Wisdom and Power

1 Corinthians  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  28:48
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"Wisdom and Power". Based on 1 Corinthians 1:18-25. Having access to power and the wisdom to use the power properly is awesome and available through God.

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Opening prayer, dedication
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The Blessing
191 There is Power in the Blood (1,2,4)
Stronger
Word of God - 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 [Liturgist]
1 Corinthians 1:18–25 ESV
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Message: “Wisdom and Power”
Wisdom and Power are two things we hear about a great deal
We often hear how “other” people lack wisdom
We often hear how “other” people try to gain or abuse power
You are likely familiar with the saying “Power corrupts”
That comes from a Lord Acton,
I begin this message with a caution on the use of these catch phrases or aphorisms
Lord Acton was a liberal Catholic author who focused on the history of freedom
While this best-known quote is certainly often true
The full quote makes it clear that Lord Acton was speaking of men/ humans and tendencies
“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority; still more when you superadd the tendency of the certainty of corruption by authority.”
Lord Acton was absolutely correct
In part because he talks about “tendency”
Also, “almost” all great men, not all great ment are bad men
The reason for my caution and call for completeness in our discourse is this
Who is the most powerful man to ever walk the earth?
Jesus Christ as 1/3 of the Holy Trinity walked the earth and there is no greater power
Certainly, no Believer here today would say that Jesus is corrupt because of His power!
Paul’s 1 letter to the Corinthian Church as read in our core text just now
That was talking specifically about God’s wisdom and the meaning of the cross
All of this leading to Paul’s appeal for unity in the church
With that background, let’s start
Have you ever been with someone when you heard a political speech or even a sermon
Later you talk about what you heard and you wonder how they could have heard the same words and gotten such different meaning out of the words?
In 1 Corinthians 1:18, Paul references “the word of the cross”
Think of this as the Word of God explaining the Gospel story
When the Gospel story is told, the listeners will be in one of two camps
Let’s take a slower look at 1 Corinthians 1:18 (a) [Through perishing]
1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Either people will reject the word of the cross, the Gospel message
Those people will NOT have life everlasting with God
That’s what Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10
2 Thessalonians 2:9–10 ESV
9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
If you want to more fully understand this,
I strongly recommend attending the Midweek Study of Revelation
You will be both informed and blessed
Also, as the second half of 1 Corinthians 1:18 (b) [but..]
1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For us who Believe God, the Word of God is the power of God
That’s a good first Takeaway
Takeaways
The Word is the Power of God
Not just any word, but THE Word (of God)
That’s where the power comes from
The Word of God is the source of solid teaching
The Word of God should inform every decision we make and every sentence we speak
Even when we are talking to ourselves
We are better when we let the truth of the Word of God inform and guide our thoughts ans speech
It is so important in this age of information overload that we be intentional to choose to hear the right Word-The Word of God
Look again at 1 Corinthians 1:19
1 Corinthians 1:19 ESV
19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
Paul is actually quoting Isaiah 29:14
Isaiah 29:14 ESV
14 therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”
To put that in 2023 plain English
Paul is highlighting the difference between divine wisdom and human wisdom
God will continue to do wonderful and powerful things
While humans and human wisdom will fail
What is this word we see as “wisdom” and what does it really mean?
Wisdom-
sophia - referring generally to the capacity for sound judgment or the possession of specific skills.
Whether in the OT or NT, spohia/wisdom is seen as coming from God
We could call it “godly wisdom” just to be clear
So, having godly information and good judgement on how to apply that knowledge and skills - THAT comes from God and will prevail
Earthly or human contrivances that work to make natural that which is supernatural will fail
When people stay in their lane and let God be God
Then they are relying on the Power of God
And God has all the real permanent power
If the Word of God is the Power of God and Wisdom is the knowing of something important and know ing how to use it well
Who do we know like that?
That’s the question of 1 Corinthians 1:20
1 Corinthians 1:20 ESV
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
The list of people I once thought of as “really smart” is much longer than the list of people I know who I would now describe as “really wise”
In fact, there are some people I would like to send a t-shirt with just “Romans 1:22” on it.
Of course, some would wear the shirt without looking it up (Rom. 1:22)
Romans 1:22 ESV
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
Is it wise to know God and get close to God?
We have to be careful as we consider this
This is one of those relationship things
Where direction matters
And it brings our second takeaway
Takeaways
The Word is the Power of God
Wisdom doesn’t lead to God
Recall 1 Corinthians 1:21(a) [through “wisdom,]
1 Corinthians 1:21 ESV
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
Through God’s wisdom and choice, people must accept God BEFORE they will have complete and pervasive or long-lasting wisdom
Sure, people can gain knowledge without God
Some may even use that knowledge in a manner that benefits the Kingdom of God
But it is when we approach God in faith that God gives us knowledge and the ability to use it for eternal good
Paul was actually poking at the Corinthians because it was Paul’s preaching that led them to know Christ
Yet they were criticizing Paul’s preaching
That would be like waking up from open heart surgery and telling the surgeon that he didn’t know how to tie a good knot when you were sutured up
You see, we can’t learn our way or “know “ our way into a relationship with Jesus
We must seek God, then we will know Him
As Believers we are supposed to help guide folks toward Jesus
But we can’t grab them by the arm and force them to go or know what they do not want to know (yet)
Some people today are like the Jewish people in the New Testament
As verse 22 told us, they wanted signs and proof that Jesus was the Messiah
Enter the Christians, like Paul, preaching Christ crucified
That they had already seen all the proof they should need
That their own prophecies had been fulfilled
They had missed the boat while they were demanding new proof or miracles
It’s time to get real with how this passage impacts us for the living of our lives today
We live in a time of information overload
We have the tools and technology to gather a huge amount of information
Some would say that means knowledge
Even here at Grace, we use technology to present the Gospel using technology
But we will never be able to provide “enough” information
We will never be able to provide information in the “perfect” way to make someone believe in God
It is interesting to read in 1 Corinthians that even in Paul’s time, churches can get off track and become critical of the Gospel message, the methods or technique of delivery
That’s just part of church, ever since the first church in Acts 2
Thankfully, Paul didn’t take it personally. and neither should we
In fact, the third Takeaway tells us why
Takeaways
The Word is the Power of God
Wisdom doesn’t lead to God
It’ all about God, not us
As servant of the Lord
We live to serve God
We serve by delivering God’s message, not ours
We use the gifts, even technology, that God make available
A prideful preacher can get convinced that they are somehow gifted because they get people excited
There are even seminars on how preachers can build the energy just right
The speaking techniques that influence people, etc.
These are all things that can be helpful in the right measure
But it is too easy to rely on human knowledge, call it wisdom and fail to see the source of the real power
1 Corinthians 1:25 tells us
1 Corinthians 1:25 ESV
25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Ever since Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden
When they gave in to the temptation of Satan through the serpent
When they chose to eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil
They did the same thing then that we too often do
Adam & Eve gave in to the temptation to move past the exact Word of God
They chose to listen to their desire MORE than to listen to God
Order matters
Only through God do we have access to the real power and wisdom that will live forever
Brothers and sisters, we must encourage each other to turn to God and His Word
That we may have the power of knowledge and power of God to use for the benefit of the Kingdom of God
All Glory to God!
Amen!
Closing Hymn/Invitation:
383 Open Our Eyes, Lord
Pastoral prayer/Benediction
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Happy Mother’s Day!
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