Chose the Nobodies
But God • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 8 viewsNotes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Do you remember the story in Mark’s Gospel where the people questioned the abilities of Jesus? They asked, “Where did this Man get these things? What’s this wisdom that has been given Him, that He even does miracles? Isn’t this the Son of the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with Him?” Then the Bible says they took offense at Him.
This is a typical example of what seemingly was a “nobody” in the eyes of the people, but yet obviously Somebody in the eyes of God. Jesus was known as a regular kind of guy, from a regular kind of family. Of course we know different. He was anything but a regular kind of guy from a regular kind of family.
God chooses what seems like a nobody and makes that person into something extraordinary. God has the ability to make a nobody into something great because He is sovereign, He sets apart those whom He chooses, and He strengthens them for His glory.
We see this explained more in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. It seems the Corinthian church thought you had to be wealthy and wise to be used of God. Paul in his explanation proves it to be different.
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Sovereign (vs. 26)
Sovereign (vs. 26)
God calls those He chooses because of His sovereignty. Sovereignty means simply to have supreme power or absolutely being. That is exactly God as He is the Supreme power and the most absolute being. About Himself, God says:
Remember the former things, those of long ago;
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.
God is sovereign in His wisdom.
For the Lord gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
We see in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians Christ has become for us wisdom from God. There is no greater wisdom!
God is also sovereign in righteousness.
I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord;
I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely
and do what is just and right in the land.
In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
The Lord Our Righteousness.
Through the God’s sovereignty, He can choose that unholy nobody and sanctify them through and through.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
We are called to be holy because God in His sovereignty has chosen to make us holy. In doing so, God shows us that He is sovereign in redemption.
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Wisdom from God gives us righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
What powerful truths!
Sets Apart (vs. 27-28)
Sets Apart (vs. 27-28)
As the Sovereign God, He also sets apart those whom He has called. We see the examples of those Goad has called that our feeble minds might think , “what is God thinking?” Yet we have to remember, what we think is a limiting factor, God is able to overcome.
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,
Look a bit closer here at what God sets apart.
He chooses the foolish things of the world.
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Therefore once more I will astound these people
with wonder upon wonder;
the wisdom of the wise will perish,
the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.”
God also sets apart the weak.
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
Those that are weak will shame those that are strong.
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
God takes the insignificant and makes it significant.
We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!
Have you ever been called a fool? Have you ever been called a fool for Christ? What a contrast! Going from being insignificant to significant. There is not much a lower feeling than that of being insignificant. One of the most crushing times in my life was when someone I respected called me worthless. But God…tells me I am worth in His sovereignty to call me to great things! He has the same for you!
It is quite humbling. Yet God even uses that humility.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
Strengthens (vs. 29-31)
Strengthens (vs. 29-31)
Notice that our Sovereign God sets us apart and does not just leave us there. He strengthens us for His service.
It is worth reading again:
so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
God strengthens those whom He has called be revealing Himself to them.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
God strengthens us also by reminding.
It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
It is not the government or career or education or family. Sure God and use any of those, but God strengthens us and we are reminded here in our text that it is God that we are even in Christ. He reveals to us, He reminds us and He uses all of this to revitalize us.
My soul will boast in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
In God we make our boast all day long,
and we will praise your name forever. Selah
Paul in the last verse of our text quotes a little Jeremiah for us:
This is what the Lord says:
“Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,”
declares the Lord.
Here are the take-aways from this study:
God is sovereign and He can do anything He wants, any time and any where.
God calls us and through us and in us He wants to do extraordinary things.
When that happens, He is pleased and longs for us to boast in Him.
This study has compelled to rethink a verse I learned a long time ago.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
What are you not doing because you felt you were unwise and weak and insignificant to carry it out?
A great God will call you to do great things. Do not miss out for being the same thing that you were when you were called. You are different now. You are empowered. Humanity says you are not good enough, but God....but God....but God has called you and will not leave you hanging!