Keep Running to The Finish

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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: Friday, December 02, 2022
Chapters: I CORINTHIANS 9-11
Study: Keep Running to The Finish

Hello My Brother/Sister/Friend,

Probably one of the biggest questions we have as Christians is why God wants us to be right in the mist of this wicked and evil world when we are not to be a part of it. And let me tell you, the closer you get to Christ the less you want to be in the world. In fact, it is down right appalling to you when you see some of the things they do and even hear how they talk. There is a reason for going out there, and that reason is to bring Christ to them. We all have a race to run, and we also have a finish line to cross, so we must keep running to get there.

[1 Corinthians 9:24-27  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.  25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.  26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.]

There really is no better feeling in the world than to know that you are with Christ and He is with you. When you have a relationship with Christ you truly understand the joy that only comes through Him as we endure some of the most trying things. And I will tell you this, living through Christ will cause disruptions as those who are not living through Christ come under their own convictions and start falsely accusing us. As we continue in reading of 1 Corinthians, Paul, finds himself having to defend himself as they were questioning his ministry.

[1 Corinthians 9:1-6,9-  Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?  2  If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.  3  Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,  4  Have we not power to eat and to drink?  5  Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?  6  Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?]

[Have we not power to eat and to drink?] Okay, so here is the thing, we all have freewill, and that means that something that I may be under conviction not to so is okay with you. This does not mean that either of us is wrong, it is just something that we defer on, and it is perfectly fine agree to disagree. For instance, I do not wear pants, but I do not place judgment on those who do. Paul, stresses to the Corinthians the importance of not only teach the Gospel, but live it.

[1 Corinthians 9:14-16  Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.  15  But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.  16  For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!]

[woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!] I have always had this gift that enables me to adapt to my environment rather quickly, and although I never fit in with the world, I had no problem handling the role I was given. The closer we get to Christ the more roles He gives us, and He will place us anywhere He needs us to be for one reason, to be a walking, talking minister of the Gospel, without even speaking one line of Scripture.

[1 Corinthians 9:19-23  For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.  20  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;  21  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.  22  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.  23  And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.]

[And this I do for the gospel’s sake,] None of us are perfect, we are not always going to agree on everything, but should all be in agreement with the Gospel. While some do see fit to live a certain way contrary to what others do, it is not for us to judge, God will deal with each of us as He sees fit. When we truly believe in the Gospel, then we will live through it, and the only one that we need to be concerned about is God. Christians, who are quick to judge other Christians do so in an attempt to either hide their own sin, or find something that will discredit our testimony. Since God created man His main objective in creating us in His image was so that we could fellowship with Him. While He could have used anyone to tell the world who He is, He chose to use the Jews as an example of the blessings that come when they were faithful to Him as well as the curses when they were rebellious. Paul, goes on to stress the fact that Christ has been with them from the Exodus.

[1 Corinthians 10:1-5  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;  2  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;  3  And did all eat the same spiritual meat;  4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.  5  But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.]

[for they were overthrown in the wilderness.] The point of Paul addressing this was to remind them that the Israelites were under the same judgment as everyone else, even back then. They may not have known that the angel that was there with them was Christ, but the believers knew that the LORD was with them. And just because He chose them to be His people that did not mean all of them were His, and He proved that several times in their forty years of their being in the wilderness.

[1 Corinthians 10:7-12  Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.  8  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.  9  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.  10  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.  11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.  12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.]

[as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.] This is in reference to this passage, [Numbers 21:5-8  And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.  6  And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.  7  Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.  8  And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.]

Did you know that that pole remained in Israel for centuries, but then king Hezekiah had it destroyed because the people were worshiping it? [2 Kings 18:4  He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.] This is why we do not have crosses with Christ on them hanging up on our walls and around our necks. Jesus, is no longer on the cross, and therefore we are not to worship the cross, rather the one who resurrected three days later and is alive and at the right hand of God, [Acts 7:55  But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,]

I do have a cross that I wear around my neck, it is unique in that it has an ancient quality to it and while my baptism was enough to profess my faith, it is a conversation piece that I use to reach people with the Gospel. And I tell you what, it also brings looks like you would not believe when people see it as well. We need to do what God sees fit for us to do for the cause of Christ, we are already saved, so, what we do in our walk with Christ has nothing to do with where we are going, and everything to do with leading others to Him.

[1 Corinthians 10:23-27,31-33  All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.  24  Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.  25  Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:  26  For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.  27  If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.  32  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:  33  Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.]

[all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.] This is why we are not bound to the Law of Moses, but we are careful to maintain good works contained within the Law as God sees fit. Not everything written in it applies to us today, but we need to be careful that we do not discredit the Law by picking and choosing what we believe we are to follow. What I mean by that is that doing that does put us under the Law, and if that is the case, then we would be guilty of breaking all of them, just by breaking one, [James 2:10-12  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.  11  For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.  12  So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.]

God is faithful when we are faithful to Him, He does not need to bless us, but by His grace and mercy He does, even when we do not deserve it. We do not have to be perfect for God to bless us because His Son is in us, but we must not forget to acknowledge His blessings, even the ones that are not joyful. Since everything we do reflects Christ, that means if we are living our lives only to please our flesh then, we are not only making Him look bad, but other Christians as well.

[1 Corinthians 11:1-8  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.  2  Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.  3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.  4  Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.  5  But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.  6  For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.  7  For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8  For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.]

[and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.] Remember, we are not under the Law or required to be under it to keep our salvation, but those who want to be a reflection of Christ will maintain good works, and that includes our appearance as well, [Titus 3:5-9  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  6  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;  7  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  8  This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.  9  But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.]

[having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.] The head coverings that Paul is referring to hair, a man ought to have short hair, so all those pictures that show Jesus with long hair are incorrect as His hair would be short, [1 Corinthians 11:14-15  Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?  15  But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.]

Think about it, if we are saved, then we are all one body of Christ, that means that we cannot blend in with the world, if we do, then it brings consequences. The Lord’s Supper, is an observance that many churches participate in today, the purpose of it is to remind those who are saved why they are saved. The Corinthians distorted this observance first by including it in with a normal feast, and second, denying the poor to partake of it. Paul, reminds us that since we are all joined together by Christ’s body and blood, we need to take it seriously.

[1 Corinthians 11:17-22  Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.  18  For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.  19  For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.  20  When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.  21  For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.  22  What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.]

[this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.] This is why Baptist churches do not participate in a weekly Lord’s Supper, if we did, then it would become just some other ritual and would lose its significance. The purpose of the Lord’s Supper is for those who are saved to observe that it was Christ’s body that was broken and blood that was shed for our salvation. It is not the actual blood and body of Christ like many churches misinterpret. If they are not saved, and they participate in this observance, then God will chasten them, the sad thing is many never realize it is God, and suffer needlessly. If we are going to observe this when the church observes ir, then we must examine ourselves, and get right with God before we do.

[1 Corinthians 11:28-34  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.  29  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.  30  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.  31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.  32  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.  33  Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.  34  And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.]

[For this cause many are weak and sickly among you] Remember, what we do personally in our walk with Christ will affect the whole church. If the church is promoting sin and even if the members are knowingly or secretly committing sin it will also affect the congregation. Remember what Paul said from the beginning, [1 Corinthians 5:6-8  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?  7  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:  8  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.]

Today’s Prayer: God, I want to thank You for Your goodness in supplying all my needs. Certainly You have blessed me with physical blessings such as food, clothing, shelter, an awesome job, but You also shower me with spiritual blessings as You allow me to serve You. Lord, I want my testimony to be an example of Your life changing, all sufficient, and all sustaining mercy, grace, and love to all who need to know Your Son. I have a race to run, and must keep going to the finish. Lead me and guide me, make me who You need me to be, let me accept and acknowledge all Your blessings, and let me forever praise You for You are good even when You take things away, for even they are blessings. And let me never partake in the Lord’s Supper unworthily. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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