Stand with god

The year 2020 is drawing to a close and ending for the Lord's work. It sounds like speed. Many have been infected with the virus, many have become victims. Not just those who got sick and died. But the Christians who didn't show up in the Church didn't show up. Sometimes we wonder what happened to their spiritual life? Is he alive? Are you just cold Will he ever come back?

There are also churches that are closed. The other pastor gave up. But thank the Lord, we are moving forward here. Later we have a general meeting. We should have done this quarterly this year if the pandemic had also occurred. But I hope we will continue. When you find yourself renewed as a Church member, support the services of the Church. There will likely be over 20 members stepping down to start a new church in Plaridel.

There is no good reason to stop sharing the gospel with others, dress up, build a new church, or send missionaries to an underperforming group. The coronavirus is still widespread, but we must spread more the good news of salvation in Christ. Paul said out of the hope that we would be in Christ, at his return, in the resurrection of our future body.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain .

Let us not only accept Him gladly as our Redeemer and Advocate, but gladly give ourselves, and all we have, to His service. Surely if Jesus cheerfully died for us, it is a small thing to require Christians to live for Him.

Gospel-driven service, go ahead, go ahead. 

This is his last advice to the body of the Corinthians. From the very beginning we have discussed many issues, conflicts, disagreements and disputes in the Corinthian Church. 

But this is not enough reason to hinder the continuity of God’s work. To move on, to continue. The same is true in our church today. There are problems, there is chaos, there are problems. So what is compromise? 

From the beginning, Paul reminded the gospel that there is harmony.

“The word of the cross is the power of God” (1 Cor 1:18).

“We preach Christ crucified… Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God… who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctiication and redemption” (1 Cor 1:23, 24, 30).

“Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor 2: 2).

“No one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus” (1 Cor 3:11).

“Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Cor 5: 7).

“You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor 6:11).

“God raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by his power” (1 Cor 6:14). That is also the topic in the chap. 15.

“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price” (1 Cor 6: 19-20; also 7:23).

"Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!… I do it all for the sake of the gospel" (1 Cor 9:16, 23).

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you… I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins… that he was buried… that he was raised on the third day ”(1 Cor 15: 1, 3).

Every problem, of our Christian life, in our preaching, we can prove that the Gospel is truly “the power of God”. Not only to solve our problem, not only to help to respond appropriately to any situation, but also to change ourselves so that we no longer make excuses but to do everything possible to serve God.

In the last chapter of 1 Corinthians chapter 16, we need to learn more about specific ways of serving God. "Always abounding in the work of the Lord" at the end of chapter 15. But when we read such chapters (as well as the end of Romans) in chapter 16, we do not pay much attention, because "we thought it was just chasing instructions and greetings. We were important to them. 

We expect all Church members to give. It's part of our alliance. Everyone will give. There is a collector. This is the job of our team in the Ministry of Finance Administration. And some check it out, and the community is also responsible for holding the finance team accountable.

So we have transparency in the Church's financial records. Paul also said something about it. “When I get there, I will write to those you want to help in Jerusalem. And if I can go, I will go with them ”- 1 Cor 16: 3-4. You have the choice to manage the collection. Paul didn't have to do that. Also to protect it because it's a lot of money. And when he wears it, he has companions who hold him responsible for the finances.

Another specific service related to visiting and greeting visitors. “After I return to Macedonia, I will go there because I plan to go. I'll be there first and spend the winter there so you can help me continue my journey wherever I go. I don’t want to go through it; I want to linger a little if the Lord wants". (1 Cor. 16: 5-7). Visits encourage brothers and sisters who are weak in faith. We all want this, we need someone to visit.

We can all visit. No intensive training is required for the visiting ministry. Just a mask and not too close! And for visitors, this is a service to receive pastors or leaders or to tell you who is visiting you. And if you see what they need and you can help them, that’s a great thing. Paul also needed his help to continue his missionary journey.

It is really cool to visit and visit. Don't miss out on this important ministry. It is especially pandemic and can be infected with viruses for a long time and of course. I can understand it. But don't underestimate the power of encouragement and potential of your disciples. And it is good to expect that especially elders and pastors will visit us. But don't pressure or demand them. Like what Paul said to Apollo. "As for our brother Apollo, I urged him to visit you with other brothers and sisters, but he still cannot go, and he will give you the opportunity. I will visit you" (1 Corinthians 16:12). 

Apollo had a Corinthian look (1 Corinthians 1:12), probably because he preferred to precede anyone other than Paul. But Paul wasn't worried about him, and he even wanted Apollo to visit him there! But Apollo made his own decision. Paul respects it. The Corinthians should respect that too.

THANKYOU FOR READING