What Do You Have That You Did Not Receive?
August 17, 2014 · 1 Corinthians
Scripture referenced 2 passages
The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.
-
1 Corinthians 4:1-21 the main text of the sermon, read and expounded in three sections covering judgment, sarcasm, and fatherly advice
1 So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants, and stewards of God’s mysteries.
2 Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful.
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man’s judgment. Yes, I don’t judge my own self.
4 For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.
6 Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another.
7 For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
8 You are already filled. You have already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that you did reign, that we also might reign with you.
9 For, I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men.
10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor.
11 Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.
12 We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.
13 Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now.
14 I don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
15 For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, you don’t have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News.
16 I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.
17 Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly.
18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.
19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.
20 For God’s Kingdom is not in word, but in power.
21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
World English Bible · Read it in another translation
Keep this verse
1 Corinthians 4:5
cited by verse reference to support the point about judging nothing before the time until the Lord comes
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.
World English Bible · Read it in another translation
Recap
The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.
Pastor Ray preached through 1 Corinthians 4, covering all 21 verses in three sections: judging, sarcasm, and fatherly warning. He traced a single thread through all three, that pride and the elevation of human personalities pulls people away from the message of the cross, which is the center everything else has to return to.
What was said
Paul opens by describing himself and Apollos as servants and stewards, not lords. The word for servant here literally means an under-rower, someone below deck keeping the boat moving. A steward is accountable to the one who gave the gift, not the one who received it. That framing sets up everything that follows: if you are accountable to God, then human judgment of you, including your own self-judgment, is not the final word.
Pastor Ray spent time on the line "my conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent." Paul is not claiming moral authority here. He is admitting that a person can do wrong without feeling wrong, and that God's standard sits above what any of us can fully see in ourselves. That is a check on pride before pride even gets started.
The second section is sarcasm, and Pastor Ray read it that way, with the tone and emphasis the words actually carry. "You are already full. You are already rich. You have reigned as kings without us." Paul is pointing at the absurdity of a congregation acting as though they have already arrived while the apostles who brought them the gospel are being beaten, going hungry, and dragged in at the end of the procession like condemned men heading to the arena. The contrast is sharp on purpose.
The pivot comes with the question Pastor Ray called the heart of the passage: "What do you have that you did not receive?" Everything, ability to lead, to teach, to speak persuasively, to make money, to get up in the morning and do your work, is a gift. Pastor Ray illustrated it with Christmas morning, kids thrilled about what they opened, and then thirty minutes later ranking whose gift was better. The gifts did not change. The gratitude did. If it was given to you, there is nothing to boast about.
The fatherly section drops the sarcasm and gets direct. Paul tells them he is their father in the faith, that he loves them, and that because he loves them he is sending Timothy and he himself may come. When he says "imitate me," Pastor Ray was careful to point out that this is not self-promotion. Paul immediately ties it to Timothy, who will show them Paul's ways in Christ, and later in the letter will make explicit what is only implied here: follow me as I follow Christ. The instruction is not "look at me," it is "keep your eyes on the same thing I am keeping my eyes on."
The closing warning is the one that pulled the whole chapter together. Pastor Ray put it in plain terms: some in Corinth were puffed up, acting as if Paul were not coming back. He compared it to a parent watching the kids in the rearview mirror. Paul tells them he will come, and when he does he will not be interested in the smooth words of whoever has been holding court. He will be looking for evidence of actual transformation. The kingdom of God is not in words but in power, and the fancy talk was not producing changed lives. He gives them a choice: receive this in love and gentleness, or wait for the rod.
Doing a Bible study?
Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.
- Pastor Ray talked about how our consciences can be seared to the point that we don't have a clear picture of our own behavior, and he quoted Paul saying 'my conscience is clear, but that doesn't make me innocent.' Can you think of a time when you looked back on something you said or did and realized you were wrong even though it felt fine at the time?
- Paul used himself and Apollos as examples to warn the Corinthians about elevating one teacher over another. Where do you see that same tendency showing up today, and what does it cost a church when it happens?
and 3 more questions in the guide
Read the full transcript 10,028 words
0:00
Family, good to see you guys. How how are you feeling this morning? We do indeed serve a faithful God. Shall we get up and sing of his faithfulness?
0:29
Good, he's above all things. His love endures forever. Sing praise, sing praise with a mighty hand, With a mighty hand, and an outstretched song. Because love endures forever. For the life that's been reborn.
0:57
Sing praise. Sing praise. Sing praise forever. For whenever God is faithful. For whenever God is strong.
1:26
Forever God is with us. Forever forever forever. From the rising to the rising to the setting sun, stuff in doers forever. By the grace of God, we will carry on, stuff in doers forever. Sing praise.
1:59
Sing praise. Praise. Sing Let's sing forever. Phone ever, God is faithful. Phone ever, God is strong.
2:19
Phone ever, God is with us forever. Forever. Forever God is faithful. Forever God is strong. Forever God is with us.
2:40
Forever. Forever. Forever.
3:01
Is that would you agree with that? Yeah. Alright, great. You guys can have a seat.
3:08
Amen. Glad y'all are here this morning and I'm glad y'all are sitting down. We have a ton of announcements this morning. So, first of all, just glad that you're here anyway but I am going to flip through these things and I'm going try to keep it rolling because summer is still here but fall is coming in and we've got lots of programs that are going to be starting up. So, these are too many announcements today.
3:33
08/17/2014. So, this past week actually, I want to mention something. On Thursday, we had a Habitat for Humanity home build. There were four of us that showed up for Thursday but everybody's working in the work week. I'm not shaming you but there are four of us that showed up and it was great.
3:49
So, the next time I'll be able to say, I've been there. I know what it's like. This is awesome. Y'all come and go with me. We hadn't scheduled one yet but it is awesome.
3:56
A lot of fun. Saturday, I do not have a picture but there were more that showed up on Saturday also and it was great. Habitat's doing a good job. That house is on, it's called the Daisy Bush Project off of Nelson near Renzi's house. So, that's the crew right there for Thursday.
4:13
The Wynn families, are you here this morning? I did this to him last week too. Last week, they're probably be at the second service. The Wynn families have come and they are going to be members or they're they're working on that but we have to announce it for two weeks in a row. By the way, that our bullet, our bylaws are.
4:31
So, they've come forward for membership. The Wynn families from Bondurant and there are two of em. It's it's a family. Today, first B Discovery class is today at 10AM in my office, unless I'm not through, and then it'll be just as soon as I get through. In my office, 10AM, halfway down the hall towards the connect hour which is also happening between services.
4:54
I'm doing these in order. Today, tomorrow, Monday nights at first B, 06:15, you'll get meal music and a message and Carl is preaching from Matthew and it has just been, it's been really turning his crank here lately. The the messages have been really, really good and they've obviously been affecting Carl. So, he's excited about it. That's great.
5:14
Tuesday, I want to mention this too. Well, I never have said this before from the pulpit but Al Anon meets here six days a week. They meet every day except for Sunday and it is not, you might say, well, that's not a Christian organization. It is, it is. It's a support group and they do a great job.
5:33
So, twelve noon, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, they have a Wednesday night meeting and a Saturday morning at 09:30 meeting. They meet here six days a week and on Tuesdays, the reason I I mentioned this today is because Dan Dugan, whom we ordained last year, who we ordained last year, is now doing addictions counseling on Tuesdays here. He's here all day long Tuesday. Usually, he's in my office because usually supposed to be my day off but Dan is doing addictions counseling. He says, thirty something years experience at this.
6:04
He's really really good with it. So if you know of somebody that has a difficult situation or if you yourself have a difficult situation, feel free to go see see Dan Dugan. He's here on Tuesday. Wednesdays, Wednesday morning prayer. This is a steady group.
6:19
It's been going for years and years and it starts at 07:30 in the morning. That also is either in my office or the fellowship hall. This week, we had about 15 people show up which is a pretty good sized group. Just letting you know, they're they're coming together. We're coming together every Wednesday morning at 07:30.
6:36
It's free form. You can come and go as you please. It's it's great. Friday, this week, mothers in prayer is having a gathering and I think this is kind of just to figure out when a good time for mothers to meet and pray. So, mothers in prayer this Friday at 3PM.
6:54
That should be a good group and I think they're going to try to decide when and how to go about this Mothers in Prayer Gathering. Saturday and Sunday of this week, Lagoon.
7:06
Alright. Lagoon is coming up middle school and high school. We're calling it the end of year extravaganza. It is this Saturday and Sunday. We're going down to Lagoon.
7:17
We'll leave here about 7AM on Saturday and we're going to play at that park all day. I think it stays open till 11PM. We're camping right next door. So, we can go in and out all afternoon and evening. It's gonna be a good time.
7:33
I just need to know if you're gonna come or not. So, that's pretty much it. I did for your guys' convenience. I put together all the information in a little packet including our release form. So each student who comes need to have a release form filled out and signed by their parents.
7:50
It also has the trip itinerary so you can follow us hour by hour both Saturday and Sunday and on the back is what to bring. That way, you don't show up without the things you need to have. So, I have these back at the tech desk. Please grab one if you're coming and it's going to be a good time. Melissa will be there.
8:13
Do we need a chaperone? I would you like to come? Can you drive a 15 passenger vehicle? Yes. You're coming.
8:22
You're coming. Alright. So that's happening. Grab grab one of these little packets for me back at the tech desk on your way out if you have if you would like one. Alright.
8:33
That's it.
8:33
Alright. So these in order. That's next Saturday and Sunday. There's a volunteer meeting for Awana because that's starting soon, so August 25 at Dan and Dancy Tulsans place. That ought to be fun, get together.
8:48
It's volunteer meeting not just for like just the commander or just the whatever, it's anybody who's interested at all in working with Awana. Listeners and everybody, Dan and Dancy Tolleson's house, August 25 and more details will be forthcoming. If you look in your bulletin there are more details in there too. There's also a date night coming up, September 5 with all this activity. The Bridges Ministry of First Bee has done this one time in the past or a couple times in the past and it's been very successful.
9:17
It's been something that gives moms and dads a time to drop off the kids here for a few hours and go have a date. So 09/05/2014, there's more information about that in the bulletin and you can call the church office. And this one, Diane said, make a big deal about this because this morning actually originally was scheduled for a combined church service but we changed our minds because the early in September, we always do a church picnic and it gave us a little more time to prepare. So, September 7 is a whole church combined service. So, it'll be this 09:00 service, 11:00 service, Monday night service, and anything else all rolled into one.
9:58
We have a tent set up out here and we're going to do a church picnic, dinner on the grounds afterwards. So, that'll start at 10:30 in the morning on September 7, that is less than a month away, so there you go. Potluck, picnic, dinner on the grounds to follow. Small groups are starting up soon and these are the ones that we know about at this point that we know when they're starting. Now small groups are rather decentralized thing here at First B.
10:23
We don't have a firm kickoff date because they meet all times during the week in lots of different places, but if you are considering starting a small group, if you'd let us know about it, we'll advertise it. We'll let you let people know about it. So the Art of Marriage is gonna start on September 9. Mike and Amy Mayer are gonna be leading that one, and Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University is a small group that start in September 10, and that is gonna be Grant and Kristen Galloway are leading that small group. You may see a flyer.
10:56
You will see a flyer in your bulletin about 1,000 gifts. It is the women's Wednesday worship series here. That's not showing up very well on that screen but it'll start on Wednesdays. It'll be from twelve to one beginning on September 10. So, that's getting ready to kick off.
11:13
Women's Wednesday worship. Couple years ago, we had a one hour thing. Last year, we had a two hour thing. We're back to the one hour again. So people can get here during the lunch hour.
11:22
If it's you or if it's somebody that you know, twelve to one, and we're gonna be pretty close on those times so that people can come during lunch and get off and go back. There's another flyer in your bulletin for a fall women's retreat called My Heart Christ Home. That's going be at the Heart 6 Ranch and that is October tenth and twelfth. I want you to, I'm mentioning this one before we get to it so that you'll put it in your calendars and try to save the date on that. For ladies, October 10 through the twelfth, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and more information like I said is in the bulletin but it's up at the Heart six.
11:57
It'll be a good time to come together. The weekly study is great but this is a time where you're all going to retreat to advance, pull away together. Choir, an organized group of singers, typically one that takes part in church services or performs regularly in public. We actually have a militia choir here. We are called together for things like Easter and Christmas and it is a ball.
12:19
We have a good time practicing and getting ready. There's an organizational meeting for that happening September 14 following both the nine and 11:00 services. It'll be downstairs in the choir room. Bob Wales is in charge of the choir. He wanted me to mention this this morning because traditionally what we have done is had a traditional choir do a traditional presentation, and we, for the last couple years, have done a participatory worship deal with the band first and then second, we've done a traditional choir thing but we're going to blend those two together and have the choir present and the band is going to be a part of it and so we're all going to come together for one service combined.
12:56
Like I've been saying lately, we are one church. We meet at a couple of different times. We want to sing into the Lord a new song but we also don't want to remove that ancient boundary post. So, we're going to come together and do that together for one service for Christmas Eve. I know that it's not even September but Bob's thinking about getting together already.
13:13
September 14. Peak Children's Ministry also starts September 14, so that's where the kids are back downstairs and learning from our great volunteers and if you want to be one of those, let Krista Clemmer know. September 14 peak will start back up. I'm sure that you already have the teams ready and organized, she is that way. But if you want to help out with that, please let us know.
13:38
And then September 15, Awana is back. Monday nights at First B are at the same time down the hall but September 15, we're pairing back up with Awana. So, that's a good time. Coming up, precept Bible study is starting October 9 and that is understanding the anger of God. It's a study of the minor prophets, three of the minor prophets.
13:59
I know I'm crying about it too. Men's fraternity. Men's fraternity starts back up at six in the morning, October 15. This is just laying it all out there. We are doing a couple of different things but one of them is Steven Mansfield's book on manly men, which that's the picture on the cover.
14:18
But men's fraternity starting up 6AM October 15 at that manly hour. Please come and eat a big hearty breakfast and study up on that. Couple of minutes now with a youth who went on a mission. I I had this set up so that the lagoon trip, we had a youth trip and this is a different kind of youth trip. Anders is gonna come up now.
14:40
I'm finished with announcements. I'll give you a chance to shake hands after Anders finishes, but he's coming up to tell us about his fairly recent trip to Panama.
14:50
So yeah, just like Ray said, I went to a village called Wagandhi in Panama and some of the things that we did there was servant evangelism. So basically, we'd go to hut to hut and ask what we can do for them. Mostly, it was taking out trash, cleaning up, and then not even mention the word or or the gospel to them just to gain trust with them and then come back later and you know, do that again and kind of see where they are in their spiritual life, where they are with God and if they would like to accept him and on the last day, one of the girls invited us into her home and accepted her, accepted Jesus into her life which is amazing.
15:40
Amen.
15:40
And then for the kids, we would also do VBS after that And then some takeaways on the trip was we would we are going to go to the river to take a shower and when it rains in Panama, it rains hard and it doesn't stop. So we'd run through the jungle. It's raining. It's muddy. And these kids don't really have a chance to take a shower anywhere.
16:07
So they take off all their clothes. And so we're running through the jungle with naked kids everywhere and jumping into snake and spider infested waters, was pretty cool. But another thing was just seeing the lives of the children and the young adults that were changed through eight days. I mean, it's amazing what a group of 14 people can do in eight days. They were just mentally and physically changed which is awesome.
16:39
And then some prayer that I'm continuing and I would ask if you guys could pray for these people too. Which is Danilo and Matias. They're leaders in their church now and to just continue leading their village and their people to the word of God. Second, for these people to turn to God instead of worldly ways and their times of struggle. It's really important for them.
17:06
They have so many things coming down on them, things that are negative. And then lastly, to for God to continue to break chains and traditions in people's hearts. That's a big one while we are there. The people were they were so confined to what they were allowed to hear. It was hard for us to speak to them about Jesus.
17:33
And then, if you would like to see more or talk to more, talk to me more about this trip, can talk to me after or we have on the screen. Look that up, Panama 2014, Vogandi on YouTube. There's a fifteen minute long video slideshow on there. And then lastly, I'd like to thank you so so much for your support and your prayers. It's helped immensely and I do not know what I do without your help.
18:03
Amen.
18:03
And I will be going back next year hopefully to the same village because I feel like there's a calling for me there. So, thank you.
18:13
Amen. Got it. Renzi and Carl and I got a chance to sit down with Anders. You you need to hear more. You need to go and see the video but you need to hear more straight from him about what went on.
18:29
Now, stand up if you would and greet one another. Glad that y'all are here. Let everybody know you're glad we're here. We'll bring you back together with a song.
18:37
Glory to God glory to God forever We sing glory to God. Glory to God. Glory to God forever. Alright. You gave me breath, God, so I'll praise you.
19:09
Creator God, you gave me breath so I good praise. Your great and matchless name, all my days, all my days. So let my whole life be a blazing offering. A life that shouts and sings the greatness of our king. Glory to God.
19:33
Glory to God. Glory to God forever. And we sing glory to God. Glory to God. Glory to God forever.
19:49
And take my life. I take my life and let it be. Offer you even for your glory. Take my life and let it yours. I take my life and let it be, offer you even for your glory.
20:07
Take my life and let it be yours. And we sing glory to God. Glory to God. Glory to God forever. We sing glory to God.
20:26
Glory to God. Glory to God forever. Let's sing it out. Glory to God. Glory to God.
20:37
Glory to God. Glory to God forever. We say glory to God. Glory to God. Glory to God forever.
21:09
Oh, Lord, my God. When I'm an awesome wonder consider all the worlds I had in me. And I see the stars, and I hear the rolling thunder that pied throughout, and you nourish this way. Then sings my soul, my savior, God, to be. And how great thou art, how great thou art.
21:44
And then sings my soul, my savior, God, to me. How great thou art. How great thou art. How great you are, God, to give you praise. And when I thank you, that the bled and night to take away my sins.
22:21
And then sings my soul, my savior God today. How great thou art. How great thou art. Then sings my soul, my savior, God's day. How great thou art.
22:40
How great thou art. When Christ shall come, when Christ shall come, with shouts of acclamation and take me home, but yours shall fill my heart. And then I shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim my God, I'm great you are. And then slings my soul, my savior God to be. How great thou art.
23:18
How great thou art. And then sings my soul, my savior, God, to be. How great thou art.
23:47
God, we pause this morning to say how great you are. I thank you God that you have given us life and you have given us breath and you've given us meaning and purpose. And here we are gathering as a church to love you and love each other. God, we we need you to show us how to do that because we're we're we're people that are imperfect. And so we confess our need for you.
24:10
We confess our sins to you. We thank you for grace and forgiveness, and we thank you for bringing us together here to praise you. God be our vision. Amen. God, we sing it, but we also pray that and may that be our heart's desire that you would be our vision throughout our life, throughout our day, not just here on Sunday morning, but in the workplace, in the world, wherever we are, that we would constantly commune with you and be with you, and call you Lord and follow you.
28:14
Act on what you've taught. God, thank you this morning for the gifts that you have given and may it be our joy and our honor to give back. Just even a portion of what you've given, just acknowledging here and pausing to to thank you for all that you've given, all that you've done, your faithfulness, your love, your grace, your mercy. Amen. Where would we be?
28:35
God, where would we be without it? I thank you. I thank you for your your generosity toward us. We get back to you. Amen.
28:44
You can have a seat. Well, the words will be on the the screen here and I'd invite you to to sing with but the what can I do? What can I do? Thank you.
29:10
Oh, and I see the view of the sunset golden. A amazing artistry across the evening sky. And when I feel the mystery, I'm a disengaged sea. It all's an unknown to be loved. I could not hold you like you're making all things new by the power of your risen light.
30:47
And what can I do but thank you? What can I do but give my life to you? Hallelujah. Hallelujah. What can I do but praise you every day?
31:04
Make everything
31:31
Alright. Well, this week, I've been excited about this all week long because I had planned this preach chapters three and four altogether because I see em as a unit that kind of goes together but it was incredibly long. So, I decided to cut it in half last week and then, over this week, the more I've looked at it, the more intense chapter four has gotten for me. So, I can't wait for y'all to hear this. Actually, it's good to be excited about it.
31:58
Just it's it's awesome. It's been going for me all week. I'll get my little clicker. There are three different sections in this. There are 21 verses and there are three different sections and conveniently there's seven verses each.
32:14
So verses one through seven verses 14 through I mean seven through 14, and then 15 through 21. This is does that make sense? It does make sense. The first seven verses have to do with judgment, and I'm not talking about God's judgment so much as judging, and then the second seven verses are sarcasm. It's not very often in the Bible that you get sarcasm, but it's kinda neat.
32:40
In our society, I started looking up on the internet when I was thinking about this, and we are so sarcastic. You've seen the t shirts, sarcasm, just one of the services I offer, that sort of thing. And you don't get that very often in the Bible but this time, it's gonna be fun. I think that y'all will get it. And then seven verses of just straight up fatherly advice.
33:03
And for me, I was thinking about this and it's it's illustrated a bit of family on vacation. I don't know if we have any visitors here right now, but family's on vacation. Sometimes you get this. Same thing. I'll I'll bring it up from time to time about the kids and the dad and whatever, but judgment, sarcasm, and fatherly advice.
33:22
That's how we're going through. I'll go through the verses one at a time, kinda like I always do, but I wanna read to begin with. I know that's a lot of words on there for y'all, but I'm gonna read it. So just kinda try to get the flow with me and we'll come back back up. And actually, before I start, so then is the way I would start this.
33:42
It says, let a man so consider us, I think the rest of this translation is great, but I think that it calls back to last week, the last chapter, chapter three. So then, considering all that, it was all about factions and division and keeping those down. Keeping down factions and division centered around the cross of Christ, the message of the cross. So then, considering all that, let a man so consider us or consider us this way as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it's required of stewards that they be found faithful or that one be found faithful but with me, it's a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court.
34:26
In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know nothing against myself, yet I'm not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord. Therefore, judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the councils of the hearts. Then, each one's praise will come from God. Now, these things brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against another.
35:00
For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now, you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? God, would you please bless the reading of your word, lord? The intent study by these, your people.
35:16
Would you show us what you would have us to see this morning, lord? I thank you that you've given it to us and I thank you that it's just so good. It teaches us about ourselves. In the light of scripture, lord, we learn who we are which is not much, and who you are. You are great.
35:32
In Jesus name, would you bless the reading and the exposition of your word. Amen. So that is the part I was talking about, judgment and judging to begin with. I'll read the second the same way. We're gonna do this in three parts in twenty minutes.
35:48
Let a man so consider us, servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Servants and stewards are basically the same thing except for servants, that word means literally, an under rower. Somebody who is below deck, who is rowing the boat. Servants. Somebody who's keeping things going but then stewards of the mysteries of God.
36:11
You've been entrusted with something great. Now, Paul will tell us later on in Corinthians that he has been taken up into the third heaven, that he has mysteries of God. So, you can look at it like that. He's got things and he doesn't talk about em. He talks about the cross.
36:27
That's what he keeps on centering on. Stewards of the mysteries of God. The mystery here, I told you a few weeks ago is the mystery that had been revealed recently at the time that this was written. The mysteries of God through the ages had been revealed at the cross and the message of the cross is the mystery that he's talking about. We are servants of Christ but we're stewards of the mystery of God.
36:53
Moreover, it's required in stewards that they be found faithful. That's what he's saying. He must be. He's been entrusted with something and he must be faithful to that call. A steward is somebody who is responsible to the one who has given them whatever it is, whatever gift it is, these responsible to him.
37:13
Now, Paul has other people that are his spiritual children. He'll say later on because he introduced them to the gospel. He's a bit ahead of him and he knows but he's been required to be faithful by God with this mystery that he's been given and he is doing that. He's working on that. It's in humility that it says it though.
37:33
He is not a lord. He does not claim to be. He's a steward of the mystery of God but with me, it's a very small thing that I should be judged by you. Now, remember this, he had gotten a report from Chloe's household about the things that were going on in Corinth. When we get to chapter seven, he'll say, now, regarding the things that you have written to me, I'll answer em one at a time.
37:54
So, after chapter seven, he's doing things that they wrote to him but he's had a report from Chloe's household. First of all, that there were factions that existed. Second of all, they're saying and they're judging you. They don't really think you're all it anymore, Paul. So he says, with me it's a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court.
38:18
In fact, I don't even judge myself, for I know of nothing against myself, Yet, I'm not justified by this but he who judges me is the Lord. I do not even judge myself. What in the world does that mean? He is recognizing right there in humility that our consciences can be seared to the point that we don't even have a clear picture of what's going on. Do most people do what they think is right most of the time?
38:43
That's arguable. Do people do what's right in their own eyes? Yes. What they think they can get by with? The NIV translation oh, this this is good.
38:53
Have you seen these tattoos? It's usually only judge only God can judge me is what it says, but this one says only God will judge me. This is a very popular tattoo. It's actually a popular Tupac song too, but we won't get into that. Only God will judge me.
39:08
That is true. It is a true statement, but what they're saying is you can't tell me anything. The truth is you can't even really tell anything about yourself. You have to be trusting in God to show you. He says in the NIV translation which I think is clearer in this case, my conscience is clear but that doesn't make me innocent.
39:31
It's the Lord who judges me. He is saying that there is an objective standard. There is truth and there is something that we must live up to and no matter how I feel about it. I I I can't always tell what that is. I can't always tell.
39:46
So, Paul is saying, I'm a fallible human being. Now, we believe in inerrancy and infallibility of scripture. So, what he's written is absolutely true but he's saying in my own personal life, I don't do everything right all the time. I try my best but I still fall short and I'm telling you that. He's being humble.
40:03
My conscience is clear, but that doesn't make me innocent. Have you ever seen anybody do anything that they feel just fine about that you know is wrong? Yes. Have you ever done anything that you felt just fine about it at the time but you look back and go, oh my goodness, I can't believe I said that. I can't believe I did that.
40:19
That's why forgiveness is so important and it's God's message of love and forgiveness. That's what the cross is all about. Forgiveness is available even when we're wrong. You can have a clear conscience but still be guilty. It's the Lord who judges me.
40:36
First Corinthians four five says, therefore judge nothing before the time. Thinking about factions that exist, what's the primary characteristic of factions? It's I like this guy and that guy, he's terrible. You exalt one but when you exalt one, you bring the other down. He's saying, judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes who brings to light the hidden things of darkness and reveals the counsel of the hearts.
41:05
Then, each one's praise will come from God. If we are all Christian servants, you know, sometimes people go so far as to say, this guy is it. That's where I get all my teaching from. I got all his books. I love everything that he says.
41:17
It's awesome and he doesn't like this guy. So, I don't like that guy. So, it brings one of em higher and one of em lower. Well, when you start to elevate human beings, who is not getting the praise they deserve? Who's not getting the glory they deserve?
41:30
God. Then, each one's praise will come from God. God's given us gifts and he'll get to that. I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm so excited about this.
41:40
Now, these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes. Now, for the last few chapters, he brought up the factions and he kept using, Some of you say, I'm of Paul and some of you, I'm of Apollos and some of you, I'm of Peter. Some of you even Christ. I've figuratively transferred all these things onto Apollos and to me for your sakes that you may learn in us by our example. You may learn in us not to think beyond what is written.
42:08
That none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. Not to think beyond what is written. That one's confusing for theologians and commentators and when they start to talk about this, they disagree all over the map. They're all over the map on it. What is he talking about here?
42:24
Is he saying that Paul Paul and Apollos have done some things. They've gone beyond what was written. Is Paul saying Apollos went beyond what was written? No. He continually equates Apollos and himself and Peter all with the same God serving the same master in the same way.
42:40
He's not saying he disagrees with Apollos. He's saying, I've put our names on it and elevating us figuratively so that you can start thinking, now, what is it that Paul does that Apollos doesn't? He's saying, there are other people in the church, power mongers. There are people in the church that are going beyond what is written. There are divisions, there are factions, there are people.
43:05
When he goes at the beginning of Corinthians, he says, not many of you were well educated. Not many of you were rich. Not many but there were some that were smart. There were some of those sophists, those people who could convince people with their words who were incredibly persuasive. There were a few of those and a lot of the other people were now following those leaders.
43:28
If they're following human leaders and they're excluding others, then that's problematic. He's saying, don't go beyond what is written. Center yourselves on the message of the cross. That's the message that the apostles are preaching. Not to think beyond what is written.
43:44
None of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against another because that is what happens. When you start to elevate someone, you start to exclude others. I love this part. This is the main thing that I'm excited about this week. For who makes you differ from one another?
44:00
Well, who does make you different from one another? God does. He wires us from the grave. I mean, from the cradle. He wires us.
44:08
Sorry. From the cradle to the grave. He wires us the way we are. When he makes us a new creation and gives us spiritual gifts, he's the one who does it. Right?
44:17
So who makes you differ from one another? What is your individuality, American? You're a rugged individuality. Who gives you that individuality? Who made you the way that you are?
44:28
God. Is it you yourself who have done it? No. And what do you have that you did not receive? Do you have anything that was not given to you?
44:40
I was talking with somebody recently who came recently became a believer and he said, all the things I used to think that I earned for myself that I work for and I got em. I all of a sudden realized that it's a gracious God that gave me the ability to think and act and do and get up out of bed in the morning and go do my job. Everything goes back to, it is a gift that we have received. What do you do? What do you have that you did not receive?
45:08
Whether it is riches or an ability to lead or an ability to follow or music. Gift. Gift. Gift. Gift.
45:22
If you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? Why is it yours to brag about? If it's a gift given from God, why do you get to brag about it? Why do you get to boast about it? So I was thinking about this, at Christmas time, family gatherings.
45:39
You get around, it's a time to bring everybody together, the unity is great, we get together, we sing songs, everything's wonderful, we hand out gifts because we love each other so much, and as we hand out the gifts, we get them and we're excited about, oh my
45:52
goodness, look at this, it's great. Oh, this is awesome.
45:55
Look at this thing. Kids especially. Oh, look at this. I got
45:58
a bike. I got this. I got all these. Look at this. Oh, this is awesome.
46:03
I can hardly wait to use it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
46:06
We're so excited. Run, give him a hug. That's the way we do at home. You know, go give him a hug, give him a kiss. Thank you for this wonderful gift.
46:13
And then, okay, we eat dinner, we come back, thirty minutes later, one them is going, mine's better than yours. I got a red one and you got a green one. Oh, this is an this thing art. I'll be able to make drawings and designs or whatever. I can do this and I can use this all year long.
46:30
Yours going be gone. When you eat that thing, it's going to be gone. Mine's better than yours. We start to elevate and we rank and that's what we do as humans, that's what we try always to do, but it's a gift. How can you brag about it?
46:41
You didn't have it fifteen minutes ago. I still have something in my memory of going in and I was so excited to get a shotgun. When I was 15 years old, I got a shotgun. It must have been a good year. I got a shotgun and a four wheeler and a skateboard all in the same year and I was so excited about it.
47:00
So, all I got but I got those three things and they're awesome. When I went to school, I was still in that excited mode about it and I was like, oh I got a Brown and b 80 shotgun, it's awesome, it's got a plug in it, all this stuff. Interchangeable chokes, all this sort of thing. I had a buddy, I was like, why are you bragging about it? It just completely sent me into, oh my goodness.
47:23
I guess that's what I was doing. Maybe not. I was just excited about it. I wanted to share. No.
47:30
You're bragging about it. So, sometimes it's not always that we think that we're bragging. I probably was but I didn't realize it just like Paul. I don't even judge myself. I do things I don't even realize I'm doing sometimes but if you received it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
47:45
It's not like you did this on your own. God has given you. Whatever it is, riches, the ability to lead, the ability to play music, whatever great creative talent. All of those things are gifts that God gives and he'll get into spiritual gifts later on but he's saying right now, you're elevating probably the gifts of teaching or persuasive speech is what he's going into right now. You're elevating these above another.
48:14
Then, he gets to using sarcasm. Now, the reason I think he's using this is because the Corinthians are acting childish and to me, my dad is kinda sarcastic quite honestly and he it sounds like him. Paul right here sounds like him. So in these next seven verses, I'm gonna read them I think the way that they were intended to be read by the Corinthians. If you were at a Bible study where you're sitting around at I I think of the one that I used to go at the Baptist Student Union when I was in college and we would sit around in the group and we would read verse by verse and they go around the room something like this.
48:47
You are already full. You're already rich. You've reigned as kings without us and indeed, I wish you could did reign but that also might reign with you for I think that God has displayed us the apostles last as men condemned to death for we have been made the spectacle of the world both to angels and the men. What what does that mean to you? That's not how this is to be read.
49:11
This is more like this. You you are already full. You are already rich. You have reigned as kings without us. Oh, indeed I wish you did reign that we might also reign with you.
49:27
For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles last, as men condemned to death, for we have been made a spectacle to the world. Both the angels and the men. We are fools for Christ's sake but you, you, you're wise in Christ. We're weak but you, oh my goodness Corinthians, you are so strong. You are distinguished but we're dishonored.
49:55
To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, we're poorly clothed, we're beaten and we're homeless, and we labor working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure. Being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of this world, the off scouring of all things, the scum of the earth.
50:20
Up to this very moment until now. I don't write these things to shame you but as my beloved children I warn you. Is that more like it? Sarcasm is spoken here. Even in the Bible.
50:35
Isn't that great too? I looked this up this week and I was looking and I kept hitting this when I looked up sarcasm just for definitions and whatnot. I kept running into different movements that are trying to get a sarcastic font started. So that when you're reading things on the internet or on Twitter or you're texting, you would be able to tell when somebody's being sarcastic versus when they're being serious. Have you read those things on the comments and they say, duh duh duh duh duh And that's the way I read it because I can see that sarcastic, but the next comment will go, you're so stupid because they didn't get that sarcasm, they think the person's being serious.
51:16
There's been a movement, it has never gotten any traction whatsoever, but there are about five different places that are trying to get this going, and this is the proposed sarcastic font. It is italic, leaning the wrong way. There's another one. This is a public decree in lieu of a proper sarcasm font, this key will be used instead like, of course you look nice or I love it when you care or work was awesome today. Actually, what drove me crazy is the misspelling of Liu, but anyway, this is the other one, seriously, somebody has tried to come up with a new piece of pronunciation which is called the sarc mark.
51:58
It is to end a sentence instead of with a period, it's with a period with a little squiggly around it that lets you know that sentence was sarcastic. That one's rough because a lot of times, like Paul was using, part of the sentence is sarcastic and most of it's not. The sarc mark. Tell them how you really feel. Isn't that terrible?
52:18
So this, I'm using inverted or backslashes or forward slashes, whichever one this is. You are already full. You are already rich. You have reigned as kings without us, Paul says. Now, he's knows that that's not true.
52:33
The problem that the Corinthians are having though is that they have an over realized eschatology. They know that we have riches in Christ Jesus but Paul knows there's the already positionally we are made perfect but in this real life, we are not perfect. We make mistakes. Still, we need forgiveness. We need to ask others forgiveness.
52:56
You are already full. You are already rich. You've reigned as kings without us and indeed, I could wish you did reign that we might also reign with you. That part's not sarcastic. I think he's serious about that.
53:10
Oh, that that were the case, but it's not. Not yet because he goes on from there and he says, for I thank God has displayed us, the apostles last as men condemned to death. Actually, the displayed us, apostles last, we have been made a spectacle to the world. The actual Greek here talks about and most translations reflected. This is New King James.
53:31
It doesn't say it as clearly. It's harder to understand in our language. This gets the sense of it across but he says, in the victory procession, we are last. The way that gladiators came into the coliseum is the guys came in first who are the biggest and the baddest and had on their armor and they came forward and they were macho guys. Sometimes, even kings and politicians would lead the procession and they would come in as a victory procession after battles, sometimes just for sport.
54:04
The spectacle there is Teatro is theater. We have been made a spectacle to the world, both the angels and men before everyone. We're fools for Christ's sake. When he says, he did us last. We're at the end of the procession.
54:17
Now, if you've ever seen a gladiatorial procession in the movies, a lot of times they'll show the pomp and circumstance up front with the flags waving and all of that sort of stuff but then the last people that come in are like this. They're in chains. They're dragging. They haven't been fed. They're going to be fed to the animals most likely towards the end of the games.
54:37
They're the last ones and that's what imagery Paul is using right here. He says, you are up in the front of the line. Y'all have already arrived but we, the apostles, as men condemned to death to be thrown to the lions literally at that time. We're fools for Christ's sake but you are so wise in Christ. Somehow you've avoided this suffering and difficulty.
55:03
We are weak, but you are so strong. You're distinguished. Oh, elevated in your teaching, in your wisdom, in your ability to speak, you're distinguished but we were dishonored. To the present hour, we both hunger and thirst. We're poorly clothed, beaten, and homeless.
55:22
Was this true? Absolutely. We labor. We're working with our hands which in that society to be a laborer was really looked down upon. You want to do as little work as possible.
55:35
You had slaves for that. Being reviledly blessed, being persecuted, we endure, being defamed, we entreat. Who's that sound like? All of Pauline theology is grounded in dominical tradition, our lord. Sounds like Jesus.
55:49
We have been made as filth of the world, the off scouring of all things until now. The off scouring is the scraping off. They used to bathe by scraping and all the gunk that comes off when they scrape. That's what he's talking about. The scum of the earth.
56:05
Up until this point. So he's saying, yes, already we have that hope incorruptible but up to this point, we're not sensing that. We have a mission to do. We keep rowing the boat. I do not write these things to shame you but how could it not?
56:24
How could it not? If you were one of those guys that had been elevated, how could it not? But as my beloved children, I warn you. He's not just warning the ones who are in power in different places. Might have been preachers in different churches.
56:37
It could have been people in the same place. Who knows? But it was division. As my beloved children, I warn you. So, we got the seven verses of judgment and the seven verses of sarcasm.
56:50
Think about this though. With Paul and Apollos, just think about people at that in Corinth that were saying, well, Paul founded this church and I always liked him. He was great. He brought us the message of the cross. He's the one that founded this church.
57:05
How could you not
57:06
go with Paul? He's awesome.
57:09
And then the next person might say, yeah, but Apollos actually was not boring. But Apollos had a great way with words. Paul is so clumsy, trips over himself constantly when he's talking. There's letters alright but Apollos is my guy. Silver tongued and good looking.
57:29
And then the third one goes, yeah, but both of those are just lofty blah blah blah. Peter's a fisherman. Peter's awesome. Man of grit. I like Peter.
57:39
Makes mistakes but big deal. Christ restored him. Paul saying, no. No. No.
57:45
Personality. Truth delivered through personality is still truth. Get back to the truth. So, his fatherly advice is this, for though you might have 10,000 instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I've I've begotten you through the gospel.
58:02
Therefore, I urge you, imitate me. For this reason, I've sent Timothy to you who's my beloved and faithful son in the Lord who will remind you of my ways in Christ as I teach everywhere in every church. Now, some are puffed up as though I were not coming to you but I will come to you shortly if the Lord wills and I will know not the word of those who are puffed up but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. What do you want?
58:29
Shall I come to you with a rod or in love and a spirit of gentleness? Starting right there, for though you might have 10,000 instructors, Murias, Myriad, you have a Myriad, it was actually the highest named number at the time. We have Googleplex and who knows what else now but Murias was the highest named number. 10,000 instructors in Christ. Everybody's gotta stand up and be a little dictator.
58:53
Everybody's gotta be somebody who leads. For though you might have 10,000 instructors or tutors is the actual word, somebody, a slave who was tasked with walking kids from the house to school and protecting them on their way. You might have 10,000 tutors in Christ yet you do not have many fathers and he doesn't say, you only have one father. He does say that in Christ Jesus, I've begotten you through the gospel but he knew that that was not true for every single one of them. Apollos had led some, probably some other people had led them too but he's used himself and Apollos as figurative examples throughout.
59:32
For in Christ Jesus, I've begotten you through the gospel. He's saying, I am your father in this faith. I know and I love you and I want to take care of you. I don't want for you to get off of the main thing. Don't go beyond what is written.
59:45
Therefore, I urge you, imitate me. Oh, wait a wait a second. He's talking about humility, humility, humility, and then he says, imitate me. Does that elevate self? Sounds like it does.
59:58
Has Paul ever been puffed up? Oh my goodness. When he was killing Christians, was he puffed up? But he was stopped on the Damascus Road. He was stopped and he saw the scales fell from his eyes and he saw where he had been wrong.
1:00:11
That's another reason he can write early on there. Just because my conscience is clear does not mean I'm right. He's not being puffed up when he says, I urge you imitate me. He's saying, I am really given everything that I have fallen after the master and then beyond that, if you think he's being puffed up, you have to imitate me. He's saying, for this reason, I've sent Timothy to you who's my beloved and faithful son in the Lord.
1:00:38
He's been around me long enough and I trust him, this young guy, I trust him to come to you and you're going to just see Jesus in him and I trust him to do that. He's my beloved and faithful son in the Lord who will remind you of my ways in Christ. Only in Christ. That keeps coming up. Towards the end of first Corinthians, he'll say again, imitate me or follow after me as I follow Christ.
1:01:03
It's not explicit in that verse but it is implicit in this next verse. Who will remind you of my ways in Christ as I teach everywhere in every church. It doesn't change. The message of the cross of love and grace and forgiveness and humility does not change in church to church to church to church. It it is the same.
1:01:22
Now some are puffed up as though I were not coming to you. This is where it reminds me of that trip. Don't make me come back there. Don't make me don't make me pull this car over. Some of you are puffed up.
1:01:34
I can see you're arrogant and hearty. I can see it in the rearview mirror. I know exactly what you're doing. Some of you are puffed up as though I wouldn't pull this car over and give you the spanking you deserve, but I will come to you shortly. Just wait.
1:01:50
We gotta get some gas in a few minutes. I will come to you shortly if the Lord wills and I will know not the word of those who are puffed up but the power. The words of sophistry, the words of the sophist are very very persuasive and smooth but he's saying, they lack power and you know how I know they lack power? Because I see how you're living. God has not changed you and transformed your life into a life of holiness.
1:02:20
The next chapter he goes into some pretty crazy sin and he's gonna keep on doing that for the rest of the book. He's saying, I will no, not the word of those who are puffed up but the power. I'm not gonna listen to all the fancy talk because it's not rooted in the foolishness of the cross, the scandal of the cross. If it's not in that, then it is going beyond what has been read. For the kingdom of God is not in fancy words but in power.
1:02:49
The power to transform lives. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod or in love and a spirit of gentleness? A lot of commentators believe that these guys who were the power hungry and the ones who were the leaders of the different factions were followed after his leaders because they were almost militant and they didn't treat people well. They just kind of whipped them into a state of, oh my goodness, we can't do that.
1:03:17
Uh-huh. Uh-huh. They were nervous about things. Paul saying, would you really rather me come back and act like that? Or should I come in love and gentleness?
1:03:30
Should I come to you with a rod? Would that work if I came to you and just blasted you or should I come in a spirit of love and gentleness? I think he was giving them the choice. So that's the warning part of it. Don't make me come back there.
1:03:47
Takeaways for me in this one at least are it's a lot about pride, and if you go back and you examine it yourself, I hope that this is what comes out. There's no room for pride in the Christian life. If you have anything good within you, it's a gift from God, James says, right? We are to be servants under rowers. Keep on rowing the boat.
1:04:07
There's plenty of service of the church that needs to be happening and we all are the ones that need to be doing it. It's great to see grass movements, grassroots movements get started in the church. We are to be servants. No matter who we are, we can still be wrong. Don't ever forget that.
1:04:24
If you get so puffed up that you think that I'm right and the way that I think is right and everybody ought to agree with me, you're probably wrong. We must not go beyond what is written, what is written is right. Pride puffs up and it causes division and excuse my language for the little kids, this is something we don't ever do at home. It is stupid. It's just stupid to be proud, so it comes up over and over.
1:04:51
Suffering may be expected in a faithful Christian's life. And we can learn all these things either by the rod or in love and gentleness. The hard way or the easy way but these are the things that you take away from this and I think that that's it. Carl, would you want to come back up? And we're going to cap this off with they'll know that we are Christians.
1:05:13
How? By our love. We'll get a reprise on this. It'll be a comeback up when Paul's great love chapter in 13, he'll talk about, though I have all these gifts and he starts explaining them and he says, but have not love. I'm a clanging brass and a symbol.
1:05:29
Would you stand with us as we sing? They'll know we are Christians by our love.
1:06:45
And we will work with each other. We will work side by side. We will work with each other. We will work side by side. And we'll guide each one's dignity and saving each other's pride.
1:07:02
And don't know we are Christians by our love. Bye, young dove. Yes. They'll know we are Christians by our love. And all praise to the father from whom all things come and all praise to Christ Jesus who's the only son.
1:07:42
And all praise to the spirit who makes us one. And they'll know we are Christians by Honda. By Honda. Yes. They'll know Amen.
1:08:10
Amen. Amen. That's it. Amen.
Share this message
Every word on these came out of the message. Download one and post it anywhere.
