Transcription
Look, I know reading the Bible can be hard. Like, where do I start? What do I read? Where do I go? How do I understand it? Does it apply to my life today? That's where I come in. I'm here to help you, and I've got a whole community of people. We've been slowing it down, going chapter by chapter, and applying God's truth to our lives every single day. And today, we are in First Corinthians, chapter number nine. So, come on in and join me.
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Hey y'all, I'm Kayla. Welcome back to my channel. I'm here to bring you the faith-based content. I'm here to help you grow in your relationship with God. And today, we're in First Corinthians, chapter number nine. We're continuing on in this letter that Paul wrote to the people, the believers in Corinth. And let me tell you, he's been challenging them, right? He's been giving them specific instruction for how they were living and what they were going through.
Grab your workbook through the book of Corinthians. Let's go. This is my gift to you. All right, this one's free. Grab this one. The link is in the description. Just download it right away. It'll be right to your email address, and you will have everything you need to help you go deeper through this book. All right, but let's continue on. Remember, this is one continuous letter. And with everything Paul has already shared and already said, I'm over here like, how much more? And how long are the people going to listen? And who's been offended? And who's still standing there? And who's reading this? And how big is the crowd? Right, wondering all of those curious questions.
But as we continue on, there are truths in this that we can examine ourselves in, and truths that we can take and apply to our lives too. So, let's get right into it. I'm reading from the New Living Translation of the Bible. Read whatever translation works best for you. All right, no judgment there. But if you haven't read chapter nine yet, just hit pause. Just go read chapter nine. Just pause, read it through once, think through it for yourself, and then let's come back and do it together.
Continuing on, here's what Paul has to say: "Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven't I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn't it because of my work that you belong to the Lord? Even if others think I'm not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord's apostle."
Dang, like, who upset him like this, right? Why is Paul all of a sudden saying, "Well, wait a minute, like, am I not this? Am I not this? Do you not think of me in this way?" Let's slow it down. "Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle?" What would their understanding have been? Would the apostles have, you know, had a little bit more clout, a little bit more respect, a little bit more? Why is Paul writing in this way? "Haven't I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes?"
Now, wait a minute. Did Paul see Jesus with his own eyes? Did Paul see Jesus with his own eyes? When, let's think through this, right? Think through it. Was Paul there when Jesus walked on the earth before the crucifixion? Do we have any evidence of that? Paul was there. He was a Pharisee. We know that. He was there when they stoned Stephen. We know that, right? That they laid their jackets down. Paul was there. But then on the road to Damascus, when he asked the question, you know, "Uh, Lord, who are you?" "Or who are you?" right? He said, "Paul, Paul, why are you persecuting me?" "Who are you, Lord?" "I'm Jesus, the one you're persecuting." But did he see him with his own eyes then? That was after the resurrection, after he was already gone. See, get curious and think through these things. Don't just read the Bible and be like, "Well, that happens." Well, no, let's actually remember what we've read before. And when stuff like that did happen. All right, "Even if others think I'm not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord's apostle."
How would they be proof? And who has who do you have in your life that is proof that you're living a life for God, right? Like proof that you are the Lord's apostle too? Like proof that you have shared that you're living your life representing Jesus? There's probably people in your life that are proof and evidence of that. And I just, just think that's so cool. If we can, like, take a minute and look. Maybe it's your children. Maybe it's people that you know. Maybe it's teenagers at church. Maybe it's people who watch you on YouTube. Maybe it's like, what do you have? Who can you look at in your life and their life is now evidence that God is using you? I'm telling you, when you know and you can recognize that God is using you or has used you, it's the best feeling. So take some time today and like, think about that. I should have made that the Walk It Out Challenge for today. Think about that. Who can I look at and I know that God has used me to impact their life? That's so awesome.
All right, "This is my answer to those who question my authority." Who was questioning his authority? And did that come in a letter? Did someone report back, "Hey, these guys are questioning your authority"? "This is my answer to those who question my authority." "Don't we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals?" Who's "we"? But don't we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? Don't we have the right to bring a believing wife with us, as the other apostles and the Lord's brothers do, and as Peter does? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?
Something wasn't, even then, something wasn't the same between apostles, between them sharing the gospel. Don't we have the right to bring a or first of all, don't we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? Don't we have the right to bring a believing wife with us, as the other apostles and the Lord's brothers do, and as Peter does? Peter had a wife. There we go. Now we know that. Or is it only Barnabas and I? There's the "we." Is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves? So there must have been something going on that they weren't supporting Paul and Barnabas. And when was this written? When was Paul with Barnabas? Okay, think back to Acts. Go back to Acts, because he's talking about him and Barnabas together now as he's writing this letter.
"What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn't have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn't allowed to drink some of the milk?" He's hit three different examples of three different types of people who would understand. He hit the soldiers, the farmers, and the shepherds. That is so cool. Let's talk about, like, understanding how we share the gospel, how we teach others. Can we speak in parables, in stories that they would understand? If I'm speaking to a teenager, can I, like, speak as examples that a teenager would understand? If I'm speaking to an athlete, can I use examples that an athlete would understand? If I'm speaking to grandparents, can I use examples that grandparents would understand? Paul just gave examples to soldiers, farmers, and shepherds. He hit, like, everybody.
"Am I pressing? Am I expressing merely a human opinion? Or does the law say the same thing?" Wait a minute. I thought we were over the law. What law is he talking about? Is he talking about the law of Moses? Or is he talking, like, Roman government law? "For the law of Moses says..." All right, there's our answer. Keep reading. "For the law of Moses says, 'You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.'" Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this? Wasn't he actually speaking to us? "Yes, it is written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share." The gra... Oh, so the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest. Look, he's giving them the examples and saying, "This is what the law of Moses says. The ones who are working, we get part of the harvest too. Like, it's not just for you. Share in the harvest."
"Since we have planted spiritual seeds among you, aren't we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink?" Huh? Since we've planted spiritual seeds, aren't we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink? Now, obviously, reading this, we're like, "Well, yes, right, Paul? Of course, yes. They should feed you. They should clothe you. They should help you, you know, give you a place to stay because you're planting spiritual seeds." Yet, what about in our own lives? Let's examine ourselves. Do we sometimes say, like, "You reap what you sow," and take that scripture in a different context and put it to where this scripture is? Because this scripture, Paul is saying to them and their culture, because there must be an issue there. He's saying to them in their time, in their culture, "Well, wait a minute. Since we've planted spiritual seeds among you, aren't we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink?" People who have planted spiritual seeds into you, are they entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink?
"If you support others who preach to you, shouldn't we have an even greater right to be supported? But we've never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the good news about Christ." Paul's like, "Look, here's the situation. But we would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the good news of Christ." What kind of obstacle would they be if they spoke up and said, "Hey, give us this"? Is that what he's saying? What kind of obstacle would that be? If you support others who preach to you, shouldn't we have an even greater right to be supported? Why would they have an even greater right? Is it because they're there? Or they were there? And now they're writing, and that's who they're writing to ask questions to? Remember, Paul said a couple of chapters ago, like, "You are my children. I'm your spiritual father. Shouldn't you give more?"
Do we have to look in our own selves and see if this is a principle that we should take into our own lives? You know, sometimes I'll just throw this out there for the sake of saying it, right? Sometimes people are so easily will give to big ministries, like big ones that you see on TV, televangelists, all of that. But you're not giving to your local pastor and your local small church and the one who's actually pouring into you week in and week out and shepherding over you and all of that. But you want to give to, like, these bigger ones. So you're giving to others. I don't know. Maybe this is something to examine ourselves in and how we're giving and how we're supporting. Or maybe if you're not at all, to consider this. Consider what Paul is saying to the people in Corinth at that time.
"We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the good news about Christ." "Don't you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple?" Have you ever thought about that? In the Bible days, those who worked at the temple, right? Did you wonder, like, whatever happens to those that bring offerings to the temple? That bring the goats and the sheep and the cows and the bulls and the doves and all of that? Whatever happens to all of that? "Don't you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple?" See, and now we can think of it then. But what about in our day? Those who work, let's, let's modern day try to look at this. Those who work at the church get their meals from the offering that people bring to the church? Get their paychecks from the offerings that people bring to the church? Like, where do you think all of it goes? You think all of it goes to mission? Some of it goes to put the, keep the lights on, keep the air conditioning on, pay for the staff. I worked for a church full-time. I'm so grateful that people were generous and gave so that I could have a paycheck, right? Let's, like, let's actually think real life. Let's think real life with some of these things.
"And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the good news should be supported by those who benefit from it." Those who preach the good news should be supported by those who benefit from it. "Yet I have never used any of these rights, and I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge."
That's tough, right? And that's something to, like, check ourselves in on both sides of things, right? Please don't be reading this pointing the finger at someone else. Please don't be reading this saying, "See, pastors and teachers shouldn't be getting paid. They should have the same heart that Paul had here." But then pastors and teachers could point right back at you and be like, "Uh, but you're supposed to have the same heart that the Corinthians were supposed to have, that Paul's saying that they should have." So let's worry about ourselves and let's examine ourselves and what we believe God is asking us to do. And maybe the Holy Spirit is teaching us through some stuff like this. This isn't about, "Oh, so-and-so needs to hear this." It's, "Holy Spirit, what do you have for me to hear today? What do you have for me to receive today? How can I examine myself in this? Is there anything that I need to shift? That I need to change in my life?"
All right, let me keep going. "Um, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge. Yet preaching the good news is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn't preach the good news! I am compelled by God to do it."
I'm going to share super honestly with you. I know that ads come across the screen as you're watching these Bible studies. I also want to share this with you. On YouTube, you have to get to a certain spot, um, with subscribers and how often people watch and how much people watch. You have to get to a certain level before you're accepted into this program where you can earn money and have ads on your channel. They say the average time it's like, most people, it takes way more than a year. His Word, My Walk got to that point in a month, and I give God all the glory for that. Oh, I'm going to get emotional when I tell you. I didn't expect this. I was like, "Oh, I'll come on YouTube. I'll keep teaching the same way I was teaching on my podcast, the same way I was doing that. I'll do a video once a week. I just feel like God wants me to be on camera a little bit more, share a little bit more openly." So that's my plan. That's what I'll do. If I can get to that point where I'm making money from ads on YouTube, and YouTube is going to put money into my bank account, that's super awesome. It got to that point within a month. Like, God blew all expectations beyond, and I know that it was Him.
Here's what I want to share with you. This is why it's so good for my heart. I get to completely pour all I can into you, and it doesn't cost you a penny. Yet, I still can earn income through whatever these ads are that pop up. You know, one I know was like for foot fungus or something, and I was like, "The, that has that." Which is potentially a secular company, is paying me to preach the gospel so that you can receive it for free. And I just want you to, like, I want you to understand that although it may be annoying when an ad comes across the screen when I'm in the middle of a scripture, that that's my true heart. Um, I didn't think that this was going to happen this way. I didn't think that it would happen this quickly. I also didn't expect to be on here every day reading the Bible. This was not my plan. This is me truly trying to follow God in this and be obedient. And it's hard. Like, it's hard to sit and record, and then to edit, and the time, like, it's not easy. And try to be personable and try to respond to all your comments, and thank you for your grace and your understanding. And I don't want to get too off topic, but talking about that, I just want to encourage you, but I want to be really honest with you about my life too. And sharing this. And like, do I desire to totally give freely? Yes. That's why I'm saying, first of all, this workbook is completely free. But in all the other ones, I'm like, you don't have to get it. You know, it would support me, it will also help you, right? But you don't have to. I'm going to still be here. I'm going to still give. I'm going to still share. I'm going to still share the good news. I'm going to still share what I can about Jesus. But the fact that you, YouTube as a whole, pays me now, and that that can increase and that can grow, and I can continue to preach the gospel to whoever God brings to listen, and they don't have to pay a penny, that right there is like the best news for my heart. So if you have to, like, wait a couple seconds and hit skip, thank you. I just want you to have some, like, understanding, um, when that happens and when those ads. I don't have a, I don't have control over when they pop up. Um, um, and I know that they can be frustrating sometimes, but welcome to what we're doing here. So honestly, I'm grateful. I am, like, beyond grateful for how fast this has happened and what God has done with this and with me and through me and for you and through you to me. Like, it's just awesome. So let's continue.
All right, thank you for listening and thank you for being here. Um, okay. "If I were doing this on my own initiative," verse 17, "if I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. Why then, or what then, is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the good news without charging anyone. That's why I never demand my rights when I preach the good news."
Okay, let's go back to context. Paul there, right? He says, "Look, here's what you should do. Here's what you should consider. Let me also tell you about me. Let me also tell you my conscience before God, what I truly believe. Here's what you should do. But let me also explain to you who I am."
"Even though I'm a free man with no master, I've become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ." Become a slave to all people. By now, we should understand what Paul is saying and what he's meaning as he says that, right? Does he mean become a slave to people in the way that we've read? Become a slave to God? Let's think through that.
"When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law, even though I'm not subject to the law. I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law." Let's continue. "When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God. I obey the law of Christ."
Did he just contradict himself? Is this the, like, I mean, I know we're in Corinthians, but is this like, "When in Rome"? Is this is this kind of where is is Paul where that saying comes from? "When in Rome"? But here he's speaking to the church in Corinth. Look, he says, like, "When I'm with the Jews, those who follow the Jewish law, I follow it too so that I can be with them, so that I can relate to them, so that I can lead them to Christ. When I'm with the Gentiles who don't follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ." This sentence, "But I do not ignore the law of God. I obey the law of Christ." There's a difference. He's talking about the Jewish law with the Jews. But now he's saying the law of God, I obey the law of Christ. What is the law of God? What is the law of Christ? How is that different from the Jewish law or law of Moses? How are those different?
"When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some." You may know that verse in a different, um, translation. You may be reading a different translation. "When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some." I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. But everyone's not going to get saved. But if some do, that's the goal. That's the goal. If one gets saved, that's the goal. Like, let's put that in perspective with Paul. "I do everything to spread the good news and share in its blessings." What are the blessings of it? "I do everything to spread the good news and share in its blessings." What blessings do you think he's talking about there?
"Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win." Oh, Olympics? Yes, y'all. I record like 20 hours of Olympics every day and watch all of them, every sport. Look, he just spoke to the soldiers, the farmers, the shepherd, and now the athletes. "Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win." All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. What is our eternal prize? What is our eternal prize? What are we running this race for? What is this race look like? How hard is it? This eternal life that we're going to get, that we have with God. This eternal life that we have.
I love this part though. "All athletes are disciplined in their training." What training am I going through? What training are you going through to live this life? To live this life and to win the prize? To run the race while you're here and receive the eternal life? What discipline? What training is there? More training that I need to do? Is there more training that you need to do? This is one of those things we can examine ourselves in. It's not just athletes. He's not just talking about physical training, okay? But he's talking about discipline and training. Discipline and training. If you've been here day in and day out, like, I am so proud of you. And be proud of yourself. If this is the most consistent and disciplined you've ever been reading the Bible, just like, say it in the comments. Let's encourage one another that you're doing this, that you've been consistent, that you've been putting in the training, that you've been disciplined, and celebrate that. Celebrate that.
"They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I'm not just shadow boxing. I run with purpose in every step. I'm not just shadow boxing." I wonder what kind of athletes they had there at that time who would understand these examples that Paul's giving. "I discipline my body like an athlete."
I discipline my body like an athlete. Remember, he's talked about the body. This First Corinthians is when he's talked about the body. The body is the temple, right? He's talked a lot about sexual immorality. He's talked about your bodies not your own. You're bought with a high price. "I discipline my body like an athlete." Training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others, I myself might be disqualified. Even for Paul, it's not easy. Even for Paul, doing it day in and day out, it's not easy. Living this life on Earth for Jesus is not easy. He talks about discipline. I discipline my body. I discipline myself. Look, discipline his body. Is he talking about physically? He disciplines his body. I think so. Is he talking about sexually? He disciplines his body. I think so. Disciplines his body.
Let me give you these questions. You know, for this, uh, for First Corinthians, I'm sharing all the questions with you because I want you to have this. So make sure you download this workbook right here. The link is in the description.
What are my true and honest thoughts about those who get paid by the church for the church, in the church? What are my true and honest thoughts about supporting financially those who teach me and pour God's goodness into me? Think through these things. Journal through if you need to, but allow the Holy Spirit to help you examine yourself in these questions.
Second question: Do I try to find common ground with others as a way to share the gospel with them, or am I very stuck in my own ways and not open to others?
What lesson can I take from Paul? And here's your Walk It Out Challenge for today. Make a point to step up your discipline and your training in these two areas: sharing the gospel with others, and doing what God has asked you to do right where you are in this season right now. Recommit today. Set up a plan today. Start taking action today. Discipline and training.
Let me pray for you before we go. Oh God, I thank you. I thank you for what you are doing, like, what you are already doing. And I thank you for the things that we can't even see. The healing we can't even see. The way you've already made that we can't even see. The blessings that are coming that we can't even see. I thank you and praise you in advance for those. God, I lift up the one watching right now. I cover them in the name of Jesus. And Holy Spirit, I pray that you work in them, in their minds, and in their hearts. Point out areas for change. Point out areas where you are saying, "Well done." Point out areas to kick up that discipline and that training. God, we thank you for the life that you have given us here on Earth, for the assignments that you have given us here on Earth, for the opportunities that you have given us here on Earth. We do this and we live this life for Your glory, not for our benefit, not for our benefit, but for Your glory. So that we can save some, so that we can save some more, and so that we can save some more, and save some more, and save some more. And so that we can grow Your kingdom. All for Your glory. In Jesus name, amen.
Oh, y'all, when it comes to training and discipline, this is my thing. And look, I want to help you be trained. I want to help you be disciplined when it comes to your relationship with God. So check out these other resources I've got for you. Look, we're going to go through the Bible, but I want to help you in your life as well. So check these out and let's keep on going.
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