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Wednesday, June
24, 2009
Fire Away
1 Corinthians 3:11-13 For other
foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12) Now
if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood,
hay, stubble; (13) Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day
shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall
try every man's work of what sort it is. (KJV)
Keep in mind that when these scriptures
were written it was long before electricity. So when the term fire was used
it described numerous things, such as cleansing metals or for lighting at
night. Spiritually keep in mind, that we were baptized with the Holy Ghost
and with fire, so that the Lord could cleanse the impurities in our walk
and enlighten the path that He would have us to walk in as well.
1 Corinthians 3:12
[If
any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood,
hay, stubble;] Without entering into curious criticisms relative to these
different expressions, it may be quite enough for the purpose of
edification to say, that, by gold, silver, and precious stones, the apostle
certainly means pure and wholesome doctrines: by wood, hay, and stubble,
false doctrines; such as at that time prevailed in the Corinthian church;
for instance, that there should be no resurrection of the body; that a man
may, on his father's death, lawfully marry his step-mother; that it was
necessary to incorporate much of the Mosaic law with the Gospel; and,
perhaps, other matters, equally exceptionable, relative to marriage,
concubinage, fornication, frequenting heathen festivals, and partaking of
the flesh which had been offered in sacrifice to an idol; with many other
things, which, with the above, are more or less hinted at by the apostle in
these two letters. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)
Some day we will all have to give an
account of what we allowed to manifest in our life; so look at it this way,
if you are confident in your walk today then you will have no reason to be
ashamed. However, if there are things that you are hanging onto, things
that are not beneficial to your walk with the Lord, like with weeds the
more they become rooted the harder they are to pull out and remove.
1 Corinthians 3:12
[Now]
[de (grk 1161)]-- "But."
The "gold, silver, precious stones," which all can bear fire
<Rev. 3:18; 21:18-19; Isa. 54:11>, are teachings that will stand the
test of judgment: "wood, hay, stubble," are those which cannot--
not positive heresy, for that would destroy the foundation (which all
admitted is Christ), but teaching mixed up with human philosophy and
Judaism-- curious rather than useful. Besides the teachings, the
superstructure represents also the persons cemented to the Church, the
reality of whose conversion, through the teachers' instrumentality, will be
tested at the last day. Where there is the least grain of real faith, it
shall never be lost <1 Pet. 1:7; 4:12>: the straw only feeds the fire
<Matt. 5:19>. (from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary)
You know, we were all in a burning
situation before we allowed the Lord into our lives, and that wildfire was
fueled by many earthly flammable doctrines that we allowed into our house.
Hebrews 12:29 For our God is a consuming
fire. (KJV)
Hebrews 12:29
[For
our God is a consuming fire.] The apostle quotes <Deut. 4:24>, and by
doing so he teaches us this great truth, that sin under the Gospel is as
abominable in God's sight as it was under the law; and that the man who
does not labour to serve God with the principle and in the way already
prescribed, will find that fire to consume him which would otherwise have
consumed his sin. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)
That same fire that can be used for
cleansing or lighting can destroy as well if not used properly. What are
you consumed with today; the things of our Lord, or are you burning in your
own lusts and desires which will not be able to withstand the heat come the
day of judgment.
Ephesians 5:11-13 And have no fellowship
with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (12) For it
is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
(13) But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for
whatsoever doth make manifest is light. (KJV)
Those things that our Lord is illuminating
and showing you is for your benefit so that it can be removed, and not
cause a fire. Are you getting rid of the flammable materials in your life,
or are you still holding onto things that are too hot to handle?
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