Devotion To Christ

Foolishness For The Right Reason

Paul did not like to boast about himself. He was a humble man that sought the advancement of the gospel. However; his character was being attacked by some false teachers in the Corinthian church. As a result of this, he had to defend his character for the sake of the gospel.

He was not defending himself to preserve his good name. He was defending himself for the sake of the gospel. If the false teachers could call Paul’s character into question, then they could discredit the gospel he taught. Because he was boasting for the sake of the gospel, it was appropriate.

We see the humility of Paul in Romans. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from [r]the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Rom. 7:24-25

He identifies himself as a wretched man that has been set free from sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Jealousy For The Right Reason

Paul was jealous for the purity of the church. He said that he betrothed them to Christ. What this means is that he desired the church to be pure as the bride of Christ.

In this day it was the father’s responsibility to keep his daughter pure during the one year betrothal period. When a man and a woman became engaged (betrothed) there was a one year time period before the daughter left the house of her father and moved in with her husband. During that one year period the father had to make sure that his daughter did not commit adultery before the wedding. If she did then she would be considered an adulterer and he would be shamed.

Paul saw himself as the father of this church and wanted to preserve its purity for the day of Christ’s return. He felt that it was his responsibility to maintain the purity of the church.

Fear For The Right Reason

Paul had concern that the church’s devotion to Christ was waning because they had been deceived by craftiness of Satan.

Some basic principles of Satan’s works against us:

1. He works deceptively. deceived Eve by his craftiness

Theologian Robert Deffinbaugh says: “Satan does not come to us as the arch-enemy of God, the ultimate evildoer. He comes disguised as an angel of light. He would rather look like Mother Theresa than Charles Manson. If the arch-enemy of God operates by deceit and disguise, why should we expect his underlings to be different from their master? They, too, come to us disguised as servants of righteousness, or as Jesus said, as ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing.’”

a) He is able to work against us as well by using the same basic but different approach.

b) He led Eve to defend her own rights in her relationship with God. Satan accused God of holding out on Eve or not wanting her to experience something she might enjoy or benefit from. Satan appeals to our PRIDE:

GENESIS 3:4-5 The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die! "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

2. He influences our minds: your minds will be led astray

a) The Bible tells us we are no longer have reprobate minds(Rom 1) but to be renewed in our minds(12:1). Satan want to deceptively lead us back to reprobation in our thinking.

He will use the pathways of our thoughts to get us to go that direction.

b) Eve, whom only knew death by faith, was led by Satan to believe in what she knew of life instead of what God told her to be true. You surely will not die!

c) Eve was also promised personal benefit (eyes opened…be like God,, ..know good and evil) if she obeyed the serpent rather than God.

d) Satan makes the same offer today by offering the world as the new fruit that we can take a bite out of. In the day we eat of it our eyes will open to new adventures and we will know and experience things that God says we shouldn’t.

We find out too late the fruit was spoiled.

Satan wasn’t asking Eve to become a drug addict or an alcoholic.

He didn’t want her to rob a bank or even to kill someone. What he wanted was her devotion to God. The things of the world will always target the same thing in our lives. It is not they themselves that are the end goal but the fact that they replace our something in our relationship with God.

Satan wants our devotion if he can’t have our souls

Satan offers many things to people as a substitute for a thriving relationship with Jesus Christ. He has many distractions at his disposal. He uses them to gain our devotion.

I would like to suggest some of the distractions Satan uses:

Entertainment - Our addictions to social media and cell phones prove to be a distraction from growing in relationship to the Lord. How many spend more time on Facebook, instagram, twitter, tick tock, youtube, or any other platform to be entertained by a news story or video, than you do in prayer and bible study? I don’t share this to shame you but to demonstrate how Satan subtly gains our devotions.

Materialism- The american dream involves gaining as much wealth as possible to make your life comfortable and easy. Many pursue this dream only to find out that it is only a dream. Materialism will never bring you the contentment, peace and satisfaction you believe it will. True joy comes from investing into the kingdom of God and giving to others. Just another question. How many people spend more money on eating out than they do giving? I don’t share this to shame you but to demonstrate how Satan subtly gains our devotions.

Sensuality - Promiscuity and Homosexuality are areas that are becoming more commonplace than the exception. There was a time where there was shame on these sins. Today they are celebrated by many. We are asked to cave into coming in touch with modern days. Friend this is just another way Satan has subtly stolen our devotion

Division- Black/ White, Republican/Democrat, rich/poor, Baptist/ Methodist alabama/auburn, We see each other as enemies instead of neighbors. We would rather fight against one another than love one another. When was the last time you had a social outing with someone that was different than you?

Fight For The Right Reason

Paul shares three things that we must fight for to maintain our devotion to the Lord

Know the right Jesus

Many people will name the name of Jesus and claim they believe in him. However the Jesus they claim to believe in is not the true Jesus.

Let me give you some examples:

Mormons - spirit brother of Lucifer who became the devil…firstborn of our father god who once was like we are now. One whose plan was chosen.

Jehovah Witness - Michael the archangel…created by God….

Muslims - Believe more right about Jesus than a liberal Christian) virgin born, prophet of God second to Muhammad, did miracles but did not die on the cross but was replaced by another who died in His place.

Eastern Religion -Enlightened one to show us the way to reach peace within ourselves such as Krishna, Buddha and the Maharishi’s.

True Jesus - He is God, He has always been and always will be. He manifested himself in the flesh by being conceived of the Holy Spirit and Born of a virgin. He was tempted in every way but lived a perfect life without sin. He performed many miracles: Healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead, calmed the sea, fed 5000 with 3 fish and 5 loaves of bread! He went to the cross and gave his life as a sacrifice to pay for our sins. He rose from the dead on the third day. He ascended back into heaven and one day will return again!

Know the right spirit

Many people allow experience to trump truth. They base their faith on their experience rather then the indwelling. Their are some that claim that you must be “baptised in the spirit.” This focuses on the gifts that God give people than the salvation that the spirit brings. Some pentecostal brethren focus on the gifts of God rather than the salvation of God.

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Eph. 4:4-6

There is only one baptism. That is when you receive the Holy Spirit when you are saved. You do not receive another baptism for gifts .

There are others that believe that a spirit that Jesus is not from God.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

The Spirit of God always confesses Jesus as the Son of God.

Know the right gospel

Bill Hull list 6 Different Gospels in America

Gospel Americana

1. Forgiveness only gospel. Discipleship is not part of this gospel. Only Forgiveness

2. Gospel of the left. Liberal gospel. Deconstructed the Bible. It always let you down. Makes liberal churches. Social issue churches. It eradicates Christ. Morality is very liberal. The stakes are lower in the liberal gospel. For instance if there is no hell then we don’t have anything to lose.

3. Prosperity Gospel. (Oral Roberts) element in Charasmatic church. Entitlement and

4. Consumeristic Gospel – Meeting my own needs. Self indulgent God Management to get what you want. Churches fail because it is about self.

5. Gospel of the right. Believing that you are right and closing everyone else. Theological swaggar. Also has a political aspect. Social action can accomplish only the Holy Spirit can do.

6. The discipleship gospel – Follow Jesus. Christ ask us to enter into the realm of his will being done. Believe- Repent- Follow. Faith is Following. We are to act on the gospel.