Week 11

This week in 1 Corinthians 5-6, once again we examine about ‘worldly Christians’ and God’s judgment on Christian’s sinful behaviour.

In 5:11 warns us to flee from someone who claims themselves as brother but is someone who is sexually immoral, a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler!! For these people their heart are open both for God and for Satan!

In 6: 9-10 it specifically stated these people will not enter the kingdom of God.

This reminds me of previous week’s bible reading where it mentioned “our mind is willing (to be Godly) but our body is weak”. The only way to strengthen our body and stand firm against satan is to shut the door to satan and anything immoral including any person who would bring us close to immorality!

Week 12

Mon 14 Jul 2008	Genesis 44-47
Tue 15 Jul 2008	1Samuel 6-10
Wed 16 Jul 2008	Psalms 33-35
Thu 17 Jul 2008	Job 23-24
Fri 18 Jul 2008	Isaiah 62-66
Sat 19 Jul 2008	Mark 3-4
Sun 20 Jul 2008	1Corinthians 7-8

1 Corinthians 5-6

• Paul already "pronounced judgment" on clear sexual immorality (5:3). If we are clear of actions that are wrong, then we should voice out, not fold our hands and think its God's role to judge? (5:3)
• "For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you." (v12-13)

• If you have disputes between brothers (and sisters), it should be done witihn the church (6:1-5)
• "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawyful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything (v12) This suggests that we are not bound by anything, so with the Holy Spirit from God, we could walk away without falling into any addictions. Further, although we possess this freedom, it does not mean we could do whatever we like. Do whatever is helpful.

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral pperson sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

-- 1 Corithians 6:18-20

Mark 1-2

• John the baptist paves way for Jesus, fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah (1:1-3)
• Prepares people to repent for the forgiveness of sins (v4)
• Were the people who repent believing the fulfilment of the prophecy? (v5)
• I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit. (v8)
• Jesus is the belovede Son of God, declared by God immediately after baptism (v11)
• While Jesus is being tempted, why are there angels ministering him (v13b)
• Jesus he himself proclaims he has fulfilled the prophecy (v15), so repent!
• Demons believe that Jesus is the Holy One of God (v24)
• Simon's mother-in-law is healed (v30)
• Jesus has quiet time (v35)
• Leper implores Jesus to heal him if he will (v40)
• Jesus reaches out and touches him to heal him. He shows care (v41)
• Jesus has power to clean him, but still tells him to be endorsed by human-rule by telling him to be declared clean by priest (v44)

• Look how much they trusted Jesus in healing the paralytic, and hence so much effort just to get him to Jesus (2:1-4)
• The scribes were hard-hearted. Jesus clearly showed this "sign" and they just kept questioning (v8-12)
• Jesus helps those who are in need, those who are not righteous, that is the purpose why he is here on earth (v17)

Psalms 30-32

• The Lord saves (30:1-3)
• Gives thanks for the Lord's protection (v4)
• We may momentarily experience grief, but God will provide us Joy (v5)
• David's faith will not move (v6)
• God will turn what seems bad to good, hold on and give thanks to Him (v11-12)

• David being so powerful, remains humble and still asks for God to provide him refuge. (31:1)
• Reference to the Lord as the rock, the foundation (v2-3)
• Submitted himself entirely for God (v5)
• The challenges that David has faced has not changed his views that God provides and will love us without change (v7-8)

1 Samuel 1-5

• Hannah prays to God when she goes through grief, not blame God (1:10)
• Notice her prayer in v11, she asks if God will (in accordance to His will), to give her a son that she will dedicate to God
• There maybe times where we make the wrong judgment with our observations. (v12)
• Pray, and God will provide you peace (v18)
• God answers her prayers (v20)
• Is Hannah just fulfilling her responsibility in rearing the child until he has weaned? (v22), or is she postponing her promise in offering Samuel to God?
• She honours her promise in v24-28, “he is lent to the Lord”

• God – rock (2:2)
• Samuel remains to be consistently with God even though he is near bad influences such as Eli’s sons (v21b, v26)
• Characteristics of Faithful priest: does according to what is my heart and in my mind. God will build him a sure house, anointed forever. (v35)

• Sometimes, we are a bit like Samuel, we are not clear who is calling us (3:1-9). We need to make sure we leave time for God to speak to us (v10)
• Eli accepts what God will be going to do and acknowledges he is the Lord, and we should let Him do what seems good to Him (v18)

• Israel got it all wrong. God did not defeat them, God left them. And they thought bringing the ark would me God will be on their side. They do not realise it is God who gives them power, not the ark! (4:3) Today, we often place our emphasis on the wrong things thinking God is with us when we possess something symbolic. The question should be where our heart is. If our heart is with God, he will be there with us. Failing to know this, they lose the battle, losing what was symbolically meaningful to him as well, the ark itself! (v11)

Genesis 40-43

• Joseph is humble and honours God (41:16)
• After all these years of suffering, if finally has a chance for good lifestyle, but he still acknowledges others needs before his own. Although it was blatantly obvious that he was best person to help Pharaoh, he still did not sell himself as best candidate to lift himself from grief, but let Pharaoh make decision (v38)

• After all these years of suffering, Joseph does not have anger over his brothers, only filled with love and care over his family. (43:27-30)