Are You Giving God Your Leftovers?

“I will not … sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.” – 1 Chronicles 21:24

King David is one of best known, most loved heroes in the Old Testament. He was the only man in the Bible whom God referred to as “a man after My own heart.”

 

But David was far from perfect. At times, this legendary king messed up royally (pardon the pun). Just like you and me, David was a sinner in need of a Savior.

 

David’s sin with Bathsheba was, to us, the most legendary. He seduced a married woman, then got her husband killed in order to cover up his crime. But surprisingly, God was more upset with David when he allowed Satan to tempt him into ordering a census of all his fighting men.

 

What was wrong with that? We can’t be certain, but it appears that David sinned on two levels. First, he DISOBEYED God by skipping the Lord’s instructions. God instructed Moses that whenever a census was taken, each person was to pay an offering to glorify God (Exodus 30:11-16). The second problem was PRIDE. David didn’t take a census to bring glory to God. He took it to bring glory to himself.

 

But when God rebuked David, David immediately humbled himself and cried out to God for forgiveness (v. 8). As David’s act of repentance, God commanded him to build an altar on the threshing floor belonging to a man named Araunah the Jebusite. Araunah offered to give David the threshing floor and all the land around it, but David refused: “I will not take for the LORD what is yours or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing” (v. 24). So he paid Araunah, built the altar, and made his sacrifices there – on what he vowed would be the site of the LORD’s temple (v. 22:1).

 

David knew that if he didn’t pay for the threshing floor and the land around it, his sacrifice would be worthless. The same is true for us today: If it doesn’t cost you something, it’s NOT true worship.

 

Today, you and I need to ask ourselves: What is my worship costing me? Many Christians who think they’re worshiping God aren’t really worshiping Him at all. Their worship is cheap and convenient. Instead of giving God their very best, they’re giving God their leftovers.

 

Ask yourself: When I’m in church, am I giving God my full attention? What is my offering costing me? Am I like the poor widow in Mark 12, giving God my first and my best – or am I just giving Him my leftovers? The same holds true of your time of Communion, and of studying God’s Word. Don’t just go through the motions. Don’t just listen politely.

 

God has called you to support your church with your 3 T’s: Time, Talent and Treasures. True worship ALWAYS involves sacrifice. And so, we sacrifice our time for Jesus. We sacrifice our talents for Jesus. And we sacrifice our treasures for Jesus.

 

As Christians, let’s draw a line in the sand. No more cheap, easy worship. No more giving Jesus our leftovers. We need to worship like David—giving God our VERY best.

 

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd., or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

2 Big Takeaways from a Life-Changing Letter

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” – 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

The Apostle Paul must have felt like a dad who couldn’t turn his back on his kids for one minute.

 

He’d spent a year and a half with the Corinthian Christians, planting their church and teaching them God’s Word. Yet just a short time later, word got back to him: Many of those Christians had already shot down much of what he’d taught them.

 

So Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, wrote his first letter to the Corinthian church. For 16 chapters he taught them, rebuked them, corrected and trained them in righteousness. And God placed this letter in the Bible because we ALSO need to be taught, rebuked, corrected and trained in righteousness.

 

Reading over this important book, I found 2 key themes: #1) Right DOCTRINE, and #2) Right BEHAVIOR. Let’s take a quick look at what 1 Corinthians teaches us about both.

 

1. The Holy Spirit uses 1 Corinthians to teach us right DOCTRINE. In chapter 15, Paul writes: “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (vs. 3-4). The core of right doctrine is the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Christ.

 

Without Jesus’ DEATH, you and I would be condemned to hell for our sin. Without Jesus’ BURIAL, we might doubt that Jesus had really died. And without Jesus’ RESURRECTION, you and I would have no hope beyond the grave. No matter how foolish the world thinks this message is, we as followers of Christ must proclaim it over and over again.

 

2. The Holy Spirit uses 1 Corinthians to teach us right BEHAVIOR. The Corinthian church had lots of behavioral problems. Over the course of his letter, Paul rebukes the Corinthians for their disunity and infighting; for their tolerance of perversion in the church; for suing each other in court. He gives them clear instructions on everything from taking the Lord’s Supper to the proper use of spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians is filled with deep and practical teaching about how we as Christians should behave.

 

But the very pinnacle of this teaching is found in 1 Corinthians 13. Often called “the Love Chapter,” it paints a beautiful picture of how Jesus’ agape love behaves. Through Paul, the Holy Spirit makes it crystal clear that when it comes to right behavior, agape love never fails. Verse 13 tells us: “Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

 

At home, in our community and at church, you and I must hold fast to these beautiful truths. Believe them. Live them out. And proclaim them to all who will listen.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd., or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

5 Ways to Show God’s Love

“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.”
– 1 Corinthians 16:23-24

The early Corinthian church was a moral mess. So, the Apostle Paul spent 16 chapters teaching, correcting and training them in righteousness. And as he brings his hard-hitting letter to a close, he leaves his readers ... with "agape" love. Agape is God’s kind of love – selfless, sacrificial and unconditional.

 

In the final verses of Chapter 16, Paul shares 5 practical ways to show God’s agape love:

 

#1: Volunteer for devoted service (v. 15). In verse 15, Paul mentions Stephanas’ family, who “devoted themselves to the service of the saints.” As followers of Christ, one of the most practical ways we can show agape love is to do what Stephanas’ family did: Volunteer. Don’t sit around and wait to be appointed to serve. When you see a need, and the Holy Spirit prompts you to meet it, meet it!

 

#2: Submit to faithful servant leaders (v. 16). In verses15-16, Paul writes: “I urge you, brothers, to submit to … everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it.” It’s a natural human tendency to fight against submission. But as Christians, we must submit ourselves, first and foremost, to Jesus Christ as Lord. And as we submit to Him, He commands us to submit to our God-given leaders, and to submit to one another in the church. Like Jesus, we mustn’t aim to BE served, but to SERVE.

 

#3: Refresh other Christians with your companionship (vs. 17-18a). Paul writes in verses 17-18: “I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because … they refreshed my spirit.” Do you know some Christians who are “refreshing” to be around? One of the most practical ways to show others agape love is to offer them refreshing companionship. Sit with them and patiently listen to them when they’re grieving. Stand by their bedside and pray with them when they’re sick. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Mourn with those who mourn.

 

#4: Respect those who serve faithfully (v. 18b). Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus made the effort to visit Paul and refresh him with their companionship. So, Paul tells the rest of the Corinthian Christians, “Such men deserve recognition.” Does Paul want the church to give these three men a trophy? No. He’s simply asking the church to show them some well-deserved appreciation, which brings glory to God. 

 

#5: Show hospitality and affection to all believers (vs. 19-20). When Paul sends the Corinthians greetings from the church in Asia, he’s probably also referring to the churches in Colosse, Laodicea and other faraway places. Christian hospitality can’t be limited to those who are in the same town as us. We need to lovingly pray for Christians on the other side of the world. In love, we need to send financial support to help meet the needs of Christian missionaries around the world. World missions require both loving “goers” and loving “senders.”

 

Finally, Paul closes his letter with grace and agape love. After all the dumb, sinful things the Corinthians had done ... after all the slander and all the backstabbing … Paul still loved them. How was that possible? It was possible because, like Christ’s love for us, Paul’s love for them was selfless, sacrificial and unconditional. May you and I love one another in the same way.

 

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd., or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

5 Commands for Spiritual Battle

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

As the Apostle Paul begins to wrap up his first hard-hitting letter to the Corinthians, he doesn't disappoint. Chapter 16 gives the Corinthian Christians – and all of us today – five commands that pull together so much of what Paul has been teaching in this letter.

 

When it comes down to it, each of the commands Paul gives in verses 13 and 14 provides a short and sweet recap of rebukes and instructions from the first 15 chapters. To win in spiritual battle, Paul writes, you must be alert, doctrinally sound, courageous, strengthened and loving.

 

Let’s take a close look at each of these 5 vital commands:

 

Command #1: Be alert (v. 13). As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to live our lives with eyes wide open—alert and watchful. The New Testament tells us to watch out for 5 things: Satan (1 Peter 5:8-9); temptation (Mark 14:38); apathy (Revelation 3:1-3); false prophets and teachers (Matthew 7:15); and the Lord’s return (Matt. 24:42 and 25:13).

 

Command #2: Stand firm in the faith (v. 13). Paul is talking about standing firm in the TRUTH of our faith. Some of the Corinthians weren’t standing firm in the important truth of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They also failed to stand firm in the truth about church unity, sexual purity, forgiveness and spiritual gifts. Too many Christian churches are like that today—blown and tossed by the wind of every new, more politically-correct teaching. Most tragically, many Christian churches refuse to proclaim that Christ is the only Way to salvation. It’s not politically correct – but it’s true.

 

Command #3: Be men of courage (v. 13). The Greek word Paul uses here conveys two things: Courage and maturity. Whether you’re male or female, if you’re a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, you must stop thinking and acting like a baby Christian. God has called us to grow up in our faith and be men and women of courage. And when Satan and the world start throwing jabs at you, don’t run away like a scared 5-year-old.

 

Command #4: Be strong (v. 13). The verb Paul uses here means, “Be strengthened” or “Be made strong.” The New Testament makes it clear that you and I are inherently weak. Thankfully, Jesus tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My power is made perfect in your weakness.” And Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Only God can strengthen you. Your job is to sit at the feet of Jesus, learn from Him, and submit to God’s strengthening process.

 

Command #5: Do everything in love (v. 14).  As Chuck Swindoll points out, the first four commands sound like orders shouted in battle: “’Wake up! Stand firm! Be a man! Be strong!’…. The next imperative, however, put everything in perspective: ‘Do everything in love’.” John MacArthur agrees: “Without [this principal] the others could make us crusty, militant and hard…. Love is what the Corinthians needed most, and is what believers of all ages have needed most.”

 

I say “Amen!” to that!

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd., or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

Timeless Principals for Giving

“On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income.”  –  1 Corinthians 16:2

Whoa! Where did that sudden shift in gears come from?
 
The Apostle Paul ends 1 Corinthians 15 with a beautiful climax: “Death has been swallowed up in victory…. Therefore, my dear brothers…. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (vs. 54-58).
 
Then, on the heels of this uplifting teaching about the resurrection, Paul begins chapter 16: “Now about the collection for God’s people” (v.1). What?
 
Well, Paul did move from subject to subject rather abruptly at times. But I think Paul’s teaching at the end of chapter 15 drives what he says in the first few verses of chapter 16. Because our “labor in the Lord is not in vain,” we must give generously to Christians in need.
 
In the first few verses of 1 Corinthians 16, we can find 4 biblical principles for Christian giving:
 
Principle #1: Offerings should be given on the Lord’s Day as an act of worship (v .2). In this verse, Paul tells the Corinthians to “set aside” a certain amount of money on the first day of the week (Sunday). Across the world, Christians gather on the Lord’s Day to take communion, pray, sing songs of praise and study God’s Word. But it’s not true worship if you’re just receiving. So, giving an offering is one of the beautiful ways that Christians worship God on The Lord’s Day.
 
Principle #2: “Each” Christian should give an offering (v. 2 & 2 Cor. 9:7). Notice these four little words that Paul uses in verse 2: “each one of you.” When Paul wrote these words, he wasn’t just talking to the Christians with full-time jobs and 401K plans. He was talking to EVERY Christian. Never forget: All that you have in your possession has been given to you by God. And He has given you the privilege of giving some of what you have to Christians who have even less than you do. It’s not just rich Christians who have the privilege of giving; broke Christians can give too!
 
Principle #3: The amount of your offering should be in proportion to your income (v. 2). Nowhere in the New Testament do Jesus or His apostles REQUIRE every Christian to give a certain dollar amount, or even a certain percentage, to the church. You won’t find a “Thou shalt tithe 10%” command. Do I think tithing 10% is a good practice for all Christians? Yes, I do. But the fact remains: In the New Testament, God doesn’t tell Christians to give 10%. Instead, He calls you to give on the Lord’s Day as part of your worship – and He wants you to give in proportion to your income, from the heart, as the Holy Spirit leads you to give.
 
Principle #4: It is good and proper to support needy Christians in other congregations (vs. 1 and 3). Because our labor in the Lord is not in vain, Paul tells the Corinthian church to take up an offering for the Christians in Jerusalem, where poverty and unemployment were rampant. To this day, one of the best things the Church does is to bless Christians on the other side of the world. We are most like Jesus when we are making sacrifices and giving to “the least of these,” knowing that they’ll never be able to pay us back.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd. in Victorville, or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

Will Death Win in the End?

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 
–  1 Corinthians 15:55

Spoiler alert: When life ends for Christians … death ends up as one big loser.

 

In 1 Corinthians 15:54, the Apostle Paul says it straight out: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” In verse 55, he continues, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” He’s basically trash-talking death: “Is that ALL you got?”

 

But honestly, even for Christians, death still stings, doesn’t it? I officiated a funeral recently for a 44-year-old Christian woman. Her family took comfort in knowing that she is safe in Jesus’ arms. Verses like Luke 23:43, Acts 7:55-59 and 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 indicate that when Christians die, our souls and spirits immediately enter the presence of the Lord in heaven. But for her loved ones, the woman’s death at such a young age still stung.

 

However, don’t forget: For Christians, death’s victory and sting are only temporary. As Paul writes, “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 57). Paul is so thankful because Jesus has given us three different victories:

 

Victory #1: Jesus has given us victory over sin. As Paul writes in verse 56, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.” Because of the law, we are justly declared guilty of sin and the death penalty that sin brings. The law keeps us from pleading ignorance when we sin. When we do things that God’s law clearly says we “shall not” do, we can’t play dumb.

 

Victory #2: Jesus has given us victory over the condemnation of the law. Praise God, thanks to Christ’s sacrifice, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).

 

Victory #3: Jesus has given us victory over death. This bears repeating, because it wouldn’t be possible without the other two victories. Leon Morris, a pastor and theologian, says it very well: “It is not ‘death’ in itself that is harmful; it is that death that is ‘the wages of sin’ (Rom. 6:23) that matters. Death, considered simply as the passing out of this life into the immediate presence of the Lord, is a gain, not a loss (Phil. 1:21,23).”

 

When Jesus returns, He will conquer death once and for all. When our old bodies are transformed into their new and improved versions, He will even reverse the damage death has done in Christians’ lives. Jesus will strip death of its victories and remove its stinger … forever.

 

The fact of the resurrection makes everything in your life so meaningful! So, that resurrection should motivate you to get up and get to work for Jesus. “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (v. 58).

 

If you believe in the truth of the resurrection and are convinced that there will be a Judgment Day, you have every reason to work hard and make sacrifices for Jesus. And thanks to Him, you know that your work and sacrifices are totally meaningful.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd. in Victorville, or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

Your Amazing New Body!

“You will still be you, and I will still be me, but the resurrection will make you a better you and me a better me.” –  Chuck Swindoll

It will be like upgrading from a 1970s Ford Pinto to a Rolls Royce.

In 1 Corinthians 15, the Apostle Paul spends the first half of the chapter teaching that because Jesus’ resurrection is a historical fact, our future resurrection is guaranteed. In the second half of the chapter, Paul goes on to tackle the next question: What will our resurrected bodies be like?  

 

Some Christians assume that our resurrected bodies will simply be our current bodies … reassembled. But Paul removes all doubt that our resurrected bodies will be a thousand times better than our bodies today.

 

In verses 42-44, Paul presents 4 big differences between our mortal bodies today and our immortal bodies tomorrow:

 

Difference #1: Our mortal bodies are perishable and corruptible. Our resurrected bodies will be unperishable and incorruptible. “The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable” (v. 42).

 

Difference #2: Our current bodies are dishonorable and easily led into sin. Our resurrected bodies will be “raised in glory” (v. 43).

 

Difference #3: Our mortal bodies are weak, but our new bodies will be powerful (v. 43).

 

Difference #4: Our old bodies are natural. Our new bodies will be spiritual (v. 44).

 

Our mortal, corruptible bodies, Paul explains, were made in the likeness of Adam, the first created man, who fell into sin. But when we are resurrected, we will be made in the likeness of Jesus – the “last Adam,” who overcame sin and made our resurrection possible (vs. 45-49). In other words, if you want to know what your resurrection body will look like and be capable of, just take a closer look at Jesus in the final chapters of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

 

After His resurrection, Jesus was recognizable. You too will be recognizable. Jesus was able to eat and drink. It stands to reason that you too will be able to eat and drink. Jesus was able to suddenly appear and pass through walls into a locked room. Guess what you’ll be able to do? If you want to know what a resurrected body can do, look at Jesus. He is the prototype.

 

Thanks to Jesus, your resurrected body will be so much better than the body you’ve got right now.

I love the way Chuck Swindoll puts it: “You will still be you, and I will still be me, but the resurrection will make you a better you and me a better me.”

 

Now, just because our resurrection bodies will be so much better than the bodies we’ve got right now, that doesn’t give us an excuse to waste these bodies we’ve got right now. If all you’ve got is a Ford Pinto, fire it up and drive it for God’s glory. Remember 1 Corinthians 10:31: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

 

We thank God for the new and improved Rolls Royce resurrection bodies that we’ll be given one day, but until we trade in these Ford Pintos, we must use them for the glory of God.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd. in Victorville, or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.