MIDWEEK 7.12.23

I Corinthians 1:26-31

1 Corinthians 1:26–27 NKJV

26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

Paul is letting us know that God’s way of doing things in the kingdom is different

In almost everything the principles of the kingdom go against wisdom and intellect of men

Everything about the Bible has been counterculture SINCE THE BEGINNING:

A lot of times people are trying to see how the Bible can fit their culture

Rather than the Bible creating their culture

Does God’s word set the tone for your life?

For your relationships?

The people that you follow?

The things you subject yourself too?

Are you looking into the reflections of your life and seeing Jesus?

James 1:21–26 NKJV

21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

We can have faith:

that the Bible is true

we can have faith that Jesus is the son of God,

we can have faith that he heals

Do we act as if?

I soul and our body need to walk in faith that we have what God’s word promises

The Bible is for everyone:

But Paul is boasting in the humility of those who choose it

I’ve been noticing lately that I like hang out with Christians a lot more

I like hanging out with people who have the same spirit

I think fleshly wisdom becomes a roadblock for humility:

Matthew 19:16–26 NKJV

16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” 17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” 20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

It’s hard for a camel to get through cause you have to offload the baggage

You have to offload and unlearn the habits you have

It’s hard for people to lay down the things that they’ve held onto their whole lives

He gives us the correct recipe in Matthew 6:33

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

We also have to look at what is happening in Acts:

Paul’s preaching in Athens:

Proconsul of Crete became a Christian in Acts 17

Female nobility in the same chapter

Erastus, the city treasurer of Corinth

In the time of Nero a famous conquere’s wife was martyred

Flavis Clemens the cousin of the emperor

So famous well known people were converting

But in the Empire of Rome at that time there were 60,000,000 slaves (different type of slaves)

Slaves were living tools for work

Through the perfect timing of Jesus and Paul and other fulfilling their callings

People who were viewed as tools for means to an end

Were adopted by the Living God into sons and daughters

It gave eternal lives to those who had no life of their own

Christianity is still and will always be the most uplifting thing in the universe

You don’t see this in other religions

1 Corinthians 1:28–31 NKJV

28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

4 things Paul is telling us Christ is:

He is our wisdom

We seek after his wisom

Not what makes sense to us

What makes sense to the word and what the Holy Spirit is saying

2. He is righteousness

he’s our right standing with God

not anything of our own merit

It is ours only by realizing, through Jesus Christ , not from what we can do for God, but from what he has done for us

3. He’s our consecration

It is only the presence of Christ that life can be what it ought to be

Do we understand that?

This isn’t a game

Talking to a guy about his Christian walk

How do you function without God daily

NO I mean really

We can’t afford to take plays off

That’s where you get hurt, offended, doubt creeps in

4. He’s our deliverance

So many people flock to everything else but the true deliverer

The enemy creates cheap fixes

near misses

temporary escapes

A mirage in the desert

but there’s only one true deliverAnce

Jeremiah 9:23–24 NKJV

23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; 24 But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.

We boast in understanding and knowing the Father

What do you glory in?