1 Corinthians 4:19 - Low, Slow and Not Too Much

 

1 Corinthians 4:19

NKJV

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

 

NLT

But I will come—and soon—if the Lord lets me, and then I’ll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God’s power

 

Do I speak words in my own power, or do I let God lead? In verse eighteen, I kinda jokingly said that Paul was saying “don’t make me come over there” Paul was not trash talking here, he was basically reminding the Corinthians that the same power continues to show that God’s authority is with Paul.

 

Back to the first question, do I speak words in my own power, or do I let God lead? What God says, and how He leads me, is way more important than anything I can say. Unfortunately, sometimes my mouth gets in gear and the things that come out are not run through the Holy Spirit filter at all. My friend Carl was a really slow talker, a lot of people didn’t think he was very smart. But what I figured out about him was that he was serious about his relationship with Christ. He measured everything he said, it didn’t leave his mouth without him capturing it and making sure it was run through that God filter.

 

Wouldn’t that be a good idea for all of us?  John Wayne said, “talk low, talk slow and don’t say too much” This is really good advice we should all follow. Because if we don’t, then another John Wayne quote comes into play, “Life is hard; it’s harder if you’re stupid.”

 

Low, slow, and not too much,

cej

1 Corinthians 4:18 - Don't Make me Come Over There

 

1 Corinthians 4:18

NKJV

Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 

 

NLT

Some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will not visit you again. 

 

I can remember being told by my dad, “don’t think I won’t come over there”.  This was usually followed by “and whip you butt”, because I was a trouble-getter-inner-kid.  But I think the first part of this is appropriate.  Paul is saying the same thing, “don’t think I won’t come over there”. 

 

The Corinthians were on their social media (CorinthSpace, maybe), hiding behind their screens.  Saying whatever they wanted too about whoever.  Times haven’t changed all that much, have they?  Here we are, 2,000 years later and we do the same thing.  Aren’t we a whole lot braver online than we are in person?

 

It shouldn’t be this way, we should be willing to speak truth; but speak truth in love and kindness.  We all have the ability to puke our truth on strangers, but what does that gain us.  Are we willing to have a relationship with someone we disagree with in order to understand where they come from and how we can influence them into a biblical viewpoint?  Or do we just vomit our opinions and walk away?  Let’s not be that person, let’s be lovers of people.  Love them enough to have a relationship for change.  Speak God’s truth, just don’t make it a weapon you beat them over the head with.

 

Don’t think I won’t come over there,

cej

1 Corinthians 4:14-17 - Spur On!

Wilbur PLaugher

 

1 Corinthians 4:14-17

NKVJ

I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.  For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.  Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

 

NLT

I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.  For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you.  So I urge you to imitate me.  That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go.

I believe this is talking about those that instruct us in any kind of bible study and those that have invested time in us, a mentor if you will.  There is a difference.  I have been in bible studies of various kinds for probably 30 years, with just a few exceptions, few of the teacher have been what I call invested in me.  Don’t get me wrong, I think they liked me (maybe for the most part); but they weren’t invested in me.  They weren’t in my life 3-4-5 times a week wanting to know how I’m doing and what is going on.

This is the difference between teaching and discipleship.  The person who knows what’s under your skin; the things you’re struggling with; the things you don’t share with the public, that is the guy who is invested.  This is the guy who is walking through life with you; the one who hears the jacked up things we’re thinking and says “wow dude, that’s jacked up!  I love you and that’s wrong.  But I want to walk through this with you” 

I have a pastor friend that I’ve heard say, “evangelism is fun and exciting and everybody wants to do it.  But discipleship is a whole lot harder, it takes work and a ton of effort”  We should all strive to have someone who we consider as a mentor, someone we’re not afraid to puke our problems on; but someone who is willing to call us on our baloney.  To speak truth and encouragement into our lives.  We should also have someone that we’re willing to do the same with.

 

Hebrews 10:24 says we are to spur one another on to love and good deed.  I believe we at times need someone to spur us on and at other times we need to spur someone else on. 

 

Spur on!

cej

 

 

1 Corinthians 4:20 - Lead Me

 

1 Corinthians 4:20

NKJV

For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

 

NLT

For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.

 

I think we can all fall into the trap of saying, and doing, all the right things in our visible walk with Christ. I used to tell the youth, don’t tell me the church answers…I know all those. Tell me what you really think. I am guilty of not walking my walk in the power of God, of saying all of the churchy things to make the appearances seem like I’m in a good place. But, at times I most certainly am not in a good place.

 

I have all that I need from God to not just talk the talk; but to walk the walk too! All I have to do is lean into the Holy Spirit; to trust that God said He would never leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5).  I have to believe that the devil will flee from me if I submit myself to God (James 4:7).

 

Wow! How about that? Seems simple enough, just submit to God and the devils gotta go! Ahh…but that submission, that’s the difficult part. To accept the power that I have been given through my salvation; I have to give my whole self to God. This is difficult in that I can’t be about me anymore. It’s easy in that all you have to say is “ok, God…lead me”

 

Lead me today, Lord!

cej