Author Archives: ilmaarts

1 CORINTHIANS 11 PREPARING FOR TAKING THE LORD’S SUPPER

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July 23

1 CORINTHIANS 11

17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not. – 1 Corinthians 11:17-22

1 CORINTHIANS 11 PREPARING FOR TAKING THE LORD’S SUPPER

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you are a member of the church of Christ

You are expected to remember Jesus’ sacrifice

Therefore, you must honor this remembrance

Don’t just take the Lord’s supper without preparation

Make sure you let go of all divisions and have sins confessed

You will be defiling the symbol of the cross if you don’t.

Paul reproves the Corinthian believers in this letter with regards to their demeanor before they were taking the Lord’s Supper. It has come to his attention that there are divisions and factions going on in the church. He corrects their attitudes when coming to partake of this remembrance. Some of them are acting like they are eating a meal in their own homes, where there is no control as to how they eat. He scolds them like a father would his own children and confronts wrong ways they do things that are not edifying God.

In the previous chapter, he commands them to flee from idolatry and reminds them of the cup of wine that they share. Each of them partakes of one bread for they are all members of the body of Christ. He also mentioned that they cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and the cup of the demons and partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. It will provoke jealousy from God.

REFLECTION

·       Why is it important for us to prepare our hearts and minds when we take the Lord’s Supper? What happens if we don’t?

1 CORINTHIANS 11 A SYMBOL OF SUBMISSION TO AUTHORITY

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July 22

1 CORINTHIANS 11

10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God. – 1 Corinthians 11:10-16

1 CORINTHIANS 11 A SYMBOL OF SUBMISSION TO AUTHORITY

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As a wife, a woman needs to acknowledge her head

The member of the church has to submit to God

It is by succumbing to authority that we show obedience

When we concede to our heads, we honor Christ

The man follows Christ and by doing so, he honors God as well

The wife submits to her husband which means following God’s order.

In this letter, Paul could not stress enough the order that God has laid down for all his people. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit comprises our Trinity. Three persons in one God. Each of them has certain distinct roles that are unique to one another, but they are one.

Just as a man and a woman when they marry becomes one flesh and united, so is the body of Christ or the communion of saints is also one with Jesus Christ. Though they are one, there is an order in which they came about.  God’s order is that he created man for himself. The man serves God and God has authority over him. The woman was created for the purpose of being the man’s helper. She was taken out of the rib of the man himself, so the man has authority over the woman. God instituted marriage and when a man and a woman is married, they become one flesh.

According to a commentary, in Corinthian culture, a woman who covered her head during worship or when she was in public displayed her submission to authority. Although we don’t follow such practices anymore, it is good for us to remember who to submit to.

REFLECTION

·       What wrong notion of submission did the culture propagate in our world today?

1 CORINTHIANS 11 THE HEAD OF MAN AND WOMA

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July 21

1 CORINTHIANS 11

Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wifeis her husband, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wifewho prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. 6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. 7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. – 1 Corinthians 11:1-9

1 CORINTHIANS 11 THE HEAD OF MAN AND WOMAN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When God created man, he gave him dominion over creatures

Man was supposed to steward all of God’s creation

God made a woman so that she could be man’s helper

So, she is to submit to her man because he is the leader

Man’s head is Christ himself, so he must submit to his Lord

The woman is under the authority of her husband and not of the world.

In this letter, Paul explains the concept of leadership and authority. He points back to the beginning of time when God created the world and human beings. It seems to me that he was explaining this to the Christian church in order that they won’t put him on a pedestal. Instead, he points to the purpose of why God made man and woman. If you go back to Genesis 1, we can recall how God created all things in a sequence. Each day, he made something different from the day before. God was pleased when we finished all creatures but was very pleased when he made man. Even though he made both man and woman in his own image as verse 27 says, what Paul is emphasizing here is the order of creation and also the purpose why they were made. Man was made for God and woman for man.

That is the order. God is the head of the man, the man is the head of the woman.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think Paul points out God’s concept of order in this letter?

1 CORINTHIANS 10 DO ALL THINGS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

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July 20

1 CORINTHIANS 10

29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. – 1 Corinthians 10:29-33

1 CORINTHIANS 10 DO ALL THINGS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As believers, our focus must be on giving God all the glory

To praise and honor God, we must be undefiled and holy

If we do things to feed our flesh and satisfy our cravings

It is not honoring God because the self becomes first

But if we do all things to bring pleasure to God

We will stay faithful and continue to give him laud.

In this letter, Paul explains the importance of giving all the glory to God.  In John 3:30, John the Baptist says this statement: “He must increase, I must decrease.” Just as John acknowledges that God must get all the glory and whatever he does must point to the Lord, Paul reiterates that concept.  According to Wikipedia, Charles Spurgeon, a well-known evangelical Baptist preacher in London, used the phrase “what would Jesus do” in quotation marks several times in a sermon he gave on June 28, 1891. In his sermon he cites the source of the phrase as a book written in Latin by Thomas à Kempis between 1418 and 1427, Imitatio Christi (The Imitation of Christ). If we reflect on WWJD, wouldn’t we be giving God the glory? As the Son of God, Jesus never did or said anything that didn’t come from His Father. He never operated on his own and his whole life on earth was to fulfill his Father’s plan, He worshiped and praised his Father all the time by the way he lived and by speaking only the truth. We were given the Holy Spirit the moment we believed in Christ and the role of the Holy Spirit is to bring praise to God and to the Lord Jesus Christ. If we walk in the Spirit, we will surely be giving laud to God and our Lord.

REFLECTION

  • What would it look life if a believer does all things for the glory of God?

1 CORINTHIANS 10 SEEK THE GOOD OF OTHERS

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July 19

1 CORINTHIANS 10

23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience – 1 Corinthians 10:23-28

1 CORINTHIANS 10 SEEK THE GOOD OF OTHERS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As a believer, we are set apart from the world

Let us not act as if we have not heard God’s word

The worldly person seeks what is good for the self

But the believer pursues the needs and welfare of others

The believer encourages and builds up the body of Christ

The unbeliever tears down and builds his own fortress.

In this letter, Paul reminds them of denying themselves and seeking the good of his neighbor. This reproof would surely make an unbeliever’s heart revolt. It is against the world system’s concept of the “self” as the center of the universe. Paul quotes Psalm 24:1 in verse 26 when he points out that everything comes from the Lord. He mentions this to them so that they do not have to be legalistic about certain foods to eat just as the Jewish law prohibits many of them.

The purpose of Paul’s mentioning that God owns all things, he is actually making them reflect that all things created by God are good. There is no need to be legalistic on what to eat and what not to eat. How one reacts to certain preferences of others may repulse other people from hearing the gospel. So, Paul cautioned them to make sure that they exercise compassion and act in love and gentleness as they associate even with unbelievers.

REFLECTION

  • What do you think would happen if every person seeks the good of others?

1 CORINTHIANS 10 FLEE FROM IDOLATRY

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July 18

1 CORINTHIANS 10

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? – 1 Corinthians 10:14-22

1 CORINTHIANS 10 FLEE FROM IDOLATRY

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Be pure and holy as you serve the Lord your God

There are many things that can easily be considered idols

Anything that takes your focus away from the Lord

You are already following the systems of the world

Make sure that you put God first in all your daily routines

If you don’t, you will surely have challenges in staying loyal to Him.

In this letter, Paul emphasizes the importance of allegiance to one God alone. He points out the value of making God first in all that the believers do. Why would he say “Flee from idolatry” instead of just cautioning them to be aware of it?  In the corrupt world that we inhabit, we are constantly bombarded by temptations left and right in order that the devil can change our minds in pledging allegiance to Christ. Why does he use the word “flee” as if someone was chasing us? One of the quickest ways that the devil can distract believers from being faithful to God is by shifting their focus from God to themselves. Since the world system is about gratifying the “self,” anyone can easily be derailed in their faith walk when Satan presents things that would make their lives easier such as conveniences or avoiding suffering and connecting with other believers.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think they needed to flee from idolatry as Paul instructed them?

1 CORINTHIANS 10 ON ENDURING TEMPTATIONS

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July 17

1 CORINTHIANS 10

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

                                                             – 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

1 CORINTHIANS 10 ON ENDURING TEMPTATIONS

In this letter, Paul encourages the Corinthian believers not to be disheartened when facing temptations. He reminds them of the people in the Old Testament like Moses who led God’s people into the wilderness and into the promised land. He explains to them that God purposely gave them the commandments so that they can be guided how not to go against God’s plans. Many of the children of God didn’t follow some of his laws and they faced consequences for what they did. God dealt with sin right away when it happened before Christ came in the picture. I would say that was gracious of him to do so. In this way, he is saving the others who might be demoralized by those sinful acts. Cutting those rebellious people will protect the rest of them. Paul reminds the Corinthian church of their responsibility to follow the laws for their own benefit. He warns them to be wary of discouragement when faced with temptations because the Holy Spirit will be with them to give them a way out of it. They will not be given anything that they cannot handle.

REFLECTION

  • How can we develop endurance against temptations?

1 CORINTHIANS 9 ADAPTING TO OTHERS TO BRING THE GOSPEL

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July 16

1 CORINTHIANS 9

21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

                                                                – 1 Corinthians 9:21-27

1 CORINTHIANS 9 ADAPTING TO OTHERS TO BRING THE GOSPEL

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you bring the good news to the unbelieving world

Be sensitive to those whom you are bringing God’s word

Adapt to their lifestyle but present the gospel truthfully

Find a way to develop relationships with those you will preach to

When you are rigid and legalistic, they will have a close mind

Then you will not be able to be the hand and foot for God.

In this letter, Paul stresses the importance of walking in love as believers reach out to bring the gospel to those who do not know Christ. Sadly, many believers fail to do this and get to presenting the Good News as if it was a commodity to persuade others that they need to buy or consume. What Paul is saying is that we ought to adapt to the lifestyles of those whom we would be reaching out to present the gospel.

Poole comments “To the Gentiles, he behaved himself as if he himself had been a Gentile, that is, forbearing the observances of the Levitical law, to which the Gentiles had never any obligation at all.” While Smith says “Paul sought to win people to Jesus Christ by being sensitive to their needs and identifying with them. We should try to reach people where they are today and expect to see changes later.”

REFLECTION

  • What are some wrong ways a believer can bring the gospel to the world?

1 CORINTHIANS 9 GROUND FOR BOASTING

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July 15

1 CORINTHIANS 9

15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. 19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.

                                                                        –1 Corinthians 9:15-20

1 CORINTHIANS 9 GROUND FOR BOASTING

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Do not boast of anything you accomplish on your own

As a servant of Christ, boast only of bringing his kingdom to come

If you expect to be paid for doing what is expected of you

What else are you going to look forward to when you face Jesus?

Paul continues to assert letting go of his right to be compensated for his apostleship. He was preaching the gospel for free because he knows the reward awaiting him when he faces Jesus in his second coming. He took pride in doing this because in those days, there were a lot of religious entrepreneurs who would preach any message to get money. Paul was glad that he could be free from being identified with these crooks. His reward was that he was not reliant on the support of anyone. His conscience is clear that he is doing what was expected of him by God without any compensatory expectation from anyone.

How many Christians have the same viewpoint as Paul’s regarding foregoing his wage? He was doing his kingdom work for the sake of truth and to bring the gospel to as many people as possible without any obstacles for truth to be preached. His ground for boasting is that his apostleship was unadulterated and not motivated by self-seeking gains.

REFLECTION

·       Share how Paul’s purity of service is such a novelty in our world today?

1 CORINTHIANS 9 ON COMPENSATING SPIRITUAL WORK

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July 14

1 CORINTHIANS 9

8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

                                                          – 1 Corinthians 9:8-14

1 CORINTHIANS 9 ON COMPENSATING SPIRITUAL WORK

In this letter, Paul asserts the right of every worker of God to be compensated for the work they do to spread the gospel and lead people to their salvation. Verse 9 alludes to Deuteronomy 25:4 where God commanded that they shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain. This command is about humane treatment of a working animal. According to David Guzik’s commentary, in those days, grain was broken away from its husk by an ox walking on it repeatedly, usually in a circle. It was cruel to force the ox to walk over all that grain, yet to muzzle him so that he couldn’t eat of it.

When Jesus sent out his disciples as mentioned in Luke 10 Jesus instructs “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. Paul reiterates this instruction of Jesus in this letter. Although Jesus mentioned that spiritual works also deserve compensation, it was honorable for the worker not to expect any wage but that his reward is when the gospel was received.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it important not to think of compensation so much when we do kingdom work? Why would some people think spiritual work need not be remunerated?