JUSTIFIED FOOLS For CHRIST-II—1Corinthians 4:1-21
Attention:
Back in the day, before I had accepted Christ & before the days of digitized anything—1975—I had a Foghat[the name of a rock band] album that pictured a young long-haired, bushy mustached, bereted man(the drummer for the band) in his twenties, sitting on an upturned coke crate. He’s facing an uncovered manhole in the middle of East 11th Street in New York City. At his feet are a drink & a short hand-dip-net for scooping up fish. The man has a fishing rod in his hand extended to the manhole, with its line disappearing into the manhole. He’s got his hand on the line feeling for a bite. On the back of the album there are 7 more people(remainder of the band members + others) standing behind the ‘sewer fisherman.’ These ‘rubberneckers’ are in various stages of amusement, interest, discussion & wonder as to the success the fisherman.
**The title of the album?.....‘Fool For The City’**
Even though fishing is not meant for the sewer & goes against every fiber of anyone who really fishes, the ‘Fool for the City’ does not hesitate to fish there supposing that there is nothing outside city life that could possibly be better!
‘Fools for Christ’ are such because they know from experience with certainty, that there really is nothing worthwhile outside of Christ—Who actually touches all things including ‘the city’!
Paul admonished the Corinthian Church regarding his apostolic ministry.
The church must regard apostolic authority rightly...as those who are fools for Christ!
How/When are Fools for Christ Justified?
11 justifiers regarding Fools for Christ.
We discovered last time that
Fools for Christ are justified thru their...
1. STEWARDSHIP(:1)
2—Fools for Christ are justified thru their...
FAITHFULNESS(:2)
Explanation:(:2)
:2—“Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”
Generally, a “steward” of anything must minimally be “faithful”/trustworthy, otherwise he is not a steward! Thus, if all of God’s stewards are not exhibiting faithfulness to God, then they are not fit as “stewards.” Likewise the universal Church is only the Church if it is “faithful” to God’s “stewards,” the apostolic teaching.
“Moreover/In this case, moreover/Now/But as to the rest”—loipon—Adverbial Noun—1) Remaining, the rest—1a) Hereafter, for the future, henceforth, 1b) At last, already, 1c) For the rest, besides, moreover. Strong—Something remaining(adverbially).
“Required/Expected”—zhtew—1) To seek in order to find—1a) To seek a thing, 1b) To seek [in order to find out] by thinking, meditating, reasoning, to enquire into, 1c) To seek after, seek for, aim at, strive after; 2) To seek i.e. require, demand—2a) To crave, demand something from someone. Strong—of uncertain affinity; To seek (literally or figuratively); specially, by Hebraism--To worship (God), or in a bad sense--To plot(against life).
“Found”—euriskw—1) To come upon, hit upon, to meet with—1a) after searching--To find a thing sought, 1b) without previous search--To find(by chance), to fall in with, 1c) Those who come or return to a place; 2) To find by enquiry, thought, examination, scrutiny, observation, to find out by practice & experience; 3) To find out for one's self, to acquire, get, obtain, procure. Strong—a prolonged form of a primary eurw; which (together with another cognate form eurew) is used for it in all the tenses except the present & imperfect; To find(literally or figuratively).
“Faithful/Trustworthy”—pistov—1) Trusty, faithful—1a) Of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties, 1b) One who kept his plighted faith, worthy of trust, 1c) That can be relied on; 2) Easily persuaded—2a) Believing, confiding, trusting, 2b) in the NT--One who trusts in God's promises. Strong—objectively--Trustworthy; subjectively--Trustful.
Argumentation:
Deut 7:9—“Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant & mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him & keep His commandments;”
Ps. 37:3—“Trust in the LORD, & do good; Dwell in the land, & feed on His faithfulness.”
2Tim. 2:11-13—“This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”
We can allow our faithfulness to become driven away thru personal sin. Yet God’s absolute faithfulness to Himself & His plan for man, remains to woo us back into His graces.
**1Sam. 2:35—[To Eli the priest]“Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart & in My mind. I will build him a sure house, & he shall walk before My anointed forever.”
This was typified in Samuel but fulfilled in Jesus. We are a priesthood in Christ.
1Pet. 2:5-10—“you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” & “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”
2Chron. 31:16-18—“Besides those males from three years old & up who were written in the genealogy, they distributed to everyone who entered the house of the LORD his daily portion for the work of his service, by his division, & to the priests who were written in the genealogy according to their father’s house, & to the Levites from twenty years old & up according to their work, by their divisions, & to all who were written in the genealogy--their little ones & their wives, their sons & daughters, the whole company of them--for in their faithfulness they sanctified themselves in holiness.”
Gal. 5:22-23—“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
1Thess. 5:23-24—“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; & may your whole spirit, soul, & body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”
Those who follow God will be faithful as God is unfailingly faithful, trustworthy, & true.
**1Pet. 4:17-19—“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; & if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly & the sinner appear? Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”
**Rev. 17:14—“The ten horns which you saw[in the vision] are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, & they will give their power & authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, & the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords & King of kings; & those who are with Him are called, chosen, & faithful.””
Eccl. 9:10—“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.”
**Lam. 3:18-27—“And I said, “My strength & my hope Have perished from the LORD.” Remember my affliction & roaming, The wormwood & the gall. My soul still remembers And sinks within me. This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope & wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man to bear The yoke in his youth.”
Mk. 12:29-33—“Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. ‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, & with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, & there is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, & with all the strength, & to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings & sacrifices.” ”
If you truly love God, then Faithfulness is one obvious result!
Illustration:
I recently heard a radio testimony of a former prisoner who accepted Christ & was thus saved while in the FL state prison/Before Christ, he was known as a thief & no one in any way would have trusted him/He had eked along attempting to make a living in construction & related renovation & varied repair work/Prior to his imprisonment & salvation, he had no real work/After his release from sinfulness & prison, he had more work than he could handle/He tells of a man who asked him to work on his house while he was out of town for many weeks—gave him the keys to the house!—something he would never have been trusted with before!/FAITHFULNESS
Application:
?Are You a Justified Fool for Christ thru your FAITHFULNESS?...
...OR...Are You just a Fool?
?Are You a Fool for Christ?
3—Fools for Christ are justified thru their...
DISCERNMENT(:3-5)
Explanation:(:3-5)
:3—“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.”
A.(:3) Not Apathetic, yet not corrosively attentive...Learningly & lovingly attentive. He does not depend upon the judgment of others.
Paul considers it of no consequence that the Corinthians should examine(anakrinw) him. He also considers it of no consequence that he should be examined by any official human judgment, as in a “court” or day of reckoning before men. Evidently, the Corinthian Christians had ‘passed judgment’ on Paul as would a human(fleshly) “court,” or judicial inquiry(NICNT). They had decided as a (local)body, toward certain action or opinion regarding Paul. They had relegated him to less-than-authoritative status, dividing him & thus his message along with Apollos & Peter(1:10-13; 3:3-4; 3:21-23). Only the One thru Whom he had received the trust can judge him rightly(NICNT).
*Thus Paul is unconcerned as to what others may determine regarding their “judgments,” as he is first & foremost answerable to “the Lord” above all else(:4).
Local churches may make decisions on pastors & leaders based upon ‘his’— academic training, success, charisma, giftedness, effectiveness, conference attendance, staff; attendance & membership numbers—much of which is based on the whim of purely subjective judgment of the church’s ‘perceived need.’
NKJV’s “Court” renders hmera, thus literally=‘man’s day.’ Thereby this is a statement considering the limitations of “man’s judgment”(KJV) or how men consider by faulty reasoning.
Adding to such officially sanctioned actions, Paul doesn’t even “judge” himself! Thus no group is truly qualified to evaluate the viability or disregard of servants God Himself has chosen. The faithfulness of God’s servants is not a determination of talking heads, but for God alone.
*Thus, if the denomination I am associated with, makes ‘uninspired’ determinations, then I am still not fazed in my service to God. If such a body officially denounces me, then I am to continue in my service to God unabated, though unsupported by man or thru association with that particular means.
Sad but true—Service in any church can be a challenge. Many get frustrated because they place too much emphasis upon the approval of others, kowtowing to multitudinous opinions & thus becoming ineffective witnesses.
Rev. 2:1-4—“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, & that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles & are not, & have found them liars; & you have persevered & have patience, & have labored for My name’s sake & have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”
“Very small thing/Of little importance”—elacistov—Adj.—1) Smallest least—1a) In size, 1b) In amount: of management of affairs, 1c) In importance: what is the least moment, 1d) In authority: of commandments, 1e) In the estimation of men: of persons, 1f) In rank & excellence: of persons. Strong—superlative of elacuv(short); used as equivalent to mikrov; Least(in size, amount, dignity, etc.).
“Judged/Examined/Evaluated”2X(See :4; 5—krinw)—anakrinw—1) Examine or judge—1a) To investigate, examine, enquire into, scrutinize, sift, question—1a1) Specifically in a forensic sense of a judge to hold an investigation, 1a2) To interrogate, examine the accused or witnesses, 1b) To judge of, estimate, determine (the excellence or defects of any person or thing). Strong–properly--To scrutinize, i.e. by implication--Investigate, interrogate, determine.
From—ana—a primary preposition & adverb; properly--Up; but(by extension) used distributively--Severally, or locally--At (etc.)—&—krinw—properly--To distinguish, i.e. Decide (mentally or judicially); by implication--To try, condemn, punish.
“Human”—anyrwpinov—1) Human—1a) Applied to things belonging to men. Used 7X.
“Court/Judgment/Day”—hmera—1) The day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise & sunset, as distinguished from & contrasted with the night; 2) Of the civil day, or the space of twenty four hours (thus including the night); 3) Of the last day of this present age, the day Christ will return from heaven, raise the dead, hold the final judgment, & perfect his kingdom; 4) Used of time in general, i.e.--The days of his life. Strong—Day, i.e. literally--The time space between dawn & dark, or the whole 24 hours; figuratively, a period(always defined more or less clearly by the context).
“In fact/Yea/But/Indeed”(See :4—“Yet”)—alla—Conj.—1) But—1a) Nevertheless, notwithstanding, 1b) An objection, 1c) An exception, 1d) A restriction, 1e) Nay, rather, yea, moreover, 1f) Forms a transition to the cardinal matter. Strong—neuter plural of allov[ a primary word; “Else," i.e. Different(in many applications)]; properly--Other things, i.e. adverbially--Contrariwise(in many relations).
:4—“For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.”
B.(:4) Personally Yielding—not self-satisfaction.
Sacrifices for “unintentional sin”—Lev. 13:21; Num. 15:22-29
He does not judge himself(:3) because he is unaware of anything “against” himself.
“Not a statement of fact, but an hypothesis to show the unreliability of mere complacent self-satisfaction.”—RWP
NIV translates the NKJV’s—“I know of nothing against myself”—as “My conscience is clear.” Literally ‘Of nothing in myself am I conscious.’
*However even this does not “justify,”acquit or free Paul from
wrongdoing, because he is actually judged/examined by “the Lord” Himself.
A Self-satisfied person has granted the capability of ultimate decisive judgment to his own ability, thus wrenching it away from God Himself!
Jer. 17:9-10—“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.”
“For”—gar—Conj.—1) For. Strong—a primary particle; properly--Assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles).
“Know/Conscious”—suneidw—1) To see(have seen) together with others; 2) To see (have seen) in one's mind with one's self—2a) To understand, perceive, comprehend; 3) To know with another; 4) To know in one's mind or with one's self, to be conscience of. Strong—from sun[a primary preposition denoting Union; With or Together(but much closer than meta[Accompaniment] or para[Near]), i.e. by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, addition, etc.] & eidw[To see/Know]; To see completely; used(like its primary) only in two past tenses, respectively meaning--To understand or become aware, & To be conscious or (clandestinely)informed of. Used 4X.
“Nothing”—ouden—Pronoun—1) No one, nothing. Strong—Not even one(man, woman or thing), i.e. None, nobody, nothing.
“Against”—Added for clarification—
“Myself/In myself”(See :3)—emautou—
“Yet”(See :3—“In fact”)—alla—
“Justified/Acquitted”—dikaiow—1) To render righteous or such he ought to be; 2) To show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is & wishes himself to be considered; 3) To declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be.” Strong—To render(i.e. show or regard as) just or innocent.
“Judges/Examines/Evaluates”(See :3; 5—krinw)—anakrinw—
:5—“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness & reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.”
C.(:5) Divinely Unveiled/Revealed—The heart’s secrets hidden from your fellow believers.
Because of the above argument, we should not pass judgment prematurely or prior to the time of Christ’s coming.
If we do pass judgment too easily/early, without full knowledge, then we will not receive praise from God.
The Lord will one day, “bring to light” things that are presently “hidden” in darkness. Not that we do not have knowledge of “the mysteries of God”(:1) or that we do not have the mind of Christ(1Cor. 2:16; Php. 2:5), but that we should not make value judgments which separate & divide apostolic ministry from other apostolic ministry.
Yet remember even Peter stood condemned as Paul confronted him in his ill-reasoned treatment of Gentiles when under pressure from Judaisers(Gal. 2:11-16). But then again, Paul, an apostle himself, quickly remedied the apostolic misstep.
Gal. 2:11-16—“Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew & separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles & not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? “We who are Jews by nature, & not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ & not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”
Paul himself with Barnabas concerning John Mark’s commitment:
Acts 12:25—“And Barnabas & Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, & they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.”
Acts 13:13—“Now when Paul & his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; & John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.”
Acts 15:37-40—“Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, & had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark & sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas & departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.”
2Tim. 4:11—“Only Luke is with me. Get Mark & bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.”
The Lord will one day, plainly disclose the true motives of men’s hearts, particularly those who claim to be blood -bought. We cannot know these until that time. Thereby we as God’s servants ourselves must be loving, forgiving & not prideful in our service to God. We must work with other’s perceived failings & others must work with ours as well, though we may not be perceptive of our own. At that time, we will individually receive our “praise” “from God” Himself...By God’s determination...not man’s!
Well done good & faithful servant...
Matthew 25:19-21—“After a long time the lord of those servants came & settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came & brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good & faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ ”
Such a servant has discerned the times regarding the way of salvation & strength.
Your demeanor can be an imitation of Christian demeanor, but that is not what saves you. Blood-bought Christian demeanor arises not from surrender to self but from surrender to Christ. Not from being a chameleon but from being a true new creation(2Cor. 5:17). which new creation is lived out presently.
2Cor. 5:17—“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
“Judge/Passing judgment”(See :3, 4—anakrinw)—krinw—1) To separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose; 2) To approve, esteem, to prefer; 3) To be of opinion, deem, think, to be of opinion; 4) To determine, resolve, decree; 5) To judge—5a) To pronounce an opinion concerning right & wrong—5a1) To be judged, i.e. Summoned to trial that one's case may be examined & judgment passed upon it, 5b) To pronounce judgment, to subject to censure—5b1) Of those who act the part of judges or arbiters in matters of common life, or pass judgment on the deeds & words of others; 6) To rule, govern—6a) To preside over with the power of giving judicial decisions, because it was the prerogative of kings & rulers to pass judgment; 7) To contend together, of warriors & combatants. Strong—properly--To distinguish, i.e. Decide (mentally or judicially); by implication--To try, condemn, punish.
“Before”—pro—Prep—1) Before. Strong—a primary preposition; "Fore", i.e. In front of, prior(figuratively--Superior) to.
“Time”—kairov—1) Due measure; 2) A measure of time, a larger or smaller portion of time, hence:—2a) A fixed & definite time, the time when things are brought to crisis, the decisive epoch waited for, 2b) Opportune or seasonable time, 2c) The right time, 2d) A limited period of time, 2e) To what time brings, the state of the times, the things & events of time. Kairov denotes a definitely limited portion of time with the added notion of suitableness. Strong—of uncertain affinity; An occasion, i.e. Set or proper time.
“Until”(See :13)—ewv an—Conj.—ewv—1) Till, until. Strong—a conjunction, preposition & adverb of continuance--Until(of time & place). & —an—Particle—1) has no exact English equivalent. Strong—a primary particle, denoting a supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty.
“Comes”(See :18, 19, 21)—ercomai—) To come—1a) of persons—1a1) To come from one place to another, & used both of persons arriving & of those returning, 1a2) To appear, make one's appearance, come before the public; 2) metaph.—2a) To come into being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence, 2b) Be established, become known, to come (fall) into or unto; 3) To go, to follow one. Strong—denotes motion or progress generally, & of any sort, hence--To "come" & arrive at, as well as "To go”.
“Bring to light/Reveal/Disclose”—fwtizw—1) To give light, to shine; 2) To enlighten, light up, illumine; 3) To bring to light, render evident—3a) To cause something to exist & thus come to light & become clear to all; 4) To enlighten, spiritually, imbue with saving knowledge. Strong—To shed rays, i.e. To shine or transitively--To brighten up(literally or figuratively). Used 11X.
“Hidden things”—kruptov—Adj.—1) Hidden, concealed, secret. Strong—Concealed, i.e. Private. English=‘Cryptic/Encrypt.’
“Darkness”—skotov—1) Darkness—1a) Of night darkness, 1b) Of darkened eyesight or blindness; 2) metaph.—2a) Of ignorance respecting divine things & human duties, & the accompanying ungodliness & immorality, together with their consequent misery in hell. Skotov is a general word, meaning darkness in any sense. Strong—Shadiness, i.e. Obscurity (literally or figuratively).
“Reveal/Make manifest/Disclose/Expose”—fanerow—1) To make manifest or visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, to manifest, whether by words, or deeds, or in any other way. Fanerow denotes manifest, as opposed to what is concealed & invisible. Strong—To render apparent(literally or figuratively).
“Counsels/Motives”—boulh—1) Counsel, purpose. Strong—from boulomai[To will]; Volition, i.e. objectively--Advice, or by implication--Purpose. Used 12X.
“Hearts”—kardia—1) The heart; 2a) The vigor & sense of physical life, 2b) The centre & seat of spiritual life—2b1) The soul or mind, as it is the fountain & seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors, 2b2) Of the understanding, the faculty & seat of the intelligence, 2b3) Of the will & character, 2b4) Of the soul so far as it is affected & stirred in a bad way or good, or of the soul as the seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions, 1c) Of the middle or central or inmost part of anything, even though inanimate. Strong—prolonged from a primary kar (Latin, cor, "heart"); The heart, i.e. figuratively--The thoughts or feelings(mind); also by analogy--The middle.
“Praise”—epainov—1) Approbation, commendation, praise. Strong—Laudation; concretely--A commendable thing. Used 11X.
“Come from”(See :9, 13—“Made”; :16—“Be/Become”)—ginomai—1) To become, i.e. To come into existence, begin to be, receive being; 2) To become, i.e. To come to pass, happen; 3) To arise, appear in history, come upon the stage; 4) To be made, finished—4a) Of miracles, to be performed, wrought; 5) To become, be made. Strong—To cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. reflexively--To become(come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.).
Argumentation:
**Prov. 2:1-5—“My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.”
**Prov. 15:21—“Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly.”
**Jonah 4:11—“And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred & twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand & their left--& much livestock?”
Jonah’s discernment was messed up...& he was a prophet!
Lk. 12:56—“Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky & of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?”
**1Cor. 2:14—“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
**Php. 1:9-11—“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more & more in knowledge & all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere & without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory & praise of God.”
**Heb. 5:14—“But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good & evil.”
**Lk. 19:41-44—“Now as He drew near, He saw the city & wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you & close you in on every side, “& level you, & your children within you, to the ground; & they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
This was before the Cross!...Church, What is your excuse now that you know the mysteries of God?!
1Cor. 2:12-16—“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”
Jn. 5:2-10; 7:21-24—“Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool & stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, & knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed & walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, & walked. And that day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”.....“Jesus answered & said to them, “I did one work[healed a ??], & you all marvel. Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), & you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Lk. 6:36-38—“Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, & you shall not be judged. Condemn not, & you shall not be condemned. Forgive, & you will be forgiven. Give, & it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, & running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Mat. 11:16-19(Lk. 7:31-35)—“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces & calling to their companions, “& saying: ‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not lament.’ “For John came neither eating nor drinking, & they say, ‘He has a demon.’ “The Son of Man came eating & drinking, & they say, ‘Look, a glutton & a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors & sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”
Rom. 12:1-2—“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good & acceptable & perfect will of God.”
1Cor. 11:27-32—“Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body & blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, & so let him eat of the bread & drink of the cup. For he who eats & drinks in an unworthy manner eats & drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak & sick among you, & many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.”
Illustration:
[One of my pet peeves!]—For the life of me I will never understand how someone claiming to know Jesus[sweet little stalwart God-fearing ladies & Godly men strong in the faith], can be offended by interracial marriage—& I have met many!/They are most offended when the contrast in ‘colors’ is most apparent/We are called to change our culture, not to be changed by our culture!/Return to God/DISCERNMENT
An common 120V electrical plug/A polarized plug has a matching outlet with each contact(prong) having have different widths—to prevent shorting/A grounded cord has three prongs(contacts)—two different shapes-sizes—two are flat(Left is grounded(Neutral)/Right is ungrounded(Hot))One is rounded(being the ground-ing contact)/DISCERNMENT
We can be completely oblivious to what our own actions say to others/We can be so completely blinded to our lifestyle & actions that we can really believe we are entitled to certain sympathies or exhilarations from others, & that we are somehow ‘missing out’/But what we really need to have is enlightenment to those truths/Otherwise we will continue to avoid admission of the plank in our own eye, while openly disparaging the speck in the eye of others(Mat. 7:1-5)/DISCERNMENT
Application:
?Are You a Justified Fool for Christ thru your DISCERNMENT?...
...OR...Are You just a Fool?
?Are You a Fool for Christ?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
A ‘Fool For The City’—Fishing down the manhole
Action:
Fools for Christ are justified thru their...
2. FAITHFULNESS(:2)
3. DISCERNMENT(:3-5)
1. STEWARDSHIP(:1)
Pts. 2-3 Presented 04/12/2015pm to:
FBC Cbelle
209 A Ave SE(Storrs Ave)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
