God’s Fellow Workers

I do not have a green thumb. Most of what I plant dies. That can’t be said for the work I do in the church. God has done some incredible things in the lives of the people of our church. I don’t take credit for it because I know I am only one of God’s fellow workers. Through some, He plants, and through others, He waters. God is the one who brings the growth.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:7-9

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building

A debate had broken out in the church of Corinth over who was responsible for the growth in the church. Some had sided with Paul and others with Apollos, while others sided with Jesus. The church was split into multiple factions and threatened to tear at the fabric. Apollos had a charismatic personality that appealed to the vain side of the Corinthians, while some held firm to Paul as the founder. Paul put it all to rest by telling them that he and Apollos were fellow coworkers and God brought about the growth.

The Lord Gives Wisdom

People look at wisdom in a strange way. They think they need to go on a long journey which entails climbing mountains to get to a wise sage who will disperse the key to life. For the believer, the Lord gives wisdom. All you have to do is ask. It’s a prayer away, and God…

Preaching with Power

There are some great preachers out there who can deliver the Word of God like few others. They hold the audience in their hand and speak words that hit right at the soul. Most of the time, these preachers have large followings. Many pastors are just as gifted, but their preaching is anointed because it is a demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit. Preaching with power isn’t about personality or persuasive words but through the power of the Spirit.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:4‬

“and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,”

Paul wasn’t the most captivating speaker. In Corinth, they would go to theaters to hear the best orators ply their trade. They used humor and wit to captivate the audience. This was the entrainment of choice during that time. When Paul came along, he wasn’t the polished speaker the Corinthians were used to, so they ridiculed him. Paul answered that he wasn’t persuasive, but he preached in the power of the Spirit. Paul didn’t entertain people, but their lives were changed.

How Long Will You Be This Way?

Stubbornness and scoffing are on the rise. People often describe their stubbornness as a badge of honor and what makes them unique, and along with that comes an attitude of accepting it and don’t expect me to change. At the same time, you have people who criticize and attack everything everybody else does but gets hyper-defensive when someone does it to them. Solomon asked long ago, “How long will you be this way?”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1:22-23

How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my Spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

Solomon describes three types of people that resist wisdom. The first is the simple person. At first glance, this seems like something desirable. Keep life simple, except that in Solomon’s words, simple has no purpose in life and is easily manipulated. The second person, a scoffer. These types are usually successful and confident person who is opinionated and will take you down in a heartbeat. The final person is the fool, who is stubborn and always knows better.

Listen and Increase in Understanding

Did you know that YouTube is the second biggest search engine on the internet next to Google? People search YouTube for all types of answers and instructions on what they need to get done. One woman built her entire house by watching YouTube videos. As Christians, we have a place where we can find the wisdom needed to navigate life. Listen, and you will increase in understanding.

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1:5-7

Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Wisdom is in short supply. There are a lot of people who profess to have knowledge. You can find a million experts on all types of subject matter. People will pedal their life hacks so you can take shortcuts. Yet when anyone uses common sense, it typically goes against the flow, and they are attacked. Solomon tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and that wise people listen and increase in understanding. You can set yourself apart from everyone by using wisdom.

The Power of the Cross

The cross, in Jesus’ day, was the worst form of death. The Romans had perfected the execution. It was so heinous that Roman citizens were allowed to be crucified, and it was a strong deterrent to everyone else. Only criminals like traitors or insurrectionists were hung on a cross. Jesus shows you the power of the cross by willingly laying down his life and being the perfect substitute sacrifice for your sins.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:18

“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

In Paul’s day, people struggle with the message and meaning of the cross. “Why would someone purposely die for another’s sin?” “The cross is too graphic. I don’t want to consider it.” Today, the cross is foolish because everyone thinks they are good and don’t need Jesus to die for their sins. They look at Christians as fools for following such beliefs. Paul tells us that those who are perishing because of their unbelief will often think this way.

Show Me a Sign

Almost everyone has prayed, “God, show me a sign.” Why they prayed that prayer could vary, but all of us want to know that God is near and He notices what we are going through. Even after Jesus died on the cross, the Jews demanded signs from God. When Paul preached the Gospel, they replied with, “Show me a sign.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:22-23, 25

For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

So many people want to believe in the idea of a god but not express any faith. Faith believes in something you cannot see. The Jews wanted a sign, and the Greeks wanted wisdom in Paul’s day. In essence, they were telling Paul, “Show me so I can believe.” That is why Christ was a stumbling block because Paul showed them a sign and the wisdom behind it, and they couldn’t comprehend why God would die in a human’s place. The world hasn’t changed much today.

You Are an Overcomer

There were fifteen seconds left in the gold medal match in the wrestling super heavyweight division. The wrestler from Georgia was up by three points against the wrestler from the United States. It looked like the match was over, but the wrestler from the United States pulled off two quick moves in the final seconds and ended up winning the match by one point. He overcame a big deficit to defeat his opponent in a short amount of time. Did you know that you are an overcomer?

‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:4‬

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

John tells us that we who are born of God are overcomers. If you have put your faith in Jesus and been born-again, dying to the old self and becoming a new creation, you have everything in you to overcome the world. Most believers don’t know this. They are fighting against the spiritual forces in the dark world with their own resources when Jesus has put inside of them everything necessary for victory. What is that resource? Your faith.

Let Everything that has Breath Praise the Lord

One of the things that COVID has halted is travel. In 2020, I planned to go back to Malawi, Africa, and see our friends at Kondanani Village. I am not sure when I will be able to make it back, which breaks my heart. It’s is a beautiful land with wonderful people who love to worship the Lord. When I read Psalm 150, I think of them. They embody, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭150:1, 6

“Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”

The Book of Psalms finishes as it rightly should, declaring praises to God. The Psalmist encourages everyone that has breath praise the Lord everywhere they go and with everything they have. Your life as a believer is to be filled with praising God. Some say it is practice for what we will be doing in heaven, and while that may be true, it is not the main reason we praise the Lord. You let up your voices to praise Him because of who He is and what He has done for you. Like spring water that gushes out of the ground, so should your praise flow out of your mouth.

The Lord Takes Pleasure in You

Did you know that the Lord takes pleasure in you? You are wonderfully made in His image, and He loves watching you as you grow in your faith. He’s not sitting on some high mountain looking down upon you, waiting till you do something wrong. That is the image of some gods, like Greek mythology, but your Heavenly Father is very fond of you. Go about your day with the assurance that He finds pleasure in you.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭149:4

“For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.”

The Psalmist knew how to construct his words in a way that reaches his reader’s hearts. For a nation like Israel, which had a history of disappointing and angering God, they needed to hear that the Almighty God takes pleasure in His people. God is steadfast in His love and won’t be swayed by a misstep or a season of rebellion. His love for you remains even when you forsake Him. Do you feel like you have disappointed Him with how your life has turned out? Take heart. If you are one of His children, He still loves you.