August 8
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ON DIVISIONS & PREPARATION FOR THE LORD’S SUPPER
17 Now in giving this next instruction I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. 19 For there also have to be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. 20 Therefore when you come together it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, 21 for when you eat, each one takes his own supper first; and one goes hungry while another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What am I to say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I do not praise you. – 1 Corinthians 11:17-22
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According to Oxford University Press, Corinth was a port city: Along with grand economic gain and philosophical exchange came some questionable interpersonal behavior. Paul’s letters to the church in Corinth show that the problems of the city also affected the Christian community. Among the myriad problems in the Corinthian church were: claims of spiritual superiority over one another, suing one another in public courts, abusing the communal meal, and sexual misbehavior. Paul wrote to demand higher ethical and moral standards. In this letter, Paul rebukes the Corinthian believers on two things. First, he addresses the conflicts and divisions currently ongoing in the church and second, he reproves them of their conduct and attitude regarding the Lord’s supper.
Like a father scolding a child when they are misbehaving, Paul addresses the worldly ways of the Corinthian believers. He confronts and evaluates the way the believers were acting. He wasn’t pleased that divisions occur in the church, but also points out a good thing about the presence of factions in verse 19. He says that the conflicts will highlight those who are approved worker of God’s kingdom. Those who are approved by God will always expose the lies so that the truth will surface. Without the factions, the lies will not be exposed. In verses 20-22, he focuses on the unruly way that they handle the Lord’s Supper. He rebukes their attitude when they come to the Lord’s Supper. They are still thinking that they are in their own houses, where they can eat and drink to their hearts’ delight. They were not preparing their hearts to receive the Lord, but they want to continue to extend satisfying their own cravings. He chastised their attitude that isn’t honoring to God.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it necessary to prepare to receive the Lord’s Supper?
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IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING GOD’S ORDER ILMA’S VLOG
August 7
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IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING GOD’S ORDER
10 Therefore the woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as the woman originated from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does even nature itself not teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her as a covering. 16 But if anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor have the churches of God. – 1 Corinthians 11:10-16
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In these following passages of Paul’s letter to the Corinthian believers, he expounds further on the symbol of authority on the woman’s head. Previous to these verses, Paul declares the importance of wearing a head covering for women as a symbol of her submission to the man who is the authority in her life in accordance to God’s order of creation. Paul mentions the importance of inter-dependence between man and woman in verse 11. What he is saying here is that a woman cannot be independent from man and a man cannot be independent of woman. The woman was created to be the man’s helper, but it doesn’t mean that he is higher than her. They are created equal according to Genesis 1, but they were both created for a certain role different from each other. The man is the head and the woman is the one who needs to submit to the head. No one is supposed to change the order that God has made and the specific roles they each one plays. This detailed explanation of Paul regarding these interdependence gives us a glimpse of the God of order whom we serve.
In verses 13-16, he presents to them the question whether it is right for a woman to be without head covering and what happens if they exchanged roles in their relationships If the man wears the long hair, it would be dishonoring to him, but if it is a woman who wears the long hair, it is to the man’s glory. It says in verse 15, that it was given to the woman to have the long hair and not the man. What Paul is pointing out here is the focus on the order and differences of roles that God has assigned to the man and the woman. Paul further explains that if someone wants to raise a controversy about this order, they must keep it to themselves or they will bring about conflicts.
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REFLECTION
• Why is God’s order something that a believer ought to follow?
WHY WOMEN NEED HEAD COVERING ILMA’S VLOG
August 6
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WHY WOMEN NEED HEAD COVERING
6 For if a woman does not cover her head, have her also cut her hair off; however, if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, have her cover her head. 7 For a man should not have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8 For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; 9 for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake. – 1 Corinthians 11:6-9
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Wikipedia that says that until at least the 18th century, the wearing of a head covering, both in the public and while attending church, was regarded as customary for Christian women in Mediterranean, European, Middle Eastern, and African cultures. A woman who did not wear a head covering was interpreted to be “a prostitute or adulteress.” In Europe, law stipulated that married women who uncovered their hair in public was evidence of her infidelity. A veil or “mantilla” was worn by Christian women in Spain, Latin America, the Philippines, Eastern Europe and Russia. I remember wearing them in the Roman Catholic church as a child up until my teen years. “Dupatta” was worn by Christian women in India and Pakistan. “Net’ela” was worn by Christian women in Ethiopia and Eritrea. In the U.S., bonnet was among the Anabaptists and Conservative Quakers while wide brim hats would be worn by Christian women in the Southern U.S. Another commentary says that having a woman’s head short or shaved meant different things in different cultures. In Jewish law, it was the mark of adultery (Numbers 5:11-31). In the Greek world, it could be the mark of a prostitute or lesbian.
So, why is Paul addressing this issue of head covering for women? Earlier in this letter, he addressed the order of headship in verses 1-5. Was Paul following the Jewish law? He clarifies the reason in this part of his letter. In verse 7, Paul refers to the creation story in Genesis 1 where man was made in the image of God and woman was created to be the helper of the man and for his glory. In verse 8, he reminds the Corinthian believers that since woman was created from man and not vice-versa. So, the woman’s head covering signifies that she is under the headship of a man and when she doesn’t wear a head covering, she is defiled. There must be a deeper meaning to the physical wearing of the head covering. It is a reminder for women to submit to men who is their head so she doesn’t go wayward and unprotected. The modern women won’t agree with this concept.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important for women to remember that they must submit to their head?
HEADSHIP IN THE BODY OF CHRIST ILMA’S VLOG
August 5
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HEADSHIP IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.2 Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I handed them down to you. 3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. 4 Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head. 5 But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for it is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved. – 1 Corinthians 11:1-5
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In this letter, Paul reminds the Corinthian believers about headship in the kingdom of God. In the first verse, he makes himself a role model for the Christians to follow, so that they know how it is to submit to authority. Since he learned from Christ himself, he wants them to imitate the example that Jesus set for him to follow. If they follow him, they are also following Jesus Christ. In verse 2 he acknowledges their adherence to the traditions that were handed down to them but points out the importance of knowing the order that God has set for all believers to follow. Here is the order in the kingdom of God according to this letter of Paul to the Corinthians:
• God is the head of Christ
• Every man in the family of believers has to submit to Christ since He is the head of every man. – he particularly specifies that if there is something else on his head while he is praying or prophesying, then he is disgracing himself.
• Every woman has to submit to the man since he is the head of a woman –According to Clarke, It was a custom, both among the Greeks and Romans, and among the Jews an express law, that no woman should be seen abroad without a veil. This was, and is, a common custom through all the east, and none but public prostitutes go without veils.” To be without a head covering is equals to have no protection. Paul clearly likens a woman without a head covering as one who has a shaved head.
Sadly, in our world today, the order in God’s kingdom had been messed up. The world has twisted God’s order and has made each person without a covering, not submitting to an authority, but only following their own will. When someone is not under the authority of someone, they are actually exposing themselves to danger. Can you imagine a world where no one submits to authority? It would be chaos and destruction, wouldn’t it?
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REFLECTION
• How is submitting to authority or your head a mark of a true believer?
WHATEVER YOU DO, DO IT FOR GOD’S GLORY ILMA’S VLOG
August 4
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WHATEVER YOU DO, DO IT FOR GOD’S GLORY
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. 32 Do not offend Jews or Greeks, or the church of God; 33 just as I also please everyone in all things, not seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, so that they may be saved. – 1 Corinthians 10:31-33
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Paul reminds the Corinthian believers to make sure that everything they do, whether eating or drinking, they have to glorify God. Why is it important for us to be mindful of the motives behind what we do? Because our sin nature is so pervasive in us, we need to do the opposite of what its default is. Paul clearly says this too in his letter to the Romans in in chapter 7 verse 15 where he says that we don’t understand what we are doing for we want to do good but end up doing what we hate. Our nature wants to do what is sinful but the Spirit wants us to do the opposite. When our motives focus on the self, it will definitely not glorify the Lord. The “self” wants to satisfy its cravings and not bow down to the Lord God. This nature was the consequence of the first sin of Adam and Eve. Because they disobeyed the Lord, they incurred the punishment of that desire to become as knowledgeable as God. We inherited that nature and we need to go against it by purposefully choosing to do the will of God.
Because the Corinthians were asking so many questions about what to eat or drink, Paul addressed their hearts in this letter. He stresses that they only serve one Master, God himself. They cannot cater to their whims and desires and old customs since it will be against serving God. In verse 32, Paul brings an important admonition. He stresses the importance of ensuring that they do not offend anyone and do their best to please everyone for the sake of the gospel. Paul isn’t telling them to be people pleasers but God pleasers. It is very easy to be deceived by thinking that we want to please God by pleasing others. But if its purpose is self-motivated and not to preach the gospel, a believer may be compromising their faith. He brings out a very important principle of living in peace in the last verse: seeking the benefit of many and not of our own. How often do we seek our own welfare and look after our needs and not take into consideration others’ welfare? We live in this world where Satan rules and each time we are motivated by self-seeking desires, we will struggle to follow the Spirit’s leading. “Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.” That is Paul’s antidote to selfishness for the Christians.
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REFLECTION
• How can we always remember to do things for the glory of God?
FLEE FROM IDOLATRY ILMA’S VLOG
August 2
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FLEE FROM IDOLATRY
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise people; you then, judge what I say. 16 Is the cup of blessing which we bless not a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is the bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf. 18 Look at the people of Israel; are those who eat the sacrifices not partners in the altar? 19 What do I mean then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but I say that things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners 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 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?
– 1 Corinthians 10:14-22
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In the following passages, Paul instructs the Corinthian believers to run from idolatry. He gave them a food for thought in verses 16-17 regarding the consequences of sharing the blood of Christ with those who do not believer in Him. Though there are many members in the family of believers, they are considered one body of Christ. So, if they partake of the cup of blessing in communion with other pagans, they are defiling the body.
In verse 18, Paul is referring to those Corinthian believers who have consumed meat that were offered to idols. When Paul said to them that idols are nothing and food sacrificed to idols is nothing in the earlier passages of this same letter, the Corinthian believers took it literally and arrogantly think that they can still follow their old beliefs and mix it up with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
In verse 20, Paul clarifies that the Gentiles offer their sacrifice to demons and not to God. Paul warns them not to become partners with demons. What he meant by this is that if they partake of whatever the Gentiles are offering to their gods, they are compromising their commitment to God. In verse 21, he set the clear boundaries that whatever is sacrificed for the idols, cannot be sacrificed to God. In verse 22, he warns them not to provoke the Lord into jealousy by their ignorance to mix up their worship to God with idolatry. Sadly, even in our world today, paganism has entered many religions and even Christianity. Many false religions are not teaching the true gospel and thus mislead many to think that they are worshipping God when they are actually worshipping the devil
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REFLECTION
• Why are so many deceived with what is an idol and what is idolatry?
GOD PROVIDES A WAY OUT WHEN WE ARE TEMPTED ILMA’S VLOG
August 1
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GOD PROVIDES A WAY OUT WHEN WE ARE TEMPTED
6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they indeed craved them. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND TO DRINK, AND ROSE UP TO PLAY.” 8 Nor are we to commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9 Nor are we to put the Lord to the test, as some of them did, and were killed by the snakes. 10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let the one who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:6-13
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In this letter of Paul, he cautions the Corinthian believers on learning from the Israelites’ evil ways. He told them that they should not lust for evil things as the Israelites did. Paul enumerates the following evil things that they must not do:
• Do not bow down to other gods – As the Israelites did, they got impatient and took other gods to worship. Paul reminds them that this angers God.
• Do not engage in sexual immorality -As the Israelites did and 23, 000 fell in one day.
• Do not put the Lord to the test -As the Israelites did and were killed by snakes.
• Do not grumble -As the Israelites did and they were destroyed.
The reason why Paul is reproving the Corinthian believers and using the Israelites as an example is so that they will learn of the consequences of what craving for evil things will do to them. He reminds them that the things that the Israelites suffered from are lessons that every believer needs to learn from.
In verse 12-13, he warns those who think they are proud or they will fall. He also reassures the believers that no matter what suffering or adversities they face, let them not lose hope for God will provide a way out for all those who belong to him. It is a way for them to endure and thus grow their faith. Hopelessness and desperation is not something that God’s people engage in. A believer places their trust in the Lord.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to endure and not be hopeless in trials and suffering?
GOD’S DISPLAY OF LOVE AND PROVISION FOR HIS PEOPLE ILMA’S VLOG
August 1
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GOD’S DISPLAY OF LOVE AND PROVISION FOR HIS PEOPLE
For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and they all passed through the sea; 2 and they all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and they all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased; for their dead bodies were spread out in the wilderness. – 1 Corinthians 10:1-5
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Paul reminds the Corinthian believers of God’s faithfulness to deliver his people described in Exodus 13:21-22 (21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.) The sea mentioned here is the Red Sea where God protected the Israelites from the Egyptians and parted it so they could pass through it without the Egyptians stopping them to go to the Promised Land (Exodus 14:21-31). This was a showcase of God’s love and power to deliver and protect his people. By passing through the water, all of the Israelites were identified with Moses, which was a picture of baptism.
In verse 3 Paul mentions the providence of God to the Israelites in the wilderness and he was quoting Exodus 16 where God provided them with the manna and verse 4 mentions the spiritual drink that were from a spiritual rock. Once again, Paul quoted Exodus 17:6 where it says “Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” Psalm 78:15 says that
“He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the seas.” When Paul mentions that the rock was Christ, he probably meant that Christ was with them in the wilderness as they journeyed to the Promised Land. That Christ Himself followed them through the difficulties they were faced with and that they were never forsaken or abandoned. In verse 5, Paul reminds them of the disobedience and idolatry that the Israelites sinned against God. Despite the commandments and provisions laid out to them, they still continued to go their own ways. This was displeasing to God. Since they disobeyed the Lord, these Israelites never came to the Promised Land, but died in the wilderness. This was a consequence of their breaking the commandments of God.
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REFLECTION
• Why did Paul refer to God’s display of provision and power to His chosen people?
DOING ALL THINGS FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL ILMA’S VLOG
July 29
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DOING ALL THINGS FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL
19 For though I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may gain more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the Law, I became as one under the Law, though not being under the Law myself, so that I might gain those who are under the Law; 21 to those who are without the Law, I became as one without the Law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might gain those who are without the Law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak; I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some. 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. – 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
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In this letter, Paul reveals the ministry that God has given him: to preach the gospel to all people. Earlier in the letter, he mentions that he wasn’t fighting for his rights to be supported by anyone. This is the freedom he is referring to in verse 19. But ironically, he poses two opposing concepts here. In verse 19, he says that he is free from being dependent on the support of other believers, but he has become a slave to the believers by working to bring them the Good News. He is a slave for the sake of the gospel that is why he wouldn’t want to be paid. The fact that he is serving his Lord, is enough payment for him.
He further gives more examples of how he has submitted to his calling as a preacher of the gospel in verses 20-22. In other words, Paul adapted to the varying groups of people that he presents the gospel to. To the Jews, he did what he can to see their perspective and present the gospel in a way that they will not resist it. In verse 20, he explains that he became one as under the law so that he will be able to open the minds of those who are law-abiding people to see God’s truth. In verse 22, he mentions also the weak, where he needed to show them his weaknesses so that he may gain their confidence to have an open heart to receive the gospel. He did this all without compromising his faith in Jesus.
In verse 23, he confesses the reason why he does all these sacrifices. He claims that he will do all things for the gospel to reach all people so that he himself will receive that eternal reward of being with His Redeemer.
Once again, we witness the faithfulness of Paul to do whatever he can to bring the gospel to the entire world by exercising resilience and openness but never compromising his faith and calling.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think some Christians have not truly done everything for the sake of the gospel?
WAIVING RIGHTS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL ILMA’S VLOG
July 28
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WAIVING RIGHTS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL
15 But I have used none of these things. And I have not written these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than that. No one shall make my boast an empty one! 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for I am under compulsion; for woe to me if I do not preach the gospel. 17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a commission nonetheless. 18 What, then, is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
– 1 Corinthians 9:15-18
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Matthew 10:10 says that a worker is worthy of his food and in Luke 10:8 it says that whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. These are verses that clearly spell out that a worker has the right for payment for what they have worked for.
According to some commentary, the Corinthians look up so much to the Greek culture and think that it is superior. The Greeks looked down its nose on all manual labor. Even though the Corinthian Christians thought less of Paul because he worked with his own hands to support himself, Paul wasn’t ashamed of it. In fact, he was boasting about the fact that although he could have asked for support from the Corinthian believers, he chose to forego this right. The Lord called him to preach the gospel and that in itself was the reward that he treasures more than anything else.
According to David Guzik’s commentary on this letter, in Paul’s day, there were a lot of religious entrepreneurs, who were out to preach any message to get money. Paul was happy to distance himself from these by never taking an offering so no one would think he might abuse [his] authority in the gospel. This was Paul’s reward. Guzik further comments “We may not ever be faced with the same decision Paul faced – to accept or deny support for the good of the gospel. But we each have a critical question to answer: what rights are you willing to sacrifice for the cause of Jesus?”
What a question to ponder on. Some believers forget that we have waived off our rights in this world because we are serving the Lord Jesus Christ. Fighting for one’s right is very prevalent in the world today. When we clamor for our rights, we think we deserve things.
When we relinquish it, we are testament to the grace of God and we trust His providence.
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REFLECTION
• Why did Paul relinquish his right to be supported by the Corinthian church?