1 Cor 7:17-40
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SLIDE 2
17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.
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SLIDE 3
20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ.
1 Cor 7:
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SLIDE 4
23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. 25 Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
1 COR 7.
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17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. 25 Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
INTRO:
Intro:
One of the greatest downfalls of cross cultural missions..
has been the pressure.. for those who convert to Xtianity..
To not only convert spiritually..
But to also convert.. culturally.
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You can go into Africa, South America, Asia.. practically anywhere in the world..
And you will find there.. what you find here.
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Church sanctuaries are laid out the same..
There are organs on one side of the platform..
And pianos on the other..
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They dress the same
And their styles of delivery are the same..
Why is that?
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Has the Bible ordained for us..
The sanctuary lay-out that we use.
The type of clothes that we wear..
Even the speaking styles we use when we preach???..
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No way.
But.. when they converted spiritually..
A MESSAGE… from the American… the European… the missionary… was delivered. You have now joined our club… our organization… and as a new member… you must now follow our procedures, our methods, and our uniforms..
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They placed pressure on them.. for cultural conversion..
Wear the suit.. wear the tie.. only sing the old hymns.. play pianos and organs..
Don’t be like an African Christain, or and Asian Christian, or a Latin American Christian..
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No.. forsake that culture.. and become an American Christian..
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You don’t have to go overseas to see this same form of pressure.
Here in America.. the same kind of thing happens..
When someone gets saved.. in some environments.. .
They’re told how to cut their hair.. cover up their tattoos.
They’re told how to dress..
They’re told how to behave.
They’re told where they can go.. and how often.
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God is converting people on the inside..
But religion.. is attempting to convert them on the outside..
It’s been this way from the beginning..
Paul would come into a town, and teach them about grace..
By this.. they are saved…
It was not of works.. it was a free gift..
It was not earned.. and Jesus gave them their salvation freely..
All’s they had to do.. was turn from their own ways..
Receive the gift..
And walk with Jesus..
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But, in the wake of Paul’s message..
Sometimes… there came a group of religious zealots..
Who were not content with grace..
So they delivered a message of contradiction..
Saying yes.. this is how you get saved..
But.. you still have to obey certain commandments..
You still have to become circumcised
You still must observe the feasts..
You still must still… watch the diet.
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Essentially, it all boils down to the human need to conform..
“Conform into the practice and image of someone else..
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Or: conform someone else, into our image..
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It even happens here.. we are not innocent of this tendency.
We don’t make dress code an issue here..
As long as your modest.. we’re fine..
Because of this.. many people dress very casually.
A lot of you were content to wear the full costume on Sunday morning..
But after a while of visiting CCCville
You now come in shorts.. or jeans…
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And some do it.. because the environment has encouraged the change...
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The only difference is..
We’re not mandating anything..
I used to wear suits on occasion. I would sometimes wear a tie.
In the summer time, I might wear a tie now and then..
On Second Sundays.. when we have activities after church..
But the reality is… I hate those things.
I might wear blue jeans..
I don’t want my dress to be a distraction… but I want to wear what is comfortable… and after my wife tells me to change, I put on something a little less comfortable…
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Why?
The dress code thing… just isn’t an issue to me.
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You be comfortable dressing the way you want..
w/modesty..
You don’t have to conform.
I’m just happy that you’re here.
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The cool thing is..
that we.. are all works in progress..
and it’s God who is going to change us..
it’s God who is going to move us on..
It’s God who is going to transition us from one place.. to another..
It’s God who changes us on the inside… and He does that with purpose… So, isn’t it better, that God would take responsibility for changing us on the outside… rather than some human organization?
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God might tell you, in your heart, to do something different
When people tell you to change… they are imposing their ideas onto you...
That may be an issue of marital status
That may be an issue of religious practice and conformity..
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But when God tells you to change… He is imposing His will upon you… and when God changes you… it’s for a purpose.
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I remember, years ago… seeing a pastor friend of mine go through some significant outward changes…
I’ve been seeing a good friend of mine go through just such a process..
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zHe was very rough around the edges..
And the Lord has used him in that state.. and blessed him..
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But… then something began to change…
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He’s getting in shape..
He’s cut his hair
He’s wearing nicer clothes..
He’s trimmed his beard..
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And everyone was asking him....
“Dude.. what’s up?”
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You see.. he wasn’t conforming.. he wasn’t making himself better.. he’s not trying to impress anybody..
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It was simply… just something the Lord was doing in his life…
To give him more confidence..
To give him more confidence..
Which will improve his ministry..
And.. to broaden his audience
He still has the old relationships..
But now.. he’s building new ones.. w/people he may never have even met before..
In time.. God might clean you up..
In time.. God might roughen you up..
In time.. God might put you in a suit
In time.. God might put you in flip flops..
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But now.. right now..
Folks! We are being encouraged today..
From His Word..
To be ourself.
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To recognize the state we are in.. the place we are in..
The condition we are in..
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Your singleness
Your marriage
Your profession
Your physical condition
Your style
Your personality
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To those of us, who read this passage… Paul says.. “be yourself”
SLIDE 5
17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.
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What has God assigned to you?
We’re not talking about.. just.. style and personality here..
We’re also talking about gifts..
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Specifically, he has talked, and will continue to talk…
.. about the gift of “singleness”
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For some.. this is a gift.. to be able to find contentment.. and self control.. in this area.
But you will find.. that sometimes.. our past experiences.. our dispositions.. our personalities.. our talents.. our preferences.. and our styles…
Will be avenues through which God will gift us.
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To one extent, Paul is telling us to “not worry about changing”
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Now.. we must always qualify that … other wise.. we could jump to an unhealthy conclusion
You see, scripture teaches us.. that we are called to live holy lives..
That we are called to flee from immorality
That we are to avoid even the appearance of wrong..
Even if it’s not wrong…
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Today… when we see this challenge..
“to walk as we are.. in the place and condition that we are called”
He’s not condoning a condition of immorality. You might read this, and say… oh, right now, I’m walking in adultery, drunkeness, laziness and dishonest.
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Paul is not speaking to that kind of a condition… - The following verses give us some more context and clarity.
SLIDE 6
18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.
Such is not the case.
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To the uncircumcised gentile.. who comes into the faith..
He tells them, “remain as you are”
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There is no value in you conforming… for the sake of conforming..
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We remember.. w/Titus.. Paul told him, to remain as he was..
Don’t worry about circumcision..
But to Timothy.. the counsel was different..
Timothy was.. circumcised..
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So now the question arises..
is Paul contradicting himself here?
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No.. absolutely not..
When Paul tells us.. to not worry about changing.. just be ourselves..
He’s essentially saying.. “Let it be God’s business.”
If there’s change.. let Him do it.. in time, for His reason..
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He’ll give you the heart.. the willingness.. and the purpose.
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.. and when he trimmed his beard..
And when he put on a nice collared shirt..
I say.. the Lord is changing him.. to; enhance, strengthen and broaden his ministry.
Because.. what’s happening w/him..
Is more than an appearance thing..
Years ago I had a pastor friend who was really rough around the edges… And he had a ministry to a lot of people who were …rough around the edges..
There are significant heart issues going on too..
There are maturity issues going on..
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And the outward is not validation of the inward..
But I know this.. they are working together..
But… at some point… he decided to make some changes… he cut his hair… lost some weight… bought some new clothes...
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And some called him a sell out.
To expand my friend’s effectiveness in the ministry.
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But God led him to make some small outward changes, because God wanted him to reach more people… not just the ones… who were rough around the edges.
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He didn’t do it because he wanted to… God led him to..
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A similar… but, much much more unpleasant situation happened with Timothy.. Why was Timothy circumcised?
To expand his effectiveness in the ministry.
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And I’m sure of this..
God gave Timothy a heart of willingness.. to make this change..
So that he would not be a hindrance to the weaknesses of those to whom he was ministering.
Paul told us elsewhere:
SLIDE 7
19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.
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SLIDE 8
21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
1 cor 9.
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(NKJV)
19 For though I am bfree from all men, cI have made myself a servant to all, dthat I might win the more; 20 and eto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the 5law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 fto gthose who are without law, as without law h(not being without 6law toward God, but under 7law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 ito the weak I became 8as weak, that I might win the weak. jI have become all things to all men, kthat I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
Why did Timothy change?
For the sake of seeing hearts changed.
Will we change?
Certainly we will..
God is going to grow us.. and change us..
And move us in different directions..
And we’re going to see ourselves doing things in the future…
That right now.. we’d say, “NO Way” to.
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And we might see ourselves taking things on in the future..
That right now.. we’d say “No Way.” To..
You all know.. from the age of 18.. till I was about 27..
I said.. “No Way” to Pastoral Ministry.
Any ministry but this one..
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I had “building chicken coops in Peru” on my list..
And it outranked “pastor” by several pages.
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God sometimes… leads us to make changes. And if we anticipate those changes… well, it might stress us out..
In personality.. in appearance.. in practice.. in image.. in style????
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Here’s the cool thing about walking with Jesus…
Hey, as long as you’re living for the Lord.. and keeping yourself unspotted from the world..
We don’t have to worry about the potential changes that we might be led to make in the future.
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God has taken that burden.. that worry away from us…
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When I was single.. I thought that maybe I could travel w/my guitar and make a living singing and playing music..
So I wondered and worried…
“How do I do that? Can I afford to record a cd? How do I set up a tour?”
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But.. I got married and we got involved in a residential children’s home ministry.....
And suddenly.. I no longer had to wonder and worry about playing music..
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I used to draw cartoons…
I used to think that maybe I could sell my cartoons to some syndicate..
And they would make a contract w/me and publish my cartoons in magazines or papers..
And the thought of such a thing..
Worried me..
How would I keep it up?
How would I meet the demand?
How could I be that creative.. that consistently?
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But, when the syndicates ignored me, or rejected me..
I was able to put those worries away.
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How was I going to become a traveling musician?
How was I going to become a cartoonist?
Who cares?
It’s not my responsibility!
I don’t have to wonder and worry.
Because it’s totally in God’s hands..
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For those two things..
I was given closed doors.. and w/those closed doors, I was able to release the burden..
But folks.. we don’t need closed doors to release a burden.
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We can still.. release the burden.
How am I going to become that super spiritual person?
How am I going to have that drive to serve all the time..
How am I going to make this change.. or that change?
The how.. is not your business..
It’s God’s business.
Your business.. is to have a relationship.. w/your Savior.
And you do that, by partaking.. in the 4 spiritual food groups we talked about a few weeks ago..
Communication of prayer
Communication of reading the Word..
Communication of fellowship..
And: communication of service..
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Do these things..
And you can release the burden..
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How are you going to change?
You’re not..
It’s not your job..
It’s God’s..
And He’s going to produce the change. So stop worrying about it.
SLIDE 9
20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)
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SLIDE 10
22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.
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We often acknowledge.. w/our lips and w/our minds..
that we are eternal beings..
But we operate.. and behave..
As if we are temporal.
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Yes, I’m spiritual.. and I have a position and a condition w/God that outranks any condition or position that I have here on earth.
So here.. I might be a slave..
In Paul’s day.. slavery was everywhere..
And many who were slaves.. were also Christians..
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IN THE JEWISH CULTURE.. slavery was different. A bondservant took the job as slave… for a certain time period… and at the end of the time period… their debts were paid off, they were set free… and their master sent them off well equipped to get back on their feet.
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But in Corinth… if you were a slave… it was mot likely, not in the Jewish tradition. If you were a slave… you were property, and it was permanent.
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So they might have thought.. that w/their new found faith..
That they should receive the privilege of freedom.
Many Xtians, who live in luxury, like we do.. will sometimes create for themselves a conclusion like this..
Because.. prayer was once legally practiced and mandated in school..
.. that it’s our right..
No.. God didn’t give us that right..
For a season, He gave us that privilege.
As a Christian.. we don’t have the “right” to vote.. or the right of democracy..
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No.. as Americans.. we have that right..
As Christians in America.. we have the privilege..
Democracy is driven by popular vote..
And if popular vote places law makers in charge..
Who are opposed to Biblical principle..
And as a result.. we see the influences of our Xtian heritage removed.. piece by piece..
What can we do?
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Our rights as Americans remain the same..
But our privileges as Christians… might be reduced.
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Our system of government is a gift..
And we should do all that we can do.. to influence it.. and preserve our privileges..
But what it all comes down to is this:
These unique freedoms that we experience as Christians… are privileges.
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Paul spoke to slaves..
Slaves who might have thought, that their faith should come with privileges.
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They were thinking in the ‘now’. Now that I’m a Christian… life is going to get better… I’ll be happy… healthy… wealthy… and free..
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The might have thought it more important… that Jesus would give them stuff… rather than… that Jesus would give them a new identity.
Whether we are oppressed as slaves.. or whether we are living in a society w/limited privileges..
It’s all.. just a temporary view..
And what we really need to see..
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Not as the fleshly body that will die..
But as the soul.. and the spirit..
That will go on forever.. w/Him.
Are you a slave?
Then remain.
And find joy in knowing, that God declares you free..
And as a slave.. in reality.. you are not a servant of man.
You are a servant of God.
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Don’t serve man..
But rather..
In your responsibilities..
In your position
In your duties..
Do all that you can do.. to the glory of God!!!!
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If God sets you free..
Then by all means.. go free..
But whether you go free, or don’t go free..
It’s not your responsibility.
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It’s God’s
He will make the change
He will lead
He will direct.
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Maybe you work in fast food..
and you want to be in a better environment?
You want to be in a different place?
A different profession..
Maybe you want to move into a position of ministry..
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It all falls back on this:
“Be faithful where you are.”
.. don’t strive.. don’t force it.. don’t labor to make it happen….
That is God’s business!
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I’m not saying that God won’t make a forced thing work for you..
But it’s likely.. that it wasn’t His first choice..
Remain in the state you were called..
But do it, with listening ears… and a willing heart. Because God sees your heart… he sees the work that is going on in it because you are being faithful....
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No.. if we are stubborn to remain the way we are..
And because of your faithfulness… He may lead you into a change… for His greater purpose.
We may grieve the work that God wants to do.. in changing us.. and moving us on..
SLIDE 11
25 Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.
No.. remain.. be content.. and let the change..
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SLIDE 12
Be God’s responsibility.
27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.
1 cor 7.
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Again.. Paul pushes his opinion..
It is more profitable.. to serve the Lord in singleness..
But if you marry.. that’s fine..
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and in the same sentence.. he says.. “do not seek to be married”
Which might lead you to ask the question…
Which is it Paul?
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Now… some might read this and ask…
Isn’t this a constant dream.. a drive.. a thought for many single people?
Is it wrong to want to be married?
Is Paul condemning marriage?
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No way. The writer of Hebrews… who might have been Paul… said this:
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SLIDE 13
4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
Heb 13.4
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Paul teaches on marriage extensively and refers to it as an institution ordained by God..
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The message here.. stays consistent with the previous verses..
Don’t seek the change..
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That word, “seek”.. denotes an obsessive and consuming search..
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22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
He who finds a wife, finds a good thing.
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That word finds… doesn’t give off the impression of searching…
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It literally means… ‘to stumble upon’.
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Who finds a wife? Someone who is not seeking change… but rather, someone who is letting God take care of that… for His own purpose.
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There, remember, we were speaking of someone who wasn’t looking..
But rather.. someone who stumbled upon a wife.
Believe me..
marriage is a big deal..
and if you need to have a spouse.. God has already arranged it..
and He has the perfect person lined up for you.
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But if you seek…
And you strive.. and you obsess.. and you are consumed..
Chances are.. you’re going to pick the person that you found..
And make it work..
And you’ll step out of God’s perfect will..
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However.. once you marry that person..
They become #1 on God’s list..
They might have been #4,567 on God’s list before..
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But once you’re married..
They’re number one..
No matter who you marry..
Know this.. marriage comes w/difficulty.
Of this, we talked last week..
There are two opposites who require differing forms of affection..
And both sides are obligated to render these affections..
When Paul says.. here in vs. 28..
That there will be “worldly troubles”
Believe me.. he means it..
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You don’t have to read into that meaning..
In marriage.. two different people have to work as one..
And this is not the most efficient way of doing things..
Because these two people are very different in the things they require from one another… and in the way they see the world around them… and in the priorities they hold..
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When a man and a woman attempt to work in unity…
There is normally.. as the King James puts it… “trouble in the flesh”
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hey.. it’s okay to marry..
that’s great.. that’s fine..
But don’t seek the spouse..
Let God deliver the spouse..
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As a married couple..
SLIDE 14
29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
1 Cor 7.29
And will not be.. as effective.
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SLIDE 15
32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.
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Here’s what this come down to…
In all the things that distract us.. that we would find a way..
To serve the Lord.. w/o distraction.
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The challenge for us.. is to not become too distracted by earthly circumstances..
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Paul is not telling the Corinthians to surrender their…
Spouses.. their weeping.. their rejoicing.. their buying.. or their dealings with this world
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These things are right in their proper balance..
mourners can easily become engrossed in their sorrow
rejoicers can be taken up w/their happiness
buyers can concentrate on their new possessions…
and dealers with the world can become enamored w/it..
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We could easily conclude.. that Paul is telling us married folks to live as if we were single..
But such would contradict the other teachings on marriage.. and therefore… that is NOT what Paul is saying.
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What we have here, is a form of Hebrew expression..
Where the extreme negative is emphasized..
To prove a point..
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The point is this..
Find harmony.. in all these things..
So that the Lord is served..
And we are being effective for the kingdom..
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SLIDE 16
36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 38 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.
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SLIDE 17
1 COR 7.
39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
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(summarize”
The remainder the chapter addresses more details on those who need to marry..
and those who should remain single..
both issues boiling down to this..
It all depends on whether you have the gift that Paul spoke of in the previous chapter.. -Some are called to be single… and God can use those people to do great things in their singleness..
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And yet… some are not called to singleness… and to them, God will provide a spouse..
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If you can’t handle singleness..
Don’t worry about it..
God will provide a spouse.. in His timing..
Conclusion.
I don’t know where you are right now..
but I’m sure, in your head.. you’re thinking ahead..
you’re wondering and maybe you’re worrying..
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you’re contemplating the “what ifs”
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You may be obsessing and second guessing..
If so… in this passage, we are encouraged..
to drop it..
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Love God Now.. Serve God.. in the Here..and in the Now..
Live right..
And let God worry about the change..
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How are you going to get there?
God will figure it out.
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About 26 years ago, as a single guy living in Bedford, VA., I drove through C’ville on my way to D.C.
and in my heart.. I knew there was something special about this town..
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I don’t know why.... but something about this town… was implanted into my heart… and it never went away.
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It remained in my heart..
And I didn’t know why..
God lined it all up.
God made it all happen.
God gave me a job..
God brought people to my Bible Study..
God directed..
He did it all.
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I didn’t have to force anything.. I didn’t have to make something happen..
He just did it..
and He’s going to continue to do it.
++
Where are you right now? You know the answer…
Until God shows you something different.. stay there..
Be content..
++
And let Him lead..
Don’t be afraid to push on a door here and there..
But don’t force any..
Let Him lead.. let Him guide.. Let Him direct. - And when the change comes… and He is the one who does it… it will be for His purpose… and it will be a good thing.
b
c ;
d ;
e ; ;
5 NU adds though not being myself under the law
f [; ]
g [, ]
h [; ]
6 NU God’s law
7 NU Christ’s law
i ; ;
8 NU omits as
j
k