Thought On This Chapter
1COR 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto
me, and there are many adversaries.
Paul says a great door was opened to him. God
does open doors of opportunity. He does work in circumstances. Paul
also says that this door was effectual. It was an opportunity to have a
great effect. This door was a door that could bring great results.
And then Paul adds, "and there are many adversaries."
This is an example of the truth that with great opportunity comes great
opposition. Don't expect to go out and do something great for God without
running into great opposition. The Devil does not like his kingdom spoiled
and so there will be some things thrown your way. Some messes if you will.
This brings to mind Proverbs 14:4
Pro 14:4 Where no oxen [are], the crib [is] clean: but
much increase [is] by the strength of the ox.
Where work is being accomplished, there will be some
messes to clean up. Some distasteful things to deal with. The
proverb says that by the strength of the ox that increase comes. They were
not going to be able to do near the amount of farming work without the ox.
They needed the ox to get the work done. But with the ox also comes things
to clean up. You cannot have the work of the ox without the mess.
Without the ox the stall will be clean, but nothing will be accomplished either.
This proverb teaches a spiritual principle. The
work of God is not going to be all roses. With the increase there is going
to be things happen that are not pleasant. There is going to be
opposition. So just expect it. And know that the results in the end
will be well worth it.
Thought On This Chapter
1COR 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you
like men, be strong.
Watch ye. They needed to do it then and we need
to do it now. Watch for what? A great many things. Watch for
the Lord's return. One of the things that this does is keep you living
right. If you expect Jesus to come at any time, then you will not be doing
anything that would not please Him. We also need to be watching for false
teachings and error so we can keep them from creeping in.
Stand fast in the faith. They needed to do it
then and we need to do it now. Don't compromise the Bible. Don't
change it, don't adjust it, don't correct what God said. Don't treat it
flippantly and make it say something that it does not say. Stand fast in
the faith that was once delivered to the saints. Don't go joining with
people who believe in a works salvation or in a health and wealth false gospel
or any other of the thousands of heresies out there. A Christian needs to
be a Christian and take a stand for the truth. Don't compromise.
quit you like men, be strong. O' where is the
manhood today? Where are the men who will stand. Be strong in your
local church. Don't let the worldly compromise in. Don't let the
rock-n-roll in. Don't let sin and fornication stand in the church.
We greatly need men to be men in the home. You cannot have strong churches
or a strong society without strong homes. This is why there is such an
attack on the home today. Those that attack do not want a strong moral
society.
We need to be strong. Persecution is gaining
steam in America. I believe that it is only beginning. This year
alone Christians have been arrested on a public street for quietly passing out
scripture, a man was kicked out of the North Carolina Legislature for
praying in Jesus' name. There are more lawsuits against expressions of
Christianity every day. Our Constitutional rights are under attack and the
intolerant attackers are getting more bold every day. The Muslims are out for world domination and they
are moving into America. History has proven time and again that they will
be meek until they have enough numbers and then watch out! You need to
learn to be strong now. Make your decision now. Are you going to be
strong and stand for Christ?
What a powerful verse. 1COR 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you
like men, be strong.
Amen and Amen.
|
