1 COR. 4:8-17
Avoiding Spiritual Arrogance
I. Intro: The Prince and Me:
DVD Chapter: 5 Start Time: 0:32:58 End Time: 0:34:54
Scene Setup: Edvard, the Crown Prince of Denmark, is experiencing America undercover as college co-ed Eddie. He has taken a job at the local watering hole in order to be close to Paige, a girl in his classes.
APPLICATION: How is that caliber measured? How does God measure it? Looking at the example of Jesus and Paul I would say it is a steady, humble, following of God in the right way.
II.Spiritual teenagers
1. Progression in life: Child (low pride) Teen (high pride) Maturity (low pride)
2. Spiritual teenagers; confusing ability with maturity, perception with performance.
3. Bold pronouncements, w/o the nuance of newfound knowledge tempered by life.
4. Spiritual teenagers do the same thing.
B.Scripture: 1Co 4:8-17
C.Claudio, Joel, Paulo, Ronald
1. Spirituality better measured by constancy than flashy moments.
2. The self–satisfied, miss the blessing and satisfaction of those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matt. 5:6)
3. Paul suggested that they had received their crowns from Christ without assistance from him and Apollos, or from any of the other apostles.
III. the apostles vs. the corinthians
A.Direct Comparison
1. Their spiritual betters, the apostles were considered like men arrested for their faith and mocked in their slaughter for show:
2. Their betters were considered: while they saw themselves as:
3. Fools wise
4. Weak stong
5. Dishonored honored
6. Foolish: not careful of my dignity, nor seeking the approval of others
7. BUT: not seeking martyr status, and still desiring peace with all men if it can be had while still seeking God first.
8. Weak: not pursuing signs and miracles.
9. BUT: not without spiritual power including signs and miracles.
10. Without honor: free of the aims of the health and wealth gospel. They are by normal standards scum of the earth.
11. In their pursuit of the kingdom’s extension and the proclaiming of the good news the were: hungry, thirsty, poorly clothed, poorly treated and homeless. They work hard, and don’t complain when they fail to get the respect they deserve; instead they return blessings for cursings.
B.Comparison with Jesus
1. Jesus died without wealth, popularity, or any external success.
2. “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Matt. 8:20).
3. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure… Love your enemies, bless and do not curse – Jesus!
4. The Father allowed the Son to be sentenced to death and made a spectacle. Now God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death.
IV. mature by imitating the mature
1. To bring this point home to the Corinthians, Paul would like to remind them of something- I planted your church. That begs the question- so, if I am such a spiritual loser, how did I plant a church of spiritual giants?
2. So, imitate me in this. BE humble, faithful, not showy, returning blessing for cursing, being more concerned with maturity in holiness, & spiritual results, than with information about these & w/spurts of great zeal or powerful spiritual one-offs.
3. If you want to learn to do this, watch for someone who is. Like Timothy, who Paul sent as an example of one who lived as he did.
4. Taking the form of a servant, Phi. 2:3-11
5. “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
6. I hate to say this for fear of your reaction. “Our spiritual struggle is to die to desires for external pleasures, passions and ease, so that we can live with peace, joy and abundant life inside, safe from circumstances.
7. We really still think of the gospel as foolish as long as we pursue our own life, which we will certainly lose in the seeking.
8. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time” (1 Pet. 5:6).
V. INVITE: i invite you to die with me, so that we can live the good life in Jesus together.
