Podcast appearances and mentions of paul only

Dealing with Division (1:10-17, 3:1-9)   Last time we looked at 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 where we saw that Paul was able to give thanks for the Corinthians despite all the problems they were facing.   Today’s passage reveals the first of those problems – divisions in the church, and particularly division over leaders. We’ll be looking at three main passages of scripture:   1 Corinthians 1:10-17 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 John 17:11, 20-23   We will handle the subject under the following headings:   The situation in Corinth Five things that cause division The basis of Paul’s appeal for unity How unity can be achieved   The situation in Corinth 1 Corinthians 1:10-17   V 10 tells us that Paul has learned from some of Chloe’s household that there are quarrels and divisions in the church. These have sprung from the fact that the Corinthians were not ‘perfectly united in mind and thought’.   V 12 makes it clear that these divisions and quarrels were mainly over leaders:   12 What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ."   Paul has more to say on these divisions in 1 Corinthians 3:1-8 where we learn more about what was causing them.   Five things that cause division   1 Immaturity In vv 1-2 Paul complains that the Corinthians have not grown up spiritually. By now they should have matured spiritually, but they’re still behaving like children.   1 But I, brothers and sisters, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready. (ESV)   2 Behaving only in a human way   Vv 3-4 show us that divisions in the church mean that we’re behaving no better than the people in the world around us. We’re behaving as people of the flesh (ESV).   3 For you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, ‘I follow Paul’’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos’, are you not being merely human?   Behaving in a human way means behaving like the people in the world. It involves jealousy (v3) and selfishness (1 Corinthians 11:19ff)   3 A ‘celebrity culture’   4 For when one says, ‘I follow Paul’’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos’, are you not being merely human?   The modern cult of so-called celebrities is becoming increasingly prevalent in the world around us. There is no place for it in the church!   4 Failure to recognise that the greatest of God’s servants are just that – servants!   5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task. (NIV)   Cf. John13:16. The apostle is not greater than the foot washing Christ who sends him. 1 Corinthians 15:10 By the grace of God I am what I am   as the Lord has assigned God has a task for every one of us. But it’s God himself who is building his church.   Note vv7-8 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour.   This shows us the final cause of division:   5 Failure to recognise that we’re all serving the same God with the same purpose – that his church should grow, both as individual members and as a body     Summary so far:   There were serious divisions in the church in Corinth mainly with regard to leadership. The causes of division we have identified are:   Immaturity Behaving ‘only in a human way’ - like the world A Celebrity culture Failure to recognise church leaders for what they are – servants Failure to recognise that we’re all serving the same God with the same purpose – that his church should grow.   We now turn to:   The basis of Paul’s appeal for unity   Back to chapter 1 10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.   in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ means with the authority of…   Why did Paul claim that authority?   Christ had commissioned him as an apostle (Acts 26:15-18) – He knew his gifting 15 "Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' "'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 16 'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'   He was conscious that he was writing scripture   1 Cor. 14:37 If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command   For us, recognition of the authority of Scripture is the only true basis for unity Jesus himself had prayed for their unity (John 17:11, 20-23)   John 17 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name - the name you gave me - so that they may be one as we are one.   20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.   How unity can be achieved   1 By recognising that unity is God’s will (1:10) 10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.   2 By recognising our unity in Christ  (expressed in baptism and communion)   Baptism 14 I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,   To be baptised into the name of someone means that the person baptised has given himself/herself to the person into whose name they have been baptized. As Christians we have yielded our lives to Christ because he was crucified for us. So our baptism is a symbol of our unity because we have all yielded to the Lordship of Christ.   Communion (1 Cor. 10:16-17) 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.     3 By recognising our proper place in the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:24-25)   24 … God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honour to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body…   4 By emphasising the things that unite us rather than those that divide us (esp. the cross   17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel - not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.   5 By respecting those with whose opinions we disagree – baptism an example As we have seen, baptism is a symbol of our unity in Christ Yet Christians are divided over what baptism is!   To me the New Testament is clear. Baptism is by immersion and is for believers only. (The reference in 1:16 to Paul baptizing the household of Stephanas provides no secure basis for the doctrine of infant baptism. Paul’s statement in 16:15 that they had devoted themselves to the service of the saints suggests the contrary).   But I recognise that many sincere Christians have a different view.   So how do we reconcile our differences on such issues?   We may never persuade our friends in other churches that our view of Scripture is the right one. (Hopefully in any one local church all the members would be agreed on this). Baptism is important. The Lord Jesus commanded it.   So when Paul says that he is glad he baptized none of them he is not minimising the importance of baptism, but he recognises that baptism does not cause salvation. The Spirit does that through the preaching of the Gospel - but baptism is the God-ordained response upon believing the Gospel.   But whatever our view on baptism, Jesus died for us all. We are all of Christ (not Paul or Apollos or Peter) because of Calvary.  We have all believed the same gospel. When we remember the cross, any differences we may have with our fellow-Christians pale into insignificance.

February 16, 2020 "Now, Children" 1 Corinthians 3: 1-9 Matthew 5: 21-26 The Rev. Dr. Randolph (Randy) Harry 3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? 5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. 21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’[d] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. 25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

We all have neighbours. Do we know them?    “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34–35 NIV11   This is the strategy for letting our neighbours know we are Christ-followers. Nothing more complex than this. How can we expose our neighbours to the love we have for one another?   Ideas they have tried: Saturday morning breakfasts together at a local cafe From there, having met some neighbours and built a friendship they moved the breakfasts into one another’s homes Both couples saw it as an answer to prayer Another couple moved in recently Went round with a bottle of wine to congratulate them on the birth of their baby Now spent many times together and enjoying a good friendship  Becoming friends with neighbours has brought spiritual blessings to the Koorts.  Develop openness with local neighbours starting with hospitality.   “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labour. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Cor. 3:5–9 NIV11   The pressure is off us because we are called to simply plant and water the seeds. God is the one who makes things grow. God does it through the love we have for one another. Can reach out in freedom. Have fun with neighbours. Don’t worry about the impression we’re making. Just show them love.    Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.tvcoc.org.    Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.    Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: tvcochrist@gmail.com.   Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.   God bless,   Malcolm   Reading, tvcoc, Thames Valley churches of Christ, ICOC, Tim Dannatt, Malcolm Cox, ICCM, Lower Earley, Wokingham, Southampton, Beaconsfield, Oxford, Banbury, Deepcut, Frimley, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Bracknell, Shevvy Dannatt, Churches of Christ, Christian churches near me, International church, churches close to me, Thames Valley, Thames Valley location, Thames Valley church of Christ, the Thames Valley,  

[1 Corinthians 3:1-9] 1. Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ. 2. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4. For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? 5. What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.

Leaders are servants as gardeners and builders 1 Corinthians 3 (NIV) The Church and Its Leaders 3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? 5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. 16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. 18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[a]; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[b] 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours,22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[c] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. Footnotes: [a] 1 Corinthians 3:19 Job 5:13 [b] 1 Corinthians 3:20 Psalm 94:11 [c] 1 Corinthians 3:22 That is, Peter

In John 18 it is recorded that Jesus declared to Pilot that “my Kingdom is not of this world.”  If we can hear it, Jesus was taken by the Kingdoms of the World to be crucified.  He was taken by the Jewish nation and crucified by Rome.  The Kingdom of Judah operated to physically overthrow Jesus as it was threatened by His teaching, and demonstration of power through the Holy Ghost. Consider that during the taking of Jesus by the High Priest and the Jewish soldiers that He did a notable miracle.  Peter cut off the High Priest servants’ ear, Jesus healed the ear.  Can we for a moment consider this.  As they were taking Jesus to kill Him, a man’s ear was cut off and Jesus healed him.  You would think that with a miracle like this that they would have turned their hearts to receive Him, but they refused Him. In the taking a Jesus, as recorded in John 18 and other gospels, we can see the Kingdom of the world in operation, and the Kingdom of God in operation.  The hardness of the Jews hearts when they took Jesus, and He healed the man in front of them expressed the kingdom of the world.  Peter taking out his sword and cutting off the High Priest servants’ ear expressed the kingdom of the world.  Jesus healing Malchus’ ear expressed the Kingdom of God.  While they were going to kill Jesus, He was expressing the nature of love and mercy in the healing of Malchus.  Also, He gave Himself up to them that had come to take Him, in order that the disciples with Him could go free.  The expression of the Kingdom is laying down our lives, that the nature of God comes through.  This is the nature Jesus had, He gave His life as a ransom for the world. In Isaiah 2, the Prophet speaks of a day when men would beat their swords into plows.  Many are looking for that day to come somewhere out in the future.  If we look closely by the Spirit of God, we will see that both Peter and Paul beat their swords into plows.  As we considered Peter above in John 18, He was a man of the sword.  When He was filled with the Holy Ghost, as recorded in Acts 2 He became a man who began to sow the SEED of God into men’s hearts, taking the plow of God and God’s pruning knife to bring forth fruit unto the Father.  The same can be said of the Apostle Paul.  Paul is transformed from Saul of Tarsus, where he was murdering Christians to a man who is harvesting with the Lord.   Paul writes in I Corinthians that he is a fellow worker with God in God’s field. I Corinthians 3:5-9 “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”  Let us allow the Spirit of God to beat our swords into plows and pruning knives to work in God’s field to bring forth fruit unto our Father.  Let the Word and Spirit of God work within us that we are would become transformed and seek the production of God’s fruit in ourselves and in our neighbor.  God’s Kingdom is simply the rule and reign of Christ Jesus our Lord IN our hearts and minds.  This rule and reign will put down everything in us that exalts itself against the power and authority of the Lord.  May it fully come and be manifested through the saints of the Most High!

A particular subject that’s been on my heart for the past couple of months is Spiritual Warfare and how it affects businesses, especially with the way the world is going it’s putting Christian’s under pressure to whether they pick love or truth in certain situations.In this podcast, I share what Paul teaches us in the Bible about this, what we’ve had to face in CWIB in regard to the New Age stuff, how it’s affected us and what we’ve done about it. Finally, some tips about what you can do as a Christian business owner to protect yourself and your business against the devil’s schemes.SJ’s notes… (these are just notes from her book and we ask that you’re gracious with them)Now one thing you should know about me as a person, I am not always going to tell you what you want to hear, I don’t sugar coat stuff, I am very down to earth and very real.Everything I do and say is from the goodness of my heart and what I am about share with you I ask for grace as this is something that needs to be addressed.As I put on my big girl pants and share this message with you today, I want you to have an open heart and know that this isn’t coming from a judgemental place and to take what I say to the Word of God and ask Him to open your eyes to the truth.When I first started CWIB I thought I was quite spiritually mature, but after this year and especially these past couple of months, God has made me realise how I am still a baby feeding on milk! I’ve realised how much I don’t know and I’m having to grow up very quickly.Learning about spiritual stuff and stuff that not everyone wants to talk about. Yet, it’s soooo important and often overlooked because people are scared to talk about it, because of what might happen. But what might happen if we don’t talk about it.The girls know in our community that something had been going on, we called for a community fast in March as we began to tackle (with God’s help) and certain something in the spiritual realm.After having a number of ladies contact me just recently about the subject wanting to learn about it and having questions and then this other question pop up, God has prompted me to make this podcast to share our understanding and what we see as truth.We’re going to take todays teachings from Apostle Paul…1 Corinthians 3Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed,Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[a]; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[b] 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[c] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.I feel this chapter is very fitting to what we’re going to talk about today because Paul is talking to a church that is predominately full with gentiles who are getting lost in the worldly things and like you and I, they need guidance and grace from God.3:1-2Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.What does this mean to you? I didn’t really quite understand the meaning of it until now having gone through what we have in CWIB over the past few months.(Please listen to the podcast to get the story)We had basically had some weird things happening in our community from a result of some New Age stuff leaking in. We had set boundaries from the beginning of our business but a gate had been made open that needed to be shut as a result of (and through no fault of their own) members having some new age stuff as part of their life and we needed to establish our boundaries and close the gate that shouldn’t have been open.Now lets look at 10-15…10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.Question for you… Are you building a business on the foundations of Jesus? Or something that isn’t of God.Finally Verse 16-1716 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.Lady, being a Christian woman in business and being God’s temple is an amazing thing. It’s something that should be guarded with everything because unfortunately there is a devil out there who wants to destroy you and who you are.As business owners and the having the amazing mission that God has given us we need to be really vigilant about this stuff and how it can affect our businesses and know who we are in Christ and the authority we have having Him as our saviour.I believe God has created CWIB to be a Holy place, He’s given us boundaries to protect our community from things that are not welcome and I want you to know that we take this stuff really seriously.In the business space, there is a lot of woo-woo stuff. I know a lot of our members have been part of business groups where they have brought out crystals and started to do New Age stuff and have felt really uncomfortable about it and left the group. They know it goes against their values and have put good boundaries in place to protect themselves.From having that gate come open in CWIB from passing things of what members where opening up to (not actually practised in the community), it caused a lot of weird things to happen in our community. Our members felt very lost in the beginning of the year, there was confusion, I had members contacting me saying how they weren’t quite feeling themselves and I felt that there was something going on that didn’t quite feel right, I knew it was a fight and so I asked God to open my eyes and show me what it was and what we needed to do to get back on track.It was revealed to me through a prophet, who gave me a word from God about what had been happening in regard to the gate and the new age stuff and so I went into a lot of research and asked God to show me what it was so I knew what we were tackling and how we needed to go about handling it.Just to confirm, no one has been seriously hurt. Everyone is ok, there was just something a little off.God surely opened my eyes and what He showed me alright. I listened to testimonials from women who I know who gracefully shared with me their testimonies of how Jesus has delivered them from really bad things after being sucked into the new age. How deceitful it is and yet it’s disguised as good. Just because things are good doesn’t mean they are always from God.So many people are searching for spirituality but they’re looking in the wrong places and stumbling into what they think is harmless stuff and suffering from it.Why am I sharing this with you today?Because I want you to be aware of what’s going on around you and so you can see things from Kingdom eyes, not worldly ones. So that you can protect yourself and keep your eyes on Jesus in your business. If we’re going to build Kingdom businesses we need to be so switched on with this stuff, we need to create boundaries to protect ourselves from it and know that it’s ok to stand up for truth, your values and to cut yourself away from the stuff that isn’t from God.How do we tackle this as Christian business owners without looking like a crazy person?Know what it is… What are some of these new age stuff that we need to look out for and create boundaries from?Yoga, NLP (Neuro-linguistic programming), tarot and oracle card reading, crystals, reiki, mediation of the Hindu kind, any kind of black magic, moon watching, weird fire burning rituals, the list goes on.Some of you may have completed courses in NLP and be asking yourself what’s wrong with it. Let me share with you and this is my opinion from the research I’ve done.God invented the brain, He knows how it works. The founder of NPL is in fact part of a new age movement and is into hypnosis which in our books is not cool. We don’t believe that the mind should be manipulated at any time. The bible verses the people often refer to say that this stuff is ok is from Romans 12:2 but they take out one tiny section and miss the whole context that the scripture is written.“but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” and say that it’s ok to do it.Let’s take a look at the whole scripture…12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.Paul here is speaking about God renewing your mind so that you see things from a Godly, Kingdom prospective, it’s got nothing to do with what NLP is teaching. So then when you do come across things of the new age you can spot it a mile away and place protection and focus of God’s will.We’re praying that God will open your eyes to what is truth and of God and come to your own understanding.Ask God to show you what you need to cut off from your life that isn’t of His will.These are some of the things I have done in CWIB and in my life to cut those things off to help us set boundaries….+ We have updated what type of businesses we let into our CWIB Membership, updated our statement of faith and are completing detailed checks of membership applications.+ On SM if people post stuff related to any of the above new age list I unfollow them and leave groups where I need to.+ I make sure our marketing material has nothing representing crystals and new age things (which we’ve tried to do from the very beginning).+ When people who do apply who are involved in some way of the list above. We try not to judge them but we try to educate and politely explain why they might be involved with the stuff so we can empower and mentor.We make sure we pray over everything that we do in our businesses and place the authority Jesus has given us on every situation so the devil has no way of tripping us.Ephesians 6:10-18 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.Pray over your marketing, meetings, finances, staff and team, website and everything you sent out. Place on your armour of God.Now we’re not saying we’re perfect by any means, we are still learning every day, we still make mistakes, but know that it’s what we do once the mistakes have happened and how we deal with them.We strongly encourage you to get into the Word, the true source, pray and ask our loving father to show you what He needs you to learn.He knows what’s going on in your life and your business and know that we are here as your sisters to help empower and educate you in the best way we can.Submit to Him, trust in Him and He will make your paths straight.Sarah Jane Meesonwhere to find S.J. Website Pinterest Facebook Instagram Our intakes are open, but only for a short time!We've included some new membership packages for you to look at. Businesses of all shapes and sizes will find their fit and their home in our tribe! >The post #59 Spiritual Warfare and Business appeared first on Christian Women in Business. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.