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The 3rd problem – Division in the church – spirtual immaturity… vs. 1-8
- Spiritual vs. carnal… vs. 1-4
- The 3rd reason for division in the church – the immaturity of the believers…
- Paul rebuked the church – I could not speak to you as ‘Spiritual’ instead as ‘Carnal’…
- Spiritual – mature in the faith – able to handle the ‘meat’ – deeper truths of God’s Word…
- Understanding life is about far more than momentary needs and pleasure…
- Recognizing the consequences – both temporary and eternal – for actions…
- Desiring to please and serve the Lord in both actions and thought…
- Carnal – immature in the faith – only able to swallow the ‘milk’ – simple teachings…
- Those who know Jesus – but live for their flesh – their basic desires…
- Live to eat / sleep / enjoy the pleasures of this passing life…
- Still bound to their sin – they live only to please themselves…
- Spiritual – mature in the faith – able to handle the ‘meat’ – deeper truths of God’s Word…
- I fed you with milk – not with meat…
- At first – Paul could only feed the believers with ‘milk’ – which is to be expected…
- The believers in Corinth had not grown in their walk with the Lord…
- But right up to the writing of Paul’s letter – they still could only receive ‘milk’!
- They had never grown in their faith – they had never matured in the Lord…
- When we first come to know the Lord – we are not going to understand much…
- There is a LOT about Jesus and God’s Word we do not comprehend…
- We are going to make a lot of mistakes – and struggle to overcome our sin…
- But we should not stay that way – as we get into God’s Word – we should grow…
- It is cute to bottle feed a young infant – no surprise when they mess their diapers
- But when a 20-year-old adult is still on the ‘bottle’ – still wearing diapers…
- It is a tragedy – something has gone terribly wrong…
- When a believer whose been saved for 20 years – is carnal – still living for this world
- It is a tragedy – they never grew in the Lord – they never matured in their faith…
- When those who should be teaching others – still need to be taught simple truth…
- * Hebrews 5:12 – “You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food.”
- As believers in Jesus we should – by spending time in God’s Word…
- Be growing out of ‘milk’ – the simple truths – salvation by faith / eternal judgment…
- Growing in the Lord to a place where we can begin to teach others about Jesus!
- At first – Paul could only feed the believers with ‘milk’ – which is to be expected…
- The proof of their childishness…
- The believers in Corinth should have been zealous – for Jesus…
- Instead they zealously debated with each other over their ‘divisions’…
- Their ‘denominational’ attitude – I am of Paul / I am of Apollos…
- Showed their immaturity – showed they were still babes in Christ…
- Paul does not hold back here – those who divide over denominations – are immature
- People who argue over being Catholic / Baptist / Adventist…
- Reveal they are either not saved – or have never grown in the Lord…
- Because they are acting no differently than before they knew Jesus!
- People in the world love to divide – they have their groups / barkada…
- In the world it is all about who is your family / town / county…
- Men have fight and kill each other just because they are rival sports teams…
- But it should not be the same in the church – we are to be united by love!
- John 13:35 – “All will know you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
- When we divide the church over denomination – we show we are like the world!
- The believers in Corinth should have been zealous – for Jesus…
- Planting and watering… vs. 5-7
- It’s not about the messenger…
- Who is Paul – who is Apollos – just servants of God – who told you about Jesus…
- If you got a letter in the mail with 1000 pesos from a good friend…
- You don’t thank the messenger – you go and thank the friend who gave the money…
- In the same way it does not matter who told you about Jesus – the Gospel…
- It does not matter what church you got saved in – the point is you received Jesus!
- One plants – another waters – God gives the increase!
- One man might sow a seed – another adds the water – but only God can make it grow!
- So it is not about the one who plants or waters – the credit goes to God!
- The one who plants and the one who waters work together so the plant will grow
- Paul planted the seed of the Gospel – and Apollos watered those seeds…
- But it was God who ultimately caused the people to grow in the Lord!
- Churches – pastors – do not get the credit for people growing in Jesus…
- You might have gotten saved (planted) listening to a pastor – in one church…
- Then you grew in God’s Word (watered) in a different church…
- That does not make one church better than the other – both were used!
- And ultimately it was God who used both to plant and water you in the Lord!
- So don’t look to the church – don’t give credit to men – give credit to Jesus!
- It’s not about the messenger…
A warning to pastors… vs. 8-15
- The reward for the labor… vs. 8-10
- So if all the credit goes to God – what do the Pastor’s get…
- In farming – both the planter and one who waters receive a reward for their labor…
- If either one failed to do their part – then the crop would fail…
- The reward they receive is the fruit that comes from their combined labor…
- Their reward for serving God…
- 1st – The church in Corinth was God’s field – Paul was sent to ‘farm’ in…
- The reward Paul received was seeing the fruit in the lives of those who believed…
- He planted / Apollos watered – both rejoiced in seeing the people grow – fruit!
- It is a sad thing to me that many pastors today think they are the ‘only farmer’…
- As though there is only one church – their church – that is the ‘right’ church…
- The joy of the pastor should be to watch the people grow and mature…
- No matter where they attend church – we are all one in Christ!
- 2nd – The church (people) was God’s building – Paul was sent to build…
- The reward Paul received was seeing the church of God built in Corinth…
- The reward of the pastor – is seeing people grow and the church of God built…
- My greatest joy is seeing people grow in the Lord – bear fruit for the Lord…
- I am constantly amazed as I get to be a part of God building His church!
- III John 1:4 – “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
- 1st – The church in Corinth was God’s field – Paul was sent to ‘farm’ in…
- So if all the credit goes to God – what do the Pastor’s get…
- The works tested by fire… vs. 10-15
- Paul was the wise master-builder (architect) of the church in Corinth…
- Paul set the foundation of the church – cause he was the first to share the Gospel there…
- Other men came – and added to the work – building on that foundation…
- But he warns – they needed to be careful on how they added to the church…
- Because the only foundation – is Jesus Christ…
- Matthew 16:18 – “On this rock I will build My church…”
- The ‘Rock’ that is the foundation of the church – is Jesus Christ!
- The foundation that Paul set – the only foundation that the church can stand upon!
- There were those who sought to ‘replace’ the foundation…
- They wanted to build the church upon a denomination – name – rather than Jesus!
- When a church uses a man’s name / churches name – more than Jesus names…
- When a denomination become more important than Jesus – wrong foundation…
- If any one builds upon the foundation (Jesus) – their work will be tested…
- It will be tested to see if it is Gold/Silver/or precious stones or Wood/Hay/ Straw…
- It will be tested – by putting the ‘work’ through the fire – on THE Day (Judgment Day)…
- The idea is the works of pastors/leaders who serve and teach in the church – are tested
- Was their work based on Jesus – or on their own name / their own efforts…
- If anyone’s ‘work’ endures – he will receive a reward…
- If the foundation of their work was Jesus – then the work will endure…
- It will be obvious because of the fruit that comes from the work – mature believers!
- You can always spot a church that is founded on Jesus – the people grow in the Lord…
- Faith comes by hearing God’s Word – Romans 10:17 – getting to know Jesus…
- The fruit of the church is gold/silver/precious – because it lasts – John 15:16
- In the same way you always spot a church that is full or wood/hay/ and straw…
- There is no maturity in the believers – 20 years down the road – still babes…
- Still arguing over denominations – still living like they did before they knew Jesus!
- If anyone’s ‘work’ is burned – he will suffer loss – but himself will be saved…
- The pastors work is burned up (sermons, lectures, books, teaching, all dry as dust)
- He will still be saved – but all of his efforts are lost in the fire…
- It is the tragedy of a fruitless life – a minister who built so poorly on the true foundation
- His work goes up in smoke – His sermons were empty words without building power…
- They left no mark in the lives of the hearers – it is the picture of a wasted life!
- Paul was the wise master-builder (architect) of the church in Corinth…
Therefore do not cause division… vs. 16-23
And you are Christ’s – and Christ is God’s!
You are the church of G od… vs. 16-17
Paul turns back to the saints of Corinth – you are the temple of God…
The Holy Spirit (who is God) dwells within you – within the Church of God…
The church of God is not a building – it is not a particular denomination…
There is only one church of God – we are all part of the Body of Christ…
No matter what name – no matter what traditions – we are all part of God’s church!
If you destroy the building of God (the church) – God will destroy you…
Going back to the idea of causing divisions within the church – tearing down the church
The punishment is equally effective – God will wreck the church-wrecker!
If we cause division within God’s church – if we focus on denominations – watch out…
If someone beat up your wife – what would you do to them…
We are the Bride of Christ – what do you suppose God will do to someone who hurts us
Do not follow the wisdom of men… vs. 18-23
If any of you are wise in this world – become a fool for Jesus…
Cause the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God – the thoughts of the wise – futile!
Just because others divide – do not follow in their example – don’t follow men’s wisdom!
Keep in simple – stay firmly planted on the foundation of Jesus!
Don’t settle for less – don’t rob yourself of the blessings of the riches of the church…
Not just one church – but the blessing of knowing all of God’s kids…
Everything is already yours – Paul / Apollos / the whole world!
Things present – things to come – life and death – are all yours!
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