1 Cor 4:1-2 1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. The Church at Corinth had gotten bogged down with divisions and contentions… Some were saying, “I am of Paul” while others were saying, “So what, I follow the great orator Apollos.” Still others claimed to be discipled by the great Apostle Peter… and yet others bragged how that they were under the direct orders of the Lord Jesus Christ himself!… Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians, in part, to set the record straight. With a sigh Paul dipped his quill in the ink and wrote, “Let a man count us as ministers of Christ.” Some might think that Paul was claiming preeminence or privilege in saying “Count us as ministers of Christ” in I Cor. 4:1… In Paul’s day there were ships called galleys… large, low ships propelled chiefly by oars sometimes with the help of sails. There were three banks of galley-rowers: those on the upper bank had the advantage of fresh air; those beneath were more shut in; but the lowest rowers would faint with the heat. Their rapid strokes consumed the life forces of the slaves. Chained to the oars and in the worst position—that was their lot. Paul said, “Count us as ministers of Christ.” In the original language Paul said, “Count... Read the Rest >>>
The Abrahamic CovenantThe promises that God made to Abraham are absolutely wonderful! God promised that he would make a great nation out of Abraham. God promised to bless him and make his name great. God promised to bless all who blessed him and curse all who cursed him. God promised to bless all the people of the earth through Abraham. When Abraham and Lot were traveling together, their possessions were so great and so many that Genesis 13:6 says, “The land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.” God’s promises were both spiritual and material. The Lord told Abraham, “All the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever (Gen. 3:15).” The incredible wealth that God gave to Abraham did not shift his focus away from God. He stayed busy building altars and maintaining his relationship with the Almighty. God promised Abraham that he would establish his covenant “between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God (Gen. 17:7-8).” God instituted the covenant of circumcision with Abraham and his seed. This is where we come... Read the Rest >>>
When God Begins to Dance
Exodus 15:20-21 20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. Aaron’s sister, the prophetess, danced and sang after God had delivered his people from the hand of Pharaoh. Miriam danced because God had miraculously delivered the children of Israel from a world power Egyptian army. Miriam danced because God had delivered her and her people from the sting of the lash. Miriam danced because God had delivered them from the shame of slavery. Miriam danced because God had given her and her people freedom. The Angel of the LORD that led them in their exodus had gone around and stood between Pharaoh’s army and God’s children as if to say “Go ahead, make my day!” God had brought incredible darkness upon the enemy and a fiery cloud to light the sky for His people. God had caused a strong east wind to blow all night. In the morning, to the delight of God’s children, there was a path through the Red Sea. God’s children marched to safety. The Wind is blowing again! We have been delivered from the armies of Satan, whom the Bible calls the prince of the power of the air. We have been delivered from the sting of the lash of sorrow and shame. Some of... Read the Rest >>>