Envy, Strife, and Division

Q: What does the Bible say about divisions in the church?

The Bible warns against divisions and strife, particularly in 1 Corinthians 3, where Paul addresses the carnality of believers. In 1 Corinthians 3, the Apostle Paul addresses issues of envy, strife, and division within the Corinthian church. He emphasizes that such behaviors are characteristic of carnality, not spiritual maturity. Paul admonishes the believers for acting like 'babes in Christ' instead of growing into mature believers. The presence of division often hinders spiritual growth and is contrary to the unity expected among God's people. Paul insists that the church is one body under Christ, and believers must refrain from creating factions based on their preferences for different leaders or teachers, as this leads to disunity that does not reflect the nature of Christ.

Q: How do we know that God gives the increase in ministry?

1 Corinthians 3:6 teaches that while ministers plant and water, it is God who gives the increase. In 1 Corinthians 3:6, Paul makes it clear that, although he planted and Apollos watered, ultimately, it is God who gives the increase. This declaration underscores God's sovereignty in the process of salvation and spiritual growth within the church. While human effort in preaching and ministry is essential, it is God alone who brings about spiritual transformation and growth. This truth is vital for ministers and believers alike as it reminds them to rely on God's power rather than their own abilities or methodologies. It highlights the grace of God in fulfilling His purposes through the gospel.

Q: Why is spiritual maturity important for Christians?

Spiritual maturity is essential for growth in grace and understanding of God's Word, as highlighted in 1 Corinthians 3. Spiritual maturity is crucial for Christians because it enables them to understand and apply deeper truths of Scripture, grow in grace, and exhibit godly character. In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul expresses concern that the Corinthian believers are still 'babes in Christ,' unable to handle solid food, which symbolizes deeper theological truths. Maturity in faith leads to a life characterized by the fruit of the Spirit, contrasting with the envy and strife that indicate immaturity. As believers grow in their knowledge of Christ and His Word, they are better equipped to love others and serve the church, fostering a healthy spiritual community.

Q: What does it mean that Christians are co-workers with God?

Christians are called co-workers with God, as stated in 1 Corinthians 3:9, reflecting their partnership in His work. According to 1 Corinthians 3:9, Paul teaches that Christians are 'laborers together with God,' emphasizing the partnership between believers and God in the ministry of the church. This relationship illustrates that while God is the ultimate architect of spiritual growth and salvation, He chooses to accomplish His purposes through His people. This role as co-workers should inspire humility and unity among believers, as no one can claim superiority in ministry. It serves as a reminder that every believer has a role in God's plan and that their efforts, however small, contribute to His eternal purposes.

All right, I want you to open
your Bibles with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 3. I'm going to bring a rather lengthy
but not long, if you can figure out what I mean by that, Bible
study. I'm going to make an effort.
to cover all 23 verses of 1 Corinthians chapter 3. I think this message is needful. I think it will be blessed of
the Lord. Not so much needful here as in other places where
this message will be heard by way of the tape recorder. But
you see the church at Corinth, this Corinthian church, was raised
up and called out under the ministry of the apostle Paul. Paul labored
in Corinth for 18 months. That was a long time, especially
considering the fact that he was an apostle and he He was
a missionary and he was a pioneer missionary and he traveled to
so many, many, many different places. But here at Corinth,
God kept him there 18 months because the Lord told him, I
have much people in this city. So he labored there and he established
this church and these people were called out under his ministry. Well, in this epistle, 1 Corinthians,
Paul deals with some problems that had risen in the church
among the people. Some problems, and he calls them
divisions. Divisions and strife that had
risen in the church. As I say, that's not the problem
here. It could be someday. I think this message needs to
be preached for information, for warning, but it needs to
be heard in some other places in this day. And this chapter
3 is divided into three parts. First of all, verse 1 through
9, the apostle speaks to the people of the congregation. Verse 1 through 9, he addresses
the people. In verses 10 through 20, he addresses
the preachers. You're going to see that in just
a moment. He addresses preachers. And then in the last three verses,
he returns to the people. So let's move along here and
see what Paul says to them there at Corinth. Verse 1, and he says,
And I, brethren... Now you know immediately that
he's talking to believers. He's not talking to... to unbelievers and unregenerate
people, he's talking to the brethren. He's addressing saved people.
And our brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but
as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. What does he
mean by that? He said to me just this. He says,
I haven't been able to speak to you as mature, spiritually
mature people. Because you're indicating by
your conduct and your attitude that you're still babies. He
said you're acting like carnal people. You see that there? I
couldn't speak to you as unto spiritually mature people, but
the word carnal there is natural. You're acting like natural men. You're acting like people of
the world. You're acting like babies. You're not acting like
grown-ups. You're not acting like mature,
spiritually mature people. The flesh is ruling, not the
spirit. You know, the word babes is a
good word in some cases, in some sense. Let me show you two of
those. Turn to 1 Peter chapter 2. But
the word babies, and this is what he's saying to those people,
he said you're acting like carnal people, you're acting like babies,
you're not acting like mature people. And here in 1 Peter chapter
2 verse 2, he tells us, as newborn babes desire the sincere milk
of the word that you may grow thereby. That's a good, that's
the word baby used in a good sense, like a baby. craves its
mother's breast and craves the milk, then you, like a baby,
crave the Word of God, thirst for the Word of God, hunger for
the Word of God, reach out for the Word of God. So that's in
a good sense. Also, turn to Luke 18. Here's
another verse in which infants and babies is a good characteristic. To act like a baby in this sense
of the word is a good characteristic. Luke 18, verse 17. Luke 18, 17, Our Lord said, Verily
I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God
as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. He's been rebuking the disciples
because they had argued about who's going to be greatest in
the kingdom of heaven. He said, The thing for you to
do is receive the word of God and the things of God like a
child, like a simple child. But over here, The way he uses here is not good.
I'll show you another verse in which it's not good. 1 Corinthians
14, which Paul uses the word babies in verse 14. Chapter 14, verse 20. In 1 Corinthians 14, 20, Paul
says, brethren, save people, believers. Be not children in
understanding. Don't be a baby in understanding.
How it be it in malice be children. Forgive quickly, forget quickly.
But in understanding be men. Mature men. Adults. Alright. So let's move on. In verse 2
he says, I fed you with milk and not with meat. For hitherto
you were not able to bear. meat, nor yet now are you able. Now my friends, Jesus Christ
is both milk and meat. We never get beyond preaching
Christ. Jesus Christ, everything's in him, all things are in him,
that's what I'm going to preach on tonight. Christ Jesus is milk
to babes in Christ, to beginners, to new people who are interested
in the gospel. But the preaching of Christ is
also meat to those of full age. So the manner of form of his
teaching here is this, spiritual maturity enables a man to drink
deeper into Christ, and it becomes meat. Milk, as we mature, as
we grow in grace, as we grow in the knowledge of Christ, milk
becomes meat. You grow deeper into the things
of Christ. You learn more of Christ, we
grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ. So Christ Jesus is
milk to the baby. Christ Jesus is meat to the mature
person. And as that person grows in maturity,
spiritually grows, then he learns more of Christ and goes deeper
into the things of Christ. But here's the problem here.
He says, I've had to keep on with the milk because your bad
attitude. and your carnal behavior and
your childishness hinders your growth. It hinders your understanding.
Like our Lord said to his disciples, he said, I got a lot of things
to say to you, you're not able to bear them now, you're not
able to take them. And as we act fleshly and carnal
and act like childish and like infants and babies, we're not
going to grow spiritually. It just keeps on the milk. That
doesn't mean you're not saved, doesn't mean you don't know God,
but it means that your growth is being hindered by your attitude
and spirit. That's what he's saying to these
people. Verse 3, for you're yet carnal. To prove their lack of
maturity and their carnality, he calls attention to what's
wrong. He said you're carnal. You're acting like worldly people,
for where there is among you envy. Envy and strife and division. When that's present among you,
that's not the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace. But here in that church was envy,
strife and division. So he said, you're not acting
like spiritually mature people, you're acting like carnal, the
works of the flesh. Are you not carnal? Is not this
the way of the carnal world? Is not this the way of natural
men? You're acting, acting carnally and naturally. And you're walking
like people of the world, not like people of God. And then
here's the, verse 4, is the particular form of division. Envy, strife,
and division. Verse four. For here's the problem. One of you says, I am of Paul. Paul's my favorite preacher.
Paul's my leader. I prefer Paul. But another says,
not me. I don't care too much for Paul.
I like Apollos. He says there, are you not carnal? Turn back one page to 1 Corinthians
1, he mentions this again. Over here in the first chapter
of 1 Corinthians, verse 11, 1 Corinthians 1, 11. It hath been declared
unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house
of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. There are contentions
among you. What's the contention? Is it
over the virgin birth? Is it over the sovereignty of
God? Nope. Is it over the death of Christ?
Nope. Is it over the effectual, sufficient
sacrifice of the Son of God? Nope. Is it over his intercession,
his righteousness, his blood, his grace? Nope. Well, what's
the contention over? Here it is, verse 12. Now this
I say, every one of you, it's spreading through the whole place.
One says, I'm of Paul. I'm a follower of Paul. He's
my favorite preacher. I don't like Apollos. Another
says, I like Apollos, but I don't like Paul. Another says, I like
the Apostle Peter. And some people said, I don't
like any of the preachers. I believe in Christ. Is Christ divided? Verse 13. Was Paul crucified for you? Were
you baptized in the name of Paul? What's Paul and Apollos and Cephas
got to do with it? Is not this carnality? That's
what the Apostle Paul said. This is carnality. This is not
of God. This is not the Spirit of God.
This is not the unity of the people of God. Look at verse
5. Who is Paul? Now remember, Paul's
writing this, the very man's writing this, who asks, who is
he? Who is Paul? Who is Apollos? Who are they? They're just ministers. And what's a minister? He's a
servant. They're just servants by whom you believe. They're
not lords, they're not gods, they're servants. They're not
masters. Call no man master. One is your
master. They're not fathers. You have
one father. They're just servants by whom
you believe. Like John the Baptist said, I'm
just a voice in the wilderness. Even as the Lord gave to every
man, every believer, that can be interpreted two ways. Even
as God gave Paul his ministry and Peter his ministry and Apollos
his ministry, God also gave to you the privilege, opportunity
to hear his ministry, to hear his gospel and believe it. But
it's all of God. It's not of the man. He says
in verse 6, of course, I have planted and
the polis watered, but God gave the increase. Now he takes us
to the farmer. Paul's always using an illustration. And he takes us to the farmer.
He says the ground's got to be plowed. Isn't that right? You can't will a field of corn. You can't just will a field of
corn. Somebody's got to go in there and bust up the stumps.
Somebody's got to go in and plow the ground and disk it. Somebody's
got to go in and plant it. And somebody's got to water it.
As you put your plant in, you put a little water in. And he
says the same thing is true in this matter of preaching the
gospel. I have plowed, Apollos has watered,
Simon Peter's planted. God gives an increase. Now, man
may go out and tear up the stumps and plow the field and plant
it and water it, but there's only one who can make life come
out of that ground, and that's God Almighty. His Son, S-U-N,
has got to shine on that field. And His power gives that seed
life. And I can preach, and Todd Nyberg can water, Don Fortner
can plow, Tim James can do something else, Ralph Barnett, name any
of the preachers you know or have heard of and so forth and
so on. But I'll tell you this, there's no life going to spring
up from a human heart, spiritual life, unless God Almighty makes
that seed live. So who is Paul? What difference
does it make who stands in the pulpit? What difference does
it make as long as he preaches the gospel? of Christ Jesus. God gives the increase. So verse
7, so keep this in mind, so then, sum this thing up, by way of
conclusion, neither is he that planteth anything, neither is
he that watereth anything, but God's everything. The Lord Jesus
Christ is all in all. He gives the increase. You see,
you're calling brethren, not many mighty, not many noble,
not many wise, but God has chosen the foolish things of the world.
and the things that are naught to bring to nothing, the things
that are that no flesh should glow in his presence. For of
him are you in Christ Jesus. It's not of the preacher, it's
of God. Anybody here, I've been pastoring here a long time, 39
years. And there are two or three young
preachers traveling over the country that say I'm getting
old and senile. That keeps coming back to me.
He's getting old and senile. He's getting soft. He doesn't
preach the gospel like he used to. He's not as hard as he used
to be. Thank God. Hard to make you thankful, do
I Johnny? I want to... And here's the one
that hurts the most though. He's compromising the gospel.
That's not so. That's not so. That's unkind. That's untrue. But folks to elevate
themselves will tell things that are not true. You know that?
They will. They'll tell things that are
untrue. But I can tell you this. Some of you have heard the gospel
here. And the Lord saved you. But I'm going to tell you this.
It's God who saved you. And no man, I don't care who
he is, whether it be those old preachers we heard long ago,
or this one you've heard, or the late ones we've heard, they
didn't have anything to do with that life being quickened in
your heart. God did it. He gets all the glory. You know, God saves people in
spite of us, not because of us. That's exactly right, in spite
of us. He uses old clay pots, old earthen vessels, old ones
too, as well as new ones. But that's what he's saying,
and neither is he that planteth anything, he that watereth is
nothing. God's everything. He gives the
increase. Now watch this, this is the way
it ought to be. He that planteth and he that
watereth are one. Let's not set ministers against
one another. Let's don't ever be guilty of
that. You see, we're not, God's servants are not clones. They're
one. They preach one gospel, they
have one aim and one goal, that's the glory of Christ and your
conversion. They have the same love and affection
for one another, and they cannot, who preaches just so the gospels
preach? It doesn't matter who's standing
here this morning, whether I stand here, or Tom, or Bob, or Ron,
or Cecil, or John Chapman, or Charlie Pennington, or who stands
here and preaches. It doesn't matter. My one concern
is that the Gospels preach, that the Word of God is preached.
That ought to be your one concern. They're one, he that planteth,
he that watereth, he that busts stumps, he that clears new ground,
he that comes on. They're all different personalities,
they have different gifts, but they have one ministry, and that's
the Lord's ministry. One ministry and one objective,
that's his glory and your conversion. Isn't that right? Each servant is different. If
they were all the same, he wouldn't need but one. If every preacher
was the same, saying the same thing, God wouldn't need but
one, put him on television, tell everybody to tune in. Ten a.m. a certain day, you hear from
God. No, he's got different personalities,
different individuals, different gifts. Paul, Peter, James, and
John, all different. Sons of Thunder, the one who leaned on Christ's
breast, the loving John. The apostle Paul who says, you
better hope I don't come down there, you know, different ways. But they're one, you see that?
And every man, listen to verse 8, shall receive his own reward
according to his own labor. Each one serves where God puts
him, with the gift God gives him. And each one will be blessed
in his ministry and hear the Lord Jesus say, well done, thou
good and faithful servant. And that's his reward. You see, Christ is our reward,
but I tell you, Paul said this too. He said, you are my joy
and my crown. You are my rejoicing. You are
my crown. You are my joy. Verse 9 now. This sums up what has gone before. He is speaking to the people.
Don't be, don't have envyings and strife and division over
your preachers of all things. And that's what it was over.
Don't divide up into camps, don't belittle one preacher. It's like
somebody said, I heard this yesterday, somebody said way down in North
Carolina said, Don Fortner's denying the gospel. Can you imagine
anybody saying anything like that? Don Fortner of all people,
that's the Dr. Gil of Danville. I don't believe anybody's denying
the gospel. Boy, with Don Fortner? The man's
a walking gospel preacher. Why would people say that? I
don't know. That ought not to be. That's
envy and strife and division. That gave birth to this message
this morning, statements like that. I don't understand it.
I don't understand it. So this verse 9 says, we're laborers
together. Together with God, what an honor. Fellow service together with
God. To preach and call out his sheep,
to build his church. We're laborers together with
God, but you're God's vineyard, you're God's field, you're God's
building, you're God's church, you're not mine. I hear preachers
say, well, my church wouldn't do that. I don't have a church.
It's God's church. Don't call them my people, they're
not your people, they're your brothers, but they're God's people.
That's what he's saying here. I don't care where you pastor,
where you preach, Australia, India, China, Africa, Mexico,
or Europe, or America, where you preach, we're all neighbors
together with God. And the people, they're God's
vineyard, they're God's field, they're God's building, they're
God's church. Christ said, I'll build my church. All in the world we are is messenger
boys, we're just servants, and we ought to be one with God in
this thing. All right, then he turns to the
preachers. Now listen to him. Then he turns to the preachers,
and he says now, verse 10. It's Paul speaking now. According
to the grace of God which is given to me as a wise master
builder, I have laid the foundation. Now remember who's speaking.
I wouldn't dare say anything like that. And you better not
say anything like that. Paul is an apostle. He can call
himself a wise master builder who laid the foundation. He's
an apostle. He's an apostle to the Gentiles.
He's the pioneer preacher to the Gentiles. God chose him.
God taught him the gospel personally. Did you know that? He got his
gospel not from Peter, James, and John. He got it from God.
That's what he said, wasn't it? Like, I got it from God. And
God sent him to the Gentiles to lay the foundation. What's
that foundation? The Lord Jesus Christ. Christ
in him crucified. Paul came, God, chosen God. The Lord Jesus appeared in person
to him. The Lord Jesus taught him the
gospel. The Lord Jesus made him the wise
master builder, the foundation layer is Paul. He dug the footer and laid the
foundation. Christ Jesus, that's what he's
saying. Christ is that foundation. He's
the wise master builder. I, verse 10, I've laid the foundation. Another preacher builds their
own. That's what I'm doing right here
the last 39 years. I got my gospel from Paul's writings. And he laid the foundation, the
foundation is Christ. The gospel is Christ, Christ is the only
foundation, Christ is the only foundation of faith, the only
foundation of the church, the only foundation of the gospel,
Christ Jesus and his blood, his righteousness, Christ our justifier,
that's the foundation. Our hope, confidence, life, everything
is in Christ. Christ alone. That's the foundation. Paul laid it. Now I'm building
on it. I'm building on it. But let every
man take heed how and what he builds thereon. He's talking
to preachers now. That's who he's talking to. You
be careful. Oh, you be careful. Take heed
what you put on that foundation. That foundation is Christ. Now
look at verse 11. For other foundation can no man
lay than that which is laid, which is Christ. We don't need
to relay the foundation. I don't need to write another
Bible. God said, Behold, I have laid
in Zion a foundation, a trod stone, a sure stone, a certain
corner stone, and he that believeth and buildeth on him will never
be ashamed or make haste. That's the foundation, Christ. All right, now let's get into
the rest of this. Verse 12. Now, if any man build
on this foundation, are you with me so far? It's talking to preachers
now. John, this is to preachers, isn't
it? I've laid that foundation. It's
Christ. It's the simplicity of Christ, the truth of Christ.
Now, any man built on this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones,
what kind of elements are those? Or what kind of materials? Well, first thing you notice
about them is they're precious. Every one of them are precious.
Second thing you note about them is they're valuable. But the
third thing you note about them, they'll stand the fire. They're
durable. Gold, silver, and precious stones,
time makes gold more precious. That's right, time makes silver
more precious. You may have to polish it a little
bit once in a while, but it's precious. And precious stones,
diamonds, they last, don't they? Now, some people are going to
build on this foundation wood, hay, and stubble. What you got
there? Temporary things. Going to grow
old and crumble. The weather, trials, are going
to make that wood rot. And hay? Hay won't last Cecil
any time. Stubble? This powerful plane, Paul said,
I'm the master builder. I'm the apostle. I've laid the
foundation of Christ. There it is right there. I've
written it. I've preached it. Now you come in as a preacher,
and you're going to build on this foundation. Some are going
to build gold, silver, and precious stone that'll last forever. True converts, true people, true
believers. Some are going to go wood, hay,
and stubble. Drag them down the aisle. Get a profession out of
them. Entertain them, socialize, play ball, all these things,
and time is going to blow it away. Wood, hay, and stubble.
All right. Verse 13, every man's work, every
man's work shall be made manifest. Every man's work is going to
be made manifest. The day is going to declare it. Every preacher's
work is going to be tried sooner or later. The day is going to declare it
because it shall be tried or revealed by fire. The fire is
going to try every man's work of what sort it is. You say,
Fr. why would a man build on this foundation of Jesus Christ,
wood, hay, and stubble? Well, education, intellectualism, ambition, covetousness, ignorance, You see, this wood, hay, and
stubble, the trifling things, traditions, and customs, and ceremonies, and
you know what is built up today and called religion. That's going
to be tried. What is this fire of trial? Is
that the judgment? No. Not altogether. In one measure it is. But here's
Christ as a foundation, and all these pastors and preachers.
I mean godly men, good men, men who know Christ. This is not,
Tom, this is not heretical teaching that they're doing because that
would be an upheaval of the foundation. But these men are coming along
and they're building on the true foundation, Christ Jesus. And through ambition or intellectualism
or covetousness or whatever, They
build bad buildings. And it's going to be tried. Now
here's some of the trials. Here's the fire. Here's the fire.
First of all, there's the fire of trial. Afflictions. Conflict. Trouble. Falling out in the church
and these things. You know, even Christian people
have conflicts. They don't always agree. Well,
that trial and that trouble is going to test that man's ministry. See, the people who know God
and love God and love the gospel can fall out and come back. See
that? That gold, silver, and precious
stone. I'll tell you another way they tried, the fire of time. You know, you can have a pure
gold statue here and a wooden statue painted yellow. And just
off the distance you can't tell the difference, but let them
sit there about 40 years. And the wood's going to crumble,
but the gold's going to stay. So time will tell. Their preacher's
going to get my age someday, and they're going to look back
over their ministry, and there's not much left. Not much left. the fire of persecution,
and then the fire of judgment. Every man's work is going to
be tried. Now watch verse 14. And if a man's work abides, which
he has built on this foundation, on Christ, then he'll receive
a reward. He'll be happy. He'll be joyful. I tell young
preachers, There's no substitute for the gospel. There's no substitute
for staying with the word of God. If you preach to ten people,
if you preach to a hundred people, you just preach the gospel. On
that foundation Christ builds permanent gold, silver, and precious
stones. Don't give way to ambition. Don't
give way to intellectualism. We're trying to appeal to men's
intellect. Appeal to them socially, and
appeal in other words, you may get them there. But when you
come to the end of your ministry, when you get my age, and you
come to the end of your ministry, and you have to look back, and
they're all gone. The foundation's there, bless
God it won't move. But they're gone. They've crumbled. That's what makes me so thankful
for some of you folks here, 75 years old, and 80, and been here
40 years, Standing like a rock, because
you own the rock, Christ Jesus. And that's my reward. Now we
give this word reward, don't stumble over the word reward.
God's not going to give me a bigger yo-yo than you. That's just silly
to talk about, you know. I'd stand up there with a bunch
of crowns, you know, you can't hold them on your head. The crowns
are going to be on His head, at His feet. You're going to
be my reward. My joy. I can come to the end
of the ministry. Your ministry too. Oh, this is
our ministry. We're going to come to the end
of His ministry. And we're going to say, thank God. Thank God
He blessed us. Thank God we preached Christ.
Thank God we didn't give way to all this that comes our way.
These winds of suggestions. Now watch verse 15. But if any
man's work shall be burned, Burned out by time, burned out by trial,
burned out by persecution or harassment, or burned out at
the judgment. I never knew you to part from me. He's going to
suffer loss. He's talking to preachers now.
Save preachers. God's preachers. He himself shall
be saved, so as by fire. You know what he's saying there?
He's saying this man's going to come to the end of his life
and see the folly of whatever drew him into that way of preaching,
that kind of preaching, that kind of effort, that kind of
commotion. He's going to be saved. He's
going to be saved, notwithstanding all the imperfections of his
ministry. He's going to be saved. He's saved on that foundation
in Christ. You imagine Lot standing up on
top of that hill with his two daughters, looking back at his
whole life? Everything was in the land of
Sodom. He was saved so as by what? Fire. His house burned
up. He got out, but his house burned
up. His sons-in-law, his friends,
I'm telling you, this is what this is saying, if any man's
work shall be burned, he'll suffer loss, but he himself shall be
saved, yet so as by fire, it's like a man burned out of house
and home, he escapes with his life, he's lost everything. He
dies a sad old man. I anticipate spending my last
days in real joy, because God's blessed this ministry. And I
see some gold and silver and precious stone, a whole lot of
it, all over the world as a result of our ministry here. But mine, to be 70 years old
and look back and see it all destroyed. Verse 16, Know ye not that ye
are the temple of God? He's talking about the church.
The church is the temple of God, a living temple, a building not
made with hands, but God made, God laid these stones. You can
read that in Ephesians and also in 1 Peter. The church is the
temple of God. The spirit of God dwells in that
church. If any man defile that temple
of God, God will destroy him. Talking to preachers now, is
that who, Tom, is that not where we are still, talking to the
preachers? Sure it is. He said, this is God's temple,
God's house, God's building, living stones. That's where the
Holy Spirit dwells. I know preachers use this. They
take it out of context and they point to an individual and say,
you ought not do this, that, and that because you're the temple
of God. He's talking about the church. About the church. And he's talking to preachers.
You ought not do that. You ought not preach that. You're
defiling. God will destroy you. For the
temple of God is holy, which temple you are. So let no man
deceive himself. Now here's the problem. Here's
the sower. Here's the root. If any man among
you seemeth to be wise in this world, that is what I'm saying. Intellectualism, education, leaving
the simplicity of Christ. Preachers get too smart. And they preach over people's
heads. They just get too smart. I listened to one on television
before I came to to church here from Lexington, and I know I've
read a little bit, and I'm old and senile, but I still remember
some things that I read, but I couldn't understand what he's
talking about. It's over my head. Don't be so wise. Listen, let
him become a fool that he may be wise. For verse 19, preachers, the
wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. Oh, you're debating
and you're splitting hairs and you're dividing over these things.
That's foolishness! That's foolishness! It's written,
he'll take the wise in their own craftiness. Don't make God
deal with you. That's what I'm saying over this
tape to everybody who listens to me. Don't make God deal with
you. If you're his servant and you're
his preacher, and you don't preach his gospel and preach his son,
exalt his son, stay with the simplicity of Christ, God will
deal with you, son. He'll deal with you now, and
when you get to the end of your ministry, you'll wish you'd never
been born. God will take the wise in their
own craftiness. In verse 20, again, the Lord
knoweth the thoughts of the wise, they're vain. My thoughts are
not his thoughts. I hope as I get older, I get
more simple in my message. Clearer. Plainer. Folks can at
least understand here. And if they don't understand
here, it might slip down here. But a man can't believe here,
why he don't understand there? Can't he better put it? Gotta
come here first. Alright, it turns back to the
church. Verse 21. Let no man glory in men. Just stop it. Be done with it. Don't do it
anymore. Let no man glory in men. For
all things are yours. Everything God has He has brought
to His people. Whether it's Paul or Apollos,
whether it's Brother Barnard or Brother Mews or Brother Mahan
or Brother Fortner or Brother James, all things are yours. Brother Donny, they're all yours.
Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, things present,
things to come, they're all yours. And you belong to Christ. And
he belongs to God. I did it, didn't I? necessary. Like I say, it's applicable
at all times. It may not be especially needful
right now for you, but maybe it will someday. It is needful
though. All right, we're going to sing
number 188. Number 188. We have a couple who wishes to
unite with our church this morning. Danny Thomas and his wife Terri,
and both of them know and love Christ. Danny's been a missionary
to the Indians, the Choctaw Indians out west, and then for a short
time pastored a church in our area. And he's been coming here,
he and his wife, and they want to unite with us. And I'm going
to ask them at the end of the service, Danny, hold up your
hand right here, you and your wife Terri. At the end of the
service, I want them to come down after we end the service
and let you come by and greet them and welcome them into our
fellowship. We're just delighted to have
you and welcome you and hope we'll be a blessing to you and
I think you will be to us.

Envy, Strife, and Division

What does the Bible say about divisions in the church?

How do we know that God gives the increase in ministry?

Why is spiritual maturity important for Christians?

What does it mean that Christians are co-workers with God?

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Envy, Strife, and Division

What does the Bible say about divisions in the church?

How do we know that God gives the increase in ministry?

Why is spiritual maturity important for Christians?

What does it mean that Christians are co-workers with God?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

Comments

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