Chester ARP Devotional Podcast

Paul told the Corinthians that the gospel, which they held, was reliable because it fulfilled the promises of the Old Testament. Jesus lived, died, was buried, and raised according to the Scriptures. 

God is a God of peace, not confusion. We experience that peace by doing all things in decency and order, especially corporate worship. 

The Christian faith is a faith for the spirit and the mind. We worship, pray, and speak in our spirit and our minds. We engage the whole person in our relationship with God. 

We are called to build up the Church when we use our gifts. This is especially true for the gifts of prophecy and tongues. 

Love is Jesus. He is love. To follow him means to learn to love like he does. 

The most excellent gift is love. It is the governing principle of Church life and ministry. 

Every member of the Church is important to God and the fulfillment of the mission. Each person has gifts to be used in the Lord's service. 

The Church of Christ is one body with one head and many parts. He is the head, and we are the members, each with gifts to be used in concert with others' for his glory. 

The Holy Spirit gives gifts to all according to the purpose of his holy will. The indicator of faith in someone is whether or not he or she professes faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord of Creation. 

Like the Corinthians, we must examine ourselves when coming to the Lord's Table. We must come properly in faith and confession. If we don't, we will be guilty of profaning the body and the blood of Christ. 

Paul asked the Corinthians what was wrong with them when they let their divisions impact the way they partook in the Lord's Supper. The rich ate their full and got drunk, leaving the poor with nothing to eat when they came to the Table, which is the place where the all-accepting grace of God is clearly seen. 

Paul instructed the Corinthians about orderly worship. He began by instructing husbands and wives on maintaining their roles when worshipping God together. We should learn from his instruction too. 

Like the Corinthians, we are to do everything we do for God's glory. We are to serve others and enjoy God's blessings in a way that testifies to His greatness. 

We participate in the same body when we participate in the Lord's Supper. We should maintain our commitment to Christ and his body. 

Don't be idolaters like the Old Testament people of God who suffered God's judgment because of their sin. We are to worship God alone. 

Paul became all things to all people so that he might win some for the sake of Christ. He desires to see people come to Christ. Do we share the same conviction? 

Paul and Barnabas sacrificed their rights for the sake of the Corinthians. They wanted the Corinthians to know Christ and to grow in him. May we have the same heart as we live for the glory of Christ. 

Paul urged the Corinthians to consider their brothers and sisters' consciences when deciding whether to eat or not eat food sacrificed to idols. We are to do the same. Our governing principle should always be to build our brothers and sisters up in the faith. 

We are to live for Jesus where we are. Coming to Christ doesn't necessarily mean that our life circumstances will change. Rather, it means we are to testify to God's glory and grace wherever we are. 

Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. We are temples to the Lord; our behavior should reflect that reality. Therefore, we are to flee sexual immorality and devote ourselves fully to the Lord. 

The Corinthians weren't acting like Christians. They were acting like those in the world. In pride, they took offense at the actions of others and sued one another in the secular courts. Paul told them to be more Christlike. The same message is for us. 

The Corinthians needed to clean their church up. It was full of immorality, and they boasted in their strength. They needed to humble themselves and expel the immoral ones. 

Paul told the Corinthians that they should be ashamed of themselves for allowing sexual deviants to remain in the congregation. What we allow often says more about our pursuit of Christ than what we actually do. 

Paul challenged the Corinthians to imitate him as he imitates Christ. We need guides to lead us in the way we should walk. Let's follow those whom God has given us. 

God was the only one who Paul allowed to judge him. He didn't even judge himself. What maturity! May we learn to have the same conviction.