Blog Archives - Mt. Ephraim Baptist Church

November 30, 2017

11/30/2017

Insights on Today's Reading

1 Corinthians 5 - This chapter deals with the subject of sins which Christians can commit and how to deal with those who do. Reading this passage carefully you will see that the man in question is being talked about as a believer who is involved in gross immorality. The issue here is his apparent refusal to stop and the church's immobility in dealing with this. Paul basically says that this man should be "delivered...to Satan for the destruction of his flesh...that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" verse 5. Paul does not speak of this man losing his salvation. But he rebukes the church for allowing this man to continue in his sin without confronting him. Later Paul speaks about not to keep close company with unbelievers, verse 9, but still maintain contact with them, verse 10. If a brother continues in sin then believers are to refrain from close contact with him/her.

1 Corinthians 6 - Paul criticized the Corinthian believers for resorting to outsiders to "judge" issues they were facing among themselves. This implies that mature Christians have the right to "judge" matters relating to other Christian's behavior and seek to bring about a healthy and appropriate resolution. Paul also reminds believers not to engage in sexual misconduct, especially in the practice of prostitution (which was rather rampant in that day). Paul clearly states that a believer's body is the "temple of the Holy Spirit" verse 19. Our bodies and lives were "bought with a price" verse 20. We owe it to God to keep our bodies and hearts pure before Him.

1 Corinthians 7 - Paul deals with the matter of marriage and whether it is right for a Christian to marry. That may sound unusual, but you must remember that during persecution it is easier for a single person to face it without having concern for their immediate loved ones. Pay attention to what he says in verses 29-40. Paul also speaks to believers who got saved while still married to someone who isn't, verses 12-16. The obvious desire here is to see the saved believer seek to win their unsaved mate to Christ.

1 Corinthians 8 - Though Paul elevates love above knowledge, verse 1, he does encourage having a good intellect regarding the prevalence of idolatry in his day. How does a Christian deal with idolatrous practices such as the offering of food to an idol before eating it. Some see the idol as nothing and don't concern themselves when they consume that food, verse 4-6. Other believers may take offense in doing so, verse 7. Paul encourages the "stronger" believer to respect the weaker believer's conscience and not doing anything that would offend.

November 29, 2017

11/29/2017

Insights on Today's Reading

1 Corinthians 1 - The Corinthian church in many ways is like most Christian churches today. They were gifted, verse 7, they were "saints" verse 2, and they didn't always get along with each other, verses 10-17. The word "saints" comes from the same Greek word for "holy" or "sanctify." The idea behind the word is being "set apart" for the Lord. That includes every single believer in Christ. And Christ wants His family to get along with each other! Paul also emphasizes the simplicity of the Gospel message, verse 18, that appears as "foolish" to the unsaved, but is God's power to save all who come to him. One other note is from verses 21-23 Paul makes clear that God doesn't need "famous people" or people with special abilities to impress others. God chooses those who will bring Him greatest glory. That includes you!

1 Corinthians 2 - Paul preached a message not with the wisdom of this world, verse 4. He preached so that people could be saved. He reminds us that we cannot begin to imagine the great things God has prepared for those who love Him, verse 9. He also emphasized that we need the Spirit of God's ministry to illuminate our minds and hearts to understand the things of God, verses 13-16.

1 Corinthians 3 - Paul is concerned that these believers were acting like "babes in Christ" verse 1, and not showing the mature growth in Christ they were meant to have. He reminds all believers that they are to work together for the Lord, verse 9, and that we all build our lives on the foundation of Christ, Himself, verse 11. Too many Christians waste their efforts on meaningless activity that doesn't help the cause of Christ. Others use their lives to bring precious souls to the Savior. Every Christian's work will be examined by God. All believers will go to heaven, but some will miss out on God's "well done" because they wasted their lives here.

1 Corinthians 4 - Paul never concerned himself as to how people thought of him. He was an example of how believers should humble themselves in their service for Christ. Paul actually said that the believers should "imitate him" in their own Christian walk, verse 16. Are our lives being lived in such a way as to give others an example to follow?

November 28, 2017

11/28/2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Acts 18:19-28 - In Paul's travels he enjoyed the fellowship of Priscilla and Aquila, two believers who learned from Paul but also encouraged him. Later they would meet another man, Apollos, who had also become a believer but was ignorant of some of the further teachings that would be revealed in the New Testament. Priscilla and Aquila would take Apollos aside and "explain to him the way of God more accurately" verse 26.

Acts 19 - Paul met some men in Ephesus who had not yet heard of the Holy Spirit. So Paul took the opportunity to instruct them. (This is an important point to be raised in the Book of Acts: God's revelation of truth was progressive. Not everyone in Acts 1 was aware of all the teachings that would eventually come, primarily through Paul, in the rest of the New Testament). Paul would spend a long time in Ephesus preaching and bringing many people to the Lord. The "burning of books" in verse 19 should not alarm you. Those books were teaching witchcraft and the occult and needed to be destroyed. In Ephesus an uproar came as a result of Paul's teaching against idolatry. The city had been given over to the worship of Diana, also known as Artemis, a supposed goddess who came down from heaven. It was an example that wherever Paul went either a riot or a revival broke out and often both happened simultaneously!

November 27, 2017

11/27/2017

Insights on Today's Reading

1 Thessalonians 1 - Even though Paul was in Thessalonica for only three weeks he still established a church that really grew and became effective. Paul said in verse 8 that "every place" heard of their testimony. Three things became clear: they had a "work of faith" which was "turning to God from idols"; they performed "a labor of love" which showed "they serve the living and true God"; and they had "patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ" as they learned "to wait for His Son from heaven" comparing verses 2,3 with verses 9,10.

1 Thessalonians 2 - Paul was glad that when they heard Paul preached they understood it was "the word of God" verse 13. As Paul spoke of wanting to visit them he saw that "Satan hindered" him from doing so, verse 18.

1 Thessalonians 3 - Paul had spoken of the troubles they all faced, but he knew that these believers were not "shaken by these afflictions" verse 3, because they knew that believers are "appointed to this."

1 Thessalonians 4 - Paul spoke of their sanctification, especially in relationship to sexual morality, verses 3-7. Paul also wanted these believers to understand end time events and that the Lord would come to call His followers home to heaven at a time when God was ready, verses 13-17. These words should be "comfort" for each other, verse 18.

1 Thessalonians 5 - Paul emphasized the need to be ready when the "day of the Lord" would come. He also ended this letter with various exhortations such as the trilogy of verses 16-18, always rejoice, always pray, and always give thanks.

2 Thessalonians 1 - Paul encouraged these believers as they continued to endure suffering. He prayed that they God would fulfill His good pleasure in their lives, verse 11.

2 Thessalonians 2 - Paul warned that before the Day of the Lord would come there would be apostasy in the Church, that is a "falling away" from God's truth, verse 3. He also spoke about that which "restrains" being taken out of the way. Many believe this is a reference to the Church being raptured out of the world and then the "lawless one will be revealed" verse 8. You see, the Church on earth actually is used by God to restrain evil. When the Church is gone, evil will grow!

2 Thessalonians 3 - Paul asks for prayer and encouraged believers to keep working until Jesus comes, verses 6-12. He also encouraged them not to "grow weary in doing good" verse 14.

November 26, 2017

11/26/2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Acts 17 - Paul went to Thessalonica and basically ministered there for just three weeks, verse 2. He established a local church before being forced to leave because of persecution. He went to Berea where the believers there "...searched the Scriptures daily" verse 11, to see if Paul's teaching was in harmony with the Scriptures. Later, Paul went to Athens and found the city given over to worship of idols. He noticed one alter dedicated to "...the unknown God..." Paul used this as a means to preach about the true God that these Athenians had never known. The people listened to him until he spoke about the resurrection of the dead. Some mocked, verse 32, but others believed.

Acts 18:1-18 - Paul then went to Corinth and ministered there for about a year and a half, verse 11. While he was there God appeared to him in a vision and assured Paul of His presence and that his work would be fruitful. Paul and his companions faced a lot of persecution wherever they went, verse 17.

November 25, 2017

11/25/2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Galatians 4 - Paul makes clear that God sent His Son at just the right time to redeem the Jews who were under the Law. Now they are sons of God, verse 4, a far better relationship with God than being a slave. And now that they are sons, Paul asks them why they go back to observing rules and regulations, verses 9-11! He even asks them if they think of him as an enemy because he tells them the truth, verse 16. Paul then uses the incident of Abraham "casting out the bondwoman and her son" verse 30, as illustration of how believers should see themselves as free from bondage.

Galatians 5 - Paul immediately encourages believers to enjoy the freedom they have in Christ and not subject themselves to bondage, verse 1. He also emphasizes that our freedom is not a license to do what we want, but it is the joy of letting the Spirit of God help us to do what we should, verses 13- 16. Paul contrasts the deeds of a self-centered life with the fruit of the Spirit, verses 17-23.

Galatians 6 - If a believer sins and falls other believers are to seek to restore the fallen believer with the spirit of meekness and fear, verse 1. Believers are to help others with their heavy loads, verse 2, but carry also carry their own burdens, verse 5. Paul warns the believer about consequences to their actions, verses 6,7. I like to say that "whatever goes down [gets planted] must come up [harvest]!" Paul emphasizes the need for the cross of Christ, verse 14, as the way Christ delivered the believer from the power of sin.

November 24, 2017

11/24/2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Galatians 1 - This epistle gives Paul's teaching that salvation and Christian growth are by God's grace and through the power and control of the Holy Spirit. In this chapter Paul expresses his dismay and disgust that these believers were following a different gospel than the Gospel Paul preached, verses 6,7. He defends his own teaching making it clear that the Lord taught Paul personally, verses 11,12. He also defended his apostolic ministry to be ordained by God, verses 15,16.

Galatians 2 - Paul explains his report to the Jerusalem church that led up to the council mentioned in Acts 15. Then he spoke about an encounter he had with Peter and had to speak to Peter in front of everyone because Peter was showing hypocrisy in his dealings with the Gentiles versus the Jews, verses 11-14. Paul went on to say that trying to keep the Law would do no one any good to achieve acceptance by God. We are only justified by faith, verse 16. In verse 20 Paul reminds us that in our believing in Christ we entered into the full impact of His death and that Jesus wants to live His life in each and every believer, verse 20.

Galatians 3 - Paul calls these Galatians "foolish," verse 1. They were fools to think that they could get saved by faith and yet have to live the Christian life through their own efforts, verse 3. He stressed that Abraham believed God and that is what these believers need to do. It is a life of faith, not of works, verses 10,11. Paul also explained the purpose of the Law was to show the Jew how much they needed Christ, verse 24.

November 23, 2017

11/23/2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Acts 15 - This is a crucial chapter in Acts for it gives a clear decision in the early Church that salvation was by grace alone and not by fulfilling any Old Testament laws, verses 10,11. This seems to still be an issue today with right-wing fundamentalism that teaches all kinds of rules and regulations a believer has to follow in order to prove they are a Christian. Legalism in all its ugly forms has been denounced in Scripture over and over again. Whether it be the practice of the Pharisees or those in our day who insist on adherence to their standards, one needs only to go through the Epistle to the Galatians to see how God and Paul have trashed this teaching! (Galatians will be part of your reading in the next two days). Sadly, at the end of Acts 15 you will read of a needless argument between Paul and Barnabas over whether to take John Mark with them on Paul's Second Missionary Journey. If they had but prayed I believe the Holy Spirit would have encouraged them to do exactly what they did anyway: Make up two evangelistic teams and spread the Gospel even further without an argument!

Acts 16 - Paul and Silas would also encourage Timothy to join them in this 2nd journey. It is noteworthy to recognize that the Holy Spirit clearly stopped this team from going into some areas and made it clear that they were to go into Macedonia instead and preach the Gospel. Doing so they found some women who were praying. In sharing the Gospel with them the Bible clearly teaches that "...the Lord opened..." the heart of Lydia to believe what she heard and she got saved. (This is a great way to pray that God would "open the heart" of those you wish to see saved). Later in this chapter you will read of the imprisonment of Paul and Silas in a Philippian jail. Instead of complaining, they sang! God used a momentous night to bring about the conversion of the Philippian jailer and his whole family. Note, there was no need for any amount of time to pass before Paul would say that this man and his wife were truly saved! They were baptized immediately to show that Paul could clearly see that they truly trusted the Lord.

November 22, 2017

11/22/2017

Insights on Today's Reading

It is commonly believed that the Epistle of James was the first of the letters written by the Apostles. This author, James, is also believed to be the half-brother to Jesus, his name being mentioned in Matthew 13:55. He was also the man who would become a leader in the Jerusalem church. The Book of James is sometimes referred to as "The Proverbs of the New Testament." You'll understand why as you read and see many of the "proverbs" mentioned in this book.

James 1 - James wrote to the Jewish believers who had been scattered throughout the world because of their faith in Jesus as their Messiah. He encourage them to look at suffering as a means of maturity. That's what the word "perfect" means in verse 4. But James also warns about temptations as a snare and our human lust as a trigger to cause harm if we yield to our lust and succumb to the temptations, verses 13-16. James also emphasizes the need to "do" what the word of God says, not just hear it, verse 22.

James 2 - Christians should treat every believer with love and respect because that is how God treats us. James also gives us a clear picture of how fast people can become a sinner. Verse 10 simply says that violating one law makes you a law-breaker. One sin is all it takes to become a sinner. From verses 14-26, James makes clear how a believer is "justified by works" when that believer's works come from a life of faith in Christ. James is emphasizing how a believer is seen as a justified Christian in the eyes of the world. Men cannot see your heart. They can see your works.

James 3 - Being a teacher places a burden of responsibility on the teacher to practice what they teach. Words alone without obedience leads to hypocrisy. James warns about the effect of our words. We should be consistent in speaking blessing to mankind as we speak blessing to God. The "wisdom that comes from above" verse 17, far exceeds the worldly "wisdom" that comes from a self-centered life.

James 4 - Loving the ways of the world will never please God, verse 4. That's a good reason why many believers love for the things of the world hinders their prayer requests from being granted. James gives a practical approach to making plans for our future. Only God knows what will happen and what He wants to happen in a believer's life. The closing verse reminds us that seeing something "good" to do requires our response to "do it" verse 17!

James 5 - Riches in a person's life can cause corruption. Having a lot of wealth doesn't mean a person has a lot of wisdom. James encourages patience, verse 7. He also encourages real prayer when difficulties come, verses 16,17. James closes his letter with a good word for "soul-winners."

November 21, 2017

11/21/2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Acts 13 - Though many believers had already been scattered across the Biblical world preaching the Gospel, Acts 8:4, now the Holy Spirit puts into action the plan of Acts 1:8 by officially calling the elders of the church in Antioch to "separate to Me Barnabas and Saul [Paul] for the work to which I have called them." This was a commissioning of believers to missionary work and ministry. Perhaps both men had already a "yearning to go" but now the Holy Spirit said it was the time to send them. The two men chose John as their assistant, verse 5 and then sailed to Cyprus and ministered there. This was the beginning of Paul's First Missionary Journey. Saul's name was changed to Paul, verse 9. The three men eventually sailed to Asia Minor to the city of Pamphylia where John departed from them, verse 13. Paul and Barnabas would minister to the people in Antioch in Pisidia, a different "Antioch" from where they started. Paul preached an important message giving the history leading up to Jesus' coming. Eventually the Jews rejected what Paul was saying so he boldly stated he would "turn to the Gentiles" verse 46. The Jews would cause more trouble leading Paul and Barnabas to Iconium, verse 52.

Acts 14 - In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas would go to the synagogue to reach out to the Jews, a pattern Paul established in Romans 1:16, "...to the Jew first." Though rejected again by the Jews, the two men would preach the word boldly to anyone. They would go from one city to the next and come to Lystra where they were used of God to heal a lame man, face the attempt to "worship them" verses 12,13, and then sought to stop the people from sacrificing to them. Shortly after this Paul was stoned and it appeared he died, verse 19, but he would be restored and the two men would finish their work and eventually make their way back to Antioch in Syria from where they began.