Feeding the Sheep - New Series
Building Together on God's Foundation
"And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as Spirit-filled but as worldly—as infants in Messiah. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready. Indeed, even now you are not yet ready, for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, aren’t you worldly and walking in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere humans?
What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you came to trust—and to each as the Lord gave. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow. Now he who plants and he who waters work as one, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each consider carefully how he builds on it. For no one can lay any other foundation than what is already laid—which is Yeshua the Messiah. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear. For the Day will show it, because it is to be revealed by fire; and the fire itself will test each one’s work—what sort it is. If anyone’s work built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss—he himself will be saved, but as through fire.
Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that the Ruach Elohim dwells among you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool so he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the sight of God. For it is written, “He catches the clever in their craftiness.” And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are useless.” So let no one boast about men. For all things are yours— whether Paul or Apollos or Kefa, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come. All are yours, and you are Messiah’s, and Messiah is God’s."
1 Corinthians 3
[This is the first message of this new series]
Adulting
Now that we have been reborn and matured a bit, we should be ready to move from infancy to adolescence.
This will be a most formative stage of our spiritual development There will be ups and downs, just like as new borns. And it will surely feel like a real roller coaster ride.
Work in Progress
We can be like Apostle Peter, sticking our foot inside our mouth at times; sticking our nose in other people's business and making things worse. But we can also surprise ourselves by saying or doing the right thing at the right place and time.
We can be like Thomas, still doubting at times but we should be expectant that God will make a way for us to move past our unbelief (and believe).
We can be like the Corinthian Church like the Apostle Paul is writing to from the passage above.
We are all a work in progress. But we aren't babies anymore. We are able to read Scriptures and ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand.
We can be partisan and take sides because of selfish reasons, personal gain, or envy or jealousy.
We know we can be like that. And we are. We are all God's workers, working together to build the same structure. Let us build one another up -- we are the structure, we are the church, the whole Body of Christ, the bride the brifegroom will come back for on His second coming.
Let us not tear one another down.
Heed the words of Apostle Paul. Once we admit to our mistakes, our shortcomings, our uncertainties, our selfish or hidden desires, our lies, manipulations and deception, then we can move on from milk to solid food -- the meat of God's Word. Let us be teachable and humble. Let us pray:
'Open my eyes Father God. Forgive me my sins. I should know better.
Help me to see Jesus in my fellow coworkers in Christ. Thank you for making us righteous in Your eyes.
Help me to see myself in the shoes of those who are lost. I once was in the same condition and You took me in, no questions asked.
Thank you for your grace and mercy.
Let me be a blessing to others and not be a burden nor a stumbling block. Let me not grieve the Holy Spirit but instead yield to His gentle proddings.
Help me grow in my daily walk with You Lord and be worthy to be called a follower of Christ.
This I pray in the Name of my Savior, Jesus Christ.'
We can be like Apostle Peter, sticking our foot inside our mouth at times; sticking our nose in other people's business and making things worse. But we can also surprise ourselves by saying or doing the right thing at the right place and time.
We can be like Thomas, still doubting at times but we should be expectant that God will make a way for us to move past our unbelief (and believe).
We can be like the Corinthian Church like the Apostle Paul is writing to from the passage above.
We are all a work in progress. But we aren't babies anymore. We are able to read Scriptures and ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand.
We can be partisan and take sides because of selfish reasons, personal gain, or envy or jealousy.
We know we can be like that. And we are. We are all God's workers, working together to build the same structure. Let us build one another up -- we are the structure, we are the church, the whole Body of Christ, the bride the brifegroom will come back for on His second coming.
Let us not tear one another down.
Heed the words of Apostle Paul. Once we admit to our mistakes, our shortcomings, our uncertainties, our selfish or hidden desires, our lies, manipulations and deception, then we can move on from milk to solid food -- the meat of God's Word. Let us be teachable and humble. Let us pray:
'Open my eyes Father God. Forgive me my sins. I should know better.
Help me to see Jesus in my fellow coworkers in Christ. Thank you for making us righteous in Your eyes.
Help me to see myself in the shoes of those who are lost. I once was in the same condition and You took me in, no questions asked.
Thank you for your grace and mercy.
Let me be a blessing to others and not be a burden nor a stumbling block. Let me not grieve the Holy Spirit but instead yield to His gentle proddings.
Help me grow in my daily walk with You Lord and be worthy to be called a follower of Christ.
This I pray in the Name of my Savior, Jesus Christ.'
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