[0:00] Good morning. Are we blessed this morning? We are.
[0:11] And what a privilege again to have the freedom to gather as God's church, as His children.! As His children. Not only has He blessed us with a beautiful week and morning, but spiritually, spiritually as well.
[0:31] A few thoughts I want to share before we go into our message in Corinthians.
[0:45] Some, I would call it, exciting thoughts. Yesterday, at our Brotherhood meeting, we formed a steering committee to explore solutions for our problem with a lack of Sunday school rooms, our potlucks being overfull, our foyer being often overfull, and our sanctuary getting full.
[1:22] And recognizing that we need to be diligent with exploring how will God have us move in that meeting, whether it's an addition to the building, or some other form of making room in another building, or perhaps a church plant close by and some of us going there.
[1:57] But there's... The committee will dig into what are options, and they will present it back to the church. And so looking forward to that.
[2:08] But in line with that, the announcement for Wednesday night Bible study slash prayer meeting is along the same lines. And the thought there is, as we had a leadership meeting this week, our discussions were largely in the fact that our purpose is not only to feed the flock, but ultimately the church is here to reach the lost.
[2:43] And one way is to bring them here. But another way is to go where they are. And so we'd like to start a regular weekly prayer meeting just asking God, where and when would you want us to do a church plant?
[3:06] And Lord, what's my part in that? And so just to embark on prayerfully asking the Lord.
[3:18] And it's following the Acts 13 model, where the church in Antioch got together in fasting and prayer, and they asked God about these things.
[3:33] And God said, separate to me, Paul and Barnabas, and send them out. And so just wanting to make ourselves available.
[3:45] God, here we are. We know this is your mandate. How would you use us? So we invite the church to come out for Wednesday night prayer meeting, and we'll have a Bible study with that as well to induce that prayer meeting.
[4:04] So I trust many of us will become excited about this. And the Lord will work in our midst.
[4:17] So on the heels of that, a message in 1 Corinthians 3 and 4. Thank you, John, for reading that. Faithful stewards of God.
[4:32] And perhaps it flows well with what I just kind of talked about. So how much weight do we put on being faithful?
[4:47] Or, another word, on being trustworthy. And whether it's children doing and obeying what mom and dad ask.
[5:09] Or it's at work, and you're trustworthy. You're dependable. You're faithful. Or in the spiritual realm, are we faithful to what God is asking us to do?
[5:35] And in the context of our scripture this morning, are we faithful to represent God's word accurately as well?
[5:48] And so how much emphasis or how much priority does faithfulness have in my life? What's the value system in your life?
[6:06] Because if we're not trustworthy, then what's left?
[6:18] Because when we're not faithful, then friendships get broken. Our workplace is often chaos.
[6:29] Our workplace is often chaos. Because things don't get done. But ultimately, it always boils back to relationships.
[6:42] And so it's a very important concept. And as parents, can we teach our children to be faithful when we aren't?
[7:01] It's pretty tough, right? Because actions speak louder than words. And yet, we are instructed to teach our children to obey, to be faithful.
[7:17] And because it has an impact of bearing how they will react to God as they grow up. And so with that, we want to dive into this message, faithful stewards of God.
[7:37] The first three chapters are very much identifying disunity in the church, following different leaders and so on.
[7:54] And so, but the end of chapter three brings out a bit of a different aspect to it. And so we need to cover this fully. So the first point here in the last part of chapter three, which was read for us, has to do with the wisdom of men.
[8:15] And so the whole context of chapter three is building on the foundation that has been laid. And Pastor Henry covered that in his message before Easter.
[8:29] And the foundation that has been laid is that of Jesus Christ. And he says, be careful how you build on it. And of course, our first application is me personally.
[8:45] How am I building on it? But in the context here, it is putting emphasis as well on those that are teaching others.
[9:01] You will give account how you build on the foundation that has been laid. And so we're going to explore that this morning.
[9:13] So I'm going to start in verse 18 and then I'll go back to 16 and 17 a bit later. He says, let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
[9:28] For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, he catches the wise in their own craftiness. And again, the Lord knows the thoughts of the wise that they are futile.
[9:43] Therefore, let no one boast in men for all things are yours. Let me tell the wisdom of men.
[9:58] What is human wisdom? What does it look like?
[10:20] A walk of chaos? Okay. Confusion. Anyone add to that? The wisdom of men.
[10:31] A power struggle. Okay. Okay. It changes over time. Okay. Okay. It changes over time.
[10:42] Okay. So it's not stable. It's unstable. It produces pride. It produces pride. Big time. Yeah, big time. And self-centered. unstable produces pride big time big time self-centered okay tyrannical okay so meaning ruling like a tyrant a dictator so the wisdom of men always seeks a following and so Paul is identifying this concern to the Corinthians and the only leaders that he has identified in these chapters are himself
[11:54] Apollos and Cephas and what we know of these men in scripture is that they're sound and doctrine and are followers of Jesus Christ Corinthians the letters to the Corinthians mention later that there are false teachers or false apostles that have come in seeking to draw others after them and so we we have to keep that in mind that Paul is addressing these kind of people as well so he says let no one deceive himself if anyone among you seems to be wise in this age let him become a fool that he may become wise in other words let him recognize his folly and turn to the Lord with it now human wisdom always elevates man always it appeals to the flesh and always ends up in pride and when we think of a proud man of a proud person someone who is full of human wisdom there's a need there's always a need to defend would we agree
[13:41] I have to defend my logic my human wisdom and often get others on board so that I'm not alone get them on my side whereas the truth of God's word and true wisdom defends itself the word of God defends itself but the proud person teacher will defend himself he cannot keep silent but seeks always to be glorified so these are these are ways that we can tell a person like that cannot bear to have their opinions contradicted and they always seek to prove they're right they're never humble enough to learn so intellectual pride it defends itself and secondly it also is exclusive in that it always seeks to look down on others and lift up it's not a team player but separating causing disunity human wisdom at work you know there's an old proverb proverb that goes like this some of you will have heard this
[15:29] I'll read it slowly it's a bit of a tongue twister he who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool avoid him let me read that again he who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool because he thinks he's smart avoid him why because he's unteachable he who knows not and knows that he knows not is a wise man teach him see the difference he who knows not but knows that he knows not the beginning of wisdom is there and he's teachable and we have run into people in both categories have we not that's very very true so when we we look at at the destruction that happens when human wisdom enters in especially in church leadership in teaching it's devastating the damage that it does and
[17:11] I want to look at the example in scripture of Genesis chapter 3 Genesis 3 3 and before I read Genesis 3 verse 1 through 6 why did Satan get cast out of heaven pride are we agreed his heart was lifted up and he said I will be like the most high I will not bow to God Genesis 3 verse 1 now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the
[18:18] Lord God had made and he said to the woman has God indeed said you shall not eat of every tree of the garden and the woman said to the serpent we may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden God has said you shall not eat it nor shall you touch it lest you die then the serpent said to the woman you will not surely!
[18:47] for God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God knowing good and evil and so when the woman saw that the tree was good for food that it was pleasant to the eyes and now listen to the next phrase and a tree desirable to make one wise she took of the fruit and ate and she gave to Adam as well and Eve was deceived into falling into the same trap that Satan was in and he deceived her and yes their eyes were opened to no good and evil but they did not become like
[19:53] God they fell there lies the deception and they did die the desire for human wisdom and fleshly recognition is something that all of us have to recognize something we something that is a temptation to us if I put it that way we need to guard against that human recognition glorification and so it happened right in the beginning and mankind has paid the consequence ever since of that it describes our character without Christ proverbs 16 verse 18 says pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before the fall and so pride will lead us to fall on our face to destroy us
[21:14] I'd like us to turn to 2nd Corinthians chapter 11 and here we likely have a description of what what some of the teaching teachers have made inroads into the church at Corinth chapter 11 and 2nd Corinthians the first four verses oh that you would bear with me in a little folly and indeed you do bear with me for I am jealous for you with godly jealousy for I betroth you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ but I fear lest somehow as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness so your minds may be corrupted by the simplicity that is in Christ for if he who comes preaches another
[22:22] Jesus whom we have not preached or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received or a different gospel which you have not accepted you may well put up with it and the the the warning to the church at Corinth that that there are leaders and and in those days they would have traveling evangelists and ministers and so on even visiting churches and speaking and and so not all of them were trustworthy and and here Paul is telling them that you need to be discerning that you don't fall for wrong teachings another Jesus and if we go down a few verses to verse 12 chapter 11 he says but what
[23:33] I do I will also continue to do that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast for such are false apostles deceitful workers transforming themselves into apostles of Christ and no wonder for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness whose end will be according to their works you know as as God's children we need to recognize that
[24:34] Satan is opposed and not only opposed he hates he hates it when people give their heart to Jesus our enemy hates that and he will do everything in his power to invade and to get inroads in a deceptive way to distort the truth and to keep people from genuinely accepting Christ do we realize that and as harsh as it sounds this passage says that within our midst there is always that potential that
[25:49] Satan seeks to plant imposters and Paul also addresses that in Acts 20 where he tells the church at Ephesus that I know that after my departure savage wolves will come not only from without but from within and will seek to devour and destroy and so Paul addresses that here and all of all of Satan's messengers seek human wisdom of following after themselves and if we are alert and discerning we will spot them and we will deal with it and so going back to to chapter three in first
[26:56] Corinthians verse 19 he says for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God for it is written he catches the wise in their own craftiness and again the Lord knows the thoughts of the wise that they are futile and so God God will catch them in their own traps and expose them and by their own human wisdom and it's usually through trials how do they respond to that that that the reality of it comes out that they're flushed out for whom they are going back to verse 16 and 17 and it follows the verses that say the day the judgment seat of
[28:06] Christ will expose by fire our works well it is in the primary context here how have we built on the foundation that was laid how have we taught others how have we even taught ourselves do you not know in verse 16 that you are the temple of God and that the spirit of God dwells in you this verse is now a reference to the temple of God as the embracing local church and if we teach falsely or seek to cause division in the local church we are defiling the temple as in us together in other passages it is a singular intent where we are the temple of
[29:11] God personally as well but here it's a reference to the whole and he says if anyone defiles or destroys the temple of God God will destroy him for the temple of God is holy which temple you are so whether it is it is dividing and causing groups and cliques following this person and that person it destroys because when there's divisions the Holy Spirit is limited because the Spirit always strives for unity always so God says I will take action if someone attempts to destroy I will act upon that so that's encouraging and comforting to know that that's going to happen now the last two verses in chapter three therefore let no one boast in men for all things are yours whether
[30:27] Paul or Paulus or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and you are Christ and Christ is God's the principle taught here is that why would I attach myself to a human leader you know what I have become when I do that a slave I now exist to please that person that's what happens that's folly it's foolishness where Christ is our master and all of
[31:31] God's servants are simply that they are vessels for God and so the principle here is all things belong to us including the teachers that God provides and in 1st Corinthians 11 or in 12 I think it is he speaks about we have received gifts from the spirit for the benefit of the whole for the benefit of the whole and so in that sense I am yours not you are mine I am yours to serve and all of us could say that in our own area of giftedness and so all things belong to us for our good as we have that freedom in
[32:37] Christ and it it why would we limit ourselves and narrow when we could have it all and so whether it's he says it's Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the whole world or life or death you know all is ours we're going to inherit the world future the new world and definitely eternal life and even death we embrace as Christians and we need not fear things present today or things to come all are yours and so don't don't minimize that but rather embrace what God has for his kingdom for everyone you are Christ and Christ is God's so then continuing in the in the first five verses of chapter four as we look at stewards so what's this what's the definition of a steward what's another word for a steward overseer manager servant executive strobos that's a
[34:24] German term you know Paul introduces chapter four he said let a man so consider us us as in Apollos Cephas Paul other teachers let us let a man consider us as servants of Christ and stewards manager executive over the mysteries of God or his word his steward moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful that's what God looks for in each one of us are we faithful that he can trust us with things in life and also with his word so as here on earth if you are an owner and you need someone to manage it for you or you own some trucks and you need a truck push that's something that's quite familiar in this congregation who do you look for what qualities do you look for right we look for someone that we can trust that will get the job done that will be faithful and that
[36:14] I don't need to ponder on Monday morning early did he actually get the trucks lined up and out no I'm confident that happened because he's proven himself in the past he's trustworthy he will take care of it these are the types of people that we look for and every employer seeks that in his employees that just stands out and that is our first maybe mark as an adult of maturity of a life disciplined to be faithful that's taught and as we go into the workforce that's maybe the first place we can show it what are we made of what have we been taught and so
[37:24] God likewise seeks men and women like that and continue in verse 3 but it is a small very small thing that I should be judged by you or by human court in fact I do not even judge myself for I know of nothing against myself yet I am not judged by this but he who judges me is the Lord therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes who will both bring to light darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts that each one's praise will come from God Paul now speaks of being judged as a well he was an apostle a teacher an evangelist that was his life but he speaks of being judged in three categories and the first one is from fellow man does it matter when others judge us when you're judged by someone does it matter to you!
[38:44] it shouldn't but it does why shouldn't it?
[39:06] we lose our focus we're justified in Christ but what if it's a good friend who loves you and he calls you out is there room for judgment by friends or by others there is right but Paul says with me it's a very small thing that I should be judged by you or a human!
[39:36] court and what he is saying with that is that when others judge me when they don't understand I need to examine myself because I know the truth and if their judgment is false cast it out don't let them slow them slow you down and unfortunately more judgments from others are that way than righteous ones and we need to recognize that and act accordingly and especially in if you're in a leadership position whether it's at work or in church or wherever judgments come very easy you're judged for the calls that you make the decisions that you make you know
[40:41] I could have done that better but it boils down to what is my motive and ultimately who knows our motives God and so it's it's it's it's healthy for us to listen to someone's judgment but then then to weigh it through in the light of scripture and and to decipher it that way in verse three at the end he says in fact I do not even judge myself so the second level is self judging now there's a room for that how often do we examine ourselves or second guess sometimes right we catch ourselves doing that and and it's healthy for us to do that but Paul says that that I do not judge even judge myself for I know of nothing against myself yet
[41:54] I'm not justified by this and so sometimes especially if there is pride creeping in it blinds us to self judgment and we can't see it and we need someone on the outside to remind us so there is that aspect but Paul says here that I don't even judge myself I don't trust myself the Lord knows and says but he who judges me is the Lord therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes and he will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the heart then each one's praise will come from God and so the ultimate judgment of our motives is the Lord himself and he knows the depth of our heart so when we don't understand what someone else is doing it's better not to judge we might ask a question to seek clarification but when we judge we always seek to put down and lift oneself up and so
[43:20] Paul so in light of all what's happening in Corinth and from the tone there are other teachers that are belittling Paul and maybe even the Corinthians themselves are wavering you know we're listening to other human wisdom teachers Paul says you can't judge me I know what my purpose is and let's turn to 1st Timothy as we look at that 1st Timothy 1 verse 5 Paul is speaking to Timothy he says now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart from a good conscience and from sincere faith
[44:31] Paul is reminding Timothy as a worker for God this needs to be your heart a pure heart a pure motive is another word we could use pure motives a good conscience and sincerity and faith and God knows whether we have that or not in Luke 16 and I'm going to close with that Luke 16 verses 10 and 11 he says he who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon who will commit to your trust the true riches and here
[45:57] Jesus is making the statement if you're not trustworthy in the littlest material things how would God ever trust you in spiritual riches and so the call is for children of God to be trustworthy in the littlest things even when we think it might not matter but that our yes is yes and our no is no and so whether whether we're children or youth young adults parents grandparents it doesn't matter we are called to be faithful and God will reward and bless as we sum up this morning on a personal level we are to refrain and to see the folly of following human leaders because it will cause divisions and limit the work of the
[47:19] Holy Spirit on a personal basis we are to learn to discern and recognize human wisdom in teachers and do not follow them to teachers elders do not allow divisions sex do not allow a following resist it reject it stop it because the danger is that of pride human wisdom it seeks to elevate mankind these are very very real warnings and as as
[48:28] God calls us to lead and all of us lead in some scenario or another whether it's at home or not we're all leaders to a degree but as God gives more leadership responsibility and we have more under our umbrella so to speak the temptation to become proud rises and it's real and it needs to be recognized and curbed and that's that's what first Corinthians is all about to put Jesus up there and keep him there may the Lord bless let's pray Lord
[49:29] Father we we recognize this morning that the church is yours you gave yourself for her you shed your blood for her and you are zealous and jealous to protect your church from wrong teaching from divisions from anything that stops growth and maturity and so Lord as we've looked at these warnings may you make these things real to us that we go through life discerning of these things and avoid and work with it it's by your word Lord that we understand and by the leading of your spirit as you use it we praise you for that and again
[50:29] Lord just committing each and every one of us to you in Jesus name Amen