1 Cor 4 Look up to the true Christian

Apostle Paul asked the Christians in Corinth to regard him not as some big shot leader but as a servant in Christ who has been entrusted with mysteries from God. And Paul knew since he has been given a trust, he has to prove himself faithful. Probably the Christians there did not highly regard Paul but Paul did not care how they would judge him. And he does not even judge himself. God is going to judge him and God will reveal the hearts of everyone in time to come, so nothing will be hidden.

Paul urged the Christians to learn from him regarding being faithful and not go beyond what has been written and taught. But the Christians were puff up, boasting of who they are following, and what special gifts they have, arguing, debating out of jealousy in church. Paul says they were so strong, so intelligent, so capable in the eyes of men and the apostles are like stumbling block to the world, scums of the earth, garbage to the world, such contradictions!

I thought nobody will look up to the scums of the earth, who will look up to someone who is not capable, not successful. Will you look up to someone who keep telling you not to follow the world, not to chase after money, not to chase over materialism, to forgive those who hurt you, forgive those who betrayed you. People loves to follow successful and capable people of the world. It doesn't matter if they are spiritual or not, people loves the fact is these successful people had made it. And thus following them shouldn't be wrong.

Even now a days, I thought, churches are following this trend to attract more followers. Now a days, preachers need to look good, talk good, charismatic, charm the whole crowd. People will keep pouring in, they are attracted to this preacher, the concert-style worship rather than the bible, the apostles, Jesus, the scums of the world. Sometimes, I thought, modern Christians, including myself are like a mockery to those Christians in the first century. We have failed to see the heart of these apostles, early Christians.

Paul called all of us to imitate him. How am I imitating him? I have to totally devout myself to the bible, to have deep character studies on the people in the Bible. And learn from them their fear and respect and love for God and His word. How many true Christians are there in the world and I prayed that I will wholeheartedly seek after God's heart.

1 Cor 3 Building up not tearing down

Paul was indignant of the fact that the Corinthians Christians were arguing which leader is better in the church and they divided themselves according to the leaders. And I believe the people look up and support the different strengths and idea that the leaders may represent. But it is not helping the church as a whole, it is tearing the down, causing division. It seems that God never has a intention to have different groups, different opinions but to follow what He has already set.

The different leaders if they know what the members do are not helping the church, they should quickly stop them. I hope they are not stirring up a rebellion themselves also. Paul says whoever it is, whatever roles and responsibilities you have, we are merely just servants of God, co-workers in God's service, trying to build up the church.

Paul says that the foundation of the church has already been laid. And we know he's not talking about the physical building but the church is the body of Christ, the Christians. And the foundation is not cement nor gold but it's Jesus Christ. And the members are building on top of it but what are we really building on top of Christ.

As a church leader, it's very important to see what am I feeding the church with? Am I really building up the church or am I just concern of passing my ideas and opinions? Am I teaching and making sure that the Christians are living their lives according to the bible? I can only know if I am devoted to the bible's teaching and not siting down and thinking of my own opinions.

Because as time comes, God will reveal through different areas whether are you really practicing what the bible teaches. The church will be divided, there are hidden sins in the members' lives even the leaders too. The members are not happy nor feel close to God in a personal way. But they will be very good at presenting their ideas(or your ideas) and arguing about it. They knew nothing about repentance, being broken and discipleship.

I am a culprit of this and I strive to make sure that I am relying on God and devote myself to the bible everyday and focus on building up the church. Feeding each member spiritually and helping them to exercise their faith. Teaching them to love one another, being sensitive and not stumbling one another, and encouraging, building each other up. It's not easy if I rely on my own strength and wisdom, it's only possible if I really be humble and rely on God's strength, being obedient to all that He teaches.

1 Cor 2:1-5 Is using your own strength good enough?

^"1 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.^[a] 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. ³ I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. ⁴ My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, ⁵so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power."

 Apostle Paul was previously a tent-maker and training to be a Pharisee. He knew a lot about the teachings of the law. I believed he had deep convictions and feel proud about it. However, after becoming a Christian, he realised how his previous convictions were wrong and decide to learn from zero.

He decided to put aside all that he have learned and only held on to what he knew about Jesus and the message of the cross, which is Jesus carried the sins of everyone and was tortured before being crucified on the cross, so that we could have a chance to have a personal relationship with God.

I can imagine Paul used to be really proud of all that he knew, all that he learned. Even as a trainee of being a Pharisee, he probably is respected by many in his community. But after he was humbled by Jesus, he totally changed. He no longer think that he's good enough nor use any of his previous authority or experience.

As Paul wrote the letter to the Corinthians Christians, he said he "came in weakness with great fear and trembling." It sounds like he is really afraid. But the Corinthians are not some monsters. So what is he fearful of? I believed he was fearful of how the Corinthians Christians would react to his message. And he humbly confessed he did not preach with wise and persuasive words but his messages were from God. Purely deep convictions of God that were inspired.

I was asked by my church in Singapore to start a church in Seremban, Malaysia. I was really excited  but I have no idea what it really takes to be a missionary. Coming here, I was fearful but told myself I do not need to be afraid especially I have been a active Christian for more than 10 years serving in different ministries as a leader.

I was so wrong. I'm always relying on my own strength and experience. I was frequently referring to how I used to carry myself, how to speak to people, how to lead back in Singapore. But I found myself crumbling down. Whatever I have learned previously, it doesn't seem to work. It's not that there's problem with the physical skills but the problem was with my heart.

I was not relying on God. I should be relying on God so much more but I choose to be confident of my own strength and experience. But I was humbled so much when things are not going the way it should be, my marriage, the church, my own relationship with God, all messed up. And I just want to go on my knees and pray, begging God to show me how He would use me to deliver his plans.

Now I'm feeling so much more relax and secured because I know I have a close relationship with God. And God is beginning to show me what He can do and I am in awe daily. Praise be to God!

Greetings!

Greetings!

Welcome to my blog on my life and things that I learn daily from the bible and life. I will also post things about health and fitness but mainly will be my personal journal of my thoughts. Main purpose is to help me express my thoughts better and share with everyone a little things that I read from books, bible and life. That means I'm totally not very good in expressing my thoughts and emotions well so please bear with my writing some times.

Most of the time, the bible scriptures quoted are from New International Version. Hope it will help you in your life too. Just click on the different labels that may help you and you can start from there. I'm sure God has a plan for you and I hope you can find it here. Enjoy your stay here!

1 Cor 1:26 Who are you when you accepted God

1 Cor 1:26 "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth."

I was thinking and remembering who was I or what was I when I accepted God's message and was baptised. I was just 17 and a student. A student who was doing private study and did badly in school. No one will think highly of me or any student like myself. Yet I have more iniquities than I thought of myself at that time. I am awkward in many areas yet I try to hide it by acting and pretending. I don't want people to look down at me. I was very insecure. But God called me when I was so weak. And I'm thankful that I have this chance to know Him and that he accepted my weakness and use it to display his strength. No strength in the world is comparable with Him. Only a fool will think otherwise. Keep me humble, God, and help me to always remember what I was when you call me.