CONSTRUCTING OR DESTRUCTING On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. —I Corinthians 14:3 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. —I Corinthians 14:12  What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. —I Corinthians 14:26             Am I seeking to build or tear down? Am I seeking to encourage or discourage? Am I seeking to console or depress people? As I reflect on my walk with…

DON’T BE SELFISH, BE OTHERISH No one should seek his own good, but the good of others. —I Corinthians 10:24 For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved. —I Corinthians 10:33 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. —Philippians 2:3-4             How am I seeking the good of others? Am I seeking the good of the lost that they may be saved? Am I doing what I am doing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit?…

RUN FROM SIN AND TO HOLINESS! When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin.  But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.  I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people. It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly…

FAITHFUL SERVICE WILL BE COMMENDED! Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.  If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.  If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. —I Corinthians 3:12-15 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. —I Corinthians 4:2 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before…

SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. —I Corinthians 2:14             The natural person is still dead in their trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1).   The natural person is blinded to the gospel (II Corinthians 4:4). The natural person thinks the gospel is foolishness (I Corinthians 1:18). But those who follow Jesus have been “made alive” (Ephesians 2:5). They have had “His light shine in (their) hearts to give (them) the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of…

OTHERS CENTERED AND NOT SELF CENTERED Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. —Romans 15:2             How much do I look out for the interests of other people?  Or, am I only concerned with my own interests?  In what ways do I seek to please my neighbor for his good?  How am I looking to build others up?             These questions can be seen in the way I spend my time, the way I spend my finances, the time I serve, the attitude I serve with, the desires I truly have on the inside, how I really think of other people and my…

FAITHFULLY LIVE FOR JESUS! So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. —Romans 14:12             Let us live today and for the rest of our lives to honor King Jesus.  Oh, remember brothers and sisters that we will give an account to God.  Let us be faithful to honor our Lord and King.  Yes, let us live out the great grace that has been extended to us.  May it be so, Father, in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son that I would hear those words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  Yes, may it be so

BE MORE LIKE JESUS Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. —Romans 12:2             The world system will seek to pressure you to conform to it.  Its values are promoted all around us every day.  Those of the world want us to be like them, but we were called out of the world and into the Kingdom of God’s Son.  Since we were called out of the world’s system and into God’s Son’s Kingdom there is transformation taking place in our lives. …

I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance. —Acts 26:20   You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. —I Corinthians 16:15   For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. —Ephesians 2:10   who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. —Titus 2:14   As the body without the spirit…

HE IMPACTED ME THAT I’D IMPACT OTHERS! For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.  More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom…