Resolving Disputes and Glorifying God in Our Lives

Devotional

Day 1: Resolving Disputes with Spiritual Wisdom

As believers, we are called to resolve our disputes within the church community, reflecting our future role in judging the world and angels. This requires spiritual discernment and wisdom, which surpasses worldly knowledge. Paul admonished the Corinthian church for taking their grievances before secular courts, emphasizing that as saints, they are destined to judge the world and even angels. This future role underscores the capacity to handle minor disputes among themselves. The call is to exercise spiritual discernment and wisdom, which surpasses worldly knowledge, in resolving conflicts. [03:29]

1 Corinthians 6:2-3 (ESV): "Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!"

Reflection: Is there a conflict in your life that you can bring before a trusted fellow believer for guidance and resolution today?

Day 2: Honoring God with Our Bodies

Our bodies are not our own; they have been bought with a price. This truth calls us to glorify God in our bodies, living in a way that reflects our sanctification and justification. Recognizing that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, we are reminded of the profound responsibility to live lives of moral purity. The liberty we have in Christ is not a license to sin but a call to live a life set apart for God's purposes. [39:10]

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV): "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to honor God with your body, recognizing it as a temple of the Holy Spirit?

Day 3: Guarding Against Self-Deception

Paul warns against self-deception, particularly in matters of sin and righteousness. We must not be deceived by vain words that suggest sinful behaviors are compatible with inheriting the kingdom of God. The transformation that comes from being washed, sanctified, and justified in Christ should be evident in our conduct. Our past life of sin is behind us, and we are now called to walk in the Spirit, free from the bondage of the flesh. [21:51]

Galatians 6:7-8 (ESV): "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."

Reflection: Are there any areas in your life where you might be deceiving yourself about the seriousness of sin? How can you seek God's truth in this area today?

Day 4: Living a Transformed Life

Our transformation in Christ should be evident in our conduct. We are called to walk in the Spirit, free from the bondage of the flesh, and live a life set apart for God's purposes. This transformation is not just a change in behavior but a renewal of the heart and mind, reflecting the sanctification and justification we have received through Christ. [25:40]

Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you can demonstrate the transformation that Christ has worked in you?

Day 5: Surrendering All to Christ

Our reasonable service is to offer our bodies as instruments of righteousness, surrendering all to Christ. This surrender is a commitment to live a life that glorifies God in every aspect. It is not just an act of worship but a daily decision to align our lives with God's purposes, recognizing that we have been bought with a price and are called to live for Him. [52:22]

Romans 12:1 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

Reflection: What is one area of your life that you need to surrender to Christ today, and what steps can you take to make that surrender a reality?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound responsibility and privilege we have as believers to resolve our disputes within the church community rather than resorting to secular courts. Paul admonishes the Corinthian church for taking their grievances before pagan judges, emphasizing that as saints, we are destined to judge the world and even angels. This future role underscores our capacity to handle minor disputes among ourselves. The call is to exercise spiritual discernment and wisdom, which surpasses worldly knowledge, in resolving conflicts.

Paul's message also challenges us to live lives of moral purity, recognizing that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. We are reminded that our bodies are not our own; they have been bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus Christ. This truth calls us to glorify God in our bodies, living in a way that reflects our sanctification and justification. The liberty we have in Christ is not a license to sin but a call to live a life set apart for God's purposes.

Furthermore, Paul warns against self-deception, particularly in matters of sin and righteousness. He lists behaviors that are incompatible with inheriting the kingdom of God, urging believers not to be deceived by vain words that suggest otherwise. The transformation that comes from being washed, sanctified, and justified in Christ should be evident in our conduct. Our past life of sin is behind us, and we are now called to walk in the Spirit, free from the bondage of the flesh.

The sermon concludes with a call to surrender all to Christ, recognizing that our reasonable service is to offer our bodies as instruments of righteousness. This surrender is not just an act of worship but a commitment to live a life that glorifies God in every aspect.

Key Takeaways

1. Resolving Disputes Within the Church: As believers, we are called to resolve our disputes within the church community, reflecting our future role in judging the world and angels. This requires spiritual discernment and wisdom, which surpasses worldly knowledge. [03:29]
2. Our Bodies as Temples of the Holy Spirit: Our bodies are not our own; they have been bought with a price. This truth calls us to glorify God in our bodies, living in a way that reflects our sanctification and justification. [39:10]
3. The Danger of Self-Deception: Paul warns against self-deception, particularly in matters of sin and righteousness. We must not be deceived by vain words that suggest sinful behaviors are compatible with inheriting the kingdom of God. [21:51]
4. Living a Life Set Apart: Our transformation in Christ should be evident in our conduct. We are called to walk in the Spirit, free from the bondage of the flesh, and live a life set apart for God's purposes. [25:40]
5. Surrendering All to Christ: Our reasonable service is to offer our bodies as instruments of righteousness, surrendering all to Christ. This surrender is a commitment to live a life that glorifies God in every aspect. [52:22]
** [52:22]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:06] - Faults in the Legal System
[03:10] - Resolving Disputes in the Church
[04:51] - Judging Angels
[06:39] - Least Esteemed in the Church
[08:49] - Spiritual Understanding
[11:28] - Christian Arbitration
[13:09] - Suffering Wrong for Christ
[16:53] - Deception in the Church
[19:38] - Inheriting the Kingdom of God
[22:04] - Works of the Flesh
[24:34] - Washed and Sanctified
[27:35] - Liberty in Christ
[32:39] - Avoiding Bondage
[39:10] - Our Bodies as Members of Christ
[46:53] - Glorifying God in Our Bodies

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1 Corinthians 6:1-11
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Galatians 5:16-25

Observation Questions:

What does Paul say about the role of believers in judging the world and angels, and how does this relate to resolving disputes within the church? [03:29]
According to the sermon, what is the significance of our bodies being temples of the Holy Spirit? [39:10]
What behaviors does Paul list as incompatible with inheriting the kingdom of God, and why is it important not to be deceived about these matters? [17:22]
How does Paul describe the transformation that occurs when one is washed, sanctified, and justified in Christ? [25:40]

Interpretation Questions:

How does the future role of believers in judging the world and angels influence the way we handle conflicts within the church today? [03:29]
In what ways does recognizing our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit impact our daily decisions and lifestyle choices? [39:10]
Why does Paul emphasize the danger of self-deception in matters of sin and righteousness, and how can believers guard against it? [21:51]
What does it mean to live a life set apart for God's purposes, and how can this be evident in a believer's conduct? [25:40]

Application Questions:

Reflect on a recent conflict you had within the church community. How could you have applied spiritual discernment and wisdom to resolve it differently? [03:29]
Consider your daily habits and lifestyle. Are there areas where you are not glorifying God with your body? What changes can you make to align more closely with the idea of your body being a temple of the Holy Spirit? [39:10]
Have you ever been deceived into thinking that certain behaviors were acceptable as a believer? How did you come to realize the truth, and what steps did you take to change? [21:51]
Identify one area of your life where you feel you are still in bondage to the flesh. What practical steps can you take to walk more fully in the Spirit and experience freedom in Christ? [25:40]
How can you surrender more of your life to Christ this week, offering your body as an instrument of righteousness? What specific actions will you take to ensure this surrender is genuine and lasting? [52:22]
Think of a time when you were tempted to engage in a behavior that is incompatible with inheriting the kingdom of God. How did you respond, and what can you learn from that experience to help you in future situations? [17:22]
How can you encourage others in your church community to live lives set apart for God's purposes, and what role can you play in supporting them in their spiritual journey? [25:40]

Sermon Clips

So paul is sort of rebuking them for taking the issues that they have with another brother before the pagan courts. He is saying that these issues between brother and brother in the church ought to be resolved in the church by those within the church and not in the heathen courts. [00:03:05]

Paul has pointed out that the natural man does not understand the things of the spirit neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. Yet paul said he that is spiritual understands all things, though he is not understood in other words, a man who is filled with the holy spirit. [00:07:38]

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of god? Be not deceived, neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of god. [00:17:02]

But more than that you've been sanctified. Now this means you've been set apart, apart from that old life, apart from the things of the old life. You've been sanctified, set apart from that, the work of god's spirit within our hearts and within our lives. [00:25:31]

If a person is living after the spirit following after god, serving the lord he has been set free from the bondage of the flesh these things that used to be a part of our lives but not only that we've been set free to serve god with everything that we have. [00:28:03]

The body is for the lord and the lord for the body and god hath both raised up the lord and he will also raise us up by his own power. The resurrection god has created us for himself, our bodies are now the temple of the holy spirit we are not our own. [00:39:10]

Paul said therefore because of this glorify god in your body and in your spirit which are his. I'm not my own, I've been bought with a price and therefore I live to glorify god and to please him because he owns me. I have no right of my own. [00:47:43]

May god help us to realize that I belong to him this body in which I live is now the temple of the holy spirit, who's dwelling in me I'm not my own, he bought me with the price and therefore it is my duty my obligation to glorify him through this body. [00:49:00]

Paul the apostle declared his desire that christ be glorified in his body, that's that's my desire he said whether by life or by death I don't care, it's just that I want christ to be glorified in my body, that was his purpose for a living for me to live is christ. [00:49:10]

May the holy spirit take and impress these truths upon our hearts that we would not just be hearers of the word but doers of the word lest we just deceive ourselves as seems to be such an easily in such a easy thing to do as we are warned over and over. [00:50:10]

I surrender all, all to thee my blessed savior, I surrender all. And may indeed we each of us surrender all, paul said that's your reasonable service, this isn't something you know really greater that's reasonable, if your body belongs to him then it's only reasonable. [00:52:22]

That you surrender your body is an instrument of righteousness that he might use you for his purpose and for his glory god bless you. [00:52:27]

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Pastor Chuck Smith This sermon · AI assistant

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