CORINTHIANS

              Structural Diagramming is nothing new to me as I have ‘learnt’ before, but it seems to be unfamiliar to me when the first lesson was conducted by sister Davina. What has happened? Not possible! Then I realised that ‘head knowledge’ does not equate to ‘application’. I have not started to apply and use it. I started to re-learn, started to practice, to communicated, do corrections, and finally I scored to His victory. Thanks to sis Davina for her grace and patience that she is willing to impart and shares her knowledge with all her students.  

            "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are beneficial. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything.” (1 Cor 6:12 NRSV) A verse that makes me ponders; a verse that changes my whole perceptive of “the truth will set you free” concept. So thankful to our Lord that I am given this opportunity to learn this lesson (1 & 2 Corinthian) that being taught by Rev Casey. The Corinthian believers were divided on certain practices not expressly forbidden in Scripture, such as eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols. I believe self-centeredness is the root of this division. As such our spiritual freedom must not be expressed at the expense of other believers whose faith might be fragile or non-believers whose salvation may be affected. We are to be sensitive and considerate; we must sacrifice our freedom out of love for our weaker brothers and sisters or non-believers.  

            “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Cor 9:6 NRSV). “You reap what you sow”, a common phrase that is known to many of us be it whether you are a Christian or a non-believer. But Paul highlighted to us that there is a vital connection between God’s grace and our giving. Just as God has been gracious toward us, we should be gracious toward others, sharing the spiritual and physical blessings God has given us. Although good works can never pay for God’s grace, they are an expected result of God’s grace working in our lives. I believe that the same is true in financial generosity; a person who is generous will usually be rewarded. But at time my ‘logical’ mind has overridden my radical faith that I have built in our God. I tend to base on my own ‘logical’ judgment to make my decision rather than to hear God’s voice to reach His goal. I repent.  I have also learnt and understand that the reward doesn’t always come in monetary form, and it doesn’t always come in this life, but God does bless people who are generous. “God loves a cheerful giver”, if we feel obligated to give, if we resent the offering, if we dread the request, then we are not really generous. True generosity is an attitude of the heart, and that is what God is looking for and that is what he rewards. My perspective of rewards have totally changed and realised that the most important blessing is the harvest of righteousness, the gift of being counted as righteous through faith in Jesus Christ. We are counted as righteous by his grace, and we are simultaneously called on to live in righteousness, to conform our actions to what he wants, and this includes generosity. As God is also the provider, if we are generous, then God will bless our source and our results.  

            The gift of tongues, or any other gift, is not a special mark of spirituality. All the gifts of the Spirit are given as God decides (1 Corinthians 12:11 NRSV). We have learnt that tongues, as a sign, do not lead people to the obedience and faith in Jesus our Lord. A concept that I have believed is now ‘broken’. Are those who speak in tongues more spiritual or closer to God than those who do not? Not necessarily. If those who speak in tongues don't have love, they are useless noisemakers; no matter what language they speak (1 Corinthians 13:1 NRSV). My perspective regards to ‘tongues’ have also changed as I was being told by some senior Christians that ‘tongues’ is ‘a sign of spirituality’. We know of some Christians have been seeking the gift of tongues in our church, and they have also misusing the gift. These tongues weren't helping the congregation because "If you speak languages that others don't know, God will understand what you are saying, though no one else will know what you mean.... by speaking languages that others don't know, you help only yourself" (verses 2, 4). Remember that when God's people are resurrected and become completely perfect, special spiritual knowledge will no longer be important, because everyone will know fully. Divine messages and predictions will no longer be important, for the same reason. Tongues will likewise cease. Certain spiritual gifts have value in this temporal age, but they are not of eternal significance in the way that love is.  

            Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us this opportunity to learn and understand Your teaching via Rev Casey and Sister Davina. We have indeed benefited not only from the spirituality input, but also from the practical applications. Father Lord, no doubt we will part one day from Your College, I pray that you will provide us many opportunities to apply what we have learnt or to teach and share with others in the market place.  Lord, we also want to pray for Rev Casey and Sister Davina that You will continue to anoint them with your knowledge and wisdom so that they are able to groom more students for You to use as a vessel to reach out to and save more soul to Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.