840 1 Cor.4.14-21 The Trouble with Arrogance
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Convicted for possession of drugs, lead singer of rock band Stone Temple Pilots, Scott Weiland, talked to Rolling Stone about how being in jail impacted his life:
Convicted for possession of drugs, lead singer of rock band Stone Temple Pilots, Scott Weiland, talked to Rolling Stone about how being in jail impacted his life:
Date: 28-07-19 840 Echuca
Convicted for possession of drugs, lead singer of rock band Stone Temple Pilots, Scott Weiland, talked to Rolling Stone about how being in jail impacted his life:
Weiland keeps repeating the word humility.
“It’s not me thinking less of myself,” he says. “It’s me thinking of myself less. A lot of my ways of thinking have backfired on me. My stubbornness. My pride. My arrogance. The difficult thing is that those defects of character become assets in my business, the rock and roll world.
“It’s great being a rock star,” he crows. “But you know what? Being a rock star doesn’t give you the license to view yourself as more important than anybody else. And if I am to become a better man, a man who has some compassion and humility instead of just expecting people to understand me, that doesn’t make me less of a rock star.”
- We have seen over the last several passages from 1st Cor. that the church at Corinth has become a battleground with factions & division among themselves
- There are a number of people, Paul says, who have become arrogant
- We looked at what that meant last week – to be arrogant is to be puffed up or full of oneself – full of self-importance
- Because arrogant people – are arrogant – it is very hard to reason with them – they find humility a difficult task
- Arrogance sits in the same booth as self-importance
- This person is trapped in this sin & their heart gets hardened against even contemplating the thought, that they have an attitude problem
-------------------
- These people have dismissed Paul as their apostle
- They have judged him a failure & reject him
- His word is Scripture & authoritative, yet, they see themselves as the authority
- Such arrogance, in this case, has set itself up against Jesus & God
1. Caring Enough to Warn
1. Caring Enough to Warn
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
—6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
- Sometimes we just need to hear the truth, but sometimes, the truth often hurts
- Whether that has to do with pointing out character flaws or some wrong that’s been done, it is fair to say that none of us like to face up to these “infringements” against our liberty to be, who we want to be
--------------
- But faithful are the wounds of a friend
- This means that when a person points out to you a truth that an aspect of your life requires correction, instead of arcing up, perhaps, we should try to see it in the best possible light
- Truth is always truth – if the shoe fits, we need to wear it
- Even when it hurts, it is better that we side with the truth, than continue to live with falsehoods & lies
------------------
- The people who point these things out in love are friends, but it is the mollycoddlers, the cowardly, the ones who would rather kiss, kiss, kiss, & not rock the boat, who are this person’s true enemy
- Too often, people are afraid to point out some hard truths because it is uncomfortable to do so
- It is also uncertain, as to how a person will react to it as well
- So, people find that the least point of resistance is to say nothing
---------------
- Now I can see that this could be taken to the extreme & I’m in no way suggesting that we have to be pointing out every little error in a person’s life
- I think we need to be mindful that we have all sinned & are, at times, trapped in certain sins
- Some sins have a greater or lesser impact on the person or on other people
- I think we need much wisdom to determine whether we need to step in & say something or not
- My suggestion is that when hurt or harm can be done to the person or other people, that it is right to say something, but just be careful that you can sin equally by making nit-picking your life’s ambition
------------------
- My father found himself in a dilemma of having to say something or not, to a Christian friend (some of you may have heard this story, but it’s worth repeating)
- His Christian friend owned 2 petrol stations & my father wanted to give him his business
- However, when he would go in to pay, he was constantly disturbed by all the girlie books being sold alongside the newspapers in the stand
- These books: the likes of playboy & penthouse are totally contrary to Christian values
-------------------
- My father plucked up the courage one day to speak with his friend about it
- The response was that he can’t remove them because the suppliers determine what he sells
- Dad just said that it was inconsistent with Christian values to be selling those products
- It was left there, but after 2 weeks, something amazing happened
---------------------------
- Dad’s friend came back to him with, “problem solved”
- He told the suppliers that he does not want to sell those books anymore & they said, OK
- He thanked my father for bringing it to his attention & here is the punchline – he had been battling with it for a long time
- In other words, the Spirit of God had been troubling his friend’s conscience about it & he had just dismissed the conviction of the Spirit
Q. What would have happened, if he had gone before the Lord without responding to the judgement of his conscience?
-----------------------
- He was living the Christian life with what he knew was a sin & yet did nothing about it, until a friend plucked up enough courage to say that this was wrong
- So often, we need people to tell us things that we already know about but lack the will to change the situation
- It is the love of a friend who points something out which becomes the straw that breaks the back of the sin & brings about repentance & renewal
- Dad’s friend was so thankful, as he could now go to sleep at night & sleep peacefully without his conscience constantly disturbing him
- No wonder the proverb says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.”
---------------------
- In addressing this situation in Corinth, the apostle is giving them firm warning that if they do not repent, then severe action will follow
- Remembering that this apostle is acting, not by his own authority, but by the authority of Jesus
- With that authority, he is not wanting to abuse them, but to care for them as a father would care for his own children
2. Like Father, Like Son
2. Like Father, Like Son
- In this passage today, Paul uses the analogy of a father to his children
- I remember in Bible college how you would tend to have students emulate their teachers
- I know that many of my ways of speaking from the pulpit has been influenced by the pastor who was instrumental in leading me to the Lord
- In Bible College, I remember a discussion about Billy Graham & the way he used his Bible at the pulpit – the big floppy Bible that would sit open & he popularised a generation of pastors who used their Bibles in the same way
-------------------
- On the other side of the coin, people who have been brought into a cult have picked up the habits of the figurehead of the cult
- It’s important, also, for your children to pick their friends wisely
- Not to mention the fact, that it is important that your children are secure in themselves, so that they are not going to be led by the popular, but troublesome, kid in the school
-----------------------
- It would appear that the Corinthians were led to Christ by Paul
8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized. 9 And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; 10 for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” 11 And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
—8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized. 9 And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; 10 for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” 11 And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
- Now we know that only God can convert the heart to Christ
- We call this being “born again” or “born from above”
- It is the work of God’s Spirit in renewing our heart, spirit & mind
- No human person can do this work
----------------------
- However, Paul, here uses a personal touch to explain the special relationship he has with this church
- He is their spiritual father – he is not asking them to call him father, but using the analogy of father to his children, he points out the intimate & special relationship that exists between them
9 “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.
"And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven"
[no one can have the title of "Father"].
- They have many guides or guardians in Christ, but only one father “in the faith” & he urges them to not forget that fact
------------------
- Father’s held a special place, in particular, in the life of his sons
- The sons would imitate the life of their father – that is nothing knew, it happens even now (yes, daughters catch a fair bit too)
- Now some people love the fact that they can imitate the best of their father, but they bemoan the fact that there are traits in their father that they have picked up, but desperately want to shed
- Those traits may not stack up in the Christian faith, but I want you to notice how difficult it is for people to break those patterns established by their father
- It just goes to show how powerful the role of a father is in leading his children, either in the right path or the wrong path
-----------------
- But here, in this passage, Paul is wanting them to follow in the footsteps of their spiritual father
—16 Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.
16 Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.
- Copy my life as I copy the life of Jesus
—1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
—17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
- It’s not arrogant to set an example of Christlikeness & to urge people to follow
- It is, however, hypocritical to urge people to follow Christ, when you don’t follow Him yourself
------------------------
- If we are serious in wanting to follow Christ, we shouldn’t take this as a negative, but as a challenge – we, including myself, know that we always need to press on, to the upward call of God in Christ Jesus
- Every single Christian is not there yet, & even Paul, himself, is the one who says to press on to the upward call of God, in Christ Jesus
- It is Paul who says to strive to win the prize & it is he who says that he had not yet attained it, but presses on
- Just before he was about to be martyred, Paul says, that he has finished the course
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
—7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
- The winning in the Christian life is not so much whether you pass or fail, but that you never give up – you always strive to be like Christ
- That is the answer & solution to every Christian's walk in Christ
-----------------------
- Now Paul explains a lovely piece of discipleship here in v.17
- He is sending Timothy to the church who will remind them of Paul’s ways & what he teaches in every church
- Some crucial things here to note:
---------------------
- Firstly, Timothy was imitating Paul & now becomes a model for others to follow
- It’s the discipleship pattern
—8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
- Wow, that is a stunning thing to say, but it is true, so it is a worthy endeavour to imitate his life
Resolved, whenever I hear anything spoken in commendation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, that I will endeavor to imitate it.
-- Jonathan Edwards
----------------------
- Timothy was brought to the Lord through Paul, so Paul was Timothy's spiritual father in the faith
- He is Paul’s “beloved & faithful child” - he obviously imitates his spiritual father’s life
- He reflects faithfully Paul’s life, in how he lived, & his teaching
- However, this does not make oneself perfect
---------------------
- Timothy still had growing pains & the growing pains of the faith last all the way through life, as if you didn’t already know that
- Timothy was a shy fellow & lacking in courage, it seems, from how Paul describes him, in his letter to him
—6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,
6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,
- Timothy was a work in progress, just like all of us, but one thing we can know about Timothy is that he never gave up
- Here, Paul has confidence in him that he, as his beloved & faithful child in the faith, will reflect his spiritual father’s life – to live & teach that to the Corinthians in Paul’s absence
Good examples have a powerful influence upon us, for we are led more by pattern than by precept, especially the examples of those we love, for such we are prone to imitate
-- Thomas Manton
- The second point about discipleship is that it has a multiplying effect
- To Timothy, Paul writes...
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
—1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
- It has a growing effect as we seek to multiply Christ’s life in the lives of others
3. The Power Is in the Change
3. The Power Is in the Change
- The role of a father is a powerful one
- A father always is to act in love towards his children, but circumstances may require different approaches
- When a child is doing well, when he or she is obeying you, then encouragement, reward & commendation is fitting, however, when the child is being wilfully disobedient, then discipline is fitting
- No one likes discipline, yet it is the very thing that helps a child to learn self-discipline in their own lives
- An undisciplined child is an unloved child, we are told by the Scripture
24 He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
—24 He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
- However, if you listen to the latest rounds of pop psychology, which we can class as the wisdom of this age, then discipline involves the least amount of pain & the least amount of recompense
- If fact, listening & empathy is the way of reaching a child, according to this view
- Yes, listening and empathy is good & to be encouraged, but not to the exclusion of discipline
- They’re children, they are not adults
--------------------
- It is simply not true that a parent who uses the rod of discipline on the seat of learning is doing their child harm – that is simply a lie, a fallacy & a reflection of a postmodern culture that denies sin & thinks that it can create a Utopian society without reference to sin or to God
- Just be aware of the wisdom of this age
------------------------
- You also have to be aware of legal obligations also – I’m not suggesting you disobey the law on this, if you happen to be in a public position of responsibility
- I don’t suggest that you smack children that are not your own while you are working for an institution that involves the public
------------------
- My point, here, is to show that the apostle will act in love toward them whether he comes to them with a rod (not literal, of course) or with love & a spirit of gentleness
- The situation he faces, when he comes to them again, will determine how he is to respond
- This passage does not say it, but I think it is a fair assessment that what Paul is really trying to achieve is that this Christian church will be able to stand through the judgement
- It seems that, if they don’t repent, they will either have to face the discipline of Paul or the judgement of God
- We have already seen how he has warned some of them that if they destroy God’s church that God will then destroy them, so it is a very serious matter
----------------
- The question is, what will they be like when he returns
Q. Will they be still fighting with themselves, in factions & division?
Q. In elevating some preachers/teachers to the rejection of others?
- He is not talking about teachers who are speaking heresy – that is a different matter
- He is speaking here of preachers/teachers that may not be very especially gifted, in the eyes of the world
- He has already named himself in that category
—1 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
1 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
- On the surface, there was nothing flash about the apostle Paul in the eyes of the world’s standards
- The truth of the matter, he has already stated:- all the church’s apostles/pastor’s/teachers are on the same team
- He writes...
—3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men? 5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men? 5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
-----------------
- When Paul returns, he wants to see that they have given this nonsense away & are accepting each other & working together in love
- In v.19 he challenges the “arrogant” amongst them to shape up & realise that the kingdom of God is a matter of power
- The power to transform people into the likeness of Christ
- When he comes will he encounter Christlikeness among the Corinthian Christians or will he encounter “fleshly” people; walking as if they are natural people – men & women acting as if they do not have the Spirit!
While visiting Grand Coulee Dam, my family and I were surprised to see that the visitors’ center was dark. It was a sunny day, so we thought the center might have tinted windows, but as we got closer we realized there were no lights on. We went in and saw that none of the displays were working. Suddenly it became clear: there was no power to the center. Due to a technical difficulty of some kind, the visitors’ center that sat only hundreds of feet from a hydroelectric dam had no power. How could something be so close to the power source, yet not be “plugged in”?
Q. How many Christians, today, are unplugged from the Spirit’s power?
- Through pride & arrogance, refuse to yield to the Spirit’s control & submit to God
- The prideful tend to claim the power of God, yet their life testifies to the opposite
- This is precisely what Paul is challenging them with
- Shape up, the Kingdom of God is a matter of power – of the transformation in the lives of people
- He speaks more about this subject to the Galatian church when he explicitly addresses that transformation as the “fruit of the Spirit”
------------------------
- His ministry among them may well be judged as weak, contemptible speech, not in persuasive words of wisdom, however, what he brought was a demonstration of the Spirit’s power
- The silly donkey's have become Christians through the ministry of Paul
Q. Doesn’t that count for something?
- Their coming to Christ was evidence of the power of God through the foolish preaching of the cross
--------------------
- The challenge that comes to us today is that arrogance & pride is no path to Christlikeness
- In fact, arrogance & pride causes one to “unplug” from the power source of the Spirit
- In humility, accept one another, forgive where that is necessary & submit to the word of God in Scripture
- Don’t go beyond what is written, Paul says, in the last passage & you will not become arrogant one against another