August 24
________________________________________
ORDER TO THE RESURRECTION
A poem by ILMA
Why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead?
For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised
And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching and your faith is useless
We’ll all be lying about God—it can’t be true if there’s no resurrection of the dead.
If there’s no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised
And if Christ has not been raised, then you are still guilty of your sins
In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost!
And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are to be pitied.
Christ has been risen and he’s the first of a great harvest of all who have died
Just as death came into the world through the man Adam
Now the resurrection from the dead has begun through God’s Son
Everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.
There’s an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest Then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back
After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over his Father,
Having destroyed every ruler and authority and power.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back. – 1 Corinthians 15:23
Read: 1 Corinthians 15:12-24
Those who are believers need to be reminded of the order to the resurrection. When Christ was risen from the dead, he was the first one to be the first of the harvest. His promise to those who love him and are faithful will also experience the resurrection.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Do you believe that you will be resurrected like Christ was? What do you do to keep this promise of Christ possible for you as a believer?
• What does the resurrection power do to all who believe in Jesus?
Tag Archives: poetry
PAUL’S REMINDER OF JESUS’ RESURRECTION Poem Devotional
August 23
________________________________________
PAUL’S REMINDER OF JESUS’ RESURRECTION
A poem by ILMA
Let me now remind you of the Good News I preached to you before
You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm and trust the Lord
It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message
I passed on to you what’s been passed on to me and what’s most important.
Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures spoke about
He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day
He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve apostles
After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers.
Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles
Lastly, as though I’d been born at the wrong time, I also saw him
For I am the least of all those who followed him and called
I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after I persecuted God’s church.
But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his favor on me
And not without results, for I have worked harder than any of the others
Yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace
So, it makes no difference who preaches, the message is the same.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me.
– 1 Corinthians 15:10
Read: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
It is easy to forget the importance of focusing on the resurrection of Jesus. It was what saved us all and reminds us of the undeserved favor He gave us all. Whenever we go through stages of spiritual dying in our lives, we must focus on the Risen Christ who can raise us from whatever circumstances we go through.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can you remind yourself constantly of what the resurrection means?
CALL TO ORDERLY WORSHIP Poem Devotional
August 22
________________________________________
CALL TO ORDERLY WORSHIP
A poem by ILMA
When you meet together to worship, some will sing or teach
Others will say some revelation from God or speak in tongues
One might interpret what’s said but it must strengthen all of you
No more than two or three should speak in tongues and speak one at a time Someone must interpret what they say but if no one interprets, be silent.
Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said
But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from God
In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other
Remember that people who prophesy are in the Spirit’s control to take turns
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of the church.
Do you think God’s word originated with you Corinthians?
Are you the only ones to whom it was given?
If you claim to be a prophet or think you are spiritual, you should recognize that But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.
– 1 Corinthians 14:33
Read: 1 Corinthians 14:26-39
In this chapter, Paul talks about the order when we come to worship. He stresses here how the Lord is a God of order and not of chaos. Though we have many different gifts, the gifts of speaking in tongues and prophecy was emphasized here and Paul tells the Corinthians that these two gifts are very important in the body of Christ. He clearly gives detailed instructions as to how it must be orderly done in the church. Where there is disorder, the Lord is not in that situation or place.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Have you ever spoken in tongues or prophesied in your church?
• Why is it important to have order in worshiping the Lord?
GIFTS OF TONGUES AND PROPHECY Poem Devotional
August 21
________________________________________
GIFTS OF TONGUES AND PROPHECY
A poem by ILMA
Let love be your highest goal also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives
Desire specially the ability to prophesy because it benefits the entire church
For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God People won’t understand you for you’ll be speaking by the Spirit’s power.
One who prophesies strengthens, encourages, and comforts others
A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally
But one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church
For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues.
Unless someone interprets what you are saying when you speak in tongues,
Only you and the Spirit understand, the whole church won’t be strengthened
If someone speaks in an unknown language, how would that help you?
But a revelation, special knowledge, prophecy or teaching, will be helpful.
Even lifeless instruments must play the notes clearly for melody to be recognized
It’s the same for you; if you speak to people in words that they don’t understand
How will they know what you are saying?
You might as well be talking into empty space.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened. – 1 Corinthians 14:5
Read: 1 Corinthians 14:1-9
God’s Spirit gives us many different gifts, among them are the gifts of speaking in tongues and prophecy. Paul urges the Corinthians in this chapter to allow these gifts in the church. He stresses the importance of prophesying for it benefits and strengthens the church.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why do you think prophesying is better than speaking in tongues?
• Do you speak in tongues in public? Why do you think some people don’t exercise this gift of the Holy Spirit?
WITHOUT LOVE, NOTHING MATTERS Poem Devotional
August 20
________________________________________
WITHOUT LOVE, NOTHING MATTERS
A poem by ILMA
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others,
It would be pointless like I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal
If I had the gift of prophecy, and knew all God’s plan and had great faith
It would mean nothing if I didn’t love others, I would be nothing.
If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body
I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing
Love is patient and kind; love isn’t jealous or boastful or proud or rude
It doesn’t demand; it’s not irritable, and keeps no list of being wronged.
It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures all things
Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge is useless
But love will last forever! It is the secret for lasting relationships.
When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child
But when I grew up, I put away childish things; Now we see things imperfectly, Like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we’ll see everything clearly
Three things last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest is love.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13:2
Read: 1 Corinthians 13
This chapter is popularly known as the Love Chapter. This was the reading for my wedding and yet it was something that a lot of people do not really comprehend fully what it means. Until after ten years of marriage, I still often times forget to apply the most important ingredient in any relationships, which is love.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why do you think love covers all and mean everything in relationships?
ONE BODY WITH MANY PARTS Poem Devotional
August 19
________________________________________
ONE BODY WITH MANY PARTS
A poem by ILMA
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body
So it is with the body of Christ; some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles
Some are slaves, and some are free; but we’ve all been baptized into one body
by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit though it has different parts.
If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,”
That does not make it any less a part of the body but contributes to the whole
And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,”
Would it diminish its role make it any less a part of the body?
If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear?
But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants
How strange a body would be if it had only one part!
The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.
Some parts of the body that seem weakest are actually the most necessary
The parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care
God placed the body so we care more for those parts that have less dignity
All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. – 1 Corinthians 12:27
Read: Corinthians 12:12-27
This illustration of the body of Christ in this message of Paul to the Corinthians is a good reminder how all those who committed to Christ is part of one big church, which is the body of Christ. Some Christians isolate themselves from the other parts of the body when in fact, we are all members of this one body and we all need to live in harmony and not comparing each one of us from the rest. We all have a role to play.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it important to know role and purpose you are made to function in his body?
• Why should we not isolate ourselves from the other parts of the body?
HOLY SPIRIT DECIDES WHAT GIFTS TO GIVE Poem Devotional
August 17
________________________________________
HOLY SPIRIT DECIDES WHAT GIFTS TO GIVE
A poem by ILMA
Brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities
You know that when you were still pagans, you were astray worshiping idols
I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus
And no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it comes from the same Spirit
There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord
God works in different ways, but it’s the same God who works in us all
A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice
To another, the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge
The same Spirit gives great faith to another and to another, healing gifts
He gives someone power to perform miracles and another the ability to prophesy.
He gives someone else the ability to discern God’s spirit or another kind
Some are given ability to speak in tongues while another interprets
It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts
He alone decides which gift each one of us must have.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. – 1 Corinthians 12:12
Read: 1 Corinthians 12:1-12
There are many gifts of the Holy Spirit to believers, but no one can choose which one to have because only God’s Spirit decides on that. Sadly, some Christians think that they could work at a gift. It is freely given to us.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Do you know what your spiritual gift is? Have you been using it for God’s glory?
• Why do you think it is hard for some believers to recognize such gifts from God’s Holy Spirit?
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE LORD’S SUPPER Poem Devotional
August 17
________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE LORD’S SUPPER
A poem by ILMA
I heard that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church
When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper
For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with other
As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk.
Don’t you have your own homes for eating and drinking?
Or do you really want to disgrace God’s church and shame the poor?
On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread
He gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said
“This is my body, which is given for you; Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant between God and his people
Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”
For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup,
You are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again
Examine yourself before partaking of the body and blood
Or you’ll have God’s judgement upon yourself.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. – 1 Corinthians 11:28-29
Read: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
Paul instructs us the order of the Lord’s Supper. It is important for us to be able to examine ourselves before partaking of the body and blood of Christ or we will be judged by God himself.
REFLECTION
• Why is important for us to check our hearts before we remember partaking of the blood and body of Christ?
• Do you take communion seriously and examine yourself before you do?
HEADSHIP AND AUTHORITY Poem Devotional
August 16
________________________________________
HEADSHIP AND AUTHORITY
A poem by ILMA
The head of every man is Christ, the woman’s head is man, Christ’s head is God
A man dishonors his head if he covers his head while praying or prophesying
A woman disrespects her head if she prays or prophesies without a covering
if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair.
Since it is shameful for a woman to have her her head shaved,
she should wear a covering and a man should not wear anything on his head
For man is made in God’s image and reflects God’s glory
While woman on the other hand, reflects man’s glory.
The first man didn’t come from woman but the first woman came from man
Man wasn’t made for woman, but woman was made for the man
A woman should wear a covering on her head to show she is under authority
This only shows that she is coming under authority and honoring her head.
Among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men,
Likewise, men are not independent or autonomous of women
For although Eve, the very first woman came from man
Each man was born from a woman and everything comes from God.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
But among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. – 1 Corinthians 11:11
Read: 1 Corinthians 11:1-12
In this instruction of Paul for worship for men and women, we get a glimpse of the reason why the law required women to have covering in their head in public worship. It symbolizes her honoring the authority the man has over her. Sadly, a lot of women and men fail to understand the reasons behind such rules in public worship.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why do you think submitting and respecting authority is something that is really important to God?
• Why should a believer not practice “independence” from their spouses?
PAUL GIVES UP RIGHTS FOR THE GOSPEL Poem Devotional
August 15
________________________________________
PAUL GIVES UP RIGHTS FOR THE GOSPEL
A poem by ILMA
Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle?
Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes?
Isn’t it because of my work that you belong to the Lord?
Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you.
You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord’s apostle
This is my answer to those who question my authority
Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals?
Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?
What soldier has to pay his own expenses?
What farmer plants and doesn’t have the right to eat from his fruits?
What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and not allowed to drink their milk?
Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same?
“You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.”
Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this? Wasn’t he speaking to us?
Yes, it was written for us, so that the both who worked gets a share of the harvest
Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to its fruits?
But we have never used this right; We won’t let any obstacle to bring the gospel.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ. – 1 Corinthians 9:12
Read: 1 Corinthians 9:1-12
The world dictates that we fight for our rights. In this account of Paul to the Corinthians, he turns around this worldly system of fighting for one’s rights. He tells us that even thought he deserves to have the right to take part of the harvest from his work, he wouldn’t let this become an obstacle to bringing the Good News.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What rights have you given up so that the Gospel will be preached?