July 2

Paul could never be called a fly-by-night apostle. We have already seen how on multiple occasions, Paul and the other Apostles spent extended periods of time with new converts. They also frequently returned to established churches in order to spend more time with them.

Here, in 1 Corinthians 4, Paul tells the church that they should see him and the other Apostles as stewards of the mysteries of God. (1 Corinthians 4:1) He follows this statement with a comment that stewards must be found faithful. (v. 2)

By saying that they must be found faithful, Paul implies that the those managing the mysteries of God must be evaluated. They must be tested and pass the test. Paul had nothing to hide. His life was an open book. But he says that the true judge of his faithfulness was not any person or church. Paul’s ultimate judge is God Himself. He was well aware of that fact and lived his live accordingly.

So what are the “mysteries of God” that Paul refers to? Paul also uses the term mysteries elsewhere in 1 Corinthians 13:2; 14:2. He will also go into more detail in his letters to the Ephesians and the Colossians.

While Proverbs 25:2 says that God conceals things, God says that wise leaders are capable of mining those things that He has concealed. Yes, Jesus told parables in order to conceal certain things about the Kingdom of God from some people. But Jesus also revealed the meaning of the parables to His disciples. (Mark 4:33–34)

For one thing, Paul says that the “mysteries of God” have been revealed. (Ephesians 1:9; 3:3; 1 Timothy 3:9, 16; Colossians 1:26)

These mysteries aren’t something that believers are ever encouraged to look for outside of the Bible. There isn’t some secret code that God wants believers to dig out of some obscure Bible text or some extra-biblical text that was hidden by church leaders hundreds of years ago.

God is a self-revealing God. He wants to reveal Himself to His people. And that’s why Paul said that the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:26–27, BSB)

Application

Paul turns to the importance of believers to have relationships with their teachers in 1 Corinthians 4:14–17. He uses familial words such as father and child to describe these relationships. In verse 15, Paul says that they may have many instructors, but they don’t have many fathers.

As important as it is to surround ourselves with good, solid Bible teachers, Paul insists that there needs to be accountability relationships between leaders and followers. This accountability goes both ways. The leader is accountable to the follower by living and teaching with integrity. The follower is accountable to the leader by mastering the subject matter and becoming like the leader in his worldview and behavior.

In God’s church, no one is above being tested. In fact, we are encouraged to test prophecies. (1 Corinthians 14:29) We are encouraged to test the spirits (1 John 4:1). In God’s church we can never say, “Touch not the Lord’s anointed,” yet, how often have we heard that from Christian “leaders” say that regarding other Christian “leaders”.

Discernment is crucial among God’s people. Personal knowledge of leaders and followers provides a checks-and-balances in the Christian life.

The post Faithfulness in Ministry appeared first on Psalm 34:8.

June 28

Paul continues his line of thought concerning the insignificance of earthly wisdom and even his own desires in light of the things of God. He says that the Holy Spirit knows things about God that no one else does, or can.

He goes on to say that only believers can understand the things of God. He refers to believers as “spiritual people”. These are not special people, that is, believers who have had some experience that other believers have not experienced. These people are simply believers, (1 Corinthians 2:14–15) people who have experienced the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

This goes back to what we read a few days ago about Apollos and the other twelve disciples of John the Baptizer. (Acts 18–19) They thought they were saved, but they weren’t. Paul says very clearly that if the Holy Spirit doesn’t abide in someone, they aren’t saved.

In other words, there are two types of people: spiritual people (i.e., believers) and natural people (i.e., those who do not have the Spirit). Either you have the Spirit, or you don’t. Either you have been saved, or you haven’t. Either you have a relationship with God, or you don’t. As we move into tomorrow’s devotional, we’ll see what some incorrectly call a third type of person.

We, believers/spiritual people, have been given the Spirit so that we can understand the things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:12) However, Paul says that the natural person cannot understand the things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:14) This is precisely why you can give the best arguments for the existence of God and the reality of the resurrection of Jesus, and you can explain the Gospel to some people, and they will look at you as if you dropped in from outer space. They just can’t make the connection because the Holy Spirit has not yet done a work of illuminating their hearts so that they can believe. (John 6:63; 65)

Application

Does the Holy Spirit abide in you? If you are a believer, then He does! But just having the Spirit to move into your life isn’t all there is in the Christian life. After all, the Holy Spirit is called the Holy Spirit for a reason: to make us holy. Over the course of time, those who are Spiritual will be transformed into ever-increasing holiness. As you submit to His activity in your life, the Holy Spirit will change you from the inside out. Your beliefs will change. Your attitudes will change. And your behavior will change.

The post Spiritual People vs. Natural People appeared first on Psalm 34:8.

June 26

Apollos was just one disciple of John who had been baptized under John’s preaching. Paul found a dozen more “disciples” who didn’t know anything about the Holy Spirit. They confessed their lack of understanding to Paul and put their faith in Jesus.

At this point, they were saved; until then, they had been simply disciples of John the Baptizer, but not true Christian disciples. So, these disciples, like Apollos, were not rebaptized; they were simply baptized. Paul administered the Believer’s Baptism to reinforce the order of belief before baptism.

God confirmed their belief through these disciples speaking in tongues. He had done the same with other people groups when they came to faith in Jesus: Jews in Acts 2:1–4; Samaritans in Acts 8:14–19, and Gentiles in Acts 15:8–9. In these cases, tongues followed their conversion to validate God’s work in this new people group.

In yesterday’s Bible reading, we read that the Jews with whom Paul was sharing the Gospel resisted his message and blasphemed. He shook the dust off his clothes and said he was going to minister to the Gentiles. (Acts 18:6) You may remember when Paul was saved, God told him that he was God’s chosen instrument to minister to the Gentiles. (Acts 9:15) Paul embraces his calling again.

We see a similar response in today’s Bible reading where Paul reaches his patience’s limits. Those with whom he was sharing the Gospel hardened their hearts, chose not to believe, and slandered him. Paul took the disciples with him to the lecture hall of Tyrannus, and dialoged with them for two years. This resulted in the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, hearing the word of the Lord. Again, we see Paul’s discipleship ministry for an extended period of time before departing.

Jesus had told His disciples, “Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces,” (Matthew 7:6) thus recognizing that some people will never receive the Gospel message. This also parallels Proverbs 26:4, where the writer basically warns his readers against getting into a mud fight with a pig. It is clear from the Bible that not everyone will be saved. And in these passages, Paul feels God’s leadership to close his discussions with these people and move on.

We see an interesting description of what progressed in Acts 19:11–12. “God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands, so that even facecloths or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them.” (CSB) In these verses, Dr. Luke rightly describes these as extraordinary miracles. However, please note that this was descriptive. There are no instances in the Bible where facecloths and aprons were prescribed as a healing method.

In verse 13, some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to cast out demons in the Name of Jesus. The demons recognized the authority of Jesus and His apostles, but sharply stated that they didn’t recognize the authority of these exorcists. The demons quickly overpowered them and sent them running. (Acts 19:16) As people learned what happened, they realized that Jesus’ Name has great authority and isn’t to be trifled with. And in this, Jesus was glorified.

Ephesus was the center of worship of the goddess Artemis. Craftsmen fashioned idols in her image. Paul had a reputation for sharing the Gospel message and causing people to abandon their idolatry. So, as they saw Paul bringing people to Jesus in Ephesus, the silversmiths and priests of Artemis were afraid of losing their livelihood. The idolaters caused a riot. Although Paul wanted to address the crowds, his friends recognized the potential danger and persuaded him to not engage. Paul agreed that this was not the time or place to give a defense of the Gospel.

Application

It goes against the stereotype of the Christian mission to share the Gospel with lost people. But sometimes, it is best to go against the stereotype. Sometimes it’s best to judiciously follow Jesus’ instruction to be wise in fulfilling our mission. (Matthew 7:6) Not everyone with whom we share the Gospel will believe. We don’t know who these people are. God does. And God commands us to share the Gospel as we go about our daily lives. (Mark 16:15)

The post The Conversion of John’s Disciples and Knowing When to Pack Up and Move On appeared first on Psalm 34:8.

June 21

Not much has changed since Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica. Today, many people spout opinions concerning Jesus’ return. As in Paul’s day, many of those opinions are simply that: opinions.

Biblically speaking, there are several – very different – views of eschatology which are held by godly theologians. Each of these views has valid Scriptural bases. However, they also have Scriptural problems. I am not saying that the Bible contains contradictions, (it does not!) only that sometimes the Bible isn’t as clear as we would like it to be on some topics, including eschatology.

But one thing is certain: Paul and the other apostles expected Jesus’ return to happen within days, months, or a few years of their preaching and writing. The Thessalonians had heard some people say that Jesus had already returned. But Paul assured them that the End could not come without a few things happening:
1.) The widespread apostacy or rebellion (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
2.) The revelation of the man of lawlessness, (the antichrist) who is the personification of hostility against God (2 Thessalonians 2:4)

Paul had already told this church that Jesus’ return would occur with the archangel’s voice and the sound of God’s trumpet. (1 Thessalonians 4:16) Obviously, none of these three things happened before Paul wrote this letter, nor has it happened since then. But Paul wrote both of his letters to this church to encourage them. No, these things haven’t happened yet, but be ready!

Paul says there will be a wicked deception of unbelievers. His description sounds very familiar to what he says in Romans 1:18–28, where he talks about those who exchange the knowledge of God for a lie. He says that signs and wonders can be counterfeited. (2 Thessalonians 2:9) Elsewhere, he says that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14) Therefore, believers must be discerning. (1 Thessalonians 5:21) And to protect ourselves, we must know God’s Word so we can recognize and reject the counterfeits.

Paul also says that God sends a strong delusion on unbelievers to believe the lie so that they would reject God’s offer of salvation. (2 Thessalonians 2:11) And therefore, because they reject God’s offer, He judges them. As in Romans, Paul says that God gives those who reject the truth exactly what they want. And then judges them based on those desires.

Application

Paul tells the church to stand firm in their faith and hold tightly to the traditions they had learned. (2 Thessalonians 2:15) These were not the Jewish traditions, but the new covenant traditions. God has loved us and has given us an eternal, encouraging hope. God is in control!

Ground yourself in God’s Word. And reject counterfeits. And put your entire trust in God.

The post Believe the Truth and Reject the Lie appeared first on Psalm 34:8.

June 4

Galatia is a region located in modern-day Turkey. False teachers had influenced the church there, and Paul writes this letter to correct their bad teachings. In fact, most of Paul’s letters were written to correct bad theology and behavior in churches.

He begins his letter, stating that he was called as an apostle by Jesus, not any human beings. He expanded on this in verses 11–24.

After his customary greeting, he turns to a sharp rebuke of that church. He accused them of turning their backs on the original grace-based Gospel they had originally heard and believed. They had been “bewitched” to believe some other, contrary gospel. He added that there really isn’t another Gospel at all. So, if anyone, including an angel from heaven, came to them and preached a gospel other than the one they believed at first, let them be cursed. He urgently wants to make sure that they hear that message so he repeats himself. (Galatians 1:8–9)

Paul tells the Galatians about his past of persecuting early Christians. He says he had been extremely zealous for the Jewish faith and its traditions. (Galatians 1:14) And when he was saved, he didn’t consult with any of the apostles. But after being taught by the resurrected Jesus for three years in Arabia and Damascus, (Galatians 1:12; 18) plus another fourteen years in Syria and Cilicia. (Galatians 2:1) Paul was fresh and thorough in his understanding of the Gospel message at this point. God had prepared Paul, specifically for this time, and this is appropriately the first letter he wrote in about AD 33–36.

Application

Just because someone claims that they are preaching the gospel doesn’t mean that they are. We need to be very careful in what we hear and what we read. Believer, exercise discernment!

Paul warned that even if an angel appeared preaching a different gospel, don’t believe it. People would be wise to heed these words when cultists claim that an angel appeared with a “new revelation of Jesus Christ”. Yes, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) says that literally happened in 1820 to their founder, Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon’s cover actually features the words, “Another Revelation of Jesus Christ”.

There is only one legitimate Gospel message. Paul expanded on this in Ephesians 2:8-10.

The post A Different Gospel appeared first on Psalm 34:8.