1COR 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

Paul asks a rhetorical question, if I come speaking tongues what shall it profit you.  The implied answer is that it will not profit you. 

Paul says that he will not profit them unless he speaks by knowledge or prophesying (preaching) or by doctrine.

1COR 14:7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

1COR 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

If it is important that trumpets give a certain sound that is understood, how much more important our words in the Church?

1COR 14:9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

The implication here is that it will not be known what is spoken.  You will be speaking to the air and not to the people because the people will not know what you are saying. 

1COR 14:10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

1COR 14:11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

Verse 11 is really good!  Paul calls speaking in a language that someone else cannot understand is barbaric.  It makes you seem like a barbarian to others. 

1COR 14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

In verse 22 we see that tongues are for a sign.  And that they were not for a sign for saved people, but for lost people. (only for that time period). 

1COR 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

Paul makes his position on tongues clear in verse 19.  He would rather speak 5 words with understanding that he might teach others than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

He would rather have 5 words that people could understand coming from his own voice than 10,000 words in tongues.  5 words over 10,000.

Speaking with understanding was 5 to 10,000 times more important to Paul.

1COR 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

1COR 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

1COR 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Verse 8 clearly says that tongues shall cease.  Tongues was a temporary sign gift.  Verse 10 tells us when the temporary sign gifts were done away with.  They ended when that which is perfect is come.  That is a reference to the Bible.  The Temporary sign gifts only lasted until the Bible was finished.

Their purpose was to validate a preachers message.  Once the Bible was finished the sign gifts were no longer needed to validate a preachers message.  The perfect authoritative Word of God is all that is needed to  validate what the preacher says. 

So when the perfect Word of God was finished the sign gifts like tongues ceased. 

Some argue that that which is perfect is not a reference to the Bible but is a reference to Jesus.  There are several problems with this argument. 

First Jesus was a male.  Thus for the reference to be Jesus the Greek tense would have to be masculine, but it is NOT. 

Second by reading the early church fathers it is clear that tongues had already ceased very early on.  If the reference was to Jesus and not the Bible, then Jesus would have already come because tongues had already ceased.  It is clearly evident that Jesus has not yet come back.

Greek grammar and early church history make it clear that the reference in verse 10 is the perfect Word of God and not Jesus.   

1COR 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

1COR 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.

In this chapter the local assembly (church) is likened to a body.  A body is made up of many different individual parts but it is still one body.

1COR 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

Each part has a specific function.  A eye can see, but an eye cannot hear.  A ear can hear but it cannot smell, for that you need a different unique part, you would need a nose. 

It is the same principal with Christians.  Each Christian is placed into a local body by God for a reason.  That unique Christian has a certain function to perform in that local Church.  Just like every body part cannot be an eye, not everyone in the Church is to be the preacher.

God puts some in the Church to teach the children, some to sing, some to run a bus route, some to be a servant of widows (deacons), some to help with the building, some to be encouragers, some with great faith, some to be prayer warriors, some to be great givers, some to do odd jobs, and on and on the list goes.

God put you into your Church for a reason.  If you are not active doing some function in your church, then you need to ask God what He would have you to do. 

As a member of a local body of believers you do have some function that you are to be busy performing.  If you are not doing your job, then the job does not get done, or it gets pushed to another overworked member.

Churches would get a lot more done for Christ if every member would find their function and get busy.

In this chapter we have some very important instructions concerning the Lord's Supper.

First we see the timing.  Notice that no definite time period is stated.  It does NOT say every week, or every month.  Instead the Bible says as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup. 

This indicates that it is up to the church as to how often they do it. 

Secondly in this verse we see that the Lord's Supper is symbolic.  It says that when we do this we are showing the Lord's death.  It is a symbolic picture of the broken body of Jesus and His shed blood.  The Lord's Supper does not save.  It is only a showing forth.  It is symbolic.

Thirdly we see how long we are to keep the Lord's Supper.  The Bible says that we are to do it until Jesus comes back.

I hope that you are a part of a local assembly that is showing the Lord's death with the Lord's supper until He comes back.

1COR 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

1COR 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

The Old Testament is not to be ignored.  It has a very important role for Christians today.  And we see what that role is here. 

Referring to the Old Testament in verse 6, the Bible says that they are our examples.

We are to look at how they lusted after evil things, and see what happened to them because of it. 

There are many events in the Old Testament that are recorded for our example of what NOT to do.  Several examples are then given in the next verses.

We are not to follow all of the rituals of the Old Testament.  We are not to sacrifice lambs today.  What that pictured has already been fulfilled so there is no longer any need to show the picture.  Jesus the lamb of God has already been sacrificed on the cross.  The picture has been fulfilled. 

We are not to follow the rituals of the Old Testament.  There is no more need of priests like there was in the Old Testament. 

But we are to follow the examples of the Old Testament.  You will find in the Old Testament examples of what to do and example of what not to do. 

The truths that they teach are timeless and we need to take heed to them.

1COR 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

Paul brings up one of God's laws saying that even the ox deserves compensation for his work.  They were not to muzzle the ox that was treading out the corn.  The ox was to be allowed to eat some of the corn that he was treading.  He was to benefit from his labors.  Since that is true for the ox in his labor for man, should it not be even more true for a man doing the work of God?

1COR 9:13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

Paul goes back to the old testament again and shows that the priests who worked in the temple received some of the offerings of the temple.  This is how they got their food and paid their bills.

1COR 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

Paul says that God's principal has not changed.  A man is worthy of his hire.  He says that it is the Lord who ordained that preachers who preach the gospel should live of the gospel.  The context here is clear.  A preacher deserves to get paid.

And he deserves a GOOD salary.  Some churches give a preacher low pay to try to keep him humble.  Shame on their wicked hearts.

A church should value the man of God more than that.  With everything that the preacher has to go thru (much of which you never hear about) he earns a good salary.

How well is your church paying your Pastor?

Would Jesus be pleased with how you are taking care of His man?

1COR 8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

1COR 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

Knowledge alone puffs men up.  But charity edifieth.  Charity is a certain type of love.  It is not an empty emotional only type.  That is not Christian love.  Charity is the type of love that does something.  It is the love of God in action.  God so loved that He gave!

Verse 3 tells us that if any man loves God, then the same is known of that man.  If a man really loves God, then the love of God will flow thru him to others.

If a man loves God, then he will have a working type of love that the Bible calls charity. 

One example is a love for the souls of men.  Going out and putting the gospel on doors in Phoenix in 110 degree heat is Christian Love.

Giving to missions, supporting a local church and helping to pay the salary of a man of God is showing that you love God.  Running a bus route, visiting the sick, preaching in the nursing homes, helping your brothers and sisters in Christ.  The list is almost endless.

1COR 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

Do people know that you truly love God because of your charity?

1COR 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

1COR 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

If you are saved, you were bought with a price.  The price was Jesus going to the cross.  Salvation was free to you, but it cost God His only begotten Son going to the cross and taking your sins upon Him.  He took the judgment for your sins in your place.

Therefore, because of what He did for us, we are to be His servant.  One reason is that it is only right.  It is our reasonable service.

Another reason that we should be His servant is out of gratitude.  If you have a concept of the price that Jesus paid for you, then you will want to serve Him out of Love.

You will want to return some of the Love that He has shown to you.

2COR 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

The Bible is very clear that we are not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.  Most often this verse is used as a proof text that Christians should not marry an unbeliever.  And that is certainly true.  But if you really look close at the context of the surrounding verses you will see that it goes much deeper than just marriage.  The context here is false religions.  Idol worship is mentioned in verse 16, Belial and infidels in verse 15.

And verse 17 tells us to come out FROM among them.

2COR 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

The question then comes up, what does it mean to be yoked.  A yoke is what you harness two animals in to pull the same load.  But for this to work both animals must be pulling the same direction.  If one animal is pulling North and the other is pulling South, a lot of pulling might be getting done but they are going nowhere. 

The same is true for us.  If you yoke a Christian to a Muslim, they will be pulling in two opposite directions.  The Christian will be working for Jesus and trying to bring people to Christ.  The Muslim will be pulling in the opposite direction trying to bring people to their false god  and thus with them into hell. 

The idea today of having  interfaith meetings with all religions is AGAINST the clear teaching of the Word of God. 

A lot of pulling might get done, but the cause of Christ will get nowhere. 

And remember that a yoke is talking about working together.  It is about pulling a load.  This verse is not saying that we cannot talk to unbelievers, or have them as friends, or work with them on the job site.  It is talking about pulling a load together for the cause of Christ.  And this applies to marriage because a husband and wife are to be pulling the same load the same way for Christ in their household, in their finances, in raising children, and in reaching the lost.

1COR 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Leaven in the Bible is a type, a picture, of sin.  Here it is called the leaven of malice and wickedness. 

1COR 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

Sin spreads like leaven.  Sin will spread and contaminate whatever it comes in contact with.  God is warning us here to cast out sin for our own good.  For our own protection.

The context of these verses is fornicators in the church.  You see this in verses 1 and 2. 

1COR 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

Paul tells them to not keep company with fornicators.  He gives more clarification on this in verse 10.  (read verse 10 slowly)

1COR 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

Paul tells them not to totally separate from the fornicators of the world because they have need to go out in the world.  If you had to totally separate, then you could not even go out and buy groceries or work a job.  We have need to do those things. 

Since verse 9 is not talking about the fornicators of the world, then what fornicators is verse 9 talking about?

Verse 9 is talking about fornicators in the church.  Verse 11 clears this up.

1COR 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

It is the fornicators that are called a brother that we are to separate from.

1COR 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Wicked people who refuse to forsake their sin and get right with God are to be put out of the church.

Every effort is to be made to restore them first.  The Bible gives specific instructions on this.  But because sin is infectious, to protect the rest of the church, they must be put out if they will not repent of their wickedness. 

This is a very unpopular teaching today, but it is still the Word of God.

1COR 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Paul understood that it is required that a steward be found faithful.  He is referring to being a steward in God's work.  Paul understood that he was a servant of a most High God.  And that it is expected that he is faithful to the work he was given to do. 

Some would then ask, who decides if you are faithful?  Who is to judge if you are faithful or not?

Paul gives us the answer in verses 3 and 4. 

1COR 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

1COR 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

Paul thought very little of them judging his faithfulness to God's work.  He calls their judgment, and man's judgment in general, "a very small thing". 

Paul then says, "he that judgeth me is the Lord." 

Too many Christian workers are worried about what men say about their work.  We need to be like Paul and think of man's judgment as a small thing.  We need to be concerned with what God thinks about it and not what man thinks.

1COR 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

The Bible clearly teaches a reward system in heaven.  And each man will receive according to his own labor.

1COR 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Verse 11 tells us that the only foundation that can be built upon is Jesus Christ.  Keep that in mind as you read the next verses.

1COR 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

Verse 12 tells us of two types of materials that can be built upon this foundation.  Remember the only foundation here is Christ.  So what is going on here does not apply to lost people.  It does not apply to Islam or any other false religion.  These verses are specifically talking about saved people, and how they build upon the foundation of Jesus.  This is talking about your works after you are saved.

1COR 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

God is going to try the works of the saved.  If you build with wood hay and stubble, your works will be burned up.  Wood, hay, and stubble are all temporary.  They are  produced by the world.  Gold, silver, and precious stones are all produced by God and are permanent. 

1COR 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

The works that you do for Jesus in the right way and with the right heart will survive God's judgment by fire.  And you will be rewarded for your works.  The works that you did out of pride or contrary to the will of God will be burned up.  You will not be rewarded for them.  Only works produced God's way will remain.

1COR 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Verse 15 is very important.  We are not saved by works.  We are saved by grace.  So even if everything you did for Jesus was burned up, you will still be saved. 

Fire in the Bible speaks of God's judgment.  The man who has no remaining works is still saved because that is God's judgment on the matter.  God teaches in His Word that if you believe with a repentant heart you will be saved.  If you have done that, then you are saved no matter if you build with wood or with gold.

But would you not rather have works that remain after God's judgment?

If this does not seem too important to you now, it will when you stand before Christ at the judgment seat.

1COR 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

This is a key verse in understanding why there is so much false teaching out there.  Here is the answer why, when some teach the Bible they teach the exact opposite of someone else who is teaching the same verse.

The answer is that the Bible is spiritually discerned.  A lost man does not have the new spiritual nature that he receives at salvation. 

Without the Holy Spirit the Bible is a closed book to them.  Speaking of the scriptures the Bible says, "neither can he know them" 

It is impossible for a man who is not born again to understand the scriptures.  Therefore his teaching will be wrong.

For example, a Catholic who believes in a works salvation, and thereby is not saved, cannot understand the scriptures.  That is why their teaching does not line up with the Bible.  In fact most of what they teach is tradition and not the Bible.  I can understand why they rely so much on tradition and not the Bible.  They cannot understand the Bible. 

So what about saved men who teach strange things?   

The answer here is they are grieving the spirit.  The Bible is spiritually discerned.  Not only do you have to be saved, but you also must rely on the leading of the Holy Spirit to understand the Bible.  You need Him to shed His light upon the scriptures.

So if a man is living in sin, his teaching is going to be off the mark. 

Not separating from the world is sin.

Friendship with the world is sin.

Jam 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

If a man of God is to properly understand the Bible, he must not be a friend with the world.  This includes a lot of things; the worlds wicked entertainment, drinking the Devils Booze or listening to the Devils music. 

But instead of separating from the world, many preachers bring the worlds rock-n-roll music into God's house. 

When they do this, they are living in sin.  This grieves the spirit and without proper light they make mistakes in their teaching.

This explains much of the false teaching of the health and wealth preachers today. 

This explains the false teaching of tongues, slaying in the spirit, that God wants every Christian to have a Lexus and so on.

If you want good Biblical teaching, don't go to lost men and don't listen to men who are not separated from the world.

This also explains why good men also make mistakes from time to time.  All preachers and teachers can have a bad day.  Some days we are more spirit led than other days. 

We need to give some allowance for mistakes.  No one should leave a church because the preacher make a few small mistakes now and then. 

1COR 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

In my opinion this is what is sometimes called a mountain top verse.

God is faithful. 

What a wonderful truth.  Whatever God promises you can absolutely count on Him doing because God is faithful!

God says you have eternal life if you believe with a repentant heart and call upon Him to save you.  So you cannot loose your salvation because God is faithful!

God says He will never leave you.  So you can count on it because God is faithful!

You can count on all things working together for good if you love God and are called according to His purpose.

You can count on Jesus coming back.

You can count on God one day throwing that awful wicked Satan into a lake of fire.

You can count on God hearing your prayers.

You can count on God one day establishing His kingdom.

You can trust God with your soul.

You can count on every single promise in the Bible.

Simply put, you can count on God because He is faithful!

Amen and Amen!

ROM 16:4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

ROM 16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

ROM 16:6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.

In this chapter of Romans Paul mentions many people who were a blessing to him and his work for God. 

Paul usually gets the credit, but Paul would never have accomplished what he did without Christians who rolled up their sleeves and got busy for the Lord. 

These Christians risked their lives, worked hard, and sacrificed more than we will ever know for God's work.

All preachers who ever accomplish anything much for God have many good hard working sacrificing Christians behind them.

A preacher cannot do it by himself.  He needs good loyal people who have a heart for God's work behind him. 

The question that I ask today is, are you that kind of person?

I hope so.  And if not, will you consider becoming one? 

ROM 15:31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;

Paul is beseeching the believers in Rome to pray for him.  And notice what his prayer request is for.  It is so that he many be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea,  and that his service will be accepted of the believers in Jerusalem.  Paul's prayer request is for his ministry.  He is asking them to pray for God's work.

Paul gives the reason that he asks this prayer request.  He says that it is for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit.  Paul did not ask this prayer request for himself.

And notice who Paul said to pray to.  He said to pray to God.  He did not say pray to Mary.  In fact praying to Mary cannot be found in the Bible at all. 

Paul also requests how they pray.  He asks them to strive with him in their prayers. 

To strive is to make efforts, to use exertions, to endeavor with earnestness, to labor hard.  Paul was NOT asking for a quick mention while you are saying grace!  He was not asking for a 2 minute prayer.  He was asking for serious striving prayer.  The kind of prayer that you work at and put some effort into.  He was asking them to put their heart into it. 

We need this kind of prayer for God's work today.  Christians spend too much time praying over hangnails and not enough time praying for God's work.

ROM 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

ROM 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Most people today will reject Christ.  Not only do they refuse to confess Him as Lord and Savior, but they also use His name as a swear word.

They refuse to see Jesus for who He is.  But one day that will change.  They will see Him for who He is at the judgment, and they will bow. 

However, it will be too late if they never accepted Jesus as their savior in this life. 

If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your savior, you need to take care of that today.

Christians will also have to face a judgment.  This judgment is not judging if you are saved or not.  The judgment that Christians will face is for how they lived their life after they got saved.  This judgment is called the judgment seat of Christ.

The other judgment is called the Great White Throne judgment.  This judgment is for the lost.  Everyone who rejected Christ and refused to bow before Him in this life, will bow before Him then.  But it will be too late.  They will be thrown into the lake of fire. 

All men must stand before an Almighty Holy Righteous God and give an account for himself.

Are you ready to stand before God?

ROM 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

ROM 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

This is another great chapter on how a Christian is to live.  We are not to be involved in strife.  We are not to be envying our neighbor.  We are not to be playing keep up with the Jones', as the saying goes. 

A Christian is to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.  We are to put off the ways of this world and put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

And to sum it up Paul writes, "make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."

What ever your flesh is lusting after, you are to make no provision for.

God gives us these instructions because He loves us.  He knows that walking close to Him is what is best for us.  God knows that all of Satan's apples have worms, and so God warns us to say away from them. 

Leave the world and walk close to Christ and you will be much better off. 

ROM 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Christians are to be separated from the world.  We are to be a living sacrifice.  We are to live holy lives.  Lives that are acceptable to God.

Christians should not lie, steal, cheat, gamble, gossip, watch the world's filthy TV shows, drink the devil's booze, wear the devil's clothes, or listen to the devil's music.  Christians are to have strong Christian character.  They are not to watch two people have sex out of wedlock on TV.  Christians are to set NO evil thing before their eyes. 

Verse one tells us that this is not asking too much.  It says living a holy life is your reasonable service.  IT IS REASONABLE. 

Christ went to the cross and took God's judgment in your place.  He saved you from the fiery pit of hell.  After what He has done for you, living a separated life is only reasonable. 

What is not right is bringing disgrace upon the Lord by living like, smelling like, looking like, acting like, and thinking like the world. 

Image how things would change if everyone who said they was a Christian would start living like a Christian.

Living right to get saved would be legalism, but living right after salvation is only reasonable.