Vocabulaire

Exegete

Ascent

Thistle

Thorny

Garment

Salient

Premise

Endeavor

Coal miner

Shapeless

For the time being

Hardened

Nightmare

Booth

Hover

Feather

Rooster

Hatch

Chick

Alter ego : second self

Comforter

Snatch

Scratch

Satiat

Livestock

Obvious

Enshrine

Dull

Impetus

Stun

Faithfulness

Unfortunately

Forehead

Ugly

Profusely

Marvelous

QT - 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 (Daily Bread of 26/10/2018)

THE WISDOM OF GOD CAN ONLY BE UNDERSTOOD BY THE SPIRIT

Key Verse 2: 4

How does Paul testify to having preached the word to Corinth? (1-5) What is the wisdom of God to which he testifies? (6-9) How can we know the wisdom of God? (10-16) These are the topics that Paul talks about this text.

1. The princes of this century do not know the wisdom of God (1-8)

Even the great men and princes of this century do not know God's wisdom. That's because it's mysterious and hidden. Therefore, the ignorant people, who didn't know God's glory crucified him (8). One cannot believe in Jesus with one's wisdom because the message of the cross can only be learned by through the Holy Spirit (1). Paul, a former philosopher, knew him better than anyone else. He decided to only depend on Jesus Christ during his service. Paul preferred to be weak because through his weakness, Jesus manifested the power of God (1:25).

2. God's Wisdom Revealed by the Holy Spirit (9-16)

Only the Holy Spirit can help us to know and believe in the wisdom of God (4:10). Through the unique power of the Holy Spirit , we can come to believe in Jesus as our Savior. Through the Holy Spirit alone, we can correctly recognize and understand the Word of God. It is as if someone knows another person through his own spirit (11). There is a big difference between the natural man and the man of the Spirit. The former knows nothing about spiritual realities and cannot judge anything. However, the latter knows these realities and can judge everything. Therefore, he is superior and can instruct the ignorant world. The thoughts of Christ come from the Holy Spirit. Thus, we must not fear the wise men of the world, for we are the teachers of the world.

QT - 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

DO NOT STAY CARNAL BUT BECOME SPIRITUAL

Key verse 3:4

Paul raised his voice to indicate the carnal nature of the Corinthians. But a later on, loving them as a father, he explained the truth to them with the illustration of agriculture.   

1. Aren't you carnal? (1-5)

The Corinthians were divisional, practicing bias among themselves. They claimed to follow the best spiritual model through ideal men. But it was pure hypocrisy and comparable to a childish act. What is important for a believer is the content of his faith. The ripe fruit of spirituality matters like Galatians 5:22, "love, joy, peace, forbearance, etc.". "A spiritual man has no division nor jealousy in his dictionary. A carnal man cannot stand for or digest the good instructive words (2). Therefore, it is useless to give these words to them (Mt 7:6). We must grow up to the state of a made man, to the measure of Christ's perfect stature (Eph 4:13).       

2. The servant as an agricultural worker (6-9)

To the Corinthians who fought among themselves by dividing themselves around men, Paul said that, whether it was Apollos or himself, they were only the servants and collaborators who had helped the Corinthians to grow in faith (5:9). As the farmer did, Paul planted and Apollos watered. The fruit depends on the sovereignty of God. The one who allows growing fruit is God. The one who plants and the one who waters work on their different activities but have the same goal, which is to work for God the Sovereign. They are not the opponents, but the collaborators. Each will receive his own evaluation and reward for his work (8).

QT - 1 Corinthians 1:22-31

key verse: 29

NO FLESH WILL BOAST IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

In this section, Paul contrasts the world's wisdom with God's wisdom. Perfect wisdom is found in the cross. It is strong enough to give us victory wherever we go, for the glory of God. 

1. The cross, the power of God (22-25)

The cross is powerful enough to save all men who believe in Jesus from the weight of sin. They have all been pierced by Satan's horn and die little by little. Yet Christ crucified, the horn of salvation, has visited them and delivered them. Now, Paul says that the cross is the power of God for those who are called. God used the folly of what we preach. The cross is a powerful tool for saving the world contrary to the wisdom of the world which blocks and cannot save the world. In appearance, the cross is weak and foolish, but this is not the case, as it has divine power to break through the invincible wall of unbelief and the wisdom of the world. This wall is destroyed by those who believe and preach the cross. 

2. No flesh will boast in the presence of God (26-31)

Paul reminds the Corinthians of God's work among them. They were mostly from the lower class. In the world's eyes, they were vile and without value. But God chose them to be part of a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. They were no longer ashamed before the world and rather convinced others with assurance that came from the Holy Spirit, so much so that the world was astounded. God's purpose for their change is not that they would be raised up in the world, but so that the wisdom of the world would be brought to nothing. The wise of the world would be ashamed before the divine wisdom of the cross preached by the Corinthians. Those who believed in God were precious to him and became wisdom, justice, sanctification and redemption. No flesh can boast before God, for all comes from him. If we can boast, it should be before him alone and for him alone. 

QT - 1Corinthiens 1:1-9

« THE CROSS, THE POWER OF GOD

Key Verse 1: 4

The first problem of Corinthians was division. Then there is also the eloquence of people. So they were blind of their major problem of their Christian life because of these deviant inner and outer tendencies. These internal and external problems are still relevant. 

1. Division in the church (10-16)

In the church of Corinth, there were divisions, because of the models that each one took for their believing life. This came about because of their humanist thinking, which was sectarian. Each one puts forward some merit that his object, either wisdom, or power, or the work such a baptism, etc.. In man there is always this bad tendency to take sides. This is an obstacle to the mission and even the cause of destruction for the community. So everyone must be vigilant about this. When we do not forget the centre of our belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus, we can overcome this tendency and remain united.

2. The Cross, the Wisdom of God (17-21)

The mission given by God to Paul was clear. It consists not in baptizing but in proclaiming the message of the cross. When the disciples announced with full confidence, despite the imprisonment of the disciples, there was a great work of God in Jerusalem. The proclamation of the gospel is God's only valid tool for salvation. If you are a servant, you have to focus on this. Especially the content of the message, Jesus crucified, is the key to eternal life in the kingdom of God. The cross is a scandal and a folly for man, but it is the power of salvation for anyone who believes in him. It is above all God's wisdom to save sinners. No human wisdom can provide a cure for the problem of man's sin. But God by sending and killing his Son on the cross, from the very beginning, solved this problem that made him suffer throughout history since the fall. »

QT - Isaiah 36: 1-22

WHAT IS THIS TRUST
Verse Key 36: 4
The famous painter Van Gogh says that if a voice in you says: you can't paint, paint, then the voice disappears. Today, the voice was not heard in itself, but came from the enemy. Listening to the wrong voice gives birth to the wrong inner voice, but the wisdom of the people mastered it.
1. What is this trust (1-10)
Senaherib marched against Judah and laid siege to Jerusalem. The enemy general Rabachah came to threaten Judah. He played the role of Satan, because he tempted the enemy by sowing doubt. He says what that trust was. He had a strategy to question Judah's trust in order to discourage him and lower his morale. Actually, what Rabach said had a correct part, because Judah had false confidence. There were three trusts, of which Rabchaqué spoke. First, it was Egypt. Faced with the threat of the enemy, Judah went to ask for his support. It was his habit. But Egypt, which was apparently a strong country, was only a puppet, a broken reed. He was opportunistic, and despite promises, at the crucial moment they did not keep them, and withdrew behind them. Second is their God. Often the trust in their God for Israel was false, for example in Samuel's time, in the battle against the Philistines, they brought the ark in thinking that it would give them victory. But it was a superstition and they were defeated. Then, thirdly, they depended on their miserable army force.    
2. Keep silent (11-22)

The delegation protested that Rabachah spoke in Judean, because this threat lowered the morale of the soldiers who stood on the wall of the holy city. But he didn't care and shouted louder in that language. His words were full of wickedness and cunning. When Satan's voice was heard, the best way to thwart it, and to keep silent, and thus the voice chokes and disappears. When Eve heard Satan's voice, she listened, which made her fall inexorably. Hezekiah was a wise king, so he ordered the people to keep quiet about the enemy's vociferous words. The people act as one body by obeying the king.

QT - Isaiah 35:1-10

ONLY THOSE WHO. . . 

key verse: 8

This is a prophecy on the messianic age. Tribulation and deportation have ended, and now a new era blossoms. Songs resound. It is the image of Paradise. Yet there is a condition in order to participate in this rejoicing. 

1. Here is your God (1-4)

Because of sin, Israel was in the midst of tribulation. They had been led captive into Babylon, but in time, God would deliver them. Until now, due to their sin, it seemed as though God had turned his back on them. Because of their sinful lives, it seemed as if he no longer wanted to be their God. But now that their sin was redeemed, God wanted to be their God. Their honor was restored and blessing returned. The sad state of the desert gave way to gladness and rejoicing. Joy blossomed and the happiness of the inhabitants was restored. Glory and majesty covered the land. Until now, youthful strength was abandoned because of the slavery of sin, but from now on, they would take destiny into their own hands and create a new story. 

2. The redeemed shall walk there (5-10)

A new highway is paved. It is the predicted way of Jesus' work (5,6). It will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not pass over it. Only those who accept Jesus can enter this way, and even the foolish can become wise. Nature will be transformed; the desert will become an oasis. The infirm will be healed through God's intervention. They will be delivered from their physical handicap, but they will also need deliverance in their souls. Repentance in Jesus will revive these people. They are now not only physically freed from their invaders; they are also freed from the debilitating weight of sin. There will no longer be any trace of sadness for them, only gladness and rejoicing shall reign.