King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.]
Date: Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Chapters: I Corinthians 1-4
Message: Deep Things of God
Hello My Friend,
Remember, I told you that I had gotten a job offer, but was not very thrilled about it? Well, I prayed hard about it and decided not to take it. I swore to myself that I was not going to end up in this situation again, so, if there was any indication that it is not the right job, then I was not going to take it. So, here it is week three with no income coming in, bills are coming due quickly, and I have to admit that I spent over an hour telling God what a failure I am to Him as well as everyone I get around, only for Him to just ignore me. I would ignore me too, and tell myself to shut up, as I did. Then as I was reading the chapters for today, one of my favorite verses appeared, [1 Corinthians 2:9-10,14 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.]
Well, I added verses 10 and 14, these verses are a great reminder that we have not chosen Christ, but He chose us through our faith in Him. We are no different than any of the Apostles, Moses, Abraham, or any of the other men and women that God used, they messed up just as much, and of not more, than we do, and yet that never stopped Him from using them. You see, God already knew what we would become even before we were born, all the struggles we would face, and all the failures we would make, He never looked at our flesh, He looked at our heart, [Matthew 5:8,11-12 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.]
The Book of I Corinthians was written by Paul to all believers, but directed to those in Corinth, he wrote it about 59AD. The purpose of the book was to address doctrinal problems that brought division between the Corinthian believers. What we are to learn from the book is that Jesus Christ, our risen Lord, indwells and works in every believer through the Holy Spirit, [1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.]
Paul spent nearly two years in Corinth, preaching the Gospel with great success, it was there that one of the first Christian churches was formed, consisting of both Jews and Greeks. A conflict arose, false doctrine was being taught, and this caused a great division among the members, instead of trusting God, they trusted the man of God. Paul stresses the importance of the church knowing and preaching the same Gospel.
[1 Corinthians 1:1-9 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.]
[through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,] Sosthenes was a converted Jew at Corinth who was seized and beaten in the presence of Gallio, a Roman deputy, for refusing to accept the charge of heresy which the Jews alleged against the apostle Paul, [Acts 18:12-17]. Sosthenes accompanied Paul to Corinth, probably because he was well known to the Corinthians, and respected by them. Paul used him to reach the Corinthians to show them that they were both in agreement with the doctrine of the Gospel, which might have had a bigger impact on leading them to Christ. It is God’s will for every believer to be a testimony of Christ living inside of them so that we too can lead some to Christ. And it does not matter if God uses us to lead one or millions to Christ, we are all equals in Christ. And do you know why? We all preach the same message, which is the Gospel. You see, to the world, saved by grace through our faith in the sinless death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is foolish, but to us who are saved, they are life. Paul goes on to remind us that we were once fools too, that was until we learned of Christ, and receiving Him as our Saviour is the wisest decision we will ever make.
[1 Corinthians 1:18-21 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.]
[hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?] Just think about how foolish the world sounds right now? Covid, transgender, diversity, critical race theory, climate change, life on other planets, all of these things are made up and foolish because none of them exist as the world perceives them to be. Yes, Covid 19 existed, but was a corona virus, and is long gone, just like every other corona virus that comes and goes year after year, but a different strain. These fools, who think they they are so smart, are doing all of this to keep people who believe their lies under their control, and if they are going to believe the lies over the truth, then so be it, [Romans 1:22-24 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:]
There is that word again, heart, and let me tell you what all of this is really all about, death. The world, and most religions fear death so much that they think that if they just stop people from living then, they would live. Well, wake up people, death is unavoidable, and you can get rid of all the cows you want, that is still not going to stop the world from being destroyed. The only thing that is going to save you when the earth will be destroyed is Jesus Christ, that is as long as you believe the Gospel and accept Him as your Saviour. This is not rocket science, this is the simple, honest, Gospel, and Paul goes on to remind us that we do not need a degree to lead someone to Christ, we just need to believe in it ourselves and give our own testimony.
[1 Corinthians 2:1-7 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:]
[For I determined not to know any thing among you,] We are not sent out to preach the Gospel to the fools to tell them just how foolish they are, we are sent out to preach the Gospel to those who want to hear it. And this is why God uses people from all walks of life, which is what true diversity is, what we experience as Christians is used to bring others to Christ. For instance, I was brought up in a black community, experienced poverty, and had my share of unfortunate events, and I know what true racism is, so what these fools are trying to convey as racist are the true racists. My point in this is that we cannot reach everyone with the Gospel the same way, yes, the message is the same, but the approach is different. This is what Paul is conveying, as we are reminded that sometimes we need to speak carnally.
[1 Corinthians 3:1-3,8-11 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.]
[and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.] [Carnal; Pertaining to flesh; fleshly; sensual;] Remember, Paul spoke to them as being carnal, meaning he reached them by teaching the Gospel without the use of a lot of Scripture. Just think about all these fools who are crying equality, and the efforts they make in order to be compensated for doing absolutely nothing. For almost two years, truly carnal people have been living off the funds given to them by the government from people who actually work. And they have the nerve to cry that they are being treated unfairly because of the color of their skin, race, or religion. Most people do not think of color or race, they just live the best they can to best of their abilities. Jesus did not give His life for a specific color, after all, He made us all exactly as we are meant to be, He gave His life for our souls, but it is only those who believe in Him that will get saved. I actually told God this morning that even if I lost everything, I still have Jesus and He is all I need.
[1 Corinthians 3:12-17 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.]
[If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy;] Think about what Paul is saying here, as it relates to being carnal, he is not referring to true saved, born again Christians, he is referring to the carnal ones, who through philosophy, and vain deceit bring in false doctrines, errors, and heresies, corrupting their minds from the simplicity of the Gospel. For as their wicked teachings are damnable to themselves, and will bring upon them that judgment which they fear because they know where they are going for leading so many astray, [Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.]
[1 Corinthians 4:9-10,13-15 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.]
[for we are made a spectacle unto the world,] To the world, preaching about a man that died almost two thousand years ago is foolishness, but it is only by believing this foolishness that we can be saved. To the world, we are made spectacles because we remain faithful to Christ, and the more faithful we are the more we are despised. Let me tell you, it literally takes the strength of Christ to do what we do as a Christian, whether it is working in His ministry or in a grocery store, but the rewards are something that no one can ever take from us. I rather be despised as a Christian than be a lover of the world, [Psalms 119:141-144 I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts. 142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. 143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights. 144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.]
Let Us Pray: God, They may call me a fool for trusting in You, but I rather be a fool for Christ than go through this life without you. When affliction comes my way, I admit, all I want to do it hide in a corner somewhere, and not talk to anyone, but when I come to my senses I realize You are always there, ready to pick me up, and show me how to handle things. You are so merciful to me that it tears me to think that I suffered when all I had to do was come to You. Lord, there is no one like You, so loving, so trusting, so fearing, just as a Father should be, You may not remove the affliction, but Your grace is sufficient enough to help me through, and I thank You for that. Walk with me, guide me, and abide in me, give me that consolation that I know only comes as I remain in Your presence. I love You Lord and ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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