Latest / The Daily Word / March 30 – Guard What Shapes You
Transcript
- Jenny Dirmann: Well, hey there and welcome to another daily word podcast. It's pastor Jenny. And I'm so excited that you are with us here today. Of course, we are going through the life journal reading plan, which has us today and first Corinthians chapter 15, which if you have not read, I want to encourage you to definitely not only read the passage, which is one of the longer passages. It's going to be 58. verses, ⁓ but is a very theologically rich passage on resurrection and our resurrected bodies, what that looks like, what that means, but I really want to encourage you grab a study Bible or look up some study resources and tools online so that you can really understand the full context of it. Did you know that there are lots who do not believe in the actual resurrection? ⁓ whether it's the resurrection of Jesus or that resurrection is real, that our bodies will be resurrected at the end of the age when Jesus returns. But that's not just something that people don't believe today. It was something that even back then, close to the time of the resurrection, when Jesus was resurrected, that they didn't believe them. That's the reason Paul was writing about it. So I think it's incredible ⁓ to read through the scriptures and to know that things we still struggle with today, they were struggling with then. And so that's one of the things I really value and love is just to see the timelessness of the scriptures. So that's really what the entirety of this passage is about. It's going to be walking us through all of that. ⁓ However, there is a small portion kind of right in the middle of this passage. that it's very relevant to the context of talking about the resurrection because again, people didn't, they weren't believing in it. ⁓ But it may seem like, ⁓ where did that come from? And it's the scriptures that I keyed in on today. So again, first Corinthians chapter 15, the scriptures that popped out to me today, I want to share with you are verses 33 and 34. They say this, do not be deceived. Evil company corrupts good habits. verse 34 says, to righteousness and do not sin for some do not have the knowledge of God. And so why would Paul put this, why would he plant this kind of in the middle as he's kind of given us this dissertation on resurrection, you know, the fact that Jesus really was resurrected, and if he wasn't resurrected what would that actually mean for us and for Christianity, and then goes on to give this beautiful portion of what our resurrected bodies will look like and what that really does mean. But in right in the middle, do not be deceived. Evil company corrupts good habits. ⁓ You know, again, people thought this wasn't real. And there's a quote that I've heard often, and it's this, it's show me your friends and I'll show you your future. And the reality is, is that the power of ideas, ⁓ what you believe is more important than anything else really in this life. It's why theology is so important. ⁓ know, theology being, what do you believe about God? Some people think that, ⁓ I need to, ⁓ they think, ⁓ what am I studying about God? Or that they have to really have their head in the clouds. Regarding the study of God, but really theology is just what are your thoughts on God? What do you everybody has a theology so to speak, right? ⁓ But do not be deceived evil company corrupts good habits the power of ideas. It really shapes everything in our society ⁓ The movies we watch the books we read The people were around think about it whoever you're around from the time you were young to whatever age you are now ⁓ people talk and they have thoughts and ideas that they're pulling from somewhere. And when you're around ideas enough, you're gonna recognize that there really is no original idea. It's being pulled from somewhere. I'm reading a set of, I've been reading all sorts of books from that I just found in random bookstores that are from like the 1950s or early 1900s. One was on morals and ethics. Another was written. by 13 American spiritual autobiographies. So was like 13 professors who essentially gave their spiritual autobiographies in the 1950s. It's fascinating to read someone that was even born four days after the Emancipation Proclamation. But what I find interesting is that all of these writers are heavily influenced by Darwinianism. They're all talking about evolution. and how profound it is and how it's really influenced their thinking. You can see how it's embedded in all of their writings. And I just thought, wow, you can really see the power of information and an idea. And so ⁓ when you look at, not be deceived, evil company corrupts good habits. This is what Paul's talking about. He's talking about how a thought, and so in this case, in this passage, He's talking about the fact that the idea that the resurrection wasn't real was really infiltrating society. And so it's important that we recognize the thoughts and things that we're allowing to influence. We have to recognize, is that a God thought or is that from something else? And how do we know if it's a God thought? We recognize that, it aligned with the truth of scripture? And so it's important that we're taking any thoughts and any ideas that we're surrounding ourselves with, and we're measuring it up to scripture. How do we do that? We have to make sure we know what scripture says. And that's the reason that we continue to read our, read the word daily that we're listening to teaching that is based out of the word. So again, staying connected with our Sunday morning teaching. I'm so grateful for pastor Gill and all of our pastors, our teaching team. that is teaching us sound doctrine and theology, get engaged in our discipleship classes, but because it's not just recognizing that those evil thoughts and ideologies can creep in and corrupt our good habits, but there's the next side of the verse that in verse 34 that says, awake to righteousness and do not sin. So we have to, again, that awareness of knowing what does God's Word say and engaging, taking it to the next level. So it's not just knowledge, but it's engaging it in our habits. so, for some do not have the knowledge of God. So knowledge is important, but knowledge that leads to habits and lifestyle is very important as well. So my encouragement for you today is be encouraged, learn about the resurrection, know that it matters, that it's important, that it really did happen. There's some fantastic. thoughts, especially as we come around Easter and we're actually talking about resurrection. Resurrection Sunday is coming up. It's just around the corner. I hope you're joining us for Easter Sunday and that you're inviting someone to join you. Maybe even someone who doesn't believe in the resurrection or doesn't think it really happened. ⁓ Know that the Lord is still speaking, that he's drawing people in and be praying for them. Invite them to be a part of our Easter Sunday services. So let me pray for you. Let's pray for our community. that God would be drawing people continue to draw them in and draw them close this Easter ⁓ season. So Lord, we love you. We thank you that Jesus, you came to give us life and life more abundantly that you actually came from heaven to earth that you walked this earth that you were the perfect ⁓ spotless lamb that you lived a sinless life and that you gave that life. so that we could have life and life more abundantly, that you took our sin and our shame upon you on the cross, and that you did die. And Lord, not only did you die, but that after three days, you rose again and we celebrate the life and the victory that we have, that death has been defeated, that you rose from the grave. And so Lord, as we... begin to further grow in our understanding that the resurrection was real and the life and the power that we have not only because of your resurrected life, but because of the new life, the resurrected life we now have and celebrate and the resurrected life that we have to come. Lord, that not just our mortal bodies, but Lord, that we have immortal immortality, that we have immortal life. Lord, there is an eternal life that is to come, our eternal soul. ⁓ has been renewed and redeemed when we choose to say yes to you. Lord, we wanna pray for all those who have yet to call upon you to confess you as Lord and savior. God, I pray that they would be drawn to you this coming Easter. Lord, as we come around the resurrection to understand, for those that may not understand the resurrection, who are skeptical of the resurrection, We thank you Lord that you invite those questions, that you aren't scared of those questions. And I thank you God that you have even given us your word to help answer those questions. And Lord, I thank you that you're even going beyond that your Holy Spirit is drawing people that you have given us your Holy Spirit as a helper and Lord that it is your Holy Spirit that leads people and draws them unto you. God, that it is you that is convicting people of their sin and of their righteousness and of their judgment. And Lord, that as believers, God, we are opening our church, we're opening our lives to extend love and invitation, to invite people in to your goodness and to who you are. But Lord, I thank you that it is your love that draws them unto repentance. And so God, this Easter season, when more souls come to know you than ever before, and it's in Jesus' name we pray, amen.