Journalling On 1 Corinthians part 2

Part 2 Division In The Chucrh

1 Corinthians 1:10-16

The church in Corinth was not living up to the standard and her potential. Quarrelling and divisions were threatening the church because of differences. This was so urgent that Paul spoke on this issue quite intently.

The Curse of Division:

1. It DISHONOURS the name of Christ

2. It DISMANTLES the work of Christ

3. It DISGUSTS the enemies of Christ

4. It DISCOURAGES the servants of Christ especially the leaders

5. It DISORGANISES the church of Christ

6. It DISAPPOINTS the Spirit of Christ

The Cause of Division:

1. The strategy of Satan (2 Cor. 2:11)

a) To Exploit the church

b) To Explode the church

2. Foolishness/stupidity of God’s Selfish People

a) Making convictions into contentions (1 Cor. 1:11)

b) Making personalities into parties 1 Cor. 1:12)

c) Making molehills into mountains (1 Cor. 3:1-3)

The Cure of Division:

1. Clarify the issues (1:11)

2. Identify the problems (3:3)

3. Rectify the ills (1:10)

a) Speaking

b) Thinking

c) Deciding

d) Healing

4. Specify the priorities

a) Battles don’t build the body

b) The cross of Christ is still the central

c) The master matters more than men

I hope the cell pastors and leaders can gain more insight on this topic and begin to teach others in the church. We want to see ICC to be a place where people can say, “How wonderful…how pleasant a place to be..” This requires harmony as given in Psalm 133. In such unity you may even smell the fragrance of the anointing oil. You will be refreshed by His presence and you will find that there is a commanded blessing for you!

Renew Your Mind – Rearrange

Rearranging is one of nature’s prime methods of creation. The moving plates of the earth’s crust form new land masses and surface features. The shuffling of the DNA genetic codes through sex produces new life forms.

Similarly, rearranging your resources can create new ideas. Try putting your ending in the middle, or the ceter on the top, or the inside on the outside, or the left on the right.

How can you arrange things?

(Rom 12:1)  

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 

To rearrange anything you need to renew your mindset!

God bless you all

Vessels For Revival

2 Kings 2:19-22

salt & bowl

“Bring me  a new bowl with salt in it” – why salt and why a new bowl? Why not any bowl? Why not just a handful of salt?

(Mar 9:50)Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”

Where is the salt? It is in YOURSELF! It is the salt that preserves, restores etc.

The key: It is what that is in the bottle – that is what is needed to heal the water. Yet it is not any kind of bottle. It has to be new. So the Bible says, “A new wineskin with new wine” not “an old wineskin with new wine” It won’t do!

For revival to happen – the vessels must be ready. It is only ready when the vessels are cleansed. This reminded me of the wedding at Cana when the wine ran out – Jesus saw the 6 waterpots (Ceremonial pots – cleansed and ready for used). Jesus said fill them and when the water was drawn to be drunk – the water was turned into wine. A Miracle happened.

We cannot determine when revival will take place but we can definitely get ready when God decides to move. Whatever God imparts to us as vessels – it will create miracles!

One step by 100 persons is better than 100 steps by one person. Koichi Tsukamoto

Your God Given Titles – Colossians 3:12-14

(Col 3:12)Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;(Col 3:13)bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.(Col 3:14)But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 

1. You are the chosen (elect) one – oh! What a privilege to be called the chosen one of God.
2. You are the holy one – You are set apart for God. Don’t let anything come in between you and God
3. You are the beloved of God – This is a permanent title -you are not only loved by God but the beloved. God never changes.

              Can I encourage all of you to remember the three titles God has given you – Chosen, Holy and Beloved.

Planning

Proverbs 21: 5 Good planning and hardwork lead to prosperity. 

v.30 Human plans no matter how wise can stand against the Lord.

So, when planning make sure God is included in your planning.