Paul: “give no offense”

2019-03-272019-03-27 A-Life

Is it merely my conscience involved to live my personal preferences? Today let us meditate on what the Lord Holy Spirit spoke through Apostle Paul on this controversial subject in our very personal and subjective world and the predominant “me, me, me” philosophy believed in, practiced and permeated throughout many human societies. The following bible passages speak specifically to God’s people, -the Christians and draw us to focus on some practical missions in this life: promote spiritual growth in others, beware of others’ judgmental conscience (do not let others have the opportunity to condemn yours), do not (even if passively) cause others fall into a trap (take offense) even if dug by themselves because they interpret your actions according to their conscience. This is a tall order to Christians. Are we keepers of others? Reading this passage it would appear “yes”. Like what Paul advised all Christians, “I sincerely attempt to do anything I can so that others may be saved.” In the final analysis nothing else matters.

1 Corinthians 10:32 (NKJV) “Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,”

1 Corinthians 10:23-33 The Passion Translation (TPT) )

You say, “Under grace there are no rules and we’re free to do anything we please.” Not exactly. Because not everything promotes growth in others. Your slogan, “We’re allowed to do anything we choose,” may be true—but not everything causes the spiritual advancement of others. ²⁴So don’t always seek what is best for you at the expense of another. ²⁵Yes, you are free to eat anything without worrying about your conscience, ²⁶for the earth and all its abundance belongs to the Lord.^[a]

²⁷So if an unbeliever invites you to dinner, go ahead and eat whatever is served, without asking questions concerning where it came from.^[b] ²⁸But if he goes out of his way to inform you that the meat was actually an offering sacrificed to idols, then you should pass, not only for his sake but because of his conscience. ²⁹I’m talking about someone else’s conscience, not yours. What good is there in doing what you please if it’s condemned by someone else?

³⁰So if I voluntarily participate, why should I be judged for celebrating my freedom?^[c] ³¹Whether you eat or drink, live your life in a way that glorifies and honors God. ³²And make sure you’re not offending Jews or Greeks or any part of God’s assembly over your personal preferences. ³³Follow my example, for I try to please everyone in all things, rather than putting my liberty first. I sincerely attempt to do anything I can so that others may be saved.

Footnotes:

1 Corinthians 10:26 See Pss. 24:1; 50:12; 89:11.

1 Corinthians 10:27 Or “questions of conscience.”

1 Corinthians 10:30 Or “eating food that I gave thanks for.”

For those interested to know more, I quote from

Vine’s Greek New Testament Dictionary

Offence [Noun] skandalon originally was “the name of the part of a trap to which the bait is attached, hence, the trap or snare itself, as in Rom 11:9, RV, ‘stumblingblock,’ quoted from Psalm 69:22, and in Rev 2:14, for Balaam’s device was rather a trap for Israel than a stumblingblock to them, and in Matt 16:23, for in Peter’s words the Lord perceived a snare laid for Him by Satan.

“In NT skandalon is always used metaphorically, and ordinarily of anything that arouses prejudice, or becomes a hindrance to others, or causes them to fall by the way.”

Prosperity God’s way: the rich and the poor

2019-03-26 A-Life

Wise sayings about the rich and the poor to meditate today.

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city;

The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

The way of the Lord is strength for the upright,

But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

The blessing of the Lord makes one rich,

And He adds no sorrow with it.

The labor of the righteous leads to life,

The wages of the wicked to sin.

He who has a slack hand becomes poor,

But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

He who gathers in summer is a wise son;

He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish,

But He casts away the desire of the wicked.

The wise in heart will receive commands,

But a prating fool will fall.

He who walks with integrity walks securely,

But he who perverts his ways will become known.

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,

But righteousness delivers from death.

The fear of the wicked will come upon him,

And the desire of the righteous will be granted.

The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,

But the perverse tongue will be cut out.

The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,

But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

The righteous will never be removed,

But the wicked will not inhabit the earth.

When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more,

But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

(Based on Proverbs 10)

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 Revised Standard Version (RSV)

²⁰So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ²¹For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Prosperity God’s way: the grace of giving and receiving

2019-03-252019-03-26 A-Life

One of the best places to learn to hear God is in the area of your finances. First He supplies every need, plus more. Develop a heart to give and He will give seed to you. Ask God for double: enough for your needs and extra to bless/give others in needs.

2 Corinthians 9 The Passion Translation (TPT)

The Offering for Needy Believers

9 Actually, there’s no need to write you about this contribution for the holy believers in Jerusalem, ²for I already know that you are on board and eager to help.^[a] I keep boasting to the churches of Macedonia about your passion to give, telling them that the believers of Corinth^[b] have been preparing to give for a year. Your enthusiasm is contagious—it has stirred many of them to do likewise. ³Still, I thought it would be best to send these brothers to receive the offering that you’ve prepared, so that our boasting about how you were ready to give would not be found hollow. ⁴For if, after boasting of our confidence in you, some of the Macedonians were to come with me and find that you were not prepared, we would be embarrassed—to say nothing of you. ⁵That’s why I’ve requested that the brothers come before I do and make arrangements in advance for the substantial offering you pledged. Then it will be seen as a matter of generosity and not under pressure, as something you felt forced to do.

Hilarious Generosity

⁶Here’s my point. A stingy sower^[c] will reap a meager harvest, but the one who sows from a generous spirit will reap an abundant harvest. ⁷Let giving flow from your heart, not from a sense of religious duty. Let it spring up freely from the joy of giving—all because God loves hilarious generosity!^[d] ⁸Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything^[e]—every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do. ⁹Just as the Scriptures say about the one who trusts in him:

Because he has sown extravagantly and given to the poor,
his kindness and generous deeds will never be forgotten.^[f]

¹⁰This generous God who supplies abundant seed^[g] for the farmer, which becomes bread for our meals,^[h] is even more extravagant toward you. First he supplies^[i] every need, plus more. Then he multiplies the seed as you sow it, so that the harvest of your generosity^[j] will grow. ¹¹You will be abundantly enriched in every way as you give generously on every occasion,^[k] for when we take your gifts to those in need,^[l] it causes many to give thanks to God.

¹²The priestly ministry^[m] you are providing through your offering not only supplies what is lacking for God’s people, it inspires an outpouring^[n] of praises and thanksgiving to God himself. ¹³For as your extremely generous offering meets the approval^[o] of those in Jerusalem, it will cause them to give glory to God—all because of your loyal support and allegiance to the gospel of Christ, as well as your generous-hearted partnership with them toward those in need. ¹⁴Because of this extraordinary grace, which God has lavished on you, they will affectionately remember you in their prayers. ¹⁵Praise God for his astonishing gift, which is far too great for words!^[p]

Footnotes:

2 Corinthians 9:2 The Aramaic can be translated “I know the goodness of your impulses” (or “intentions”). Paul was not hesitant to point out the obvious qualities and virtues of others.
2 Corinthians 9:2 Or “Achaia,” the Roman province where Corinth was situated.
2 Corinthians 9:6 The Aramaic can be translated “the one who sows with a storehouse of seed” (remaining). This describes a farmer who is stingy with his sowing. Since he has a storehouse of seed, he can afford to sow liberally.
2 Corinthians 9:7 See Prov. 22:8 (LXX). There are seven things in the Bible that God loves: (1) the resident foreigner or immigrant (Deut. 10:19), (2) righteousness in our affairs with others (Ps. 11:7), (3) justice (Ps. 37:28), (4) the gates of Zion (Ps. 87:2), (5) his righteous people (Ps. 146:8), (6) a hilarious or cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7), and (7) those he disciplines (Heb. 12:6).
2 Corinthians 9:8 The Greek word Paul uses is autarkeia, and it is found in classical Greek as meaning “independently wealthy, needing nothing.” See Aristotle, Pol. 1. 8, 14.
2 Corinthians 9:9 See Ps. 112:9.
2 Corinthians 9:10 The Greek word epichorēgeo is used in Greek literature for someone who pays all expenses for the drama/choir (production), plus more, providing income for those who take part. God is seen as the leader of the divine choir, orchestrating everything and providing all that is needed to bring forth the sounds of his glory on the earth.
2 Corinthians 9:10 See Isa. 55:10.
2 Corinthians 9:10 The Greek word is chorēgeo (see the first footnote on this verse).
2 Corinthians 9:10 Or “righteousness,” used in this context as “generosity” (or “righteous works” of benevolence).
2 Corinthians 9:11 Or “You will always be rich enough to be generous at all times.”
2 Corinthians 9:11 Or “through us.”
2 Corinthians 9:12 The Greek word leitourgia (similar to “liturgy”) is used in Luke 1:23 for the priestly ministry of Zechariah in the temple.
2 Corinthians 9:12 Or “a superabounding.”
2 Corinthians 9:13 Or “passes the test.”
2 Corinthians 9:15 The Greek and Aramaic texts have a clean break at this point. This has caused some scholars to conclude that chs. 10–13 may have originally been separated from the earlier chapters, which could imply that the following four chapters make up the missing letter of Paul to the Corinthians. If this is so, when reading 2 Corinthians, one could begin with chs. 10–13 (Paul’s missing letter), then read from chs. 1–9. The term for this is “appending”; that is, taking an earlier document and adding a later manuscript to it. Yet in this case, the earlier document is appended.

Hindrances vs Right Attitudes to walk in Biblical Prosperity

2019-03-23 A-Life

Deuteronomy 8:18 (NKJV)

¹⁸“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may ^[a]establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Footnotes:

Deuteronomy 8:18 confirm

Matthew 6:21 (NKJV)

²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Psalm 35:27 (NKJV)

²⁷Let them shout for joy and be glad,
Who favor my righteous cause;
And let them say continually,
“Let the Lord be magnified,
Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”

2 Corinthians 9:7-9 (RSV)

⁷Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. ⁹As it is written,

“He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness^[a] endures for ever.”

Footnotes:

2 Corinthians 9:9 Or benevolence

The Revelation’s Last Chapter: inside and outside

2019-03-14 A-Life

Today we start reading from the end. It is good to be more focused on what matters in the end and not waste time on squabbling on matters that do not add value to whether one enters or not in the end.

By the way, the mention of dog in 22:15 is somewhat disturbing for owners of dogs. So I have found a few different versions which are more specific and the word “dog” pertains to human and not our pet.

Those not permitted to enter are outside: the malicious hypocrites, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, murderers, idolaters, and every lover of lies. (TPT)

Outside are the dogs [the godless, the impure, those of low moral character] and the sorcerers [with their intoxicating drugs, and magic arts], and the immoral persons [the perverted, the molesters, and the adulterers], and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying (deception, cheating). (AMP)

Outside the city are all those who live like dogs—those who do evil magic, those who sin sexually, those who murder, those who worship idols, and those who love to lie and pretend to be good. (ERV)

Revelation 22 New King James Version (NKJV)

The River of Life

And he showed me a ^[a]pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. ²In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ³And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. ⁴They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. ⁵There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

The Time Is Near

⁶Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the ^[b]holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.

⁷“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

⁸Now I, John, ^[c]saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.

⁹Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. ^[d]For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” ¹⁰And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. ¹¹He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him ^[e]be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”

Jesus Testifies to the Churches

¹²“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. ¹³I am the Alpha and the Omega, the ^[f]Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

¹⁴Blessed are those who ^[g]do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. ¹⁵^[h]But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

¹⁶“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

¹⁷And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

A Warning

¹⁸^[i]For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, ^[j]God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; ¹⁹and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God^[k] shall take away his part from the ^[l]Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.