I. EXORDIUM:
Are you serving the LORD?
Yes.
II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:
Believers/unbelievers
III. OBJECTIVES:
To show that GOD, the LORD JESUS looks upon us differently from how the world looks at us. We will never receive honor from men but from GOD alone.
IV. TEXT:
1 Corinthians 4:10 (Amplified Bible)
We are [looked upon as] fools on account of Christ and for His sake, but you are [supposedly] so amazingly wise and prudent in Christ! We are weak, but you are [so very] strong! You are highly esteemed, but we are in disrepute and contempt!
V. THESIS:
Praise, worship, glorify, adore, bless, honor, acknowledge and thank You very much LORD JESUS for we are fools, weak, and despised for Your sake so that Your Presence will be wise, strong and honorable in us.
VI. TITLE:
Serving the LORD JESUS
VII. EXPLICATION:
A. Author: Apostle Paul
B. Date written: 56 A.D.
C. Place written: Ephesus
D. Purpose: To purify the church from divisions and immorality.
E. To whom written: Corinthian church
F. Main theme: Unified and pure living, in the midst of an impure world.
G. Keyword: love
VIII. MAIN BODY:
1 Corinthians 4:10 (Amplified Bible)
We are [looked upon as] fools on account of Christ and for His sake, but you are [supposedly] so amazingly wise and prudent in Christ! We are weak, but you are [so very] strong! You are highly esteemed, but we are in disrepute and contempt!
1 Corinthians 4:10 (King James Version)
We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
A. Our three qualities as servants of the LORD JESUS CHRIST
1. Fools for CHRIST's sake
2. Weak for CHRIST's sake
3. Despised for CHRIST's sake
Fools or "moros" in Greek language means "dull or stupid, shut up, heedless, blockhead, absurd"
Weak or "asthenes" in Greek language means "strengthless, feeble, impotent, sick, without strength"
Despised or "atimos" in Greek language means "unhonored or dishonored, without honor"
This is done by the LORD so we will be broken vessels and be useful in His hands. The LORD doesn't want anything standing in the way of His Glory so that all credentials, praises and worship are for Him alone.
Psalms 25:2 (Amplified Bible)
O my God, I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in You. Let me not be put to shame or [my hope in You] be disappointed; let not my enemies triumph over me.
ILLUSTRATION: Like Gideon, only 300 people were with him so that he can't credit it to his 300 soldiers that defeated the enemy, but only the LORD JESUS.
Judges 7:7 (Amplified Bible)
And the Lord said to Gideon, With the 300 men who lapped I will deliver you, and give the Midianites into your hand. Let all the others return every man to his home.
Judges 7:22 (Amplified Bible)
When [Gideon’s men] blew the 300 trumpets, the Lord set every [Midianite’s] sword against his comrade and against all the army, and the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah by Tabbath.
1 Samuel 17:47 (Amplified Bible)
And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.
There are so many figurative battles in our lives, but we don't have to fight each one of them, let alone the LORD JESUS do it for us, because the battle is the LORD's not ours, that's why even our concern and care are casted to Him alone.
1 Peter 5:7 (Amplified Bible)
Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
1. Fools for CHRIST's sake
1 Corinthians 3:18 (Amplified Bible)
Let no person deceive himself. If anyone among you supposes that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool [let him discard his worldly discernment and recognize himself as dull, stupid, and foolish, without true learning and scholarship], that he may become [really] wise.
Hosea 9:7 (Amplified Bible)
The days of visitation and punishment have come; the days of recompense have come; Israel shall know it. The prophet is [considered] a crazed fool and the man who is inspired is [treated as if] mad or a fanatic, because of the abundance of your iniquity and because the enmity, hostility, and persecution are great.
1 Corinthians 1:28 (Amplified Bible)
And God also selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is lowborn and insignificant and branded and treated with contempt, even the things that are nothing, that He might depose and bring to nothing the things that are,
2. Weak for CHRIST's sake
1 Corinthians 2:3 (Amplified Bible)
And I was in (passed into a state of) weakness and fear (dread) and great trembling [after I had come] among you.
2 Corinthians 10:10 (Amplified Bible)
For they say, His letters are weighty and impressive and forceful and telling, but his personality and bodily presence are weak, and his speech and delivery are utterly contemptible (of no account).
2 Corinthians 13:9 (Amplified Bible)
For we are glad when we are weak (unapproved) and you are really strong. And this we also pray for: your all-round strengthening and perfecting of soul.
3. Despised for CHRIST's sake
Isaiah 53:3 (Amplified Bible)
He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and like One from Whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him.
Luke 10:16 (Amplified Bible)
He who hears and heeds you [disciples] hears and heeds Me; and he who slights and rejects you slights and rejects Me; and he who slights and rejects Me slights and rejects Him who sent Me.
Luke 18:9 (Amplified Bible)
He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves and were confident that they were righteous [that they were upright and in right standing with God] and scorned and made nothing of all the rest of men:
The world treated us like this because we don't belong to this world, we are of Heaven.
John 8:23 (Amplified Bible)
He said to them, You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world (of this earthly order); I am not of this world.
John 18:36 (Amplified Bible)
Jesus answered, My kingdom (kingship, royal power) belongs not to this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My followers would have been fighting to keep Me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, My kingdom is not from here (this world); [it has no such origin or source].
Colossians 2:20 (Amplified Bible)
If then you have died with Christ to material ways of looking at things and have escaped from the world’s crude and elemental notions and teachings of externalism, why do you live as if you still belong to the world? [Why do you submit to rules and regulations?—such as]
Colossians 2:14 (Amplified Bible)
Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross.
Psalms 17:14 (Amplified Bible)
From men by Your hand, O Lord, from men of this world [these poor moths of the night] whose portion in life is idle and vain. Their bellies are filled with Your hidden treasure [what You have stored up]; their children are satiated, and they leave the rest [of their] wealth to their babes.
B. Three qualities of people that we are serving:
1. Wise in CHRIST
2. Strong in CHRIST
3. Honourable in CHRIST
Wise or "phronimos" in Greek language meaning: "thoughtful, sagacious or discreet, cautious character, intelligence, mental acquirement"
Strong or "ischuros" in Greek language meaning: "forcible, boisterous, mighty, powerful, strong, valiant"
Honorable or "endoxos" in Greek language meaning: "glory, splendid, noble, glorious, gorgeous"
It's a great opposite, what we enjoy from the LORD JESUS, the LORD JESUS called us these things, wise in CHRIST, strong in CHRIST, and honorable in CHRIST, don't forget to always add the "in CHRIST" because apart from Him we are nothing and we can do nothing.
John 15:5 (Amplified Bible)
I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.
1. Wise in CHRIST
1 Corinthians 4:8 (Amplified Bible)
[You behave as if] you are already filled and think you have enough [you are full and content, feeling no need of anything more]! Already you have become rich [in spiritual gifts and graces]! [Without any counsel or instruction from us, in your conceit], you have ascended your thrones and come into your kingdom without including us! And would that it were true and that you did reign, so that we might be sharing the kingdom with you!
1 Corinthians 10:14-15 (Amplified Bible)
Therefore, my dearly beloved, shun (keep clear away from, avoid by flight if need be) any sort of idolatry (of loving or venerating anything more than God).
I am speaking as to intelligent (sensible) men. Think over and make up your minds [for yourselves] about what I say. [I appeal to your reason and your discernment in these matters.]
Jeremiah 8:8-9 (Amplified Bible)
How can you say, We are wise, and we have the written law of the Lord [and are learned in its language and teachings]? Behold, the truth is, the lying pen of the scribes has made of the law a falsehood (a mere code of ceremonial observances).
The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken [captive]. Behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord, and what wisdom and broad, full intelligence is in them?
2. Strong in CHRIST
1 Corinthians 3:2 (Amplified Bible)
I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough [to be ready for it]; but even yet you are not strong enough [to be ready for it],
1 Corinthians 10:12 (Amplified Bible)
Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin].
3. Honourable in CHRIST
Matthew 5:11 (Amplified Bible)
Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account.
Matthew 10:22-25 (Amplified Bible)
And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake, but he who perseveres and endures to the end will be saved [from spiritual disease and death in the world to come].
When they persecute you in one town [that is, pursue you in a manner that would injure you and cause you to suffer because of your belief], flee to another town; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
A disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a servant or slave above his master.
It is sufficient for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant or slave like his master. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub [master of the dwelling], how much more will they speak evil of those of His household.
Matthew 24:9 (Amplified Bible)
Then they will hand you over to suffer affliction and tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
IX. CONCLUSION:
Praise, worship, glorify, adore, bless, honor, acknowledge and thank You very much LORD JESUS for we are fools, weak, and despised for Your sake so that Your Presence will be wise, strong and honorable in us.
