Category: Spiritual

1 Corinthians 2:9

Previously Paul told the Corinthians that faith in God does not come from the enticing words of man’s wisdom. When he first visited them, he taught and preached the simple gospel message – Jesus Christ and His crucifixion is the wisdom of God. He wanted believers’ trust to be in God and His plan of salvation, which is made known through Christ and activated through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul continues his teaching of wisdom in verse 9 saying, “But as it is written…” an introductory phrase of Old Testament prophecy (Isa. 64:4) that is here fulfilled. The prophecy is: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” Here Paul reminded the Corinthians that God has things planned for His children that are not revealed to them through earthly sight, hearing, or what the heart has received. Recall that while Israel was in Babylonian exile, Jeremiah delivered a word from God: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jer. 29:11). 

No matter how difficult our trials and tribulations are, believers should trust God, never forgetting that He is purposeful in His ways and thoughts. He knows the plans He has to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. Clearly Paul’s instruction on wisdom is: “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (v.5). 

Lift your voice and shout, “Glory!” 

1Corinthians 2:1-8 KJV

Paul received communication from the house of Chloe about contentions among the saints of God at Corinth (1 Cor.1:11). One of their issues was the contrast of earthly wisdom with heavenly wisdom. Recall that “there is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl.1:9); therefore, 1 Cor. 2:1-8 is part of his response to them and could have been written today.  

In verses 4-5 Paul said when he came to them, his teaching and preaching, wasn’t “enticing words of man’s wisdom but in the power of the Holy Spirit” (v.4). His gospel message focused only on “Jesus Christ and him crucified” (v.2) so they would have faith in God, not the wisdom of men (v.5). 

Paul continued, stating that he preached wisdom among the spiritually mature in faith and not that which was earthly, nor of the leaders of this world (v.6). God is wisdom and declared that His “ways and thoughts are higher than our ways and thoughts” (Isa. 55:9). His word stands forever; it doesn’t wither like grass and fade like flowers (Isa. 40:8). What was once hidden and a mystery to man from the foundation of the world is no longer so. In God’s appointed time He showed His love by sending Jesus Christ to fulfill His eternal plan of salvation for all who believe in Him and the work of the Holy Spirit. God is all-knowing and hid His plan of salvation from the spiritually blind of this world. Paul reminded us that if the rulers of this world knew that Jesus’ life on the cross was part of God’s divine plan for salvation, “they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (v.8).

Lift your voice and shout, “Glory!”

Amos 5:18-20

All God’s works are purposeful and “done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40). He created man to live purposeful lives in relationship with Him, reflecting His glory and fulfilling the plans He has for us. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10 ESV).

However, we live in a fallen world because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience. God commanded them “to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Gen. 2:17). Their willful rebellion, or lawlessness, against God’s righteousness, brought sin into the world, resulting in every one of us being born sinners and sentenced to death. Romans 6:23a says: “For the wages of sin is death…” Sin separated us spiritually from God and threw the world into mass disorder.

At the time God called Amos, Israel was experiencing a time of prosperity but lacked loyalty and unrepentance for sin. A part of God’s purposeful work is justice. Israel had strayed far from their calling as God’s people, chosen to represent His nature of love and righteousness to other nations. So, God sent Amos to prophesy to Israel, warning them of the coming of “the day of the Lord.” “Yes, the day of the Lord will be dark and hopeless, without a ray of joy or hope” (v.20). God’s message of judgment is a warning for all who refuse to repent and turn from their evil ways back to living purposeful lives that reflect His glory. 

Lift your voice and shout “Glory!”

Amos 5:18-20 NLT

Amos warned Israel about the seriousness of disobedience and unrepentance with God, telling them that the day of the Lord for which they yearned would come. Though Israel is God’s chosen people, their status won’t gain them divine favor if they remained disobedient and unrepentant, nor would it bring them joy as they erroneously believed. God has no respect of persons and is just in treatment to all people. Amos prophesied centuries ago that God’s people are called to live righteously – repent and live a life of obedience, conducting ourselves daily to reflect that we belong to Christ. When the Lord comes each believer will be held accountable for how they walked before God.

The prophet painted a graphic picture comparing Israel to a man trying to flee three dangerous animals on the Lord’s day. He prophesied, “In that day you will be like a man who runs from a lion – only to meet a bear. Escaping from the bear, he leans his hand against a wall in his house – and he’s bitten by a snake” (v.19). Amos showed Israel the urgency of a true and faithful relationship with God rather than having false hope in the things of this world.  

Amos’ graphic illustration of the day of the Lord symbolized increased and endless danger for an unrepentant man running, trying to escape. The prophet signified that security in God is the only escape from the consequence of His judgment. The gospel singer, Lee Williams says, “You can’t run, You can’t hide. There’s no need, No need to try. You don’t know when or how he’s coming; you just can’t get by.” 

Lift your voice and shout, “Glory!”

 

Amos 5:18-20 NLT

There are times when God’s people experience outward prosperity, and everything appears to be going well. However, be aware that earthly riches can be deceptive and create in us an attitude of hypocrisy because at the same time we are prospering, we can experience an increase in sin, resulting in great moral and spiritual decline. Unfortunately, this is what was happening in Israel during Amos’ time. Many kept their religious festivals but remained disobedient, unjust, and hypocritical; today, many of us keep our worship service and do the same. Israel failed to heed God’s call to repent and turn back to Him; therefore, Amos pronounced woe to those who were unrepentant but selfishly longed for the coming of the Lord’s day.  

God is not against material prosperity; He just does not want us to mistake it for the measure of being blessed and highly favored. He measures believers’ prosperity by the heart that is fixed and character that reflects trust in Him through good and bad times and not by earthly possessions. According to 3 John 1:2, John blessed Gaius, saying, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” Also, Paul told the Philippians (4:19), “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” God’s desire is for His people to be well, successful, and have all needs met in every aspect of their life. So today, Children of God, don’t let earthly prosperity give you a false sense of security.

Lift your voice and give God, “Glory!”