DAY #273: 2 Corinthians 10:7-11:15

Paul encouraged the Corinthians to adjust their perspective. They had been making their decisions on the basis of appearance. They were listening intently to the false teachers who were boasting of their own authority, their perfect Hebrew heritage, and their visionary experiences.

All of their loud boasts and extravagant displays of power had dazzled the Corinthians so much that they had become blind to the simplicity of the gospel message that Paul had preached to them in the first place (1 Corinthians 2:1-3).

Although Paul’s opponents had portrayed him as weak and powerless, Paul reminded the Corinthians that he did possess God-given authority. Although he would not boast in himself or compare himself to other preachers, he would boast in the Lord and in the authority that Jesus had given him to preach the gospel that saves.

As chapter eleven begins, we see that Paul was anxious that the Corinthian church’s love should be reserved for Christ alone, just as a chaste virgin saves her love for her groom.

In the first century, an engagement was a serious commitment, similar to a contract. If the bride wasn’t a virgin on the wedding day, it was considered a breach of the engagement contract. Ensuring the bride’s purity and virginity until the wedding day was partially her father’s responsibility.

This passage depicts Paul's concern for the Corinthians as a father’s concern for the purity of his daughter. Paul had already promised the Corinthians to one husband, Christ. He was anticipating that wonderful day when he would present them proudly to Jesus. That day when Christ returns will be like a great wedding feast, an image that Jesus himself had used for his second coming.

To guarantee that he would not be embarrassed at Christ’s return, Paul took the necessary steps to discourage the Corinthians not to stray from their pure devotion to Christ. Thus, the jealousy that motivated Paul was a godly jealousy for the Corinthians: that they might wholeheartedly follow Christ, their Savior.

SO WHAT? (what will I do what I have read today?)

Over and over again through scripture, we read that God cares most about the condition of our heart. The hallmark passage of this truth is found in 1 Samuel 16:7

"But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

So I ask myself and I ask you today - what's the condition of your heart? Is it pure and unsullied? Is it wholehearted in it's devotion to our Lord or has that love been diluted and polluted?



If, like me, you find at times that you have wandered off the path and drifted from the life that He would have you live, then come home to Him today. Listen to the heart of David after he had been confronted about his sin with Bathsheba.



Psalms 51:1-12 (NIV)

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

DAY #272: 2 Corinthians 9:1-10:6

Once again, Paul speaks to the topic of giving. The people of Corinth were intimately familiar with the principles of an agricultural economy. Planting, weeding, and harvesting were common, everyday tasks. Keeping more seeds in storage might appear to be wise, a way to ensure against future disasters. But the farmer who scattered his seed meagerly inevitably would have a small harvest.

A farmer who refused to risk his grain on the next year’s harvest would lose. This piece of agricultural wisdom contains a profound truth about Christian giving. Like the foolish farmer, he who plants only a few seeds—who refuses to trust God with their future financial security—will inevitably lose out on God’s rich blessings. He who sows generously will get a generous crop. The eternal harvest will exceed their expectations.

The biggest obstacle that people have to overcome in order to give is worry. What if I will not have enough money next year for my retirement? What if some emergency comes up? What if I lose my job? Paul reassures the Corinthians that God is able to generously provide all their needs. The purpose of God’s overwhelming blessing is always to equip his people to have plenty left over to share with others.

God gives both the seed and the bread, both the surplus to invest and the resources to support one’s family every day. The resources that God gives Christians are not to be hoarded, foolishly devoured, or thrown away. God gives gifts to his people for their own use and for investing back into God’s work. Instead of squandering these gifts, Christians need to cultivate them in order to produce more good works.

Giving generously causes two good things to happen. First, through those gifts given to those who need them, God meets their needs (here, specifically, the needs of the Christians in Jerusalem). Second, the recipients of these generous gifts will joyfully express their thanksgiving to God. Their celebration over these gifts will lead to heartfelt praise to God, for they will know that it is God who enables the giver to give in the first place.

Paul ended his appeal for giving with fervent praise to God. The source of all this—the ability to give, the desire to give, even the reconciliation that would occur between Jewish and Gentile believers—was solely from God’s hands. God is the ultimate Giver. He gave a gift too wonderful for words—the gift of his Son. God’s extraordinary gift of salvation should motivate you to give generously to others. Spend time meditating on how much God has given you. Then evaluate your generosity in light of God’s generosity to you.

In chapter 10, Paul shifts the focus of the letter. Paul equated the Christian life to a war. This war isn’t against “flesh and blood, but against the . . . authorities of the unseen world”. The Christian life is a spiritual battle against spiritual forces aligned against Christ. Fighting this spiritual battle with weapons of the world—with physical strength, worldly strategies, and material wealth—would be foolish. A spiritual battle requires spiritual weapons that can only come from God.

According to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, God’s mighty weapons are faith, truth, righteousness, the gospel message, and the word of God. The Holy Spirit equips Christians for the struggle, providing the weapons they need. Worldly weapons—wealth, fame, and political might—may wield some power on this earth, but they are useless in spiritual battles.

The Devil’s strongholds included every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God and rebellious ideas. The world of ideas is the real battleground for God and the Devil. Many complex theories and philosophies try to block people from knowing the truth about God and worshiping him. These false philosophies that divert glory from God and hide the truth are the Devil’s strongholds. In Corinth, where advances in Greek philosophy were held in high esteem, the believers were tempted to evaluate the gospel with the various tools of Greek philosophy.

Paul had already told the Corinthians that the Gospel would appear as foolishness to those who saw the world through the lenses of secular Greek philosophy. Just as an army would attack a fortress, so Christians must take apart and defeat these false and evil arguments.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

God, give me a greater and stronger heart - day after day - to do battle against evil. God, help me and protect me from living a compromised Christian life. What does God want us to do with evil? When it comes to evil, don’t deny or ignore evil exists, face evil head on.

Folks, you know this - So many times, when it comes to evil, we choose to close our eyes, change the channel. If you’re watching a TV show late at night and there’s an ad for a relief agency that shows a child starving – change the channel as fast as you can. You’re watching something else and there come a news report of a tragedy – change that channel as fast as you can.

Why do we do this? What I’ve noticed in myself and I imagine it’s probably true of many of you - I think we ignore it, because if we acknowledge that it exists then there is in us at least a sense of responsibility that maybe we should do something about it.

And to do something about it would mean I’d have to change my schedule, my agenda, my hopes, my dreams, what I’m doing today. It would be uncomfortable for me to do that. So we choose apathy.

But the Bible tells us that is not the appropriate response to evil. James 4:17 says, “Anyone who knows the right thing to do but doesn’t do it is sinning.” So here’s the hard reality right out of the shoot today - if you know there’s evil in the world – and let’s face it; you do know there’s evil in the world. All of us know it. If we choose to do nothing about evil, we are sinning.

Einstein said, “The world is a dangerous place. Not just because of those who do evil but because of those who look on evil and do nothing.”

There’s a story in the Old Testament, where the children of Israel, choose to follow the pagan gods of the other nations around them. This one time, they followed a god name Molech, a pagan god of the Ammonites. Molech was the god of fire. Part of the worship of Molech was to take children and burn them as a sacrifice to Molech. God said if you do that or if you see it happening and you don’t stop it that is evil – that is sin.

Listen to Leviticus 20:4-5 - “If the people of the land look the other way as if nothing had happened, when a man gives his child to the god Molech I will resolutely reject all who join him.” In our world today there is evil happening twenty-four/seven. There’s not a minute of the day that evil is not happening in the most profound, perverse, gross, painful ways.

What will you choose to do about it?

DAY #271: 2 Corinthians 8:1-24

Paul’s great tact with the Corinthians should be noted. Although Paul planned to ask the Corinthians to collect money for the impoverished Jerusalem Christians, he first presented them with an illustration of admirable generosity: the giving of the churches in Macedonia.

Paul praised the Macedonians for their attitude about giving. Apparently, the Macedonians had calculated how much they could give and then tried to exceed that amount. Their giving was far more than what Paul expected. In fact, Paul had been reluctant to ask for money for the Jerusalem Christians. It was the Macedonians who, of their own free will, had begged to be a part of the privilege of sharing in this gift.

The Macedonians’ giving was not motivated by a desire for praise from Paul or others. Their generosity was fundamentally motivated by their desire to serve the Lord. They first dedicated themselves to God and expressed the desire to follow whatever directions God might give them. They gave because they knew they were God’s. Everything they had—even their very souls—were God’s. Knowing this, they devoted themselves to serving Jesus and his Kingdom in any way they could.

The Corinthian church had a great amount of spiritual gifts—they excelled in faith, gifted speakers, knowledge, and love. Paul placed giving alongside other gifts, asking that the Corinthians excel in that ministry as well. Giving is a natural response of Christian love. Paul did not order the Corinthians to give; he encouraged them to prove the sincerity of their love for Christ. When you love someone, you want to help that person. You want to give your time, your attention, and your possessions to enrich that person. If you refuse to help, your love is not as sincere as you say it is.

The Corinthian church—a wealthy church—had pledged a great deal of money, but they had not yet given any of it. Paul was concerned that they might never get around to giving what they had promised, so he gave them two models of generous giving. Paul had given them the first model: the poor Macedonian Christians who had enthusiastically given beyond what they could afford. Then in this verse, Paul gave another model: Jesus himself. Although the Macedonians had shown a great amount of generosity, their sacrifice couldn’t compare with Jesus’ giving of himself. Jesus’ action was the ultimate model for the Corinthians.

Jesus became poor for the Corinthians’ sakes by generously giving up his rights as God and becoming human. He even voluntarily surrendered himself to death on a cross—the most cruel and humiliating death known at that time. Yet by doing so, he made all who believe in him rich. Christians have not only been saved through his self-sacrificial actions, they have also been accepted into God’s family. That means that they have a glorious, eternal inheritance in heaven.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

What stands out to me today from this passage? Several thoughts. Let me list them in bulllet points.

- Your willingness to give cheerfully is more important than the amount you give.
- You should strive always to fulfill your financial commitments.
- If you give to others in need, God will, in turn, help you when you are in need.
- You should give as a response to Christ, not for anything you can get out of it.
- How you give reflects your devotion to Christ.
- Don’t rush into a commitment to give. Evaluate your finances so that you will be able to keep your promise.
- God is more concerned about your attitude in giving than He is with the amount you give.

I have often said that giving is the acid test of our faith. We can say we are devoted to the cause of Christ, yet if our obedience in the area of giving doesn't back up our claims, we are only deceing ourselves.

I wonder sometimes why giving and money is such a touchy subject for Christians. It seems many are easliy offended when the church talks about this subject. Yet, Jesus talked more about money than he did love or heaven or even hell. Jesus knew what we forget - where our treasure is where our heart is.

"Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:33-34 (NIV)

I hear peole say - "Pastor, you just don't know how tight our budget is - we can't afford to give." Folks, the best time to start giving is when you have nothing. If you'll be obedient in those circumstances, God will be faithful to provide. He will meet your needs. Giving is an issue of faith, not of abundance.

I challenge you today. Start giving in obedience, by faith and do so biblically - meaning 10%. Watch how God blesses you. I don't know how He will bless you, but He will.

"The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives."
Deuteronomy 14:23 (LB)

"`Bring your whole tithe to My storehouse. Test Me in this.' says the Lord, `and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you won't have room enough for it!'" Malachi 3:10 (NIV)

DAY #270: 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:16

As founder of the church, Paul had fatherly affections for the Corinthians. He had spent hours agonizing over the believers’ spiritual welfare and had worked hard for them. But like rebellious children, the Corinthians had returned Paul’s concern with a cold heart. Although Paul could have commanded and disciplined them, he merely pleaded with them. He wanted to give them a chance to reform their ways.

After passionately appealing to the Corinthians to open their hearts to him, Paul exhorted them, “Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers.” He urged them not to form binding relationships with nonbelievers because this might weaken their Christian commitment, integrity, or standards.

So what did it mean to avoid “teaming up”? The picture is of teaming up two animals, such as an ox and a mule, to plow a field. However, because the plow would be pulled unevenly or the weight being carried would be spilled, it wouldn’t work out. In the same way, a believer and an unbeliever are categorically different. Teaming up with unbelievers would lead to disaster.

The Corinthian church was having a difficult time separating themselves from the immoral practices of their unbelieving neighbors. Paul was telling the Corinthians to avoid any situation that would compromise their faith or their Christian morals. Why? Because goodness cannot partner with wickedness; light cannot live with darkness; Christ and the Devil cannot live in harmony. Therefore, how can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? While this verse applies to all partnerships and alliances, dating and courting and marriage certainly comes under this teaching.

As building blocks of God’s temple, each individual had to maintain a holy life, set apart to God. There was no room for any mixed loyalties. No compromise or agreement had been made between the true God and idols.

In this letter, Paul had exhorted the Corinthians to discipline their members who persisted in error—specifically, the one who had publicly opposed Paul’s authority. The letter had produced its desired effect. Although harsh, it had produced a change of heart in the Corinthians, the repentance that God desired.

The repentance Paul wanted was not merely anguish over the acrimonious situation or a regret that it had ever happened. Godly repentance implies a reorientation of the entire person away from sins and toward God’s ways. It is a “turning around.” The type of remorse that compels a person to change his or her direction is what God wants—not “sorrow” that paralyzes or becomes resentful.

Many people are sorry only for the effects of their sins or for being caught. In the original Greek, sorrow without repentance literally means “the sorrow of the world.” When people do not channel their grief over their behavior into life-changing actions, it is unproductive grief. It leads to self-pity. But godly sorrow is practical and action-oriented. When a person realizes what he or she has done wrong, that person should not only regret the error but also turn back to God. Only God can empower people to change their ways. Only God can save people from the way sin imprisons them and paralyzes them. Only God can help us turn away from sin and seek salvation.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what i have read today?)

Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."

Paul exhorts us to do just that in this passage today. Guard your heart and don't give it to someone who doesn't love the Lord Jesus Christ with all of their heart, mind, soul and strength.

Single people, don't date or court a guy or a gal in hopes they will turn their lives around. It very rarely happens. Don't compromise. Don't bind yourself in that way. Guard your heart. Wait for God to bring the right guy or gal into your life. If you're dating a person like that now, as painful as it might be, break it off. Trust God to supply His man or woman for you in His time.

Habakkuk 2:3 (LB) says, "But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!"

Also, guard your heart from giving it to the wrong things. A hobby or a sport or a career or some possession/toy. Don't waste your life by spending it on things that won't last. Don't play trivial pursuit with your life. Only two things will last forever. God's word and people's souls. Invest your life and time and resources in those things.

Lord, speak to every woman's heart who is attending the COV women's retreat. Lord, draw people to COV today to hear Your life-changing message through Pastor Matt.

DAY #269: 2 Corinthians 5:12-6:10

Paul’s Corinthian critics were more concerned about getting ahead in this world. They were preaching the gospel for money and popularity. They were bragging about having a spectacular ministry: eloquent speeches , formal letters of recommendation, and impressive presentations.

In contrast, Paul and his companions were preaching out of a sincere heart before God with concern for eternity and to please the ultimate Judge, God himself. The Corinthians had been dazzled by these magnificent and impressive shows. They had been captivated by their astonishing rhetoric. Subtly, they had given up striving to find God’s perspective.

Paul had already warned the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians that the gospel and its messengers would appear foolish to the wise of this world. If this was the idea that Paul was trying to express, then he was saying that he was acting like a fool because of his zeal for God and the gospel. Although Paul didn’t clarify his meaning, his point is abundantly clear. Paul’s actions were not motivated by self-interest or a quest for power. Everything he did—whether crazy or in right mind—was to bring glory to God and to benefit the Corinthian believers.

Everything that Paul and his companions did was to honor God. Not only did fear of God motivate them, but Christ’s love controlled their actions. Out of his great love, Jesus had given up his life for their sakes. He had not acted out of his own self-interest, selfishly holding on to the glory of heaven that he already possessed.

Instead, Jesus had willingly died for everyone. Those who believe that also believe that they have died to the old life. They should be willing to abandon their old, selfish ways in order to live a new life for Christ. Like Paul, we should no longer live to please ourselves. We should die to ourselves and live for Christ, who is alive today and interceding with God on our behalf.

This newness of life is not of any human doing. God himself has begun the work. Only God can allow people to approach him. Only God can satisfy his own righteous demands. Only God can save. God is the Author and Finisher of salvation.

God brought his people back to himself through what Christ did. When they trust in Christ, believers are no longer God’s enemies. Through Christ’s self-sacrificial work on the cross, God has made believers part of his family. Jesus died in our place so that we might enjoy fellowship with God. Because believers have been reconciled to God, we have been given the task of reconciling people to him.

Paul described himself and his coworkers as Christ’s ambassadors, representatives of Christ to the world. God was using them to speak to the Corinthians the message that they be reconciled to God—accept God’s free gift of reconciliation. Paul did not announce this message halfheartedly. He implored—even urged and pleaded—everyone who would listen to him to accept God’s free gift of salvation. It was extremely urgent, for it would change their eternal destiny.

And it was a gift that had an expensive price tag. For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. Christ bore the consequences of, or punishment for, our sins. God made Jesus, who was completely innocent and perfect, identify himself with sin so he could take it away.

Paul and his fellow partners with God in sharing the salvation message begged the Corinthians not to reject it. They should take God’s grace seriously and live up to the gospel’s demands. Paul was imploring the Corinthians, who had already accepted Jesus, to live up to their profession of faith.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

It's pretty early this morning. Sharon and I get to travel down and see Katie play soccer. Point Loma vs. The Masters College. Go Point Loma. Go Katie.

As I read the passage today, I think about the urgent need to get the GOOD NEWS out to others. Why is it so hard? Why do so many things get in the way of what is most important?

Here are some thoughts I shared Wednesday night at UCOV;

Three things we must never forget:

#1. God desires all to be saved. God is willing to wait until the last person repents and comes to Him. I don't always have that particular viewpoint in mind when I am around non-believers. I think sometimes they deserve their judgment. But God doesn’t want that to happen. He says in 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness but is patient toward you not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” Sometimes I just need a change of attitude around non-believers. The fact that God desires for all to be saved and is waiting and waiting for the last one.

#2. God holds back judgment for the last one to repent. Ezekiel 18:32 says, “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live.” If you notice Revelation 11:13 - many people were killed but a number of people repented and gave glory to God. This is probably one of the last moments in history when people will have the opportunity to repent and believe in God. One of the last moments of history before the bowl judgments and before the return of Christ. God waits until the very last minute for the last one to come before the final judgment.

#3. Keep on witnessing even in the midst of strong opposition. I don’t know where God has placed you but maybe like the witnesses you are finding yourself in a position of opposition. Maybe you’re finding yourself in a very difficult place, maybe a neighborhood, maybe the work situation, maybe it’s on a soccer field. I don’t know where God’s placed you right now. But I believe that God is calling us like the witnesses and like the true church, the true believers of Revelation 11, we are to continue on witnessing.

In Acts 4 Peter is told not to speak any more about Jesus Christ. The Sanhedrins told him to be quiet. He says I'm going to continue on. Even in the midst of the persecution, God has me here for a purpose. God has me here for a reason and these are the people God wants me to share with. Would to God that we would all carry that attitude - everyday of our lives. Lord, break our heart with the things that break Your heart.

DAy #268: 2 Corinthians 4:8-5:11

Paul recounted how weak he, as a human being, really was. He freely admitted he had been crushed and perplexed. Then he added the words, God never abandons us. The Lord did not abandon Paul to his own inadequacies. God had saved Paul from being crushed and broken by his responsibilities and from reaching utter despair.

Jesus himself was Paul’s model. Although Jesus had all the glories of heaven—all of its power and privilege—he gave it all up to suffer humiliation, insults, and finally death (Philippians 2:5-11). Paul saw his own sufferings for the cause of Christ as sharing in the death of Jesus. Of course, Jesus’ suffering was of a qualitatively different nature. Jesus died on the cross to save believers from their sins.

Yet Jesus had warned his followers they could also expect suffering and hardship (John 15:20-21). The suffering of Jesus’ followers would be merely an extension of Jesus’ own suffering. So Paul lived under constant danger of death for Jesus’ sake so that people would see the life of Jesus.

Paul lived in the face of death, but he knew that something greater than life on this earth was working through him. His sufferings and death would never spell the end for the life-giving message of the gospel. In fact, God was working so that Paul’s suffering would result in eternal life for those who believe in Jesus. This passage reminded the Corinthians that Paul’s sufferings, which the Corinthians were presently ashamed of, had brought the message of eternal life to them in the first place.

Paul had courageously endured the insults of the Jews in order to deliver the gospel to them—the message that would result in their eternal salvation (Acts 18:6). Paul identified himself with the writer of Psalm 116. Paul, like the psalmist, had experienced fear of death (Psalm 116:3). In the midst of troubles and in the face of death, Paul, like the psalmist, had cried out to God (Psalm 116:4).

The Corinthians need to understand that all of the trials and difficulties Paul had endured were for their benefit. That is the life of a Pastor and a leader in God's church. As more people heard of and accepted God’s grace—that is, God’s gift of salvation—more people would join the grand celebration before God. Thanksgiving would begin to overflow toward God. This would benefit the Corinthian Christians, for—through their prayers—they also had participated in Paul’s work of spreading the gospel.

Paul knew that the hardships he endured were really quite small and wouldn’t last very long in comparison to how long he would enjoy God’s presence—the immeasurably great glory that will last forever. What really matters—what is eternal and permanent—cannot be seen, touched, or measured. Only with the eyes of faith can people look forward to what they have not yet seen.

A Christian’s hope is not in the power and wealth that can be accumulated on earth. Instead, a Christian’s hope is in Christ.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Lord, help me live with the understanding and knowledge - everyday - that what you do in me and through me and around me is to grow me and mature me and make me more like your Son Jesus Christ.

Lord, use hardships to build my character. Use suffering to shape my integrity. Use difficult people to make me rely on You. Break the grip that this world can have on me at times. Lord, use my life to be a witness for You.

Anytime, anyplace with anyone at whatever cost, I will serve You.

DAY #267: 2 Corinthians 3:6-4:7

Paul recalled the stone tablets on which God had written the old covenant. He identified the law, although lethal, as nonetheless glorious because it is God’s provision and proof of his intervention in the life of his people. But that which was summarized on stone is nowhere near as glorious as what is yet to come. The Spirit creates a new life in us.

He is the Holy Spirit who was present at the creation of the world as one of the agents in the origin of life itself (Genesis 1:2). He is the power behind the rebirth of every Christian and the one who helps us live the Christian life.

Paul used the story of the giving of the Ten Commandments to illustrate the difference between his ministry and the ministry of Moses. The story can be found in Exodus 34:29-35. After receiving the Ten Commandments written by God himself, Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the tablets. Although Moses did not realize it, his face shone with the glory of God. When Moses returned to the Israelite camp, the people saw his radiant face and were afraid to approach him.

Moses called the people to gather around him so he could tell them all that God had commanded them to do, so he put a veil over his face. Whenever Moses would enter the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle to be in the Lord’s presence, he would take the veil off his face to speak with God. Then, he would stand before the people with his face uncovered and tell them what God had commanded. After he finished speaking, Moses would once again slip the veil over his face.

Paul seized Moses’ habit of putting a veil over his face and then taking it off as a symbol of the difference between the old and new covenants. The old system of law etched in stone brought condemnation because it pointed out sin and its tragic consequence: death. In contrast, the new covenant brings life through the Holy Spirit.

This was more glorious—literally, reflecting more of the brilliance of God—than the law. To make his point even more forceful, Paul described the glory of Moses’ face as a fading glory. Paul saw this fading glory as another sign of the temporary nature of the old covenant.

The old covenant could give only condemnation, but the new covenant can make people right with God. Paul’s letter to the Romans explains in detail how the old covenant brings condemnation.

The law carries a verdict of guilty because it points out sin in people’s lives (Romans 3:19-20; 5:12-13). No one is righteous before God (Romans 3:10). But God mercifully gives his own righteousness to those who believe in his Son (Romans 5:17). This way, all those who believe in Jesus are declared right with God (Romans 3:20-22).

In his letter to the Romans, Paul focused on why the Jews had rejected Jesus, to whom all of the Scriptures (the Old Testament) pointed. Jesus was Israel’s Messiah, the person who fulfilled God’s promises to Israel. The Jews, if anyone, should be rejoicing. Instead, their minds were hardened to what was occurring. It was as if a veil were covering their minds so that they could not understand the truth.

This veil kept many Jews from understanding the references to Christ in the Scriptures they heard every week.

Whenever anyone turns to the Lord and becomes a Christian, Christ removes the veil, giving that person not only understanding of the true meaning of the Scriptures but also eternal life and freedom from trying to be saved by keeping laws. Christ saves the person not only from sin but from the ignorance that his or her sin has created.

Finaaly, Paul speaks to the methods and motives of his preaching. Paul categorically denied using any dubious techniques in his preaching. He and his fellow evangelists had rejected all shameful and underhanded methods.

Paul had rejected deceptive and cunning ways when he preached to the Corinthians. He had “walked” by faith instead of placing his trust in the ingenious, deceptive ways of the world. When he preached the truths of God’s word, he reminded himself that he was preaching it before God. He stood in the presence of God. The Lord God, the One who knows all secrets, could look into Paul’s heart and discern his motives. Because God was always watching him, Paul was careful to preach for the right reasons. He consciously submitted his motivations to God’s scrutiny, so that no shameful act or motive could disqualify him as a minister. Paul opened up his entire life and honestly told the Corinthians the truth. He hid nothing.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

There are several things that shout out to me in today's passage. 1) The glow of God that was upon the face of Moses when he met with God. While that glow/glory faded in time, it makes me think of my life. When I meet with God, is there a glow of God in my countenance? Is there a difference in my mind-set? My demeanor? My outlook on the day? Oh Lord, when I am in Your presence, when i have spent time with You - change me, do a work in me, make my heart glad.

"A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance; But by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken." Proverbs 15:13 (ASV)

Another way that God spoke to me this morning was about the issue of seeing people come to faith in Christ. The new life that they experience.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

I think about the responsiblity we have as a church to come alongside of these folks and walk with them and encourage them and disciple them. Let me ask you this morning - who are you investing your life in? Who are you coming alonside of to encourage and help grow spirtually?

Let me remind you of the command found in 2 Timothy 2:2. Paul is speaking to Timothy, his disciple. Paul says...

"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."

DAY #266: 2 Corinthians 2:1-3:5

From the letters of 1 and 2 Corinthians, we know that the Corinthians not only had problems with incest (1 Corinthians 5:1-2) and adultery (1 Corinthians 6:9), but they were also troubled by incessant arguing (1 Corinthians 1:10), disruptions during the worship service (1 Corinthians 11:17-22), and even lawsuits between believers (1 Corinthians 6:1-8). Moreover, a group of false teachers were preoccupied with criticizing Paul’s actions and authority.

His severe reprimands in this letter were aimed at securing a change of heart in the Corinthian believers. He knew his rebukes would cause much sorrow, but he was hoping that it would lead to repentance. That is why Paul claimed here that his motive was love. Sometimes the most loving action a person can do for a fellow Christian is to confront him or her with the truth. The truth often hurts. Confronting a person in the wrong with the truth, however, can be the best thing a friend can do.

Apparently, the majority of the Corinthians had realized that tolerating this man and the sin he encouraged would ruin the congregation. They couldn’t function as the holy people of God with such a rebel among them.

Knowing the appropriate time to rebuke and the appropriate time to forgive is the key to compassionate church discipline. This type of discernment is crucial for a church plagued with problems, as the Corinthian church was. Christians in positions of authority must consistently check their motives when it comes to church discipline. They must ask: Am I keeping the spiritual welfare of my church members—especially that of the offender—in mind?

The word for forgive is derived from the Greek word for “grace.” For Paul, forgiveness was the central point of the gospel. It is only through God’s grace—that is, his undeserved favor—that anyone is saved at all. So the Corinthians’ forgiveness of the offender among them was fundamentally based on Christ’s forgiveness of them.

Paul spoke of Satan more in his letters to the Corinthians than in any other of his New Testament letters. He saw the telltale signs of a demonic attack on the church at Corinth. Second Corinthians unambiguously identifies the “false apostles” in the Corinthian church with the clever deceptions of Satan.

This passage identifies another one of Satan’s evil schemes. In their zeal to purge sin from the church, the Corinthians could punish the offender without keeping in mind the purpose of discipline: to inspire repentance and promote reconciliation to God. Under Satan’s influence, the offender’s sorrow could easily be turned into resentment instead of repentance. Paul pleaded with the Corinthians to guard against such a tragic outcome.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

One of the hardest things for me to do is confront sin in another's person life. I hate it.

Yet, I have learned, if I don't confront an issue when I first see it, it will be harder to deal with down the road. The sin will have taken a deeper root in the life and hurt others along the way. So, as much as I despise confrontation it is crucial in the church, in a family and a life. We all need people in our lives who love us enough to wound us with the truth.

"Better is open rebuke Than love that is hidden. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are profuse." Proverbs 27:5-6 (ASV)

The only way we will grow and mature into the people that God desires us to be is to have people who will speak truth into our lives. there is a certain level of blindness in all of us when it comes to seeing ourselves as we should.

"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." Ephesians 4:15 (NIV)

Lord, give me a compassion for others like never before. Help me to love so much that I risk them "liking" me to speak the truth. Lord, give others the courage to speak truth into my life. Give others a heart to love me so much that they will confront sin and evil in my life.

DAY #265: 2 Corinthians 1:1-24

Today, we start another new book of the New Testament - 2 Corinthians. The first chapter begins with Paul talking about his apostleship. Paul's authority is a major theme of this letter.

A group of false apostles had infiltrated the Corinthian church. This distressed Paul greatly because he had founded the church himself on his second missionary journey. To gain a foothold in Corinth, these false apostles had systematically discredited Paul’s authority and missionary work. Paul wrote 2 Corinthians to defend his apostolic authority and to refute the false teachers and their accusations.

An apostle was “one sent forth” by Christ Jesus with the mission to make disciples in his name (Matthew 28:18-20). The disciples—the Twelve who followed Jesus during his earthly ministry, learning from him and witnessing his miracles—became the apostles. Yet Paul was also included among the apostles because he had been appointed by God to preach the Good News to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15).

Paul would typically begin a letter by thanking God for the believers to whom he was writing. In 1 Corinthians, Paul praised God for giving the Corinthians spiritual gifts of eloquence and knowledge. But in 2 Corinthians, Paul had no praise for the Corinthians. In its place, however, he did not blame them; rather, he tried to encourage them.

Paul had an extremely difficult letter to write to the Corinthians. Although they had not necessarily been hard-pressed by external persecution, the Corinthian church had gone through a lot of internal dissension. God would comfort the Corinthians through these difficult times. When the troubles passed and the Corinthians emerged faithful, then they would be able to comfort others who needed the same comfort. Trials are never easy. But it is through trials that God can shape and mold our character. Often, it is only through trials that we can learn about God’s loving care for us.

Paul knew the Corinthian church was struggling and suffering, but his confident hope was that their struggles were for the cause of the gospel, just as he was struggling for the advancement of the gospel in Asia Minor. Their steadfastness to the gospel of truth and their perseverance through difficulties would enable them to share God’s comfort—a reward that was worth the agonizing struggle.

Paul showed an untiring belief in the effectiveness of intercessory prayer. Often he would ask churches to pray for him. Here Paul thanked the Corinthians for praying for them. Reports of the suffering of Paul and his companions had driven the Corinthians to prayer. In response to their prayers, God had delivered them and, no doubt, would rescue them yet.

Although most people look either for eloquent speeches or awe-inspiring signs to authenticate the truth of a message, God chooses to use foolish and weak messengers to shame the wise with his powerful message of truth. Paul wasn’t relying on his own wisdom and knowledge when he visited Corinth with the truth of the gospel. Instead, he was relying on God’s enabling power—something that should have been clear to all the Corinthians.

The allegation that Paul was no different than the people of the world meant that he was no more reliable than anyone else. A worldly person governed by pure self-interest and selfish desires would say yes when it was convenient, but then renege on that promise when some other better opportunity afforded itself.

Paul’s opponents at Corinth had used Paul’s own sharp distinction between the world and the Spirit against him. They had labeled his actions as being motivated by the world’s standards. This accusation was in direct contradiction to Paul’s own claim in 1 Corinthians that his preaching was not from himself or any other human authority but from the Spirit of God. Labeling his actions as coming from worldly reasoning was a direct assault on Paul’s spiritual authority. These serious accusations circulating in Corinth were the reason why Paul had to write 2 Corinthians. In essence, this letter is a passionate defense of Paul’s apostolic authority and the truth of his message.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what i have read today?)

Thank you God for the life of Paul. Thank you for his boldness and passion and relentless pressing forward to get the Gospel out to those who had not heard about the Good News of Jesus Christ. Lord, make me like Paul. Give me that same boldness and courage and passion. Give me that same heart for people. Give me a spirit of perseverance and endurance.

An Lord, pour out this same spirit on the people of COV. thank you for the work you are doing in our church. Lord, I ask you to keep it up. There are folks in our church who are hurting physically. Lord, walk with them and heal them.

Lord, there are those in our church who are hurting emotionally and relationally. Lord, walk with them and remind them from moment to moment that they are not alone. You are always with them. You will never leave them.

"... God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

Lord, some days I feel so far away from the man of God you would have me be. Some days, I feel unworthy to pastor COV. Lord, make me into the leader and pastor You desire. Make me more and more like Christ everyday.

DAY #264: 1 Corinthians 15;58-16:24

I corinthians 15:58 is one of my favorite verses in the bible. Everytime I read it, I am reminded

we have much work to do for the Kingdom. Others must be invited to join; believers must be taught to grow in the Lord. Nothing done for the Lord is ever useless. So believers should be strong in their faith, not wavering or doubting; they should be steady, not listening to the whims of false teachers; and always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, serving him to the utmost, knowing that great reward awaits.

In the final chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul answers another question which the Corinthians had asked. Their questions apparently focused on how to go about collecting the money for the Christians in Jerusalem.

The Christians in Jerusalem were suffering from poverty. While the reason is unknown, it may have had to do with a famine, such as the one mentioned in Acts 11:28-29 when the believers in Antioch had sent help to the church in Jerusalem. That collection had been carried by Paul himself and Barnabas.

Apparently, the Jerusalem church was still suffering, so Paul continued to collect money from other churches to send to Jerusalem. Paul advised the Corinthian believers to follow the same procedures that he had given to the churches in Galatia. This collection was a widespread effort involving many of the churches.

The first procedure that the Corinthian believers should implement right away was to ask each person (or family) to put aside some amount of money. This was to be done on every Lord’s Day. Some have suggested that this offering was to be kept at home, but Paul’s mention of setting it aside on Sunday (the day when the believers met together for worship—Acts 20:7) probably means that the believers were to bring the amount that had been set aside that week and place it in a special offering at church.

That offering, in turn, would be held until Paul’s arrival. Paul stipulated that everyone must give (each of you); no one was exempt. But he did not stipulate how much everyone should give; instead, each should give in relation to what he or she had earned.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Lord, raise up an army of Your followers who will make giving a high pririty in their life. Lord, you know the needs of our church. This is Your church. Speak to the hearts of our people about honoring you with their giving.

"Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines." Proverbs 3:9 (LB)

Lord, teach our people to live according to your principles. Lord, teach them NOT to remake you into their image of what they want You to be, but rather to be remake each of us in Your image. Make us more like Jesus every day.

Teaching us that our giving really shows what is most important to us.

"The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives."

Deuteronomy 14:23 (LB)

DAY #263: 1 Corinthians 15:35-57

Paul was preparing the foundation for his point that bodies before the resurrection will be different from bodies after the resurrection.

Like a seed that is sown and then grows into a glorious new plant, it is the same way for the resurrection of the dead. Believers’ present physical bodies will be different from their resurrection bodies. First, earthly bodies die and decay, but resurrected bodies will never die. Death eventually takes everyone. Those raised with Christ, however, will have bodies that will live forever. Physical bodies disappoint us, but resurrection bodies will be full of glory. Physical bodies are weak but resurrection bodies will be full of power. Physical bodies are natural and human, but resurrected bodies will be spiritual.

The “natural” body is suited to life in the present world; however, such a body is not fit for the world to come. That future world, where Christ will reign in his Kingdom, will require a “spiritual” body. Paul did not mean that this will be “spiritual” as opposed to physical or material, for that would contradict all that Paul has just written about resurrected bodies. Believers will not become “spirits.” Instead, “spiritual” refers to a body that suits a new, spiritual life.

Paul is making the point that because all humanity is bound up with Adam, so every human being has an earthly body just like Adam’s. Earthly bodies are fitted for life on this earth, yet they have the characteristics of being limited by death, disease, and weakness. Believers can know with certainty, however, that their heavenly bodies will be just like Christ’s—imperishable, eternal, glorious, and filled with power. At this time, all are like Adam; one day, all believers will be like Christ.

The phrase "not all of us will die" means that some Christians will still be alive at the time of Christ’s return (the rapture, not the second coming). They will not have to die before they get their new resurrection bodies. Instead, they will all be transformed, immediately (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

A trumpet blast will usher in the new heaven and earth. Christ will return, the dead will be raised out of the graves with transformed bodies. Those still alive will be transformed, also receiving their new bodies. This change will happen instantly for all Christians, whether they are dead or alive. All will be made ready to go with Christ.

The ultimate enemy of every human body is death. For those who have no hope in Christ, death is the end of everything. Christians have been given an entirely different perspective. For believers, death is not the end; it is merely a bridge into eternal life.

Death was defeated at the resurrection of Christ, but total victory over death will not be accomplished until human beings—made from the dust of the earth, just like Adam—are given bodies that defy death. Paul quoted from Isaiah 25:8 and Hosea 13:14—God’s promises that one day death itself will no longer carry victory or sting because death will be no more.

Those who have come to Christ as Savior have been given victory over sin and death.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Many people have questions about the return of Christ. This passage today reminds me of a message I preached in the END OF DAYS Message Series. I said...

Jesus said in Acts 1:7 - “It is not for you to know the times or the dates that the Father has set by His own authority. It’s by God’s will that this is done.”

In Luke 17:26-27, Jesus said here’s the picture, “When the Son of Man comes again it will be as when Noah lived. People were eating, drinking, marrying and giving their children to be married until that day that Noah entered the boat. And then the flood came and killed them all.” It’s going to be just like the days of Noah. It’s going to be unexpected and devastatingly fast.

Then, Jesus taught this in Matthew 24:42-44 (NIV) - "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

If you went to your mailbox today and pulled out a postcard and it said this “Dear Resident, This notice to inform you that I will be robbing your house next Tuesday at 10:00 p.m. Please make plans to be out for the evening. If you leave me a key and a list of the valuables I’ll be able to make as little mess as possible. Please email the location to ‘yourthief@yahoo.com’”

But folks, we won't get any advance warning like that when Christ returns for us. This is the only warning we get. Over and over again, we are told his second coming is going to come suddenly, unexpectedly. Anything that anybody teaches about the Second Coming of Christ and they tell you they know when it will take place – they are liars. Run from them.

HOW SHOULD I RESPOND?

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 (NIV) says, “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”

So what should my attitude be when it comes to the Second Coming of Christ?

BE READY AND BE ALERT. What’s the opposite of ready and alert? Unprepared and asleep. Let me ask you what describes the condition of your life and heart right now? If Jesus came back today, would you be ready? Have you stepped across the line and received Him as your savior and Lord? Have you committed your life to Him? If you have, then you are ready. For those of you who haven’t made that decision, your are unprepared for what the Bible says is going to to happen.

For those of you who have committed your lives to Jesus Christ, which is most of you, are you alert? Are you tuned in spiritually? Are you dialed into God’s will for your life. Are you living out the purpose He has for your life? OR, have you fallen asleep, spiritually speaking? Have you wandered off the path – gone your own way? If so, WAKE UP!!

DAY #262: 1 Corinthians 15;12-34

The gospel message the Corinthians had received and believed included the basic fact of the Resurrection—a fact central to the Christian faith. But apparently some were saying there will be no resurrection of the dead. Such a belief contradicted the entire gospel message. This may have come from the Greek view that matter was evil and, therefore, no physical body would rise. The church at Corinth was in the heart of Greek culture. Thus, many believers had a difficult time believing in a bodily resurrection. Paul wrote this part of his letter to clear up this confusion about the Resurrection.

Paul argued that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Jesus is still in the grave. If Jesus is still in the grave, then the apostles’ preaching is useless because they preached a risen Savior. If Christ has not been raised, the believers’ faith is also useless. Why believe in a dead “Savior”? If Jesus is still dead, then his sacrifice did not appease God for believers’ sin, and believers have no advocate with the Father (Hebrews 7:25; 8:1).

They also have no Comforter in the Holy Spirit, for he was to come when Christ returned to glory (John 16:5, 13-15). They have no hope of eternal life, if not even their Savior gained eternal life. If Christ has not been raised from the dead, the apostles would all be lying about God because they had said that God raised Christ from the grave. However, if resurrection is impossible, if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised.

Refusing to believe that Jesus rose from the grave means that Christians are still under condemnation for their sins. If Jesus died and was never raised, then his death did nothing to accomplish justification. God’s raising him from the dead showed acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice. If God left Jesus in the grave, then the sacrifice was not accepted and no one has received cleansing from sin. The condemnation for sin is death (Romans 6:23).

Death came into the world as a consequence of the sin of one man, Adam (Genesis 3:17-19). Adam sinned against God and brought alienation from God and death to all humanity. All human beings are related to Adam and have two characteristics in common: they are sinners; and they will die. Adam’s sin brought condemnation and death to all; Christ’s sinless sacrifice and resurrection brought resurrection from the dead to all who are related to Christ through accepting his sacrifice on their behalf. Those who believe in him will be given new life.

If there is no resurrection, why should the apostles risk their lives, facing death for the sake of the gospel message. Why would any sane person do this for the sake of a gospel that only ends in death, just like anything else?

Paul’s final words about this issue were simply that the Corinthians should come to their senses. To deny the resurrection amounted to sinning, for it denied the truth of the claims of Christ and the promises of God. It was to their shame that some among them did not even know God. To not understand and believe the doctrine of the resurrection meant to not understand anything about God, for the doctrine is central to all that God has done for sinful humanity.



SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Lord, today my heart is filled with the joy that comes from knowing what Christ did for us through the Resurrection. I think about the DL Moddy quote where he sees a drunkard lying in the gutter and proclaims - "There but for the grace of God go I."

Where would I be with out Christ. Where would any of us be? Lord, remove the old crusty sinful nature from me. Remind me everyday of who I am in Christ. Renew my heart and mind.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

DAY #261: 1 Corinthians 14:26-15:11

Paul makes the point that all that happens in our public worship should be useful to all and build them up in the Lord. Also, all believers should show love and everything should edify.

Having just explained certain regulations on the use of tongues in the assembly, Paul also placed regulations on prophetic speaking. People in the church should never accept the words of any person, gifted or not, without careful discernment and personal knowledge of God’s word; otherwise, false teachers could easily obtain a hearing and lead people astray.

In order for the worship service to continue in an orderly manner, further guidelines were needed. The reason that the church service must be controlled and orderly is that God is not a God of disorder but of peace. In worship, everything must be done in harmony and with order.

When everyone in the Christian assembly is truly in tune with the Holy Spirit, there will not be disorder, but harmony and “peace” that pleases God and encourages his people.

In the Greek culture, women were discouraged from saying anything in public, and they were certainly not allowed to confront or question men publicly. Apparently, some of the women who had become Christians thought that their Christian freedom gave them the right to question the men in public worship. This was causing division in the church. In addition, women of that day did not receive formal religious education as did the men.

The “speaking” to which Paul referred was the inappropriate asking of questions that would disrupt the worship service or take it on a tangent. Therefore, the women should be silent during the church meetings, not because they were never to speak, but because they were not to speak out with questions that would be ineffective in edifying the entire church.

This entire chapter corrects the Corinthian believers regarding their insistence on the gift of tongues as a sign of being “filled with the Spirit” and allowing it to overtake their church services. They have been guilty of taking off on a tangent and leaving the gospel behind. So Paul asked, sarcastically, Do you think that the knowledge of God’s word begins and ends with you? The Corinthian church was out of line with what was acceptable behavior in the churches, and they needed to make some changes.

Paul truly loved these believers and sought to correct their errors so that they could continue to grow in the Lord and not be sidetracked by anything.

As we begin chapter 15, we see that the central theme of the gospel is given here. It is the key text for the defense of Christianity. The three points that are most important are as follows:
Christ died for our sins. Without the truth of this message, Christ’s death was worthless, and those who believe in him are still in their sins and without hope.

He was buried. The fact of Christ’s death is revealed in the fact of his burial. Many have tried to discount the actual death of Christ, from the false teachers of Paul’s day to false teachers today. But Jesus Christ did die on the cross and was buried in a tomb.

He was raised. Christ came back to life from being a dead person in a grave on the third day as noted in the Gospels (Friday afternoon to Sunday morning—three days in Jewish reckoning of time). This also occurred as the Scriptures said (Psalm 16:8-11; 110; Jonah 1:17).

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

As I read today's passage I am reminded of the phase - "keep the main thing the main thing". As I said yesterday, there are so many things that hold the potential to divide the church. Yesterday I mentioned that while COV is clearly not a charismatic church, we are not anti charismatic. Speaking in "tongues" frankly is not that big of a deal. It is not essential, therefore, we extend grace and liberty with each other.

There are other issues come up from time to time in the church. For instance, should we sing more hymns or more modern songs in the church? Should Christians work on Sundays or allow their kids to play sports on Sundays? Others, have questions about the second coming of Jesus Christ. Let me expand on that one. At COV, we say there are probably three main positions. You're either pre-millennial, post‑ millennial, or amillennial. (If you have no idea what this means, don't worry about it!) There is liberty.

I don't know when Jesus is coming back, I just know He is coming back. We're not going to argue about it. We're not going to allow people to get bent out of shape of non essentials. It is our responsibility to be ready, to have our hearts ready to meet Him. Beyond that there are so many divergent views about the second coming of Christ. As long as you believe that, we can have liberty, we can discuss it, we can go back and forth in discussing. As long as the essential is you do believe Jesus Christ is coming back.

Someone asked me one time, "Will smoking send you to hell?" This is one of these disputable matters. I said, "No, it'll just make you smell like you've been there." A disputable matter.

How about the issue of drinking alcohol. I grew up in a church where anyone who drank at all was very suspect. No good Christian ever drank at all. At COV, we don't teach that because we don't think the Scripture reaches that. We think that the Scripture teaches drinking in moderation is all right. The operative words are "in moderation".

Anything that causes you to give over the control of your life to something besides God is very dangerous. Drunkenness is always wrong in every circumstance. There is no place ever for drunkenness. Drinking in moderation is something else. However, as pastor I have taken a vow of abstinence -- complete abstinence -- partially because I don't want to add anything into my lives to get caught up in. But it is a disputable matter so there is freedom between you and the Lord, the Holy Spirit, in your life.

The point is: In essential things we have unity. There are eight essentials @ COV that you need to agree on if you're going to join Church of the Valley. There are many other things that are open to interpretation and we have liberty in those. And in all things we have love, we have charity. 1 Corinthians 13:2 says, "If I hold in my mind, not only all human knowledge but also the very secrets of God and if I have the faith that can move mountains, but have no love, I amount to nothing at all."

You can be so theologically correct, and you can have all the things worked out in Revelation about who the beast is and who the red horse is and what the bowl is and what the trumpet is and when this happens. And you can have Daniel figured out to the nth degree, but if you are not a loving person, who cares? It doesn't matter!

The bottom line is we have unity in the things that matter, that we allow each other liberty in the things that aren't as important, and above everything else we relate to each other in a loving way.

I know I've gone long today, but let me say this a well. You're going to run into some people here at COV you don't like. You're going to run into some people that may hurt your feelings either intentionally or unintentionally. You may find some people who take credit for an idea that was yours. You may find you don't get credit for something you did that you worked so hard on and it hurts you.

You may find some people who are obnoxious. Why? Because this is a church made up of people just like you. Imperfect, sinners, saved by the grace of God, who make mistakes. You have to make a decision, if you're going to join this church, that you will have a loving heart toward those you meet and that you would be willing to do work of reconciliation and forgiveness if it's ever needed. You're going to need it! You're going to need to learn to forgive and you're going to have to be willing to do that if you're going to join here.

We don't want people to join this church who aren't willing to go through that process. If you decide to join, you come with an attitude that says "If I run into trouble, when I run into trouble, when I run into difficulties, when I run into situations, I promise before God to do what the Bible says and that is to work through with a loving heart to reconciliation and forgiveness."

DAY #260: 1 Corinthians 14:6-25

In Corinth, the gift of tongues was being used as a barometer of spirituality. Therefore, Paul described the natural inferiority of a gift that does not edify. For example, if, on his next visit to the Corinthian church, he was talking in an unknown language, would that help the young church grow in Christ? NO.

However, revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or teaching would be helpful to them. Just as two foreigners cannot understand each other’s language, so those speaking in tongues cannot be understood by the congregation. Thus, their speaking is not beneficial to the church.

Because the Corinthians had been so eager to have spiritual gifts, Paul admonished them to ask God for those that will be of real help to the whole church (Ephesians 4:12). The church as a whole should strive to have the gifts that build up its members. It should support those who serve in those capacities, and it should redirect its zeal from a desire to speak in tongues to a desire to serve the Lord in the best way that will build up the church.

Those with the gift of tongues could continue to speak in tongues privately, but they needed to focus more on praying and singing in their own language in corporate worship. The reason is simple. If a person were praising God in the spirit (meaning in an unknown tongue), no one could praise God along with him. If the rest of the people in the congregation have no clue what a tongues-speaker has said, how can they express agreement with it? The bottom line on the corporate use of a spiritual gift is that it should help the other people present. That is the purpose of corporate worship, and believers must be sensitive to one another in that context—keeping out anything that would interfere with spiritual growth.

Paul’s uses Isaiah 28:11-12. Paul’s point in quoting this passage was to set up his conclusion on this matter. The people in Isaiah’s time did not listen to the prophets who spoke in their language, and when people of other languages spoke to the Jews, they still did not listen. So Paul was saying that speaking in tongues will convince no one.

But Paul argued that after speaking in tongues, believers were supposed to explain what was said and give the credit to God. The unsaved people would then be convinced of a spiritual reality and be motivated to look further into the Christian faith. Prophecy, the teaching of God’s word, will benefit the believers.

The way the Corinthians were speaking in tongues, and the way that many today speak in tongues, was helping and is helping no one.

When Spirit-inspired, intelligible words of truth are spoken, those who truly listen will find God right there among the congregation. The listeners will fall down on their knees and worship God (Isaiah 45:14; Zechariah 8:23). And that is ultimately what the church should desire—to reach out and draw in the unbelievers, bringing them to saving faith in Jesus Christ and then helping them grow to maturity.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Like all other "sign gifts" - healing and miracles - we teach at COV that the gift of speaking in tongues is not in use today. When I speak of the gift of tongues, I am referring to the gift that was on display in the book of Acts, when the disciples were given the ability to speak in other languages, to tell people about Christ.

The other use of the word tongues - the "spiritual language" or "ecstatic utterings" that some practice is not something that I have ever practiced. It is not something that the overwhelming and vast majority of Pastors and Christian leaders that I know have practiced.

Our view of this use of tongues is thus;

Ephesians 4:4-6 says, "There is one body and one Spirit, there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all." There are a lot of things in the Christian life, the Christian walk, that are not essentials. They're kind of open to however you interpret them, as you study, as you pray, as you ask God to show you. There's some things you're going to differ from other people on. We consider a lot of these to be non essentials and in those there's liberty. In those we can have diversity.

Romans 14 says, "Accept him whose faith is weak without passing judgment on disputable matters. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. So then each of us will give an account to himself to God. So whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God."

For instance: Some people ask, "Is COV a charismatic church?" COV is not a charismatic church but we are not anti charismatic. There are people in this church who are very charismatic, who practice speaking in tongues, who believe that is an essential part of their faith and their walk with God. There are people who think that's appalling and they don't want anybody getting near them talking about speaking in tongues. Because we don't believe it's essential for salvation, it's not an essential doctrine or belief, it is one of the gifts of the spirit that God gives to whomever He will, we say you have liberty.

If God has given you that gift, that's great, as long as you don't try to tell everybody else they have to have the same gift. That would make it something different. That's one example. We are not charismatic, but we are not anti-charismatic.

The point is: In essential things we have unity.

DAY #259: 1 Corinthians 12:27-14:5

Paul finishes chapter 12 by exhorting these Corinthian believers that they should desire the most helpful gifts. In other words, in the desire to be helpful in the body of Christ, they should seek the power of the Spirit.

The believers should earnestly desire gifts that benefit everyone. The Corinthians had to get their focus off of the gift of speaking in ecstatic languages; instead, they needed to see the value in all the gifts, especially those that helped others. Paul’s saying, let me tell you about something else that is better than any of them, leads into chapter 13.



Great faith, acts of dedication or sacrifice, miracle-working power, or the ability to speak in any language in heaven or on earth will produce very little without love. Without love, speaking in a heavenly language, although a gift of the Spirit, becomes nothing more than meaningless noise. The gift of tongues, used without love, is as valueless as pagan worship. Without love, the gifts do not build up other believers, so they are useless. Christians must not exalt gifts over character.

Love is far more important. True love produces willingness to give sacrificially and to suffer. Acts of charity and self-sacrifice can be done for the sake of an ideal or with pride as a motivation. But they are of no value for the Kingdom, wrote Paul, unless they are done from the foundation of love for others.

Because love is so important among the believers, Paul described that love in great detail. How does such love look when lived out in the lives of believers? First of all, love is patient, the opposite of being short-tempered. Patience is translated “long-suffering” or “slow to anger”. This type of love is an attribute of God.

Such love bears with certain annoyances or inconveniences without complaint. It does not lose its temper when provoked. It steadily perseveres.

Love is also kind. Kindness takes the initiative in responding generously to others’ needs. Because believers have received kindness, they ought to act with kindness toward others. Such love is considerate and helpful to others. Kind love is gentle and mild, always ready to show compassion, especially to those in need.

Love is not jealous. The jealous person desires what another person has. This seems to have been a particular problem in Corinth—those with “lesser” gifts envied those with “greater” gifts. The seed of envy can lead to seething anger and hatred. Those who are too busy envying each other’s gifts are unlikely to be using their own gifts in loving service to God and others. When there is love, believers will gladly use whatever gifts they have been given to work together for the advance of God’s Kingdom. They will be glad that others have different gifts so that the entire job can get done.

Love is not boastful or proud. While some pride can be positive, this kind of pride takes credit for an undeserved gift. Gifted believers who are caught up in pride and boasting over their gifts are unable to serve. Without love, they may feel that by using their gifts, they are doing someone a favor, that others should be grateful to them, and that they are far superior.

Love is not rude. This refers to actions that are improper, impolite, discourteous, or crude. Believers who use their gifts with love will be careful to act in a manner worthy of their calling before God. They will never humiliate others.

Love does not demand its own way. Love looks out for others, seeks their best interests, willingly gives up its own for the sake of another. A person who wants his own way may use his gifts but not with a serving attitude or a desire to build the Kingdom. Instead, the gifts are only used if they can somehow benefit the self-seeking person. This is not God’s way.

Love is not irritable, meaning easily angered or touchy. Such people let things get on their nerves. This is not the way of love.

Love keeps no record of when it has been wronged. Such people will remember every offense against them as though it were written in a book and tallied. Those who keep record of these wrongs and personal injuries will harbor resentment against other believers. Love, however, makes allowances for people’s foibles and flaws and willingly forgets when wrongs were done.

Love is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love does not take pleasure in any kind of injustice. Instead, love does the exact opposite. After explaining what love does not do, Paul listed four positive attributes of love.

Love never gives up, but willingly protects others. The word in Greek means “cover” or “hide by covering.” This does not refer to hiding hurtful sin but to protecting someone from embarrassment, gossip, or any other such harm. When believers love one another, they refuse harmful gossip and protect one another from those who would try to inflict harm.

Love never loses faith. It is willing to think the best of others. It does not mean that believers must be gullible, trusting everyone; instead, it means that they are willing to think the best as opposed to the worst of others. Love gives the benefit of the doubt. With real love, believers can deal with conflict lovingly. When everyone willingly thinks the best of everyone else, people are freed to be honest and open.

Love is always hopeful. Believers who love look forward, not backward. They seek for growth and maturity in the church, knowing that God is working in every person.

Love endures through every circumstance. Believers who love are active and steadfast in their faith. They hold on, no matter what difficulties they face. Hardship and pain do not stop love. When believers persevere, they face suffering within the body. They face persecution. They hang on when the going gets tough. They strive to save their marriages despite disappointment, to continue to trust God despite setbacks, and to continue to serve God despite fear or sorrow. When believers truly persevere, nothing can stop them.

All the spiritual gifts will eventually disappear, but love will last forever.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Nothing is more important than love. What a great reminder today for me. Galatians 5:6b (NIV) says, "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."


Lord, remind me of this every day. Remind me of this when selfishness rears it's ugly head in my life. Remind me of this when I want to keep records of the wrongs done to me. Remind me of this when I can only see the flaws and faults in others. Remind me Lord, that this passage reveals how You see me.

DAY #258: 1 Corinthains 12:1-26

The Corinthians had questions about spiritual gifts. These gifts are freely bestowed by God to enable His people to minister to the needs of the body of believers and to enable them to do extraordinary work for God. Paul did not want the believers to have misunderstandings about these gifts, but, rather, to understand and use them for God’s glory.

To contrast the work of the Holy Spirit, Paul reminded the believers of the influence of evil spirits. When they were pagans, they had been led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. Evil spirits had done the “influencing.” Evil forces were and are at work in the world, and the Corinthians would need to understand that what they had experienced as “tongues” or “inspired speech” in their pagan religion was completely different from the “speaking in tongues” that the believers might experience through the Holy Spirit.

These gifts are just that—gifts. They are not earned. They are not given to believers asking for a specific one. They are not chosen by people. God alone administers the gifts among his people. God, not believers, controls the gifts. Each believer, then, is responsible to seek God’s guidance in discovering his or her particular gift(s) and then discovering how best to use them for God’s purposes.

Each believer has at least one spiritual gift to be used as a means of helping the entire church.
To illustrate that there are a wide variety of gifts from the Holy Spirit, Paul gave a list. This list was not meant to be exhaustive; it merely illustrates many of the different kinds of spiritual gifts. The Spirit gives many gifts; the Bible contains no definitive list of all the gifts.

All believers are given wisdom from the Spirit, but some are given the ability to give wise advice. That this particular gift does not occur on any of the other lists of gifts has led some scholars to think that this gift was especially important for the believers in the Greek city of Corinth, where the issue of “wisdom” was causing much discussion.

Another person is given the gift of special knowledge. People may think they have all kinds of wisdom and knowledge, which leads to pride, but true wisdom and knowledge are found in Christ alone. But to some people the Spirit gives extraordinary knowledge. This could mean a special knowledge of spiritual realities or knowledge given to teachers who are training others in Christian truth.

All Christians have faith because the faith that brings a person to salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit. Some people, however, have the spiritual gift of faith, which is an unusual measure of trust in the Holy Spirit’s power. This kind of faith is a supernatural trust in God’s miraculous power for specific situations.

The next two gifts (healing and miracles) are visual manifestations of the Spirit. The power to heal the sick had been manifested through Peter, Paul, and the other apostles. The gift of healing is given, not to the person healed, but to the person who does the healing. Some people want to say they have received the gift of healing for an illness they have, but the gifts are given to be used to benefit others.

As with the gift of healing, the Spirit will give to some an extraordinary power to perform miracles. While performing a healing would be considered a miracle, the inclusion of this gift separately from healings refers to other miraculous manifestations of the Spirit. These two specific gifts are not in use today. We call them "sign" gifts. Meaning for those who had these gifts, it was a sign that they had been with Jesus.

The rest of the gifts mentioned in this passage focus on verbal manifestations of the Spirit. To some people, the Spirit gives a special ability to prophesy. “Prophesy” does not refer to predicting the future; but to giving a message received from God to the community of believers. As with the gift of faith, the ability to share one’s faith with power is available to everyone, but to some the Spirit gives a special measure of this gift.


Opinions differ over exactly what Paul meant by unknown languages. Probably the time that the word “tongues” refers to other earthly languages is when describing Pentecost (Acts 2:4, 7-8).

The Holy Spirit distributes these gifts, and they are to be used for God’s divine purpose. Because the Holy Spirit alone decides which gift each person should have, there is no place for rivalry, jealousy, or pride among believers regarding their gifts. God, through his Spirit, gives to every person in the community of believers exactly the right gifts for him or her to provide the needed services for the church and for God’s Kingdom.




SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

The challenge for us today, especially at COV is to help people discover their gifts and use them to build up the body of Christ. It is my sense that a very low percentage of believers ever discover their spiritual gifts, and and even lower number that use them. This must change.

Lord, work in peoples hearts. Work in their hearts to understand this teaching and biblical truth about spiritual gifts. Put a desire in our peoples hearts to know their gifts and to use them.

Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." You were created in Christ Jesus to do good works. You were created for ministry. Most people don't know that.

1 Peter 2:5 says, "You will serve as holy priests". Every Christian, the moment you became a Christian, you were called into ministry. I am not who I think I am, I am not who you think I am, but I really am who God says I am! And God says that my primary identification is not that you're a man or a woman, not that you're a husband or a son, or a daughter or a mother, or a wife. God says that my primary identity is I am a minister of Jesus Christ.

Many people are in a church hopper and shopper mode that they think the church exists for them. The Bible says that the church exists for the world. We, the body of Christ, exist for the world. That's why on Sunday morning, we don't sing songs I'd like to sing. I'd like to sing hymns. But the unchurched, San Ramon Sam doesn't know them. So we sing songs that he/she can understand.

The body of Christ needs my ministry. Ministry always follows function in the context of the church family. It's meant to be through some local body because it's for the body of Christ.