The Good, The Bad and the Ugly - 1 Corinthians 2:14 - 3:23

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
Text: 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:23

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Introduction:

In an East Texas Baptist church they were having a business meeting. Under new business, there was a motion on the floor for using some extra money on church building improvements. Everyone agreed that would be a good thing. Then the first suggestion was made to buy a chandelier for the church foyer. The floor was then opened for discussion. One good ol’ boy stood to and voiced his opinion.  "Well, I'm against buying a chandelier." 

When asked why he replied. "I'll give you three good reasons. One, no one can spell it. Two, no one in this church can play it and three, what we really need is more light!"

This morning I'm going to give you three things as well, the three conditions or states of man in his relationship with the Lord.  You may have thought that man is either lost or saved but actually there is a third condition that Paul explains in the first letter to the Corinthians in chapters 2 and 3. Turn to 1 Corinthians 2:14  and let’s find them. I am labeling these three “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” And no this is not the start of a new series entitled Sunday morning at the movies. In case you were worried. Turn to 1 Corinthians 2:14

As you are turning let me give you some background to the book and the city of Corinth. Paul probably wrote the letter from Ephesus during the three year ministry he had there. It was written around a.d. 55. Paul wrote the letter because he had heard from two sources that there were deep divisions and conflict in the church. Also Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus had brought a letter from the believers in Cornith with several questions that needed guidance on.  You can identify the answers to these questions when Paul says, 'now concerning.”

Throughout the book Paul’s purpose in writing was to save a local church from destruction from the inside out. This was a church that was killing itself through pride, division and sin and this was a heartbreaking reality to Paul who had founded it and now with these letters fights to save it.

It is amazing that a church could take root and survive in the pagan immorality of a city like Corinth. The fact that it had, was a testimony to the power of the Gospel and the providence of God. The old city contained the famous Temple of Aphrodite, where one thousand sacred prostitutes were made available to its cultists. There was a sexually-slanted proverb, "It is not given to everyone to visit Corinth,"  Much like “What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas” The Greeks even had a word which literally meant to act the Corinthian, and they used it for people who were guilty of fornication, To be a 'Corinthian girl' meant she was promiscuous. One ancient Greek writer recorded that if ever a Corinthian was shown upon the stage in a Greek play he was shown drunk." Corinth was a city noted for everything depraved, dissolute, and debauched.

So if it wasn’t hard enough to keep a church going in that outward situation along comes the members of the church itself and they seem intent on destroying it from the inside.

The Bad, The Natural Man 1 Corinthians 2:9-14

1 Cor 2:9-14 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. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 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.  2 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.  13 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.  14 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.

The Natural man

Paul begins this section by telling the Corinthians that should understand they mystery, the hidden things he is going to teach them because they are from God and they are received by those who have the Spirit of God in them. He says the natural man, the unsaved man can’t see, hear or receive these things but the Corinthians can because they have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit of God, for the purpose of knowing the thing that are freely given to us of God. He says the natural man cannot received these things because they are spiritually discerned and the natural man does not have the Holy Spirit to teach him.

The first spiritual state that Paul presents here is the natural man. The natural man is a man without Christ as his savior; without God as his father and without the Holy Spirit as his comforter, guide and teacher.

The Natural man is a lost sinner, his sin has separated him from God.

Romans 3:10-12 10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Jesus said that those who will not believe His words are children of the Devil

John 8:44-45 44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45  And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

The Natural Man the Bible tells us is destined for eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire.

Revelation 20:12, 15 12  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. …. 15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The First Spiritual State: Naturally Lost

The circle is your life, or your soul. The figure on the inside is a throne, the place of ruling for your life. The letter I, represents you. In this diagram you are in charge of your life. The cross represents Jesus and He is outside of your life. This is a graphic of the natural state of man.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be in that spiritual state. We all were once but if we have accepted Christ as our savior, believed his words, accepted the truth of his death for us and repented of my sins then I am no longer a Natural Man.

I don’t want to be a natural man because a person in that condition receives nothing from the Spirit.

No forgiveness, no guidance, no sealing, no indwelling, no quickening, no eternal life and no hope. As Paul said, “1 Corinthians 2:9 9  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.”

The natural man, the lost man, the unsaved will never know or experience the wonders, blessings and joy that God has prepared for those who love him.

Illustration: TV set and TV signals

Let me illustrate it this way, You know in our physical world all around us are invisible spectrums of light and frequencies of sound but we can’t normally see them or hear them. You can’t see what is on the internet without a computer, you can’t talk to your grandma in Terra Del Fuega without a cell phone. You can’t hear music coming through the air unless you have a radio. Imagine all you are missing, all you are completely ignorant of because you can’t see, hear or receive those things.

The same is true on a spiritual scale, but it is much, much worse. You can’t experience God’s comfort, the hope of eternity, the assurance of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. You can’t know eternal love, you can’t know complete forgiveness, you can’t know the assurance of providence or the promises of God. If you are lost, you just don’t have the means to understand or receive these great blessings. Like a person with modem you are wondering what this internet thing is that everyone is talking about. You are lost in your ignorance, but oh what a much greater tragedy to be lost in your sin.  

If you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior, then you are still in that natural and lost state, separated from God and under His judgmental and wrath.

Transition: Next Paul moves to the second spiritual state of man, The Good.

 The Good, The Spiritual Man 1 Corinthians 2:15-16

1 Corinthians 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

The Spiritual Man

Now Paul instructs the Corinthian church about the Spiritual man  and he tells them that the spiritual man judges all things.

The word judge is from the Greek word anakrino, it means to examine, investigate, question.

The Spiritual man is a discerner of all things, he investigates and examines in order to find the true value, the things that count, the things that last.

The Spiritual man is judged by no one who is still in a natural state because the natural man is unable to judge that which he cannot understand.

Paul is telling this certainly because it is true, but in the case of the Corinthian church with all its divisions, pride and sin, he is exhorting them to understand that because they are spiritual now, they need to quit acting like and judging like they are still naturals.

Instead of saying Act like a man, he is saying act like a spiritual man. Like we tell our young sons, “Put on your big boy pants.” Parents have a saying for girls as well but I’m uncomfortable talking about women’s undergarments in the pulpit. Call me old fashioned.

Paul is trying to get the Corinthian church to understand who they are and who they should think and act as those who are saved and have the spirit of God. 

In the diagram Jesus on the throne of my life, kept there by my following the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The Second Spiritual State: Spiritually Saved

We should heed the same exhortation. Know who we are, think like we should and act like those who are led by the Holy Spirit.

We know that we are Spiritual People because

We have through repentance and faith accepted Jesus Christ as our savior. 

 Romans 2:3-4 3  And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

 Romans 10:9-13 9  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. 10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12  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. 13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

We think like Spiritual people by following the Leadership of the Holy Spirit through God's Word.

John 16:13-14 13  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. 14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

 And we act like Spiritual People when we do what the Holy Spirit and God’s Word instructs us to do.

Galatians 5:18  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Quote: Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind. We are useless. – Charles Spurgeon

The Ugly, The Carnal Man 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.  2 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.  3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

The Carnal Christian

 Paul uses two words translated carnal to describe the two types of Christians in these verses.

The first word in verse 1 is Sarkinos which means made of flesh or from the flesh.

When Paul first came to Corinth, the people were carnal, and weak because they are newborn. They are of the flesh because they haven’t yet matured beyond a physical understanding of their life and how to live it.

 They were babes in Christ, being fed with milk, the basic teachings and truths of Christian doctrine. Babes in Christ are still immature, selfish, and ignorant because they have not be trained in the deeper, stronger things of Christ. They are young in the faith and they have not yet grown in a relationship with Jesus.

Sarkikos, is the second word used in vss 2 and 3 and has a slightly different meaning, instead of being of the flesh, it means dominated by the flesh.

 The church had moved not from spiritual immaturity to spiritual maturity, but from immature weakness to immature willfulness. They were still as immature, selfish and ignorant as the babe in Christ, but it was because they were unwilling to grow and mature spiritual, are unwilling to hear and bear spiritual things. Their initial weakness had become negligent unwillingness, an unwillingness to grow to be able to accept the meat of the word rather than the milk.

The outcome of this willful carnality is seen in verse 3. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

The carnality of the church had brought about division, open sin, broken fellowship, and broken hearts. They may have been saved but they were acting like they were lost and just like the lost, their selfishness, greed and personal agendas had come close to destroying one of the Lord’s churches. And there is nothing uglier, in all of  Christianity than one of the Lord’s churches acting like they are no different than a bunch of lost people.

Quote: The world conforms, the flesh deforms, but the Spirit transforms. – Larry Jones

 The Third Spiritual State: Carnal Yet Christian

Paul’s challenge to the church at Corinth is also a challenge to our church at Athens. We must know what spiritual state I am in as an individual and as a church body. If we are saved then we should be growing, maturing as children of God. We should be acting and thinking as those who listen to God word and then follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit in all we do.

I can be saved but still live like this world, the reality is that Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit indwells us, but because of our willfulness, our sin, our pride, the Holy Spirit does not control us.

We began with the milk of God Word , the beginning, basic truths of God. We accepted salvation, repentance, baptism and church membership.  But now the carnal Christian refuses to take the meat of God’s Word, the deeper, harder but vital truths.

The carnal Christian loves to hear about salvation and forgiveness but doesn’t want to hear about sending missionaries or forgiving those who have hurt them. Carnal Christians love to hear everything in black and white, wrong and right but they don’t want to deal with bearing the weakness of fellow church members when it comes to areas of conviction. They love listening to all of God’s blessing for themselves but refuse to be a channel of God’s blessing to others.

Carnality in my life or in my church always results in the same thing Paul pointed to in vs. 3, envy, strife, and divisions.

In the letter to the Galatians he said it this way, Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Get past your own experience of Salvation, don’t be an ugly Christian. Choose to be a beautiful maturing child of God each and everyday.

Quote: Salvation is the most important thing in the world, until you are saved and then it’s the least important thing. - Raleigh Campbell

Paul gives the cures for carnality in the rest of the chapter 2 Corinthians 3:5-9, 19-23

In vss 5-9 he tells them to realize that we are called by God to unity. 1 Corinthians 3:9 9  For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.

Avoid pride and the world’s view of wisdom 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 18  Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20  And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

Then he tells them to focus not on great men but upon their Great God and Savior. 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 1  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 22  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 23  And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

The ultimate fix for the problem of the ugly Christian is the beauty of Christian love. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 13. There must be a dedication to the love that Jesus had for us, the love we should have for each other and the love we should even have for the lost of this world.

1 Corinthians 13:1-8 NKJV 1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2  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, but have not love, I am nothing. 3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4  Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5  does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6  does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8  Love never fails.

 

Conclusion:

Walk in the Spirit, walk in the love of Christ! Be the Spiritual Person that Jesus Christ gave his life on Calvary to redeem and save. Many Christians spend their entire post salvation lives in this ugly condition and the church pays a terrible price especially when there is a crisis, a need or a opportunity. Ugly Christians, carnal immature Christians don’t do well in situations where they need to depend on a close, deep relationship with their Savior because they never matured beyond their own salvation.

If you are here today and you are still in your natural lost state, then

You need to receive Jesus Christ. You need to receive his forgiveness. You need to know His never-failing all-powerful love.

 If you recognize in yourself that ugly carnal Christian, then

You need to get your eyes off yourself and on to others, off the world and on to Jesus Christ. You need to let Jesus rule in your life, he is ruler of this universe, how can we deny him the throne of my life? You need to resist the hurts, offenses and rivalries that are so easily fallen into, and realize that we are all laborer together in this work for God.

 Strive to be a Spiritual One

This is not a impossible or super pious life. It is the normal Christian life, we are called to, the life we are given the Holy Spirit to live. We are not of this world we are citizens of a spiritual kingdom, Children of a Heavenly Father. Let the true, the real you show through.

 

Overcoming Hard Times #1: Job Understanding Hard Times

Overcoming Hard Times #1 Job: 

Understanding Hard Times

Hard Times Are Here

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The Reality of Hard Times

9/11 Attack on the World Trade Center
Active shooters in churches / Islamic terrorist against churches in Middle East and Africa
Covid 19 Pandemic / lockdowns / economic collapse
Police killings / Rioters destroying cities
Twin Hurricanes / earthquakes / floods / wildfires

If we are to overcome hard times, suffering and pain in this life then we first need to understand, why a loving, omnipotent God allows these hurtful things. Why do we suffer? Why do we encounter hard times?

The Tragedies of Job

Background

Name means: one who turns back to God or the assailed persecuted one. He was perfect and upright, meaning he was blameless and lacking nothing in his service to God, he was a just man.

His wealth was measured in possessions, which dates the book near Abraham's time.  Does not mention any other Bible book or character. The Book of Job may be our oldest book of the Bible. He was a man who loved his family, shown by the sacrifices he offered.

His tragedies 1:13-19, 2:7-9

Job 1:13-19 13  And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 14  And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 15  And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 16  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 17  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 18  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 19  And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

He lost his children, his wealth, his servants, his health and finally he lost even the support of his wife and friends.

Why Do We Have Hard Times?

Why? Why is easy to understand but hard to accept.

Genesis 3:1-5 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

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.

Sin, free will and man’s choice of disobeying God brought suffering and pain. That choice and my own choices are why there is suffering and hard times in this world and sometimes in my life, but it brings up another question.

What am I supposed to do when I’m suffering, when I’m trying to survive through the hard times. I have to have the right perspective, a Biblical perspective about hard times, suffering or pain.

Mistaken Perspective

"Tragedy or suffering is punishment, or there must be a reason, a plan or a purpose which I can understand." Christians might say it, "God caused it, or God allowed it.” The danger, like Job is in blaming God and getting beat down by the hurt.

Proper Perspective

Instead we need to see hard times from God’s perspective and as an opportunity to rise up stronger. My understanding of hard times determines if I blame God sink lower and give up or trust God and rise up.

Jesus Perspective on Hard Times and Suffering

In John 9 Jesus was asked by His disciples, why was a man was born blind? Was it his sin or the sin of his parents?

John 9:1  And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2  And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 6  When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7  And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

Jesus’ answer gave a completely different perspective. He said, The hurt, the pain, the hard times should be seen as God's opportunity to show His power and love. The exact cause for the hard times was none of their business.

Transition:

Job’s friends give us these two perspectives on hard times. Let them beat me down or in God’s power use them to raise me up.

 

 Hard Times and Hurt

 Job's friends are the original, "With friends like these who needs enemies."

Eliphaz the Tishbite, Job 4:7-8
Bildad the Shuhite, Job 8:3-6
Zophor the Naamanite, Job 11:5-6

All these "friends" felt that Job was being punished for sin. Because of this their help was not helpful. Instead it brought Job even further down.

Job sinks deeper into despair

Job 7:12  Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me? 13  When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint; 14  Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions: 15  So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life. 16  I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.

In his despair he tries to contend with God,

Job 10:1  My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. 2  I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. 3  Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

In his desperation he pleads for true help of a friend, Job 6:14-18

Transition:

Job’s three friends and many times we as well have the wrong perspective about hard times. What then is the proper perspective? Job’s last friend, Elihuh, provides the key and God brings the answer home.

Hard Times and Hope

Elihu, holds the key.

When God does answer Job, he rebukes him and the friends, but he does not rebuke the young Elihu. What did Elihu say?

First, he said that Job had justified himself rather than God.

Job 32:2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

Second, He said the friends had accused Job without knowledge.

Job 32:3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

Finally, Elihu, said that Job was blaming and contending with God as though he was an equal and God was nothing more than a human bully.

Job 33:8-11 8  Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, 9  I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. 10  Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, 11  He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.

Then we come to the real lesson of Job’s hard times. It is simply this, God is greater than man. He see what I cannot see. He is all powerful, all knowing and always present. I must trust Him rather than trying to understand Him or what He is doing when it comes to the hard times in my life.

Job 33:12 Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. How do I apply the real lesson of Job.

Applying the Job’s Lesson To My Hard Times

 What scripture does not teach.

All problems, pain and tragedies are caused by God for a special reason or punishment.  Actually, most of our suffering is due to our own choices and those of our fellow man. 

Deuteronomy 30 15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16  In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. 17  But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; 18  I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. 19  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Also Joshua 24:15, John 3:36

That I can always see God's purpose in a tragedy. God does not owe me an explanation.

Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Nor does the Bible teach that all tragedies for Christians somehow have "happy endings."

What scripture does teach.

That God is with us in all circumstances. God is greater.

John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19  Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

Because He is with us, we have hope and will overcome

1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

That God can bring good out of the worst sorrow 

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Genesis 50:19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

God can make us stronger through the suffering. 

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.,

God Uses hard times to refine us

1 Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

 Conclusion:

We need to understand that God sometimes allows or brings hard times so that we can become stronger but sometimes bad things happen simply because we live in bad world.  Still, no matter the reason God promises He will be with us and trusting Him through the hard times is our only hope of coming out stronger.

Also we must remember, if there is unrepentent, habitual sin in my life, God will chastise me in order to bring me back to Him. Hard times may be part of that process.

The bottom line is we must learn to change our understanding, our perspective.  Instead of "God, why me?"  We need to ask, "God, what would you have me do?" and “God, How can I draw closer to you and stronger in my faith through these hard times?”

God is greater than man, greater than hard times and I must trust Him when I find myself in the dark times.  If I love and trust Him, He has promised to bring good out of evil and refine my heart like fire purifies gold.

 

Living By Faith 7: Faith and God's Family Pt 3

Lifting With The Lord - Romans 15:1-6

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.  For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 Doing Just Like Jesus  vs. 1-3

Here is how Paul wraps this up We the strong are to lift up, edify and bear the weaknesses of our fellow family members in the Lord.

This is what Jesus did and we should be following his example. Vs. 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.  Paul quotes Psalms 69:9, one of the most important Messianic Psalms. He wants us to realize that we wouldn’t be saved if Christ hadn’t taken on our weaknesses, our reproaches. who took on our sins and bore our weakness.

This word reproach, that I have always just read and not really thought about comes from the Greek word onedismoss and it comes close to the meaning of “dis” as used today. It means to upbraid, revile, cast in one's teeth, or we would say throw it in my face. Jesus bore the accusations, revilement and humiliation that comes from being reproached. He is our example and we can at least bear the minor differences that come from other people’s convictions of how they are trying to serve and honor God.

He tells them in vs 4 that we have two sources, two means to be able to accomplish this, by the patience and comfort that comes from scripture learning. Amazing, that’s what we are trying to do today. Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Then Paul gives a blessing and a prayer for the church in Rome because he knows this is not an easy undertaking. People feel strongly about out convictions, as they should but not in a way that hurts others and may destroy the church they all love.

Romans 15:5-6 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6  That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The ultimate purpose, that we with one mind and one mouth will glorify God.

Stop, Drop and Roll

(Stop your critical judging, Drop your hurtful debating and Roll into glorifying our great God.) After hearing that you now can see the difference between the inspiration of the Holy Spirit as seen in what Paul writes and all the rest of us. Yes, I find inspiration in a fire safety warning.

Let me conclude with a story about Charles Spurgeon, everyone loves a good Spurgeon story, especially preachers.

 Illustration: The Orphanage Conflict

Charles Spurgeon had a friend, Joseph Parker. Park was not a Baptist but a Congregational preacher. The two of them were considered the most influential and popular preacher in London during the Victorian era.

Though they were friends a misunderstanding arose between them. Charles Spurgeon had a fiery temper and personality to match, while Joseph Parker was quiet; tending to be meek and mild-mannered. One day, Pastor Parker made a comment about the terribly poor condition of the children being admitted to Spurgeon’s orphanage. Spurgeon’s church, Metropolitan Tabernacle, had just taken up operations for an orphanage for abandoned boys. And Spurgeon’s great love was for “his” orphanages. Spurgeon gave away most of the money that he ever made to these orphanages, in todays money it would amount to tens of millions. On the day the conflict began, Parker said to some members of his church, “We ought to help Spurgeon with his orphanage, for there are times when the boys don’t have proper clothes, and I am sure they could use some food.”

However, one of the men standing there, twisting the truth, and reported to Spurgeon, that Parker had in fact, criticized the orphanage itself; telling Spurgeon that “Joseph Parker says the boys in your orphanage don’t have enough clothes to wear or sufficient food to eat.”

To Spurgeon this was like a knife in the back by someone he trusted as a friend.  The next Sunday Spurgeon got in the pulpit and blasted Parker not only for what he thought had been said but for other things like the fact that Parker attended plays.

Because Spurgeon was so well known and so popular all his sermons were reprinted in the London newspapers and now his attack against his friend Parker was know to all of England. Then a newspaper reporter raced over to Parker’s home and asked him whether he would reply to Spurgeon attack on the following Sunday. Parker thought for a moment and replied. “Yes, I will respond to him next Sunday.”

This great minister’s battle become the talk of London.  Bets were wagered at betting houses and among the lost. People, religious and not, talked and speculated back and forth about it all that week.

Understandably, huge throngs of people as well as a herd of newspaper reporters flocked to Parker’s church the next Sunday to hear the rebuttal. Hundreds were there when the doors opened. You could feel the high tension at the church service. The singing was strained. Everyone waited with bated breath And when it came time for Dr. Parker to speak, a hush fell upon the crowd.  The good pastor, slowly got up and went to the pulpit, quietly cleared his throat and said, “Brother Spurgeon is sick today and cannot preach. This is the day when he takes up an offering for his orphans. May I suggest that we take up that offering for him in our church, for he’s doing a great work, and I know all of us would like to have a part in it.”

Pastor Parker’s compassion stirred such a response that the deacons had to empty the offering plates three times. They bagged the money and took it over to Spurgeon after the service, commenting, “This is a gift from Joseph Parker. He really promoted your program in church today.”

On Tuesday morning there was a knock at Parker’s study.  It was Spurgeon. Throwing his arms around his nearly lost friend he said, “You have more of the spirit of Jesus Christ than any man I know. You know, Parker, you have practiced grace on me. You have given me not what I deserved, you have given me what I needed.”

 Conclusion

Isn’t that what Jesus did for us? Isn’t that the least we can do for those who He died for, who is their Lord and who they will stand before one day just like us to be judged for the way they served and honored him. And you know what I think when it comes to that judgment of reward and lack of reward? I doubt seriously anyone will lose anything from their crown for wearing the wrong kind of clothes one Sunday or not celebrating Christmas but I know we will lose a part of our crown of life for driving brothers and sister from the house of God, because we couldn’t be the strong one, love them and lift them even in their weaknesses, just as Christ love and lifted us.

Living By Faith #7: Faith and God's Family Romans 14 Pt. 2

 

13  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 14  I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15  But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 16  Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20  For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 21  It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 22  Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 23  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Love Of The Lord – Romans 14:13-23

 Do Judge This 13-23

Paul gives a quick summary of the previous point and paragraph. Romans 14:13 13  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

Judge this, Paul says, don’t be or place stumbling blocks that would cause others to fall in their relationship with the Lord and with you.  

Instead of judging our sibling in the Savior, we need to be judging the stumbling blocks in ourselves. A stumbling block is something that causes a fall or an offence.

It means that a church member acts in such a way, speaks in such a way or “Dear Lord forgive us” gossips in a manner that brings a fellow believer to a place where they are hurt or offended and their fellowship with me and their walk with the Lord God is hindered. Just like stretching a tripwire in the aisle when someone was coming forward at the invitation.

Paul gives the church at Rome instructions in understanding how to deal with differing convictions.

First, Understand the truth of freedom and the reality of convictions.

Romans 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

This is a strong statement by the apostle, I know and am persuaded, fully convinced that in these areas of personal convictions, it is not an issue of right or wrong, but the reality of strong personal convictions. If you don’t understand then you will be a stumbling block, an offence to the work of God. What they were so adamant about making others do or don’t do becomes the real sin.

Second, Paul points out we should understand our priorities vs. 15-20

Romans 14:15-20 15  But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. (in the love of the Lord) Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 16  Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20  For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

What is more important, Paul is asking the believers at Rome, the kind of food you will or won’t eat or your fellowship with the family of God? Don't let your good, your liberty and freedom in Christ, be made evil. The kingdom of God is not food and drink, but spiritual. Worshiping and serving God in all that is done or not done is acceptable to God and men. Your priority as a child of God, a part of the family of God and the body of Christ in the church must be for peace and edifying your brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Paul sums up the weak brother principle vs. 21-23

Romans 14:21-23 21  It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 22  Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 23  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

For meat (the gray area of convictions) don't destroy the work of God.  All things (these areas of liberty) are pure, but not if you practice them and wind up offend and hurting those you should be loving in Christ.

The best practice is to put aside our liberty for the sake of our weak brother's conscience. Do you have faith in your freedom, then have it before God, Rejoice in your liberty. But remember if there is doubt (no faith) of the practice then there is judgment (of self), because whatever is not of faith is sin.

 Ready, Set, Stop (Being Critical)

I can’t emphasize enough how important the weak brother principle is to the life of a church. I think that only gossip is more deadly to a local church than a wrong understanding of convictions and tolerance. Let me just emphasize a couple of things as we move on.

First when it comes to the weak brother principle, you are always the strong brother or sister. The Holy Spirit is talking to you as the strong sibling not to you someone else who is carrying the wrong translation or wearing the wrong apparel to church. Lord help you if you are upset with someone who wears boots to church in Texas or anywhere in the southwest for that matter.

What this means is you, as the stronger in faith and wisdom in this equation can’t walk up to someone and say, “Your beard offends me and so according to Romans 14 you need to shave it off.” Or any other form of that address which is exactly the opposite of what Paul was saying. You are the strong brother not the weak, you can’t use Romans 14 to force your convictions on someone else or make them give up their convictions. Stronger here means your strength is in understanding and then tolerating the difference which we all have in our convictions. “Do you have faith in your convictions? Have it to yourself before God. You’ll be happy” The key phrase is “have it to yourself before God.”

Don’t brag about your Christmas Tree when you know your brother or Sister in Christ doesn’t believe they should be put up. Don’t make snide remarks about how your wife or daughters honor the Lord by wearing dresses to church when a fellow sister in the church wears their nicest pant suit. (Do women even wear pantsuits anymore? I have no idea. In this day and age, I’m just glad they’re wearing something.)

Don’t let your good things in the Lord, your freedom, the liberty of your convictions,  be turned into evil things because you couldn’t figure out how to handle the differences of those convictions.

 Illustration

The Easter Sunday short shorts. LeeOra and I once ran a bus route for our Sunday School at Faith Temple Baptist in Farmers Branch. We picked up between 10 and 20 kids on Sundays. Most of the kids were just being babysat, their parents were hungover, still asleep and really just wanting a couple of hours to stay in bed. So we got kids who were not at all traditional church kids, from traditional church families. One Easter Sunday I remember picking up some children and because it was Easter most of them were more dressed up as usual. House after house we would pull up, one of us would run up and knock on the door and if everyone was awake, the kids would come out ready for church. On this Sunday one little girl came out dressed in a brand new outfit for Easter Sunday. She was only about 8 or so and her Mom had bought her a jumper I guess you’d call it that it had straps that went over a blouse but oh my goodness! They were shorts. I mean they were shorts. Shorts in church on Easter Sunday! Did I tell you they were shorts? Cause they were definitely shorts.

What do I do as the bus Capitan? Do you turn her back and tell her, you’ can’t wear shorts to church! Especially, on Easter Sunday morning! That was my first thought. Then I saw the look of pride on her sweet 8-year-old face. Her mom had bought her this brand new outfit for Easter Sunday!

You know what I said, “Wow, you look wonderful all dressed up for Easter. Is that a outfit? I’m so glad you wore it to Sunday School.” Think of the consequences if I had turned her away. Now think of those who you may not see in church anymore and ask yourself did I love them in the Lord or did I condemn them by my convictions?

Living by Faith #7: Faith and God's Family Part 1 - Romans 14:1-12

Liberty In The Lord - Romans 14:1-12

1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 5  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. 7  For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 9  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 10  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

 Don’t Judge This

Paul writes to the Roman church about difference of conviction within the church body. Jewish believers who still practiced the festival and feast days were misunderstood by the Gentile Christians who had given up their pagan holidays. The Gentiles who saw no problem with eating meat with blood in it or eating other ceremonial unclean foods that were abhorrent to the Jews. This could cause real friction and even division within the church.

Paul tells them yes, accept into your church family those which may be weak, immature, in the faith but not for the purpose of getting into debates with them about the these differences of personal conviction. We could call them the gray areas of Christianity living.

Let me note here, that Paul’s admonition applies to those in the faith, those who are saved and in these areas of conviction he is going to talk about. Paul who had been stoned, persecuted, threatened and arrested because of his stand for the truth, would never compromise on the truth,  the Gospel, morality, or Biblical doctrine. One those things that God clearly states as right and wrong there is not compromise.

Yet there are areas of differences that the Bible does not expressly state it is as wrong and we had better understand the difference or we will destroy the church which is meant to be the pillar and ground of the truth.

Paul give four reasons why we should accept our brother and sisters in Christ in spite of their differing opinions and convictions in areas that are not clearly defined in Scripture as right or wrong.

God has accepted them (vv. 1-3). Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

God will sustain Them (v. 4). Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand

Jesus is their Lord (vv. 5-9). For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Jesus is their Judge (vv. 10-12). For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

 

Paul's Examples Of Christian Convictions that are between the believer and his God.

vs. 2  Eating meat or just vegetables, “Let neither despise the other for God has received him. Both give thanks to God for whatever they eat.”

Vs 5    Special days and holy days. “5  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”

Vs. 6 In both cases, Paul says, they are trying to honor the Lord in their convictions. The Jews who continued to keep the OT Holy Days and the Gentiles who had walked away from the pagan ones, the food the Jews wouldn’t touch and the blessing said over the Gentiles non-Levitical meal all were convinced they were doing it to honor the Lord and Savior.

 Critical, Convicted or Caring

Do I dare site some of the recent or even current areas of convictions we must can either be critical, convicted or caring about?

Women wearing pants to church. Head covering on women. Makeup or jewelry on women. Beards on Men. Tattoos on women and men, women speaking in church or voting in business meetings, Eating out on Sundays, Movie attendance, Owing a television, Going to Sporting Events, Christmas, Christmas trees and presents, Easter, Easter eggs and bonnets, Sunday Afternoon church services replacing Sunday night church services, Bible translations, pews or chairs in the auditorium. Songs on the screen, guitar music, organ music, recorded music, too modern music, too ancient music, too loud music, too much music.

Makes you wish you could just go back to differences about food and holidays doesn’t it. There is a minefield of personal convictions out there and if we as a church are not very careful in how we deal with them, we will step up on them and blow up an entire church.

These all are in the category of the weak brother / sister principle.

They are not cardinal doctrines which deal with salvation, the ordinances or other areas that define Christianity.

They are not spelled out as definitely wrong in the Bible. They are differences of conviction among believers in the faith and usually in the same church. They are all things we must leave to our brother and sisters personal beliefs about how to serve and honor God and leave to the Lord’s judgement in the future.

Paul writing to the Corinthians

1 Corinthians 4:5 — Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

2 Corinthians 5:10 — For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

 Illustration: The Missionary that Left the Work

I once had a few conversations with an independent Baptist missionary who was on deputation while I was in school at Independent Baptist College. He told me of some of the difficulties he had encountered while on the road raised support. One pastor called him down from the pulpit because he had dared to wear cowboy boots on the speakers podium. Another had met him at the door and then led him to his office where he opened a drawer full of eyeglasses and told the missionary to pick a pair to replace the ones he was wearing because they were wire-rimmed glasses, the same kind that John Lenin and all those hippies wore.

You and I would probably find those things a little funny or quaint but years later I learned that the missionary who shared those things with me had finally grown tired of being beat up for being different and he quit trying to raise support, go to the mission field and preach the Gospel.

That is the danger of not understanding the principle of bearing one another’s convictions can do. If we are not caring instead of critical we will drive brothers and sisters who love the lord and want to serve Him in our church, right out that back door to another church or to the world. Most times they will never tell you why they left. Maybe you said something about long hair on one of their kids or kidded about the NIV or ESV translation they proudly carried into services that day. Its not that they were wrong or that you were right, it’s about critical sometimes bitter judging in the areas that Romans 14 says, you have no right to judge here.