Scripture

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

Observation

Paul compares himself to an expert builder who lays a foundation for others to build upon. What we build on that foundation will be tested by fire on the Day of the Lord.

We are God’s temple and God’s Spirit dwells in us. No more boasting about men and who we follow! We don’t have to be divided by personalities and celebrities. We have all things in Christ.

Application

As followers of Jesus we are all meant to build on the work of Christ. The extent to which we build in the strength of the Holy Spirit determines the value and longevity of what we build.

Many people are building for themselves or in their own strength or giftedness. They are like people building with straw. It will just disappear when examined on the fiery day of judgement.

We, the people of God, are God’s temple being built in Him and for Him. As we invest our time and energy in the things of God, He builds His presence in us.

Prayer

Show me Lord how to invest myself in your kingdom. May I build with gold, silver and precious stones. Amen.

Scripture

For we are God’s servants working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Observation

Paul was not able to feed the Corinthians solid food because they were acting like people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.

The sign of their immaturity is the fighting and jealousy amongst them. They have split into camps claiming to follow different leaders.

Paul points out that he and Apollos are just servants of the Lord called to different roles in the Body of Christ. They work together for God, not in competition.

Application

Unity in the Spirit within the church is a basic sign of maturity according to Paul. From this judgement nearly all christians in the West are of the flesh because the church is so fragmented.

There is nothing wrong with having multiple congregations in a town or neighbourhood. The problem comes when a congregation thinks of itself as the only true expression of the church, or when congregations compete for followers.

Division within a faith community is even more destructive. To prefer one leader over another is to play into the hands of satan who, loves to bring division into the Body.

We must always keep our eyes on Jesus the true shepherd of the flock.

Prayer

Lord Jesus please bring the church to a true place of unity where we recognise your presence in all congregations and your Spirit in all believers. Amen.

Scripture

My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Observation

Paul did not come to Corinth with lofty words and human wisdom. He had decided to know only Christ crucified. He wanted the church there to see the power of God and just trust Him rather than human wisdom.

There is a wisdom that comes from God, but it is not accessible to the rulers of the age. God’s wisdom comes as a revelation from the Spirit of God who searches everything even the deep things of the Lord.

We have received the Spirit of God rather than the spirit of the world. And the words to describe these hidden things of God must be words from the Spirit not the words of human wisdom.

The unspiritual reject spiritual gifts because they do not understand them. But we have the mind of Christ.

Application

This is one of those difficult passages that one needs to wrestle with to really understand.

Paul is trying to draw a distinction between human wisdom and the wisdom that comes from the Spirit of God. They are totally opposed to each other.

As christians we need to be led by the Holy Spirit, relying on the gifts of the Spirit and not just human wisdom. When we were saved we received the Holy Spirit not the spirit of this world, so why rely on worldly thinking when we have the mind of Christ.

The christian life is about depending on the Holy Spirit for all things, learning to discern the voice of God, learning to minister in the power of God and with the grace of God.

Prayer

Holy Spirit come and overwhelm me. Grant me your wisdom and the grace to daily depend on you alone. Amen.