Preaching Outline 

These notes begin with background information on the ministry of the Gospel and the purpose of this first letter from Paul to the church in Corinth.  The background information is found in the book of Acts, beginning with chapter sixteen.

I.  Founding of the church in Corinth explained.

     Acts 16:6 – 18:4

  A. Following the Lord. Acts 16:6-11

Acts 16:6-11  Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;

God will set up roadblocks in order to keep us going in the direction He will have us to go.  Paul did not get discouraged and turn back to where he had come from, but continued on seeking God’s leadership, going away from where he had been.  We see early in the ministry, Paul had a desire to accomplish that which he wrote to the Corinthians years later in his second letter –

2 Corinthians 10:16  To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand.

God did not leave the missionaries to follow their own understanding, but gave them specific direction which would keep them on their course in times of great difficulty –

  B. Faced with opposition. Acts 16:12 – 17:34

    1. Imprisoned in Philippi. Acts 16:12-40

Acts 16:12-40  And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks….

The Lord interceded for them and they, being released from prison, encouraged the believers and continued their journey –

    2. Threatened in Thessalonica. Acts 17:1-9

Acts 17:1-9  Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar…

    3. Pursued to Berea. Acts 17:10-14

Acts 17:10-14  And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

    4. Opposed in Athens. Acts 17:15-34

Acts 17:15-34  And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed. Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

It is no wonder that following all of this, we find him –

  C. Fearful in Corinth.

    1. The city of Corinth.

      a. “40 miles Southwest of Athens, Corinth was the capital of the

          province of Achia and had a population of 500,000. Julius Caesar,

          recognizing the importance of the Isthmus as a military and

          mercantile position, sent thither a colony of Italians, who were

          chiefly freedmen. This new establishment rapidly increased by the

          mere force of its position. Within a few years, it grew from nothing

          to an enormous city”.                Coneybeare and Howson, pg 326,

          The Life and Epistles of St. Paul.

      b. Crossroads of travel and commerce for all points. It boasted of two

          seaports, one on each side of the isthmus.

        1). It was not a centre of intellectualism, like Athens, but was a trading

             centre with a cosmopolitan population.
        2). The city was overseen by the goddess Aphrodite, the Greek

              goddess of love. The temples were full of prostitutes and the city

              had a thriving night life.
        3). The city had a stadium which hosted contest every two years and

             was second only to the Greek Olympics.

Imagine if you will, this city dedicated to the pursuit of prosperity and enjoying of worldly pleasures, teeming with activity and this missionary, now traveling alone, entering into this hive of activity, knowing no person, but led by God with the message of hope, the message of help, that these people did not know that they needed nor had any desire to hear –

    2.   The record of his emotional condition at this time.

1 Corinthians 2:1-3  And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

Through all of this he saw, and we see, as always that –

  D. Faithful is the Lord.

    1. Note that God did not deceive Paul about his ministry.

Acts 9:15-16  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

    2.  God promised to be with him throughout his ministry.

Acts 18:9-10  Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

We often find ourselves in the same position as these men to some degree.  We have the desire to follow the Lord’s command and share His gospel with others, but we seem to lack direction.  Keep moving forward in unknown and even uncomfortable territory.

When we speak, we are blessed that some will listen and even turn to the Lord for salvation, but most will ignore the truth and even some will tell us to leave them alone, and leave others alone, chasing us away.

We must apply this same encouragement from the Lord to our lives today  “…be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace…

We are reminded this morning that through all of the trials, he saw, and we see, as always that –

  D.  Faithful is the Lord.  God’s grace is seen in –

    1.  The promise to be with him throughout his ministry

We see the –

      a.  Specific promises to the church.   Paul was included in this

           promise as we are!

Matthew 28:19-20  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

We also are told of the grace of God in His –

      b.  Special promises to Paul –

In danger among those that hate the truth of the gospel –

Acts 23:11  And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

In danger in travel and on the sea –

Acts 27:23-24  For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

In danger when deserted by those who should have stood with him –

2 Timothy 4:16-18  At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Help and encouragement from the brethren is wonderful, but help from the Lord is that which is necessary!

God’s faithfulness and power is seen in –

    2.  The preparation to face difficulty in his ministry.

Acts 9:15-16  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

The grace and power of God experienced in life is seen in –
   

    3.  The Proclamation of God’s faithfulness to the churches.

Paul learned as he took God’s Word to the world that God is faithful and he encouraged the churches and us as he testified of God’s constant faithfulness to him –

1 Corinthians 1:9  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

         2 Thessalonians 3:1-3  Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of

         the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with

         you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked

         men: for all men have not faith. But the Lord is faithful, who shall

         stablish you, and keep you from evil.

We experience God’s blessings through –

    4.  The practice of faithful service unto the Faithful God.

We should understand the practical ministry of God in us and through us as Paul did –

2 Corinthians 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Paul had arrived in the city of Corinth and took up residence with Acquila and Priscilla. He worked with them in their tent making business. He was immersed in the Jewish community and shared the Gospel as he had opportunity.  The faithfulness and grace of God is seen again the power, comfort as he faced –

      a. The profanity of the Jews.

Acts 18:5-6  And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

      b. The Preaching to the Gentiles.

Acts 18:7-11  And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

      c.  Protected by the Lord.

Acts 18:12-17  And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. And he drave them from the judgment seat. Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.

And finally the faithfulness and grace of God in –

      d.  Parting from the church.

Acts 18:18  And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

We learn today that we should not be discouraged by the difficulties facing us, but we are to learn from them and help others who face the same things!  God used Paul to instruct this struggling church, to help them see that they were completely out of order and needed to repent and set their hearts on the Lord and His will, not setting their hearts on their will for the Lord to build them up.

We have set forth last week and today that through the promises and the power of God, Paul was able to preach to the church with authority and demand that they repent and turn back to God according to His Word.

We should understand God’s love and patient work with His People.

We should understand Paul’s love and patient work with God’s people. 

We should understand that the desire was that those in the church who had sought their own preeminence instead of humble submission to the Lord and His Word should repent and turn back to the Lord in confession and contrition.

This morning, in this third message, we begin to learn of the trouble in this church.  It is most important again to remember that this letter was written to a specific church that was having a great deal of trouble with spiritual understanding, with pride, and with personal relationships.  Be very careful to know the context of a verse or a group of verses before taking them as proof text for your actions.  In the first four chapters we learn of the –

II. Division among the members of the church. 

     1 Corinthians 1:10-4:21

Things had become so bad that some church members sought help from Paul.  We notice as we read the letter that there were those that asked the members who were going to visit Paul to present their questions to him also.  His reply began with an –

  A.  Admonition to unity.    1 Corinthians 1:10-3:23

Paul followed the pattern that he presented in the second letter to Timothy in chapter four, verse 2

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Relied on God through His Word

Remained consistent

Reproved

Rebuked

Reminded them and reminded them again to obey the Lord always.

In his reply, he first commended them for the good things that they had done – the Word that they had obeyed – 

1 Corinthians 1:2-8  Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He then began to correct them for the wrong that they were doing with an –

    1.  Exhortation to obey the Lord Jesus Christ –

1 Corinthians 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

That –

      a. They speak the same things

Truth should never be denied to accommodate anyone’s particular situation.  Satan was not satisfied with his position, so he denied the truth by changing it into a lie.  This patter has been followed by billions of people since that time –

Romans 1:17-25  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever.

We are to know –

John 17:14,17  I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world……..Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

… and obey the truth! 

John 14:15 ,21 If ye love me, keep my commandments………He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

When they speak the same things –

      b. They will be in agreement.

 “…perfectly joined together…” To mend a net, to put back into place (dislocated joint).

With every exhortation, there should be an –

    2.  Explanation. 1 Corinthians  1:11 – 3:20

Paul informed them of –

      a.  The report. 1:11 Reliable report of their contentions.

1 Corinthians 1:11  For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

The report brought forth –

      b.  The reproof. 1:12-3:20     They had no reason to be divided.

        1). They could not claim special privilege through –

          a). Salvation. 1:12,13a

1 Corinthians 1:12-13  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

               One way of salvation. “I am the way, the truth…”

They could not claim special privilege through –

          b). Baptism. 1:13b-16 Ephesians 4:1-6   (a church ordinance)

1 Corinthians 1:13-16  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

They were united in the Lord and should have determined to be united with one another  –

Ephesians 4:1-6  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

They could not claim a privileged position through –

          c). Intellectual superiority. 1:17-31 Colossians 2:8

1 Corinthians 1:17-31  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. ……… For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Colossians 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

They could not claim a privileged position through –

          d). Eloquence.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5  And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

They could not claim special privilege by claiming they heard a better –

          e).  Message.  There is one message  

                Refer to Acts 13:26-33

1 Corinthians 2:6-16  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

And when each of us has the mind of Christ, we are single minded understanding that salvation is not by our own merit, but totally by His grace.

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

One way of salvation –

Romans 10:9-13 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Note: The Apostles and preachers were united (in Christ) in their ministry unto Him.

When we follow God’s will in

Matthew 22:37-39  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

We will be one with Him and with one another, not seeking to exalt ourselves, but seeking to exalt the Lord and edify others.

        2). They could not claim special knowledge. 1 Corinthians 3:1-20       

Note: The people could not claim Apollos’ message carried more authority than Paul’s. Paul and Apollos were both bringing forth God’s message. The difference was in their personalities and this is the work of the flesh.

The Corinthians had no –

          (a). Spiritual discernment. 1 Corinthians 3:1-11

             1). Indicated by their immaturity.

1 Corinthians 3:1-4  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

             2). Indicated by their insincerity.  (They did not really know their

                  teachers)

1 Corinthians 3:5-11  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

The Corinthians had no –

          (b). Spiritual discipline. 1 Corinthians 3:12-20

They were not concerned with continuing the work as begun by Paul, building on the right foundation (3:10,11). Refer to I Timothy 4:13-16; and
Romans 16:17,19 Paul warned them of the –

              (1). Discord in their service.

1 Corinthians 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

              (2).  Decisions to be made in their lives

1 Corinthians 3:21-23  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

                (a). Reject personality cults.
                (b). Regard life to be in Christ. Refer to –

Galatians 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

                (c). Recognize that in God there is unity in all things. There is

                      no place for division.

  B. Argument for the ministry. 1 Corinthians 4:1-21

Leadership is not a popularity contest. Believers must accept the leader that God has given them. If they refuse, they are fighting against God. It is God that directs the leadership. The church should be united and supportive of their leader. There should be no division in the church over leadership. If this issue was not settled, they would be prone to division by following personalities instead of God’s man. For example: “I want Paul, Peter, Apollos, Silas, Timothy, Titus… Exactly what they were doing!

Note three points in order to understand Paul’s position in this exhortation we should look at the example of the Lord Jesus Christ –

    1. Establishing one’s authority while submitting to a higher authority is

        perfectly reasonable and is illustrated by the Lord Jesus Christ. Refer

        to the following statements –

John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

John 6:38-40 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

John 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

John 14:31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

Refer also to Matthew 3:13-15.

    2. Note that while Jesus was humble and submitted to the Father, He has

        no difficulty in establishing His position of leadership –

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 1:43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

    3. Paul wrote this letter to this church for many reasons – his desire to

        see the church glorify God, His love and care for the people, but also

        he wrote because it was his responsibility to do so. God had sent him

        out as the apostle to the Gentiles and he was responsible to God to

        teach the people.

Paul exhorted them to support and follow their God appointed leadership by –

    1. His acknowledgment of his position. 1 Corinthians 4:1

He expected people to see him as –

      a. A servant of Christ. ‘Minister – under rower’.
      b. A steward over men.

        1). Manager over a household.
        2). This household is of faith. ‘mysteries’ – the revelation from God.

    2. His accountability was to God. 1Corinthians 4:2-5

A leader is to be –

      a. Faithful to God. 4:2
      b. Fearless before men. 4:3,4
      c. Finds approval from the Lord. 4:5

    3. He was acceptable in his service. 1 Corinthians 4:6-15

Unashamed and unassuming service unto the Lord.

      a. Paul rebuked them for –

        1). Their self-aggrandizement. 4:6-8
        2). Their popular opinion. 4:9,10

      b. Paul reviewed the apostle’s lifestyle. 4:11-13

    4. His authority was established. 1 Corinthians 4:14,15
    5. His appeal to them to submit. 1 Corinthians 4:16-21

      a. Follow his leadership. 4:16,17
      b. Fear his presence. 4:18-21

          The adversaries could either –

        1). Answer to him. 4:18,19
        2). Submit to him. 4:20,21

III. Disregard. 1 Corinthians 5:1 – 6:20

Note: Paul may have to visit them with a rod after all. Look at what they were allowing.

Paul exhorted the church to turn from their disregard for –

  A. Morality. 1 Corinthians 5:1-6

    1. The sinful actions of a church member.

1 Corinthians 5:1  It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.

    2. The shameless acceptance of the church.

1 Corinthians 5:2  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

    3. The sentence to be executed.

1 Corinthians 5:3-6  For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

  B. Sincerity.   They lived lives of compromise.

1 Corinthians 5:7-8  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

  C. Purity.      He corrected their assumptions –

1 Corinthians 5:9-10  I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

They were not to bring the practices of the world into the church, but they could not hide from the world either.  They were to be witnesses!

  D. Integrity. 

1 Corinthians 6:1-8  Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

There was a –

    1. Lack of trust. (They believed they could not receive a fair hearing in

        the church)
    2. Lack of love. (They could not forgive wrong instead of taking it to the

        public court.

    3. Lack of honesty.    Defrauding one another

      a.  They defrauded their brothers.

      b.  They excused their actions.  “So, sue me”!

1 Corinthians 6:8  Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

  E.  Sanctification  1 Corinthians 6:9-11

They disregarded sanctification and continually and openly lived in sin.

    1.  The argument presented to excuse their actions.

      a.  Appetites are natural.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

      b.  Allowance should be given to satisfying the appetites.

1 Corinthians 6:11a  “And such were some of you…” 

They claimed that they were just doing what came natural to them.

And we end this morning with the reminder of Paul to them and also to us that, as the children of God, we must seek –

  F. Holiness. 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

The answer to them is that holiness is the standard that must be met. They do have liberty as believers, but not to sin, and Paul speaks to this liberty by extending our carefulness to things not only involving sin, but also in harmless things to ourselves, but things that may distract us from serving God or in those things that may offend others.

1 Corinthians 6:12-13  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

We see that as believers we have the responsibility to have a high regard for morality, sincerity, purity, integrity, sanctification, and holiness.
We have been bought with a price, the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and should walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we have been called.

We are not to excuse ourselves but are to put away the old things and put on the new.  Before believing in God for salvation, we had no power to change, but God has changed us through salvation, believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.  We are commanded –

Colossians 3:1-10  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

We are not to excuse ourselves but are to put away the old things and put on the new.  Before believing in God for salvation, we had no power to change, but God has changed us through salvation, believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Through Him, we can and should put off the old man and put on the new!

Paul’s response to the various –

IV. Difficulties in the church.    1 Corinthians 7:1 – 10:33

Some wrote Paul seeking answers to the difficult circumstances they faced as believers. They were “new creations in Christ”, but were living in their same cultural environment. They wanted to know what changes He would make in their character as they learned of His will through His Word, how to live as believers in an unbelieving world.  They needed to know what was not acceptable to God that had always been acceptable to them in their culture.  Paul wrote to them in answer to their questions about –

  A. Domestic issues. 1 Corinthians 7:1-40

    1. Paul replied to their questions. 1 Corinthians 7:1-24

 
        Should they –

      a. Enter into a marriage relationship.

1 Corinthians 7:1-9  Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

Evidently some were teaching that –

Being single would relieve sexual conflicts in a marriage.

Being single would enhance spiritual commitment to the Lord with more time for fasting and prayer.

Paul recommended that being single would give one more time to devote to the service of the Lord, but it could also lead to internal conflict and sin due to lustful thoughts.  Therefore, it was not up to the church to decide what is best, but for individuals to seek God’s leadership in their lives.

Should they –

      b. Endorse divorce.

1 Corinthians 7:10-11  And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

      c. End marriage with an unbeliever.

1 Corinthians 7:12-16  But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

The believing husband or wife are to continue to be faithful to the Lord!

Should they –

      d. Encourage external rites.

1 Corinthians 7:17-19  But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

This issue was especially important as the Jews and Gentiles were brought together in the church.  Obedience to God is that which is necessary to please Him.  Groups should form in the church according to some likeness in the flesh.

Should they –

      e. Embrace their position in life or should they seek a change.

1 Corinthians 7:20-24  Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

Their relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ is the great equalizer of the believers. 

Are there believers in the church who control an abundance of material goods – the wealthy? 

Are there believers in the church who have only enough to supply them with each days needs?

The wealthy and the poor receive their goods from God as He sees fit and all are to be thankful to Him and are to love one another.

The members of this church were divided from one another because of their social standing.  The poorer members felt like servants to the wealthy and the wealthy promoted this way of thinking.

Paul commanded them to be content in their positions and serve the Lord faithfully, which is the duty of every believer – no matter what!

Galatians 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Do you see and understand that this letter is to a church that is in real trouble.  The members were so divided that worship was impossible.   They claimed that they loved God, but they did not love one another.  God commanded that we prove our love for Him by loving one another.

    2. Paul’s conclusion on these issues. 1 Corinthians 7:25-40

Their situation demanded careful considerations.

      a. Discussion of their circumstances 7:25-28

      b. Difficulties they face. 7:29-36

        1). Urgency of the work. “…time is short…” 7:29
        2). Transient nature of the world.

              “…the fashion of this world passeth away…” 7:30,31
        3). Divided interest. (husbands and wives) 7:32-35
        4). Personal needs. 7:36

      c. Decisions to consider. 1 Corinthians 7:37-40

        1). Unmarried. 7:37,38
        2). Married. 7:39,40

  B. Deliberation of believer’s liberty. 1 Corinthians 8:1- 10:33

    1. Practice of liberty according to knowledge. 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

      a. The necessity of knowledge and love. 8:1-3
      b. The acknowledgement of common understanding. 8:4-6
      c. The admission that there are some that doubt. 8:7,8
      d. The realization that knowledge without love is destruction. It is

          worse than worthless!

    2. Personal example of the practice of liberty. 9:1-27

Paul sets forth his –

      a. Position. 9:1-6 He testifies of his authority.
      b. Provision. 9:7-14.

        1). The rights of men. 9:7
        2). The rights of ministers of the Word of God. 9:8-14

      c. Practice. 9:15-23
      d. Purpose. 9:24-27 To win his race.

What is the thought?

1. At times it is important to give up personal rights in order to help someone that may not have learned what you have learned.

2. At times it is important to give up a personal right to keep people from misunderstanding you or your motives. Paul wanted the people to know that he was honest. He had very little personal history with these people so he tried harder. May be in Jerusalem it would not have been a problem, but here – he was different both culturally and nationally. He was a Jew from Jerusalem. He gave up rights to establish a testimony! He care more for the salvation of others than his own rights.
Some in the church were self-seeking and cared only for themselves. They saw Paul as a threat and they started rumours about him. Paul is setting the record straight and is encouraging believers to care for the souls of men.
What about you?

    3. Practical examples. 1 Corinthians 10:1-22

      a. Lessons from Israel. 10:1-14

        1). Their identification. 10:1-4 (all) They were identified by their –

          a). Covenant. “Abraham”
          b). Call. Exodus 3:10 “that thou mayest bring forth my people…”
          c). Confession. Exodus 19:3-8

        2). Their insolence. 10:5-10 Lust, idolatry, tempting, murmur

             (complaining).
        3). Their punishment. “Overthrown, fell in one day, destroyed”
        4). The illustration we receive from them. 10:11-14 Be single minded

          a). The warning –

            (1). James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
            (2). Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
            (3). 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 Be ye not unequally yoked together with

                  unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with

                  unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with

                  darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what

                  part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement

                  hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the

                  living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in

                  them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

          b). The way – 1 Peter 5:6; Romans 12:1,2

      b.  Lessons from Communion  1 Corinthians 10:15-21

        1). Church 10:15-17
        2). Israel 10:18
        3). Gentiles 10:19,20
        4). Communion is exclusive! 10:21

    4. Principles applied in daily life. 1 Corinthians 10:22-33

      a. The commitment. 10:22-24
      b. The command. 10:25-30
      c. Conclusion. 10:31-33

We need to understand this truth – we do not please men by accepting their doctrine – you will just become a hypocrite in their eyes. You please by being right, by being consistent, by loving their souls, caring for them, and seeking their salvation. You may not please them at first, but if you are consistent, they will see that you care and they will see that God loves them. This means putting God first in our lives and giving ourselves unto Him.

Refer to Romans 12:1,2

Now, we continue to learn of the trouble in the church caused by division, which even destroyed the special communion of the church with one another and with the Lord Jesus Christ. Chapter 11 is an account of the problems in the church having to do with –

V. Disorder.   I Corinthians 11:2 – 14:40

Paul turned now to correct the attitudes of the people involved practices that they had incorporated into their assembly. There was disorder in the church regarding –

  A.  The roles of men and women in the church. 1 Corinthians 11:2-16  

    1.  Appreciation for their respect.

1 Corinthians 11:2  Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

    2. Addressing their misconduct.  1 Corinthians 11:3-16 

Paul developed his argument by teaching the proper order of authority and then correcting their conduct. His instructed them in Godly –

      a. Order.  Refer also to Ephesians 5:18-33

1 Corinthians 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

      b. Conduct. 1 Corinthians 11:4-15

Though there is much dispute about the practice of headcoverings in Corinthians, two things are clear: (a) men did not wear them and women did, and (b) the headcovering was a sign of distinction between men and women.  Bibliotheca Sacra, Vol. 148

        1). The man. 11:4

1 Corinthians 11:4  Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

He is to be the leader, in submission to the Lord.
The woman is to be under submission to the man.

        2). The woman. 1 Corinthians 11:5-15

          a). Women in ministry. 11:5a 

1 Corinthians 11:5  But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

Note the examples in Scripture of ladies that led ladies-

            (1). Miriam – Exodus 15:20,21
            (2). Elisabeth – Luke 1:40-45
            (3). Mary – Luke 1:46-56

Note that propriety is required even in the company of ladies only

        b). Women in submission is taught by Paul.

1 Corinthians 11:5-15  But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

      c.  Correction.  Submission of both the men and women.

1 Corinthians 11:16  But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

  B. The Reckless attitude toward the Lord’s Supper.

      1 Corinthians 11:17-34

    1. Paul rebuked their careless practice in taking the Lord’s Supper.

1 Corinthians 11:17-22  Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.

Instead of communion, they were partial. Notice –

      a. Their conduct – divided.

1 Corinthians 11:18-19  For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

      b. Their contempt. 1 Corinthians 11:20-22

        1).  For doctrine –

1 Corinthians 11:20  When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.

They did not observe the truth of God as given by Him, choosing to please themselves instead of God.  They chose what suited them and what they enjoyed and ignored the equality of others as demanded by the Lord –

2 Timothy 3:16-17  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

        2).  For brethren.

1 Corinthians 11:21-22  For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

    2. Paul reminded them of the correct purpose of taking the Lord’s

       Supper.     1 Corinthians 11:23-34

      a. Reminded the believers of Jesus Christ our Lord.

          1 Corinthians 11:23-27 “…in remembrance of me…”

1 Corinthians 11:23-26  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

      b. Reverence for the Lord and His ordinance.

1 Corinthians 11:27-32  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

      c. Respect for the brethren in worship of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 11:33-34  Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

Paul continued to teach the church the importance of obedience and unity, even as the Lord proclaimed this truth in Matthew 22

Matthew 22:35-39 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Today I ask you, have you been hurt by divisions in a church?  If so, you know the pain and hurt that is caused and we all should know that the Lord feels this pain and hurt also. 

It is wrong and we need to turn to the Lord with honest hearts seeking to heal wounds and divisions that we may honour the Lord in all things.

These messages have been an introduction to the content contained in chapters 12 through 14.  We will begin these messages next week and I ask that you read these chapters carefully and prayerfully.  Read them as a letter from God, through Paul, to you and seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in the truth.

  C. The Rebuke of their practices concerning spiritual gifts.

      They needed correction.

1 Corinthians 12:1  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

Members in the church perverted the use of the gifts from God in their worship, changing the gifts of God from that of spiritual edification, worship and service unto the Lord to a self-exalting excitement, promoting themselves and their groups.  While they believed their hearts were right with the Lord, they ignored the sin of others to the detriment of the church.  In order to increase their influence, they invited the world into the church, not to be changed through the preaching of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, but to be cheered by the excitement and ever-increasing intensity and promotion of gifts. 

They were believers, but were going to lead others away from the Lord by changing –

    1. Worship.

      a.  From honouring the Lord in being –

          Prepared to worship – come with purpose.
          Practice of worship – serious minded
          Promise of worship – submitting to the Lord’s will, serving Him.

John 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

      b.  To honouring themselves by their self exaltation.

They needed correction in their –

    2. Lifestyle.

They were ignorant of the destruction of lives they were promoting by allowing sin to continue in the church, turning a blind eye to it, while practicing a form of worship of God in their own lives.

They should have remembered the terrible things that happened in Jacob’s family, while he built altars and offered sacrifices, he failed to lead in a Godly manner –

Jacob had God on his mind, but his family did not have Him in their hearts. He built an altar, but they did not prepare themselves for worship! They met the world as they were and reaped the terrible results. Jacob learned the lesson that a casual heart leads to careless living.

Jacob, because of his focus on himself and the casual attitude in leading his family, was responsible for the defilement of his daughter, the disgraceful actions of his sons, and the destruction of Shechem.

Let’s take a moment to look at the life of Jacob and learn from the mistakes of this man who believed God, yet struggled with his own flesh and desires.  We will not read all of the verses, but will give the references in the book of Genesis for you to study this out for yourselves –

      a. His Character

        1). With men.  Non-confrontational; manipulative

          a). Esau Genesis 25:24-34

          b). Rebekah Genesis 27:6-14

          c). Laban Genesis 29:16-28

          d). Esau Genesis 32:1-8; 33:8-17      

               (Insinuated he would follow Esau, then turned West)

        2). With God.

          a). The Covenant. Genesis 28:11-22

          b). The intervention.

            (1). For the wives. Genesis 29:31; 30:6,17,22

            (2). For Jacob Genesis 30:27-30

          c). The Call. Genesis 31:3

          d). The Comparison.

Note that Abraham’s servant was dealing with the same man, Laban. Genesis 24:12-14; 24-27; 34, 35, 40, 42, 44, 48, 50-52, 56.

Jacob received the blessings of God, but we do not read of him acknowledging God in his day to day life. This is the manner of many believers.

      b.  His Crisis

        1). The defilement of his daughter. 

Genesis 34:1-2  And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.

        2). The disgraceful action of his sons. 

Genesis 34:13-18  And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully………

        3). The destruction of Shechem Genesis 34:25-31

Genesis 34:25-31  ….two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. …..And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi….. and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house. And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?

 What caused this crisis? –

      c. His carelessness.

Genesis 35:1-4  And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: And let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.

As we said before – Jacob had God on his mind, but his family did not have Him in their hearts. He built an altar, but he did not prepare his family for worship! They met the world as they were, with their idols and superstition and reaped the terrible results. They may have excused themselves to Jacob with their cultural icons and harmless jewelry, but Jacob learned the lesson that a casual heart leads to careless living.

        1). He acknowledged God as His God.

        2). He ignored the activities of his family.

             They had become ‘of the world’.

      d.  His compliance to the will of God.

        1). To seek the Lord. “…go up to Beth-el…and make there an altar…”

        2). To separate from the world. Note what he told them to do in order

              to accomplish this –

          a). Cleanse your hearts. Put away the idols.

          b). Cleanse your minds.

          c). Cleanse your bodies.

Jacob instructed his family to separate themselves from the things of the world and, separate themselves unto the Lord. They were on their way to  present themselves to the Lord and they prepared their hearts and their dress accordingly.

Leaders need to ask themselves –

“Am I diligent in my own spiritual growth”?

“Am I negligent of the spiritual condition of my church” (Compromising Biblical values to avoid conflict)

“Do I understand the consequences resulting in my negligence”? (Beyond anything you might imagine!!)

Leaders, will you answer –

“I am going to submit myself to God and serve Him in the church, seeking His will and obeying Him”.

Or are you going to have to face a destructive crisis before you take control. The terrible consequences will have to be borne.

As much as the leaders need to ask themselves these questions, –

Parents, as responsible for the spiritual wellbeing of the family, need to ask themselves –

“Am I diligent in my own spiritual growth”?

“Am I negligent of the spiritual condition of my family” (Compromising Biblical values to avoid conflict)

“Am I cognizant of the consequences resulting in my negligence”? (Beyond anything you might imagine!!)

Parents, will you answer –

“I am going to submit myself to God and lead my family to seek His will and obey Him”. Or are you going to have to face a destructive crisis before you take control. The consequences will have to be borne, and they can be beyond anything that we may imagine! 

We have learned of Paul’s concern for the Corinthians ignorance of the purpose and proper use of the gifts of God.  The church was divided, even in their claim to the leadership of God in the gifts of ministry.  Paul began to correct them, teaching them that God is not divided and will not contradict Himself in any way.  We will begin to examine –

  D.  The Reproof of their misplaced loyalties.  1 Corinthians 12:2,3

    1. The spirit of the world.

1 Corinthians 12:2  Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

      a. They had been only recently informed of the truth of the Gospel. 

Acts 18:1-6  After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

         
      b. They had been superstitious.

        1). Sacrificing to idols.
        2). Submitting to false teachings and to evil priests.

God has warned men about the spirit of this world –

1 Corinthians 10:19-21  What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

    2. The Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 12:3

No divided loyalties can exist in the hearts of believers.  We are to be “One Way”, “Singled Minded” in our devotion to God.  When we are “…in Christ…” we can be ‘in no other’!  This includes self.  Paul expressed this truth clearly in his statement to the Galations –

Galatians 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

And commanded believers to be single minded in the letter to the Colossians –

Colossians 3:1-7  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

We are to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit’s ministry willingly, knowing that His purpose is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in His people 

John 14:15-17  If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

There will be no confusion in His ministry –

John 16:8-11  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

He will make the truth known and clear –

      a. He will never deny Jesus. 1Corinthians 12:3a

1 Corinthians 12:3  Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

They spoke by the spirit of another –

2 Corinthians 11:14-15  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

As both the Jews did –

Matthew 12:24  But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

These Jews were not being directed by God when they denied that Jesus is Christ.  They were being directed by the spirit of this world.

As also the Gentiles did, as recorded in –

Acts 17:31-32  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

      b. He will always testify of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 12:3b

1 Corinthians 12:3  Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

        1). Note the testimony of God the Father to God the Son, Jesus of

             Nazareth –

Matthew 16:15-17 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

And the testimony of God the Holy Spirit –

John 16:13-14  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

        2). Note the rejection of the declaration of the spirit of this world.

Acts 16:16-18  And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

It is very possible that this young woman heard the witness of the Lord Jesus Christ from the ladies who Paul ministered to in the city.  She was conflicted, as many of us were (even though we might not have been directed by a demon spirit) once she heard the truth and cried out after these men until she was finally rescued from the evil spirit by the command given by Paul through the power of God.

The Holy Spirit convicted then, as He does now, of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, bringing men to a decision to either accept the truth of God or ignore the saving grace of God through His Son, Jesus.

Do you have the mind of Christ?  If you do, and each member also has the mind of Christ, you will be single minded, with no division at all in the church.

 Colossians 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Not me, not you, not anyone but the Lord Jesus Christ!  This is the truth the Corinthians were being taught.  We are to be one in Him!

Why did the Lord lead Paul to write to the church in this way, rebuking them and correcting them?  Continue reading the verses from the letter Paul wrote to the Colossians –

Colossians 1:19-23  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

The members of the church in Corinth had begun moving away from the truth, the doctrine of God. They would not lose their salvation, but they were losing their testimony, rejecting the preeminence of Jesus and promoting themselves to the position that only He should hold.  In the   process of doing this, they claimed they were being led by the Holy Spirit in their speech and actions.

Paul was trying to correct them, to remind them Who it was who shed blood that they could have peace with God,

that they could be reconciled to God,

that they could be holy before God,

that they could be unblameable before God,

that they could be unreproveable before God!

We need to learn that this can happen in our lives.  Even though you and I are saved, we can begin to think of ourselves more than we think of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We might claim to think of Him, especially when asked or are in church, but what do our actions say about us?

Is God’s Word more important to you than your feelings?

Is God’s Word more important to you than what others say?

Is God’s Word more important to you than being a part of the actions of those around you?

Does the Lord have first place in your life?

When we are saved, we are changed by the Lord.  Have you been changed?  Have your family and friends noticed a change, a putting the Lord before yourself?

  E.  The Reestablishment of the authority and ministry of the Holy Spirit.

        1 Corinthians 12:4-14

Paul acknowledged the ministry of the Holy Spirit through them, yet divisions were seen in their –

   –Allegiance (Paul, Apollos, Cephas, Christ)
   –Attitudes (Disdain for the poor)
   –Actions – (Misuse of the spiritual gifts)

He corrected their misunderstanding of the ministry, and he continued to instruct them in the –

– Purpose of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:4-31
– Power in the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
– Practice of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 14:1-40

    1.  We will begin by looking into the purpose of this ministry of the Holy

         Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:4-31

I thought it would help us to have better understanding of what he is speaking of if we begin by reading the illustration that he used and then review the text.

The Lord Jesus Christ often used illustrations the people were familiar with in order to help them understand God’s truth.  We can see this as he illustrated His teachings with stories about children playing in the market, seed being sowed in the fields, helpful travelers, and other everyday instances that the people knew in order to help them understand what the Lord was teaching them.  In this same fashion –

The Holy Spirit used the Apostle Paul’s experiences and education to reason with believers and unbelievers alike, which included not only an intimate knowledge of the Scriptures and tradition as we know from –

Philippians 3:4-6  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Acts 22:3  I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

Which was well known among men –

Acts 26:24  And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

But also a broad knowledge of Greek and Roman literature –

Acts 17:27-28  That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

 Such as the Roman writer –

Livy ii, 32    (Live e)

In the days when man’s members⁴ did not all agree amongst themselves, as is now the case, but had each its own ideas and a voice of its own, the other parts thought it unfair that they should have the worry and the trouble and the labour of providing everything for the belly, while the belly remained quietly in their midst with nothing to do but to enjoy the good things which they bestowed upon it; they therefore conspired together that the hands should carry no food to the mouth, nor the mouth accept anything that was given it, nor the teeth grind up what they received.  While they sought in this angry spirit to starve the belly into submission, the members themselves and the whole body were reduced to the utmost weakness.  Hence it had become clear that even the belly had no idle task to perform, and was no more nourished than it nourished the rest, by giving out to all parts of the body that by which we live and thrive, when it has been divided equally amongst the veins and is enriched with digested food —that is, the blood.  Drawing a parallel from this to show how like was the internal dissension of the bodily members to the anger of the plebs against the Fathers, he prevailed upon the minds of his hearers.

And also the Greek writers they were already familiar with, such as mentioned in his letter to –

Titus 1:11-12  Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

(This statement is attributed to the philosopher Epimenides (Epi me nee des) the Cretan says, ‘that all the Cretans are liars,’ but Epimenides is himself a Cretan; therefore he is himself a liar. But if he is a liar, what he says is untrue, and consequently, the Cretans are truthful; but Epimenides is a Cretan, and therefore what he says is true; saying the Cretans are liars, Epimenides is himself a liar, and what he says is untrue. Thus we may go on alternately proving that Epimenides and the Cretans are truthful and untruthful)

And –

Xenophon    (Zenafin)  who died in Corinth in 354 BC

He wrote of two men who were quarreling –

“What if a pair of hands refused the office of mutual help for which God made them, and tried to thwart each other; or if a pair of feet neglected the duty of working together, for which they were fashioned, and took to hampering each other? That is how you two are behaving at present.

Paul took these familiar stories and applied them to the work of the Lord in supplying the church with every person necessary to bring glory to Him.

Notice the argument he developed to reason with the people –

1 Corinthians 12:14-25  For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

Notice the statements “…now hath God set the members in the body, as it has pleased him…”  and “…God hath tempered the body together…”

The placement has been determined by God to accomplish His purpose for His glory!  We, as they were, are to pray for the Lord’s leadership and serve Him, not ourselves, inbuilding one another up in the church in order to fulfil His will.

Every member is important in the church and should faithfully discharge their responsibilities to the glory of God and the good of all of the members.  We begin with the ministry to others of faithfulness and obedience to the Lord.  Do you realize how important your being in church each service is?  When a member enters the meeting place and sees you in your place, they are encouraged.  Just being faithful in attendance is a ministry of encouragement to everyone.  From this ministry, we grow from ministry to ministry as the Lord leads and gives opportunities to serve.  We are helping others as we obey the Lord –

Hebrews 10:24-25  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Paul has used this illustration to again rebuke divisiveness and pride and to encourage submission with a humble heart in serving the Lord, reaching out to the lost world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:7-14  

We were reminded that the Lord used the Apostle Paul to teach the people, using illustrations that were familiar to them in order to help them understand that they were wrong in the way they both thought and acted. They, as well as we, need to know and do the will of God.  His desire was that they would learn the truth, understand, and apply it to their lives, then care for others by teaching the same things –

2 Timothy 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

As we continue to look at the singlemindedness commanded by the Lord in serving Him, we learn more about –

       a. The administration of the gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:4-14

       The Holy Spirit is –

        1).  Selective in Service.

1 Corinthians 12:4a “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit….”

Gifts, administrations, operations to individuals as He sees fit for the overall ministry in the church – different parts which make up the whole.  Note the use of the word in –

1 Corinthians 12:11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

The Holy Spirit is –

        2). Supported in His action.   Note the involvement of the Spirit, the

             Son, and the Father.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

– toward this end we see that the Holy Spirit is –

        3).  Singular in His purpose. 1 Corinthians 12:7-14

          a). To perfect the church.

1 Corinthians 12:7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

We see this also ministry with the perfection of the church in mind in –

Ephesians 4:11-13  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

        b).  To provide that which each church needed to accomplish this

               perfection.   1 Corinthians 12:8-10

They did not have the completed revelation of God as yet, and the Holy Spirit equipped the church members with –

          (1). The provisions to minster   1 Corinthians 12:8-10

            (a). The word of wisdom – the right decision.
            (b). The word of knowledge – the right information.
            (c). Faith – the encouragement to act.
            (d). Power – healing, miracles – confirmation of the truth.
            (e). Prophesy – proclaiming God’s Word, written or personally

                   revealed.
            (f). Discernment – knowing and verifying proclamation.
            (g). Tongues – languages, Preaching to the foreigners.
            (h). Interpretation – making known to all what foreigners were

                   saying.

The church members were given these special tools to use in the church for the good of the church and evangelization of the world.  This was God’s working in each member –

          (2).   Plan fulfilled –

The Holy Spirit gives to men to manifest to other men –

1 Corinthians 12:8-11  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

The Holy Spirit leads men to their place in the church –

1 Corinthians 12:12-13  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Illustrations of the ministry of the Holy Spirit –

     Page 1  The individual, you, when you were saved

     Page 2  The individual obeying the Lord – “…baptizing them in the

     name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” through the

     leadership of the Holy Spirit who is in you.  The church is made up of

     saved, baptized individuals.

     Page 3  The individuals in the church are given ministries in the church

     by the Holy Spirit for the instruction of the whole church.

     Page 4  The individuals now each have the Bible, God’s completed

     Word, given by God through the leadership of the Holy Spirit –

2 Timothy 3:16-17  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Peter 1:19-21 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

For the instruction of the whole church as we have seen in these verses –

          c). To prevent divisions, promoting dependence in God and in one

               another.

 1 Corinthians 12:14  For the body is not one member, but many.

      b.  The illustration of the body. 1 Corinthians 12:15-26

Last week we took time to carefully examine the illustration use by the Apostle Paul to help the church members understand that each of them was important to the whole.  We will not repeat here what was said, but will emphasize the unity and care demanded by the Lord for His church as stated in –

1 Corinthians 12:25-26  That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

You will notice here that Paul is writing to the church in Corinth.  This chapter in no way teaches what some believe to be a doctrine known as the Universal Invisible Church.  It is taught by some that this chapter teaches that the Holy Spirit baptizes saved individuals, at the moment of their salvation, into the Universal Invisible Church.  We have seen that the Holy Spirit leads saved individuals, whom He indwells at the moment of their salvation, to obey the Lord and be baptized, becoming a member of the church that baptizes them, and then leads them to serve the Lord in the church through His Word.

      c. The exhortation to obedience.

1 Corinthians 12:27-31  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Each member was to desire to use the tools the Holy Spirit equipped them with to the best of their ability for the Lord and for the church.  The church had been divided in fellowship and desiring those gifts of God that would lead to exalting themselves with little thought of others.  In chapters 13 and 14, Paul instructs them in the right way to serve the Lord with the ministry opportunities that He provided.

Today I ask you about your position before the Lord.

Are you saved?

Are you serving in the place the Lord has put you?

Are you serving with the tools the Lord has given into your possession –

   The Word of God, the Bible

   The prayers for others and for self

   The love for God and for one another

   The faithful fulfilment of responsibilities in your family

   The faithful attendance and service in your church

With that in mind –

    2. Power in the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Paul wrote to the Corinthians of the Pharisaical attitude of the people who were promoting themselves through their ministry in the church.  It is sad that this was happening among men that professed to know and serve God before the church was established –

Luke 18:9,10,13  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican…..And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

– and continued among some in the churches at that time, and has continued until our day due to the sinful desires and actions of some in the church.  Refer to –

3 John 9-10  I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

Men and women sometimes forget that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of His church such as this Diotrephes did, and others from his time until the present.  They begin to believe that the Lord has given them the leadership in the church, not as servants of the Lord, but as Heads of the church, displacing Him from His position.  They reject the clear instruction from His Word and choose their own way to lead, serving themselves. 

Know that nothing is wrong with the enthusiastic proclamation of the truth, the excitement generated from knowing that God, the Creator of all things, the Sustainer for all time and eternity, is in our midst.  He loves us and works among us enabling us to fulfil His will –

Ephesians 2:8-10  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

When we love and serve the Lord, the focus will not be on the individual but on the Lord.  When the messenger is thanked for the message, he should simply say “thank you” believing that he has done his best for the Lord and for the good of others.

The Lord reminded the Jews of God’s command –

Matthew 22:36-40 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

And at a later time the Lord increased the responsibility of those that claim to honour God –

John 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Paul, following the example of the Lord and through the leadership of the Holy Spirit, explained to them that ministry must be motivated by love. Without love, the ministry had no power.

Love is –

    a. Prerequisite. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

1 Corinthians 13:1-3  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

      1). People’s estimation –

        a). The Greeks focus was on what men knew (Intellect) wisdom of

             the world
        b). The Romans focus was on what men could do (Power)

      2). God’s estimation – Paul’s focus was on what men were (Character)

        a). The gifts from God were real.
        b). The motives of the men were wrong.

1 x 0 = 0; 1million x 0 = 0 and –
Spiritual gifts exercised with fleshly motives = 0

        3). Prerequisite is love!

Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Note that serving the Lord never has been about the servant, but always has been about the Saviour!

Leviticus 1:9  But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

Amos 5:22-23  Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The works were not motivated by nor presented in love!  They were not selfless!  Behind the gift was the thought – “I am going to get something in return for this, you should thank me”.  The recipient certainly should be thankful, but this should not be one’s motive to give, to love!

You see, when God gave us the gift of His Son to give Himself for our sins, God did not receive anything from the giving of the Gift.  He did not become more gracious, more worthy, more loving, more just, more holy…..God cannot be added to or detracted from.  He is perfect and unchangeable and in giving His gift, He revealed His infinite love.

Love is required, it is the prerequisite to all ministry unto the Lord.  Love is also –

    b. Pure        The explanation. Love –

1 Corinthians 13:4-7  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Notice that the Holy Spirit did not lead Paul to define love as an emotion, as often defined by the world, but love is that which is an action, that which we decide to give to another.  We must carefully examine the Word of God to understand the love of God that we might be able to obey His command to love others.

How do we measure up when we compare ourselves with this definition of Love?  Does our pride get in the way?  Pay attention as

Paul again gave a careful explanation to them, this time about Charity (Love) –

1 Corinthians 13:4  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

      1). Love encourages patience. It does not react in anger. “…suffereth

          long…

Remember the Lord’s words as He looked upon the city of Jerusalem, the place where He had set His name –

Matthew 23:37  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

      Love responds with kindness. Refer to –

Mark 5:25-34  And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

How do you handle interruptions to your plans, even those most important errands (possibly life or death situations)?  Do you love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind, and your neighbor as He loves them?  Do you trust that if your encounters are by His appointment, He will see that His will be done?

To many times we are angry when our plans are interrupted because they are our plans, and not His plans for us.

      2). Love is not envious, does not seek to elevate self, without pride and

          is never ashamed of God.

Satan tried to tempt Jesus to envy the things of the world, power, prestige, possessions.  Satan wanted desperately for Jesus to say “I deserve better than what I am receiving”!  Satan wanted Jesus to cry out to the Father “Why does this plan call for me to suffer, going without even bread and water when all the world has plenty”.

The answer as to why Jesus willingly lived out the plan of God is that He was loved and He loved! 

John 17:13-23  And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Jesus loved God on purpose.  He loved man on purpose.  He fulfilled the will of God because of this love for God and for man.

What will our decision be as we are faced with loving God and man, as we prayerfully consider the situations we are faced with?

Will we say with the Lord Jesus as He prayed in the garden –

Matthew 26:42  He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Will our love be tested when someone interrupts our plans or when others seem to have an easier time in life, or success, or possessions?

Remember –

1 Corinthians 13:4  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Have you ever heard the saying “That person is living on an emotional roller coaster”.  They are forever going up one day and down the next.  They never seem to be steadfast and it is because their love is based on the world’s definition – an emotion instead of God’s definition – a decision. 

Will you decide to Love God’s way?  It begins with salvation.

1 Corinthians 13:5,6      

We are continuing to learn God’s definition of charity (love) in order to enable us to look at our own lives and know whether our thoughts and actions are what the Lord wants us to be and to do.  The Holy Spirit has given the Apostle Paul the words that explain what love is and the Lord Jesus Christ has given us the example of how love acts. 

We are thankful that we are able to understand these characteristics through the actions of the Lord, bringing to life before us the Words that are written. 

The Lord is kind, never seeking another’s hurt, but always desiring repentance and turning to God. 

The Lord is always worthy of respect and honour, but He is always humble and caring for others, never ashamed to sit and converse with any, no matter what their station in life. He always sought their good.  Remember the times He was patient with Peter, who most people would not be patient with.  He was compassionate, caring for the sick, the hungry, the desperate, and through His example we see in His life that no matter who the person is or what the subject is –

      3).  Charity (Love) always behaves in a righteous manner. 

1 Corinthians 13:5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Charity –

        a).  “Doth not behave itself unseemly…”

Behaving unseemly – unacceptable behaviour.  I ask you to think on this for a few moments and name in your minds some forms of unacceptable behaviour.  It is sad that it does not take us long to make this list.

Now, in your list did you include things like ‘being honest with others’, ‘telling the truth’, ‘correcting people when they are wrong’?

You see, behaving unseemly depends on who is judging the behaviour.

An excellent example of this behaviour is seen through the actions of Jesus challenging, then clearing the Temple of those who had changed it from a House of Prayer to a marketplace. 

John 2:13-18  And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

In another way of speaking, they were asking Jesus by what authority did He close down the market that was being operated in the Temple.

Jesus was accused of usurping the authority of the temple leaders, but they were informed that it was their behaviour toward God that was ‘unseemly’.  If they loved God, they would not have permitted  the Temple to be used for personal gain instead of a place of congregating for prayer and worship.  Jesus’ love for God was revealed by His actions.

Our behaviour is unseemly in the eyes of God when we keep quiet when we should speak, when we remain still when we should act.  If we love God, we should not just go along with those that do not love Him.

Would our behaviour seem to others to be wrong if, during a war, we enjoyed the company of the enemy more than that of those who love our God as we claim to love Him?

We need to examine our lives, measure ourselves by His Word!

We also learn that Charity –

        b).  “Seeketh not her own…”   Is not selfish. Refer to –

John 6:38  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

When we are saved, putting our faith in God through His Son, Jesus, our love should be no longer be like that of the world – self-serving, but that of the Lord, seeking the good of others.  Notice the change in ‘being’ that should be shown to the world, the new love because of the new ‘Light’ that is in us.

Ephesians 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Being new creatures in Christ Jesus, we see that our love –

        c).  “Is not easily provoked…”  Responds in an ungodly manner –

          (1).  When people were ungrateful –       

Mark 5:17-19  And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

The Lord commanded this man to return to those same people who asked Him to leave their community and share with the His love and their need of Him as Saviour!

        (2).  When people were demanding –

Mark 6:30-34  And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

We can fully expect that the Lord had lessons prepared to share with the apostles following their ministry among the people and was going to have rest and discussion with them.  When the people converged upon their resting place, the Lord did not return to the ship and seek another place to rest, but He gave the apostles an assignment for the day and He turned to teaching the people.

Does love measure our response when people are ungrateful or demanding, or do we care for them with patience as the Lord did, and still does?

Charity –

        d).  Does not attribute evil to others.

Titus 1:15  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Charity –

      4).  Does not find pleasure in evil   

1 Corinthians 13:6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

The world does not exhibit love and have –

        a).  Separated from the truth, even rejoicing in their choice –

Romans 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Romans 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Romans 1:29-32  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

The Lord is, and we as His people should be, –

        b).  Separated unto truth.

1 Peter 2:21-23  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

Notice the judgment following the most careful and the most brutal examination of Jesus by man –

John 19:4  Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

Pilate could find no fault in Him because there is no fault in Him.  He is sinless, not just having not sinned, but is absolutely holy and cannot sin –

John 14:30  Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

If we love God and love people with the love of God, we will determine to reject sin, finding no pleasure in it, but we should “rejoice in truth” knowing that charity (love) –

        c). Seeks man’s good.

John 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Will we love with God’s love.  If we will, we will live as the Lord lived

1 Peter 2:21-25  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

1 Corinthians 13:5,6  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Do you behave yourself in a way that pleases and glorifies God?

Do we seek good for others?

Do we respond with love and care when people are ungrateful or demanding?

Are we separated from the truth or are we separated to the truth?

Are we seeking man’s good?

We have the examples of how to live through the Word of God and the life of the Lord Jesus.

How will you love, how will you live?

1 Corinthians 13:7  

Last week we read Paul’s instructions to the church in Corinth in chapter 13, verses 5 and 6 and we learned that –

      c.  Charity (Love) always behaves in a righteous manner. 

1 Corinthians 13:5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

We saw that Charity –

        1).  “Doth not behave itself unseemly…”

Behaving unseemly – unacceptable behaviour.  If you remember, I asked you to think on this for a few moments and name in your minds some forms of unacceptable behaviour. 

Did your list include things like ‘being honest with others’, ‘telling the truth’, ‘correcting people when they are wrong’?

You see, behaving unseemly depends on who is judging the behaviour.

We learned that when we do not take the opportunities to stand for the Lord and speak for the Lord, we are behaving unseemly in His sight!

We also learned that Charity –

        2).  “Seeketh not her own…”   Is not selfish. Refer to –

John 6:38  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Being new creatures in Christ Jesus, we see that our love –

        3).  “Is not easily provoked…”  Does not respond in an ungodly

              manner –

          a).  When people were ungrateful –       

          b).  When people were demanding.         

Charity –

        4).  Does not attribute evil to others, making an assumption of

              motives.

Charity –

      d.  Does not find pleasure in evil   

1 Corinthians 13:6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

The world does not exhibit love and has –

        1).  Separated from the truth, even rejoicing in their choice to follow

              evil.  They mock and even attack those that love God and follow

              the Lord being as He would have us to be –

        2).  Separated unto truth.

        3).  Seeking man’s good.

John 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Will we love with God’s love?  If we will, we will live as the Lord lived

Today we continue in God’s definition of love as we learn that ‘charity’

      e.  ‘Love’ is faith in action

1 Corinthians 13:7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

        1). Provides security. “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee…”

Notice that the Lord never departed from any of His disciples.  He was gracious in the extreme, even in the infinite sense, in not rejecting Judas, expelling him from His presence.  It was Judas that departed from the Lord!  What about those that believed and had faith in the Lord?  They also departed from the Lord.  The Lord sought them out on more than one occasion.

As Psalm 46:1 states, He is our Strength, our Refuge, a very present help in trouble.

We see in Him the living definition of the words –

“Beareth all things….”

The word the Apostle was led to use is ‘Beareth’ which in this context has two applications –

First, The word means ‘roof’, as a roof over a house.

When you are in a storm, what is it that you search for?  Shelter   

When you are in the desert, what is it that you search for?  Shade

When you are in the city, what is it that you search for?  Security

Charity is a roof over anyone, providing shelter, shade, and security for those in need. 

Charity has to be available,

Charity has to be sturdy to bear up over those in need

Charity has to be prepared to protect in any situation.

Second, The word ‘Beareth’ means ‘covers all things’.  Again this meaning is an act of love toward another for their good – sharing yourself with them.  Note that this is the wonderful care of God for His people –

Psalm 91:4  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Measure your love as the Lord loves – are you a cover and a protection for others?

Now we turn to the how charity “…believeth all things…” –

1 Corinthians 13:7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

        2).  Accepts people as being honest.   “…believeth all things…”

Charity is not suspicious of other’s motives.

Notice the difference in the attitudes between Jesus and that of the people at His encounter with Zacchaeus –

Luke 19:2-10  And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

The people knew Zacchaeus and did not trust him, with good reason.  Their belief was based on his past actions.  Jesus also knew Zacchaeus and His belief was based on his present action – repentance of heart and mind.  Jesus gave Zacchaeus a chance to reveal the change in his life – for his changed heart and mind to be revealed in changed motives and actions.

How many opportunities do we miss because we are suspicious?

1 Corinthians 13:7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

        3). Encourages another’s success.  “…hopeth all things…”

When we provide security, accepting them unto ourselves, we can expect the best outcome in their lives. 

Remember the work of the Lord in Peter’s life –

        a).  Rebuked Peter because of his refusal to accept the will of God –

Mark 8:33  But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

          b).  Reminded Peter of weakness and confusion –

Luke 22:61  And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

          c).  Restored Peter in love –  The Lord gave Peter an opportunity to

                repent and obey.

John 21:17  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

          d).  Response of Peter to the Lord’s “bearing, believing, and hoping” 

Acts 5:27-32  And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

          e).  Rejoicing by all because of the Lord’s hope.  Remember –

John 1:41-42  He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, a stone.

Years of charity in action brought forth the Lord’s expectation, His hope of what this man, Simon Peter, would be -a stone, a solid witness for the Lord!

Remember – hope does not mean, as it often is used today, maybe.  It means that which will come to pass although we do not see it at this time.

1 Corinthians 13:7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

        4).  Is a help through any situation – “…endureth all things…”

Again, the Lord is our example as we read –

Hebrews 12:2-3  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

As we are faithful to the Lord and to others, we should not be surprised when they are used of the Lord as ‘vessels unto honour…”

1 Corinthians 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord and turn from their error.

In conclusion, we have learned by Word and by example what charity is, so let us compare our life with God’s truth.  Will you ask God to show you this morning if you are motivated and act according to the love of God or that which the world calls love?         

1 Corinthians 13:8-13

We have learned in this chapter what God has determined is a prerequisite, and that is charity or, as it is also translated, love.  We also learned in verses 4 through 7 the definition of charity and saw God’s love is pure, as ours should be. 

Today we begin by learning that God, in His infinite power and wisdom, determined what would be permanent and what would be provisional (temporary or transitional, used for a time and then set aside) in the establishment and ministry of His church.

1 Corinthians 13:8-13  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Notice first that which is –

    3. Permanent. 1 Corinthians13:8a   Paul declared unto them –

      a. The permanence of love.

1 Corinthians 13:8a   “Charity never faileth….”

We shall make two statements from Scripture which are foundational to this verse –

First –

1 John 4:16  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love….

We see here that Love will abide as long as God exists.  God is love!

Second –

“… and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”

Love will abide as long as the believer is in God –

Now remember the promises of God dealing with this truth –

John 10:27-30  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.

John 6:37  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

1 John 5:11-13  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Being that God is eternal and that the believer is in God forever, love will be forever – eternal – everlasting.   “…charity never faileth…”. 

Compare with the statement in chapter 1 Corinthians 13:13 

“…now abideth faith, hope, charity….”

Love never fails – love always abides (remains, dwells, abides)

Now that this truth is settled, we turn to –

      b. The provisional nature of the gifts.  (Temporary, transitional)

1 Corinthians 13:8b-12  …..but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

We will find help in understanding the difference between the permanent and the provisional by –

        1).  Reviewing the gifts given to men to use for the building up of the

              church as they were listed in Chapter 12.

          a). The word of wisdom – the right decision.

          b). The word of knowledge – the right information.
          c). Faith – the encouragement to act.
          d). Power – healing, miracles – confirmation of the truth.
          e). Prophesy – proclaiming God’s Word, written or personally

               revealed (gift of knowledge)
          f). Discernment – knowing and verifying proclamation.
          g). Tongues – languages, Preaching to the foreigners.
          h). Interpretation – making known to all what foreigners were saying.

The church members were given these special tools to use in the church for the good of the church and evangelization of the world.  This was God’s working through men in the church to accomplish His will –

        2).  Reminding ourselves of the purpose of God in this work –

          a).  Establish His church

Matthew 16:16-18  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

          b).  Evangelize the world

Matthew 28:18-20  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

We learn that these gifts were to be used only for a short time.  Then –

        3).  Realizing the fulfilment of the promise stated by Paul in the

              following verses –

          a).  The Provision of truth from God.

1 Corinthians 13:9-12  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

The New Testament was written over a period of about 50 years.  God revealed to the writers what He would have them to tell the world.  This first letter to the Corinthians was written about 40 years before the final letter of the New Testament was written – The Revelation of Jesus Christ as given to John the Apostle.  From the time of the writing of the first Gospel to the completion of the Revelation “…we know in part, and we prophesy in part…”.  As the Lord was revealing His Word to those He would have to write, the churches needed to know His will.  He revealed truth to them through the ministry of the Holy Spirit until the Word, “…that which is perfect…” was completed.  At the completion of the writing of His Word, the gifts were no longer necessary.  The people had His Word to preach and to teach.

          b).  The Promotion from partial information to perfect, or complete,

                information.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

We can understand what Paul is writing with this simple illustration.  When you began your formal education at school, you received books to aid in learning.  Each year as you progressed, you put away the books of that year and received books which built upon what you have learned.  Each book was a step up, a promotion, to the next on the staircase of education.  Now, why would you return to your first books, the beginning point of knowledge when you have gained that which you need to accomplish your purpose in life?  You have grown beyond the old books and the old toys and have no need of them any longer.

Paul explained to the church that the gifts were for the education of the entire church in the will of God and not for the promotion of self.  These gifts were only temporary and they should use them as directed by God.  They, as well as we, needed to focus on –

      c. The presence of eternal attributes.

1 Corinthians 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

In conclusion –

        1. The gifts of God were provisions for service, to be used by the

            believer (recipient).
        2. The attributes (faith, hope and love), are part of the believer’s

            nature, defining who he is.

Unbelievers do not have this love.

John 5:39-42  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

The adversaries are not always as obvious as were the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes.  Remember Judas, a man who served without love!  Many go through the motions because of the expectation of immediate reward, whether in prestige, power, or purse.

          a). The believer was to exercise the gifts through the attributes of

               his nature.
          b). The Corinthians had a new nature, –

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

– but they were not living accordingly. They were living as they were not even saved, according to the flesh.

Do you argue about the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Do you admit that what has been stated in this message is true, BUT you still claim your experience is more important than God’s Word?

Why don’t we read Peter’s confession dealing with his personal experience while in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:17-21  For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Remember –

2 Timothy 3:16-17  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

I submit to you today based on the clear instruction of the Word of God that the gifts set forth in –

1 Corinthians 13:8b-12  …..but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

– are not for the church since the completion of the Word of God before the end of the first century AD.

They were eternally saved, but they were not loving.  What about you?  If you have been wrong about prophesy and speaking in tongues for today’s church, will you turn to God in repentance and faith, as a believer asking the Lord to forgive you for believing the excitement of the flesh over the truth of His Word?

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

   The greatest of these is charity (love)

1 Corinthians 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Remember as we read this letter that Paul was correcting the church for the division they caused through their love of themselves instead of loving God and then through His love, loving one another. As we know, the issue of divisions in the church did not affect only the Corinthian church.  Paul also told the Ephesians and Colossians about this new life in the Lord Jesus Christ –

Ephesians 4:1-3 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Single minded in our walk with the Lord, do not confuse people!

We have carefully examined the definition of love and the truth that love abides forever, as we have learned, God is love and those in God have His love in them, also forever.  Paul stated in verse 13 that charity abides forever, as well as faith and hope.  We need to continue our examination of this verse and find the application to our lives.

We must see that –

        3). The attributes as part of the believer’s new nature result in a man

             of – faith, hope, and love.

Love provides devotion, Faith provides direction and action, Hope provides dedication.

Love not only has God as its object, but remember that love is also an attribute of the nature of God. Another attribute of God that is founded in His love is that “God is faithful” and will always remain so.  If time will be measured in Heaven, in ten trillion years, God will not cast us out.  From the very moment we were saved, the faithfulness of God was known in a practical way in our lives – our everlasting life with the Lord began and it will never end.  Why?  Because God is faithful!

God is not only love and God is not only faithful – God is the foundation of hope. All hope is dependent on Him.  If it could be phrased in such a way, we can declare that “God is hope”.

Hope is like faithfulness, it is founded in God’s love.  This is why Paul states that the greatest of these is charity (love). It is the very essence of God’s nature.

As believers, faith and hope are to be as real and genuine in our lives as love is.

With faith, God is the object of that faith –

Hebrews 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our faith is in Him and should be complete in Him (beginning and ending in the Lord Jesus Christ)!

Now, what is a man of –

          a). Faith       Those that have trusted God for –

           (1). Salvation

The beginning of our life with Him –

Romans 10:9-14  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We begin our eternal life, saved, through faith, but there is more –

Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We –

           (2). Live by faith.  Hebrews 11

-”by faith Noah…prepared an Ark to the saving of his house.”
-”By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed…”

-”By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of the Pharaoh’s daughter, Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season..”

Faith leads to action!  Faith and action are vitally connected.  Remember James addressed this in his letter –

James 2:14-18  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Jesus illustrated the proof of words is in works –

John 14:10-11  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

That which is on the same level as love, that which abides forever – can be seen now and must be seen in our lives!

As with faith –

Hope also has God as its object.

1 Peter 1:21  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Romans 5:1-2  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Paul stated that faith abides, and continues in us as does –

          b). Hope.   Those that keep their focus on God.

Hebrews 6:18-20 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

            (1).  Hope keeps us prepared for the journey.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

            (2).  Hope gives us patience in the journey –

Colossians 1:3-6  We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

            (3).  Hope abides with us forever because we see the fulfilment of

                    it in the Lord –

• Remember as we preached through the first letter to –
•  
• 1 Timothy 1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
•  
• – that – Paul encouraged Timothy in the truth of hope that which is found only in God.  Paul explained that which he had declared that God is  “…our hope…”  Our expected end – what to look forward to along the way:
•  
• Every time we see Jesus throughout all eternity, we will remember that He is faithful, that He is hope and we know that He is Love.
•  
• With faith and hope, we are reminded that love is the greatest of these three because they grow up out of love!

In conclusion –

How do I know as a believer if my life has changed and I now am a man that has his faith and hope and love in the Lord?

 – Do you want to spend time with God. Reading God’s Word and prayer?

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

– Do you want to obey God in everything?

John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

Peter could have argued that he was just a fisherman, not a preacher.  Jesus asked Peter who he loved more, Peter the fisherman or Jesus the Lord?  “Lovest thou me more than these (the fish)?

 – Do you want the whole world to know what the Lord has done for them?  Does your life show this –

In Word –  “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”

In Deed –  Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Has there been a change in your life since you have been saved?

1 Corinthians 14:1-5  

Remember that Paul was correcting this church because they had invited the motives of the world into the church which led to worldly worship and a worldly lifestyle.  The church was exhorted to repent and turn back to the –

  A.  Purpose of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:4-31

  B.  Power in the ministry of the Holy Spirit  1 Corinthians 13:1-13

And now we turn to the –

  C.  Practice of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 14:1-40

Paul counselled them that faith, hope and charity must be the essence of their ministry, and in desiring to minister through the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit, their priority should be prophesy –

1 Corinthians 14:1  Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

Notice how the Lord led Paul to command the believers to “follow after charity…”.  In order to have a good understanding of his meaning – “follow after…” we should look at how the Lord used the word as recorded in –

Matthew 23:34  Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute (follow after) them from city to city:

Jesus informed them that those who declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ and instruct the world in righteousness will be chased from place to place with the intention of destroying them.

Paul also used this word to describe how he chased down believers with the intention of killing them –

Acts 26:11  And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted (followed after) them even unto strange cities.

We learn here that by exhorting the brethren to ‘follow after’ something means more than just showing an interest and walking along with others like a spectator at a parade.  It reveals an intense desire to apprehend, a determination to keep on chasing and capturing the object of the chase.  We see that it is our responsibility to continually pursue the things of God, such as those recorded in the following verses –

Romans 14:19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things  wherewith one may edify another.

We are to continually pursue the accomplishment of the purpose of God for our lives –

Philippians 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

We are to continually pursue –

1 Timothy 6:11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

If we follow after, pursue with the intent of having in our possession, charity, we will readily put away any thoughts of self exaltation and will give ourselves to helping others to fulfil the will of God as the Lord commanded in Matthew 28 “…teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…”, which is also called ‘edifying the brethren’.

He explained the reasons that they should, in love, seek to prophesy by

    1. Reviewing their practice. 1 Corinthians 14:2-19  

His –

      a.  Comparison of languages and prophecy. 1 Corinthians 14:2-5

Their practice –

        1). Personal promotion.  

1 Corinthians 14:2-4  For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

We must consider as we read this instruction that Paul is speaking directly to church members who were involved in a personal emotional experience in the congregation, making sounds in the form of speech which no one understood (except God who knows their hearts), even the person speaking.  If the person making the sounds understood the meaning, he could interpret to those in the congregation enabling them to understand the message. 

The person speaking a form of speech without understanding then, is simply satisfying himself emotionally without instructing either himself or others –

“He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself…”

The tongues addressed here by Paul were an emotional outbursts with no revelation from God to His people.

These men in their emotional excitement set forth a precedent that is being followed today – that speaking in tongues enhances a person’s standing in the church, seeming to reveal a deep spiritual connection with God through the Holy Spirit, encouraging others in the congregation to desire this gift (speaking in unknown tongues as led by the Holy Spirit) which never existed in any form in the church. 

Multitudes of sincere people in churches believe they are ‘left out’ of the spiritual elite because they do not speak in these unknown tongues.  Others are driven to seek this ‘gift’ through worldly methods.  Some are instructed by their ‘spiritual’ leaders to repeat certain sounds or say certain phrases, accelerating the sounds each time until the speaking in tongues takes place.  It is sad to say, but this reminds me of trying to start a chain saw, priming the engine with fuel, pulling the cord repeatedly, adjusting the choke until the engine fires and is running on its own.

It is a sin to use God’s Word deceitfully, establishing a spiritual hierarchy in the church based on emotion and resulting in an ecstatic display of noise and movement to the exaltation of self.

How should this be dealt with.  We must heed Paul’s recommendation –

        2). Preaching to edify.

1 Corinthians 14:3-4  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

We are again to return, as so often do, to the exhortation of Paul recorded in

2 Corinthians 4:1-5  Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

We begin by proclaiming the Word of God in order that they might hear the truth –

2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Knowing that people must hear God’s Word –

Romans 10:13-14  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

The preacher must live the preaching!  We also, along with the preaching of the Word, live out the word in our lives –

1 Timothy 4:12-13  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

This person is an example of these statement –

“…he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to…”

          a). Edify        Refer to –

Romans 15:1-2  We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

Ephesians 4:11-12 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

“…he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to…” –

          b).  Exhort   to keep on with the Lord and with one another

“…he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to…” –

          c).  Encourage    they are on the right path

Notice how Paul challenged the church in Philipi to unity through these very words –

Philippians 2:1-2  If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

They are on this journey together with the Lord and with one another.  They should stay together and look out for one another!

        3). Practical advice – they should be seeking to prophecy.

1 Corinthians 14:5  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

Is your desire today to be a faithful servant of the Lord, delivering His message to the world in Word and in your life?

This all begins with salvation.  Are you saved?  Are you sure?

1 Corinthians 14:6-19

      b. Considering, through reason, the results of their actions.

          1 Corinthians 14:6-11

        1). He used a rhetorical question to help them understand this truth.

1 Corinthians 14:6  Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

These are those things that can be understood and should be obeyed!

        2). He then illustrated his argument with commonly known

             instruments.  He gave two examples –

          a).  Musical instruments          Orderly notation

1 Corinthians 14:7  And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

Psalm 4:1  To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

Psalm 84:1  To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!

Psalm 22:1  To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

We note here instructions given in the Psalms as to the accompaniment of instruments or tunes along with the words of the psalms which presented praise, joy, or sorrow.  Can you imagine the confusion of the people if the tunes were changed, playing a joyous tune to the words of the sorrowful Psalm 22!

The music is intended to communicate or, even without the words, remind of what has been communicated. 

          b).  Military instruments.      Commands for action

1 Corinthians 14:8  For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

Let’s consider the use of the trumpet in Numbers 10:1-10

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.

When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.

But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.

And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.

Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.

“…If the trumpet give an uncertain sound…”

The word translated ‘uncertain’ is used in the account of the Lord’s teaching by Luke –

Luke 11:44  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.

The graves are under their feet.  They are standing on dead men and are not even aware of it.  Why, because the grave is not clearly marked!  Recognizable markers are put on graves to protect them and clear and understandable sounds are needed to make people aware of their message!

        3). He compared their speaking with the meaningless sounds.

1 Corinthians 14:9-10  So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

Have you ever seen or heard something and been uncertain about the meaning?

One of the apartments that Bonnie and I lived in was on the 16^th floor. We heard an alarm bell and thought it was either the fire alarm or someone stuck in an elevator.  If it was the fire alarm, we thought we should leave the building quickly so, following the posted instructions, hurried down the stairs – 16 flights of stairs and walked away from the building to the parking lot.  We looked around and no one else was coming out of the building.  There were a few people walking around, but everything seemed to be normal. 

What was the meaning of the alarm bell?  We do not know.  We did know one thing, we were tired and later on our legs were very sore from hurrying down those stairs.

We were confused and aggravated because of the uncertain meaning of the sound of the bells.  The problem was that the next time the alarm was bell was sounded, we did not respond as we should have and that could have put us in a dangerous position!

Messages need to be clear.  The alarm bell is to warn of the danger of losing your life, but the clear presentation of the gospel to warn of losing your soul!  Church must not be confusing – ever!

        4).  He concluded his argument by stating these actions result in

              confusion.

1 Corinthians 14:11  Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

As Paul illustrated the consequences of their actions, He gave a –

      c.  Charge to them to edify the church    1 Corinthians 14:12-19

Notice also the instructions in –

Ephesians 4:1-12  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

        1). The Proposal – give themselves to the building up of the church.

1 Corinthians 14:12  Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

        2). The Plan – have men ready to interpret to the church.

1 Corinthians 14:13-15  Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

Excitement to the point of the ecstatic production of sounds results in nothing more than emotional experience without proclamation of the truth and does not build up oneself, nevertheless others, and is not encouraged by Paul.

        3). The Problem – without interpretation, the message is not

             understood by all.

1 Corinthians 14:16-17  Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

        4). The Presentation of God’s message in a clear manner, easily

              understood by all is the goal!

1 Corinthians 14:18-19  I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

What is it that we take away from this instruction from Paul?  Present the truth clearly and understandably at all times!

Is this your desire?  We pray that it is.  Stay with the Word of God, study, learn, live, and teach others.  This is our mandate from God.

1 Corinthians 14:20-25   

    2.  Revealing their purpose.      1 Corinthains 14:20-25  The –

      a.  Insistence that they mature.  

1 Corinthians 14:20  Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

They were to stop choosing up sides like children involved in a game and be united in knowing and doing the will of God.

      b.  Intended purpose of tongues and prophecy.  1 Corinthians 14:21,22

        1).  The gift of tongues was a sign from God.   

1 Corinthians 14:21-22a In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not…

Refer to –

Isaiah 28:11-12  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

The Assyrians invaded them and spoke to them in a language they did not understand, as prophesied by Isaiah.  They understood the prophecy and , sad to say, rejected that which they understood.  The invasion was caused by the hardness of their hearts, receiving promises from God, but rejecting them “…yet they would not hear.”  The speech was a language but was not understood by the Jews.  God told them this would be a sign to them.

Hebrews 2:4  God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

          a).  They (tongues) drew attention.  

Acts 2:7-11  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues….

          b).  They (tongues) demonstrated –

            (1).  Unity.  Acts 10; 11:1-4, 13-18

We will learn this by comparing the following passages of Scripture –

Acts 10:28-29  And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

Acts 10:34-48  Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all🙂 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Do you see that these believing Jews that travelled with Peter were unbelieving in this, that they did not think that the Gospel was open to Gentiles.  They were astonished when they heard these Gentiles speak in tongues as the Jews had done.  They had been made one in the Lord!

Tongues were for a sign to the unbelieving for this purpose.

Refer to –

Acts 11:1-4  And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them ……

Acts 11:13-18  And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Speaking in tongues was a sign to the unbelieving Jewish believers as it would also be to the skeptical Gentiles who did not want to associate with Jews.  Remember – prejudice works both ways!

Notice how carefully the Apostle explained with Scripture and illustrations the error of their actions and the truth of God’s purpose in giving these gifts for the clear presentation of the gospel so that the lost world would come to know the truth, come under conviction, and call upon the Lord for salvation.

Many of the members of the church traded prayer, study, and preaching day to day for moments of experience and excitement.  Do not be like them – Stay with the Word!

Next week we will continue and be reminded how this gift was used in focusing attention on –

            (2).  Doctrine. Referring to Acts 19:1-8

Are you saved?

We need to investigate the gift of tongues which occurred at Paul’s meeting with these ‘disciples’ –

              (a). His interest in them. 

Acts 19:1  And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

We are not informed of the circumstances of this meeting. We note that he was able to determine that they were disciples. They must have been familiar with the activities of the believers. He also determined that they had a problem in their doctrinal belief. God tells us in His Word that we can know if people are correct in their doctrine. We have the Truth as a measure of their –

                [1]. Attitudes.

Romans 8:5   For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

                [2]. Actions.

John 15:4-5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

This interest brought forth –

              (b). His interrogation of them.

                [1]. Paul presented a probing question Acts 19:2a

“He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?”

                [2]. They responded as he may have anticipated.

“And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.”

 How could this possibly be if they were true disciples?

                [3]. Paul posed his response to draw out an answer. Acts 19:3a

“…And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized?”

                [4]. They revealed in their answer that they had only very partial

                       knowledge of the Truth. 19:3b

“…And they said, Unto John’s baptism.”

                  [a]. Every record of John’s message speaks of the Holy Spirit.

                  [b]. Every baptism upon profession of faith in God through the

                         Lord Jesus Christ was to be followed by baptism in the

                         name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

                  [c]. These ‘disciples’ had heard neither message! It is obvious

                         they had only heard general accounts and had decided

                         to become Christians.

Is it possible that they may have heard the preaching of Apollos.  In this we see the danger of multiplying wrong doctrine through lack of instruction –

Acts 18:24-26  And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

We find here the Apostle Paul instructing these men in the way of God more perfectly.  He did not reveal the answer to them for their agreement.  Sometimes we unwittingly lead people to the responses that we want to hear. We must prayerfully and carefully help others to come to the knowledge of the truth.

              (c). His instruction to them.

Acts 19:4  Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

                [1].  He taught them about John – “He must increase and I must

                        decrease…” John’s ministry was not to surround himself

                        with disciples, but to prepare the people for the coming of

                        the Messiah – Jesus of Nazareth. No disciples of John

                        should exist!

                 [2].  He taught them about Jesus the Messiah. He presented the

                         Gospel.

              (d). His invitation to them.            Acts 19:5-7   

                [1]. Their salvation. Acts 19:5a

“When they heard this…”        “Faith cometh by hearing…”

                [2]. Their submission Acts 19:5b

“… they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

                [3]. Their security. Acts 19:6,7

“…And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve.”

Why did they receive this sign ? They were Jews who did not know if the Holy Spirit even existed. His presence was demonstrated publicly. This is the last recorded instance of this gift from God.

          c).  They declared the majesty of God –

Acts 2 “…we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.”

Acts 10  “…magnify God…”.

1 Corinthians 14:13-17  “praying, singing, giving of thanks”

        2).  The gift of tongues was a sign for man – as we learned last week,

               unbelieving –

          a).  Jews at – Jerusalem (Acts 2); Capernaum (Acts 10,11); Ephesus

                (Acts 19).

          b).  Jews and foreigners in Corinth.  Supernatural communication in

                their own languages.

        3).  The gift of  prophecy was the Word of God in the common

               language of the church.  1 Corinthians 14:22b  Not for

               unbelievers, but for believers.  Why?  Refer to

               1 Corinthians  14:3

      c.  Irrefutable conclusion.  1 Corinthians 14:23-25

        1).  Confusion would result if only tongues were spoken.  The majority

               would not understand.  

1 Corinthians 14:23  If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

        2).  Conviction would result if all prophesied.  The majority would

              hear and repent.                     

1 Corinthians 14:24-25  But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

This clear message is that which Paul presented to them in the beginning as he reminded them in chapter 15

1 Corinthians 15:1-4  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Are you saved?

Are you sharing this truth with others?

                [1]. Paul presented a probing question Acts 19:2a

                [2]. They responded as he may have anticipated.

                [3]. Paul posed his response to draw out an answer. Acts 19:3a

                [4]. They revealed in their answer that they had only very partial

                       knowledge of the Truth. 19:3b

                  [a]. Every record of John’s message speaks of the Holy Spirit.

                  [b]. Every baptism upon profession of faith in God through the

                         Lord Jesus Christ was to be followed by baptism in the

                         name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

                  [c]. These ‘disciples’ had heard neither message! It is obvious

                         they had only heard general accounts and had decided

                         to become Christians.

              (c). His instruction to them.

                [1].  He taught them about

                [2].  He taught them about Jesus the Messiah. He presented the

                       Gospel.

              (d). His invitation to them.  Acts 19:5-7   

                [1]. Their salvation. 19:5a

                [2]. Their submission 19:5b

                [3]. Their security. 19:6,7

          c).  They declared the majesty of God –

        2).  The gift of tongues was a sign for man – as we learned last week,

               unbelieving –

          a).  Jews at – Jerusalem (Acts 2); Capernaum (Acts 10,11);

                Ephesus (Acts 19).

          b).  Jews and foreigners in Corinth.  Supernatural communication

                in their own languages.

        3).  The gift of  prophecy was the Word of God in the common

               language of the church.  1 Corinthians 14:22b  Not for

               unbelievers, but for believers.  Why?  Refer to 1 Corinthians 14:3

      c.  Irrefutable conclusion.  1 Corinthians 14:23-25

        1).  Confusion would result if only tongues were spoken.  The majority

               would not understand.  

        2).  Conviction would result if all prophesied.  The majority would

               hear and repent.                     

1 Corinthians 14:26-35    

This morning we complete the messages in this series with the Apostle Paul

  3.  Reproving their conduct.         1 Corinthians 14:26-35

      a.  Their practice questioned.  

1 Corinthians 14:26  How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

Paul returned to the manner of question used in –

1Corinthians 14:15  What is it then?

Paul is writing that they, knowing the truth, acknowledge and submit themselves to the truth.  We have mentioned the statement by Jesus many times in these past months and it is applicable here as it is always –

Many in the church were loving themselves, putting themselves first and could even use the reasoning that this is what God has commanded – “to love one another as you love yourselves.  Jesus made it perfectly clear in the new commandment the meaning of the old –

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

The Lord would be giving His life for theirs and for all mankind the following day.  This is how He loves!  In all of this, He glorified the Father.  Is that our desire, to put ourselves aside and glorify God in all that we do?

How can we die for one another when we will not even live for one another?  “Let all things be done unto edifying.”

With this command, we learn of –

      b.  The procedure established.  1 Corinthians 14:27-32

        1).  Tongues.  1 Corinthians 14:27,28

1 Corinthians 14:27-28  If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

The important truth established here is that the speaker is in control of his speech!  Speaking in tongues was not an uncontrolled experience.  The Holy Spirit enabled men to speak in languages when others who understood that language were present.  If there was no understanding, there was no enabling.  When a person in praising the Lord is brought to emotional exaltation, let it be personal and private.

We should note that this praise is different from a spoken agreement to the preaching or teaching of the Word of God, as long as this vocal agreement does not focus on self but on the message from the Lord.  Remember that speaking in tongues was the proclamation of the Worde of God. When the preacher or teacher is proclaiming the Word, he should not be interrupted by someone with another message at that moment.  This leads to the next statement from Paul –

        2).  Prophecy.  1 Corinthians 14:29-32

      c.  The principle stated. 

1 Corinthians 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

      d.  The participation of women prohibited. 

1 Corinthians 14:34-35  Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

    4.  Restoring order.       1 Corinthians 14:36-40

      a.  The reprimand.  1 Corinthians 14:36-38

        1).  Reconcile with the truth.  

1 Corinthians 14:36-37  What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

        2).  Reject those that refuse. 

1 Corinthians 14:38  But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

1 Timothy 6:3-5  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,   Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

      b.  The rule to follow.  1 Corinthians 14:39,40

1 Corinthians 14:39-40  Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.

VI.  Deception.  1 Corinthians 15:1-58

  A.  He Reminded them of the Gospel message     1 Corinthians 15:1-4

1 Corinthians 15:1-2  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

      This is the foundation truth of salvation to man by God.

    1.  The death of Jesus Christ. 

1 Corinthians 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

      a.  His death was by appointment.  A time

        1).  The time of His birth was appointed. 

Galations 4:4  “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

Refer also to Philippians 2:5ff

        2).  The time of His ministry was appointed.  

Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.”

        3).  The time of His death was appointed. 

Daniel 9:26  And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

John 13:1 “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”

      b.  His death was by arrangement.  A place

        1).  He was to go to the city of Jerusalem.  

Luke 9:51 “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,”

Refer to –

Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

        2).  He was to be taken outside of the gates of the city.  

Hebrews 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

        3).  He was to die on a tree.  

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

           Refer to –

Matthew 20:18-19  Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

      c.  His death was admitted.

Matthew 27:62-63  Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

      d.  His death was accepted by God.  (satisfied)  

Isaiah 53:10-11  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

    2.  The burial of Jesus Christ.  

1 Corinthians 15:4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

      a.  His burial was according to custom. 

Deuteronomy 21:22,23 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;)…

(Galations 3:13  “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:”)

      b.  His burial was according to prophecy.  Isaiah 53:9   

           (Refer to Matthew  27:57-60)

“And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.”

      c.  His burial was acknowledged by witnesses.  

Mark 15:45-47 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.  And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

    3.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 15:4b

      a.  His resurrection was announced. 

Mark 16:6 “And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.”

      b.  His resurrection was authenticated by witnesses. 

1 Corinthians 15:5-8  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

      c.  His resurrection answered man’s question “If a man die, shall he live

           again?”    Job 14:14

This is the key to the message of the gospel – the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Please listen carefully to the message preached Paul at Athens Greece and  notice the people’s response.      Acts 17:22-32.  We live because He lives!

  B.  He reviewed his personal testimony.  1 Corinthians 15:8-11

        The resurrection of Jesus Christ resulted in –

    1.  A changed life.  1 Corinthians 15:8-10      He testified that –

      a.  He was last.    (Mercy).

1 Corinthians 15:8  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

        1).  His salvation was unexpected.

          a).  Note the account given in Acts 9:1-6

          b).  Note other unexpected meetings with the Lord.

            (1).  The Ethiopian.  Acts 8  A Gentile convert to Judaism reading

                    the Scriptures while traveling in the desert.

            (2).  Cornelius.  Acts 10       A Roman captain spending time in

                    prayer.

            (3).  The Philippian jailor.  Acts 16  Persecuting the servants of

                    God.

        2).  His salvation was unbelievable.  “…born out of due time…”  He

              uses the word which describes a premature birth with the child

              born dead.  Dead, with no opportunity to live, yet God, in His great

              mercy, gave him life!

Titus 3:3-5; John 5:24; 1 Corinthians 1:27-31

He testified to the mercy of God in his life!

      b.  He was least.     (Forgiveness)

1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

        1).  He respected his calling  –  to be an apostle.

        2).  He remembered his past.  Acts 7:54-57; 8:1-3; 22:3-9

        3).  We rejoice in God’s forgiveness.

Titus 2:13,14; 3:3-7; 1 John 1:7

He testified of God’s forgiveness in his life!

      c.  He laboured.   (Grace)

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

        1).  He acknowledge its power.  15:10a

          a).  By grace he was saved.  Ephesians 2:8,9

          b).  By grace he served.   Ephesians 2:10

        2).  He accomplished its purpose.  15:10b 

               “…by the grace of God I am what I am…”

Note Paul’s exhortation to others to follow in this grace –

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

1 Thessalonians 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2 Timothy 4:7-8  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

He testified to God’s grace in his life!

    2.   A consistent ministry.  

1 Corinthians 15:11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

  C.  He rebuked the deceitful teachers.  1 Corinthians 15:12-19

Even in the beginning years of the church, the writers were correcting false teachers.                Note –

2 Timothy 2:16-18  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

1 John 2:18-19 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

    1.  They denied the possibility of the resurrection.  1 Corinthians 15:12 

         Paul reminded them that –

      a.  The resurrection had been proved.  15:1-10

      b.  The resurrection had been proclaimed.  15:11  

           Paul rebuked them because –

      c.  The resurrection had been denied by some of their teachers.  

1 Corinthians 15:12  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

How could they come to this conclusion?  Unbelief was promoted through the common philosophy and religion of their day.

        1).  The Sadducees, the religious party of the High Priest of the Jews,

               did not believe in the supernatural, including the resurrection.

        2).  The Greek religions nor philosophies believed in the bodily

               resurrection.

Acts 17:31-32 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.  And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

        3).  Those following ‘dualism’ did not believe a perfected spirit could

               be rejoined to a fleshly body believing that the flesh

               sinful.  Gnostics.

        4).  They did not understand how a corrupted body could be brought

               back to life.

These thoughts are still prevalent in our day.  For example –

Mormonism – they deny the unique deity of Jesus Christ.

Unitarians – they deny the deity of Jesus Christ.

Christian Science – deny the deity of Jesus Christ, deny the reality of matter.

Scientology (Dianetics) science fiction, deny the deity of Jesus Christ

Jehovah’s Witnesses – deny the deity of Jesus Christ.

    2.  They denied the power of the resurrection. 

1 Corinthians 15:13-19  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 

         No resurrection means –

      a.  Jesus Christ remains among the dead.  

1 Corinthians 15:13  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

The  testimony of all those at the tomb must be proved false –

        1).  The testimony of those present at His burial.

Matthew 27:59-61  And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

John 19:38-42  And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

        2).  The testimony of the Apostles Peter and John  

John 20:2-9  Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

        3).  The testimony of the Priest and Pharisees that secured the tomb.

Matthew 27:62-66  Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Matthew 28:1-4  In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

Matthew 28:11-15  Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

      b.  Jesus’ Gospel is not true. 

1 Corinthians 15:14-16  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

The witnesses are bearing a false testimony –

        1).  Verbal  

John 20:14-16  And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

        2).  Visual 

John 20:19-20  Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

        3).  Physical 

              Refer to John 1:14; Acts 22:6-10; 1 John 1:1,2

Luke 24:36-43  And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.

John 20:27-29  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

      c.  Jesus cannot save the lost.  

1 Corinthians 15:17-19  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

The promises of Jesus would be empty –

No grace, no mercy, no hope.  Only a carnal religious life!

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 5:24-29

  D.  He reaffirmed the truth of the resurrection.  1 Corinthians 15:20-34

    1.  Proof of man’s resurrection. 

1 Corinthians 15:20-22  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

      a.  Adam’s transgression.

Romans 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

      b.  Jesus Christ’s atonement.

Romans 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

      c.  Believer’s assurance.  Acts 17:31; 10:41-43; 2 Timothy 1:9,10

    2.  Plan of man’s resurrection.  

      a.  Jesus Christ “the firstfruits”.  

1 Corinthians 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

      b.  Saints of the church age.  

1 Thessalonians 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

     c.  Tribulation and Old Testament saints. 

Revelation 20:3-5  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Daniel 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Isaiah 26:19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

      d.  Unsaved of all ages.  

Revelation 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Revelation 20:11-14 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

    3.  Power of man’s resurrection.  

1 Corinthians 15:24-28  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

With the culmination of this age, Jesus will submit His positions as Advocate and Judge unto the Father and the Trinity will be in perfect unity, not only by their nature but also in their roles.   

Refer to John 13:3; Matthew 28:18-20

    4.  Provides encouragement to live for the Lord.  

         1 Corinthians 15:29-34

      a.  Be obedient.  

1 Corinthians 15:29  Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

      b.  Be faithful.  

1 Corinthians 15:30-32  And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

      c.  Be holy.  

1 Corinthians 15:33-34  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

Note: Have we followed the admonition of the Lord to be obedient, faithful, and holy?

  E.  He revealed the events of the resurrection.  1 Corinthians 15:35-50

Paul answered the questions of the false teachers –

    1.  How are the dead raised up? 

1 Corinthians 15:35-36  But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

      a.  The contention that at death, the body corrupted and could

           not live again.

      b.  The counter that if the body did not die, the man could not live.

     He used an illustration from daily life – the hope  and expectation of the

     farmer.

      c.  The curse of eternal existence in sin.

        1).  Man plants the body of the earth, that body being suited for earthly

              life only.

        2).  Man receives a body prepared for eternal life in Heaven.

        3).  Man would be cursed in living forever in this body of

              death.  (pain, sickness, suffering forever)  Actually the future of

              those in unbelief. John 3:17,18

    2.  With what body do they come?  1 Corinthians 15:35b, 37-50

1 Corinthians 15:35  But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

      a.  Related to, but different from that which was planted. 

1 Corinthians 15:37  And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:

      b.  Related to its environment as it has pleased God to create all things.

        1).  The example of the original creation.  Refer to Genesis 1:31

1 Corinthians 15:38-41  But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

        2).  The expectation.  

1 Corinthians 15:42-44  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

The resurrection of the body will evidence a change from –

          a).  Death to eternal life.  

John 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

          b).  Corrupted to glorious.

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

          c).  Weakness to power.  

Ecclesiastes 12:1-7  Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

          d).  Flesh to spirit

2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

      c.  Resurrected from earthly to spiritual.

1 Corinthians 15:45-50  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

        1).  Prepared for eternal life in the presence of God.

John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Philippians 3:20-21  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

        2).  Patterned after His own.     1 Corinthians 15:49 

              “…bear the image of the heavenly.”

          a).  He could be touched.

Matthew 28:9  And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

          b).  He could be recognized.   Answers to the difficulties they had –

            (1).  The disciples were perplexed, confused.  Luke 24:17-21

            (2).  The disciples were surprised.  Luke 24:36-39

            (3).  The disciples were mourning.  John 20:11-15

            (4).  The light was dim.  John 20:14,15

            (5).  The figure was obscure due to distance.  John 21:4

Note that He would be wearing different clothing as the soldiers had taken His.

Note also that following these moments of confusion, He was physically recognized.

Acts 1:3  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

God will give a body to each believer at the resurrection, a body prepared for eternal life with Him.

1 John 3:1-2  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Are you going to be with Him?  

1 Corinthians 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Or will you be like the man in Hell that Jesus spoke of – Luke 16:22-24? 

  F.  He rejoiced in the resurrection.  1 Corinthians15:50-57

    1.  The principle stated.  

         Requires being suited to the environment.

1 Corinthians 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

We must have –

      a.  An incorruptible spirit.  Refer to John 3:3-8

        1).  God revealed man’s need.

          a).  Nicodemus had a religious outlook and lifestyle, but he had a

                dead spirit.

          b).  Nicodemus needed to be spiritually made alive.

                His spirit was not fit for the kingdom of God.

        2).  God provided life through the work of the Holy Spirit. 

               Refer to 1 Peter 1:18-23

Titus 3:4-6  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

James 1:18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

           We must have –

      b.  An incorruptible body.  1 Corinthians 15:50

      c.  Provides freedom from conflict.   The resurrection solves our –

        1).  The present condition.

Galatians 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Romans 8:10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.     

  and it introduces –

        2).  The future condition.

Romans 8:11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Revelation 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Note:  We should always remember the threefold work of salvation –

          a).  We are saved

John 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

          b).  We are being saved

Galatians 2:19-20  For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

          c).  We are going to be saved

Romans 13:11  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

Our salvation is complete!!

    2.  The promise.  A mystery explained.   

1 Corinthians 15:51-54  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

The promise is –

      a.  Inclusive, all believers of this age, the living and the dead.

           Refer to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

      b.  Imminent.

        1).  In accordance to God’s plan of this age.  

              Refer to 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

        2).  In relation to His plan for Israel. 

              Catching away precedes  Matthew 24:32-42

               Be watching for Him –

Titus 2:12-13 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

      c.  Instantaneous.  

1 Corinthians 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

      d.  Eternal.  

           There is no possibility of sin, transgression as there is no law.

1 Corinthians 15:53-54  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

    3.  The praise.    

1 Corinthians 15:55-57  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Refer to 1 John 4:17-18  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

  G.  He reasoned with the people to serve the Lord. 

1 Corinthians 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

VII.  Directions in ministry  1 Corinthians 16:1-12

  A. The prepartion of ministry to –

    1.  The saints in need. 

1 Corinthians 16:1-4  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.

      a.  Being responsible to give –

James 2:14-16  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

      b.  Being willing to give-

Ephesians 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Romans 15:25-27  But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

      c.  Being prepared to give – 2 Corinthians 8:7-16; 9:1-5

      d.  Being prudent in giving – determining the legitimate recipient.

        1).  Widows, members of the church, in need.  1 Timothy 5:3-10

        2).  Pastors.  1 Timothy 5:17,18. 1 Thessalonians 5:12,13  Labour!

        3).  Evangelist missionaries   Philippians 4:10-17

        4).  Benevolence.  Ephesians 5:1-11

1 John 3:16-18  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

    2.  Paul.  1 Corinthians 16:5-9

      a.  His plan to visit them. 

1 Corinthians 16:5-7 Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia. And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go. For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.

Acts 20:3  And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

      b.  His present ministry.  Refer to Acts 19:9-23

1 Corinthians 16:8-9  But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

    3.  Timothy.  

1 Corinthians 16:10-11  Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.

  B.  The plans of Apollos. 

1 Corinthians 16:12  As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.

Paul’s instructions on giving focus on the heart.  He is speaking of finances and hospitality, but the motivation to be involved is what he is speaking to.

VIII.  Conclusion      1 Corinthians 16:13-24

  A.  Remarks  1 Corinthians 16:13-18

    1.  Exhortation.  1 Corinthians 16:13,14  

Paul exhorted the church to be –

      a.  Watchful

        1).  Diligent, living for the Lord, looking for His return.  

              Mark 13:34-35

        2).  Vigilant, prepared for danger.

Ephesians 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

James 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 5:6-9  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

      b.  Steadfast    1 Corinthians 15:58

           “keep on becoming steadfast” Robertson’s Word Pictures

John 7:16  Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

Romans 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

2 Timothy 4:2-4   Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

      c.  Courageous    

           Courageous and strong are terms used of one going into battle.

Joshua 1:6  Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

1 John 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

      d.  Strong  Ephesians 6:10-13    Be strong as well as courageous!

Rely on the strength of the Lord. 

1 Samuel 17:45-57 “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.  This day will the Lord deliver thee into my hand…”

      e.  Loving

John 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Refer to Colossians 3:12-17

      2.  Examples in the faith  

1 Corinthians 16:15-16  I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.

      a.  A submissive faith.  They were saved

      b.  An active faith.  They were serving

      c.  A respected faith.  They should be followed.

2 Timothy 2:1-2  Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

    3.  Expression of gratitude. 

1 Corinthians 16:17-18  I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied. For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.

  B.  Regards 

1 Corinthians 16:19-21  The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss. The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.

  C.  Reproof     His final word of warning – Repent for the Lord is coming!

1 Corinthians 16:22  If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha.

Anethema – doomed to destruction.

Maranatha – Our Lord Comes

  D. Benediction  

1 Corinthians 16:23-24  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. The first epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi by Stephanas, and Fortunatus, and Achaicus, and Timotheus.

Some of the work of God in Corinth through His Word can be seen through the Scriptures –

Acquila and Priscilla were saved through the ministry of Paul in Corinth.  They traveled with him on his missionary journey to Ephesus where the church met in their house – 1 Corinthians 16:9. They helped Apollos to understand the doctrine of God and also continued to minister when they returned to Rome –  Romans 16:3,4.  It is also likely that Sosthenes, the former synagogue ruler, Acts 18:17, was saved and was traveling with Paul in the ministry – 1 Cor. 1:1.  The plan of God is seen and illustrated in their lives.  Paul reminded the church of this in his second letter to them.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.