chapter four. First Corinthians chapter four. While you're turning, Mike, I
appreciate that, appreciate that song. That one, that one verse,
I wrote, I am weakness, full of weakness, at thy sacred feet
I Isn't that, isn't that us? We're thankful that the Lord's
revealed that to us, that that's all we are. I am, I am weakness. Well, let's look here together.
First Corinthians four, verse seven. Now this will serve as
our text. And I've also taken the title
from this passage of scripture. Let's look at it together. First
Corinthians four, verse seven. For who maketh thee to differ
from another? And what hast thou that thou
didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it,
Why dost thou glory as if thou didst not receive it? Now here's the title. Who maketh
thee to differ? Now before we get into how men
differ, Look around, we all differ, don't we? We all have different
characteristics. There's things that make us who
we are. But there's a way, there's a
sense in which every one of us are the same. Every one of us. A way in which there is no difference. Turn over to to Romans, turn
back to Romans chapter 3. Romans chapter 3. What is it? What is it that we
all have in common? Look beginning with verse 19.
Romans chapter 3. In verse 19, now we know, we know that what
thing soever the law saith, it saith to them that are under
the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all the world
become guilty before God. What do we have in common? Well, we have this in common,
we're all guilty. Whether we know that or not,
whether that's been revealed to us or not, we're all guilty. Let's read on, verse 20. Therefore, by the deeds of the
law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight. For by the law is the knowledge
of sin. But now the righteousness of
God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and
the prophets, even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of
Jesus Christ unto all and upon all who believe. Four, there
is no difference. No difference. What do we have in common? How
is it that all of us are the same? We just read that, didn't
we? There is no difference. We find differences all the time,
don't we? We look at someone else and we judge and we find
fault. How is it that we're the same? Look at verse 23. For all. You see that? All. For all have
sinned and come short of the glory of God. All have sinned. all of us all
have come short of the glory of God there's no difference
that's clear in scripture there is no difference all have sinned
and come short what was the question asked back
in first corinthians 4 verse 7 Who maketh thee to differ? It's important. It's vitally important that we
know that we differ. But it's essential to know this. Who makes us to differ? Who, who does that? Now, if you
listen to the scripture reading this morning, we heard the answer. Brother Jason read that, didn't
he? There in Exodus 11 verse seven, God told Moses, he said,
I'm gonna bring one more plague on the Egyptians. All those different
plagues had been brought upon them. He says, I'm gonna bring
one more. And there in verse seven, he
said against, he made a difference, didn't he? He said against the
children of Israel, not even a dog is gonna wag his
tongue, huh? Against man or beast that ye
may know this. Listen. the lord doth put a difference
between the egyptians and israel i ask you again who maketh thee
to differ who is it the lord the lord the lord put a difference
Now do I need to be told that over and over and over again? That's not the first time you've
heard that. Maybe it is. But I'm guessing if you've spent
many times, much time sitting here, that's not the first time
you've heard that, that the Lord put a difference. The Lord did
the work. Why do we have to be told that
over and over again? Why must I be reminded that?
Because of my vanity. because of my pride, because
of my sinful nature. See, it would convince me that
I put a difference. It would convince me, this world
would convince me, false religion would convince me that it's up
to me. Isn't that what the religion
of this world Tells? Tells men over and over again
that I make the difference? Oh, that's just not so. This is what they say. You've
heard this. They say things like this, that
it's up to me to make a decision. that it's up to you to make a
decision. They say things like this. They
said God cast his vote and Satan cast his vote and now it's up
to you to cast a deciding vote. Is that the case? You know if it was, that would
make man equally powerful with God? That's utter foolishness,
isn't it? God who created the heavens and
the earth. God who orders and directs all
things. We had a storm hit this just
a few days ago. literally across the street.
I mean, not from here to that back door. Abby took note of
this. I didn't pay any attention to
this. But the neighbors had put out their garbage. They put nine bags of garbage
out, and they'd stacked it up on a pallet. We had three bags. We had not three bags, but three
garbage cans with lids on them, had our garbage in there. And
that wind comes sweeping through. And it picked up our garbage
cans and threw them in front of Jackie's house. Those bags
across the street, they didn't move. How is that, huh? God breathes, right? God orders
and directs all things, all things. Who maketh thee to differ? Lifted up in pride, this is what
we would say, I do. And then we read about that over
and over in scripture. Man lifted up with pride. Turn to just a few scriptures
with me. Turn to Isaiah chapter 14. Isaiah chapter 14. beginning with verse 12 of Isaiah 14. How art thou fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning? How art thou cut down to the
ground which did weaken the nations? For thou hast said in thine heart,
I will ascend unto heaven. I will exalt my throne above
the stars of God. I will sit also upon the mount
of the congregation in the sides of the north. I will ascend up
above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the Most High. thou shalt be brought down to
hell, to the sides of the pit. Satan lifted up, lifted up with
pride. He said, I will be exalted above
the heavens. You know, back in Genesis chapter
three, verse five, that's what Satan told Eve. In a nutshell, that's what he
told her. For God doth know that in the
day that you eat thereof, eat what? That fruit that God said,
don't eat of it. He said, you can have everything
in this garden is yours to dress and keep. But of the tree, of
the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it. For
in the day that thou eat thereof, thou shalt surely die. Satan
said, your eyes. He said, you go ahead
and eat of it. Your eyes shall be open, and you shall be as
God's, knowing good and evil. Who maketh thee to differ? The Pharisees. Wasn't that the
heart of their problem, huh? They were taken up with their
self-righteousness. They were taken up with what
they wore and how they ate and how the people perceived them
by the keeping of the law, all those things. What's God's word
say? Therefore, by the deeds of the
law shall no flesh be justified in his sight. Pride says this, look at me. Look at me. I don't know that
there's ever been a time in our existence where that is more
on display than now. Look at me. How many people are following
me? How many people are looking at me? Look what I've done. Turn to Proverbs chapter 6. Proverbs 6. Look at verse 16 of Proverbs
6. These six things doth the Lord
hate. Yea, seven are an abomination
unto him. What's the very first one? A proud look. A proud look. Is it any wonder that Solomon
would write later in Proverbs 16, he said this, pride goeth
before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. I asked you again, who maketh
thee to differ? Again, pride says this, I did. Pride says this, it's up to me. Did man make the difference? What's scripture say? What did
our brother read to open it? The Lord put a difference. It's not by works of righteousness,
which we have done, but according to his mercy. He saved us. How'd he do that? By the washing
of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Who maketh
thee to differ? The Lord saved us. Those whom
he's pleased to save, he saved us. Not for works of righteousness,
which we've done, but wholly and completely as a result of
his mercy and grace to sinners. The motive and reason for our
redemption was found in Almighty God. Not us. Could there be anything? Now just think about this. Could
there be anything more foolish that God would accept us for
our marriage? What do we have to offer unto
Almighty God? Would he accept us by our merit?
Would he accept us by our works? By what we did? Listen, our best
works are filthy rags in the sight of Almighty God. Would
he accept us for our deeds? Most of our deeds are the result
of our own selfish ways. By nature, by nature we depart
farther and farther and farther until God puts forth his hand
and lays hold of us and brings us to himself. That lost sheep out there wandering
in the wilderness, Where would it be without the good shepherd
going to it and finding it and picking it up and laying it on
his shoulder and bringing it home? We have absolutely no cause
to boast in ourselves. I ask you again, who maketh thee
to differ? We see this back there in the
Old Testament. Turn back to Exodus chapter 11. Exodus chapter 11. But beginning with verse five
of Exodus 11. Here we read, and all the firstborn
in the land of Egypt shall die. From the firstborn of Pharaoh
that sitteth upon the throne, even to the firstborn of the
maidservant that is behind the mill, and all the firstborn of
the beast, and there shall be a great cry throughout all the
land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall there
be any like it anymore. But against the children of Israel
shall not a dog move his tongue, against man and beast, that ye
may know. That ye may know. Why? Why? Why is all this going to happen?
That ye may know. Know what? This sounds like something
I need to know, right? This is something we need to
know. What do I need to know? Not you,
right? Not me. The Lord put a difference
between the Egyptians and Israel. What did he do? He put a difference. Why did he do it? Why did he
do that? Why did he put a difference between,
you ever wonder that? Why would the Lord be merciful
to me? Why would the Lord be merciful
to any? Jacob have I loved, Esau have
I hated? People say that's unfair. Why would he be merciful? Truly,
why would he be merciful? Was it for any good in Israel? I can't imagine it would be because
they were just like us. All they did was murmur and complain
and find fault. Turn to Deuteronomy 7. Deuteronomy chapter 7. Was it any good? Was there something
that stood out about Israel that made them better than anyone
else? Deuteronomy 7, we're beginning with verse 6. He said, thou art a holy people
unto the Lord thy God. The Lord God hath chosen thee. This is a chosen people. This
is a people that God chose to show mercy to, chosen to be a
special people unto himself. Where he is? A special people
unto himself above all the people that are on the face of the earth. Verse seven, the Lord did not
set his love upon you or choose you because you were more in
number than any people. He said, for you were the fewest
of all. Why did he do it? Why did God choose Israel? Verse eight. But, don't we love
those buts found in scripture? But because the Lord loved you. How's that possible? How could
the Lord love Israel? Even so, Father, it seemed good
in thy sight. But because the Lord loved you
and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto
your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand and
redeemed you out of the house of the bondman. He took you out
of the He took you out of the hand of Pharaoh, the king of
Egypt. And where are they now? In his hand. In his hand. Why'd he do it? Because of his
love. His love. His particular love
for his people. Why'd he do it? The Lord loved
you. I ask you again. Who maketh thee
to differ? Well, back to 1 Corinthians chapter
four. Verse seven. Who maketh thee to differ one
from another? The potter takes a lump of clay, a worthless lump of clay. We wash it off our hands, don't
we, when we've been outside working? We don't want that on our hands.
He takes that lump of clay, and he makes one vessel a vessel
of honor. and the other a vessel of dishonor. What makes that lump of clay
to differ? Does the clay have any impact
on that? Does that lump of clay speak
up and say, I don't want to be made an ashtray, I want to be
made, oh, it's all in the hands of the potter. Turn to Romans,
turn to Romans chapter nine. Romans chapter nine. Look beginning with verse 13
of Romans chapter nine. As it is written, Jacob have
I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there
unrighteousness with God? God forbid. God forbid. For he said to Moses, I'll have
mercy on whom I will have mercy. And I'll have compassion on whom
I'll have compassion. So it's not then of him that
willeth nor of him that runneth. Who maketh thee to differ? It's
of God that showeth mercy. For the scripture saith unto
Pharaoh, even for this same purpose have I raised thee up that I
may show my power and thee and that my name might be declared
throughout all the earth. Therefore, hath he mercy on whom
he will have mercy, and whom he will, he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, why
do ye yet find fault? Who hath resisted his will? Nay,
but O man, who art thou that replies against God? Shall the
thing formed say to him that formed it, why have ye made me
thus? Hath not the power over the clay
of the same one to make one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor? What if God, willing to show
his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering
the vessels of wrath fitted for destruction, and that he might
make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy
which he of four prepared unto glory, even us whom he hath called
not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles. Vessels of wrath,
vessels of mercy, and those vessels of mercy, recipients of his mercy,
recipients of his love, recipients of his grace. Who maketh thee to differ? Who
maketh thee to differ? Almighty God chose a people. He determined to save a people.
He did that. God who is all powerful, almighty,
sovereign in all things, he chose to save the people. And the Lord
Jesus Christ, he suffered and he died. He shed his blood. He suffered
on the cross. He endured the wrath of God.
Why? To redeem his people. And the spirit of God, the spirit
of God calls and regenerates his people. Who maketh thee to differ? Turn to 2 Timothy, 2 Timothy
chapter one. I know we've turned a lot of
scripture this morning, but I don't want you to leave this place
talking about what I say, right? I want us to leave this place,
what does God's word say? What does the Lord say? 2 Timothy
chapter one, verse eight. Be not thou therefore ashamed
of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but be
thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the
power of God. Verse nine, who maketh thee a
different? Who hath saved us and called
us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose
and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world
began. Think about that. He saved us. That's what that scripture says.
He saved us. He called us. Not by works, not
by anything we had done, but by his own purpose and grace
given us in Christ Jesus, not even before you were born,
but before the world, before the world began. Well, back to,
back to first Corinthians four, verse seven. Who maketh thee to differ one
from another? And what hast thou? What hast
thou that thou didst not receive? And if you received it, why do you glory as if you hadn't
received it? Scripture says this, to as many
as received him. To them, to them gave he power
to become the sons of God. Everything that a man has, a
man, woman, young person, everything we have in gifts, in grace, in
whatever it might be. It's of the Lord. It's of Him. And I was thinking about this
last night. A gift, I think a gift has two
components. Two components, there's giving
of it, and there's receiving of it. Isaac's birthday was just yesterday. Some folks gave gifts, and Isaac
received them. There wasn't one gift, he said,
you know what, I just assume you're not giving me a gift,
right? Isn't that simple? That's pretty
simple, isn't it? There's one who gives, there's
one who receives. Consider what God gave. God the Father gave his only
begotten son. He did that. That's what scripture
says, right? For God so loved the world that
he did what? He gave. He gave his only begotten
son. We can go back there in the Old
Testament, it says this. Unto us a child is born, a son
is what? Given. Given. The Lord Jesus Christ, he gave,
didn't he? Oh, did he give. Has any given
Is there any gift even comparable to what he gave? He gave his
life. He gave his life a ransom. He died and made atonement for
our sins. He sacrificed. He sacrificed
his body on the tree. He made atonement for his people. Galatians says this, he gave
himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present
evil world according to the will of God
the Father. What has the believer received? Think about that. What he gave
and what we have received. Scripture says this, as far as
receiving, a man can receive nothing, not one thing. He can't earn it, he can't buy
it, he can't receive anything except it be given him from heaven. What have we received? Scripture
says this, whosoever believeth in him shall receive the remission
of sins. What else do we receive? Again,
this is all from Scripture. We receive an abundance of grace. We receive the promise of the
Spirit through faith. And even, what does Scripture
say? For by grace are you saved through
faith. And that not of yourselves, what
is it? It's the gift of God. We receive the adoption We receive
an inheritance. You don't earn an inheritance.
An inheritance is given, given. We receive the promise of an
eternal inheritance. We receive a crown of life. We
receive the word which is able to save our souls. we receive, listen to this, the
forgiveness of sin. They've been put, they've been
put away. Turned from darkness to light. From the power of Satan to God. That we may receive the forgiveness
of sin by faith, by faith. and inheritance that fadeth not
away. Isaiah 40 verse two says this. We have received of the Lord
double, double for all our sin. What did we deserve for our sin?
Death, destruction. Eternal suffering. What have
we? He said we received double for all our sin. What have we received? Eternal life. Eternal life in
His Son. He gives. He gives. Who gives? He gives. And His
people receive. Turn to Mark chapter 29. Just a few more scriptures. Mark
chapter 10. Verse 29, Jesus answered and
said unto him, Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath
left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife,
or children, or lands, for my sake and the gospel's, but he
shall, there's that word again, receive a hundredfold. Now in this time, houses, brethren,
sisters, mothers, children, and lands, and persecutions, and
in the world to come. Eternal life. Well, question from our text. What do we have? Truly, what
do we have that we did not receive? Listen to the words of this hymn.
Not have I gotten. Not by my doing and dying, not
have I gotten, but what I received. Grace hath bestowed it, as I
have believed. Boasting exclude, pride I abase. What are we? I'm only a sinner
saved, saved by grace. Well, in closing, I ask you,
I ask you this, who maketh thee different? Who maketh thee to
differ? What do you have? What do we
have that we did not receive? And if we received it, why do
we glory in anything but Him? Why do we glory as if we didn't
receive it? You know, to glory in any mercy,
any favor, any blessing received of God as if it was anything
less than that, that it was received. You know to do so is just completely
contrary to the grace of God. To God alone, to God be the glory. To God alone should all the blessings
of nature, of providence, grace, to him be glory. It's all, it's
all of him. Who maketh thee, who maketh thee
to differ?