Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1 – 12
Title: “Living On The Now Side”
Introduction: To understand the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians we need to know some things about the city of Corinth.
Corinth was the most important city of all Greece in Paul’s day. Its wealth was fabulous. Men spent their days in tournaments and speeches. Luxury, dissipation, and public immorality were rampant among this great industrial and seafaring population.
But nestled within the thriving city with all its wealth and religious perversions was a large colony of Jewish people. These people had kept a strong moral standard and held to their belief in God.
Because of all bad influence of the city and its inhabitants some of the people of God had been drawn into the sin of the Corinthians.
Do you ever find yourself becoming overwhelmed by the environment in which we live? Do you ever wonder why doesn’t God do something about all of this sin and perversion that is going on all around us?
Do you find yourself feeling like you are not making any positive difference as a Christian in this world? If so, you are probably in need of this message.
Let me list some things the Apostle Paul said in:
(1 Corinthians 15:19):“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”
(Phil 1:21) “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
(Phil. 1:23) “I’m torn between two desires: Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That would be far better for me,”
(2 Cor. 12:15) “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.”
Why would Paul say such a thing?
(Phil 1:24-26) “but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.”
I. A CLOUDY MIRROR.
a. Paul compared our daily walk with the Lord as looking at a “Reflection” that one would see from looking into a mirror that wasn’t “Clear.” (“a glass darkly)
b. When Paul made this statement, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” – I believe he was feeling some of the same feelings you and I are experiencing today.
c. Let’s face it, sometimes things just don’t make sense as far as we can see!
d. Have you ever experienced a stretch of time when it seemed like God just didn’t really care?
e. Sometimes we just can’t UNDERSTAND why.
II. SELF-IMPOSED LIMITATIONS.
a. We have a “Choice” as to whether we stay where we are or go on to greater things in our walk with the Lord.
b. In Revelation 3:7-8 Jesus spoke to the church in Philadelphia, “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee “an op-en door”, and no man can shu-t it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.”
c. I have mentioned this quite a bit lately, Jesus gave us the “Keys” to the kingdom of God, but the “Responsibility” is completely up to you and I as to whether or not we “use” the “Keys.”
d. Everyone has “Limitations” upon their lives.
Some are “Self-imposed.”
Others have been “Imposed” by our “Genetic Makeup.”
Still others have been placed upon us by “Parental Upbringing.”
And then there are some “Limitations” whichare imposed upon us by “God.” (Job 14:5) “Man’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.”
e. Some Christians have LIMITED themselves because of “Misinterpreting” the things of God. (Example)
Story of an Indian lying in the middle of the road with his ear pressed to the ground.
* The Indian was mumbling these words: "Truck, Chevy truck, Chevy pick up truck, Large tires,
Man driving, German shepherd in front seat, Loaded with firewood, Cal. license plate UBH123."
* "Wow, this is unbelievable! You can tell all that by listening to the ground?
* The Indian said, "No, truck ran over me thirty minutes ago."
III. THE NOW GENERATION. (The “Bomb” & “Pepsi”)
a. Paul made the statement, “For” now” we see through a glass, darkly; . . . ”
b. We know from Paul’s writings that there is coming a “Time” when we will know everything we desire to know, but that is in “Heaven.” – What do we do “Until” we get to heaven?
c. When Jesus died on the cross the “Veil” in the temple which separated the Holiest of all from the Holy place was torn from the “Top” to the bottom.
This signified that no longer did the High Priest have to go behind the “Veil” every year to offer a blood sacrifice for the sins of the people.
NO longer did the people have to just sit and watch and wait for someone else to go behind the “Veil” because the “Veil” had been torn in two pieces.
The greater part of the Jewish people have never taken advantage of the “Fact” that a “New Way” has opened up.
There are those who would “Sew” the two pieces of the “Veil” back together if they could.
They would like for things to “Remain” the same even though God has “Changed” the way we must do things.
d. I believe there are a “Great Number” of people in the Christian community that are like the Jews who have never accepted Christ as Savior.
e. And then there are the “Canaanite” group of people.
They have come out of Egypt, but are “Unwilling” to follow God’s “Appointed Man.”
These people keep wanting to “Go Back to Egypt.”
They wander in “Circles of “Indecision.” – (An “Eleven” day trip took them “40” years to COMPLETE)
Multiple “Thousands of People” DIED because of the COMPLAINING & BICKERING.
They drove Moses to the point of disobedience – Example: Moses “Struck” the rock instead of “SPEAKING” to it.
Some of the people want to go over the Jordan and fight and come back and “Settle” for LESS than God’s BEST!
IV. THE “TREMENDOUS” NEED FOR FAITH.
a. Sometimes when all we can see is a “Vague” outline of things going on around us it becomes very difficult to keep pressing on for the Lord.
b. Sometimes when all we get is a “Brief Glimpse” behind the “Veil” it can seem like Christianity is “Always” uphill.
c. When “Life” hands you a test and you can’t fill in the “Blanks” with the right answers God has given you the “Textbook” with all the “Right Answers.” – It’s called the “Bible.”
d. The answers that will always be adequate for any “Test” are, “Faith, Hope, and Charity (Love).
e. No matter what comes our way we must keep on “BELIEVING.”
f. Paul concludes this chapter by saying, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
g. The “Love” of God is the “Strength of our Faith, and our Hope!
h. The “Love” of God is the “Glue” that holds together our Faith in God, our Hope for the “Fulfillment” of completing the “Journey.”
CONCLUSION:
There are three types of people in every Church we attend.
1. There people who come into the church service that are “Desperate” for God to do something in their life.
2. Mm
3. And then there are those who have adjusted themselves to “Remaining” in the state they’ve been in for so long.
There may be someone here today that feels like nothing is going right for you and that God has let you down.
Story of Demingo Pacheco on May 11, 1996.
* On his way to catch flight 592 out of Miami, he had a flat tire.
* After a hot, sweating, miserable hour of changing a flat tire and complaining, "Why, why, why,"
he missed his flight and was so mad!
* His cell phone rang, it was his mother.
She said, "Where are you?"
* He explained what happened about the tire .......
* She said, "Turn your radio on and thank God ... The plane, flight 592 out of Miami, just crashed into the Everglades!"
* Praise God for a flat tire!
* It was for his good!
How many times it could have been you!
