FOUR EXORTATIONS

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13 NKJV).

In this verse, the Apostle Paul gives four short, pungent, exhortations or commands to the church in Corinth. They concerned being watchful, faithful, manful, and powerful.

Watchful – “Watch.” Christians are to be alert, careful, and cautious regarding life. A careless Christian will soon be a defeated Christian. There are many subtle temptations in life to ensnare the believer regarding evil philosophies and practices. Thus, we need to be careful what we read, what we look at, where we go, and with whom we keep company. We need to guard our character with moral fiber and strength of purpose.

Faithful - “Stand fast in the faith.” This exhortation simply says that we are to be faithful as Christians. This is so important that the exhortation is given in various ways throughout Scripture. In Hebrews we read, “Hold fast our confession” (Heb. 4:14), and “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering” (Heb. 10:23). We are to be faithful to the Lord. We are not be compromisers. We are not to deny the faith when the world puts pressure on us to abandon or set aside our beliefs.

Manful - “Be brave.” This phrase is the translation of one Greek word which means act like a man, be mature and manly. This explains the KJV translation of “quit you like men.” The Corinthians were acting childish in their behavior in the church and so the apostle Paul told them to stop acting like children but to grow up and act like mature adults. Today, our churches are also filled with believers who are childish in their behavior and should have grown up long ago. At times, their childish behavior seems to be hindering the work of the Lord. Being manful here also involves acting with courage. Believers are to act like mature adults and not be afraid to stand up for the Lord Jesus.

Powerful - “Be strong.” Today there is a great emphasis on physical fitness. Yet a better emphasis is spiritual fitness. We need to be strong spiritually so as not to be overpowered by the trials and temptations of life. To be spiritually strong, we need to engage regularly and earnestly in Bible study and prayer. These are the best spiritual strengthening ingredients.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Bible Reading 2)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“A true Christian, living an obedient life, is a constant rebuke to those who accept the moral standards of this world!”

William (Billy) Franklin Graham (1918 – 2018)

American Evangelist and Southern Baptist Minister   

Word Study

Filthy lucre

In 1 Peter 5:2 we read, “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind” (KJV).

“Filthy lucre” is the Greek word aischrokerdōs (αἰσχροκερδῶς = ahee-skhrok-er-doce'). It is made up of two words: “aischros” which means indecent, dishonorable, and “kerdos” which means gain. Thus, the word means a fondness for dishonest gain. It is gain obtained in an improper and exploitive manner and would produce shame if uncovered. Aischrokerdōs can also refer to gaining popularity by manipulating the gospel to attract more people or showing special favors and consideration to the rich and the influential in order to gain personal advantage and profit. This does not however, refer to material gain such as the demand of a salary. Bottom line, the shepherd must serve the Lord with a willing heart because he loves the Lord and the flock, and not simply because he has a job to do. He must never serve for “filthy lucre” (dishonest gain), whether it be money, prestige, power, or promotion. The pastor is not to commercialize his ministry.

Did You Know…

According to the Gospel of Mark, upon visiting His hometown, the Lord Jesus was amazed at the townspeople’s lack of faith. As a result “He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them” (Mark 6:5-6).

Bible Quiz

When Daniel heard there was a law forbidding prayer to his God what did he do?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz

According to 1 Thessalonians, how will the day of the Lord come? “The day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:2).

Prophecies Fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus Christ, the horn of salvation (Psalm 18:2; cf. Luke 1:69-71)

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2 NJKV).

Throughout the Old Testament the word “horn” was used as a symbol of strength, power, and might (cf. Deut. 33:17; 1 Sam. 2:1, 10; 1 Kings 22:11). So, the phrase “horn of my salvation” is a description of power in battle. And for the Psalmist David to consider the Lord as his “horn” is to understand that the Lord is the source of power and strength that ensures his ultimate victory against his foes. The Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ is also called the “horn of salvation” (cf. Luke 1:69) because He alone possesses the might, the strength, and the power to save. And while David was raised up by God to deliver and to rule over His people Israel, the Lord Jesus Christ was raised up to deliver and to rule over everyone, and His deliverance and rule will be forever.

Did You Know – Christian History

Thomas Fanshaw Middleton was born January 28, 1769, in Kedleston, Derbyshire, England. He was a noted Anglican bishop.

After completing his studies at Cambridge University, Middleton was ordained in the Church of England. For the next twenty-two years, he served in various church positions and earned distinction for research on the use of the Greek article, “the.” With the conquest of India, Evangelical Christians saw this as a God-given obligation to govern wisely, to spread the gospel among those who had never heard it, and to prepare India for self-rule. Middleton was appointed as the first bishop of Calcutta in 1814. His task was to govern India, spreading Christianity to its vast population. Fearing that the introduction of Christianity would infuriate India’s Hindus, Sikhs Buddhists and Muslims, the East India Company insisted that the consecration be a private, low-profile affair.

Middleton’ parish was enormous. Not only did it include all the millions of people of India, but all of the millions in all of the East India Company’s territory, which also included the continent of Australia. And although he preferred the more authoritarian forms and hierarchy of the high church, as opposed to the more democratic and evangelical low church, he was cautious which made him the best choice to get a wedge in the door. He would not rock the boat. As an example, he was perplexed over what to do with the missionaries operating in North India. Not having established parishes, they didn’t fit into his scheme of things. “I must either license them or silence them,” he confided to a friend. Nevertheless, Middleton was convinced missionaries would never shake the fabric of India’s idolatry. A stickler for the rules, Middleton also wouldn’t license Indians as clergymen since he wasn’t sure he had the authority. In spite of this, the church grew greatly during his administration.

Middleton traveled widely and interested himself in the condition of India’s existing Christians, some of whom had traditions that went all the way back to his namesake, the Apostle Thomas. He also founded the Bishop’s College in Calcutta, for training young men for the church. Middleton established a thriving Christian community, leaving a lasting legacy in British colonial India.

A Little Humor

A pastor asked a little boy if his dad was a Christian. The boy said, “Yes, sir, I think so, but he isn’t working at it right now.” That’s the problem with too many of us as God’s children...we’ve stopped working at it.

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Let’s meet at My House Sunday before the game – God!”