ARCC Sermons

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December 6th

The bible reading today is in 2 Corinthians 10-13.

“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:7-10‬ ‭

14 years ago, the apostle Paul was stoned by an angry mob in Lystra of Asia.

I agree with some early commentators who believed that Paul was knocked unconscious for a period of time during the stoning. Scripture says that Paul seemed dead.

Perhaps Paul was given his visions of heaven during his unconsciousness...glorious visions. And perhaps Paul was tempted to be high-minded, arrogant, and conceited because of his new knowledge.

So God, to protect His spiritual leader from losing his spiritual power to prideful boasting, sent messengers of Satan to buffet him...a thorn in his flesh.

What an insight into the leader of the beginning of the church’s missionary endeavors. God blessed Paul with visions that no one else had ever seen. That does not surprise me.

What surprises me is that Paul would fall to the temptation of self-elevation...thinking more highly of himself than he should have.

And God immediately stepped in...He gifted Paul with a preventative...a buffeting...the picture of...the cuffing of a slave...wrists and feet shackled...humiliating to say the least.

God would bring prideful Paul down...bring him low with any number of measures...physical or spiritual...to keep him humble...the place where God gives grace and power to his ambassador.

By the way, let us not miss the part where Paul confessed that he prayed many times for God to remove the thorn in his side...to remove that trial or trouble that harassed him...because they made him weak.

God said no to Paul’s prayer request. He did say, “My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in weakness.”

So Paul quit praying that prayer. Instead, Paul confessed to his own heart and God’s that he would glory in his weakness so that God’s power could rest on him.

Wow...thanks for sharing Paul...God, help me too.

Have a great day

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December 5th

The bible reading for today is in 2 Corinthians 5-9.

“For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:4‬

What is the tent that Paul refers to? Our earthly bodies.

And as long as we humans live in our earthly bodies, we will suffer, even we who are in Christ...we will be burdened with physical afflictions...we will groan under sicknesses, disease, disasters, pain, and discomfort. It’s just part of doing life in these bodies.

And what does God say through Paul to the afflicted believer? “walk by faith, not by sight.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:7‬

Trust God to use the affliction for his purposes and his glory. Trust God that the measure of our affliction has been measured out perfectly by Him. Trust God to get you through the affliction in his timing.

Walk by faith in God...not by what you can see and understand...but rather by what God has promised... "to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Let’s listen to another part of Paul’s personal journey testimony...“Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:8-9‬

Paul has been away from his family and friends and church home in Antioch Syria for eight to ten years by this time. He has ministered in Asia, Macedonia, Greece, and back to Ephesus for a long stay. He has seen God at work and many saved.

But He has also experienced opposition many times. He has been threatened, harrassed, stoned, put in stocks, and imprisoned for his gospel missionary ministry.

It should not surprise us to hear Paul speak of courage...Jesus on mission courage. Lord, give us your courage so that we will be ready to confess you as Lord even when we face death for our faith.

Paul said that he and his missionary band would much rather be in heaven. To them, heaven was always better. But these missionaries shared another desire. They wanted to be a pleasure to Jesus, whether they were at home with the Lord or on the mission trail spreading the gospel and planting churches. Lord, may their desire be our ambition too.

Have a great day

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December 4th

The bible reading today is in 2 Corinthians 1-4.

By the time Paul wrote this second letter to the disciples in Corinth, most of the issues that had divided the young church had been resolved.

However, the years of selfish behavior and false judgments against one another had left deep wounds. So deep that some members of the family probably said that relationships would never be the same. How sad.

So Paul gave the following admonition... “Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you.

For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2:5-8‬ ‭

Paul admitted the pain he felt when some brothers accused him falsely. They gave bad reports about him that were not true. Paul knew that other disciples in Corinth had been hurt very badly by hateful words and selfish actions.

And the temptation? Don't forgive...try to get even...and let the root of bitterness continue to grow.

Paul said...” let’s turn to forgive our hateful brothers and sisters...let us reaffirm our love to them...Paul was calling on the offended parties to be Jesus toward those who hurt them deeply. That’s the kind of action that stir up revival in any church.

Nowhere in the 13 letters of Paul do we see and hear more personal insights of the apostle than in 2 Corinthians.

Such as...“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:3-4‬

Paul spoke truth to the brethren in Corinth. God does comfort us in all of our trials and troubles. Did Paul have personal experience of that?

Let’s listen to his confession...“For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:8‬

Wow...Paul just admitted to the church that he planted and nurtured, that he and Barnabas, during their first mission to Asia, experienced severe depression.

How severe?....Severe enough to cause them to entertain thoughts of wanting to die. Wow.

Sometimes I forget that Paul was just as susceptible to mental, emotional, and spiritual stress as any of the rest of us. But what puts Paul head and shoulders above most was the fact that he admitted it along with the fact that God comforted and guided him in and through the despair...to the place of renewed faith in Christ and the fresh oil of God’s strengthening.

Thanks, Paul and Barnabas and all the foreign missionaries that spread the gospel and planted churches around the world to this day. Lord, Continue to stir up such devotion and personal sacrifice to reach the world for Christ’s sake.

Have a great day

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December 3rd

Today's Bible reading is in 1 Corinthians 15 & 16.

The Apostle Paul finished up his first letter to the young church at Corinth by emphasizing the seriousness and weightiness of the gospel message. There is no other message given under heaven whereby one may be saved from their sins. Therefore, we might struggle with the meanings of the spiritual gifts. We may even debate the best forms of church worship. We can even get sideways with each other over the different views and applications of Biblical church leadership. But we must all agree on the gospel message that saves. That was true in Paul’s mind and it must be true in ours today.

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you..."

Paul preached the good news of God’s forgiveness and adoption and redemption in and through God the Son, Jesus Christ. It wasn't Paul’s gospel. It was God’s...the saving gospel of Jesus Christ.

"which you received," Which many in Corinth received and believed...“in which you stand,”

I'm reminded of a time in my childhood...when my little sister and I stood in mama’s clean kitchen. We were soaking wet. We had been playing in the rain. “Look at you”, mama said with a shy grin and sparkle in her eye. “You're making a puddle on my clean kitchen floor.”

Yes, we were and we were stomping our feet in it and splashing each other with it. We were completely drenched with the water of the rain.

And in Christ, we are completely drenched with the gracious water of the word of God’s gospel of salvation...” in which we stand”....playfully and joyfully and gratefully.

“and by which you are being saved”...from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light in Christ...unless...you believed in vain.”

Sadly, there are so many, even in church, who have changed their minds about religion, but who have never truly desired Jesus from their hearts...

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:1-2‬

Paul said...“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:3-4‬

I preached the “gospel” to you when Silas and I came over to Macedonia and Acaiah in my second missionary journey.

That message of the life and work of Jesus Christ on our eternal behalf was of first and of foremost importance. Jesus was God in the flesh...the Messiah sent from heaven...to save his people from their sins.

And how did he do that? Through his sacrificial death on the cross for our sins...paying the sin debt we owed with his own bloody death on the cross...followed by the triumphant resurrection from the dead...from the tomb.

“Tetelestai”...it is finished he cried...it is paid and a home in heaven is purchased for those who believe him...Jesus. Jesus did what he came to do...at the cross....and its glory was highlighted by His rising from the dead...awesome

I can't help but remember one of my favorite hymns....” Blessed Redeemer” by Avis Christiansen, 1920, a member of Moody Church Chicago, in 1920...2nd verse...

Father forgive them, thus did he pray...en’ while His lifeblood flowed fast away...praying for sinners while in such wow...no one but Jesus ever loved so.

Blessed Redeemer, precious redeemer seems now I see him on calvary’s tree...wounded and bleeding for sinners pleading...blind and unheeding, dying for me.

The gospel....awesome...thanks Jesus...for everything!

Have a great day

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December 2nd

The bible reading today is in 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14.

“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:13‬

Paul used the pronoun “we.” “Church, we were all baptized into one body...”

What does that mean? Friends, you and I are apart of that “we”. When “we” got saved...when we began to believe and follow Jesus...“we were baptized into the body of Christ”...“we were divinely placed into the universal body of Christ...“we were divinely placed into the Church of God, the church of Jesus Christ...“by the Holy Spirit!”

Paul continues to teach...“For the body does not consist of one member but of many.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:14‬

There were many believers in the church there in Corinth...not just one...And God was going to grow all of them unto maturity in Christ. And the Lord was going to use them to fulfill his purposes throughout eternity.

“As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:20‬

Paul explained the many members in the one body as many different “parts”.

I'm a part and you're a part. Maybe I'm a foot and you are a hand. God has a purpose for both of us in His church.

That’s exciting!

May the Lord, by the Spirit’s gifting, enable us to bless one another and build up the church in the faith for his honor and glory and the salvation of many more.

Have a great day

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December 1st

The bible reading today is in 1 Corinthians chapters 9-11.

In our reading today Paul reminds the church that it was God who planted the church in Corinth, and that God used him in that process. But Paul also addressed some church members who had their doubts about him...doubting his leadership and doubting his call from God as an apostle of Christ.

Sometimes I forget that Paul was just a man. Yes, he was probably Spirit-filled most of the time, but he was still just a man doing life with Jesus.

I believe that when some people in the church spoke against him, it had to sting. I also believe that when some that Paul led to Christ began to doubt him and disrespect him, it had to be crushing to Paul.

But perhaps the Spirit reminded him of Jesus’ sermon on the mount...and thinking upon that, perhaps the Spirit infused him with renewed faith in Jesus and a measure of courage to keep up the good fight and go with the Lord no matter what.

“Blessed are you when men utter all kinds of evil against you falsely...Jesus said to his disciples...Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:11-12‬ ‭

And perhaps after that, the Spirit inspired him to write the following to the church that hurt him...“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. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. “

Some in the Corinthian fellowship were spreading bad reports about Paul and his ministry.

My take? The letter implies that some accused Paul of not shepherding them properly. They accused Paul and his missionary team of not spending enough time with them. He was spending his time with others outside the church instead of concentrating upon them who supported his ministry.

Paul made it very clear that he had a call upon his life to evangelize the lost for the sake of the gospel. He said that he would continue to be all things to all people, not changing his message but adjusting his methods, so that he might win some more to faith in Jesus.

It was as though Paul was saying, “Come join me church...you and I have been made eternally safe and secure in Christ.

That’s awesome...and the fellowship that we enjoy with one another is awesome...but now it is our turn to preach the gospel unto salvation for our family and friends and neighbors.

Paul went on to exhort the church...“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.”

Corinth was the host of the Isthmian Games, second only to the Olympic Games. So Paul used sport to challenge the disciples in the Corinthian Church.

Runners run. They have trained for their races. They have been qualified to participate. And they pursue the prize.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9:22-27‬ ‭ESV‬‬

And what is that prize that disciples of Christ pursue?

Let us listen to Paul’s letter to the church at Phillipi...“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:12-13‬ ‭

The prize for us? One more day to do life on mission with Christ to the glory of God, the building up of the church, and the salvation of another soul for Christ.

Have a great day

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November 30th

The bible reading today is in 1 Corinthians chapters 5-8.

God used Paul to teach the young Corinthian church several things in our reading today.

For instance...

#1. How was the church to deal with immorality inside the church family? The Holy Spirit led Paul to write his brethren in Corinth...“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭5:1-2‬

How was he supposed to deal with it? Mourn...not arrogantly dismissing it like it really didn't matter...humbly taking responsibility to help the brother or sister that finds themselves away from Jesus and in need of spiritual rescue. And discipline the wayward brother or sister if needed...that is, if they don't repent and turn back to the Lord and His will.

Paul dealt with this question...

#2. Are civil lawsuits the best way for Church members to settle their offenses?

No...because “their testimony” for Christ is more important than getting even...or getting reparations for damages.

“To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a “defeat” for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:7‬‬‬

#3. Does God elevate singleness over marriage?

No....“I Paul 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”.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭7:35‬

Paul was teaching that neither marriage nor singleness was the goal. But rather “undivided devotion” to Jesus. So if you and your fiance are committing yourselves to doing life with Christ...and you are making a commitment to a “Christ centered” marriage...and you both are free to marry...then amen and God’s blessing upon you.

But if you are single, God is blessing you with time and undistracted “Jesus devotion” to purposefully serve Christ and his church enthusiastically and joyfully...single-minded...toward the Lord... until He brings a life partner your way. God’s continued blessing upon you.

And it is every bit OK to desire marriage...praying for a Godly partner on mission with you for Christ’s sake is good Just don't give God a deadline. He’s good at bringing his people together for marriage.

And...#4. In chapter 8, we read where Paul counsels the Corinthian church concerning division in the body over what could and could not be eaten by believers in Jesus.

Some were judging others for taking liberties that they believed Jesus did not give.

Paul talks about freedom here. Whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, let us do it to the glory of Jesus... with a heart toward those in the church who are struggling with such freedoms versus their own ties to the law...religious or secular.

There is much to learn of doing church with Jesus and with the diversified number of people who believe Jesus. Some are young and spiritually weaker and some are stronger. Some have been on the journey of faith for good number of years. Others are brand new in the faith family.

Let us keep on learning and doing the word and will of our Savior God...together...

Have a good day

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November 29th

The bible reading today is in 1 Corinthians 1-4.

Paul begins his letter to the Corinthian church by reminding who they are in Christ.

“To the church of God that is in Corinth,". They are the church of God himself...not the church of any man or organization...but the “church of God". That title trumps any other title that anyone can hang on it. It’s from God...to God...it’s for God and his glorious purposes. To those sanctified in Christ Jesus...(set apart for God’s use only)....called to be saints...(“the called out” ones...” the church” of Godly men women and children abiding in Christ)...who...“together” ...“in every place” call upon the name of our Lord”..... Jesus Christ...

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:2‬

Then Paul reminds them about their God and ours...“God is faithful”...you can trust “God faithfulness” above all else.

It was by him that you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

That’s a wow...Saved for heaven in the sweet by and by, but also redeemed for sweet fellowship with the Lord Jesus every day.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭

Next in the text...“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be “no divisions” among you, but that you “be united” in the same mind and the same judgment.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:10‬

When someone asks me, “What’s 1 Corinthians all about?”

I say that I see at least two major things...It’s all about the Lord Jesus and his Church and her testimony and mission in a broken and evil world.

This church was indeed full of knowledge and gifts...perhaps more than any other church of its time. But it was a church with more than her share of problems and issues...certainly in need of humility and grace to get along and stay on mission.

But listen to Paul and hear a measure of delight in the church that God planted at the doorstep of hell....quote...“even as the testimony about Christ was “confirmed among you”—That is...your faith in Jesus has been affirmed and confirmed by others...your faith has been seen consistently...that’s awesome...so that you are not lacking in any gift of grace...gifts given by the Spirit so that Christ is glorified and your church friends are built up in the faith. And...you wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:6-7‬ ‭

The church at Corinth was far from perfect, but by and large, she showed a desire for the Savior to come and make all things new.

May that be so in our lives and in our churches today...hat longing for Jesus’ return and his perfect kingdom to come...even as John in the Revelation desired....”Come, Lord Jesus!”

That passion can right any church.

So Christ put his church and the laborers thereof in different places. This time he planted his church in an exceptionally evil city...Corinth, where moral impurity reigned.

Let us listen to how Jesus prayed for the church he was about to die for...including the church at Corinth...“Father, I do not ask that you take believers out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. So Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17:15-17‬ ‭

Some churches thrive in the darkest of places. The Corinthian church did not.

Secondly, I see Paul’s admonitions to the church concerning unity...“Church, let there be no divisions among you.”

Let’s keep listening to Jesus praying...“I in them Father, and you in me, that they may become perfectly one “so that the world may know that you sent me...”

‭‭John‬ ‭17:23‬

Jesus knew that if the disciples couldn't come together in unity, if they couldn't love and respect one another and pursue peace in the church fellowship, then the world would not believe their gospel message.

“Father protect our churches. The evil one would divide us. Satan would make our disunity a stumbling block to those we are seeking to win to Christ.

Let us listen to what Paul said to divided church of Corinth.

“But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭

Paul called these so-called spiritual elites spiritually immature”...” fleshly people” acting like the unsaved Corinthians...he called them “baby’s in the faith family”.

God was using Paul to take these arrogant intellectuals down a notch...I believe that Paul was saying...”It’s time to grow up brothers and sisters.

Friends, I believe that It is possible for church family members to have different opinions on things and still (1 Corinthians 13) love each other.

So let’s do that by the power of the Holy Spirit working within us.

Have a great day

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November 28th

The Bible reading today is in the last half of Acts 18 and all of 19.

Paul was still in his second missionary journey and he spent a little over a year in Corinth of Achaia. There he partnered with Aquilla and his wife Pricilla. Tradition says that this couple was a part of the 70 disciples mentioned in Luke 10 that Jesus sent to the towns and cities that he would be visiting...they would prepare the way for Christ’s ministry.

Apparently, Aquilla and Priscilla became Christ’s missionaries to Achaia...in particular, Corinth...a tough place to evangelize, even as Paul would find out. There was a measure of spiritual fruitfulness. And that led to the establishment of the Church at Corinth.

From there, Paul traveled 350 miles to Ephesus...a seaport city on the Aegean Sea of modern-day Turkey.

There he found some disciples...“And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus."

There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭19:1-2‬

So Paul talked to some disciples in Ephesus. He asked them what I considered a strange question.

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

At first, I thought they must not have been converts of Paul or of Apollos...both of whom had ministered the word in Ephesus before.

Surely the apostle Paul would have told those who got saved during his first three months there that in Christ they were the house of the Holy Spirit...that the Spirit indwelled them to conform them into the image of Christ.

So why would Paul ask them if they had the Holy Spirit?

Let’s think about this...It had been at least 14 years since the death and resurrection of Christ. Jesus had ascended to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to his followers, just like he promised. The gospel and the church had spread rapidly in the Roman Empire...especially during this season of Roman persecution.

In my simple thinking, perhaps Paul asked that question about having the Holy Spirit because to him something was missing in their so-called faith in Jesus.

Paul taught that if anyone was in Christ he or she was a new creature, old things passed away, all things became new. Maybe Paul didn't see the change in living that the presence of the Holy Spirit brings. Or maybe the Spirit gave Paul discernment that these twelve people knew that they needed to get right with God (like John the Baptist’s baptism called people to)...but they had not yet been born again by the Holy Spirit.

So Paul prayed for them. He even laid his hands upon them. They showed their faith in Christ in their believer’s baptism...and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit was revealed and demonstrated in and through them with gifts of tongues and prophesy.

One Sunday morning he asked his congregation if they thought they would know it if they were struck by lightning. They answered in unison.” Yes”.

Spurgeon paused and said, “And so would one know it measurably more when the Spirit of Christ takes up residence in his heart.

And I say...”Amen and amen!

Have a great day