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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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OUR FATHER WHO LOVES US AND WANTS US ALL TO COME TO THE K OWLEDGE IF HIM

1 Corinthians chapter 10 verses 23 - 33;

23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.

25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; 26 for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”

27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” 29 “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? 30 But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

In this passage, the Apostle Paul delved deeper into the clarification of the matter of whether Christians should eat food offered to idols.

The principles he delineated establish that food offered to idols was harmless to believers and as such, they could eat anything bought at the market or anything put in front of them when they are guests in someone's home.

However,  whether a believer should eat such food depended on the effect that doing so would have on those who offered the food or were observers.

If food sacrificed to idols was offered as a test to a believer, the believer could decline the offer so as to make clear that the believer is not unaware of the implications of eating such food hold for the person offering and this because Paul also established the precept that the primary calculus believers should compute when handling ceremonial matters or matters of conscience is that the well-being of others should be placed ahead of themselves.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER CAN BE PROVOKED TO JEALOUSY BY THE SACRIFICING TO IDOLS

The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians chapter 10 verses 14 - 22, calling the believers in Corinth ˋhis belovedˋ, speaks a word of advice to them about idolatry.  Surrounded as they were by pagan practices of idolatry, many of the believers in Corinth had come out of that culture which means that there was constant societal pressure to participate in the seasonal sacrifices and worship to idols and  and Paul strongly advises them to flee from these activities.

Whereas Paul declared (in 1 Corinthians chapter 8 ) that eating food offered to idols was of no consequence because the idols were nothing, regarding participating in sacrifices to idol, Paul unequivocally counsels against that.

The apostle supports his contention by reminding the Corinthians that they are communal participants in the one cup of blessing that represents the blood of Christ and in the sharing of the broken bread that represents his one body that was broken for us.

Paul asserts that we are joined together in one body through the partaking of the Lordˋs table and therefore we should not participate in the sacrifices to idols which is actually the sacrificing to demons. To drink the Lordˋs cup is to recreate the Lordˋs sacriffice and those who are participants in the Lordˋs table must not also be participants in the sacrifices to demons lest the Lord be provoked to jealousy and, as proverbs 6 verse 34 says,  For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. If the Lord were thusly provoked, no one would be strong enough to withstand Him.

The final position is that a believer can eat food that was sacrificed to idols by other people but  he cannot participate in anyway in the worship of and sacrificing to idols.

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

18 Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19 What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO SAVED US FROM  BONDAGE

1 Corinthians chapter 10 verses 1 -  14 contains the Apostle Paulˋs caution to believers to avoid idolatry, immorality and ungrateful complaining for it is these types of things that caused the children of Israel to fall in the wilderness even as they were on their way to the promised land having been saved from slavery in Egypt.

The children of Israel all shared in the spiritual water that was provided for them in the desert and yet their conduct displeased God and they died with their bodies strewn over the sand. These realities were record for the benefit of believers in Christ so that they understand that there are behaviours that can invoke the displeasure of God.

1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Believers are subject to temptation but God regulates the temptations that they are subjected to and provides a way of escape for them.

With this in mind, we should always take and be careful to watch ourselves because if we presume we are able to stand, we can fall.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE PERFECT LAW IS FULFILLED IN CHRIST

The apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verses 19 - 27, speaks to those who believe in Christ and understand the excellencies of Him who died to save us.

In the marvelous light and freedom that the salvation that Christ gives us, Paul encourages believers to conceptualize their journey while on earth as a race to run and to undertstand that there is a crown of life to be gained for those who endure to to the end. In this race, we encounter obstacles and challenges but if we perservere and use our liberty to seek first the kingdom of God and with certainty, struggle against our opponents with a view to victory, an eternal prize will be given to us.

Paul used his freedom to become all things to all men that some among those he served and related to might be saved and thus be his seal of apostleship which was his calling.

The leverage that we believers have in this world is that we have a body that can influence outcomes in this world and therefore Paul adjures us to bring our body into the subjection of our spirits to compel it to do the needful things for the kingdom and to avoid getting entangled in the things and patterns of this world.

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO MAKES PROVISION FOR HIS SERVANTS IN THE LAW

1 Corinthians chapter 9 verses 1 - 18 records the apostle Paulˋs defense of his spiritual authority over the church of Corinth.

He asserted his apostleship as being one who was operating under his own volition and that he had also directly seen the Lord Jesus Christ. He pointed to the existence of the Corinthian believers as the seal of his apostleship towards them.

Paul, in that authority, wrote to the Corinthians about the rights of apostles and the obligations that the churches had towards them in response to the questioning that was aimed at him regarding his methods and practices likely related to his unmarried status and employment.

1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the [a]seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we have no right to eat and drink? 5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? 7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?

Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

15 But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

Other apostles were full time ministers who made a living from the work in the ministry and travelled with their wives as they carried out their callings in the regions they were assigned to. Paul commended this model of ministry as a scripturally valid mode of operations using verses from the law that verified that it was proper to get financial support from those whom the minister served.

Paul however, worked a secular job to earn a living and remained unmarried so that he could serve in the midst of the Corinthians without imposing the burden of his upkeep on them and to those who questioned this pattern, he wrote  that he had volitionally forgone the right to require a living from the Corinthians so that the propagation of the gospel would have no impedance whatsoever from the liability of his sustenance.

He declared that he would rather die than give up the boast that he sustained himself while preaching the gospel and he made the case that because of his calling, preaching the gospel was a duty that he had to fulfill and as such, would get no special reward for fulfilling his duty and so he undertook to derive a reward from his work by doing so at his own expense.

Amen.

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OUR FATHERˋS VULNERABLE CHILDREN SHOULD BE LOVED AND SHIELDED FROM STUMBLING BY THEIR BROTHERS IN CHRIST

In 1 Corinthians chapter 8, the apostle Paul turns his attention to the questions posed to him about whether believer werre permitted to eat food offered to idols.

Because the church at Corinth was embedded in a pagan culture with pervasive idol worship, much of their contact with city life would include food that was offered up on alters of the idols of the city.

Paul explained that love needed to be the primary driver of moral dicisions rather than the statutory law and as such, when judging whether food offered to idols was permissible to eat, believers needed to understand that in the face of God, idols were nothing and so all functions and ceremonies pertaining to them were of no consequence to those who lived in Christ.

Here is where love becomes efficacious; Even though a brother was free to eat any food including that which was offered to idols, out of love for a fellow believer who was not confident in their faith regarding eating such food, the brother would refrain from eating such food so that the weaker brotherˋs conscience would not be defiled because they ate food with guilt. 

Out of love, a believer must be aware of those around them who may see him eating food offered to idols and be instigated to eat food offered to idols but without the prerequisite knowledge of their freedom in Christ and as a result, eat it and injure their consciences.

Paulˋs counsel on such matters is that all things are permissible in Christ but not all things are profitable and if a precious believer is injured by the liberties of a fellow believer, then it is a great loss and so therefore, believers should be willing to forgo their own liberties if their liberties would cause a weak believer to stumble.

1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.

9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER FOR WHOM WE SHOULD FORGO TEMPORAL THINGS IF WE CAN

1 Corinthians chapter 7 verses 36 - 40 concludes the Apostle Paulˋs guidance on the subject of marriage by addressing two questions. 

First, if a man has an unmarried daughter who is of age, is he obligated to give her hand in marriage or should he prevent her from getting married. To this question, Paul says that the father is free to permit his daughter to marry and he is free not to but Paul suggests that it is better for the daughter not to be given in marriage. If the believing father, seeking fairness towards his daughter, judges that it is good for his daughter to marry, he can freely choose to allow it while if in his own judgement he feels that marriage would be bad for his daughter, he can decline to permit it and be under no compunction of law either way.

The second question pertains to the persistance of marriage after the death of a spouse. In this case, Paul clarifies that the remaining believing spouse is legally free to marry ( on the condition that the person they marry is also a believer.) Paul, speaking as one with the Spirit of God, again recommends the single life over the married life which he says would be a happier life than that of a married person.

36 But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. 37 Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well. 38 So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

39 A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER TO WHOM WE OWE OUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION

1 Corinthians chapter 7 verses 29 - 35 says this;

29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.

32 But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. 34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. 35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

The apostle Paul, in explaining his position on avoiding marriage if possible, points out out that the time is short and that any incumberance on time will limit what is possible to do in the kingdom of God.

The demands of relationships distract from the prime directives that should be sustained in our minds and we finds ourselves sidetracked from the most important tasks that pertain to eternity.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO CALLS  US TO ROLES IN HIS KINGDOM

In 1 Corinthians chapter 7 verses 17 -  28, the apostle Paul escalates the content of his letter by clarifying that the call of God on our lives is paramount to our histories and the circumstances of our lives.

As each believer is called to a unique walk in the kingdom of God, Paul adjures all believers to walk undettered.

If they were circumcised or uncircumcised when they believed, Paul tell believers that circumcision is nothing in light of the call of God and so they should not expend energy on changing their state. What matters is that they obey God and walk by His Spirit. If a person came to faith while a slave, they should worry that they are inferior or unusable by God. To be a slave of men makes a believer a freeman in God and his work as a slave is counted as unto God. If a person is free when  he came to faith, he becomes a slave of Christ and is duty bound to the commands of Christ. 

Paul adds that if a person can become free, they should make every attempt to be free and if they are free, they should not become the slaves of men. 

Paulˋs point is that all believers, as much as is possible, free themselves of obligations to the things of the world so that they can serve the Christ will all their being.

17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

25 Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he is: 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

Along the lines of keeping themselves free, especially during a time of  political and economic pressures, Paul advises believers in Christ to stay in their freest state possible.  If they are single, they should remain single and if they arae married, they shoudl stay married to avoid the incumberences of separating.

Nevertheless, Paul acknowledges that there is no infraction of a man or a woman decides to marry and his only caution on the matter is that marriage complicates ones life especially during touch times.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER  WHO HATES DIVORCE

1 Corinthians chapter 7 verses 10 - 16 records the strictures pertaining to marriage that the apostle Paul got from the Lord. 

First, Paul instructs believing women never to leave their husbands and believing men never to leave their wives. If this restriction on divorce could not be followed, he tells the Corinthians that it was prohibited for the departing spouse to marry another person. In fact, the only permissible pathway to remarriage was to remarry the peron they divorced in the first place.

In the case of the believer who had an unbelieving spouse, Paul prohibits the believing spouse from divorcing the unbelieving spouse and he stated that the unbelieving spouse was  sanctified by the believing spouse so that the  resulting children would be holy rather than unclean.  However, if the unbelieving spouse wished to leave the marriage, Paul advised the believing spouse to let them leave and they were not bound to the departed spouse and were therefore free to marry a believing spouse.

In letting an unbelieving spouse leave, Paul decribes the calling of God as one of peace and as such, releasing a departing spouse in peace is prescribed and fighting to try save the marriage is discouraged because if they were compelled to stay, there was not assurance that the unbelieving wife or husband would be saved.

10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

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OUR FATHER WHO MADE MARRIAGE 

The apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians chapter 7 verses 1 - 9, changes the subjects to address a question that the Corinthian church had asked of him regarding the proper structure of marriage.

Paul started by saying that ideally, men and women would stay chaste but he conceded that it was a tall order to require that they do so permanently and so, to avoid the unmarried and widows falling into immorality, the apostle Paul laid out the structure of marriage as one man and one woman and he outlined this economy of marriage to be one where the affections to each member of the marriage be rendered as a duty because in marriage, the body of each spouse belongs to the other person. ( A married person is joined in the flesh to their spouse and this intertwining is what causes the members of the marriage to own each otherˋs body.)

Paul recommended couples not to deprive each other of affection unless they did so by mutual consent for spiritual purposes and even so, for a limited time only to ensure that they did not fall to temptation due to the potential for lapses in self-control.

1 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. 7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Even though Paul endorsed the single life of celibacy that he practiced, he acknowleged that not everyone was gifted with that capacity and thus he balanced his teaching on marriage by telling unmarried people and widows that they could marry if they found that they had no self-control. 

Amen.

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OUR FATHER FROM WHOM WE CAME

In the book of  I Corinthians chapter 6 verses 12 - 20, the apostle Paul continued his letter to the Corinthians by describing the economy of the new life in Christ and he said that even though though they were free from the law, activities that they undertook should be practiced based on whether they were helpul toward the goal or whether they were not. 

The apostle also warned them to flee from sexual immorality and he explained why it was such a hazard to the believer to be brought under the power of sexual immorality.

12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.

15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Paul describes sexual sin as sins that damage the body and since the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, it is not advisable to defile the temple of God.

When in Christ, we are not our own but we are Godˋs. We should therefore not join Christ to immorality because sexual contact joins people in the flesh and as such, to be in Christ and then to do be immoral exposes Christ to .

Instead, we should always seek how to glorify God in our body and spirit because we were a costly acquisition and we should, at the very least, attribute the same high value to God as He valued us.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER BEFORE WHOM WE ARE JUSTIFIED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS 

1 Corinthians  chapter 6 verses 1 -  11 records the apostle Paulˋs rebuke of those in the Church at Corinth because some in their fellowship had devolved to filing recriminations  and launching lawsuits against each other before the secular courts.

The apostle revealed that believers would judge the world and judge angles and as such, it was preposterous that these sainst would take their cases before the courts of unbelievers. Paul asks that if they were going to be judging the world, couldnˋt they judge their small matters among themselves. Paul tells them to select some wise man among them to arbirate their issues rather than subject their brothers in Christ to the judgement of the secular court. 

1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!

7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

The apostle Paul declared that they had lost the plot and the culture they had been fostering among themselves was an utter failure. He explained to them that even better than getting matters resolved by their own wise men, would be to accept being wronged rather than to struggle to get redress for wrongs against them. And even worse, Paul notes, that they were participating in cheating even as they sued other for cheating them.

Some of the members of the church at Corinth came out of the worldly practices that would have excluded them from the kingdom of God but they had been washed of those things and santified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Holy Spirit of God. A reversion to those things would be contrary to the purpose of the sacrifice that God offered for the salvation of mankind.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHO IS THE JUDGE OF ALL

The apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 9 -  13, pressed further with the issue of worldly behaviour within the church and how those who practiced such behaviour  needed to be expelled from the midst so that worldiness would not spread to everyone else.

9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.

12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

Paul clarified his guidance to the believers at Corinth so that they would not socially distance from the non-believers but rather from those in their midst who professed faith but unrepentantly lived  in a worldly way.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE SACRIFICE OF HIS SON WAS OUR PASSOVER AND WE SHOULD OBSERVE THE PRACTICE OF UNLEAVENED LIVING

The apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 1 - 8, brings up an issue that had been happening in the church at Corinth where sexual immorality had been practiced with impunity.  The church members, rather than mourn the transgression in their midst, were confident that they could take it in stride.

1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

In this passage, Paul  revealed some spiritual capabilities;

• He was able to absent himself from his body
• He sent his  spirit with the power of the Lord Jesus to the church as they gathered
• He judged the perpetrator from the remote location
• He delivered the perpetrator into the hands of Satan for the destruction of the flesh
• He employed a strategy to save the spirit of the man

Paul reprimands the Corinthian church for letting iniquity florish in their midst not understanding that it would ultimately contaminate them all in the same way that leaven spreads throughout the whole lump of dough.

Paul then counsels the church to maintain unleavened purity in their midst as a perpetual practice of keeping the feast of the passover because as the lamb was sacrificed so that death would pass over the children of Israel, the Lord Jesus Christ was sacrificed to save us and as such, we keep the feast of unleaven bread  by sustaining unleavened sinless living.

Amen.

1

 OUR FATHER WHOSE KINGDOM IS NOT OF WORDS BUT OF POWER

The apostle Paul, at the end of the fourth chapter of 1 Corinthians ( verses 14 - 21 ), tells the Corinthian church that he planted to follow his example and to heed his leading as presented by Timothy ( Paulˋs son in the Lord and protoge ) to whom he had sent to teach them the same teaching that Paul taught to all the other churches he planted.

14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

Paul notes that some members of the church of Corinth were seeing themselves as more exalted than those who had brought the gospel to them. Paul, in a cautionary tone, tells them that he could potentially be authorized by the Lord to come to visit them and that he would come in power.

This power he carried would ferret out the pretenders and prideful ones and he advised them to stand down so that he was not compelled to come with a rod of discipline but rather with love and  gentleness.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO PUTS HIS APOSTLES ON DISPLAY BEFORE ANGELS AND MEN

1 Corinthians chapter 4 verses 6 - 13 captures the apostle Paul advising the Conrinthian church to discard the divisive factionlism that was pitting one believer against another due to feelings of superiority over one another.

Paul describes the Corinthian church as being blessed where they were already ascendant in their society and had gained political and material advantages and became leaders in their culture. Considering this fact, Paul compared their elevated position with his own lowly position and realized that it was the Lordˋs deliberate policy to  take the apostles and display them for all creation to be seen under constant pressure of shortages, harrassment, humiliation and displacement.

Even in these conditions, the apostles were expected to respond with grace and decorum to the treacherous conditions that perpetually followed them. 

6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. 7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

8 You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! 9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

The apostles are made the personification of the scripture in this same letter to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 27 which says, But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 

The apostles were the ones held up as examples of weak and dishonerable fools for Christ and they unrelentingly suffered reviling, persecution, defamation and treated as though they were disgusting garbage.

Those in the most elevated spiritual rankings are subjected to the most degrading hardships while the physical realm and must widthstand these conditions with grace and aplomb.

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