1 Corinthians 3 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly-mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, I follow Paul, and another, I follow Apollos, are you not mere men? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe-as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are Gods fellow workers; you are Gods field, Gods building. Gold name plates, the best seat in the house, degrees behind the name, seats at the head of the table, people scurrying to do whatever is needed to please another. Why? Why do we allow anyone to ever become so important that salvation becomes bound up with another human being? Leaders of churches and organizations have become demigods and mega-stars. Churches have become cathedrals and committees and sub-committees have become the decision makers for the poor laity who have no ability to think on their own. Human wisdom and puffed up pride have taken the place of humility and love. This all must change for it has no place in the kingdom of God. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each mans work. What is the fire that will test each man’s work? Isa 33:14-16 The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless: Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning? He who walks righteously and speaks what is right, who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil--this is the man who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. His bread will be supplied, and water will not fail him. Heb 12:28-29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. God’s house, His kingdom cannot be shaken or hurt by anything. But those kingdoms that were built with men’s ideas and upon false foundations will be brought down to nothing by God’s Word that proceeds out of His mouth. Rev 19:11-16 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. God’s Word has always proven what is right and what is a lie. Those who heard Him speak were cut to the very core of their souls. Some accepted what they heard while others sought to take His life because He was using words to uncover their lies and false doctrines. Matt 21:43-46 Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed. When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus parables, they knew he was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet. Mark 11:15-18 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, Is it not written: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of robbers. The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. Dont you know that you yourselves are Gods temple and that Gods Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys Gods temple, God will destroy him; for Gods temple is sacred, and you are that temple. The Messiah showed all those with eyes to see the way to His throne and a vision of the true temple of God in heaven, in hope that they would desire to become part of it. But because they could see no further than their own buildings of sticks and stones they would not enter into His house. Instead they filled their house with teachings and lies that brought destruction and misery that followed them to their graves. And today that same spirit exists that keeps God’s people bound to leadership and authority figures that continually lead them into a kingdom of hierarchical government and Levitical worship that never allows the worshiper to become a victor over sin and to show others the Way of Holiness. Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a fool so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in Gods sight. As it is written: He catches the wise in their craftiness; and again, The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile. So then, no more boasting about men. All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future-all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. How much more can it be said? Are we awake? Is God’s Word coming through? Do we hear it? Please, if you do not see it, read it again and seek God’s face and listen to His voice.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Sep 2014 12:17:28 +0000
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