Scripture

You know that Stephanas and his household were the first of the harvest of believers in Greece, and they are spending their lives in service to gods people. I urge you, do your brothers and sisters comma to submit to them and others like them who served with such devotion.

Observation

Paul advises the Corinthians that, in order to send a donation to the church in Jerusalem, they should put aside a portion of their money each week.

Paul is planning to come to Corinth and spend some time with them. He urges them to welcome Timothy and not to intimidate him.

Stephanas and his family were the first believers in Greece have spent themselves serving God’s people. Therefore, they should submit to him.

Paul concludes the letter with some personal greetings.

Application

Stephanas and his household have been faithful servants of the Lord and His people. Paul says that they have spent themselves, which suggests costly, faithful, and unrelenting work. People like that are a rare treasure in the church. They give themselves entirely to serving the Lord.

This is not just about pastors and other employed church leaders. I know of people who are faithful to God in this kind of way in their businesses or at work, as well as pouring themselves out their leisure time.

Because of the sacrificial service, Paul says that the church should submit to them. The people who serve in this way are the ones who become the leaders in the church. Jesus said that if anyone wants to be a leader, they must become the servant of all.

To be a leader is above all else to be a servant.

Prayer

Lord, I thank you for the people in my life who show such devotion and faithfulness to you and to your people. Please pour out your blessings on them today. Amen.

Scripture

It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will be transformed.

Observation

Our dying physical bodies cannot inherit God’s kingdom. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed.

When the last trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to eternal life. Those who are alive at the time will be transformed and receive immortal bodies.

Death will be swallowed up in the victory of Christ. Sin is the sting that empowers death. Thank God! In Christ we have the victory over sin and death.

Application

There is much that is unclear about the end times. One thing that is certain is that those who are dead will be raised in a moment. Those who are alive in Christ will be transformed in the twinkling of an eye.

This promise is to everyone who puts their trust in Christ. Christ has defeated sin and death, and if we are in Christ we share the spoils of the victory.

Those who are not in Christ have not had their sins forgiven. They will be raised also, to be judged by God. They will be cast into a Lake of Fire along with satan and the demons.

Faith is a matter of life and death – eternal life and eternal death.

God is not wanting anyone to perish, so He delays the final day to save as many as possible.

Prayer

Thank you Lord Jesus for saving me. Yours is the victory and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Scripture

Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.

Observation

Paul turns to the question of what our resurrection bodies will be like. He uses the analogy of a seed that is placed in the ground and dies before being raised into a new body.

There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. They have varying kinds of glory. In the same way, our earthly bodies are put into the ground in brokenness, but raised up with a spiritual body of strength and glory.

Just as we like Adam, the earthly man, we will rise like Jesus, the Heavenly Man.

Application

As you get older, your body needs more maintenance because things wear out. One day, my body will be beyond repair and I will die.

My body will be put in the ground, and I will rise to take on a new body. My broken physical body will be replaced with a glorious heavenly body.

There is much we do not know about eternity. We do know that followers of Jesus will live forever, and that we will have bodies that will also live forever.

Sin and death, and the general degradation of creation, take their toll in this life. But in the next life there will be no more sin and death. Everything will be perfect.

That is something to look forward to!

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the promise of new life. There will be a time when everything is new and perfect again. Praise the Lord! Amen.

Scripture

After that the end will come, when he will turn the kingdom over to God the Father, having defeated every ruler and authority and power. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet.

Observation

Jesus will return at some future date, and then he will hand the kingdom over to the Father. He will destroy every ruler, authority, and power, even death itself.

When all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority. God will be supreme over all things.

If the dead are not raised, why do some people get baptised on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised, why would Paul risk his life for the gospel?

If there is no resurrection, we may as well live like the pagans, just living for today. We must think rightly about these things and stop sinning.

Application

Jesus has defeated the devil. He is victorious over all the rulers, powers and authorities. He has defeated death itself.

The war is not over, and Christ’s reign is not yet complete. One day He will return to Earth and, at that time, the end will come. All the enemies of God will be judged and destroyed, and we will live with Him forever.

History has a destination. My life has a destination. We are caught up in the final battle, but the victory has been won.

The enemy, the devil, is holed up in the jungle, taking pot shots at whoever he can. His defeat is assured. Those who are faithful to Christ now will share in the victory at the end.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, the victory is yours. The kingdom is yours. Thank you for allowing me to share in this victory. Amen

Scripture

So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. As everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.

Observation

Some of the Corinthians were saying there is no resurrection of the dead. That means that Christ did not rise either. All of the preaching of Paul and the other apostles would be useless, and they would be lying.

If there is no resurrection from the dead, our faith is useless, and we are still guilty of our sins.

In fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, and He is the first of a great harvest.

Just as death came through one man, and we all die because we belong to Adam, so too resurrection comes to all who belong to Christ.

Application

The resurrection of Christ from the dead is not just a symbolic thing. It is real. Jesus really did rise from the grave on the third day.

The resurrection of Christ is the source of our hope for eternal life. Because Christ rose from the dead, we who are his followers will also rise from the dead.

The power of sin has been utterly defeated by Christ. The cross was not His defeat, but His victory.

I will live because I am in Christ!

Prayer

Hallelujah! Lord Jesus, thank you for this awesome victory which you have won. I pray for my friends who do not yet believe. Please show them the power of the resurrection. Amen.

Scripture

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me: Christ died for our sins as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the scriptures said.

Observation

The Good News saves us if we continue to believe in the message. Paul passed on the most important truth that Christ died for our sins.

After He died, Christ rose again, and was seen by more than 500 people, and finally by Paul himself.

Whatever Paul is now, it is all God’s special favour. It doesn’t matter who brings the gospel, for it is the same message.

Application

The heart of the gospel, of everything that christians believe, is this: Christ died for our sins.

Jesus paid the price of forgiveness when He died on the cross.

This is awesome news indeed! We were destined for punishment because of all the things we had done wrong. But Jesus, the Son of God, turned it all around. Instead of punishment, we are receiving joy and eternal life.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord for the simplicity of the gospel. Thank you for your great love for me and that you took the punishment for my sins. I am free! Hallelujah!

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