Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
The Apostle Paul is speaking with foresight and seeks to calibrate with the church of Corinth concerning how God’s servant, Timothy, is to be treated. “To despise” is as treating someone as of no account despise, disdain, make light of, making someone as of no account disregard, reject, despise. As such, he sought to ensure that God’s work progress unhindered and God’s servant be accorded due respect and honour for the work’s sake.
16th Century Reformation in Germany
Martin Luther (Part 4)
When Luther left Worms he anticipated a speedy journey to Wittenberg, but the unexpected happened. At a considerable distance from Worms the path entered a glen, thickly forested even to the tops of the surrounding hills. Suddenly there emerged from the woods a company of horsemen, armed to the teeth. They surrounded the carriage in which the reformer was riding, seized him and hurried away. Their journey ended at a stately castle some eight miles away. Its name was Wartburg and it occupied the top of a hill overlooking Eisenach.
The Apostle Paul has planned to send Timothy to serve in the church in Corinth. He gives his recommendation that the church would receive him hospitably as they would have received him, to allay his fears. He is able to do the work of ministering to their spiritual needs. Timothy was trained by the Apostle Paul with God’s help and therefore was able to stand in the gap when the Apostle Paul, was in prison and could not visit them.
The great ripe harvest field for souls is emphasized here. There is much work to be done or there is much work yet undone requiring prayer, haste, sowing, and reaping.
Our lives are in the sovereign hand of God. He orders it according to His good pleasure. The Apostle Paul as a servant waiting upon his Master Jesus Christ. He sought to visit the church in Corinth. He commits his plans that the Lord may approve of them and directs or re-directs as He deems fit if the Lord permits.
Hymns: RHC 43 God Is Still On the Throne 46 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God 47 Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Psalm 93
1 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. 2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. 4 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. 5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.
THE LORD IS STILL ON THE THRONE
OUTLINE
(1) KNOW WHO HE IS? (v1-2)
(a) The LORD Who Reigns Supreme (v1a)
(i) His Glory (v1b)
(ii) His Omnipotence (v1c)
(iii) His Readiness to Defend (v1d)
(iv) His Creative Works (v1e)
(v) His Throne Unmoved (v2)
(2) WHAT HE CAN DO FOR YOU! (v3-4)
(a) In Every Assault to His own (v3)
(b) He quells (v4a)
(c) He triumphs (v4b)
(3) WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE? (v5)
(a) Declare His Faithfulness (v5a)
(i) Live by His Word
(b) Dwell in the Beauty of Holiness (v5b)
(ii) Live a Holy Life
There was a collection that the Corinthian church has raised for the support of the saints in Jerusalem. The church in Corinth will appoint someone who will be entrusted with this task of bringing the funds raised to Jerusalem. The Apostle Paul shall be making the journey to Jerusalem. This appointed person will go together with the Apostle Paul carrying the collection.
This text sets the precedence for the collection of gifts on the first day of the week when the church comes together for worship, on the Lord’s Day, the day where our Lord was risen from the dead. The idea of this giving is for everyone of the believers to participate as God enables them, they are to give.
William MacDonald observed well, “The first verse of chapter 16 concerns a collection which was to be taken up by the church in Corinth and sent to needy saints in Jerusalem. The exact cause of their poverty is not known. Some have suggested that it was a result of famine (Acts 11:28–30).”
Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.