1 Corinthians 2-3

Paul continually expounds on the "works" of the Holy Spirit. He acknowledges that it is not him (Paul) who converts, or preaches, or saves. Paul even talks about how he "resolved to know nothing.. except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." (2:2) His words were not persuasive or wise, but he credits the Holy Spirit's power that did the conversion, lest men might rest on man's wisdom and not on God's.

All wisdom comes from God; the world's wisdom is nothing. The Holy Spirit reveals God to us, personally. The words that Paul spoke, and the words that we speak, are words taught by the Spirit of God.

We can boldly proclaim the Word because we have the mind of Christ! (2:16) We, his people, do not need to rely on our own Wisdom. We may plant, but God grows. Doesn't that take the pressure off?

We are God's Temple, He has taken up permanent residence in us. Let us walk in that truth. Be confident that God is at work, and He is inviting you to work alongside Him. We are His partners in His labor.

May God bless you with His Truth in all this. Amen!

1 Corinthians 1

Exactly one years ago today, I ran across the following verse. It made such an impact on me that I spent some time in it:

1 Corinthians 1:31 (Amplified Bible) So then, as it is written, Let him who boasts and proudly rejoices and glories, boast and proudly rejoice and glory in the Lord.

Paul is referencing:

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV)

23. This is what the Lord says:
Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
24. but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows Me,
that I am the Lord, Who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,"
declares the Lord.

I like the way the Amplified Bible explains the first part of verse 24. To know and understand the Lord is to know Him personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing His character.

Paul references Jeremiah again in 2 Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 10:17-18 NIV But, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord," For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Two years ago, these scriptures made a big impression. Why? Because God was working one of His Great Miracles and showing me who I was in Him. This is described in the series The Fighting Man. I had grown up without a sense of self-esteem. One of the telling characteristics of someone with this chink in their armor is a tendency to boast. I was really good at it, too! :)

Well, I have learned that it is best to boast in the Lord. Why? Because He has done all the work!

• He did the work on the cross so I could have a relationship with Him again.
• He created me as His vessel for His use and to further His work.
• He reveals the work that needs to be done in me.
• Hedoes all the healing.
• He changed me from the inside out, removing old habits, readjusting thought processes, refining me like silver
• He reveals Himself to me, personally.

Notice the keyword here? HE. The Great I AM. The Almighty God. So who am I?

I will describe to you, who I am.

I am His. And that is all I can boast about.

How about you? Do you understand and know the Lord? Personally? Do you recognize His character? Is He the center of your being?

May God bless you with a Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation that you may get to know Him better.

2 Thessalonians

A few things struck me as I read these scriptures this morning.

1. Love:

Paul spoke of how well the Thessalonians loved each other in the first book of Thessalonians. In the second, he again commends them for how well they love each other.

Isn't that what life is all about? Love: Love God, love each other, and love yourself. :)

Life is all about relationships. It's not about task lists (reminder to self), the acquisition of things, or the mindless running around. It's all about people.

What are we to do with people? Enjoy them! Help the weak, feed the hungry, comfort the hurting, visit the sick, encourage the lost, heal the broken. Laugh and cry with each other, be real and allow them to be real back.

2. Faith. In the face of so much persecution, their faith was strong. Contrast that with his previous letter to the Galatians, "Oh, why have you been so easily led astray by the detractors to the Gospel??"

1 Thessalonians 1:4 Amplified: And this is a cause of our mentioning you with pride among the churches (assemblies) of God for your steadfastness (your unflinching, endurance and patience) and your firm faith in the midst of all the persecutions and crushing distresses and afflictions under which you are holding up.

He is proud of them! They are steadfast despite the persecutions, crushing distresses and affliction. They irrevocably trust God (for more on trusting God, check out my article: A Trust Issue).

3. Tough Love. In the last chapter of the book, Paul commands the brethren to stay away from every brother who leads an unruly life. (New American Standard). What??

Just previously he commended them for their great love for each other. Is this love? Absolutely. Tough love is an action that hopefully brings repentance unto those who are sinning. As Paul described in another letter, excommunicate the brother and leave him to the devil. Sounds harsh.

As written in Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible:

"This was probably in order to excommunicate him, and deliver him over to Satan for the destruction of the body, that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."

I had to display some very tough love once, as explained in the article: What if they Stray?, with excellent results. So, I believe that Paul really knows what he's talking about.

I'd like to end this with the way Paul begins his letter: "Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Thessalonians 4-5

Be a godly person. Live justly, and love one another. Quietly mind your own business, and be sad for the dead, but know that they are going to be seeing Jesus before you are.

Chapters 4 and 5 are books of encouragement. Remember, this book was written for young Christians who didn't have access to a complete New Testament. It was so easy for false teachers to arrive and put their own ideas across, without first hand knowledge of God. Paul was providing some basic rules to follow, and more than anything, giving examples of how they (and we) should encourage others.

Be Joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Gods will for you in Jesus Christ.

Words that we could all do well to live by! As in most of Paul's writings, simple ideas which are difficult to follow at times.

1 Thessalonians 1-3

Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians to a young church; the Christian church in Thessalonica was only two or three years old at the time of writing, and it is one of Paul's earliest letters.

Chapters 1 - 3 are a statement of the history of the church in Thessalonica, and a restatement of Paul's confidence in them; he refers to Timothy's encouraging report, and the whole wording of the first three chapters is reminiscent of a parents encouragement to their children; acceptance that they'll make mistakes, but confirmation that they'll still be loved through it.

The application of this book to ourselves is very similar. If you're a young Christian, having been in the church for two or three years, it's very possible that you'll be suffering the same doubts and having similar questions to the Thessalonian church members. Be assured that God still loves you, even though he knows you'll make mistakes. You'll come under attack from Satan, as the Thessalonians were, but the battle has already been won.

As a friend of ours says, "If you aren't being attacked by Satan, you mustn't be a very good Christian."