Episode #139. Today we’ll read 1 Corinthians chapter 6 together. Paul is incredulous over lawsuits between believers and then speaks of glorifying God with body and spirit.
Transcript
Joy: You’re listening to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Episode #139. Today we’ll read 1st Corinthians chapter 6 together: Paul is incredulous over lawsuits between believers and then speaks of glorifying God with body and spirit.
Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast. I’m your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me as we simply read God’s word together. Some things require discipline and sometimes that’s just not easy to muster by yourself, no matter how badly you want to do it or how much you know you should. It’s just easier to do it with a friend. So refill your coffee or tea, get comfortable in your favorite chair and follow along as I read aloud. I’m so glad you’re here!
Welcome
I have a playlist of some of my favorite praise songs on my phone. I made the 4-hour drive last week to visit my daughter and used that time to catch up on some phone calls and think about future episode scripts. Although I accomplished some of those things, I felt a little restless in my soul and that’s when some praise music is usually therapeutic. I’m not gonna tell you that I only listen to Christian music… I also have a play list of some great secular songs. But that day? Only praise songs would do. Many of them at the top of my lungs. But there is one quiet and simple song we don’t sing often enough in church that quieted me right down and I want to share the lyrics with you. It’s called The Servant Song by Richard Gillard. It goes like this:
The Servant Song
Brother, sister, let me serve you;
Let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I might have the grace to
Let you be my servant, too.
We are pilgrims on a journey;
We are family on the road;
We are here to help each other
Walk the miles and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ-light for you
In the nighttime of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
Speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping;
When you laugh, I’ll laugh with you;
I will share your joys and sorrows
Till we’ve seen this journey through.
When we sing to God in Heaven
We shall find such harmony,
Born of all we’ve known together
Of Christ’s love and agony.
Brother, sister, let me serve you;
Let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I might have the grace to
Let you be my servant, too.
Not only are the lyrics beautiful, they inspire me to be my best Christian self. You can find this song pretty much anywhere you download music. My favorite rendition is by The Mission Worship Praise Band from iTunes.
1 Corinthians Chapter 6
Lawsuits among Believers
If any of you has a dispute against another, how dare you take it to court before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Or don’t you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the trivial cases? Don’t you know that we will judge angels — how much more matters of this life? So if you have such matters, do you appoint as your judges those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame! Can it be that there is not one wise person among you who is able to arbitrate between fellow believers? Instead, brother goes to court against brother, and that before unbelievers!
As it is, to have legal disputes against one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves do wrong and cheat — and you do this to brothers and sisters! Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom. And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Glorifying God in Body and Spirit
“Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything. “Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food,” and God will do away with both of them. However, the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. God raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Don’t you know that your bodies are a part of Christ’s body? So should I take a part of Christ’s body and make it part of a prostitute? Absolutely not! Don’t you know that anyone joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For Scripture says, The two will become one flesh. But anyone joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.
Flee sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body. Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.
Closing Thoughts
1st Corinthians 6:12 is one of the remarkable verses and probably the first that I memorized as an adult: “Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” Paul repeats the verse in chapter 10, verse 23 which is actually the version I memorized. It is a wonderful balance of liberty in Christ and Godly wisdom. This passage is one of those scriptures that you know in your heart is absolutely true and one for all of us to remember. And by all means, in all we do, give glory to God. Let’s pray.
Prayer
Father, we praise You that You have given us such freedom. Help us, Lord, to exercise loving, Godly wisdom in all that You give us. Help us to respect the conscience of others. Work in us so that all people everywhere will know that we are Christians by our love. Amen.
Thank you for joining me here today. I pray God will grow in you what has been planted and watered here. In this time of unprecedented struggle worldwide, we can look to God for guidance and comfort. Be sensitive to those in your circle of influence who need a word of encouragement and invite them to join us. If you like this show, it would be great if you give it a five-star review. Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. See you right here tomorrow. Be well!
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible(r), Copyright (c) 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible(r) and CSB(r) are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Show Notes
- Awesome Video of Solomon’s Temple
- These will help! Overview videos of all books of the Bible
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Bible Study Resources
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- Title of song used in the podcast is 3 Joys & the Truth, by Daniel O’Connor
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