The Thirsty Soul

Ps.63:1

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

What do these words mean? They compare God to water which we must have to sustain life! We need God who is giver of all life, who has a divine plan for each of us. God, by His divine will, takes your spirit back when your appointed time of death has come! The spirit is eternal. His word is food for our spirit, our prayer is praise unto The Lord. He demands obedience! When you fail, you repent!

Hebrews 10:16-18

16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,"

17 then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."

18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Romans 11:29-36

29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,

31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.

32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34 "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"

35 "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?"

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

There Is Nothing Else/ It Is Done

By The blood of Christ alone, there is nothing else that can save a man's soul! 

 Acts 4:12
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." 

 John 14:6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

 Is.55:11
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 

 Is.40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

 God's power in our faith;

 Hebrews 11:1-3 

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 

2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 

3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Revelation 21:3-8

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." 

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." 

 6 And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 

8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

“THE CROSS AND CHRISTIAN MISSION

1 Corinthians 9

1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?

2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 This is my defense to those who would examine me.

4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink?

5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?

7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?

8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same?

9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned?

10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.

11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?

12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 

13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?

14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting.

16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.

18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.

20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.

21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.

27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Are you a follower of Jesus?

If you are a follower of Jesus, you have been saved for a purpose: the enjoyment of God in the spread of the gospel from where you live to the ends of the earth.

Let’s relinquish our rights for the sake of the gospel. 

See the example of Paul...

He had a right to financial support from the church at Corinth. 

Common Practice

Biblical Precedent t Universal Pattern t Jewish Custom

Christ’s Command

He surrendered this right for the sake of the gospel in Corinth. 

Hear the exhortation to you...

You have rights in Birmingham and the world around you...

To life, friends, marriage, family, safety, security, health, and happiness.

To eat, drink, watch, wear, read, study, listen to, and say whatever you want. 

To organize your schedule, spend your time, choose your career, make your

money, use your money, take your vacation, and plan your retirement.

To do what you want to do, go where you want to go, and live how you

want to live.

The cross compels you to surrender your rights for the sake of the gospel in

Birmingham and the world around you.

Let’s rearrange our lives for the spread of the gospel.

We are free to be slaves of God.

We are obligated to obey.

God’s gracious conversion of us creates a gospel compulsion in us.

We are free to be slaves of others.

We willingly commit our lives, our families, and our church to this mission...

In our culture.

Across other cultures.

We wisely contextualize the gospel in this mission.

We remove all obstacles to the gospel...

But we never remove the offense of the gospel.

We lay aside all of our comforts...

But we never lay aside any of Christ’s commands. 

Let’s run this race together for the glory of our God.

The requirements in this race... 

Sacrificial self-denial.

Stringent self-discipline.

Single-minded devotion.

The rewards of this race...

Others will experience the eternal joy of salvation. 

We will fulfill the earthly purpose of salvation.

If you are not a follower of Jesus, be saved today for a purpose: the enjoyment of God in the spread of the gospel from where you live to the ends of the earth.

Thanks pastor David!

THE CROSS AND CHRISTIAN LIBERTY

1 Corinthians 8 
1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge"puffs up, but love builds up.
2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.
3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one."
5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth--as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"--
6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.
9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?
11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.
12 Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

1 Corinthians 10
1 For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,
2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
3 and all ate the same spiritual food,
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play."
8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.
9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,
10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
18 Consider the people of Israel:are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?
19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?
20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.
21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.
22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
Do All to the Glory of God
23"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.
24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.
26 For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof."
27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.
28 But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience--
29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?
30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,
33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.


Conviction Friction, Then and Now
This passage separates believers into two groups, which means we instinctively start to think
of which group we might be in. (1 Corinthians 8:7, 9-13; 10:24, 25)
Paul’s intent—more importantly, God’s intention in this passage—isn't to
weaponize either of these groups against the other.
The controversial practice that’s being discussed in Chapters 8 and 10 is what to do about
food offered to idols. May they eat it? If so, does it matter where they eat it?

What Corinth Knew
Food is food. Rock is rock. God is one. (8:1, 4-6)

What Corinth Missed
l m Knowledge isn't the goal of Christian faith.
Love is. (cf. 1 Corinthians 8:2, 13:2; 1 Timothy 1:5;
2 Peter 1:5-7)
If you love God, it’s because, before you loved God,
you were known by God. (1 Corinthians 8:3; cf. Galatians 4:9)
One of the great effects of daily reflection on the gospel is that it
blows up our spiritual superiority complexes. (1 Corinthians 4:7;
cf. 1 Corinthians 1:27, 29)
Knowledge without love kills. (1 Corinthians 8:1, 7-13)
The Corinthians had one agenda for the “weak” brothers: teach them the way
of knowledge. (1 Corinthians 8:1, 4-6)
Make yourself a slave of the law of love and know true
freedom. (1 Corinthians 8:13, 9; 10:23-24, 32-33)
Idols may be nothing. But idolatry is demonic.
(1 Corinthians 10:1-22)
Paul draws a connection between outward signs of God’s saving power in
the Old Testament (Red Sea, manna, water from a rock) and
outward signs of His saving power in the New Testament
(baptism, Lord’s Supper).
What does this have to do with Chapter 8’s eating of idol food in the idol temples?
(1 Corinthians 10:14-22)
Demons get pleasure from the worship that takes place in
pagan temples. (1 Corinthians 10:20)
Outside of its idolatrous context, idol food becomes
simply food and belongs to the one God. (1 Corinthians 10:25;
Romans 14:14)

So, How Do We Apply This?
1. Let’s prayerfully, wisely, and humbly shepherd those who have converted to Christianity
from formal pagan backgrounds to break with the idolatrous practices they previously
engaged in.
2. Let’s take heed lest we ourselves fall into informal idolatry, which can take a hundred
forms in our lives.
3. Let’s walk in love with fellow believers, seeking to serve, encourage, and strengthen
them.
4. Let’s actively look to Christ and trust in His finished work on our behalf.
5. Let’s break the ties that can form between our hearts and false gods/saviors.
6. Let’s daily depend on the Holy Spirit’s power to sanctify us.

Thanks Matt!!

THE CROSS AND CHRISTIAN SINGLENESS

1 Corinthians 7:25-35
25 Now concerning the betrothed,I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.
26 I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.
27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.
29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none,
30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods,
31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.
33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife,
34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.
35 I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.


Admonishments to Single Christians…
If you and your body are compelled, consider marriage one of
your goals.
If you and your body are content, consider singleness
your status quo.

Advantages of Single Living…
You can be completely assured of Jesus’ favor.
He says singleness is “good.”
(1 Corinthians 7:1, 8, 26)
He says singleness is a “gift” from God.
(1 Corinthians 7:7)
He says some people “do even better” to remain single.
(1 Corinthians 7:38)
He says some people are “happier” if they
remain single.
(1 Corinthians 7:40)

You can be better prepared for Jesus’ coming.
(1 Corinthians 7:26-31; cf. Matthew 6:19-20; 24:3-51;
Luke 12:32-33; 20:34-35; Romans 13:11-14; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 5:1;
Colossians 3:1-3; 2 Timothy 2:4; Hebrews 10:34; 1 John 2:15-17)
You have fewer family responsibilities.
You have fewer emotional connections.
You have fewer earthly possessions.
You have fewer worldly attachments.
You can be totally given to Jesus’ service.
(1 Corinthians 7:32-35; cf. Matthew 12:46-50)
Your attention and devotion are attractive.
Your attention and devotion are undivided.

Thanks pastor Jim!

THE CROSS AND CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE

1 Corinthians 7:1-24
1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman."
2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.
7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am.
9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband
11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.
14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.
16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Live as You Are Called
17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.
18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.
19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.
20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.
21 Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)
22 For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ.
23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.
24 So, brothers,in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

The Principle of Status Quo

The gospel always makes radical change in your moral
and spiritual life, but it doesn't always make radical change
in your circumstances.

Consider sanctifying your present situation before you
consider changing it.

General rule: Stay in the situation you were in when you
were saved. (1 Corinthians 7:17, 20, 24)
Religious system
Social standing
Income stream
Job situation
Marital status

God’s character: God is sovereign and faithful in
your current situation. (1 Corinthians 7:17, 24)

Gospel values: Remember grace, pursue holiness,
and reject entitlement. (1 Corinthians 7:19, 22-23)

The Application to Marital Status

If you’re a Christian single...
…Assume your singleness is God’s will as long as your body
is content. (1 Corinthians 7:8-9, 36-40)

If you’re a Christian married to another Christian…
…Assume your marriage is God’s will as long as your spouse
is alive. (1 Corinthians 7:10-11, 39-40)

If you’re a Christian married to a non-Christian…
…Assume your marriage is God’s will as long as your spouse
is content. (1 Corinthians 7:12-16)
Thanks pastor Jim!

THE CROSS AND CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE(PART 1)

1 Corinthians 7:1-24
1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman."
2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.
7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am.
9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband
11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.
14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.
16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Live as You Are Called
17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.
18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.
19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.
20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.
21 Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)
22 For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ.
23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.
24 So, brothers,in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.


Good questions about sexual temptation…

Should I get married and risk the temptation
of adultery?
Should I stay single and risk the temptation
of fornication?
Should I continue to have sexual relations with
my spouse?
Should I continue in a marriage relationship that isn't ideal?

Biblical answers regarding marriage…

Monogamous, heterosexual marriage is a safeguard against
sexual immorality. (1 Corinthians 7:2, 9)
Get married for proclamation. (cf. Ephesians 5:22-32)
Get married for procreation. (cf. Genesis 1:28)
Get married for partnership. (cf. Genesis 2:18;
Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Peter 3:7)
Get married for pleasure. (cf. Song of Solomon;
Proverbs 5:15-19; Hebrews 13:5)
Get married for purity. (1 Corinthians 7:2, 9)
The delightful duty of sex within monogamous,
heterosexual marriage is a safeguard against sexual immorality.
(1 Corinthians 7:3-5)
Pay your debt.
Pay your debt gladly.
Pay your debt spiritually.
Pay your debt frequently.
Pay your debt passionately.
The delightful duty of sex within monogamous, heterosexual marriage
is a safeguard against sexual immorality for those to whom it has been
given. (1 Corinthians 7:6-8)
Explore God’s grace in your life seriously.
Express thanksgiving to God frequently.

Thanks pastor Jim!