Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
Our God is One the director of operations in the church. The Holy Spirit gives gifts for service in the church. And there are different ministries in the church that serves His body. And there are varied activities by which different spiritual gifts are exercised for the strengthening of the body.
Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians Knowing Your Privilege in Christ “The Blessed Christian Life” Ephesians 5:1-6 (KJV) 1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for …
Fleeting Riches
Proverb 23:4-5 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
There is something deceitful about the material wealth of this world. In all our endeavours, this proverb warns us against labouring to be rich.
Verse 5 says “riches certainly make themselves wings” (this is a term of emphatic “certainty”). Riches that come to us can also be taken away from us.
The command in these two verses is the word “cease”. Cease from our own deception that labouring for riches is what life is all about.
As we look at the world today, we see how material wealth and riches are highly esteemed. The rich are portrayed as people having a good life and respected by the world. And because of this, many desire to become rich.
Spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives a variety of gifts to believers. The emphasis is on the diversity of gifts. The word “diversity” is the first word in the Greek, giving to us focus of the Apostle’s exhortation. And although there are a variety of gifts, all believers has that same blessed Holy Spirit indwelling them when they become the children of God.
The Apostle Paul speaks now of spiritual gifts. And he brings before the Corinthian Christians the litmus test for the true spiritual gift that is from God. The Spirit of God will always enable the Christian to magnify the Name of Jesus Christ and be subjected to His authority as Lord.
The Corinthian Christians are commanded to “tarry” or “wait” one for another. He lovingly teaches them to take care to partake the Lord’s Supper in a godly manner as he has said. He urges them to observe the solemnity and sacred of the Lord’s Supper through proper self-examination and confession of sins, that they refrain from wanton feasting before the time of the Lord’s Supper is observed. If they would like to have a fellowship meal together, it may be done at home and not in church. As Barnes said well, “Do not be guilty of disorder, intemperance, and gluttony.”
William MacDonald observed well, “God is dealing with us as with His own children. He loves us too dearly to allow us to go on in sin. Thus we soon feel the shepherd’s crook on our necks pulling us back to Himself. “
Hymns: RHC 358 What a Friend We Have in Jesus, 96 He Keeps Me Singing, 367 There Shall Be Showers of Blessing
Preparation for Hard Times (3)
Psalm 119:41-64 (KJV)
41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word. 42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments. 44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. 45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. 46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. 47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. 48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
We shall be spared of God’s chastening if we will examine our lives and repent of our sins. The institution of the Lord’s Supper enables believers to take the time to examine their lives before God on a regular basis. This is a means of grace whereby the people of God may judge themselves and find forgiveness with God. The Lord is gracious and merciful to those who are willing to surrender their lives to God.
The Lord gives a sobering picture of judgment for abusing the Lord’s Supper when God’s people fail to examine their lives and repent of their sins. May this be a wake-up call for self-examination and confession and restoration and renewal for God’s people. Amen.