Staying Committed: God's Work in Our Circumstances
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound teachings of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 7, focusing on the importance of staying committed to our current circumstances, particularly in marriage, even when faced with spiritual differences. Paul addresses the early Christians in Corinth, many of whom were new believers grappling with the complexities of living out their faith in a world that often opposed their newfound beliefs. One of the significant challenges they faced was being married to unbelievers, which created tension and confusion about whether to remain in such marriages.
Paul's guidance is clear: do not veer from your lane. He encourages believers to stay in their marriages, even when their spouses do not share their faith. This is not merely a call to endure hardship but a recognition of the unique opportunity believers have to be vessels of God's grace and truth in their homes. Paul emphasizes that God is at work in every marriage, using the believing spouse to influence and potentially lead the unbelieving partner to faith. This divine work is not limited to marriage but extends to all areas of life, where God uses us to impact those around us.
Paul also addresses broader life situations, urging believers to remain in the circumstances they were in when they were called to faith. Whether dealing with issues of cultural identity, like circumcision, or social status, such as slavery, the focus should be on living out God's commands and being a witness to His transformative power. The heart of the message is about trusting God's sovereignty and His ability to work through us, regardless of our external circumstances.
Key Takeaways:
1. Stay Committed in Marriage: Paul encourages believers married to unbelievers to remain in their marriages, highlighting the potential for God to use them as instruments of salvation for their spouses. This commitment is not about enduring hardship for its own sake but recognizing the unique role believers play in their spouse's spiritual journey. [12:18]
2. God's Work in Every Marriage: God is actively working in every marriage, whether both partners are believers or not. The believing spouse is a vessel through which God can bring about spiritual change and blessing in the household. This divine involvement underscores the importance of staying committed and trusting God's plan. [14:35]
3. Focus on the Heart, Not the External: Paul advises against getting caught up in external changes, such as cultural or religious rituals, when coming to faith. Instead, the focus should be on the heart and obedience to God's commands. This principle applies to all believers, emphasizing the importance of internal transformation over external conformity. [30:36]
4. Embrace Your Current Situation: Whether in marriage, work, or social status, Paul encourages believers to embrace their current situation as an opportunity for God to use them. This perspective shifts the focus from seeking change for personal comfort to being open to God's purposes in our lives. [36:36]
5. Be a Vessel for the Gospel: In challenging situations, whether in marriage or other areas of life, believers are called to be vessels for the gospel. This involves praying for those around us, sharing the good news, and trusting that God will use us to impact others for His kingdom. [43:48]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:57] - Opening Prayer
[02:03] - Personal Story: Staying in Your Lane
[03:06] - Paul's Encouragement to Corinthians
[04:38] - Spiritual Mixed Marriages
[08:08] - Paul's Teachings on Marriage
[10:43] - Harmony and Tension in Marriage
[12:18] - Staying Committed in Marriage
[14:35] - God's Work in Every Marriage
[15:47] - Holiness in Marriage
[19:43] - When the Unbeliever Leaves
[22:09] - Hope for Salvation
[27:08] - Prayer and Impact in Marriage
[28:17] - Broader Life Situations
[30:36] - Focus on the Heart
[36:36] - Embrace Your Current Situation
[43:48] - Be a Vessel for the Gospel
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 1 Corinthians 7:10-24
Observation Questions:
1. What specific advice does Paul give to believers who are married to unbelievers in 1 Corinthians 7? [04:38]
2. How does Paul describe the role of a believing spouse in a marriage with an unbeliever? [14:35]
3. What does Paul say about the importance of external changes, such as circumcision, in the life of a believer? [30:36]
4. How does Paul encourage believers to view their current life situations, whether in marriage or social status? [36:36]
Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does Paul emphasize staying committed in marriages where one spouse is an unbeliever? What potential impact does he suggest this could have? [12:18]
2. How does Paul’s teaching on circumcision and cultural identity relate to the broader theme of focusing on the heart rather than external appearances? [30:36]
3. In what ways does Paul suggest that God is at work in every marriage, regardless of the spiritual status of the spouses? [14:35]
4. How does Paul’s advice to remain in one’s current situation reflect his understanding of God’s sovereignty and purpose? [36:36]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you faced spiritual differences in a relationship. How did you handle it, and what might you do differently now based on Paul’s teachings? [12:18]
2. Consider your current life situation. How can you embrace it as an opportunity for God to use you, rather than seeking change for personal comfort? [36:36]
3. In what ways can you be a vessel for the gospel in your home or workplace, especially in challenging situations? [43:48]
4. How can you focus more on internal transformation and obedience to God’s commands rather than external conformity in your faith journey? [30:36]
5. Identify a specific relationship where you can be a vessel of God’s grace and truth. What steps can you take to influence that person positively? [14:35]
6. How can you trust God’s sovereignty in your current circumstances, even when they seem difficult or unchangeable? [36:36]
7. Think of someone in your life who does not share your faith. How can you pray for them and share the good news with them this week? [22:09]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: Commitment as a Spiritual Journey
In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul emphasizes the importance of staying committed in marriage, even when faced with spiritual differences. This commitment is not about enduring hardship for its own sake but recognizing the unique role believers play in their spouse's spiritual journey. Paul encourages believers to remain in their marriages, highlighting the potential for God to use them as instruments of salvation for their spouses. This perspective invites believers to see their marriage as a spiritual journey where they can be vessels of God's grace and truth. [12:18]
1 Peter 3:1-2 (ESV): "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct."
Reflection: Think of a specific way you can demonstrate God's love to your spouse today, especially if they do not share your faith. How can you be a living example of Christ's love in your marriage?
Day 2: Divine Influence in Relationships
Paul's teachings in 1 Corinthians 7 highlight that God is actively working in every marriage, whether both partners are believers or not. The believing spouse is a vessel through which God can bring about spiritual change and blessing in the household. This divine involvement underscores the importance of staying committed and trusting God's plan. Believers are encouraged to see their role as one of influence, where their faith can lead to transformation within their family. [14:35]
1 Corinthians 7:14 (ESV): "For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy."
Reflection: Reflect on a relationship in your life where you feel God is calling you to be an influence. How can you intentionally pray for and support this person in their spiritual journey today?
Day 3: Heart Over Ritual
Paul advises against getting caught up in external changes, such as cultural or religious rituals, when coming to faith. Instead, the focus should be on the heart and obedience to God's commands. This principle applies to all believers, emphasizing the importance of internal transformation over external conformity. By focusing on the heart, believers can experience a deeper relationship with God that transcends mere ritualistic practices. [30:36]
Romans 2:28-29 (ESV): "For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God."
Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you may be focusing more on external appearances than internal transformation. How can you shift your focus to cultivate a heart that seeks to obey God genuinely?
Day 4: Embracing God's Purpose in Your Situation
Paul encourages believers to embrace their current situation as an opportunity for God to use them. Whether in marriage, work, or social status, this perspective shifts the focus from seeking change for personal comfort to being open to God's purposes in our lives. By embracing where we are, we allow God to work through us and use our circumstances for His glory. [36:36]
1 Corinthians 7:20-21 (ESV): "Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)"
Reflection: Identify a current situation in your life that you find challenging. How can you embrace this situation as an opportunity for God to work through you, and what steps can you take to align with His purpose today?
Day 5: Being a Vessel for the Gospel
In challenging situations, whether in marriage or other areas of life, believers are called to be vessels for the gospel. This involves praying for those around us, sharing the good news, and trusting that God will use us to impact others for His kingdom. By being open to God's leading, believers can become powerful instruments of His love and truth in the world. [43:48]
2 Timothy 2:21 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work."
Reflection: Think of one person in your life who needs to hear the gospel. How can you be a vessel for God's message to them today, and what practical steps can you take to share His love and truth with them?
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Quotes
"Paul's encouragement is to stay in the marriage. Paul's encouragement is not to veer out of your lane. It is not to run. We'll find out why in just a moment, but let's just begin there. Paul very easily could have said, you're now a follower of Jesus. You're now dedicated to Jesus. They're not a follower of Jesus. They're not dedicated to him. Get out, run for the hills, find someone who does follow Jesus. Paul could have said that, and instead, respecting the tie of marriage, respecting God's design for husbands and wives, Paul says, stay." [00:12:08] (43 seconds)
"God is working to change people, to refine them. He's bringing the gospel to bear on people in every single marriage, whether it is a marriage of believers or a marriage of a believer to an unbeliever, God is at work in those marriages. So we can't say if one's a Christian and one isn't, then God is somehow absent from that marriage. No, he is intimately involved in the marriage. He is at work even in ways that you and I can't see." [00:14:35] (36 seconds)
"And so Paul begins by saying, if you come to faith in Christ, but your husband or your wife hasn't, stay together, stick it out, stay in this. And the reason is because God is at work. And he's going to work through you, Christian, in the life of this non-Christian husband or wife. He is going to use you. It says, look at verse 14. It says, for the unbelieving husband is made holy by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy by the husband." [00:15:11] (36 seconds)
"He's saying, the fact that you are a Jesus follower married to someone who does not love the Lord is not a reason to divorce. It's not a reason to separate. It doesn't mean the marriage is over. It doesn't mean that you need to look for someone else. He places a high view on marriage and what God does in marriage by encouraging them to stay together. He wants believers to stay married to unbelievers, and the reason is because God is at work in every marriage." [00:14:26] (33 seconds)
"Paul moves on from just marriage. That's the bulk of the beginning of this. But he moves on from just marriage to remind us that it is not only in the marriage relationship where he wants to use you. It's not only there where he's saying, stay. In the lane. Keep going. Don't veer. It's really in any area of your life. He's using you where you are. He's using you to impact the people around you. He's using you to share the gospel with people if you're willing to share it." [00:28:17] (34 seconds)
"Let each one live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command in all the churches. Stay in your lane is what he's saying. He talks about the issue of circumcision, which was significant in the Jewish community. It was a sign that you were truly part of the Jewish people. Boys would be circumcised as a way of showing that they were truly Jews. Their parents would do this large religious ritual the whole community was involved." [00:29:06] (35 seconds)
"And Paul lets them know it doesn't matter to the Lord. He doesn't care. Don't get stuck on that stuff. Don't focus on the external. Focus on the internal. Focus on the heart. That's what God cares about. He says in verse 17, let each one live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command in all the churches. Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision." [00:30:00] (36 seconds)
"Paul's in prison. The way their prisons worked, a guard was literally chained to the apostle Paul. Okay. That guard probably initially had no idea what he was in for because now Paul's got a captive audience to share the gospel. You can't go anywhere. I'm going to talk at you about Jesus all day long and you can't do anything about it. And that's exactly what he did to each of these guards. They go on a cycle and Paul, oh, now I got another one. Let me tell you about Jesus." [00:42:42] (30 seconds)
"From the apostle Paul the glorious reminder from Paul is if we will allow ourselves to be a vessel for the gospel in people's lives if we won't push back and fight it and ignore if we will get before the lord and pray for these people who are creating these headaches in our lives if we will share the gospel with them the good news that we're sinners who need a savior but jesus in his life death and resurrection is our savior we're forgiven if we place our faith in him we're made brand new if we are only willing to share that message with them and sometimes they'll tell us just to shut up okay then shut up that's all right then there'll be these other times where they do allow us to share what god is doing if only we'll do that if only we'll dedicate ourselves to that begging the lord on their behalf and sharing the good news god will do that will use us as a vessel for his purposes in their lives he'll do it he's not ignoring you in these situations there's not for nothing he's at work if only we'll let him" [00:44:27] (76 seconds)
"Some of us are in work situations where there's tension. I mean, every day, I mean, you wake up and you go, do I have to go back there again? Isn't there some other way? Paul wouldn't say, you must stay in that job the rest of your life. That's not what he would say. He would say, I think like the slave. If you can be free, be free. If you can get another job, get another job. But while you're there in that difficult situation, realize Paul's comment here was, don't let it concern you." [00:37:13] (35 seconds)
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