Edification

1 Cor 14:1 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 himself 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.

When we think about Spiritual gifts received from God, we must additionally think about the purpose for which those gifts have been given. Would the Lord give you a gift to keep to yourself? Would the Lord give you a gift to draw attention to yourself?

Of course, the answer to both of those questions is a definitive: “No!”

Why then do we see so much of this in the Corinthian church? We see some people keeping their gifts to themselves, never using their gift(s) in the Body of Christ for the benefit of the Body of Christ - and alternately we see some people using their gift(s) in a self-seeking way, attempting to draw attention to themselves that they may receive glory, as being “more Spiritual” than those around them.

Paul would bring all of this back to a baseline of LOVE. That is, what is the most loving thing we can do with the gift(s) we receive from God? Paul tells us we have received the gift(s) we have received singly in order to “edify,” or to build up the Body of Christ. This happens in two ways. One way is to draw new members into the Body of Christ. A second way is to somehow strengthen the existing members of the Body of Christ, (which we call ‘discipleship.’)

Each of us must have an eye toward knowing what our Spiritual gift is, and then how that gift is being employed: to be loving!

-  Pastor Bill

Star Power

Matt2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." 

It is a normal occurrence in modern life to be led by a star. Now you might say, “I’ve never been led by a star!” but I would suggest you think again. Star power is one of the most important forces in the world today…and probably always has been.

When I worked for the pro-audio company Peavey Electronics in the ‘80’s and early ‘90’s, it was very common to have major recording artists visit who used Peavey gear. They would not only be called on to endorse Peavey products, they would also be called in to help design the products they endorsed. And then, Peavey would give them all the free gear they wanted!

I always thought it ironic the wealthiest among us, (those recognized as stars,) were given gear for free, while all us joe-schmoes had to pay through the nose. And the bigger the star – say, an Eddie van Halen - the more free gear they got. So, those who could most-easily afford to buy guitars, amps, and sound equipment, were given that equipment free of charge.

Why? Because us joe-schmoes in the crowd are led by the stars. The bigger the star, the more we are led. If I see a star I ‘love’ using a certain guitar or a certain guitar-amp combination, I am “led” to run right out and buy that same gear. I want that same sound, and the only way to get it is to spend money to buy the same gear. (Because I want to be a star?)

The same for movie and television stars, when it comes to endorsing products, lifestyles, or politicians. I believe it can be strongly argued Hollywood is leading the U.S.A. right into the abyss. Once Hollywood abandoned morality, society followed right along as if pulled by the power of gravity. Some people say Hollywood only mirrors what is happening in society, but I think that is exactly backwards. We (collectively, societally,) are led by ‘stars.’ This is inarguable. It is why they now seek to make politicians stars, and why even some pastors have resorted to seek stardom and popularity to promote their churches.

We are blessed to know there is One Star Who outshines all others, but we have to be very careful. In the night-time sky, the stars are very apparent – unless there is too much other light to obscure them. Can we still see the Light of Jesus clearly, or has His Light become distant and dim, choked out by all the other ‘lights?’ If you were to take an inventory of your heart, whose star are you seeking after? Is it a movie star you try to look like? A music star you want to sound like? Can you still see the Light of the World?

-  Pastor Bill

God’s Plan

Luke 1: 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible." 38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." 

We talk a lot about wanting to know what God’s plan is for your life. (Living in God’s will.) We desire to know this because God’s plan is perfect, and His plan for your life will therefore suit you perfectly. His plan will be just what is needed to bring you into His favor, and conform you to the image of Christ.

Will it be the easiest plan - as far as you are concerned? Will it be all downhill, wind-at-your-back? Will it be what will make everyone see you as God’s favored one? Will it be fun and enjoyable? Will His plan come without resistance or apparent failure?

Our vantage point is so narrow and brief. We cannot see around the corner, and we cannot imagine eternity, much less see it. God can, and God does. His plan for you is based upon His eternal plan for all, and often has very little to do with producing momentary ease or fortune for you. This may be confounding to those who may consider “God’s favor” to equal success right here, right now. Or freedom from want, or pain, or suffering.

But God works in mysteriously wonderful ways. Mary is a prime example. Mary is told by Gabriel to, “Rejoice!” Why? Because she is “highly favored,” by God. And yet her life is about to be sent into one of the greatest tailspins of any life ever lived. On one hand, she is chosen to be the mother of the long-promised Messiah! On the other hand, her pregnancy will be out-of-wedlock, and no one will know she has been so wonderfully chosen for more than thirty years – and - by the time they find out, Jesus will only be popular with those who are in no position to benefit Mary’s life in any way.

What I admire most about Mary is she seemed to understand what was going to be required of her, and how challenging and difficult it would be for her life. That everything about her would change, and that people would view her as anything but “favored.” In fact, most would see her as worthy of stoning. And yet, knowing this to be God’s plan for her life, she said, “Let it be.”

-  Pastor Bill

Love Is…

1 Cor 13:1 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. 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. 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. 10But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 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.

Back in the ‘80’s there was a popular song written and sung by a guy named Lou Gramm in the band ‘Foreigner.’ The song was wildly successful, and was called, ‘I Want to Know What Love Is.’

Okay, now that you’ve got that syrupy melody playing in your head again for the 40 millionth time or so – it has to be admitted the song resonates, (even if you hate it!) because, we DO want to know what love is! And, for some reason or other, we don’t really seem to know.

This is the same question people have been facing down through the ages. “What is love?” Adam and Eve probably grappled with the issue. What is love?

The Bible is always helpful on every subject, but none more than this: The Bible tells us what love IS. Here’s where we start: God is Love. Of all the wonderful things I have come to know in my life, this is plainly THE most wonderful. What if God was NOT love? Can you imagine what life would be like apart from the love of God? I was experiencing and living in the love of God even before I knew I was, and now that I know I am – it is my most precious possession.

The Lord tells me He wants me to share His love with others. (His love – not mine.) This is really important, because my love looks nothing like His. What does God’s love look like? Well, we find it right here in 1 Corinthians 13 - the “Love” Chapter in God’s Word. Here we see what love is and how love lives. Can you imagine life if everyone lived by this?

-  Pastor Bill

Profitable Living

1 Cor 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.

To some people, making a profit has always smacked of being a form of evil, as generally one side of a bargain takes advantage of the other side in the bargain – and that is how profit is generated. “Buy low, sell high,” is the guiding principle. The person who “buys high,” loses.

But this leaves out the principle of value. The bargain is based on perceived value, and if the buyer is willing to pay because of the value he perceives - who then is to say ‘buying high’ is a bad decision? Indeed, if one only intends to hold and not re-sell what has been purchased, the price paid fades into the mist of time, and satisfaction of ownership is all that matters. This is what we may call the “long view.”

A more interesting prospect is the possibility of the purchase itself becoming profitable by ownership rather than by re-sale. This is what the Apostle Paul is arguing. This happens by investment in the purchase itself.

We have been purchased with a price. That purchase price was extremely high. If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, you have been bought and paid for by His sacrificial death. This is central to the Christian faith. We cannot overlook this. Because of the GREAT VALUE the Lord has placed on YOUR life, the Lord Himself has provided a sacrifice for your sin to ensure eternal fellowship with you. He loves you that much. You are His ‘pearl of great price.’ The bargain? He exchanged the life of His Son for your sin. Was that a good deal for God? Was that a shrewd bargain? Only when you consider your value in His loving eyes…

Rather than by re-sale, the Lord seeks to make the ‘purchase’ profitable by ownership through special ‘gifts’ bestowed to each He calls His own. And of this, we are exhorted to NOT be ignorant. Pleasantly, we find through His investment of gifts we are made profitable to His kingdom by the effect we have on others. It is all about Him and for Him, and for Him it is all about us and for us. How wonderful, how marvelous, are the gifts of God! How can we allow ourselves to be ignorant of them any longer?

It is time to open the gift(s) and put it/them to good use for the profit of all by the power of the Holy Spirit in us for us.

- Pastor Bill

It’s Personal

1 Cor 11:23 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 bloodof 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.

There is a very important time in our lives when we must face reality. ‘Reality’ may be an abstract word for many in the world these days, especially as avowed by those whose philosophical stripe tends to be existential. Reality can best be expressed by those who think this way as: “What is reality for you?” It seems your reality may be different from someone else’s reality.

Life in the world does teach us this to some degree. After all, look at the disagreements we have over politics. People see what they see about history, and then adapt that into their political opinions based on the historical grid which reflects their perspective. “Too much freedom,” some say, “results in selfishness which oppresses the poor.” “Not enough freedom,” others say, “results in the ruin of all to help the few.” Which is reality to you?

There must be an arbiter of reality when it comes to evaluating your life, lest you fall into this sort of results-oriented escapism which always seems to find you forgiving all of your sin free of charge while at the same time condemning the sin of others. Comparison to others is the realm of the flesh, and is the driver of self-evaluation for all those who are in the world and have never received Christ.

Receiving Christ as your personal Savior changes everything. It is THE delineating moment in the history of YOUR world. YOUR delineating moment. The moment all your history changed. This is why you can only come to Christ through confession. It means we accept His judgment of our sin and not our own. We step away from any sort of sliding-scale-self-acceptance of our sin and agree with Christ - with HIS judgment of ALL of what we have done. How precious then is the fact He willingly pays the price for it. This is true communion with Christ and His church, and there is no way to arrive at this by half-measure.

- Pastor Bill

History Student

1 Cor 10:1 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.

Unlike most people, in school my favorite subject was always history. It didn’t really matter what kind of history either - although I certainly preferred American history since so much of it directly affected my life. Even to this day, I am a student of the Civil War, particularly, and World War II. But I also enjoy hearing all I can about the Revolutionary War, and all that went into the founding of this nation. I find the study of history indispensable. I even enjoy memorizing the dates when things took place – despite the recent emphasis on “happenings” as opposed to “dates.” Is it important to know the Magna Carta was written in 1215? Maybe not – but maybe it is helpful to know how long mankind had lived without any sort of the kind of ‘rights’ we experience today?

Paul is also a student of history, and he is an advocate of knowing “from whence we come.” The point? Well, the old saying is, “Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it.” And that’s a great saying, especially in a case like this: Real life in this world.

The saying teaches us we are likely to fail just as badly as previous generations and nations have failed if we do not study and pay attention to the reasons they failed. This is especially true in the case of the Israelites. We can learn an awful lot from them, because they were an ‘awful lot.’

In spite of all God had done for Israel, they consistently turned their backs on God and complained about Him and worshiped idols. That is a tremendous example for us NOT to follow. But here is another thing to pay attention to: Notice how much God had DONE for them. Notice how much GOOD and GREATNESS it was they forgot about. Forget about world history for a moment and think about your life. How much has God done for you? Isn’t that an indicator of what He will do for you in the future?

- Pastor Bill

Stylin’

1 Cor 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.

Hey, what’s your favorite…? Who’s your favorite…? Or when’s your favorite…? You can tell a lot about people by what they favor. There’s a lot that goes into that.

As a child – as far back as I can remember – we would go to church on Sunday morning, and then come home and my mom would make fried chicken for the family. EVERY SUNDAY. Now, it could be because the fried chicken was so awesome, (golden brown, moist, with little crispies on the edges and all…) or, it could be because it was a constant occurrence - but that Sunday routine was ingrained in my soul.

When I moved away from home to go to college, I really struggled with being away not just from my mom’s fried chicken, but also from the Sunday routine. (It slowly wore off after maybe 20 years or so.) I know the routine played a huge part in the experience, because when I went home from college, and arrived on say, a Tuesday evening; my mom would always welcome me home with a big platter of fried chicken. Strange, but I noticed the fried chicken did not taste the same to me on Tuesday night as it had Sunday at noon after church.

My wife started blessing me several years back by learning how to make fried chicken for me exactly as my mom makes it – and, if possible – even a teeny, tiny bit better. But when my wife started making fried chicken for me, it took me a while to get used to eating it at times other than Sunday at noon, which simply isn’t possible because of our church-life schedule. Slowly, deliberately over time, I was able to enjoy the fried chicken as much at just about any time as I had originally when my mom made it right after church. (Okay, I may be a little weird, as my wife says on this subject.)

Here’s the point: your style has a lot to do with your life. That’s why they call it, ‘life-style.’ It is who you are as much as what you are because it is so ingrained in you. It is so difficult to separate the life from the style that in many cases it cannot be accomplished. So why should we, as those who desire most of all to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, be concerned at all with the style in which the gospel of Jesus Christ is delivered? Should we not be flexible and agreeable with whatever is necessary to speed the issue?

- Pastor Bill

Birth Mark

1 Cor 7:17 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.

There is nothing physical that can keep anyone from the love of Jesus Christ. There is nothing anyone can do to earn His love. There is no advancement in earthly station required. There is no place so low or sin so great that Jesus’ love cannot reach down to meet. There is no height necessary to accomplish.

The simplicity and humility of Jesus’ birth provides a major clue of all that is to follow. The design of the tabernacle had merely hinted at what the coming of Christ accomplished.

Could God be worshiped from a tent? What of the covering of badger skins – that would make the outward appearance not only common, but unattractive? Only those who would approach would see the marvelous and intricate design of the inside of the tent. Those who could be put of by humility and simplicity would be. They would never see the rich tapestries and gold furniture found inside.

Just like the tabernacle, (which actually had more in common with Christ than Solomon’s temple,) Jesus came in humble surroundings, and was of humble appearance. His appeal would be to every man, to every woman, and to every child. It would not take a theological education to enter the kingdom of heaven. It would not require status. Most importantly, it would not require wealth or position. In fact, the tabernacle, and the humble surroundings of Jesus’ birth would signal something else: The birth mark of those who would come to Christ would be humility.

Humility, unlike just about anything else pertaining to men and men’s aspirations, is a mark of the will of the heart. It goes against the grain of the flesh, and can only be arrived at by a conscious decision. And so, if you are a slave when you come to Christ, you have no need to become something better to attain heaven. If you are free, if you are rich, if you are poor, if you are whatever…there is no outward attainment that can or will justify you in God’s eyes. Only the mark of a broken heart is the measure of the Christ-follower – the one who is born again from above. Nothing physical can change or affect that.

- Pastor Bill