1 Corinthians 9:1 (KJV) Proof Positive

 

1 Corinthians 9:1 (KJV)

Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

The first in this series of questions is rhetorical, followed by others offered as proofs

Am I not an apostle?
The obvious answer is yes. He had no intention of providing them an opportunity to argue otherwise. I’ve never permitted another to challenge my call. Like Paul, some may question it, but I require they assume it to be true.

Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?

This was literally true of Paul. It was also a requirement of his calling. But it was verified only by his word and perhaps that of Ananias of Damascus. As a preacher, I meet with the Lord every day and enter the pulpit to tell people what He said. The only proof I have of that is my testimony and the message.

Are not ye my work in the Lord?
Paul offered as proof of his office the ministry he had among them. This is the exact proof every preacher has to offer. He has been called to that pulpit, and he has fulfilled his duties there.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and, more than 5400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

1 Corinthians 9:1 (KJV) Proof Positive

1 Corinthians 8:1 (KJV) Let That Be Enough

 

1 Corinthians 8:1 (KJV)

Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

“…we know that we all have knowledge …”

Herein lies one of the greatest troubles people have with one another. It’s not the only reason we have wars and fighting among us; the book of James identifies the desire to have – lust as another reason.

But this one ranks right up there. We all think we know better than the other.

• The conservative knows something the liberal doesn’t know
• The liberal knows something the conservative doesn’t know
• The Republican knows something the Democrat doesn’t know
• The Democrat knows something the Republican doesn’t know
• The rich know something the poor doesn’t know
• The poor know something the rich doesn’t know
• The Christian knows something the lost doesn’t know
• The lost knows something the Christian doesn’t know

On and on, we could go. We all know we know something, and we think what we know makes us somehow better than those who don’t know what we know.

Our knowledge has puffed us up.

The solution to this problem is just this simple, love God. Speak humbly and trust the Lord to move in the souls of people He loves more than we ever could.

Love God and let that be enough. From there, God can make our light shine.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and, more than 5400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

1 Corinthians 8:1 (KJV) Let That Be Enough

Job 16:3 (KJV) From Whence This Boldness?

 

Job 16:3 (KJV)

Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

The Christian ought to, out of imitation of the believers in Acts, pray for boldness. But a Christian is wise to take heed from whence this boldness comes.

The spirit of the devil
Satan attempts and is often successful in giving a spirit of boldness that looks like but is not of God. The damsel at Philippi was bold, was she not? She told the truth, did she not? Still, Paul was grieved, knowing it was not the spirit of God.[1]

The Holy Spirit of God

Fills the believer with faith and power. This translates into an effective witness for Jesus Christ. This boldness doesn’t always translate into a soul coming to know Christ, but it will always translate into Christ being uplifted and glorified.

The spirit of the flesh
Pride and arrogance can also create a spirit of boldness. This spirit almost always accomplishes two terrible results: it lifts self and tears down others.

James 3:10 (KJV) 
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

---

[1] Acts 16:16-18 (KJV)
And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and, more than 5400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Job 16:3 (KJV) From Whence This Boldness?

Job 14:15 (KJV) What Hope!

Job 14:15 (KJV)

Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

What hope!

Though Job is in great pain and the pressure his “friends” have placed upon him is intense, Job is certain:

That God calls

He boldly proclaimed that, on that day, he would answer Him. He’d have to stay prepared and of a right heart before the Lord. He’d have to stay vigilant and sober. He would always have to remain watchful. But he was confident God would call.

That God has a desire toward him
He calls himself the work of God’s hands. It would be wise if we all saw ourselves as that. Being His work, He is surely interested in our steps.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and, more than 5400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Job 14:15 (KJV) What Hope!

Job 12:5 (KJV) A Lamp Despised

Job 12:5 (KJV)

He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

One of the ways to understand this verse is that the believer who is ready to slip away from God is like a lamp that is almost out of fuel and no longer produces light.

Like salt that has lost its savor.

I think this is an incorrect understanding, given the context.

It is, I think, more likely that the one who is ready to slip is Job. He obviously has not lost his savor, nor has his light gone dim. His lamp has plenty of fuel, his relationship with God is intact.

But he is a light shining into the darkness. He exposes sin. He exposes fleshly faith. He exposes the false relationships so many have with God.

The darkness, in this case, is “him that is at ease.”

There is much to learn from the man who walks with God in the depth of pain.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and, more than 5400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Job 12:5 (KJV) A Lamp Despised

Job 10:6 (KJV) After My Sin

 Job 10:6 (KJV)

That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?

Vs 2 “I will say unto God…”

Vs 6 “…and searchest after my sin?”

I can’t see how this passage can mean anything other than Job acknowledging that God “searchest after my sin.” 

God, who knows the end from the beginning, called out to Adam, “Where art though.”[1] Then, again, he asked him, “Who told thee thou wast naked?” And again asked, “Hast thou eaten of the tree?”[2]

God knew all of this, yet He searched out their sins. God has every right to do the very same with Job and with you and me. In the end, it will be for our better that He does.

---

[1] Genesis 3:9 (KJV)
And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

[2] Genesis 3:11 (KJV)
And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and, more than 5400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Job 10:6 (KJV) After My Sin

1 Corinthians 3:10 (KJV) The Saving Knowledge of Christ

 

1 Corinthians 3:10 (KJV)

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

The context of this passage is clearly that of putting our eyes on others, particularly a favorite preacher or ministry of God. 1 Corinthians 3:4 (KJV)
For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

We see these leaders of men and just that, leaders, and if we do not take heed, we build our spiritual lives upon them and miss the true cornerstone, Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11 (KJV)
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ

Though the Bible warns us, and preachers will remind us that men fail and fall; still, we are so prone to place more faith in them than is meet. Truly, the preacher struggles with the balance of being the one out front and yet not the one to whom the people look.

The audience the Word is addressing is important as well. The letter is written to the church as a whole, not just the preachers – I wonder if it is best to say it is primarily written to the church and not to the preachers. 

How devastating it would be for a family in the church to look so highly upon their pastor or some other preacher that they entirely miss Jesus Christ and mislead their children, family, and friends away from the saving knowledge of Christ.

There is a vital role for the pastor and the preacher of God’s Word. But that role is not as the foundation of our spiritual lives.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and, more than 5400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

1 Corinthians 3:10 (KJV) The Saving Knowledge of Christ

Job 9:11 (KJV) A Glass Darkly

 

Job 9:11 (KJV)

Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

Job’s concern ought to be that of every believer. We know God is. We even know God as our Saviour. We know something of His will and His eternal plan because we see it in the Bible. We see evidence of God all around us:

• His Creation
• His Grace
• His prophecies fulfilled

He has written in our hearts the awareness of His existence. We know innately that life must be more than the few short years we walk on this planet. Heaven and hell are matters of which we do not have to be convinced. Rather, a soul must be talked out of believing in them.

But we see through a “glass darkly.”[1]

What we know most about God is that we know so little of God.

May we, as terrifying as it sometimes seems, surrender ourselves to His hand, that we might ever perceive Him when “He goeth by me.”

---

[1] 1 Corinthians 13:12 (KJV)
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and, more than 5400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Job 9:11 (KJV) A Glass Darkly

Job 7:12 (KJV) Job Sinned Not

 Job 7:12 (KJV)

Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

I maintain that in all of this, “Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly.”[1]

Job rather, I believe, sounds a bit like the Apostle Paul in Romans 7. He is a saved man who struggles with “the body of this death.”[2]

Bildad will soon make his reply. Bildad sounds just like the self-righteous. He preaches a religious message of success and satisfaction. However, Job knew God entirely differently. He knew a relationship with God whereby we are sinners to the day we die, in need of the liberty that the next life will bring. Blessed be the name of the Lord, who sets a watch over our evil nature to mold us and make us like unto His Son, Jesus Christ.

---

[1] Job 1:22 (KJV)
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

[2] Romans 7:24 (KJV)
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and, more than 5400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Job 7:12 (KJV) Job Sinned Not