Freedom From Division-1(2024)

*This sermon was severely shortened due to time constraints—‘Baptism’, plus the sermon, plus ‘the Lord’s Supper’*...

Therefore no ‘ARGUMENTATION’ OR ‘ILLUSTRATION’ were provided....

Yet the Deacons & others recognized the Holy Spirit at work thruout the services!

FREEDOM From DIVISION-I—1Corinthians 1:10a-d(:10-17)

(formerly: The INDIGNITY Of DIVISION)

Attention:

In my short-lived trucking days...

Once, the flat-bed trailer I was pulling thru Florida on I-95, had a flat tire.

One of the tires somehow lost its integrity, & it’s components became separated/divided.

The divided tire completely stopped the ability of the truck, to deliver the expected goods on time.

A flat tire is an expected problem for any trucking company. And the company I drove for was prepared for such emergencies, knowing that their reputation—their ‘witness’ if you will—was ‘at stake’/‘on the line.’

The tire was soon replaced, & I was back on the road & back to business.

The success of my deliveries depended on all of the tires simultaneously & flawlessly working together.

Likewise, internal division is ruinous to any ministry’s success!

Need:

God’s people must RECOGNIZE divisive behaviors, & SURRENDER those behaviors to the power of God, thru the Holy Spirit, Who lives within them.

“Indignity”—A state of being unworthy of honor or respect(in relation to godly matters).

The Corinthian church was afflicted/troubled by the indignity of internal division.

And the apostle Paul urged the Corinthian church to distance themselves from that indignity.

Successful ministry is undermined thru internal division.

?What can free or distance us from division?

And...?How can we be free from that indignity?

3 measures of freedom from division.

1—Freedom from division thrives in Christian...

UNITY(:10-12)

Explanation:(:10-12)

:10—“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, & that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind & in the same judgment.”

:10a—“Now I plead with you, brethren,...”

Paul writes as an apostle to the Corinthian church & begins by “pleading” with, or exhorting his “brethren.”

‘Exhort’ = ‘To urge by strong, often stirring argument, admonition, advice, or appeal.’

Paul exhorts those whom he recognizes & accepts as “brothers” to him. ?•They are siblings thru the blood of “Christ.”?•“Brothers” in Christ stand in need of exhortation. They should find comfort, & purpose, & direction, in knowing that Paul is “pleading with” them & for the sake of the Gospel.

•Christian ‘SISTERS’ are included here in ‘the brotherhood of Christians’ as well, even though it is not stated here. •That concept is commonly understood in the Christian Scriptures. It is NOT a statement of, or a belittling of, the WORTH of our ‘sisters’ in Christ.

•Instead it is a pointed statement intended for the male siblings in relation to their God-ordained role of ‘headship.’ Christian men are called upon as those responsible & answerable to fulfill their role in church, home, & society, as God has ordained it to be.

•And that God-ordered ‘headship’ was placed upon ‘men’ by God when mankind was created(1Tim. 2:12-14).

:10b—“...by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,...”

“By”—The POWER behind Paul’s “pleading” comes from the One that Paul recognizes & holds in common with all of his spiritual siblings.

•Both Paul & those he is the “pleading with”—his Christian “brothers” & sisters hold in common that “Jesus(‘Savior’) Christ”(‘Anointed’) is their “Lord.”(‘Master’)

•So “Jesus Christ” is the only One, that Paul & his spiritual siblings, explicitly answer to & thru.

It is important to them that the “name” of their “Lord Jesus Christ” is honored & glorified above that of others.

:10c—“...that you all speak the same thing,...”

Paul exhorts the Corinthian “brothers” & sisters in “Christ” to “speak the same thing.” He is informing them that they should all be in agreement with one another, as it relates to matters of the Gospel--AKA— the Good News of salvation in Jesus. IF that attitude—of “speaking the same thing” in “Christ”—is allowed to bear fruit, regardless of who speaks it(See :12-13), THEN the Gospel(‘Good News’) is heard, & God in “Christ” is glorified...& thereby, unity prevails in the Church.

:10d—“...& that there be no divisions among you,...”

*A LACK of agreement “among” God’s people means that “division” is present “among” them. So that there is ‘a wedge’ of sorts that keeps them from being conquerors... & that keeps them from completing God’s will...particularly when they are gathered together.

•So “Division” is an undesirable element to have in the Church of God!...

Jn. 13:34-35—““A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””

Rom. 13:8-10—“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” & if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”