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1 Corinthians 11

Chapter 11

1 Corinthians 11:1-34, Head covering & Lord’s Supper

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come to You with soft hearts, obedient hearts, listening ears, and open eyes, in Jesus’ nane, Amen.

V 1, Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Paul encouraged his audience to imitate him just as he imitated Christ.

VV 2-3, 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Paul laid down the hierarchy of authority between God, Christ, man, and woman. Man is the head over woman, Christ is the head over man, and God is the head over Christ.

VV 4-8, 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. 6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. 10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

In the culture and custom of the first-century world of Corinth, a man should keep short hair and a woman should keep long hair but not vice versa. A man should not cover his head and a woman should cover her head but not vice versa. Based on this culture and custom, Paul instructed women to cover their heads but forbid men to cover their heads during prayer. This was a specific instruction for the Corinthians Christian of the first century world and do not apply to Christians of the 21st-century world.

VV 11-16, 11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. 12 For as woman came from man, even so, man also comes through woman; but all things are from God. 13 Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? 15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.

Men are not independent of women, and women are not independent of men. Eve came from Adam, men came from women but all people are created by God. Paul asked two rhetorical questions concering head covering. The Corinthians Christians should follow the culture and custom of their times over head covering. In those days, it was considered glorious for women to keep long hair and wear head coverings. However, we do not have this custom today. Therefore, women need not any wear coverings in church or during prayer.

VV 17-22, 17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.

Paul admonished the Corinthians Christians over divisions, sectarianism, and factionalism. Unlike today, the Lord’s Supper in the first-century Church was a full fellowship meal called the love feast. A love feast is equivakent to our pot luck dinner dinner. In the love feast, many of them behaved rudely, fighting for food, behaving like gluttons, and drunkards. Paul asked three more rhetorical questions.

VV 23-26, 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25, In the same manner, He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Paul gave instructions concerning the Lord’s Supper. On the night before the Lord was betrayed, He took bread, gave thanks, broke, and gave them to the disciples to eat as symbolic of His broken body. In the same way, He took the cup of wine and invited them to drink it as symbolic of the new covenant in His blood. They were to do this as often as they could in remembrance of Him and to proclaim His death until His second coming.

VV 27-34, 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

Participants of the Lord’s Supper should examine themselves for any unrepentant sin before partaking in the Lord’s supper. God will judge and punish those who partook the Lord’s supper in an unworthy manner.

VV 30-34, 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

Paul warner that eating the Lord’s supper in an unworthy manner could result in ill health and even death. Paul encouraged them to onserve the Lord’s Supper and love feast in an orderly, friendly, courteous, and respectful manner.

Application:

Paul’s ruling on head covering for women during prayer and in church was a specific ruling to the Corinthian Christians in the first century world. This is not a universal ruling for every generation to observe. However, the brethren churches today still observe this ruling because of this passage. This is why interpretion should be based on hermenuetic to bridge the gap between “there and then” and “now and here”.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we praise You and thank You for all that You have done for us in our lives. Thank You for opening up Your Word to us and helping us unravel, understand, and interpret the difficult passage on head coverings for women, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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1 Corinthians 10

Chapter 10: 1 Corinthians 10:1-33,Types, temptations, and idolatry

Prayer:

 

Heavenly Father, we come before You again on bended knees, open spirits, open eyes, open ears, and obedient hearts. We offer our bodies to You as living sacrifices to serve You and sacrifices of praise to worship You, in Jesus’ name, Amen.  

 

VV 1-2, 1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 

Paul alluded to the Exodus story. God protected the Israelites of the Exodus with a pillar cloud in the day and a pillar of fire at night. God miraculously parted the Red Sea for them to walk on dry ground. The pillar of cloud and fire were foreshadows of the Holy Spirit. Passing through the Red Sea was a foreshadow of water baptism. 

 

Exodus 13:21, “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night”.

 

Exodus 14:21, “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VV 3-5, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

The Israelites ate manna and drank water from the rock. Manna and rock were foreshadows of Christ. Water was a foreshadow of the Holy Spirit. Out of the estimated two million Israelites who crossed the Red Sea, only men,  Joshua and Caleb, entered the promised land. All the rest perished in the wilderness. 

 

Exodus 16:31, “And the house of Israel called its name [a]Manna. And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.”

 

 

Exodus 17:6, “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.”

 

    VV 6-11, 6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Greek for examples is “tupos”, which means type or foreshadow. These things were foreshadows of Christ. Paul warned his audience against idolatry, sexual immorality, disobedience, and grumbling against God. He quoted Exodus 32:6 and Numbers 25:9 and Numbers 21:9. The bronze serpent was a foreshadow of Christ. 

 

Exodus 32:6, “And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings, and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.”

 

Numbers 25:9, “And those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand.”

 

Numbers 21:9, “So Moses made a bronze serpent and put it on the flag pole; and it came about, that if a serpent bit someone, and he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.”

 

 

VV 12-13, 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

 

You can claim the promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13 for overcoming temptations. God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear and will make a way for you to overcome it. 

 

VV 14-18, 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.18 Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 

 

Paul encouraged his audience to run away from idolatry. Paul asked two rhetorical questions concerning Holy Communion. The cup of the Holy Communion represents the blood of Christ. The bread of the Holy Communion represents the body of Christ. 

 

VV 19-22, 19 What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

Paul asked three more rhetorical questions. Idols are not “gods” but demons of satan. You cannot drink the cup of communion and the cup of demons. You cannot have fellowship with God and with demons or you will provoke the wrath of God. 

 

VV 23, 23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek

 

 

 

his own, but each one the other’s well-being. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; 26 for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”

 

All things are lawful but not all things are helpful or edifying. You should look out for one another’s well-being and not be a stumbling block to others. You should eat whatever is sold in the market without asking any questions for your conscience’s sake because all things belonged to God. Paul quoted Psalm 24:1.

 

Psalm 24:1, “A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.”

VV 27-28, 27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” 

 

When invited to a dinner, eat whatever is served without raising any questions. But if you knew that the food was offered to idols, you must not eat them for your conscience’ sake. 

 

VV 29-33, 29 “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? 30 But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks? 31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Paul asked two more rhetorical questions. Whatever we eat, drink, or do, do them all for the glory of God. 

 

Application:

 

 

 

 

 

    You can claim the promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13 if you are going through temptations. God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear and will make a way for you to overcome them. 

 

You should not eat food offered to idols because this may cause a weaker Christian to stumble and for your conscience’ sake. 

 

Prayer:

 

Heavenly Father, help us to run away from idolatry, sexual immorality, disobedience, and murmuring against You. Help us not to eat food offered to idols so as not to be a stumbling block to weaker Christians and for our conscience’ sake, in Jesus’ name, Amen. 

 

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1 Corinthians 7

Chapter 7: 1 Corinthians 7: 1-40, marital relationship, sexual purity, divorce, remarrying, instructions for the spouse with an unbelieving partner, remaining status quo, celibacy

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we pray that spiritual our eyes, ears, hearts, minds, and intellect be opened, receptive, soft, and obedient to the anointing of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

VV 1-4, 1 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

Paul replied to a letter he received from the Corinthians church but this letter was lost and did not survive through history. Paul spelled out the principles of marriage and sexual purity. People should live in moral purity, but marriage is required to overcome sexual immorality for most. A husband should perform his marital duty to his wife and vice versa.

VV 5-9, 5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. 7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that. 8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Husbands and wives should not abstain from sex except when mutually agreed for a limited time for fasting and prayer. Celibacy is a gift and calling from God but not everyone had this gift and calling. Paul encouraged the unmarried and the widows to remain unmarried if they had the gift to remain single, otherwise, they should marry.

VV 10-11, 10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

Paul encouraged a wife not to divorce her husband but if she did, she should remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. Similarly, a husband should not divorce his wife.

VV 12-13, 12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.

If a Christian brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he should not divorce her. Similarly, if a Christian sister has an unbelieving husband, and he is willing to live with her, she should not divorce him.

VV 14-16, 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise, your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

The unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife and vice versa. The children of a married couple where one partner is a believer are sanctified by the believing partner. If the unbelieving husband or wife wants to leave the marriage relationship, they should be allowed to do so. Concerning this, Paul asked a rhetorical question. Sometimes, a believing wife may save her unbelieving husband and vice versa.

VV 17-19, 17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.

Paul asked two rhetorical questions. Christians who were circumcised or uncircumcised before they become Christians should remain in the status quo. Circumcision or uncircumcision has no bearing on spirituality or righteousness. What matters is an obedient heart. Spiritual circumcision is a spiritual heart transplant performed by the Holy Spirit

Romans 2:28-29, For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not the letter. That man’s praise is not from men but from God.

VV 20-24, 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise, he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

Paul asked one more rhetorical question. Christians who were slaves before they become Christians should remain in the status quo. They were now free in Christ. Christians who were freed people before they become Christians should remain in the status quo. They were now redeemed by Christ and became slaves to Christ.

VV 25-28, 25 Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord, yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is: 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

Paul encouraged sexual purity but had no commandment from the Lord concerning celibacy. Celibacy is a gift and calling of God and very few people had this calling. Paul asked two rhetorical questions. If a Christian is married, he/she should remain in the status quo. If a Christian is divorced, he/she should remain in the status quo but if he/she remarries, he/she had not sinned. If a virgin marries she had not sinned.

VV 29-31, 29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.

The time is short because Christ’s second coming is imminent. We should not hold too tightly to the things of the world. The world is transient and will soon pass away, 1 John 2:15-17. The world will be destroyed by fire on Christ’s second coming and there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Rev 21:1.

1 John 2:15-17, NIV, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life come not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Rev 21:1, “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also, there was no more sea.”

VV 32-35, 32 But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world, how he may please his wife. 34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

Remaining unmarried has many advantages. Unmarried people can dedicate their lives fully to Christ. They are not distracted by the entanglement and the cares of the married life. Without a spouse and children, the unmarried person is free to serve the Lord wholeheartedly and without distractions.

VV 36-38, 36 But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. 37 Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well. 38 So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

If a man is betrothed to be married and his passion is too strong, he should marry the woman instead of sinning.

VV 39- 40, 39 A wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment, and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

Legally, a woman cannot marry another man as long as her husband is alive but once the husband dies, she is freed by law to marry again. If she is happy to remain unmarried, she should remain unmarried and serve the Lord wholeheartedly.

Application:

Celibacy is a gift and calling of God. Those who do not have this gift or calling should be married.

True circumcision is a spiritual circumcision of the heart and not a physical act. This is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring about a radical change in heart attitude resulting in the transformation of hearts, renewal of minds, and conforming a person into the image of God.

We should hold lightly to the things of the world because Christ’s second coming is imminent.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for lessons concerning marriage, divorce, remarry, correct conduct towards unbelieving spouses, gifts of celibacy, and so on. These are pertinent ethical issues that we faced in our lives today. We pray for insight and wisdom to apply these instructions, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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1 Corinthians 6

Chapter 6: 1 Corinthians 6: 1-20, lawsuits between Christians, glorifying God in body and spirit.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, open our hearts to hear from the Holy Spirit, open our understanding to apply scripture, and thank You for the ministry of the Word. We pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit to correct, convict, rebuke, teach, train, and instruct us in righteousness, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

VV 1-6, 1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!

Concerning lawsuits between Christians, Paul asked five rhetorical questions. He admonished them for going to the court to settle disputes among them. In Pauline theology, all born-again Christians are saints. Greek for saints is “hagio”, which means holy, sanctified, or separated for God. Paul’s position was that any disputes among Christian brothers and sisters should be taken to the local church tribunal instead of going to the secular court.

VV 7-11, 7 Now, therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Paul continued asking three more rhetorical questions. Taking up lawsuits in court to settle disputes among Christian brothers and sisters was already a failure and certainly a bad decision because they would be judged by non-believers. Christians brothers and sisters should try to settle disputes among themselves amicably in the local church. Christians should not deceive, cheat, or shortchanged one another. Unrighteous people who practice fornications, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, sodomy, thefts, covetousness, drunkenness, or extortions will not inherit the kingdom of God. Christians are justified by faith in Christ and sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

VV 12-14, 12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.

All things are lawful but not all things are helpful. Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food but God is in control the food and the stomach. The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and should not be used for sexual immorality. The body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord and the Lord for the body. God who resurrected Jesus from the dead will also resurrect Christians from the dead.

VV 15-18, 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

Concerning sexual immorality, Paul asked three rhetorical questions. Christ is head of the body of Christ. Christians are members of the body of Christ. Christ is the chief cornerstone, and Christians are the living stones. Paul quoted Genesis 2:24. We should flee from sexual immorality because this is a sin against our bodies.

Genesis 2:24, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

VV 19-20, 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Paul asked one more rhetorical question. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Our bodies do not belong to ourselves but God. Therefore, we should glorify God with our bodies.

Application:

Christ is the head of the church. We are members of Christ. Christ is the chief cornerstone of the church and we are the living stones. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. We should take good care of our bodies and not abuse them through reckless and immoral living.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, all things may be lawful but not all things are helpful. Legalism, food, and dietary prohibitions had no bearing on spirituality or righteousness. We offer our bodies as living sacrifices to serve You and sacrifices of praise to worship You, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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1 Corinthians 5

Chapter 5: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. The cancer of sexual immorality

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we give You permission to speak to speak, teach, convict, correct, instruct, and train us in righteousness as only You can. We pray for the anointing and presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

VV 1-2, 1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that a man has his father’s wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.

Someone from the Corinthian church had written a letter to Paul to informed him that a member of the Corinthian church had committed incest but the church turned a blind eye instead of taking action against the culprit.

VV 3-5, 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Paul was absent from Corinth in person but was with them in spirit. Paul condemned that person, delivering him to Satan in the hope that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord’s second coming.

VV 6-8, 6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Concerning sin, Paul asked a rhetorical question. A little bit on leaven in the dough will influence the whole lump. Leaven represents sin. Sin in the church is like cancer and will continue to spread if not radically removed. They should confront that person and persuade him to confess and repent. If he was unwilling to do so, the church would have no choice but to excommunicate him. Passover feast and Passover lamb are foreshadows of Jesus Christ. Passover lamb’s blood painted on the door frames of the Israelite’s houses on the Passover night was a foreshadow of the blood of Christ on the cross of Calvary. Passover lamb was a foreshadow of Jesus, the Lamb of God.

VV 9-10, 9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

We should not shy away from non-Christians who are involved in sexual immorality but use this opportunity to share the gospel with them.

VV 11-13, 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

Concerning sexual immorality, Paul asked one rhetorical question. We should not associate with Christians who are involved in sexual immorality unless they are willing to confess and repent. We should not judge non-Christians who are involved in sexual immoral but leave them to God. We should judge and counsel Christians who are involved in sexual immorality to bring them to repentance.

Application:

Sexual immorality is cancerous. If we detect cancer in our body, we must quickly go for radical surgery to remove cancer. If sexual immorality is detected in the body of Christ, and the person refused to repent, it is appropriate to excommunicate that person.

Christ is our Passover. If we apply the blood of Christ to cover our sins, God justifies and declared us just as if we have not seen. If we confess our sins, believe that Christ died for us, and surrender our lives to Him, we have passed over from death to life, John 5:24.

John 5: 24, ESV, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You that Christ, our Passover was sacrificed for us on Good Friday. Spiritually speaking, help us keep not to keep the Passover with the old leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the new unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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1 Corinthians 2

1 Corinthians, Chapter 2

1 Corinthians 2:1-16, Godly wisdom and earthly wisdom

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we pray for the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom, discernment, understanding, and insight into spiritual truths. We pray for our spiritual eyes to be opened and our spiritual blindness to be removed, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

VV 1-5, 1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Paul acknowledged that he was not a great orator but he preached the gospel and declared his testimony through the wisdom of God. Paul’s priority was to preach the crucifixion of Christ. Paul acknowledged that he was trembling, fearful, and weak. He did not speak with human wisdom but through Godly wisdom and the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul relied on Godly wisdom and not human wisdom.

VV 6-8, 6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

There are two kinds of wisdom, Godly wisdom and human wisdom. Godly wisdom is contrary to human, earthly, or worldly wisdom. Paul spoke about a mystery concerning the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. The rulers of this age, who were ignorant of this mystery crucified the Lord of glory.

VV 9-12, 9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

The Holy Spirit revealed spiritual truths to born-again Christians but not to non-Christians because they do not have the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit searched the hearts and minds of Christians to reveal, teach, convict, correct, instruct, and train in righteous living.

VV 13-16, 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Godly wisdom comes from the Holy Spirit, human wisdom comes from men. Godly wisdom is spiritual, earthly wisdom is earthly. The “natural” men cannot understand spiritual truth because they did not have the Holy Spirit. Satan had blinded the eyes of non-Christians so that they are unable to understand the things of God. Spirit-filled Christians can rightly discern and judge the things of God. The Holy Spirit enabled Christians to know the mind of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:4, NIV, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God”.

Application:

We should seek Godly wisdom and not human wisdom. We receive Godly wisdom from the Holy Spirit who searched our hearts and minds.

Non-Christians cannot understand spiritual truths because they are blinded by Satan. Before we can share the gospel with them effectively, we should pray for God to remove their spiritual blindness.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing to us the deep things of God through the Holy Spirit. Thank You for revealing spiritual truth and wisdom to us through the Holy Spirit’s presence. Thank You for opening our spiritual eyes to see, know, understand and discern spiritual truths, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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1 Corinthians 1

Chapter 1: Introduction:

Author, Date, Recipients, setting

The apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthian church in the spring of between A.D. 53-55 AD, during his third missionary journey, near the end of his three-year ministry in Ephesus, Acts 19: 21-22. Paul wrote four letters to the Corinthian church, but only 1 and 2 Corinthians had survived.

Acts 19: 21-22, When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.

Corinth

Ancient Corinth and Ephesus are influential cities notorious for pagan worship and philosophy. Corinth is located near the isthmus connecting the southern Greek peninsula to the mainland. It has two ports, on the east and west, across the four-mile wide isthmus. Cargo ships on either port uploaded their cargo and transported them across to the other port by land.

Ancient Corinth is notorious for sexual immorality. To be a Corinthians means to be an immoral person. It was home to the temple of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Every night, temple prostitutes offered their services on the streets of Corinth.

Theme

Paul encouraged the divided Corinthian church to close ranks, restore the faith of the weak, and work together in the ministry.

Purpose

Paul was informed by an oral report and a letter from the Corinthian church regarding issues on church division, spiritual immaturity, sexual immorality, idolatry, controversies over eating foods offered to idols, disagreements on head covering for women, confusion over spiritual gifts, denial of the resurrection, doctrinal and theological other issues. Paul wrote this letter to encourage, admonish, instruct and address these issues.

Outline

1:1-31, Salutation, spiritual gifts, factionalism, power of the gospel, glory in Christ

2:1-16, Godly wisdom and earthly wisdom.

3:1-23, Evangelism a team effort, the foolishness of worldly wisdom

4:1-21, Servants and stewards, warning against pride

5:1-13. The cancer of sexual immorality

6:1-20, Lawsuits among Christians, glorifying God in body and spirit.

7: 1-40, Marital relationship, sexual purity, divorce, remarrying, instructions to the spouse with an unbelieving partner, celibacy

8: 1-13, Knowledge puffs up, love builds up, instructions on eating food offered to idols

9:1-27, The rights of an apostle, be all things to all people, run to receive the imperishable crown

10:1-33, Old Testament types, instructions on overcoming temptation and idolatry

1 Corinthians 11:1-34, Instructions on head covering, misconduct, instructions, and appropriate conduct at the Lord’s Supper

12:1-31, Spiritual gifts, one Body, diversity of members, one Holy Spirit, diversity of spiritual gifts and ministries.

13:1-13, tongue, prophesy, faith, hope, and love

14:1-40, Prophesy and tongue

15:1-28, Risen Christ, victory over death, resurrection body, final victory

16:1-24, Collection for the mother church, final encouragements, farewell

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James, lesson 6

James, lesson 6

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come before You today with expectant, soft, obedient, and teachable hearts. We open our hearts and minds to receive the ministry of Your Word. Speak to each one of us through the Holy Spirit based on our unique and special situations, in Jesus; name, Amen.

James 5:1-20, sins of the rich, patience and perseverance, the prayer of faith, love covers a multitude of sins

VV 1-3, 1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.

James warned the rich on impending judgment because of arrogance, pride, corruption, exploitation, oppressing the poor, and flaunting luxurious lifestyles. Miseries will overtake them, their riches would be corrupted, their garment would be damaged, their gold and silver will be corroded,

VV 4-6, 4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. 5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.

James rebuked the rich for ripping off their workers through withholding or underpayment of wages, flaunting luxury lifestyles, exploiting and oppressing the poor and marginalized.

VV 7-8, 7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

We should have patience and perseverance as we anticipates the second coming of the Lord. We should be as patient as a farmer in the field, as tough as a soldier in a war, and as disciplined as an athlete in a race, 2 Timothy 2:3-7.

2 Timothy 2:3-6, “You, therefore, must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops”.

VV 9-10, 9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.

We should not to grumble against each other because God is watching, observing, and judging us. We should emulate the prophets of the Old Testament in their patience, suffering, and perseverance.

VV 11-12, 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord, that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.

James quoted the endurance, perseverance, and faithfulness of Job from the book of Job. God is compassionate and merciful. We should not swear an oath by heaven or earth. We should be straightforward in our answers with a yes or a no. We should not twist and turn or give ambiguous replies.

VV 14-15, 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

We should pray in difficult times and sing spiritual songs in good times. We should call upon the elders of the church to pray, lay hands, and anoint us with oil if we are sick. The prayer of faith of a righteous man will heal the sick.

VV 16-18, 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

We should confess our sins to each other and pray for each other. The prayer of a righteous man is effective and powerful. Elijah was an ordinary man just like anyone of us but his prayer was effective and powerful. When he prayed for drought, the drought came and when he prayed for rain, the rain came, 1 Kings:17-18.

1 Kings 18:45, “Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel”.

VV 19-20, 19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

We should watch out for backsliders and restore them back to the faith. Anyone who restores a backslider back to the faith will save a soul from eternal death. Love covers a multitude of sins, 1 Peter 4:8.

1 Peter 4:8, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins”.

Application:

We should be patient and persevere as we anticipate Christ’s second coming. We should not grumble against each other. We should pray in the face of adversity and sing spiritual songs in the face of joy. We should call upon the elders of the church to pray, lay hands, and anoint us with oil if we are sick. We should watch out for backsliders and restore them back to the faith.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help us to be patient, humble, and meek. Help us to be as tough as a soldier going to war, as disciplined as an athlete running a race, and as hard-working as a farmer toiling the ground. Help us to wait faithfully and expectantly for Your imminent return, in Jesus; name, Amen.

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James, lesson 5

James, Lesson 5

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we praise You and thank You. We give You all power, glory, praise, and honor. We acknowledged that Your name is above all name. We pray for wisdom, understanding, and insight to receive Your Word, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

James 4:1-17, pray and submit to God’s will, do not boast about tomorrow

VV 1-2, 1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

Wars, strive, conflicts, fights, and disagreements among people come from personal desires for power, lust, anger, pride, and covetousness.

VV 3-6, 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

We prayed but did not receive answers because we did not pray according to God’s will. God is a jealous God who demands absolute loyalty. If we are friends with the world, we are enemies with God. Peter quoted Proverbs 3:34.

Proverbs 3: 34, “Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble”.

1 Peter 5:5, Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

VV 7-10, 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

We should submit by drawing near to God and resists the devil. We should be clear minded and vigilant at all times because the devil is ready to pounce on us like a roaring lion, 1 Peter 5:8. We are sinners with unclean hands and unclean hearts. We should purify their hands and hearts, mourn, weep, and humble ourselves before God.

1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”

VV 11-12, 11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

We should not bad mouth our brothers in the faith, or judge them by the law. We should obey the law and not judge others by the law.

VV 13-16, 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

We should not boast about tomorrow because we do not know what will happen to us tomorrow. Life is fragile, unpredictable, and transient, like the grass and flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow. Life is like a vapor that appears for a short while and disappears. We should commit all our plans to God and acknowledge that only He knows what is best for us. Boasting is pride, arrogance, and evil. There is no place for boasting in the kingdom of God. Omitting to do good is a sin.

Application:

God will not answer our prayers if we do not pray according to His will and if we do not draw near to Him in submission and humility. God will answer our prayers if we have a living relationship with Him. We should never boast about tomorrow because life is uncertain, fragile, transient, and unpredictable. We should commit all plans to God and not boast about them.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help us submit to You and draw near to You in faith and humility. We pray to abide in You and Your word to abide in us. We acknowledged that we are sinners saved by grace. We pray for cleansing by the blood of Christ. Help us to humble ourselves in Your sight. We pray for uplifting of spirits and countenance, in Jesus’ name.

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James, Lesson 4

James, Lesson 4

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we pray for Godly and heavenly wisdom from You. We pray that You will help us to control our tongue to pronounce blessing, encouragement, and life to others. Help us be humble and conduct our lives worthy of Your calling, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

James 3: 1-18, the untameable tongue, heavenly wisdom, and earthly wisdom

VV 1-5, 1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in words, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!

The judgment for a teacher of God’s words is very much stricter than teachers of other trades. Correct theology and doctrines are matters of life and death. Teaching false doctrines leads innocent people to hell. Teaching false doctrines and incorrect theology are serious offences. The tongue is a very small member of the body, yet it is the most difficult part to control. The tongue had a tendency to boast, brag, gossip, and get out of control.

VV 6-12, 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water
and fresh.

The tongue is like a forest fire that can spread rapidly and uncontrollably. Mankind is able to tame every kind of wild beast but is unable to tame the tongue. The tongue has the ability to bless and curse, to bring life and destroy life, to encourage and discourage, to uplift and tear down. We should use our tongue wisely to bless, give life, encourage, and build up.

VV 13-1i, 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Godly and heavenly wisdom results in good conduct and humility. Demonic, earthly, and sensual wisdom results in bitterness, envy, self-seeking, boasting, and lying. Godly and heavenly wisdom is pure, peace-loving, gentle, submissive, merciful, fruitful, impartial, genuine, and devoid of hypocrisy. Godly and heavenly wisdom produces the fruit of the Holy Spirits, Galatians 5:22-23.

Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law”.

Application:

The judgment on a teacher of God’s word is very strict. Teaching false doctrines is a serious offense. We must control our tongue and use it wisely to bless, build up, encourage, and give life. We should pray for Godly, heavenly wisdom, and the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help us to conduct ourselves above board with wisdom, humility, kindness, and meekness. We pray for Godly and heavenly wisdom which is pure, peace-loving, gentle, merciful, bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit that only You can give to us, in Jesus’ name, Amen.