Reference: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15.19-26

Scripture

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Observation

If our hope in Christ is only for this world we are to be pitied. But Christ has been raised from the dead, and His resurrection is the beginning of the resurrection of all His disciples.

Then the end will come . Jesus will hand over the kingdom to His Father, after He has destroyed every power and authority.

When Christ has overcome all these things, even death, then He will be subject to the Father so God may be all in all.

Application

Jesus is alive! This is the wondrous message of Easter Day. The one who was dead is now alive.

Paul tells us that Jesus’ death and resurrection is like a first fruit or an opening chapter in the resurrection of all people.

Jesus is destined to rule over every power and authority in the world and then hand it all over to the Father.

Prayer

Thank you Father for the good news of the kingdom. Amen.

Scripture

No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he shall also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Observation

The Jewish ancestors were all under the glory cloud and all passed through the sea, being baptised into Moses. They drank from the rock that followed them and that rock was Christ.

The lives of these people were given as examples to us. We must avoid idolatry, sexual immorality and complaining as some of these people did and were punished.

God does not let us be tested beyond our ability to endure, but He also provides a way through the trial.

Application

We often see trials and temptations as negative things designed to trip us up. The Old Testament saints were tempted in many ways and often failed and were subsequently punished.

God allows us to be tested to take us deeper into Him. Temptation can be a cause for deeper trust, not just an undermining force.

As christians, filled with the Holy Spirit, we are not condemned to sin. No, our destiny should be to overcome sin as we are increasingly transformed into the image of Christ,

We must learn to recognise temptation and our unique individual weak points. When temptation comes, and it will, we should be so aware of our dependence on the Lord that our eyes are on Jesus and not the source of sin. As we learn to do this, we learn to overcome in every test.

Prayer

Help me Father to discern the weaknesses of my heart and to trust in your strength to stand firm against temptation. Amen.

Scripture

Now you are the body of Christ, and individually members of it.

Observation

We have a body that has many parts but is just one body. In the same way, the church is made of many different kinds of people baptised into it and united by the one Spirit.

If a human body was all one part, it would be less for that. In fact it would not work at all. If the body were just an eye, it could not hear or smell.

In the same way every part of the Body of Christ, every member, is essential to it.

God appoints different roles and responsibilities to different individuals, but we are all parts of the same Body, put there by God.

Application

There are no unnecessary people in God’s church. We are all needed.

Sometimes it’s hard to work out where we fit, and it might even feel like we don’t fit at all. Yet, the Bible tells us we have a part to play in God’s mission in the world.

Equally we should not envy the gifts or ministries of other people, as if they are more important than we are.

Our bodies work because ultimately every part takes its cue from the head. The Body of Christ works best when every part takes its orders from the head, that is Christ.

Prayer

Lord, please help me to hear your voice so that I can understand who I am in you and where I best serve you in your Body. Amen.

Scripture

All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

Observation

Our confession about Jesus is a spiritual activity. Any time a person confesses that Jesus is Lord they are being led by the Holy Spirit. Nobody who curses Jesus is being directed by the Spirit.

There are various gifts and services but just one Spirit. We all may have a manifestation of the Spirit at any time for the good of all.

There are words of wisdom and knowledge, faith and healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. All this is by the Spirit of God.

Application

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given by the Spirit to glorify Jesus. They are not given to glorify individuals.

These gifts are available to all believers. Because it is the Spirit who gives these gifts, we all have the potential to manifest the gifts from time to time.

The key to this is being open to the Holy Spirit. Our focus should always be on Him. The Lord will direct us if we are listening and are willing to obey.

Prayer

Holy Spirit be released through me. Teach me how to hear your voice and engage in your ministry. Amen.

Picture from deviantart by Xiphos71

Scripture

I passed on to you what was most important and what was 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 will save us if we continue to believe it. The Good News is that Christ died for our sins and on the third day He was raised to life. All of this was predicted in the Scriptures.

The risen Lord was seen on many occasions. On one occasion 500 people saw Him at once. Finally Paul also saw Him.

Application
Christ died for my sins, but His death is not the last word. On the third day after His death He was raised from the dead and appeared to many of His followers.

Many religious leaders have lived and died, but only one left His burial place and continues to live.

Christ has defeated sin and death. Now we can be sure that we will live for ever if we hold fast to Him.

Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ in your death you defeated death, and now I know I will live with you for ever. Thank you! Amen.

Scripture

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

Observation

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is God’s power.

God undermines worldly wisdom by making it look foolish. Jews look for signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but it is Christ who saves all who believe.

God’s stupidity is wiser than the smartest human and His apparent weakness is stronger than anything man can do.

Application

You can’t get to heaven by human wisdom and reasoning. If you could, every philosopher would get there. Every form of military might, political power, financial muscle is useless before the God who made the universe with a word and can destroy it in an instant.

To be saved, we must embrace the cross, the “weakness” of God.

Sure, it doesn’t make sense to the logical mind obsessed with power.

But the cross is the logical outcome of a God who loves the world so much that He would put aside His strength, become vulnerable to our sin, and pay the price for sins He never committed. All for love’s sake.

Prayer

Father, I receive your love. The cross has set me free from death. Thank you. Amen.

Scripture

Preaching the good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News.

Observation
Paul preaches because it is God’s compulsion and calling . How terrible it would be for him to deny that calling.

If this was his own idea, Paul could demand payment for services rendered, as a right. But it is God’s call and therefore it is Paul’s privilege to preach without payment.

Paul lives in such a way as to open the doors for the Gospel, trying to find common ground with everyone to gain the right to save some.

Application
Paul preaches the Good News because it is a passion planted in him by the Lord.

We all need to find the one thing that God has planted us on this planet to do, and then go and do it with all our heart.

I have heard of young women going to remote parts of Africa and feeling that they have arrived home, and then achieving the most amazing things for God’s kingdom.

I have been called by God to Narrabri to pastor a congregation here, and I will do that for as long as I have the strength to do it, or until the Lord says it is time to move on.

When God calls is to a mission, He gives us all the resources and the passion to persevere until the job is done.

Prayer
Thank you Lord for the calling you have placed on my life. May I ever walk in that calling and be faithful to you in that. Amen.