Author: Larry Soape

Larry Soape is the Associate Pastor for Median & Senior Adults, and Missions at FBCSA.

Why the Gifts?

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 12:4-31 (day four)

God called Israel out of bondage to be with Him.  He called them to be set apart from the world, so others would know that He was God.  Obedience mattered to God. If Israel would obey God, the world would see Him and know Him.

In New Testament times, Jesus called us to be His people.  Not just for our benefit so we can go to heaven, but when we live a life that is holy…set apart for Him…that people would see God and be drawn to Him.  In order to give an accurate picture of the character of God, He gave us the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit.  When the world sees these gifts at work in our lives…in the life of His church…they see the true nature of God and are drawn to Him.

What picture of God do people see in your life?  Israel did not fulfill God’s plan to show the world who He was.  Are you exercising the gifts given to you for His glory?

His Ways

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 8 and 1 Corinthians 10:22-33 (day four)

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.  (Isaiah 55:8)

Have you noticed that the principles we have in the Bible are always the exact opposite of the ways the world teaches us?  The Bible says love your enemies, the world says crush your enemies.  God says it is better to give than to receive, the world says get all you can get.  God says the truth will set you free, the world says tell them what they want to hear.

In our passage this week, God says seek the good of others, the world says do whatever you want to do…be happy.  Paul is instructing the Corinthians to always choose to follow the Lord’s ways.  If we compromise the truth of Scripture, we may lead another person astray…we may keep them from seeing an accurate picture of God.  Our witness to His truth is more important than doing what we consider to be in our own interest.

Purge the Evil

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 5 (day four)

No one wants to be labeled as ‘judgmental.’  In today’s culture, that characteristic has been made to be derogatory or repulsive.  According to Paul, we are not to be critical or judgmental toward those who are outside the church…those in the world. We are to exercise discernment inside the church though and correct immoral behavior by a brother in Christ.

Believers are held to a higher standard. We have the Holy Spirit within us to convict us of wrong behavior.  Sometimes, we choose to ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit and we sin.  Our church community has a responsibility to bring discipline upon us to restore us to righteous living.  If a believer is allowed to remain in sin, he becomes a harmful witness to the truth of the gospel.

Deuteronomy 13:4 says, “You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.”  Verse 5 says, “So you shall purge the evil from among you.”

Where’s the Meat?

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 3:1-17 (day four)

Paul was pretty tough on the Corinthian church.  He pulled no punches.  As a mentor to these new believers, he believed they needed to know the truth. The times were critical, as well as dangerous.  For the Corinthian church to survive and be useful to the Kingdom work, they had to grow in their faith and understanding.  They had to move past the ‘milk’ stage and reach the ‘meat’ stage.  Paul gives some harsh instructions, but ends this passage with words of hope.  VV.16-17 lets the Corinthians know they are not in this alone…the Holy Spirit dwells in them…the temple of God.

Who are you mentoring and discipling in the faith?  Maybe you believe that you still need the ‘milk’.  As believers, we have a responsibility to learn, and grow, and mature in our faith.  As we grow, find someone to bring along with you.  Meat is especially good when it is shared with another!

Power of God

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (day four) 

Paul’s letter to the Corinthians was intended to correct the false reasoning and practices going on in the church.  The Greeks had a deep love for philosophy and when many of the converts came into the church at Corinth, they brought with them the false thinking they already had.  Paul was trying to teach the church that the wisdom of God did not need any of man’s ‘wisdom’ to be added to it.  The Corinthians held on to many of their presuppositions about God that effectively created an idolatrous image of how God should act and be.

How often do we do the same as the Corinthians? We develop our own image as to how God should look and respond and we then twist the truth of Scripture to match up with our image.  This is called idolatry.  Paul says in our very best ‘wisdom’, we cannot compare to God’s ‘worst foolishness’.  Believers are called to trust the wisdom of Christ…the very power of God.

Of Course You Know What’s Right

Re:Verse reading–Philemon 1-25 (day four) 

Let’s be honest…Paul leaves no room for Philemon to do anything but the right thing.  Onesimus had run away from his master and was lost to Philemon.  God intervened though.  Onesimus had no clue how his life was about to change.  He had been on the run and to be caught as a runaway slave would have dire consequences.  The Gospel hijacked his life though…he met Paul and then met Christ and his life was forever changed.  He was redeemed!

Have you ever planned out your life and set off on a course that was apart from God’s plan? God has a way of capturing His own.  We may have left some Philemons behind us that we need to make amends with and ask forgiveness.  Paul was encouraging Onesimus to do the right thing, but he was also making sure Philemon did the same.  Redemption is in the hands of God…who are we to judge or stand in the way of others He has rescued?

He’s Here!

Re:Verse reading–Acts 12:1-19 (day four)

This passage is about Peter’s deliverance from the chains and locked doors of prison.  The bonds of evil sought to silence his witness, but God’s power easily overpowered the schemes of man.  I have always loved the picture painted by Rhoda, the servant girl.  In her excited recognition of Peter’s voice at the gate, she forgot to open the gate!  She had a simple faith that recognized God’s rescue of Peter.  The church leaders inside praying needed more ‘encouragement’ to their faith.

How many times do we offer prayers on the behalf of others, and are then surprised when God answers the prayer?  Words are easy to say, but faith, even the size of a mustard seed, seems often difficult to exercise.  Is God able to deliver?  Yes!  Does God have a plan for redemption?  Yes!  Will He allow us to participate in His plan?  Yes!  Don’t be surprised when God works in your life…celebrate like Rhoda!

Not Understood, Can’t Understand

Re:Verse reading–John 3:1-21 (day four)

Nicodemus could not understand redemption.  It made no sense to him.  He had seen the miracles that Jesus had done and he had seen the changed lives as a result of Jesus’ work, but he would not accept by faith that Jesus was the messiah.  Jesus explained that until Nicodemus accepted, by faith, that only by God’s grace could he receive redemption, he would be incapable of understanding.

No one knows where the wind originates or where the wind is going.  We can see the effects of the wind and know it is there.  Likewise, we can see the result of a changed life through the power of Christ.  We can know that redemption is real by simply observing its fruit.  Like Nicodemus, we must exercise faith before we can receive redemption.  Redemption is not just a rational decision we make based on facts.  It is understood and received by faith alone.

Redemption is real…look around and observe the results of God’s work and provision!

It Works!

Re:Verse reading–Mark 9:14-29 (day four) 

Jesus was known as ‘Rabbi’…a teacher.  He would often sit before His followers and teach them.  He would not always be with them and they needed to know how to lead His church when He was gone.

The Transfiguration had been impressive to the disciples that accompanied Jesus.  They thought it was a good idea to prolong the experience.  Immediately on their return, they are confronted with a need bigger than them.  Jesus sought to teach them how to respond to the vast needs of the church.  When confronted with the demon-possessed boy, the disciples were baffled.  They tried to heal the boy themselves, but they did not have the power.  Jesus (in verse 29) gave them the lesson.  “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”

Are there any ‘demon-possessed boys’ in your life…the seemingly impossible?  Have you tried to meet that need in your own power?  Have you tried in your self-sufficiency to come up with the answer?  Prayer works for us too!

God’s Deliverance

Re:Verse reading–Hosea 1, 3, 14 (day four)

V.7 – “I will…deliver them by the Lord their God.”

Israel had long looked for the promised Messiah.  They were looking for a political, military leader who would deliver them from their oppressors.  They completely misunderstood the work of redemption that would come through the messiah.  God had foretold the spiritual nature of the messiah, but they could not see clearly God’s plan.  As a result, they missed Jesus as God’s promised redeemer.

How often do we have an expectation for the way God will work in a given situation?  We lay out all the ‘facts’ so God will understand that our plan is best.  Then…when His way is different, we are baffled as to what went wrong.  We must seek to listen to God rather than dictate to Him what we think is best.  God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are His ways our ways…as high as the heavens are above the earth, so are His ways higher than ours.  (Isaiah 55:8-9)