God Heals You
Author: newlifenarrabri
Quote for the Day
Truth transcends all shifting social mores. It rises above the changing cultural norms. No matter where people are on the globe, they need to hear and heed the unalterable truth of God. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Matt. 24:35). Steven Lawson
I will put my hope in the Lord
Reflection on 1 Corinthians 14:26-40
Scripture
So, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. But be sure that everything is done decently and in order.
Observation
In a meeting, various people will bring various gifts – singing, teaching, prophecy, tongues, interpretation. Everything must be done with the goal of strengthening all people.
No more than two or three should speak in tongues, and not all at once. Someone must interpret the message, otherwise the tongues speakers should remain silent.
Two or three people should prophesy, and the others should evaluate the message. The gift of prophecy is in the control of the speaker. People must take turns.
Women should remain quiet during the meeting. If they have questions, they should ask their husbands at home.
Be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
Application
Paul makes it clear that he wants the Corinthians to exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit. But it must be done in an orderly way.
We should all be eager to prophesy. This means actively listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit, whether through a mental impression, or a vision, or some other means. It means being prepared to share what we have received from the Lord.
Many people hear all sorts of things from the Lord all the time, but they don’t think to share it. They don’t think that they are spiritual enough to prophesy. They don’t think that they have a particularly impressive message to share.
The church should find ways of encouraging these people to speak out what they think God is saying. People who are just starting to gain confidence in hearing the Lord can be nurtured to grow in their gifts.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Please speak to the church through me. Help me to hear your voice and to know that it is you. Amen
Ephesians 6:9
Here is my commentary on Ephesians 6:9. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au
Ephesians 6:9
“And masters do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and with him there is no partiality.”
Paul now turns his attention to slave owners. In all of these admonitions, he always balances out his demands so that both parties are clear of the Lord’s expectations of them. His instructions to slave owners are perhaps the most radical of all.
He has just told slaves that they are to obey their masters with fear and trembling, and to serve enthusiastically as to the Lord.
He now tells masters that the same also applies to them. Masters are to direct their slaves as though they are doing it for the Lord.
Slavery was a fact of life in the ancient world. Rather than demanding that masters free their slaves, which might condemn some of them to poverty and even re-enslavement, Paul tells the owners to treat their slaves well. They are to represent Christ in their relationship with their slaves.
He specifically tells them to stop threatening their slaves. This is not the way of Christ. Jesus laid down his life without resisting his captors in anyway. Masters must lay down their rights to make threats of death or violence against their slaves. They must, in fact, become like servants in their attitudes.
Both slaves and masters have the same Master in heaven. The word for master is kurios, the same word as Lord. So Paul says,” Lords you also have the same Lord in heaven.” The one who is lord in his own household is subject to the Lord in heaven, as are his slaves.
This reasoning is very similar to the centurion who tells Jesus, “I am a man under authority. I say to this one go and he goes.” ( Matthew 8:9) All authority comes from our relationship to the ultimate authority of God in heaven.
Because christian masters are subject to the lordship of Christ, they must love their neighbours, even their slaves, as they love themselves.
With God there is no partiality. The word used here means a “respecter of persons.” Paul is saying that the Lord does not distinguish between slave and master; both are held to the same requirements, even though their social standing is different, and one certainly wields more power than the other.
Masters are subject to the same judgement by God as their slaves are. Social position will not determine the outcome, but faithfulness to Christ will .
In our economy, where we no longer have slaves, this suggests that directors and managers should show the same deference to their workers that they expect to receive. Impersonal emails and texts delivered from “on high” may get the job done. Concern and compassion for those doing the work “at the coal face” are more important from God’s perspective.
Key points in this verse:
- Paul presents an radical redefinition of the relationship between slaves and their masters
- Slave owners are to treat their slaves as people for whom Christ died
- Masters must always remember that they also are accountable to the Lord
- Employers and managers have a responsibility before God to care for their workers beyond the requirement of the law.
His love Endures Forever
Today’s Bike Ride
The iconic Narrabri Lake is just up the road from my place and a part of this morning’s ride.
Quote for the Day
The pronouncements of God are not cryptic or enigmatic. God never communicates matters of salvation and sanctification with smoke and mirrors. Steven Lawson
Seek God’s Kingdom
Reflection on 1 Corinthians 14:15-25
Scripture
Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the Spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the Spirit, but I will also sing in words I understand.
Observation
Paul says he will pray and sing both in the Spirit, i. e. in tongues, and in words he understands. If you only ever use tongues in a meeting, others will not be able to join in your praises.
Paul speaks in tongues more than anyone but he would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words of tongues.
Speaking in tongues and prophecy are both helpful for believers and unbelievers alike.
Application
Paul was a great believer and practitioner of speaking in tongues. He was also a pragmatist. He wanted all the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be used in a way that builds up all the church.
As far as a church gathering was concerned, he would do both – that is pray in tongues and in normal language.
Many churches have banned the use of tongues because they do not understand the gift, or because they have had a bad experience in the past. The solution is not to prohibit what God has given, but to ensure it is practised in a way that is orderly and useful.
Church leaders need to be creative in their approach to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. How can we encourage the gifts without going to excess?
Prayer
Thank you,Lord, for the wisdom of the scriptures. May your church always glorify you in all of our worship. Amen
