider this to be good because of the present distress: It is fine for a man to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. However, if you do get married, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. And I say this brothers: the time is limited, so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use the world as those who did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away. 1Cor 7:25-31   In times of distress and hardship staying single has it's benefits, however Paul was saying ...

However, each one must live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command in all the churches. Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. Circumcision does not matter, but keeping God's command does. Each person should remain in the life situation in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? It should not be a concern to you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity. For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ's slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brothers each person should remain with God in whatever situation he was called. 1Cor 7:17-24   Where does dissatisfaction fit in with Paul's message of: 'Be content as you are!' message? we would have to admit discontent rules o...

I command the married - not I but the Lord - a wife is not to leave her husband. But if she does leave, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband - and a husband is not to leave his wife.   But I - not the Lord- say to the rest: If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not leave her. Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not leave her husband. For the unbelieving husband is set apart for God by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart for God by the husband. Otherwise your children would be corrupt, but now they are set apart fro God. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. A brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace. For you, wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Or you, husband, how do you know you will save your wife? ICor 7:10-16   When Paul gives the first instruction, it obviousl...

I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them if they remain as I am. But if they do not have self-control, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with desire. ! Cor 7:8 Divorcees are not mentioned, but. I think we could join this group. I know as a divorcee, early on in the divorce, desire was prevalent. However, the longer that desire is unmet and the longer I have to gain self-control, I am grateful. So many disasters I would have joined, but now I know a little insight and wisdom.   What are the challenges? Loneliness; desire for sex, or should I say, intimacy; fear of failure; fear of further rejection; grief; shame to name a few. None are life threatening, none are not able to be overcome.   I now have more friends, greater diversity of interests, freedom, and greater sense of worth. I don't need someone to share my interests, I have them or enjoy my solitude. I remember as a child I loved going, by myself, exploring down the cr...

Now in response to the matters you wrote about: "It is good for a man not to have relations with a woman." But because sexual immorality is so common, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. A husband should fulfill his marital responsibility to his wife and likewise a wife to her husband. A wife does not have rights over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband does not have the right over his own body, but his wife does. Do not deprive one another sexually-except when you agree for a time, to devout yourself to prayer. The come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 1Cor 7:1-5 It is interesting that even in Paul's day, sexual immorality was rife. They did not have TV, movies, magazines, yet it was still a problem. It goes to show that the eye does not need to see much for the enemy to use against us. In some cultures this admonition about ownership of one'...

"Everything is permissible for me", but not everything is helpful. "Everything is permissible for me," but I will not be brought under control of anything. "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food", but God will put an end to both of them. The body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. God raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. Don't you know that your bodies are a part of Christ's body? So should I take part of Christ's body and make it part of a prostitute? Absolutely not! Don't you know that anyone joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For scripture says, "The two will become one flesh." But anyone joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Run from sexual immorality! Every sin a person can commit is outside the body. On the contrary, the person who is sexually immoral sins against this own body. Don't you know your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit...

To have legal disputes against one another is already moral failure for you. Why not rather put up with injustice? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you act unjustly and cheat-and you do this to believers! Don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God's kingdom? Do not be deceived: no sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or anyone practising homosexuality, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God's kingdom. And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justifies in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1Cor 6:7-11 Behaving like we are not washed is a slap in the face to our redeemer. He paid the ultimate sacrifice for us to be redeemed. The challenge is working out what is right between us, together. Not allowing anger, frustration, indignation, arrogance and pride to rule is a must. We are not used to seeking righteousness in di...

If any of you has a legal dispute against another, do you dare go to court before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest cases? Don't you know that we will judge angels- not to mention ordinary matters? 1 Cor 6: 1-3 Settling disputes can easily escalate to legal courts just because we don't know how to confront, are reluctant to take the pain and confront or are too angry to confront. I find that if I am angry it is not a good time to confront as I will say and do foolish things that are purely emotive and totally useless in finding a resolution.   Learning to live a life of self-control is a challenge but doable. We have grace, abundant grace available for us. We can walk in grace. The key is to gain control through the Holy Spirit. Self-control is imperative if we are to confront and judge a matter.   We are given all we need by our Lord, we must trust Him and...

I wrote to you in a letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. I did not mean the immoral people of this world or the greedy or the swindlers or idolaters; otherwise you would have to leave the world. But now I am writing you to not associate with anyone who claims to be a believer who is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such a person. For what business is I of mine to judge outsiders? Don't you judge those who are inside? Put away the evil person from among yourselves. 1Cor 5:9-13 The church cannot compromise itself when it comes to what it is supposed to be: holy, set apart, pure, walking in righteousness. In the name of do-goodism and so called love we allow immorality and fail to address it and teach our people God's way. We are called to love the world and the sinners outside the church and not judge but inside our love must be honest and tough when needed. If no one confronts me about...

It is widely reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and the kind of sexual immorality that is not even tolerated among the Gentiles-  a man is living with his father's wife. And you are inflated with pride, instead of filled with grief so that he who has committed this act might be removed from your congregation. For though I am absent in body but present in Spirit, I have already decided about the one who has done this thing as though I am present. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus with my spirit and with the power of the Lord Jesus, turn that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast permeates the whole batch of dough? Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch. You are indeed unleavened, for Christ our Passover has been sacrificed. therefore, let us observe the feast, not with old yeast or with the yeas...

I'm not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my dear children. For you can have 10,000 instructors in Christ, but you can't have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. This is why I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church. Now some are inflamed with pride, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will know not the talk but the power of those whoa re inflated with pride. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but power. What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? 1 Cor 4: 14-21 Although Paul's intent is not to shame, I am sure shame would result. Shame can lead us to repentance . Paul is speaking as a father. Today we have fathers in the body of Christ and they a...

Now brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the saying: "Nothing beyond what is written." The purpose is that none of you will be inflated with pride in favour of one person over another. For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? In fact, if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you haven't received it? You are already full! You are already rich! You have begun to reign as kings without us-and I wish you did reign, so that we could also reign with you! For I think God has displayed us apostles, in last place, like men condemned to die: we have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men. we are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonoured! Up to the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty: we are poorly clothes, roughly treated, homeless: we labour, working with our own hands....

A person should consider us (ministers) in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of God's mysteries. In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one of them be found faithful. It is of little importance to me that I should be evaluated by you or by any human court. In fact, I don't even evaluate myself. For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. The One who evaluates me is the Lord. Therefore don't judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the heart. And then praise will come to each one from God. I Cor 4:1-5 We are living in a time of gross injustice. We have created systems that are corrupt. Any time we take God out of the picture and deny Him Lordship, we find corruption. Corruption is cruel and abuses those within its reach. In America right now we see a country that is suffering under a set of systems in which God doe...

No one should deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, he must become foolish so that he can become wise. For the wisdom of the world is foolishness with God, since it is written: 'He catches the wise in their craftiness,' and again, 'The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise are meaningless'. So no one should boast in human leaders, for everything is yours- whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come- everything is yours, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.   1Cor 3:16-23 Boasting in worldly wisdom is foolishness but boasting in Christ is wise. After all, it is God's opinion that counts. We are watching America dissolve into a mess at present. They are facing an election where the options are, quite frankly awful. People are killing one another in racial battles, police are slaughtering children and innocent members of the public because they do know how to calm...

Don't you yourselves know that you are God's sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you? If anyone destroys God's sanctuary, God will destroy him; for God's sanctuary is holy; and that is what you are. 1Cor 3:16,17 When God gave Moses the pattern for the sanctuary in the desert, He appointed those who would service the tent. As God's temple we are responsible for this human tent. Excess cannot live in us anymore, we are holy and set apart for God's presence. This does not mean I have to submit to rigorous exercise and diets, but to moderation and self-control. I was into the rigorous exercise and diet and unhappy and injured. For me extreme exercise broke my bones and tore my muscles. Rigorous diet controls left me with stomach issues. Moderation in both has given me a happy body which is fit for my age. I take no medication and eat a normal diet. Excessive strictness is a form of striving and is of the flesh just as is laziness and obesity of the f...

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has a role the Lord has given. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. Now the one planting and the one watering are one in purpose, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are God's coworkers. You are God's field, God's building. According to God's grace given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on that foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one's work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of ...