Set Aside a Sum of Money

HOOK

ADVENT means “coming” in Latin. It is a season of waiting. For us modern day Christians, we are waiting for the second coming of Christ our Lord and Savior which could happen anytime now. This season of Advent is a time for us to prepare, to be ready, and to truly understand the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas is not about Santa Claus. If it was about him, the day should’ve been called “SantaMas” or “ClausMas”. But no! It is called Christmas because it is all about Christ. When we expect some guests coming, what do we do? We clean our home. Our body is the home of the Holy Spirit. Let us take time to clean it to make it ready for the coming of the Master. Before we are caught by the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, let us make time for prayer, fasting and repentance.

We started gleaning on the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians back in June— and to sum it all up— the fundamental lesson from this letter is UNITY

Turn your Bible to the beginning of 1 Corinthians and flip the pages as I recap what we’ve learned from it so far…

ACCEPT EACH OTHERS WEAKNESSES

STRIVE FOR HARMONY

APPOINT WISE LEADERS

THE POWER OF GOD SAVES

THE POWER OF GOD FULFILLS HIS PURPOSE IN HIS PEOPLE ‘S LIVES

THE POWER OF GOD GIVES BELIEVERS INNER STRENGTH

LEARN TO BE LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT IN ALL WE DO

GROW IN CHRST BY SPENDING TIME PRAYING AND READING THE BIBLE

BECOME MORE AND MORE LIKE CHRIST

TEACH OTHERS OF WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT GOD

THE HOLY SPIRIT FORM, DWELLS AND ENABLES THE CHURCH

I WILL PROVE MYSELF FAITHFUL NOT BY WHAT I SAY, BUT BY WHAT I DO

I WILL NOT JUDGE ON ANYTHING BECAUSE IT IS GOD WHO WILL REVEAL EVERYTHING

I WILL LET THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT REFLECT IN THE WAY I SERVE GOD

DIVINE DISCIPLINE IS A SIGN OF GOD’S LOVE, BELONGING TO GOD’S FAMILY, TRAIN’S GOD’S PEOPLE

I WILL NOT SUE A FELLOW CHRISTIAN IN COURT

I’D RATHER BE WRONGED INSTEAD OF PROVING MYSELF RIGHT IN COURT

I AM WASHED, I AM JUSTIFIED, AND I AM BEING SANCTIFIED

MY BODY HAS PARTICIPATION IN THE FINAL STAGE OF MY GLORIFICATION

I WILL RUN AWAY QUICKLY WHEN TEMPTED WITH SEXUAL IMMORALITY

I WILL HONOR GOD WITH MY BODY

I WILL SECURE MY MIND

I MUST BLOCK OUT TEMPTATION

I SHALL RECOGNIZE MY WEAKNESSES

I HAVE TO PROTECT MY MARRIAGE

I WILL BE FAITHFUL WITH MY TITHES AND OFFERINGS TO SUPPORT OUR MINISTRY WORKERS

I WILL ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE COMMON GROUND TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL

I WILL DISCOVER MY GOD GIVE PURPOSE IF I HAVEN’T ALREADY

LET’S BE HUMBLE, HONEST, WILLING TO CHANGE— WHEN WE EXAMINE OURSELVES

LET’S LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER’S WELFARE

LET’S CARRY EACH OTHER’S BURDEN

LET’S BUILD EACH OTHER UP

PAUL DEFINED LOVE— LOVE NEVER FAILS

FOLLOW THE WAY OF LOVE AND EAGERLY DESIRE GIFTS

THEY TO EXCEL ON SPIRITUAL GIFTS THAT BUILDS UP THE CHURCH

SPEAK IN TONGUES IN WORSHIP SERVICES WHEN THERE’S AN INTERPRETER

I’LL BE MINDFUL OF WHO I AM HANGING OUT WITH

I STAND FIRM NO MATTER HOW THEY DISCREDIT RESURRECTION

I GIVE MYSELF FULLY TO THE WORK OF THE LORD

And then when Paul concluded his first letter to Corinthians, these are some of the things that stood out:

BOOK | LOOK | 1 CORINTHIANS 16

SPEND SOME TIME IF THE LORD PERMITS

1 Corinthians 16:7 (NIV)

7 For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.

REFRESH AND RECOGNITION

1 Corinthians 16:18 (NIV)

18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.

Paul commends three of the Corinthians for their lively faith and practical ministry

The first was Stephanas who, with his family and slaves, was the first person to become a Christian in the province of Achaia

He and his household were devoted servants of the church

Two others are Fortunatus and Achaiacus, whose visit so encouraged Paul and refreshed him

These are high-quality Christians who should be considered as leaders

CHURCH THAT MEETS AT HOME

1 Corinthians 16:19 (NIV)

19 The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.

LET THE PERSON WHO DO NOT LOVE THE LORD BE CURSED

1 Corinthians 16:22 (NIV)

22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be cursed! Come, Lord!

And these are the highlights of his concluding chapter

TOOK

I WILL CHEERFULLY SET ASIDE MY TITHES & OFFERINGS EVERY SUNDAY

1 Corinthians 16:2 (NIV)

2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

Paul mentions the collection that he is organizing to help the needy Christians in Jerusalem

The church in Jerusalem has always had a large number of widows to support— and to make matters worse, the whole Judea has suffered famine

Paul wants the Gentile Churches to help their Jewish brother and sisters

To collect the aid money, Paul suggests that the Corinthians do the same as the Galatian churches

Everyone makes a gift — little or much, according to their income— on the first day of the week when they meet for worship

He will give letters of introduction to those the Corinthians appoint to take the gift to Jerusalem

In this way they can be sure the money will be honestly handled and properly used

Question: Why do I have to set aside my tithes & offerings at the first day of the week? Am I being faithful in my giving? What is holding me back from giving?

OPPORTUNITIES ARE OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY OPPOSITIONS

1 Corinthians 16:9 (NIV)

9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

Opportunity to preach the gospel, to share God’s love, to help the poor

Opportunities to raise servant leaders and ministry workers to usher in the kingdom of God

Opportunities to obey the Lord’s Greatest Commandment:

Matthew 22:36–40 NIV

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

And the Great Commission:

Matthew 28:18–20 NIV

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Paul will stay in Ephesus for two and half years

We know from the book of Acts that he holds daily discussions in the hall of Tyrannus

These meetings share the gospel with people who are visiting Ephesus on business— and take the good news to other parts of the province of Asia

And the opposition that Paul battled with are the occult powers— which end with a great burning of books and scrolls

His successful preaching also causes riot among the local silversmiths, because they see the gospel destroying their trade in idols and magic charms

Question: When you are presented with opportunities, how do you handle your opposition?

I WILL STAND FIRM AND COURAGEOUS WHILE DOING EVERYTHING IN LOVE

1 Corinthians 16:13–14 (NIV)

13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.

Paul sums up his advice to the Corinthians:

Guard against evil and jealousy

Stand firm in the faith of Christ

Be mature and brave in your witness

And have no other motive than love

Question: When do you need to stand firm? What are the appropriate use of courage? Am I doing everything out of love?