Do not love the world or it's stuff

2 Corinthians 3:12-18

What a prize one who is in Christ has to look forward to each day, and yet it seems often you and I live as if our faith is veiled.  Often, way too often, my life gets entangled with this world, and in doing so I forget to recall these words from 1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

Let me put it in South Texas language so I can understand it; Bob when you love stuff and begin to believe your God’s special gift, son you have no room left for joy or peace, you love what is not able to love back, and all that stuff is passing away, but the good news is I still love you, and when I see you coming to me in brokenness I will run to meet you.

As we look at verse 12, we who have Christ living in us, and His Spirit as our Helper and Comforter have a hope that many are trying to attain by good works, through religion, and by even blowing themselves up, and killing others believe they are serving a god.  So in that we have the Spirit of Truth alive in us should we not be bold, should we not make sure our faith is unveiled? 

In my life I’ve come to grips with the fact only when I get the attitude of being one of the most needed, do I run to Jesus?  Many a person who goes by the title of a

Christ follower has not come to grips with the message from the apostle John,  “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” You and I dream of freedom, and each day it seems we are willing as a country to allow more of it taken from us, and why because of fear, fear of what has not happened but could.

If you desire freedom, could it be looking to government or leaders who are not promise keepers, is that not foolish?  Putting your hope in judges, or political parties is also foolish, so what is the answer?  Keep reading for it is found in verses17-18, “Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”  We have the Spirit of the Lord, not the stuff that is going to rust and die, do you know Jesus is He alive in you?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

It is all about relationships

2 Corinthians 3:7-11

As I worked out at the gym yesterday a young man ask how I was doing.  It took a moment for my old mind to recall how I knew him.  I first saw him about six years earlier coming into the gym with his mother and dad, and he was a little guy in size, but he worked hard in the gym and I was always amazed at what he could do for his size.  A couple of years ago I complimented him and shared how I had watched him develop at the gym and ask what were his goals?  It was like I turned on a light bulb, he shared where he was going to college that he was a walk on for a football team and that he wanted to be a doctor.

Yesterday, as we visited he shared how his goals had changed and the reason why, it once more reminded me that it is all about relationships; this is a quote from Theodore Roosevelt, “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”  As we look at these verses it is all about relationship, it is all about the Father loving you and me so much that He gave His only Son to take our punishment, to buy us out of the control of sin, it is about the glory within us because of the Spirit of the living God.

Shall we visit verses 7-11, “Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.”

The letters of stone were the Ten Commandments and they were not attainable for sinful people, all they did was condemn not justify.  The Commandments were a mirror showing us the need of forgiveness, the need for a redeemer, and Romans 7:13 will give you more understanding of this fact.  It is often said that the Bible is a love letter to us from the Father, and that is so clear in Romans 5:6-11.

As we look at 2 Corinthians 3  verses 8-9, “will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.”  Christ in you the hope of glory, you will find that in Colossians 1:27, but you would be wise and I know you are, to read Colossians 1:26-28.  Returning to 2 Corinthians verses 8-9, they are telling us of a new covenant, resulting in righteousness through the indwelling Spirit.

Verses 10-11 are a contrast of the two covenants in the degree of glory; one is fading and the other shines brightly.  But if the flesh controls it will not let the Spirit’s light show, so let your light shine, by submitting to the Spirit and not the flesh.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

  

A letter of Recommendation

2 Corinthians 3:1-6

The blessing and curses of being in sales were you were always asking questions even when you had the answer but had a need to know how your customer would answer the question.  The apostle Paul is asking two question of the churches at Corinth, and he knew the answer to both, they were no, but he was not sure the Churches knew the answers.  The question is in verse one, “Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you?”

It seems that the false teachers had asked for a letter of introduction or of recommendation.   Paul is saying, we do not need any such letter, nor do you from us, for we carry the image of a changed life, we have seen the transformation that only Christ can make in a person life.  Verse 2-3, state this very clear; “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”  When Paul addresses tablets of stone a Jewish mind would go to the laws passes down to Moses, the Ten Commandments, I’m sure the church of Corinth was very aware of this.

As I read verses, 4-6, they are exciting to me for last week as Jan and I lay in bed before our prayer time the Lord blessed me with a review of a changed life.  My life before Christ was a life of fear, fear of being a dad, a husband of my job, and a life of no vision, no plans for the future, and fear to share any of this with anyone.  When Jesus showed up in my motel room as I read the Bible in the shelf by the bed, it open to Romans 10:9-10, and I agree it was Jesus I needed and by the faith He gave, I ask Him to forgive me and to come into my life, and He did.  We lay in the bed and recounted how our lives began to change, it is still changing, and I’m still a mess, but I no longer live in fear. 

Verses 4-6, “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”  If Paul is bragging it is not in himself but in Christ, for Paul had a clear understanding of what the Law of the old covenant address sin, but did not bring lasting life.  But the Spirit is about life, life now and eternal, often we seem to miss the now and look to the eternal.  All is a gift, even the faith to believe if you have doubts as Jesus to give you enough faith to believe that He will do as He has promised.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The rest of the story

2 Corinthians 2:12-17

Many of my readers may not have lived at the time of Paul Harvey, a newsman and a great storyteller that always gave us the rest of the story.  I’m not either of those, but let me share with you the rest of the story.  There has been a riot in Ephesus brought about by a silversmith named Demetrius, who was in the business of making silver shrines of Artemis, and as the gospel of a living Christ was growing and people were being converted it was hurting business.  So Demetrius gathered men of his trade and they began telling the people that Paul and people who followed the teachings of Christ were having an all out attack on the goddess Artemis, and a riot broke out.

Paul had already been lead by the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem before the riot, so soon after he departed for Macedonia.  You can read the account in Acts 19 and 20:1-2, but you will not find Titus’ name but it is clear that he like Timothy were considered Paul’s children in the faith and Titus a Gentile was left in Corinth to deal with the misunderstanding that had been fostered by the false teachers.

I also was not sure about what Paul was describing in verse 14, and this is the insight I got from HCSB on page 1993 in the footnotes in 2:14-16.  In times past, the generals after a victory would parade into the capital city all the captives as treasure on display before the king.  In doing this they burned sweet incense and “the citizens saw and smelled evidence of victory.  The message is that Christ our King is leading Paul and all other believers into the eternal city where God is King.”

Verse seventeen states; “For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.”  Many years ago I sat under a great teacher of the Scriptures, his name was Harlan Caton, and one day in a sermon he told us very clear without mincing words that he did not work for us, that he was not anybody’s hireling.  A hireling is a person who is motivated by money and works purely for material reward.  He made it clear that his calling was to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to any and everyone who would listen to him, and his Lord would supply all his needs.  The apostle Paul addresses this issue in 1 Corinthians 9, a very good read and we must pay attention to verses 15-18.  We also find Paul bringing up his boast of not taking pay from the churches at Corinth in 2 Corinthians 11:7-15.  You will also find the apostle Peter warning us against false teachers in 2 Peter 2:1-4, “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them, the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed, they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Personal Correspondence

2 Corinthians 2:1-11

If no one has shared with you to be very careful in your personal correspondence let me do so, and especially when you are very upset, or very passionate about the matter you are addressing.  To my shame I have a folder titled letters I should not have written, for the written word is often misunderstood.  Too many of us send e-mails without giving serious thought as to how our words will be received. 

When you address someone to their face they have the ability to see and understand what is being said, not so in a letter or e-mail, you might want to let someone else read it before sending it on, especially when emotions are involved.  Paul must have had a very short visit to Corinth to address the false teaching that was happening after his first visit, and it had not gone well is a vast understatement.  When he returned back to Ephesus Paul wrote a letter to the churches at Corinth that was stern and I’m sure both extremely unpleasant to write or to read. 

We have this account in 2 Corinthians 7:5-9, of how the letter not only brought great pain to those who received it but also to the writer of the letter.  Paul’s desire was not to bring them sorrow unless the sorrow brought about repentance, and still those letters should not be done without the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

It seems almost out of context in verses 5-7, but this is a good message for each of us that the flesh is weak and when one gets to focus on anything and takes their eyes off of Jesus they will have a mess, they will make a mess of their testimony.  And Paul is telling us to be very careful and to guide them back to a fellowship with the Lord and for the body of believers to forgive and comfort them, to do everything to restore them, but they must have a repentant heart, not just be sorry they got caught.  Verse ten gives insight that forgiveness is a process and yet it also implies that forgiveness can be completed. (Thoughts taken from page1992 note on verse ten from the HCSB study Bible)

Verse eleven is so key for us who follow Christ, for I’ve set in the adult class at church and heard people voice how mad they were at God for some act that He could have stopped.  I’ve yet to hear someone say, I’m so angry with Satan for the hate and deception he is causing in this world.  We need to ponder on what is being said in verse 11, “so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.”  But I tell you, we are outwitted by Satan, and it is because we are ignorant of what Scripture teaches, for God is love, but John 10:10 is clear that the devil’s only goal is to steal, kill, and destroy.  Only a really messed-up person would blame God who loves them, instead of the one who desires to only harm them.

From the Bach Porch,

Bob Rice

Misunderstood by those you ministered to

2 Corinthians 1:15-24

Have you ever been misunderstood by those you care for, those who you have ministered to, and watched them grow in grace and faith?  If so, you have a picture of what the apostle Paul is going through with the churches of Corinth.  Not many things hurt us more than the loss of trust from someone we have poured our life into, and yet Jesus had warned us about what can happen to a body of believers when false teachers come into the body in Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”  And the apostle Peter gives this insight in 2 Peter 2:1-3, “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them, the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed, they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”

Jesus was very clear in John 10:10 that the thief has one goal, to kill, to steal and to destroy, and so be on guard!   The apostle Paul came to understand it would require more healing before he returned to Corinth.  His plans had been changed twice, once he planned to come on his way to Macedonia and the second time on his way to Judea.  It seems that some of the believers said Paul was not reliable, that he would say yes one minute and no the next time. 

No one likes to be called unreliable, and Paul addresses the problem with these verses.  “I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”   (2Corinthians 1:16-22)

When the Amen to God is used it means; “so be it” or “this is true.”  Paul goes on to share with the Corinthian churches that the moment they enter into Christ He enters into them and they were sealed by the Holy Spirit, we find that teaching in Ephesians 1:13-14, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

In verses 23, we find Paul fully grasps the need for healing on both sides, for emotion healing and spiritual healing, and in verse 24 he addresses the relationship between the minister and the body of believers.  It is a clear message to the man who believes he is the CEO of his church; a​ minister does not lord it over others, but works gently with them, to always show the same grace and love they have received.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Those Presumptuous Sins

2 Corinthians 1:12-14

This morning in my time with the Lord I was reading in Psalm 19:13 &14 and this Scripture became my prayer for my friend Paul who God has given many gifts and responsibilities and for myself.  These are the words of those two verses I prayed back to the LORD, “Who can discern his errors?  Declare me innocent from hidden faults.  Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock, and my redeemer.” 

As I turned to 2 Corinthians 12 and read through verse 14, it is important for each of us who follow Jesus to have a testimony of simplicity and godly sincerity, but not by worldly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward each other.  And I believe the apostle Paul often prayed for others and He also prayed for himself in verses like I prayed this morning.  For the biggest con job I’ve ever seen is the one where I believe I’m on spot, all is well with my soul and that the Father is totally pleased with my thoughts and actions.

It has always been easier to see the shortcomings of another brother or sister than to discern the errors in my own life.  I believe the Psalmist is calling that our hidden faults, they may happen because we are not under the authority of Scripture and the teaching of a person who rightly handles the Word of God.  Now with it comes presumptuous sins, those are willful sins where one knows not to do so but wants what they want at that moment.  Those sins are very dangerous and will only lead to the breaking of fellowship with God and others.

Before one enters into willful sins they always test the water, it may begin with a little voice, she sure looks and acts better that my wife or he looks and acts better than my husband, and what is wrong with a little flirting, and in one's mind the battle has already begun and most often you have entered into darkness, into willful sin.  Willful sin happens in all kinds of ways; one is in the workplace where we use our time in a manner that steals from our employer, or you take supplies home knowing you will use them for personal use and not what the employer intended them for.

As a follower of Christ, we are to be His ambassadors to the world without hope and as teachers and encouragers to others in the faith, it’s called trust, we are building trust with one another.  Two quotes that address trust; “Trust is like an eraser it gets smaller and smaller after every mistake.”  “Trust is a fragile thing.  Easy to break, easy to lose and one of the hardest things to get back.”

The false teachers that had come to the churches at Corinth after Paul left were designed by the enemy of their souls to cause a trust issue in the relationship between Paul and the churches at Corinth, and it did.  In his letter, we refer to as 2 Corinthians were written to help return the two parties to a relationship of oneness.

Paul is making sure that the church understood that it was not by human effort but by the grace of God, and so all boasting should be in God and His grace.  So as you pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ, remember these words, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock, and my redeemer.” 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Relying on the Promise Keeper

2 Corinthians 1:8-11

“For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him, we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.”

The apostle Paul is sharing an experience of affliction in Asia, the account can be found in the book of Acts.  He could have been referring to Acts 14:19-28. These verses describe how Paul was stoned by opponents in Lystra, or it might have been the account found in Acts 19:23-41 of Demetrius, a silversmith.  This is for sure, what was taking place in Paul’s life was not losing his cell phone, or having a bad hair day, he was sure that he was going to die. 

One might ask why was Paul sharing this with us, and I believe there are two reasons?  Both are of importance, first, it is the nature of human critters to rely on self or others, such as doctors, the court system, parents, pastors, your employer, and I’m sure you can add to this list.  Paul was human he encountered emotions such as fear and loss, looking to others, or trying to play Mr. Fixit, and that is why he gave us this word.  “But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” 

The apostle may be referring to the account in Acts 14:19-28 where he was stoned, or the death of Lazarus and Jesus raising him from the dead, or even Jesus’ death and rising on the third day.  It matters only that Paul and you and I have a reference point greater than anything or person, one to run to that can raise the dead.  Now it gets real personal for Paul has to experience with the Father and with the Son and the Holy Spirit, and he moves from fear to faith by looking back to what God has done in his life, verse 10, “He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him, we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.”  If one does not have a reference point in time of affliction, where can they go?  To whom will they turn, do you have a better source than Jesus?

Now that takes us to the second point and one of utmost importance and that is prayer!  You have heard the slogan “Prayer changes things” and it does, but this story comes to my mind of a child asking his mother to fix his broken toy.  The mother takes the toy and begins to work on it but the child keeps grabbing it back, not allowing her to fix it.  Often, I’ve done that with the Lord, I give Him my problem, but often I’m like the child grabbing it back as if I knew better than God.

The apostle Paul tells us that prayer is of great importance and has power, and it is the secret weapon of the Church.  Verse 11, “You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.”  If you struggle in your prayer life begin praying back the Scriptures to the Lord, it is His word and it will be honored.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Make room for Grace

2 Corinthians 1:5-7

Love shares abundantly and I hope you have discovered that in your life.  I found it’s often overlooked, when one is so self-absorbed they can miss out on the grace being shown to them.  Especially when it comes to suffering, we are often in a pity party and are so captivated by our present condition that we have no room for grace; and yet it is grace we need.

In verse three we learned that the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in any affliction.  So how are you doing in the good times, you know the family is all well, the husband just got a dream job, you're buying the summer place in the mountains or at the beach, all is good, really good.  Is there room for Jesus in this blessing, have you extended comfort to the neighbor who just lost his job, or when the wife found out she has stage four cancer and the husband is a wreck filled with doubt about how he is going to manage four children under the age of ten, are you giving comfort?  For that is where verse five is taking us, “For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ, we share abundantly in comfort too.”   

I have some dear friends who for the last few years it has been a series of events, first the wife goes in for a biopsy on her brain and leaves the hospital with the right side of her body paralyzed.  She cannot speak and up until that day she worked as a speech teacher with the handicapped.  The husband has four children and a wife to care for, and one kid is getting ready to attend college.  The daughter helps out and takes care of the younger two kids and for years is her dad’s right arm, but when she goes to college she falls for a guy, and it does not go well.  She is no longer open to her parent's counsel, and once more something bad happens to very good people.   But my young friends had experienced the love of the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the Father of mercies and God of all comfort and comforts us, in any affliction. 

They applied, yes they lived out for all of us to see the grace that only our Father can give in times like these, and I saw in how they responded to what the apostle Paul is telling us in verse 6 and 7; “If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.”  Many of those close to them, neighbors, people at work, many who knew their story were blessed as they shared in their afflictions and have witnessed the grace of a Father of mercies and a God who comforts us in any affliction.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Walking away from the god of our making

 2 Corinthians 1:1-4

 It is believed the apostle Paul was in Ephesus at the time of writing this letter, and that false teachers had come into the church at Corinth teaching that the Christ life or as some state, Christian life was not based on just grace and faith but on the keeping of the Mosaic law requirements and the church was taught to ignore Paul’s teaching.  This still happens every day to those who go by feel and not by the authority of the Scripture it’s a Jesus plus teaching.  It is a lie from hell and it feeds the flesh, for it requires one to perform in some way to earn Salvation.

So we will be seeing Paul defending his authority as one called by God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ.  Paul begins the letter in this fashion; “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”  (2 Corinthians 1:1-2)

It is very important that one has the right concept of God the Father, and the apostle Paul is declaring He is the Father of mercies and a God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction.  Now give thought to verse four, “who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

As a young child raised Baptist, I had no understanding of a Father’s love, of a Father of mercies and a God of all comfort, who comforts us in our afflictions.   My Baptist god was always upset with my poor performance, but when I met Jesus Christ in a hotel room in Victoria, Texas.  I began to look into what the Word of God had to say about how He loves me, and God sent Jack Archer an oil man who begin to teach me what God was showing him about His great love for you and me.  I left that Baptist god, you see the Baptist god was not the God of the Scripture, nor was he the God of the Baptist Church he was designed by ones like myself who had no understanding of Scripture or a personal relationship with the living Christ.

As a young person with a god of my making I missed grace, I missed mercy, and without grace and mercy, I missed God’s love for me, for without grace a person cannot have peace with God.  As one who is following Jesus we come to a place where we must ask for help, I often ask for help.  This is an example of grace and mercy Jesus is teaching us in Luke 6:35-36, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” 

Folks, that requires Jesus doing it through you, for your flesh, lives in fear of your enemies.  Each of us must come to a point of walking away from the god of our making, the one that agrees with us and looks to the God of the Scripture who loved us so much He allowed His Son, His only Son to take on flesh and become a man, without an earthly dad so no sin was passed on to Him.  He came as Truth, as Love, as Life, as the Word of God, as Creator, and as the atonement for Sin by dying on a Cross for the sins of all who have ever lived or will live; and His name is Jesus the Christ, the Messiah.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Church needs Men to act like Men

1 Corinthians 16:12-18

Do you recall Apollos?  If not, let’s do a review, Apollos is a native of Alexandria and John the Baptist must have not only baptized him he had a great impact on his life.  He shows up in Ephesus and was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures for he had been instructed in the way of the Lord.  In the book of Acts, we are told Apollos was fervent in spirit, and he spoke and taught accurately the things of Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.  This is the account from Acts 18:26-28,“He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.”

So when Paul is making reference to Apollos in chapter sixteen he is referring to the Apollos that Priscilla and Aquila took aside an explained to him the way of God more accurately.  Now that brings up a question, who was Priscilla and Aquila and how did they come to learn so much about God?  Once more we find the account in Acts 18:1-5, and you might find this of interest it began in the workplace for Paul’s income came from making tents and so did Priscilla’s and Aquila’s, this is the account.  “After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.”

So each day the apostle Paul is masquerading as a tent maker and sharing the love and grace of Jesus Christ with these two fellow workers; is that not the calling of every follower of Christ?  The relationship did not end when Paul set sail for Syria, Priscilla and Aquila went with him and it was at Ephesus where Paul left them to do the work of ministry.  It was God’s plan to have Priscilla and Aquila mentored by Paul and they learned the same message Paul later taught to young Timothy found in Paul’s second letter to Timothy; “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2)  And they were faithful with that message to Apollos and others, and even ended back in Rome when Paul was in prison. In Romans 16:3-5b, “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house.”

Paul makes clear by listing names of people who were faithful both to him and the gospel of Jesus Christ and in the thirteenth verse gave this word; “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.  Let all that you do be done in love.”  How needed that is in todays church, we need men to act like men, to be strong in love, first for the LORD and then for all they encounter.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Travel Plans

1 Corinthians 16:5-11

Paul is sending the church at Corinth a letter and part of it is his travel plans.  He wants to spend some time with them not a short visit but maybe the whole winter and his purpose in doing so were to be refreshed and to encourage them in how to live the Christ life.  A big part of that is teaching them about how to be part of something bigger than them, by helping him on his journey.  We find in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 what Paul is hoping they learn from his visit; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” 

As we look deeper into being part of something bigger than ourselves, we might look at what the apostle Paul shared with the church at Philippi in Philippians 4:15-17, “And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you send a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.”

Often, one who is in the support role and not on the front line, not where the ministry is taking place finds themselves wondering why is that happening, or why did they say to do that, if I were there I would do otherwise.  And it is a simple answer, you are not there and do not understand fully what is happening or why that decision was made.  This is why one on the front line needs to share their reasoning for the decision being made with others, as did Paul in this letter.  “For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you if the Lord permits. But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” (1 Corinthians 16:7-9)

Paul is also informing the Corinthians that the enemies of the cross are many and they are putting up a roadblock to harm him and his message, and it is clear he is asking them to be in prayer for his plans and ministry.  He also is telling them a much younger man by the name of Timothy is coming to see them and they are to treat him with respect for he shares in the ministry to the saints.

What a message for a small church that God has sent a young minister to serve in.  Way too often the small church has no vision, I’ve watch two of these churches in recent years, they never grew in numbers or in ministry to those in their area and in both cases the area was exploding in growth, one wonders why are they taking up space, do they have a mission or have they become a club?  Clubs are a tough place for a young man full of vision and a desire to see the dead come to life.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Giving a return on your blessing

1 Corinthians 16:1-4

The people who prepared the New English Standard Bible gave this heading to these verses; “The collection for the Saints.”  A collection to minister to the saints, those in Jerusalem who were in need, nowhere did Paul or any of the other apostles teach send money to Rome or anywhere else so we can build a great building to bring glory to what we have done for God.

So let us explore what is hidden in these verses; “Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.”

As we explore, these are my thoughts, we do not see the tithe mentioned and it has always been my mindset that was a minimum and all above that was a gift.  I was taught from a child that God is the giver of all things, health, wealth, and I should have the right heart attitude and return ten percent of all that He has blessed me with.  Now if you are one who looks for loopholes in your giving, ask first this question, why?  Why would I not want to bless others in the way I’ve been blessed? 

I’ve shared with you how my livelihood came from being in sales, and one of the training questions a salesperson was to ask was “WIIFM” (What’s in it for me.)  It is designed as a selfish question one based on greed, but let’s change it into something else in regard to giving of our income and our health.  First, let’s address our health, what are you doing with the gift of health, are you giving back to others out of it, are you being a good steward of the health the Father has given you?  If not you are not applying the “WIIFM” to your own health, and are living your life centered on only what you desire and not as one who has been given a gift so as to serve others.  And the very same thing applies to your wealth and all aspects of life, for life is a gift and each of us is to be a steward of all that the Father has given us.

So returning to the tithe, and the teaching of Paul; “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”   The word tithe is not in play, but heart attitude is and the apostle Paul shares that with us in Romans 12:7-8; “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”  So, as you have been blessed with the gifts the Father has given you, give back, with a right heart attitude, and you will be blessed.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Jesus's next Visit

 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Do you enjoy a mystery?  In my opinion, a good mystery book keeps giving me clues but does not reveal the truth till the very last pages of the book.  The apostle Paul is telling us about a mystery and he begins in verses 51 and 52; “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”  When Paul uses the word sleep, he is referring to death in Christ, and the mystery is, Jesus coming back for His church, but many will be alive at the time of Christ returning in the clouds, but they will be changed as in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, “For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”  Many refer to this as the rapture of the Church it is not the second coming, for Jesus is not coming at this time to reign for a thousand years.  But it seems clear that when the Church is removed so will the Holy Spirit’s influence and the evil one will have his will for a time with all who are left.

So as we visit verses 53-56, it becomes clear that all was put under authority at the cross, when Jesus declared it is finished, the final victory was won over death and sin.  Returning to 1 Corinthians 15:53-56, “For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
  O death, where is your sting?”

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

Last week my pastor Ray Still shared this in his sermon, the democrat nor the republican, nor the Baptist, nor the United States Constitution died for my sins, only Jesus Christ, so I will only have allegiance to Christ, first and foremost.  I believe verse 58, gives us the same orders, put on Christ, and make sure your loyalties are to the one who paid your debt in full.  Verse 58, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice