Friday, August 29, 2025

OUR FATHER DWELLS IN HIS PEOPLE AS HIS TEMPLE

Ephesians chapter 2 verses 11 -  22

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Amen

1

Thursday, August 28, 2025

OUR FATHER WHOSE GREAT MERCY AND LOVE FOR US FOR BROUGHT US FROM DEATH TO LIFE

Continuing with his exposition of how great a salvation we have been given, the Apostle Paul, in  Ephesians chapter 2 verses 1 - 10, discusses the mercy and love that God had for us by which He took us from being innate sinners to being indemnified saints sitting in  heavenly places with Christ.

 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

The undertaking of our salvation,  as costly as it was, will showcase the extremely incredible depth and magnificence of God's grace in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.

In this context, Paul made clear that our salvation is provided by the grace of God only and in no way is it attained by any work or effort done by us. The credit for our salvation will only ever be attributable to God and no human being will ever be able to claim any part of the credit for their salvation.

The apostle then explained that we were individually crafted by God for His  purposes which, far in advance, He designed for us to do and designed us to do and the salvation provided makes a way for us to step up to our purpose and calling in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

1


Wednesday, August 27, 2025

OUR FATHER WHO SEATED CHRIST AT HIS RIGHT HAND ABOVE ALL THINGS

In Ephesians chapter 1 verses 14 - 23, the Apostle Paul reports that he had heard of the Ephesian's faith in the Lord Jesus and their love for all the saints and this inspired him to continually give thanks for them and to mention them in his personal prayers so that God would give them wisdom and revelation of Himself so that they would be able to realise how consequential their eternal calling was and how rich in glory of the inheritance that was allotted to them actually was.

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

The Apostle Paul continued to tell the Ephesians that he prayed that they would grasp how exceedingly great His power was towards those who believed and in fact, this power was the same power that God used to raise the Lord Jesus from the dead and enthrone Him in heavenly places far above the entire hierarchy of spiritual entities and this order of Christ's supremacy not only applied to our current dispensation but also to the dispensation to come.

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

The Lord Jesus was put over all things and the church, which is His body, is completely filled by Him and has been imbued with His authority.

Amen.

1

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

OUR FATHER WHO BLESSED US WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING

Ephesians chapter 1 verses 1 - 14 begins our look at Apostle Paulˋs letter to the believers in the town of Ephesus. 

Paul introduces himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ as appointed by God and decribes the ones he is writing to as ˋsaintsˋand ˋfaithfulˋ in Christ Jesus. Paul also blesses them with a pronouncement of grace and peace upon them as an expression of his love for them.

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace to you and peace fromen God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul then declares that the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ is blessed and that we, through Christ,  have been blessed by God with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places.  

Paul then reveals that in the same way that we have been blessed by God, from before the foundation of the world, He has also chosen us to be in Him as ones who should be holy and blameless in love. 

This attainment of holiness and blamelessness, Paul explains, is made possible when we are adopted as sons unto God through the Lord Jesus Christ according to Godˋs own pleasure. This provision that God made for us showcases the glory of His grace which brings Him praise and this same grace made us accepted into the family of God.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

Paul, in this densely-packed passage, summarized the composite gift of Christ that escalates us up from the depths of enslavement in sin ( through His shed blood and His grace), to being among those being gathered together in Christ and then we find that above all that, we have obtained an inheritance as part of what was predestined for each of us by Godˋs personal intention. 

Those who first trusted in Christ and expended themselves for the dispensation of His gospel are then able to be for the praise of Godˋs glory because of how lavish and valuable the gift of salvation actually is and anyone receiving it would praise the Lord forever.

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

The Apostle Paul goes on to explain a mysterious principle where he tells the Ephesians that they who trusted the word of truth and believed in the gospel of salvation that was given to them, they were sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. Here, the word 'seal', carries the meaning of 'protected from tampering or contamination like preserving food in a sealer jar'. This keeps our new born-again spirits from being contaminated by living in the world and it is also a deposit or downpayment made on each of us until the day that we are redeemed by God as a precious possession and all this to the praise and honor of His glory.

Amen.

1

Monday, August 25, 2025

OUR FATHER FOR WHOM ALL THINGS MUST BE DONE IN LOV

The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 16 verses 1 - 24, concludes his monumental letter to the Corinthians with some logistics and housekeeping .

He describes his own movements around Asia Minor where some effective doors were opening for the work of the ministry but as well, harboured many enemies.

He lists a number of places and people in commendation and in greeting;

Places:

  • Galatia - To whom he wrote the letter ˋGalatiansˋ
  • Jerusalem - Showing that it was still integrated with the expanding network
  • Macedonia - Passing through on the way north but perhaps wintering there
  • Ephesus - To whom he wrote the letter of towering revelation: Ephesians
  • Achaia - Mentioned as the home town of the household of Stephanas
  • Asia -  Mentioned as a regionally unified administrative area
Individuals:
  • Timothy- Commended as a fellow worker in the Lord
  • Apollos - Described as a brother in Christ who was unwilling to visit 
  • Stephanas - His household is named the first in Christ in the area and faithful 
  • Fortunatus - Faithful helper, encourager and supporter of the ministry
  • Achaicus  Faithful helper, encourager and supporter of the ministry
  • Aquila - Passed hearty greetings from the churches in Asia
  • Priscilla - Passed hearty greetings from the churches in Asia
Paul encourages the Corinthians to be watchful, steadfast in faith, brave, strong and loving.


1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. 4 But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.

5 Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia). 6 And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you may send me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.

8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

10 And if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. 11 Therefore let no one despise him. But send him on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren.

12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time.

13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done with love.

15 I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints— 16 that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us.

17 I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men.

19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. 20 All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

21 The salutation with my own hand—Paul’s.

22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Amen.

6

Sunday, August 24, 2025

 OUR FATHER TO WHOM OUR LABOUR IS NOT IN VAIN

1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 29 - 58 continues with the Apostle Paulˋs contention that there would indeed be a ressurection of the dead.

29 Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? 30 And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? 31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

The ˋbaptism of the deadˋ mentioned here (and nowhere else in sccripture) has be used to institute a religious practice among some groups where a living person is physically baptised as a proxy for a person who is dead so that the dead person can benefit from the mandatory rite even if they had not had a chance to experience it in life.

This interpretation is clearly a misreading of the text. The baptism of the dead is the same baptism mentioned by the Lord Jesus in the book of Mark 10 verse 38:

“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

The baptism mentioned here is the baptism of death that Jesus would endure for the sake of all men. The baptism mentioned by Paul, in the context, is the baptism unto death that believers suffered for the sake of the gospel and for righteousness. The question paul is asking is why would there be any need for someone to die for the sake of the gospel if there was no ressurection of the dead. He asks why they, as servants of the gospel, suffered jeopardy and struggled against wid beasts and other hazzards if this life was all there was? Why wouldnˋt they just âdopt the precept that went, ˋEat drink and be merry for tomorrow we dieˋ.

33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

Here, Paul cautions the believers against associating with those who held that belief because they would be wrongly guided away from righteousness and towards sin based on the false doctrine that there was no ressurection.

35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” 36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.

39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.

40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

To answer the question of how the dead were raised, Paul uses an anology of a seed that falls to the ground and dies and then becomes alive in a new plant. For a human being who has been given eternal life becuase of their faith in Christ, they die and are then made alive again in a spiritual body in the image of the heavenly man Jesus. 

46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

In this passage, the Apostle Paul reveals a mystery of the ages; In an instance, all who will inherit the kingdom of God will be raised up in a new incorruptible and immortal body. At that moment, those who are dead in Christ will be raised from the dead in immortal bodies while those who are alive and in Christ, will be caught up with Him and transformed in a twinkling of an eye when the last trumpet blows to mark then of the dispensation we are in.

At that moment, death will be defeated and rendered non-functional because sin is the sting that causes death and the law, in its judgement of sin, is what gives sin its strength but the Lord Jesus Christ, having lived a perfectly sinless life even to the point of submitting to an agonizing death in mental and physical anguish, was victorious over sin and death and we are each given this victory through Him.

Amen.

4

Saturday, August 23, 2025

OUR FATHER PUT ALL THINGS UNDER THE FEET OF HIS SON

1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 12 - 28.

12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

The apostle Paul, having established that the gospelˋs foundation was the death, burial and ressurection of the Lord Jesus Christ, points out that some of the Corithians were claiming that there is no such thing as the ressurection of the dead.

Paul counters the claim by saying that if there is no ressurection of the dead, that meant that Christ himself had not risen and if Christ had not risen, what Paul had been preaching was pointless and their faith was in vain.

Paul proclaimed that the entirety of Christianity pivots on one point; Jesus Christ rose from the dead. If Christ did not rise from the dead, faith in Him is fultile and we are all still in our sins and we will perish along with everyone else and believers would be the most pitiable for having placed our faith what was not going to save us.

However, with all the witnesses who were still alive at that time to attest to the factuality of Christˋs ressurection, Paul asserted that the ressurection from the dead for believers was going to happen because death came to mankind through one man named Adam and likewise, life would come to mankind through the one man Jesus Christ.

20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

Paul, looking far into the distant future, builds on the assertion that there will indeed be a ressurection and that this ressurection represents the  last enemy that Christ will destroy which is death.  When Christ is revealed at the time of the end, He will have dissolved the heirachies the kingdom of darkness made of rulers and authorities and powers and all things will have been put under Christˋs feet and as Paul indicates, the ˋall thingsˋ excludes the One who put all things under His feet. 

At this time, Christ will then hand the victorious kingdom to His Father and will Himself be subject to the one who put all things under Him and this final state unifies everything in God.

Amen.

2

Friday, August 22, 2025

 OUR FATHER WHOSE GRACE MAKES ROOM FOR US TO LABOUR IN HIS KINGDOM

The Aposte Paul, in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 1 -  11, urges the Corinthian believers to hold fast to the gospel that he had brought to them because if they fell way it, their original belief would have all been in vain.

Paul summarized the sequence of events that form the tenets of the gospel and these important tenets were attested to by many people.

  1. Christ dies for our sins according to the scripture
  2. Christ was buried
  3. Christ rose again on the third day
  4. The risen Christ was seen by 
    1. Cephas (The Apostle Peter)
    2. All the twelve apostles together
    3. Five hundred at once (most were still alive as the time of Paulˋs writing)
    4. James the Apostle
    5. The twelve apostles again
    6. Seen by Paul

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Paul, acknowledging that he started off as an enemy of the church of God, writes that he was given grace to believe and that he, by that same grace laboured abundantly for te sake of the gospel.

Amen.

2

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

OUR FATHER WHO ADOPTED US AS HIS SONS

The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians chapter 14 verses 26 - 40, writes to establish decency and orderliness in church meetings by prescribing in what way  spiritual gifts should be expressed.

26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

The chart below lays out how the various gifts should be operated during meetings;

  • Edification - A Psalm, a teaching, a revelation or an interpretation can be brought by anyone
  • Tongues - Two or three can speak  (with one interpreting if available)
  • Interpreter - If none, tongue speakers should speak only to themselves or to God
  • Prophecy - Two or three can speak and the other propets can judge the prophecies. Prophets should also prophecy one by one as their spirits are under their control.

34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

Paul then prescribes that women should not speak in churches but are to be submissive. Here, Paul is reiterating the discussion in an earlier passage related to women covering their heads in church. In that context, Paul was alluding to the grand stage upon which all people perform the parables of the temporal that reveal the eternal. Men play the part of Jesus the groom and the women play the part of the bride. In the same way that women cover their heads to illustrate that the church is to cover her glory and point all glory to Christ, men play the part of Christ who is the head of the church and has the sole directive voice on matters of the kingdom of God and women play the part of the church who is to heed the voice of her groom and submit herself completely to Christ.

Controvercy has surrounded this question. Some point to the emergence of female leaders of Israel like Deborah and in the new testament church like Phoebe and Junia to show that women were not relegated to the sidelines in church life but were integrated key players.

With one passage saying that women should not speak in church and yet bible-certified women leaders clearly existed, what could be made of this controvercy.

The key is to understand the progression of the Christian from infancy to maturity.

Ephesians chapter 1 verses 4b - 5,  Paul writes that all believers are chosen from before the creation of the world and they are then matriculated for adoption into sonship through Jesus Christ.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will

This  adoption into sonship is indistinguishably applied to men and women and so in the spirit, men and women are equally required to pursue spiritual growth and maturity. Once a woman is adopted as a son and matured, she is qualified to be a leader in the church as a mature son would be in his father's household. If she is not mature in faith, she is to remain silent as any immature man would be required to be.

36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? 37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

Paul advises the Corinthians to submit to the scripture (including his letters)  because they did not originate it and it a universal word that applies to all believers and not just to the Corinthians. 

Therefore, if anyone believed they were a prophet or a spiritual person, they could only be considered to be so if they submitted to the words Paul wrote concerning their practice and conduct.

The apostle again encourages the believers at Corinth to desire the gift of prophecy but on this occasion, he also instructs church leaders not to forbid the speaking of tongues. 

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO SPEAKS TO UNBELIEVERS USING MEN WHO SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES

1 Corinthians chapter 14 verses 20 - 25 continues with the Apostle Paulˋs advice to the Corinthian church were he adjures them to be mature in understanding of spiritual things and yet to be like children in things like malice and vengeance. Paul then points to an old testament scripture that references the speaking of other tongues and with foreign lips that would be used to speak to the children of Israel and yet they would not hear the Lord.

20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.

21 In the law it is written:

“With men of other tongues and other lips to

I will speak to this people;

And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord.

22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.

Paul tells the Corinthians that the gift of tongues is not a sign to believers but to unbelievers while prophecy is a not a sign to unbelievers but to believers. He envisions a scenario where a believer who does not know of tongues or an unbeliever enters a building where all members are speaking in tongues,  would they not say that the people are out of their minds and reject them?  This is what the scripture why the scripture was saying that those who heard the speaking of tongues would not listen to the voice of the LORD.

On the other hand, Paul says that if they all prophecied instead of speaking in tongues, the unbelievers and skeptical people might hear the prophetic excavation of their lives and fall down and worship God which would contradict the scripture.

Thus Paul says that speaking in tongues is the proper prescription for public spiritual expression if unbelievers and skeptics are present. Prophecy is for the edification and guidance of believers and not unbelievers or skeptics.

Amen.

1

Monday, August 18, 2025

OUR FATHER WHO PRIORITIZES LOVE OVER FUNCTION 

In 1 Corinthians chapter 14 verses 1 - 19, the Apostle Paul embarks on establishing the best practices related to the use of spiritual gifts. He begins by setting the order of operations as  1)  - ˋPursue Loveˋ and  2) -  ˋDesire spiritual giftsˋ.

This could be understood to mean that we are to pursue love and then desire spiritual gifts to help facilitate the exercise of that love.

Paul identifies prophesy as the ideal gift to desire because doing so edifies the body of believers while speaking in tongues ( which is the spirit of a man praying) does not edify the body of believers because no one can understand the words being spoken unless there is a person around who has the gift of the interpretation of tongues who can render the mysteries being spoken in an unknown tongue into a comprehensible language.

Paul thus counsels the Corinthian believers, who were zealously seeking spiritual gifts, to make the edification of the church their prime directive when it came to developing their giftings. If some only spoke in tongues, Paul advised them to pray for an interpreter so that the words of direction, confirmation or encouragement could be understood and acted upon.

1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? 7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? 8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? 9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. 12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Paul thus concluded that individuals should engage in prayer in the spirit and also in prayer in their understanding and they should also sing in the spirit and sing in their understanding and also bless with the spirit and bless with understanding if their efforst were going to have any benefit for the listeners.

The apostle clarified that even though he spoke in tongues more than all the Corinthian believers, he nevertheless would rather have only spoken a few words in the common language than do so voluminously in an unknown tongue.

Amen.

1

Sunday, August 17, 2025

OUR FATHER WHO KNOWS US AND WHOM WE WILL KNOW

1 Corinthians chapter 13 verses 1 - 13 is the famous ˋlove chapterˋ often referenced at weddings and convocations. The apostle Paul, in the previous chapter, described the subject of  this chapter as 'the more excellent way'.

Paul, having laid out the array of spiritual gifts that are made available to believers for the florishing of the body, now discusses an ingredient to all the gifts that, if missing, renders all the functions of the gifts as moot and profitless

Paul is of course speaking of love which he describes as the greatest of all the virtues that are measured when transactions between the seen and unseen realms take place. (The virtues or stances are faith, hope and love).

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Paul lays out a panoply of lofty exploits that believers could engage in and all the sacrifices they could offer but he unequivocally states that doing all these things without love is pointless.  Love can then be understood as the primary prerequisite or qualifier of any spiritual transactions associated with the kingdom of God. It is like the pin number of the company credit card and transactions that are carried out on that credit card without the pin number are unauthorized transactions and are thus nullified.

Paul then lists the characteristics of love by describing the things that it does and some of the things that is does not do.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Itemizing the list of the characteristics of love can help to comprehend the nature of love especially when we understand that God Himself is love and so these characteristics are also the expressed nature of God.

  1. Love suffers long  ( is patient )
  2. Love is kind and thoughtful
  3. Love does not envy but wishes well for others
  4. Love does not parade itself or boast
  5. Love is not puffed up ( is not proud )
  6. Love is not rude or dishonor others
  7. Love does not seek its own way ( is not selfish )
  8. Love is not easily provoked or angered
  9. Love harbours no evil or vengeful  thoughts or keep record of wrongs
  10. Love does not delight in evil things
  11. Love rejoices at the truth
  12. Love always bears or carries all things and lets nothing fall away
  13. Love always believes or trusts all things
  14. Love always hopes or looks to the best of all things to comes
  15. Love always endures or withstands all things

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

Paul changes gears and moves far into the future where the dispensation we are currently partakers of is no longer in operation and so all the mechanisms of transacting between the spiritual realm and the natural realm are no longer needed and so these partial mechanisms such as prophesy, speaking in tongues and words of knowledge will cease and give way to the perfect connections which is the eternal mechanism of love. 

This is why practicing the gifts of the Spirit without love is pointless because the ultimate aim of these gifts ( which are temselves merely temporary substitutes for the real connection between God and man) is to facilitate the establish an eternal loving relationship between God and those who believe in Him.

Paul discusses this further by using  the progression from childhood to adulthood  as an analogy of the progression of the use of gifts to learn the rudiments of knowing God to directly knowing God and being loved by God and experiencing him face to face and knowing Him as much as He knows us.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

The greatest and the ultimate and the final state is love.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO GIVES GIFTS TO MEN

The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 verses 12 - 31, continued on the subject of spiritual gifts by comparing the body of Christ with the human body and even as each body part has a function that benefits the whole body, each person has a spiritual gift that benefits the whole body of believers.  

As such, Paul advises the people at Corinth understand that they are a single unified body and each individual should humbly and gratefully supply to the the body what they were gifted to provide. Paul cautions against divisions that could arise from some wishing for greater honor and being unwilling to participate in functions of lesser honor.

12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

The Apostle Paul speaks to the crucial role that each person has in the body of Christ and there is a unity that the interdependence on each other brings.

Paul lists the appointed positions that are distributed to the individual members of the body of Christ from which the spiritual gifts could be dispensed but for most of these appointments, he rhetorically asks if all are appointed to them to clarify that not everyone is given the particular positions. However, the assignment to the office of helps and admistrations are not questioned which implies that all members of the body are appointed to these positions and can assist with the tasks of organising suport efforts and helping people in need.

  1. Apostles - Are all apostles?
  2. Prophets - Are all prophets?
  3. Teachers - Are all Teachers?
  4. Miracle workers - Are all able to do miracles?
  5. Healers - Are all healers?
  6. Helps - 
  7. Administrations - 
  8. Varieties of tongues -  Do all speak with tongues?
  9. _________   -  Do all Interpret?

The interpretation of tongues is not included in this list but is mentioned rhetorically as being a given only to some people which suggests that Paul included the interpretation of tongues in the broader category of  ˋvarieties of tonguesˋ.

To conlude the subject, the apostle Paul encourages believers to desire greater gifts meaning that they should seek to develop their giftings so that they operated at higher levels of quality and power so as to be more edifying to the body of believers they served. Also implied is that believers should desire different gifts that would be more useful to the members of the churches.

For as much as spritual gifts are astonishing and desirable, Paul finalizes his discussion on the subject by telling the Corinthian believers that there is a far superior thing than gifts and he goes on to discuss this better thing in the famous 1 Corinthians chapter 13 often called the ˋloveˋ chapter.

Amen.

1


Friday, August 15, 2025

OUR FATHER WHO GAVE US GIFTS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

In 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 1 - 11 ( NIV ), the Apostle Paul discusses the spiritual provisions that are made available to believers so that they can be equipped to navigate the hazards of the spiritual realm and also to care for and guide each believer in their midst.

1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

The first utility Paul mentions is the basic discernment of spirits. Many believers at Corinth were already familiar with spiritual entities and had engaged with them on their pagan practices so Paul gave them a litmus test to determine if the spirits they came across as christians were friends or foes. The test was an uttered allegiance test that would definitively inform them of which kingdom the entity was from. 

If the entity could curse the name of Jesus, that spirit was from the kingdom of darkness no matter how dressed up in light it was. If the spirit could say "Jesus is Lord", the spirit was operating in the kingdom of light.

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 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. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

The Holy Spirit of God is the arbiter of spiritual gifts and distributes them at His discretion and below are the categories of gifts and their general description and an example of the gift in action from scripture;

  1. Message of wisdom - Gives the ability to get spiritual guidance on the best course of action to take in a situation ( When Jesus met with his disciples at lake galilee while they were fishing, they said that they had fished all night and had caught nothing. The word of wisdom Jesus gave them was to drop their nets on the other side of their boat and they quickly caught so many fish they could barely bring them in )
  2. Message of knowledge - Gives the ability to supernaturally know a piece of information pertaining to a person or a situation ( When the Lord Jesus was speaking to the woman at the well, He received a word of knowledge about her marital status and she was astonished how He knew about the private matters of her life )
  3. Faith - Gives the ability to spiritually handle the substance the things hoped for and perceive the evidence of things not seen. ( When the Prophet Elisha and his servant were in Samaria, the servant was afraid because they were surrounded by enemy forces and he could not see how they would escape, Elisha prayed that the servant would have the ability to see the evidence of the invisible spiritual army that was on their side )
  4. Healing - Gives the ability to bring physical or mental healing to others from the spiritual realm ( The Apostle Peter and John, when passing through the beautiful gate in Jerusalem, were asked for alms by a man who could not walk and Peter grabbed the manˋs arm and  lifted him up to walk and he was healed  )
  5. Miraculous powers - Gives the ability to perform signs and wonders to establish the superiority of the kingdom of light ( In the book of Acts, when the Apostle Paul touched handkerchiefs and these were taken to people in remote places, they were being healed and demons were being cast out of them )
  6. Pro phecy - Gives the ability to collect information on the occurences, intentions and directives of heaven and transmit this information to people. ( Prophet and Apostle John, having been given access to the spiritual realm, was able to see the future and the fates of nations and he recorded his experiences in the book of Revelation )
  7. Distinguishing spirits - Gives the ability to sense the true nature and intention of a spirit or a person so that friends and foes can be distinguished from one another. ( When Apostle Peter ancountered Simon in Samaria asking to buy the power to lay hands on people so they could get the Holy Spirit, Peter was able to discern that Simon was not operating out of sincererity and was not right with God )
  8. Speaking in tongues - Gives the ability to speak in spiritual languages and in doing so, builds up the inner man ( spirit ) of the speaker. ( After Jesus had returned to heaven, his earnest followers gathered in the upper room and the Holy Spirit alighted on those who had tarried there and a flame of fire could be seen on their heads and they spoke in other tongues )
  9. Interpreting tongues - Gives the ability to interpret a spiritual language  and translate the spiritual language into an accessible language. ( e.g. - Prophet Daniel read the spiritual writing that was written on the wall of the king Belshazzarˋs palace and interpreted its meaning for the king )

The gifts given to believers are means of interacting with the spiritual realm in order to bring down information and power to supply requirements in the physical realm.

For example, if knowledge is needed, a person operating in that gift can connect to a channel in the spiritual realm and receive the otherwise hidden knowledge and speak it.

Likewise, if a person has a physical or mental ailment, a person gifted in healing can connect to a spiritual channel and bring down the power to heal the sick person.

All these are provided by the Holy Spirit to the glory of the Lord Jesus.

Amen.

1

Thursday, August 14, 2025

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WE REMEMBER WHENEVER WE ATTEND THE LORDˋS TABLE

The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians chapter 11 verses 17 - 34, speaks solemnly of the Lordˋs table where bread and wine are shared with the gathered believers to represent their shared faith in partaking of the body and blood of Christ by which our salvation is gained.

17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.

The Apostle Paul began with rebukes of the church of Corinth for two primary issues;

  • Disunity among the members
  • Dishonorably handling the Lord's table
Paul was especially appalled that believers were gathering together and treating the Lord's supper as an unruly festival with some being over-drunk while others remained hungry.

Paul prescribed the proper solemn occasion of sharing the Lord's table and warned them that inappropriate conduct surrounding the Lord's table could invoked judgement upon themselves and some were becoming sick and even dying.

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

Paul summarized the proper practice of sharing the body and blood of Christ by instructing the believers not to come to share communion hungry such that eating to became satiated was the objective but rather to be patient and wait for each other to arrive and then solemnly breaking bread and drinking the cup together.

They should then examine themselves to ensure that their hearts and minds are properly aligned to the solemnity of the occasion of rememberance of the sacrifice that the Lord Jesus made for us by the laying down of His life.

Amen.

1

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

OUR FATHER WHO MADE MEN AND WOMEN TO REPRESENT GOD'S RELATIONSHIP WITH MANKIND

1 Corinthians chapter 11 verses 1 - 16 begins with the Apostle Paul advising the believers at Corinth to imitate him as he in turn imitated Christ where he patterned his life after the pattern of Christ and he did so in such a way that those who observed him would be able to themselves imitate Christ just by seeing the example set by Paul.

Paul commended the Corinthian believers for upholding the traditions that he had established among them but in upholding those traditions related to head coverings for women only, he wanted them to remember the foundational precepts that undergirded them.

1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. 6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. 10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. 12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.

13 Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? 15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.

Paul first laid out the spiritual covering progression of headship;

  • Every womanˋs head is the man
  • Every manˋs head is Christ
  • The head of Christ is God

This headship structure mirrors the representation that each category serves in revealing the uncreated to the created orders.

  • Christ represents God to mankind as the Lord of all.
  • Men represent Christ to believing manking as the Groom
  • Women represents believing mankind to Christ as the bride of Christ
As such, the practices that Paul taught them were  visible representations of the concentric realms of representations so that looks at a man with his head uncovered, he represented the glory of Christ in His eternal being while seeing a woman with her head covered, one is seeing a representation of the bride of Christ who is the one who has submitted to Christ and is under His covering.  A woman whose head is not covered represents the portion of mankind that has charted its own course and has declined the covering of Christ.

The men by remaining uncovered ( representing Christ ) reveal the principle that Christ should be glorified at all times while the covering of women reveal the principle that believing humans should conceal their own glory that they reflect from Christ and instead, full throated glorify Christ.

In the symetrical spriritual structure, a man, representing Christˋs glory, counterbalances the glory of Christ with short hair while the woman, who represents a lesser glory of mankind, is appropriately able to wear long hair which is a glory to her.

The practices that enact the appropriate relationship between God and man are object lessons for observers to learn the heirarchies of spiritual covering but Paul concludes his explanation by saying that the traditions are for the benefit of observers and thus if contentions arise from their practice, they can be dropped.

Amen.

1