Confounding Worldly Strengths Through The Weaknesses Of God

SHOW VIDEO: Find a You-Tube video that gives a vivid picture of the Space Shuttle tragic explosion. It is with this picture the following sermon will generate it's focus from.

INTERESTING DATA

“The commission's report cited the cause of the disaster as the failure of an “O-ring” seal in the solid-fuel rocket on the Space Shuttle Challenger's right side. The faulty design of the seal coupled with the unusually cold weather, let hot gases to leak through the joint. Booster rocket flames were able to pass through the failed seal enlarging the small hole. These flames then burned through the Space Shuttle Challenger's external fuel tank and through one of the supports that attached the booster to the side of the tank. That booster broke loose and collided with the tank, piercing the tank's side. Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen fuels from the tank and booster mixed and ignited, causing the Space Shuttle Challenger to tear apart” (About.com).

“On January 28, 1986, the American shuttle orbiter Challenger broke up 73 seconds after liftoff, bringing a devastating end to the spacecraft’s 10th mission. The disaster claimed the lives of all seven astronauts aboard . . . . It was later determined that two rubber O-rings, which had been designed to separate the sections of the rocket booster, had failed due to cold temperatures on the morning of the launch” (History.com)

TODAYS TEXT:

1Corinthians 1:1-5: (1) Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, (2) Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (3) Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (4) I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; (5) That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

AND CONTINUING in 1 Corinthians 1: 26- 31: (26) For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (27) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (28) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: (29) That no flesh should glory in his presence. (30) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (31) That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

In this text Paul is addressing a local church that has division and factions within its church body. Notice in verse 5, Paul reminds these believers that in everything they are enriched [to be made full or plenteous] in all utterance and knowledge” by God. With this in mind, let’s look at verses 26-31.

We find in VERSE 26 Paul notes three types likely to NOT BE CALLED, with God’s calling: not many (1) wise after the flesh, (2) mighty or (3) noble]

It is through these terms in which Paul purposely points out that intellect, political successfulness, or social position; are not qualifications for being chosen by God.

VERSE 27

In Verse 27 Paul continues this theme by providing a logical counter-type utilized to confound the false sense of callings found in VERSE 26.

NOTICE:

Worldly wisdom in verse 26 is confounded by the foolish in verse 27.

Physical might in verse 26 is confounded by the weak things in verse 27

World nobility in verse 26 is confounded by lower esteemed things (or less honorable things by fleshly standards) in verse 27.

WHY IS PAUL DOING THIS?

1) To keep the cross of Christ from having no effect: 1 Corinthians 1:17: “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

2) That no flesh will be able to glory in his presence: 1 Corinthians 1:19: “That no flesh should glory in his presence.”

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

“The moment we glorify ourselves, since there is room for one glory only in the universe, we set ourselves up as rivals to the Most High. Shall the insect of an hour glorify itself against the sun which warmed it into life? Shall the potsherd exalt itself above the man who fashioned it upon the wheel? Shall the dust of the desert strive with the whirlwind? Or the drops of the ocean struggle with the tempest? Give unto the Lord, all ye righteous, give unto the Lord glory and strength; give unto Him the honour that is due unto His name.” Ref: Spurgeon, Charles H. spurgeon.org. Psalm 29:2.