PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR AUG 30, 2023

 

Aug 30 – No Love – 1 Cor 13:3

 Aug 30 – No Love – 1 Cor 13:3

 

3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

 

     Paul then says that you may give all you possess to the poor.  You can do all the right things in all the right way.  You may give your body to hardship.  You may suffer much for the sake of the gospel and the Lord.  You could give up your body for the furtherance of science and mankind.  These are all noble and powerful acts but without love they are hollow and of little value.  Imagine going through life and producing, receiving and being of little value.  That will be the sum total of many lives.  They did for themselves and not God.  They did it for their glory and not God’s.  The motive and aim of everything we do must be with the motivation of love.  Otherwise, it is wood, hay and stubble.

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR AUG 29, 2023

 

Aug 29 – Love is the Measure – 1 Cor 13:2

 Aug 29 – Love is the Measure – 1 Cor 13:2

 

2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

 

     Paul continues with the thought that he may have the gift of prophecy.  This was a highly prize and valuable gift that was sought by the Corinthians and used as a standard in the church as reaching a spiritual level bordering on elitism.  You could fathom mysteries, enigmas, wise sayings and the mysteries of the universe which was taught in the schools of leaning in Corinth.  You can all knowledge which was sought after by the ancient or modern world.  You could be a scholar, teachers, philosopher, and wise man. 

     You could have faith that could move mountains.  You could be the greatest and most powerful preacher, teacher, pastor, evangelist, and apostle but if you do not have love operational and exhibit in your life.  You are nothing.  Your value as a Christian is measure by the love that you display and show.  Jesus said people will know that we are His disciples by the way we love one another. 

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR AUG 28, 2023

 

Aug 28 – Producing Value – 1 Cor 13:1

 Aug 28 – Producing Value – 1 Cor 13:1

 

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

 

     Many have commented that this chapter almost seems out of place when Paul is talking about the gifts of the Spirit.  The reality is that all gifts and fruit have their foundation in love.  Paul would say at the end of this chapter that the greatest of all virtues is love.   Paul in this verse reveals two things.  First he tells that tongues is a gift that is both natural and supernatural in origin.  The person who speaks in tongues could be talking in one of the more than 6000 languages spoken on earth or they could be speaking the language of angels.  Secondly, if one does not operate in the agape love of God, they are producing nothing of real value.  Imagine going through love and finding out all you have produced and done is of no value because you did think, talk, or act in love.  Sobering thought.

Cornerstone community church service for August 26, 2023

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR AUG 25, 2023

 

Aug 25 – Offices and Gifts – 1 Cor 12:28

 Aug 25 – Offices and Gifts – 1 Cor 12:28

 

28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.

 

     Paul reveals eight offices in the church and then service or gifts.  Each one can be viewed as a office, ministry, service, function or gift.  First if the apostle, the missionary, church planter or sent one..  His primary purpose is to establish churches and sent them in order.  Next is the prophet who operates in the gifts of knowledge, discernment and wisdom whose primary function is to spoke edification, exhortation and comfort to the church.  Thirdly, there is the teacher who are people who study, teach and educate the church in the bible and the things of God.  Fourthly, there is miracles which is the suspension of a natural outcome, and a supernatural outcome is brought in by faith either by the presenter or receiver.  Jesus operated in this office and gift perfectly.  For the purpose of this commentary and the accompanying devotion we will define the other four in the last verse of this chapter.

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR AUG 24, 2023

 

Aug 24 – Step up to the Plate – 1 Cor 12:27

 Aug 24 – Step up to the Plate – 1 Cor 12:27

 

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

 

     Paul wants his audience and us to remember that we are all part of the body of Christ.  Each one of us has part and role to play.  No one can replace us or do what we can do.  Each one of us has a destiny to fulfill.  God has a dream planted in each one of us.  Our role in the body of Christ is one of a kind.  No one has our experience, background, education, skills, mindset, talents, and resources.  We are developed by God for a purpose.  We must do our part so the church will be healthy, effectively, and powerful.  Paul was not Peter; Peter was not Apollos and Apollos was not Christ.  Each person has a place and part to play.  If we do not fulfill of place and role the church is weaker and less effective as it could be.  Paul is saying step up to the plate and hit a homerun for Jesus.

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR AUG 23, 2023

 

Aug 23 – Honor and Hurt – 1 Cor 12:26

 Aug 23 – Honor and Hurt – 1 Cor 12:26

 

26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

 

     Paul reveals two realities about the body and how it can affect the church as well.  When one part of the body suffers every part of the body suffers.  For example, when you stub your toe, your mouth expresses the pain verbally.  When a part of the body is injured or impaired other parts of the body compensate and work together to help the body overcome the injury.  When one part of the body is honored, the other parts rejoice and applaud.  Paul wants this to become a reality for the church in Corinth.  He wants it to function like a body.  Working to compensate and help injured members and then applauding and honoring those that are given recognition and prominence.  It is not a competition.  Each one has their own race to run and prize to gain.

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR AUG 22, 2023

 

Aug 22 – No Division – 1 Cor 12:25

 Aug 22 – No Division – 1 Cor 12:25

 

25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

 

     Paul then hits the nail on the head.  There should be no division in the body.  Each part should have equal concern for each member of the body.  Paul addresses the divisions that were dividing the church in Corinth.  Division is the devil’s tool.  When we break up into groups, we lessen the impact of the churches influence in the world.  There is more that unites us than divides us.  Sedition, strife, and rebellion will destroy a church.  It makes church leaderships job harder and hurts the image and effectiveness of a church in a community.  Love must be the banner displayed both in the lives of the people in the church and be the witness in the community.  Jesus said that people will know that we are his disciples by the way we love each other.

Aug 21 – Set the Tone – 1 Cor 12:24

 Aug 21 – Set the Tone – 1 Cor 12:24

 

24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it.

 

     Paul brings both a natural truth and a spiritual truth in this verse.  The presentable parts of the body need no special treatment.  The obvious gifts have already the prominence and honor among the church.  God has put the whole body together giving greater honor to those parts that lack it.  Hidden gifts are brought to the forefront by God that they too would receive the honor, respect and prominence they deserve.  Not long ago in a church in our area an usher who had been working for years passed away suddenly.  Hundreds of people showed up at his funeral because he had been faithful in building relationships and showing kindness.  Off times being a greeter or usher is given the respect and honor it should be.  The ushers and greeters are the first people someone meets when they enter a church.  They are the first contact and their conduct set the tone and flavor a guest thinks of a church.  That is why greater honor is given to them because a preacher may have a great message, but it is the usher and greeter that sets the tone of a newcomers experience.  People may forget what you said to them but they never forget how you made them feel. 

prayer time for August 20, 2023

Prayer time for August 19, 2023

Proverbs of steel for Aug 18, 2023

 

Aug 18 – We need each other – 1 Cor 12:19-21

 Aug 18 – We need each other – 1 Cor 12:19-21

 

 

19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”

 

     Paul then continues this humorous but important fact.  If the body was just one part where would be body be.  There are many parts for a reason.  Each part has a function and responsibility to the overall health of the body.  The eye cannot say to hand I don’t need you.  The head cannot say to the feet I don’t need you.  This was going on in the church.  When you divide up in behind personalities, doctrines, personal preferences, and bias you are demeaning and rejecting other important parts of the body of Christ.  Paul was saying that we have more in common than we think.  He was also pointing out that everyone has a godly plan, dream, and destiny for their lives.   We need each other more than we think.  Never look down at others or yourself and never think that you are not essential to the body of Christ.  No one can bring to the table what you have.  You are an one of kind person made and fashion in the image of God.

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR AUG 17, 2023

 

Aug 17 – Ear and Eye – 1 Cor 12:17-18

 Aug 17 – Ear and Eye – 1 Cor 12:17-18

 

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

 

     Paul then again uses the part of the body to illustrate his point.  The body if it were just an eye where would the hearing be.  Also, if the body were just an ear where would the sense of smell be.  Paul asks these questions which would invoke a humorous and thoughtful response and discussion.  Then Paul delivers home his thought.  God has placed each part of the body every one of them just as He wanted them to be.  Paul points out the sovereignty and creativity of God.  Each part of the body has a function and part to play in the overall health and function the body plays.  When you look at creation you see the genius and creative ability of God.    From the Ameba to the blue whale God makes his creation beautiful and glorious because He is sovereign and Lord.

Aug 16 – Each Part 1 Cor 12:15-16

 Aug 16 – Each Part 1 Cor 12:15-16

 

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.

 

     Paul continues with the thought of the body.  He uses the foot as an example that if it wanted to not be a part of the body because it was not a hand.  In the same way the ear cannot stop being part of the body because it is not an eye.  Paul uses this illustration because that is what was happening.  The Corinthians were evaluating their importance through comparison.  You cannot decide the value of someone by their gift or talent.  When you do this, you demean them and God because He has made each one of us different and unique.  We are made in the image of God and each one has talents. skills experience and like that motivate and interest us.  God uses us the way we are for a purpose and to compare yourself with others makes you lessen your worth and giftings.  Remember you are not designed to fit in but to stand out.

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR AUG 15, 2023

 

Aug 15 – Ah Ha – 1 Cor 12:14

 Aug 15 – Ah Ha – 1 Cor 12:14

 

14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

 

     Paul then closes this section of thought.  The body is not made of just one part but of many.  So, it is with the church we have many people, and each person is called to fulfill the purpose, plan and direction that God wishes for them to do.  When each person does the will of God than their world is impacted, and lives are changed and transformed for the glory of God.  This is a simple illustration, but you can see each person in the audience checking out the hands or feet and then the light going on in their head.  This is a ah ha moment that in simplistic terms explains a complex spiritual truth.

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR AUG 14, 2023

 

Aug 14 – A Plan – 1 Cor 12:13

 Aug 14 – A Plan – 1 Cor 12:13

 

13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

 

     Paul reveals four things in this verse.  Using the illustration of baptism Paul explain that we have been as a person and group immersed by the Holy Spirit.  We are completely and totally God’s.  No matter what tribe, color, language, or people group we have been formed into a body, The exciting thing is this is a daily process.  God is forming His body to touch and change the world.  It is everywhere in every place doing His will and plan.  Paul then says it could be Jew, Gentile, slave or free.  We have all been given the same the same spirit to drink.  Paul was referring to what people said about the 120 on the day of Pentecost.  Paul would use this same expression in Ephesians when he said be filled with the Spirit.  This is drinking the new wine of the Holy Spirit and expressing the benefits and health of the eternal and abundant life that each of us has been given.

Keep Praying

Cornerstone community church service for August 13, 2023

Prayer time for August 12, 2023

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR AUG 11, 2023

 

Aug 11 – Five Gifts of the Spirit – 1 Cor 12:10

 Aug 11 – Five Gifts of the Spirit – 1 Cor 12:10

 

10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

 

     This is one of the most power packed verses in the Bible.  Paul reveals four gifts of the Spirit in one verse.  One could spend months just studying this verse.  The gifts of miracles are the suspension of known outcomes in a moment of time.  It is God working divinely changing the course of natural processes for the benefit of His people.  Jesus raising the dead is an example.

     Prophecy is a message given from the divine to natural in the language of the hearer.  It can be a warning, judgment, or exhortation.   Discerning of Spirits is the ability to see in the supernatural realm to know what is behind what s going on in the natural realm.  It is ability to know if you are dealing with the demonic, worldly, or human element when performing the works of God.  Gift of tongues is the ability to speak supernaturally in a language the user has never learned.  It is speaking the oracles and language of the Spirit.  This has a private and public application.  The Interpretation of tongues is the ability to interpret a public tongue in the language of the audience so a message from the Spirit can be understood and applied.

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR AUG 10, 2023