I Believe Not Because of Human Wisdom

HOOK

REDWOOD TREES TEACH A LESSON ON UNITY By Dr. Larry Petton The huge redwood trees in California are considered the largest living things on earth and the tallest trees in the world. Some of them are over 300 feet high and over 2,500 years old.

One would think that trees so large would have a tremendous root system, reaching down hundreds of feet into the earth. However, the redwoods actually have a very shallow system of roots. So how do they get so big and stand so long?

Although it’s a shallow root system; they all intertwine; they are locked to each other. So, when the storms come and the winds blow, the redwoods stand.

And it’s because they don’t stand alone, for all the trees support and protect each other.

The same is true for the church. How will we stay strong and be able to withstand the storms? By working together. If we do not stand together then we will surely fall apart.

There were a lot of issues that challenged the church in Corinth— but before anything else, Paul addressed the issue on church leadership— he understood the importance of leadership more than anything else that could hurt the church

If you love your church, you will not cause or do anything to hurt it

Last week we saw Paul started his letter to the church in Corinth by addressing the matters that concerned the messengers— today, as we continue with that letter, you will see that he talked about the message

He articulated the message of the cross and its power sa that the messenger should not even matter— in essence, Paul said to them, and he now is telling us to focus on the message and not on the messenger

He appealed in the name of our Lord Jesus, that we all agree with one another in what we say or do, and that there be no divisions amongst us— he also made another appeal this time to the church in Rome

Romans 16:17–18 ESV

17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

I have not prevented any of you from following your preferred preachers outside of our church— as believers, you have the Spirit of God, and because of that I trust you— but here’s some caution for everyone

1 John 4:1 NIV

1 Dear friends, 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.

What I don’t want to see is for our church, our family to be caught in between big preachers— TD Jakes, David Jeremiah, John MacArthur, Greg Laurie, Rick Warren, Chuck Swindoll, Francis Chan, John Pipe, and a lot more

Listen to your favorite preachers but do not bring them here to cause disagreements or debates that could lead to disharmony, or even some divisions in the local church

What brought us, and kept us together is our salvation through Christ— what keeps us united is the message of the cross— what keeps us excited is the Lord’s promise of the future

From last Sunday— at the opening of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians— it was very clear that divisions in the church occured because they patronized their preferred preacher

1 Corinthians 1:12–13 NIrV

12 Here is what I mean. One of you says, “I follow Paul.” Another says, “I follow Apollos.” Another says, “I follow Peter.” And still another says, “I follow Christ.” 13 Does Christ take sides? Did Paul die on the cross for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?

What came out of that sermon was..

We have to accept each other’s weaknesses

We must strive for harmony

We appointed leaders— leaders be wise!

Let’s follow sound doctrines!

Today let’s take a look how the letter of Paul went further

BOOK

1 Corinthians 1:18–2:5 NIrV

18 The message of the cross seems foolish to those who are lost and dying. But it is God’s power to us who are being saved. 19 It is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of those who are wise. I will do away with the cleverness of those who think they are so smart.” 20 Where is the wise person? Where is the educated person? Where are the great thinkers of this world? Hasn’t God made the wisdom of the world foolish? 21 God wisely planned that the world would not know him through its own wisdom. It pleased God to use the foolish things we preach to save those who believe. 22 Jews require miraculous signs. Greeks look for wisdom. 23 But we preach about Christ and his death on the cross. That is very hard for Jews to accept. And everyone else thinks it’s foolish. 24 But there are those God has chosen, both Jews and others. To them Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom. 25 The foolish things of God are wiser than human wisdom. The weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when God chose you. Not many of you were considered wise by human standards. Not many of you were powerful. Not many of you belonged to important families. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. He chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the things of this world that are common and looked down on. He chose what is not considered to be important to do away with what is considered to be important. 29 So no one can brag to God. 30 Because of what God has done, you belong to Christ Jesus. He has become God’s wisdom for us. He makes us right with God. He makes us holy and sets us free. 31 It is written, “The one who brags should brag about what the Lord has done.” 1 Brothers and sisters, when I came to you I didn’t come with fancy words or great wisdom. I preached to you the truth about God’s love. 2 I made up my mind to pay attention to only one thing while I was with you. That one thing was Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. 3 When I came to you, I was weak and afraid and trembling all over. 4 I didn’t preach my message with clever and compelling words. As I preached, the Holy Spirit showed his power. 5 That was so you would believe not because of human wisdom but because of God’s power.

Where is the wise person? Where is the educated person? Where are the great thinker of this world?

LOOK

THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS SEEMS FOOLISH TO THOSE WHO ARE LOST AND DYING

But to us who are being saved— it is God’s power— hold on a minute— why “being” saved?

Because even though Paul believed that people are made right with God when they accepted Jesus as Lord & Savior, he also viewed God’s work of making people more like Him as an ongoing process

The crucifixion of Jesus appeared to be foolishness [absurd, ridiculous, non-sense] according to the wisdom of the world

The Romans used the cross as a humiliating form of execution reserved for worst criminals— the Jews regarded the cross as a shameful punishment

But for some Corinthians it doesn’t make sense to consider Paul’s teachings as foolishness because it was through preaching that people got saved and the church was founded

THE WORLD WOULD NOT KNOW HIM THROUGH ITS OWN WISDOM

Paul is using rhetoric to mock those who are rising up against his teaching

JEWS REQUIRE MIRACULOUS SIGNS. GREEKS LOOK FOR WISDOM.

In Jewish tradition, miraculous deeds functioned as a sign of authority and legitimacy from God

Mark 8:11–12 NIrV

11 The Pharisees came and began to ask Jesus questions. They wanted to put him to the test. So they asked him for a miraculous sign from heaven. 12 He sighed deeply. He said, “Why do you people ask for a sign? What I’m about to tell you is true. No sign will be given to you.”

BUT THERE ARE THOSE GOD HAS CHOSEN

To those who are chosen, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom

The description of Christ as the power of God also challenges the Roman Empire’s use of crucifixion as a symbol of its own power

The description of Christ as the wisdom of God is because his death and resurrection uniquely express God’s mysterious plan of salvation

1 Corinthians 2:7 NIV

7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.

1 Corinthians 15:17 NIrV

17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith doesn’t mean anything. Your sins have not been forgiven.

Paul told them, and he’s telling us now— think of what you were when God chose you

Not many of us were considered wise by human standard— not many of us were powerful— not many of us belonged to important families

Because of what God has done, you belong to Christ

But God chose the foolish things for the world to shame the wise— chose the weak to shame the strong— so no one can boast

THE ONE WHO BRAGS SHOULD BRAG ABOUT WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE

Some Corinthians may have placed their confidence in their skills or spiritual gifts— Paul challenged them to depend on God’s work in the cross rather than their self-sufficiency

Paul paraphrased

Jeremiah 9:24 NIV

24 but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

I DIDN’T COME WITH FANCY WORDS OR GREAT WISDOM

Before coming to Corinth, Paul came from Athens

Paul preached about God’s love— he paid attention to only one thing— and that one thing was Jesus Christ and his death on the cross and resurrection from the grave

For Paul, Jesus’ death & resurrection is central to the gospel message

I WAS WEAK AND AFRAID AND TREMBLING

Paul draws a contrast between himself and professional public speakers who used eloquence and wisdom to gather an audience

Paul was a skillful speaker but his delivery had been unimpressive

2 Corinthians 10:10 NIV

10 For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.”

Paul was not interested in seeing people come to Christ because of his persuasiveness, instead, he wants to see the Spirit working among them

BELIEVE NOT BECAUSE OF HUMAN WISDOM BUT BECAUSE OF GOD’S POWER

Paul explains why he uses an approach that differs from typical speakers— he wants to direct the Corinthians, and us toward reliance on God— and not on human understanding or abilities

In summary, Paul said three things so far:

Stay united

Focus on the message and not the messenger

Believe not because of human wisdom, but because of the power of God

BELIEVE NOT BECAUSE OF THE HUMAN WISDOM, BUT BECAUSE OF THE POWER OF GOD

Because…

TOOK

THE POWER OF GOD SAVES

Zephaniah 3:17 (NIrV)

17 The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty enough to save you. He will take great delight in you. The quietness of his love will calm you down. He will sing with joy because of you.”

QUESTION: Is there anything else that saves other than the power of God? If yes, what is that, why and how?

THE POWER OF GOD FULFILLS HIS PURPOSE IN HIS PEOPLES’ LIVES

2 Thessalonians 1:11 (NIrV)

11 Keeping this in mind, we never stop praying for you. Our God has chosen you. We pray that he will consider you worthy of his choice. We pray that by his power he will make every good thing you have planned come true. We pray that he will make perfect all that you have done by faith.

QUESTION: Have you discovered your God-given purpose in life? If you did, how could you surely say that it is indeed the Lord’s purpose for your life?

THE POWER OF GOD GIVES BELIEVERS INNER STRENGTH

Ephesians 3:16–17 (NIrV)

16 I pray that he will use his glorious riches to make you strong. May his Holy Spirit give you his power deep down inside you. 17 Then Christ will live in your hearts because you believe in him. And I pray that your love will have deep roots. I pray that it will have a strong foundation.

QUESTION: When you are tired, weak and weary, do you feel the power of God giving you strength? What does God’s power in you make you capable of doing?

THE POWER OF GOD COMPLETES HIS WORK OF SALVATION

1 Peter 1:5 (NIrV)

5 Through faith you are kept safe by God’s power. Your salvation is going to be completed. It is ready to be shown to you in the last days.

QUESTION: What is your understanding when it says, the power of God will complete your salvation? Does that mean that your salvation is incomplete? And you could still lose it?

CLOSE

It’s my birthday today— the only gift that I’d ask for from everybody is the same request that I’ve asked before when we started our journey together— pagsasabi ng tapat, pagsasama ng maluwat!

Thank you for your love, care and support

Today I turned 54— I don’t know how much longer God has in store for me— but I want to talk to the young people [youth]— I am calling on you to step up— I will invest my life and whatever is left of it, to those who will be wiling to invest their lives to others for the sake of Christ

To the Elders and leaders of the church— I want to assure you, not by human wisdom, but by the power of God— I will not lead this church outside of my biblical calling

I am not doing what I’m doing for you— for the members— for anyone else— but I’m doing what I’m doing for God— and I pray that you do the same as well

Colossians 3:23 NIrV

23 Work at everything you do with all your heart. Work as if you were working for the Lord, not for human masters.