PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JULY 31, 2023

 

July 31 – No Condemnation – 1 Cor 11:32

 July 31 – No Condemnation – 1 Cor 11:32

 

32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

 

     Paul then reveals three benefits to judgment which people often overlook.  When judged by the Lord change is needed.  Remember God loves us too much to leave us the way that we are.  We are all growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.   Secondly, in that judgment becomes discipline.  We are being made better.  If we receive and acknowledge the Lord’s discipline it will make us wiser, stronger, more creative, experience and a better citizen of earth and heaven.  Lastly, we will not be condemned with the world.  The world with pride, pleasure and possessions id flawed.  Selfish ambition and envy lead to selfishness and greed.  All these qualities make us hurt ourselves and others.  The Lord is refining and purifying us for a nobler purpose.  Remember we have passed from death unto life.  There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Prayer time for July 30, 2023

Life of Joseph as presented by Robert Dean Steel

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JULY 28, 2023

 

July 28 – Self Examination – 1 Cor 11:28

 July 28 – Self Examination – 1 Cor 11:28

 

28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.

 

     Paul then encouraged a time of self examination before one takes or participates in Communion.  Make sure your heart is right before God.  Give rid of all the weights and sins that so easily entangles you.  It is a great time to clean the slate.  Paul wants the Corinthians and us to take communion in a manner worthy of the Lord.  The biggest thing that hinders communion is unforgiveness.  The division that was ravaging the church in Corinth could be addresses at the communion table with self examination and a determination to get things right with God and each other.

Ephesians 1 ;21

Life of Joseph with Robert Dean Steel - Part 1

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JULY 26, 2023

 

July 27 – Be Careful – 1 Cor 11:27

 July 27 – Be Careful – 1 Cor 11:27

 

27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

 

     Paul gives a stark and powerful warning.  He had in previous verses exposed the flippant way the Corinthian view this ordinance.  Now he warns them about the importance and consequences of not having a proper view of communion.  You must have a proper perspective of what you are doing.  When done in an unworthy manner you are sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.  Sin always bring judgement and that is what you are facing when you partake in communion in the wrong manner or attitude.  The broken body and shed blood are the only elements that can effectively deal with the consequences of sin and the death that it brings. 

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JULY 26, 2023

 

July 26 – Proclamation – 1 Cor 11:26

 July 26 – Proclamation – 1 Cor 11:26

 

26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

 

     Paul then reminds them and us that whenever we have communion the remembrance of eating the bread and drinking the cup.  We are proclaiming the Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection.  We are reminding ourselves and the church about the importance of what Jesus accomplished that Easter weekend.  This is something that we will do until He comes again.  This is a permanent ordinance only rescinded when Jesus comes back.  He came the first time as the suffering Savior and the next time as the conquering King.  Whether our tradition for this ordinance is once a month, weekly, or even daily it is a stark reminder of the price that was paid for our salvation.

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JULY 25, 2023

 

July 25 – His Blood 1 Cor 11:25

 July 25 – His Blood 1 Cor 11:25

 

25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

 

     Paul then talks about the most important and powerful element in the universe which is the blood of Jesus Christ.  After the supper Jesus took the cup which is a symbol of the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  Jesus then proclaimed that through his shed blood a new covenant and agreement was about to be imposed.  The Old covenant was established through the blood of animals.  This new covenant was going to be establish through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  The Old is gone the new has come.  Jesus’ blood has so many benefits.  It gives eternal and abundant life.  It destroyed the works of the devil, world, and flesh.  It secured us a place in heaven.  It gave us success, prosperity, and health.  It broke the power of death, hell, and the grave. Ray Boltz sang a song that helps brings what was done.  All it took was one drop of blood.  In the case of Jesus, he shed all His blood for us.  Communion is that time of remembrance and thanksgiving for what Jesus did.  There are 8 billion people on this planet right now and the blood of Jesus has the capacity to have everyone of their sins forgiven, amazing.

Proverbs of steel for july 24, 2023

 

July 24 – His Body – 1 Cor 11:24

 July 24 – His Body – 1 Cor 11:24

 

24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

 

     When Jesus had given thanks which shows the importance of grace or thanking the Lord at the beginning of each meal.  When you say a prayer before a meal you are giving thanks for His provision, care, and help.  It has been a practice from ancient times which showed, respect, reverence, and honor to God.  Jesus then broke the bread.  This is a prophecy of what was going to happen to his body.  The Bible and history records that Jesus was reduced to pardon the phrase human hamburger.  He was married beyond recognition.  Isaiah saw this in a snapshot when he stated in Isaiah 53, He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.  By His stripes we are healed. 

     Jesus allowed his body to be broken for us.  It is through his body that we can he healed in every aspect of our lives.  Healing is part of what Jesus accomplished on the cross.  Whatever you are need of healing claim it now because Jesus did it for you.  Communion is that time where we remember, thank, and celebrate what Jesus did for us.

Prayer time for July 22, 2023

July 21 – True Purpose – 1 Cor 11:20-21

 July 21 – True Purpose – 1 Cor 11:20-21

 

20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk.

 

     Paul pointed out that when they are gathering for social activity it is not the Lord’s supper they are eating.  In fact, they were enjoying their own private gatherings which is fine.  The problem was an imbalance in their times together.  Some people were leaving the fellowship time hungry, and others were in fact getting drunk.  They were missing the whole point of fellowship. When we gather it is for edification, exhortation, and comfort.  Fellowship is about creating a bond.  It is for the mutual building of each other.  It is about networking, encouragement and sharing ideas in a friendly setting. 

      When we gather around food it is a time of relationship and friendship.  You do not gather with perfect strangers.  You are connecting with each other and in the church setting it has a deeper meaning.  The church at Corinth had missed that point or they had broken into little groups at the expense of others. Division does that.  You only connect with people who think like you, and you miss the beauty of others.

July 20 – Different – 1 Cor 11:19

 July 20 – Different – 1 Cor 11:19

 

19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.

 

     Paul points out that is ok to have differences among you.  It is healthy because we are all different and in different stages of development.   This is showing God’s approval.  Paul would introduce in the following chapters about the body and how it has different parts and function.  He equates the church like that.  Differences are not bad when under the control of the Spirit.  It becomes a problem when we start giving in the flesh.  When we start majoring on the minors and minor on the majors it divides very quickly.  Today style, form and appearance take higher priority than truth, righteousness, and love.  We can more about others think than God.   The church was suffering from not returning to their first love.  When you fall out of relationship with God you than rely on religion.  God approves of us not because we are all the same but because we are different and march to not our own drum but his.  God is creative, resourceful and loves variety.  All you must do is look at some 8 million different species and creatures that inhabit this earth and we are finding more and more every year.  God loves different.

Joshua Generation Part 2

Joshua Generation Part 1

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JULY 19, 2023

 

Juyl 19 – Division – 1 Cor 11:18

 Juyl 19 – Division – 1 Cor 11:18

 

18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.

 

     Paul says that when they get together as a church the divisions among them is evident.  To summarize they have preacher worship, immorality, Judaizers and Gnostics.  Paul has heard about it and now he has concluded that it is true to a certain extent.  A church cannot function and do its job in the community when it is fighting among itself.  People get hurt and abused.  The church is supposed to be a safe environment where believers can grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Division, confusion, and sedition is not of God but of either the world, flesh, or the devil.  The church is not about selfish ambition and envy but of love acceptance and forgiveness.  Division will keep the church from being effective and create more victims.

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JULY 18, 2023

 

July 18 – No Praise – 1 Cor 11:17

 July 18 – No Praise – 1 Cor 11:17

 

17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.

    

     Paul is now correcting a very important matter about the Lord’s Supper.  He is going to giving them directives on ho they are to observe this very important ordinance.  In fundamental churches this is one of two ordinances.  The other is water baptism.    He tells them that when they gather the reality is that their meeting does more harm than good.  He will elaborate in a moment.  This is quite an injunction and statement.  We must understand the important of why we gather.  It is for prayer, worship, fellowship and hearing and study of God’s word.  When one of these out order or misused it can do more harm than good which Paul states here.  We must have the proper view, or it will be a detriment and stain on the reputation of the church.  Paul is disappointed in what is happening.

Courage in a Cowardly World

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JULY 17, 2023

 

July 17 – Consistency – 1 Cor 11:15-16

 July 17 – Consistency – 1 Cor 11:15-16

 

15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.  16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.

 

    Paul closes off this section reminding his audience and readers that a woman has long hair, and it is for her glory.  Paul gives two thoughts here according to Jewish theology.  To wear her hair long, in a womanly fashion, is an outward sign that a woman is fulfilling her role in creation.”  Secondly, it is also her God given authority is God’s spiritual realm.  Because of woman's anointing as helper, she carries a symbol of authority — hair. If a woman was to lose her God-given authority by cutting her hair or having it shaved because of some accident, or choice it becomes a loss of spiritual authority.  As in the practice of prayer shawl a woman’s hair was a place where she can have intimacy with God in privacy and respect. 

     Paul then says if anyone wants to be contentious about this then we have no other practice no do the churches of God.  He says this is a universal concept taught in all the church by all leadership.  No matter where they go in the Pauline world this is the universal practice.  Paul is saying there is a consistency of thought and application in this matter.  The general rule is all things are done in decency and in order. 

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JULY 14, 2023