1 Corinthians 15 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Corinthians 15.

Meditate on verses 3-4.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received,

that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

and that He was buried,

 and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half getting this church started (Acts 18:1-11). After he left, he wrote this letter reminding the Corinthians of the Gospel message saying it is the most important message: Christ died; Christ was buried; Christ rose from the dead.

The Corinthian church had lost their focus on these doctrinal truths about who Jesus is and were arguing about whether or not there was resurrection of the dead.

Paul admonished them for engaging in this foolish argument because Christ proved there is resurrection from the dead. The reason the Christian church exists is because there is resurrection from the dead.

Knowing the doctrine of God stops foolish controversies. You learn that doctrine by studying the Bible. Be diligent to know God through His Word then be willing to teach the truth of God to others, so your family and church can be established in Christ.

Pray 1 Corinthians 15:58 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, make __________ and me steadfast, immovable,

 and always abounding in Your work.


May we never forget that our toil is not in vain when it is in You.

 For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Corinthians 14 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Corinthians 14.

Meditate on verses 33 and 40.

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace,

as in all the churches of the saints.

But all things must be done properly

 and in an orderly manner.

1 Corinthians 14 is one of those chapters in the Bible that can create controversy among Christians to the delight of nonbelievers. So when God wanted Paul to write about concerns that were causing division in the church, He had him remind the believers about who God is. God is a God of peace, and church should be a place where things are done properly and in an orderly manner. It should not be confusing to go to church. (If your church is confusing, do not quit attending. As a member of the body, teach your church this truth from God’s Word.)

God is a God of peace. When you are controlled by the God of peace, your home, your church, and your life should be functioning in an orderly, proper manner.

Pray about areas where you need the God of peace to take control. Be obedient to His instruction and pray 1 Corinthians 14:20 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 “LORD, help ________ and me not be children in our thinking;

 yet in evil let us be infants,


but in our thinking make us mature.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Corinthians 13 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Corinthians 13.

Meditate on verse 11.

When I was a child, I used to speak like a child,

think like a child, reason like a child;

when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

As Paul wrote this letter to Christians in Corinth, he was burdened by their lack of maturity in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:1-2). God is concerned about the same thing in your life. Are you putting away childish behaviors and speaking and acting like Christ?

It was not by accident that God had Paul write about love and maturity in the same section of this letter. When you let the love of Christ rule your life, you will grow up in Him.

Pray 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7). Insert your names in the place of the word love.

 “LORD, may this describe ________ and me.

__________ is patient;

____________is kind and is not jealous;

___________ does not brag and is not arrogant,

does not act unbecomingly;

_____________ does not seek their own,

 is not provoked,


does not take into account a wrong suffered,


does not rejoice in unrighteousness,

but rejoices with the truth;

bears all things, believes all things,


hopes all things, endures all things.

 ____________never fails.

Because of You, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Corinthians 12 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Corinthians 12.

Meditate on verses 14 and 20.

For the body is not one member, but many.

But now there are many members, but one body.

This is an important chapter for church doctrine. The church is the body of Christ made up of many members. God uses the analogy of a human body to help you understand. Just as a human body has many parts: hands, feet, lungs, etc., and they are all vitally important, so does the body of Christ have many members, and they are all vitally important. In a human body, some of the parts are visible; some are less visible, yet for a human body to function properly, every single part, even the tiniest cell is important. In Christ’s body, the church, every single member is important for the church to function the way God intended.

You may feel like a tiny, invisible cell in your church, but you know that in your own body if one cell becomes diseased, it can sicken your entire body. Do not be a sick cell. Practice your spiritual gifts in a local body of believers, a local church. It will keep you spiritually and even physically healthy, and it will keep the church healthy. It is God’s plan and purpose for those who call themselves Christians to be part of the body of Christ, His church.

Pray 1 Corinthians 12:11 and 18 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Holy Spirit, make ________ and me mindful of Your work

 and how You have distributed gifts to us

individually just as You will.

God, You have placed us in Your body as You desired.

Help us to use our gifts faithfully in the church where you put us.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Corinthians 11 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Corinthians 11.

Meditate on verse 1.

Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

Wow! Paul is bold in his exhortations. At first glance, his command sounds arrogant. But think about what he is saying. His command is to imitate Christ. Paul took his own command so seriously that he, too, was imitating Christ; therefore, these young Christians in Corinth who were surrounded by idolatrous paganism, could look to Paul as an example of how to live in Christ.

What about your life? Do you behave and speak in such a way that you could encourage another to come alongside you, and by imitating you, actually learn how to imitate Jesus? It is a convicting thought, and as a follower of Jesus Christ, should be what you would not hesitate to tell a less mature believer.

Spend the next 24 hours examining every moment of your day. Is there even a second when you would be embarrassed to have another Christian observing you?

Live for the LORD in such a way that your family and friends can imitate you and actually be imitating Jesus.

Pray 1 Corinthians 11:1 over yourself and those for whom you are discipling and standing guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, make me an imitator of You.

When ____________ imitates me,

may it actually be imitating You.

 In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Corinthians 10 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Corinthians 10.

Meditate on verse 31.

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do,

do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10 is rich with truth. Here are some of the fascinating facts.

The Rock in the wilderness from which the Israelites drank water was Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:4; Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:11-12). Ponder that fact as it will give you new insight as to why God did not let Moses enter the Promised Land after he struck the Rock, Jesus, twice. The Rock had been stricken once (Exodus 17:6); He was not to be struck again.

The Old Testament, filled with examples of what makes God angry, was written for your instruction, so you do not crave evil things (1 Corinthians 10:6-11). God creates a way of escape especially for you in every temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). Fix your eyes on Jesus and His righteous path of escape. Flee from sin!

These are just a few of the precious, life-changing truths. Reread the chapter and ask God to reveal other treasures.

Pray 1 Corinthians 10:24, 31, and 33 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, help __________ and me not to seek our own good,

 but that of others.

 Whether, then, we eat or drink
or whatever we do,

 let us do all to the glory of You, God.

 Let us do things to please others,

 not seeking our own profit,

but the profit of the many,

 so they may be saved.


For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Corinthians 9 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Corinthians 9.

Meditate on verse 23.

I do all things for the sake of the Gospel,

so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

Paul addressed purpose in chapter 9. Paul’s purpose was the Gospel of Christ. Everything Paul did was motivated by how he could tell others about the salvation and grace of God through Christ Jesus. Paul’s purpose determined his behavior, his relationships, his occupation, and his disciplines.

What is your purpose? What motivates you to get up in the morning? Are you a partaker of the salvation and grace of Jesus Christ? Has it so impacted your life that you are living the rest of your life in such a way others see, hear, feel, taste, and smell Jesus emanating from you? Can you say, like Paul, “I do all things for the sake of the Gospel”?

 Pray 1 Corinthians 9:23-27 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, may ___________ and I do all things
 for the sake of Your Gospel,


so that we may become fellow partakers of it.


Help us run this race in such a way that we may win.


Help us exercise self-control in all things
 to receive an imperishable wreath.


Help us run with aim and box without beating the air.

LORD, help us discipline our bodies and make them Your slaves,

so that, after we have preached to others,


we will not be disqualified.


Because of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Corinthians 8 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Corinthians 8.

Meditate on verse 9.

But take care that this liberty of yours

does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

Paul wrote this letter to the church in Corinth to address problems and to answer questions and concerns the Corinthians had. They were concerned about relationships, so Paul wrote about being single, married, and divorced in 1 Corinthians 7.

In chapter 8, Paul answered a question concerning things sacrificed to idols by saying, “knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies” (v. 1). It seems like an odd answer, but not if you keep it in the context of relationships. Paul wanted the Christians in Corinth to take the things they were learning about God and apply them with love to the people around them. For example, the believers were taught that in Christ they had freedom to eat anything. However, with that freedom came the responsibility not to cause someone else to stumble in their walk with Christ or in their opportunity to know Christ as Savior. If eating a steak that has been sacrificed to an idol, even though an idol is nothing, hurts another’s spiritual growth, then don’t eat the steak. Be motivated by love for others rather than the pride of knowing you have the freedom in Christ to do certain things.

Pray 1 Corinthians 8:1 and 9 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, may _________ and I not become arrogant in our knowledge.


In love, help us edify others.


May we take care that the liberty we have

 not become a stumbling block to the weak.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Corinthians 7 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Corinthians 7.

Meditate on verse 24.

Brethren, each one is to remain with God

in that condition in which he was called.

1 Corinthians 7 addressed various relationships people were in: married, single, divorced, and widowed. The point being made was no matter what condition or situation you are in, be holy.

The lie of Satan is God wants you to be happy. The truth is God wants you to be holy; God expects you to be holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). People will give this as their reason for divorcing their husband or wife: “God wants me to be happy.”

Know with certainty; God cares more about your holiness than your happiness. Your concern should be whether or not the decision you are about to make will make your holy God happy. The only way to be truly happy is to be holy because God is holy.

God taught in this chapter that marriage pleases Him and being single pleases Him. You have to seek God’s will for your life, and as you do, you will grow closer to Him, which is the real goal, anyway.

Pray 1 Corinthians 7:17 and 24 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 “LORD, let ___________ and me walk in what You have assigned and called us to do.


Let us remain with You as
we remain in Your calling.


In Your name, Jesus~”

Additional insight: 1 Corinthians 7:36-38 is addressed to fathers who were required to give permission for their daughters to marry. If a father chose to let his daughter remain unmarried for the purpose of devotion to Christ, it was his responsibility to continue his financial care of her. It was an important decision the father had to make; one that required much wisdom from God. Fathers should heed this instruction today in helping their children decide whom to marry or if they should marry.

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Corinthians 6 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Corinthians 6.

Meditate on verses 9-10.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous

will not inherit the kingdom of God? 

Do not be deceived;

neither fornicators,

nor idolaters,

 nor adulterers,

 nor effeminate,

nor homosexuals,

 nor thieves,

 nor the covetous,

 nor drunkards,

nor revilers,

 nor swindlers,

will inherit the kingdom of God.

There, God said it. He has given you the politically incorrect list of people who will not inherit His Kingdom. And He warns you not to be deceived because you will be tempted to say: “Did God really say, ‘The covetous will not inherit His Kingdom; the fornicators will not inherit His Kingdom; homosexuals will not inherit His Kingdom?’” Yes, God really said that.

“Did God really say?” were the first recorded words from the lips of Satan (Genesis 3:1). He still says the same thing. Do not fall for his lie!

There is great news in 1 Corinthians 6 because all of us fit into at least one of the categories in verses 9 and 10. God washes, sanctifies, and justifies you in the name of the LORD Jesus Christ and in His Spirit from everything on the list when you choose to flee immorality and join yourself to the LORD (1 Corinthians 6:11, 17-18).

Pray 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 “LORD, help _____ and me to flee immorality.


Let us not forget that our bodies

are a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in us,

and we are not our own.


We have been bought with a price.


God, may we glorify You in our body.


In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Corinthians 5 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Corinthians 5.

Meditate on verse 2.

You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead,

so that the one who had done this deed would be removed form your midst.

There was sin in the church at Corinth, and the people did nothing about it. Paul said it was because of their arrogance and lack of grief over sin that they would not remove the sinner from their midst in order to discipline him in hope of repentance.

What is your attitude toward sin? Are you grieved by sin in your life and the life of others? Or in your pride, do you ignore it and rationalize: “This is no big deal; everyone does it, and I am not as bad as most”?

God hates sin! Do not trivialize it! Sin always ends in death; it is not to be toyed with. Sin destroys lives. Paul commanded the church at Corinth to “remove the wicked man from among yourselves” (1 Corinthians 5:13). God says the same to you: “Remove the wickedness from your life!”

Pray 1 Corinthians 5:2 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 “LORD, may and I not be arrogant.

 Let us mourn over sin.


Help us remove sin from our midst.


In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Corinthians 4 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Corinthians 4.

Meditate on verse 4.

For I am conscious of nothing against myself,

yet I am not by this acquitted;

but the one who examines me is the LORD.

The church at Corinth had members who were not growing up in Christ. They judged their behavior by comparing themselves to others and deciding they were doing nothing wrong. Paul, their father in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 4:15), was not pleased with their attitudes and behaviors. They were arrogant and thought they were doing just fine in their Christianity. Paul reminded them it did not matter what they thought about their behavior; the LORD was the one examining them.

God knows everything. He knows what you do in the dark that you think no one sees. He knows the motives of your heart. Compared to others your behavior may appear golden; however, a day is coming when God will pass judgment, and your opinion of yourself will not matter. The only thing that matters then and now is what God thinks.

Pray 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 and 5 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, make ____________ and me servants of You

and stewards of Your mysteries.


Make us trustworthy.


Let us not forget that You will come


and bring to light the things hidden in the darkness

 and disclose the motives of our hearts.


May our praise come from You, God.


For the glory of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Corinthians 3 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Corinthians 3.

Meditate on verse 19a.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God.

Paul wanted the Corinthians to change their minds. They lived in a society that idolized Greek philosophy. Paul wanted them to know the wisdom of God. They were impressed with and wanted to impress people. Paul wanted them to please the LORD. They thought they were so wise, yet Paul could figuratively give them only milk to drink and not solid food as he taught them because they were fleshly, infants in Christ, not growing up in the LORD (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).

Examine your life. Where are you on the spiritual growth chart? What do you love, this present world or Jesus Christ? Who do you desire to please, your selfish desires or the LORD? It is time to do away with childish things and grow up in all aspects into Christ (1 Corinthians 13:11; Ephesians 4:15).

Pray 1Corinthians 3:1-3 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, please help and me

stop being people of flesh, infants in Christ.

 Give us the desire to receive
not only

the milk of Your Word but solid food.

 Take away our desire to be fleshly.


Let us cease from jealousy and strife.


Let us walk as followers of You.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Corinthians 2 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Corinthians 2.

Meditate on verse 16b.

We have the mind of Christ.

Sear that sentence into your conscious and subconscious mind. You can think like Jesus thinks because the Spirit of God lives in you. The Spirit gives you the mind of Jesus. Since you have His mind, you can speak with His wisdom. You can spiritually discern and determine things because God’s Spirit is inside you.

When Paul went to Corinth, he determined to know nothing among the Corinthians except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). Paul was a learned man. He could have impressed them with his knowledge of philosophy or Jewish laws, but the Spirit of God told him to speak about Jesus and the crucifixion. Paul’s obedience demonstrated the power of the Holy Spirit, and as a result, many Corinthians became Christians.

You have the mind of Christ. Let that sentence rule every thought you have, every word that comes out of your mouth, and every step you take. Your obedience will have eternal results.

Pray 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 and 16 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 “God, _________and I have received Your Spirit.

Let us know the things freely given to us by You.


Let us speak things taught by the Spirit.


Help us combine spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

May we never forget that we can know Your mind, LORD,

 because we have Your mind.


In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Corinthians 1 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Corinthians 1.

Meditate on verses 30-31.

But by His (God’s) doing you are in Christ Jesus,

who became to us wisdom from God,


and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

so that just as it is written,


“Let him who boasts, boast in the LORD.”

Paul started his letter to the church in Corinth by reminding them about who Jesus is. Jesus is wisdom from God. The Corinthians were Greeks. They lived in a world captivated by Greek philosophy and the wisdom of men. God wanted them to know Jesus is the power and wisdom of God, and the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Corinthians 1:24-25).

You live in a world still captivated by man’s knowledge and power. Do not be deceived! Filter everything you read and hear through the truth of God’s Word. Your life’s goal as a Christian is to know God. God says, “the world through its wisdom did not come to know God” (1 Corinthians 1:21). You know God by knowing the Bible.

Pray 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, give grace to _________ and me in Christ Jesus,

 that in everything we will be enriched in You,


in all speech and all knowledge.

Jesus, confirm Your testimony in us,


so that we are not lacking any gift


as we eagerly await the revelation of You.

LORD Jesus Christ, You will confirm us to the end,

blameless in Your day.
God, You are faithful.


Thank You for calling us into fellowship
with Your Son,

 Jesus Christ our LORD.”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell