[0:00] the words of the second song are vibrating in my head. Behold, he comes, riding in the clouds. It's the day ahead of us, and we look forward to it when we'll meet the grace of God, our Lord Jesus Christ.
[0:26] Ben asked for more announcements, and as we were singing, I thought of one, so if you don't mind, I'll share it. Last night at the Brotherhood, we decided to pursue making a new photo directory of the church.
[0:43] And some of you may have had the old one. It was done in 2019. But we're planning on making a new one where each church family receives a page with a colored photo and their information, phone numbers, birthdays, and so on.
[1:03] And so we're looking for an individual or several individuals to take charge of this. And someone who is gifted in organizing and takes some computer skills and some camera skills and so on, and just to take pictures and then put it all together.
[1:25] So I think last time, the cost was maybe around $20 for a completed book. It'll likely be a bit more because the church has grown. There'll be more photos, a thicker book.
[1:37] So if you're interested, just come forward and let us know. I was going to say, talk to John Harms, but that wouldn't be fair, would it?
[1:53] He says it would be. Yeah. Good. 1 Corinthians 1.
[2:03] We have the message titled, The Wisdom of God Displayed.
[2:15] The Wisdom of God Displayed. How do we define wisdom? Or should I ask, who here is wise?
[2:32] And no hands would go up, right? How do we define wisdom?
[2:47] The fear of God? The beginning of wisdom? Any other thoughts?
[2:57] How do we define wisdom? Wisdom? Knowledge put into practice? Proper use? Yep. Okay.
[3:13] Where does wisdom come from? God. According to Scripture. How about in reality? From God.
[3:26] Okay. Education. Education. Okay. Knowledge comes from education. Yep. But to apply knowledge to life.
[3:40] The wisdom to do that. So if we would ask our our preschoolers who is wise and they may say, well, my Sunday school teacher is or my parents are and there may come a time in their adolescence where their parents' wisdom is maybe diminished a little bit but ultimately we recognize that wisdom comes from God.
[4:16] Wisdom comes from God. truth applied to real life. Truth applied to real life.
[4:27] So in this series that we're in we're talking about diversities, not diversities, disunity in the church. Divisions in the church and within that Paul identifies that human wisdom human wisdom is a cause of division.
[4:54] Whereas the wisdom of God never divides but unifies. And so the passage before us we're going to just work through that and look at how God displayed his wisdom which is so contrary to human wisdom.
[5:17] Now where does human wisdom usually take us? Pride? Foolish?
[5:35] Okay. Okay. In German I would say that human wisdom takes us into a mud hole or a pig pen where we wallow in mud.
[6:04] It's human folly the results of human wisdom. wisdom. You know how often how often do we plan our path based on human wisdom and it ends not so well.
[6:22] It ends not so well. That's why we are encouraged to to plan with the Lord involved.
[6:33] And thy will be done. You know man plans but the Lord directs our steps. Absolutely.
[6:51] The natural man is consumed with what? A one word answer.
[7:03] Answer. Self. Self. How can I forward my agenda? That's in the flesh.
[7:17] The natural man is consumed with self. Whether we are children or whether we are adults. If we are human the natural man is consumed with self.
[7:31] so of course human wisdom will follow accordingly. So let's look at this passage and just work through that looking at a few thoughts there.
[7:45] But I thought we should read in John 17 and just get a glimpse of God's purpose and will for the church. Turn with me to the Gospel of John chapter 17.
[7:58] John 17 and starting in verse 18 and it's the intercessory prayer of Jesus Christ where he first talks to God about his own ministry and then he prays for the disciples and then he prays for future believers and so starting in verse 18 as you sent me into the world I have sent them into the world and for their sakes I sanctify myself that they also may be sanctified by the truth I do not pray for these alone but also for those who will believe in me through their word future believers that they all may be one as you father are in me and
[9:04] I in you that they also may be one in us that the world may believe you've sent me and the glory which you gave me I've given them that they may be one just as we are one is that standard too high is it attainable how in the Lord if Jesus Christ is center if he is master if he is Lord then there is unity and our Lord Jesus prayed I'm assuming verbally out loud this prayer for his disciples to hear it and he says
[10:12] I pray for the future church that they will learn to walk in unity and the example given is as Jesus is in the father and the father in Jesus and they are in complete harmony at no point in scripture was there disunity in the trinity and Jesus prayed that's that's the ministry of the Holy Spirit to create this kind of unity and that's his will and so that's the father's will for this group that's that's his will for the universal church across the globe across the world that we don't fight but that we work together as
[11:16] Jesus is our king our lord and and so I think we can then deduce from that when there is disunity there is always flesh involved carnality!
[11:37] self! amen? do we realize that whenever there are disputes that are not in a godly way it is because self is coming up in one or more individuals and and so that is not the father's will ever human wisdom is at the very heart of this and that's why Paul takes this further or God through Paul to show us that God is the only true source of wisdom even though the wisdom of God does not make sense to the natural man so as we look at that going down to verse verse 18 for the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God for it is written
[13:03] I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent where is the wise where is the scribe where is the disputer of this age has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world and so the message of the cross how is it foolishness to those who are perishing they don't think it's real okay why not it makes no sense to them that if I want to worship a God that he would come down to our level and allow himself to be killed who would want to worship a God like that now that's from a human perspective that's weakness that's not strength or so the human mind would think and so it's only it's only as we are able to grasp this from
[14:28] God's perspective and from God's wisdom that we can realize it's the power of God and the salvation and so that is that is what the battle in the world today it's human wisdom versus heavenly wisdom or godly wisdom wisdom when we watch our politicians or listen to them how much godly wisdom do we hear it's basically very little or zero it's very little you know what are they out for what's their agenda self they want to get reelected right and occasionally truth enters the picture but it's not always prevalent or there they're not concerned about that and
[15:46] I know I'm generalizing we do have people in government that are strong believers but as a whole when we watch the world scene there's human wisdom there's human wisdom and they're fighting for self in ways that are sickening and so we see very much god is missing so when we think of god's wisdom he deals with us as well but in a way that we can't he deals with our souls with our spiritual well-being and so godly wisdom then is concerned with our well-being and and so god provided a way for us to become righteous through the foolishness of the cross verse 21 says for since in the wisdom of god the world through wisdom did not know god it pleased god through the foolishness of of the message preached to save those who believe in the it says in the wisdom of god the world through wisdom did not know god god did not allow man's wisdom to fix their sin problem human wisdom cannot cannot deal with man's brokenness separation from god only godly wisdom and and he says you know the world through wisdom did not know god and so god through his wisdom provided a way and that was the cross the foolishness of the cross we've all tried it our way and it didn't work and god has provided a way so then like we had in the last message it is jesus christ as the only answer and faith then is in christ alone and no one else so our salvation is by christ alone by faith alone in what god has provided so that is godly wisdom okay he says that to those to those that are being saved it is the power of god to those that are perishing it is foolishness how do we get or go from not understanding to understanding how do we go from applying human wisdom to godly wisdom what's the recipe for that the scriptures faith reliance on the holy spirit who can open our eyes to understand god alone through the holy spirit and so we recognize that that we cannot
[19:46] grasp the wisdom of god unless god reveals it to us and so as god as god speaks to us like like hebrews chapter three says today is the day of salvation do not neglect do not harden your hearts that is when god speaks or knocks on our heart's door and and it's when we say that we mean he's drawing us by his spirit and and we have the ability to understand as he reveals it to us so human flesh cannot but as god calls us we have the ability to do that he goes on further in verse 22 for jews request a sign and greeks seek after wisdom but we preach christ crucified to the jews a stumbling block and in the greeks foolishness so just pausing there remember in the gospels jesus doing countless miracles from healings to waking the dead from casting out demons and the hardened jews say well show us a sign then we'll believe and so it's the result of a hardened heart they speak show me a sign or some miraculous thing coming out of heaven then
[21:36] I'll believe even though they've witnessed all the miracles here on earth and so that's that's the jews he said the jews request a sign the greeks seek after wisdom and in greek culture human wisdom and philosophy was really lifted up and so if you were involved in those circles you were elevated in status they held that high human wisdom being able to debate things and just human nonsense is what it is so the greeks hold on to that human wisdom but we preach christ crucified and that message christ crucified to the jews it's a stumbling block and it's like abe said why because we don't want a god that dies it's a stumbling block we wanted a god that would rule that would kick out the romans that was their reasoning and to the greeks a cross that's foolishness like do away with it it's foolishness it doesn't make any sense that's like child talk and so that's that's how paul puts the categories of human wisdom it amounts to nothing they cannot believe but to those who are called both jews and greeks christ the power of god and the wisdom of god because the foolishness of god is wiser than men and the weakness of god is stronger than men but to those who are called when god calls and and we respond in faith when he calls by the holy spirit then christ becomes the power of god not foolishness but the opposite strength power forgiveness peace righteousness all these things stem from the power of god human wisdom we like to earn it like to work for it the foolishness of the cross you can't you have to accept it by faith it's it's totally twisted from our natural being our natural way of thinking it's reversed and therefore as the last half of the passage says not many wise are going to get it not many mighty because their mode of thinking is wrong it's based on human wisdom what is what is our world view of god how do we look at that that's where we have such an opportunity to instill in our children a proper view of who god is from
[25:41] toddler onwards that they can grow up with the right perspective looking at who god is and that is such a huge advantage how many of us would have grown up like that raise your hands would have that proper view of god there's no hands going up maybe I should ask the young children if we have not been taught it at home then I praise the lord that your believers today that god has revealed called that you've responded by faith to him when we think of god calling us
[26:45] I thought I'd touch in on a few verses and turning to the gospel of john chapter 6 john 6 and verse 44 he says no one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him and I will raise him up at the last day and as as is written in the prophets and they shall be taught by god therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the father comes to me and so the father calls and draws draws us to him without that we cannot respond in faith he gives us when he draws us the ability to understand and if we turn back a couple chapters
[28:02] John chapter three and verse five it's the account of Nicodemus coming to Jesus and there again he's on the verge of breakthrough in his understanding spiritually but he's not there yet and Jesus says in verse five most assuredly I say to you unless one is born of water and the spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God and the two elements required to enter the kingdom of God is water and the spirit and water here is not water baptism as we know it but it is a reference to the scriptures being preached or expounded or red or whatever water being a reference to the word now in the context here it may be a reference to
[29:08] John the Baptist preaching the word and then upon repentance he baptized them but either way the word of God was presented and then the spirit of God draws uses the word of God to draw us and that is where we then need to respond in faith and so that is how we go from the wisdom of man to the wisdom of God in the matter of salvation so calling from God is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and within that repentance is part of the equation the realization that I am a sinner bound by sin and cannot help my way out of there and repentance is agreeing with God that we're helpless and that
[30:09] God has provided a way that's the foolishness of the cross so repentance means then to do a 180 and turn towards God and his if I can use the word his foolishness which is his wisdom the foolishness of the cross the wisdom of God so to do a 180 to embrace what God has for us that is repentance and we have lots of scriptures that would teach us that but in Acts 2 38 I'm going to quickly read that verse Acts 2 38 after Peter preaches his first message on Pentecost and they're cut to the heart what's the first word that he says repent repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of
[31:11] Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit but starts with hearing the word and they were cut to the heart it means they were the word had gotten through to them their hearts were stirred up they were softened they were vague!
[31:33] and Peter says you need to repent and that's what they did and 3,000 people 3,000 people were baptized that day as their hearts were ready to receive Christ and with that repentance and faith are the responses and we have lots of scripture on that as well but I thought I'd read John 1 verse 12 and 13 this is the gospel message it's simple but we need to hear it again and again and not complicate it it's so simple the word of God John 1 verse 12 but as many as received him to them he gave the right to become children of God to those who believe in his name and so the gift of forgiveness is there we have to receive by faith receive and believe and verse 13 then says
[32:47] God will make us born again we're then born again of a new nature not of flesh and blood or the will of man but of God himself as he gives us the Holy Spirit and the Spirit is our source of wisdom it's our source of wisdom so that's the call of God that's how it works and as our response is to when we're convicted to repent and to believe to turn to him let's go back and just finish off the last verses there Corinthians 1 starting in 26 for you see your calling brethren that not many wise according to the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called but
[33:56] God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen and the things which are not to bring to nothing the things that are why that no flesh should glory in his presence see every aspect of God's wisdom counters human wisdom and the very circumstances of Jesus' birth how much human wisdom is there how many of you had your babies in a manger in a stall right we go where we get proper care and the best every circumstance surrounding
[34:59] Jesus' birth the very fact that Mary was riding a donkey for three days and then delivered that night we wouldn't do that it it was God showed us humility in bringing his son and his son left in humility by dying for us he started his life and he ended his life in humility it all defies human wisdom and so therefore God has he states here that not many mighty not many wise not many noble are called they won't respond and it's interesting when we go out and preach and when we send missionaries out who is the first people that generally respond it's the poor in the land it's those that are rock bottom they're the first ones to turn to
[36:15] Christ why they have nowhere else to go human wisdom has nothing for them they bottomed out and they turned to God and even our time in Bolivia we saw that time and time again it was the poor of the land that were eager to hear the word of God and that responded!
[36:48] God and so! God to this very day see we cannot be dependent on our riches and on God the two don't go hand in hand God and so it plays out in real life just like that and that's why God says I've chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame human wisdom and the weak things to put to shame the things that are mighty so God chose his methods to defy human wisdom and he did it intentionally deliberately to show us and so the only way now to come to God is in true humility in true humility like a little child seeking for answers
[37:48] Paul sums up in the last three verses that no flesh should glory in his presence you know no one can boast everyone in God's family got there by faith in Jesus Christ and by being baptized by the Holy Spirit and everyone was not on human might or wisdom but rather on humility that we were able to receive the Holy Spirit verse 30 but of him you are in Christ Jesus who became for us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption and so as we then embrace the foolishness of the cross in humility we then gain the wisdom of
[38:56] God in Christ Jesus and not only the wisdom of God that wisdom is displayed in our lives now in righteousness and sanctification and redemption and righteousness being that through that foolishness of the cross we have now been declared righteous before God you have met the entrance requirements for heaven your sins are paid for and thus righteousness provides peace because it's been dealt with and so that's that's the fruit of the cross is that we're declared righteous and because we realize we've been forgiven the peace of God floods over us sanctification and we talked about that in
[39:59] Sunday school a little bit but the process that God cleans us up and provides the power of the cross by weaning us from our sin and teaching us to walk in the spirit sanctification and lastly redemption and there's perhaps a couple stages of redemption but redemption means to buy back to purchase and as we were separated from God at the fall of man God has redeemed us or purchased us back that we're restored and we're once again walking in the garden with God and communing with him and we're able to commune to pray with God redemption but the ultimate stage of redemption is where God will redeem us off of this earth behold he comes in the clouds with power and glory that will be the final redemption and as we dwell on that verse 31 says he who glories let him glory in the
[41:19] Lord period if you want to boast boast! boast in Jesus because all other boasting is wrong and of self and so this is God's solution for unity or for disunity to provide unity as that we lift up Jesus Christ and hold him there recognizing that all of us our roots are there in Jesus alone we have a few more chapters left that speak about these issues in the Corinth church at Corinth chapter 2 has some to do with that yet and part of chapter 3 but there is a bit of different twist to it so I trust as we go through it God will continue to teach us because all of this is applicable for us today so may the
[42:23] Lord continue to mature us to bless us with his word as we take this home and so let's close in prayer for this morning father we from a human perspective don't understand your methods but we praise you for them and now that we are in Christ we do understand as you have revealed your wisdom to us the power of the cross the power of salvation of righteousness redemption and sanctification we praise you for that Lord may we live as a people who understand this truly grateful glorying in the Lord may you bless each one of us in
[43:26] Jesus name Amen