1. WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SERVICE?
• Being a True Christian
• VS 2 Paul stated that he didn’t pretend to know anything except the fact that Christ was crucified
• Paul expresses that he experiences the same fears as the other Christians at Corinth
a. Weakness
b. Fear
c. Trembling
• Romans 12:1 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think: but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
• We must be humble in our service and not boast about the work we are called to do
• I Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt (Use) you in due time:”
• We must be:
a. Usable
b. Teachable
c. Trainable
d. Moldable
2. WISDOM; (needed or not?)
• Paul stated that he did not use “fancy words”
• VS 4
• Enticing Words or ‘Persuasive’ Words
• Paul didn’t try to ‘talk’ or persuade people into salvation
• Didn’t use Influence but facts of the Word
• VS 5 Faith not in the wisdom of Men
• One must be in tune with the Spirit of God
• Exodus 4:10 “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”
• Excuses don’t cut it with God
• God will make provision for us when he calls to work
• I Corinthians 3:19 “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.”
• It is not worldly wisdom which we need but the wisdom of God
• “Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you would have preferred to talk.”
3. OUR ABILITY TO SHARE THE GOSPEL COMES FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT
• VS 10
• VS 12 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
• Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
• “Moody was to have a campaign in England. An elderly pastor protested, "Why do we need this ’Mr. Moody’? He’s uneducated, inexperienced, etc. Who does he think he is anyway? Does he think he has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?" A younger, wiser pastor rose and responded, "No, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on Mr. Moody.”
• II Corinthians 5:18 “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.”
• Our ministry is one of reconciliation; bringing others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and helping to keep those who have it close to it
4. THE REVEALED THINGS ARE TAUGHT IN WORDS GIVEN BY THE SPIRIT
• VS 13 “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
• “In The Last Days Newsletter, Leonard Ravenhill tells about a group of tourists visiting a picturesque village who walked by an old man sitting beside a fence. In a rather patronizing way, one tourist asked, "Were any great men born in this village?" The old man replied, "Nope, only babies." A frothy question brought a profound answer. There are no instant heroes--whether in this world or in the kingdom of God. Growth takes time, and as I Timothy 3:6 and 5:22 point out, even spiritual leadership must be earned.”
• We cannot expect to spread the gospel if we cannot or have not grown in the spirit
• Ephesians 1:17 “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:”
• II Thessalonians 1:3 “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith growth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth.”
• Growth is essential to our service and we must seek spiritual growth in order to effectively serve God
• I Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may able to bear it.”
• This scripture eludes not only to temptation through the flesh but God will not allow certain spiritual situations in your life if you are not prepared for them
5. THE REVEALED THINGS ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED
• VS 14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
• Those who do not know God cannot understand what the Christian feels
• They have no concept of:
a. Healing
b. Salvation
c. Restoration
d. Resurrection
e. After Life
f. Faith
• Why is it so difficult to witness and preach ‘Christ crucified’?
a. I Corinthians 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;…”
• Our doctrines, theologies and beliefs make no sense without the discernment of the Holy Spirit
6. HOW DO WE SPREAD THE WORD?
• I Corinthians 1:18(b) “…but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
• Though the cross may be foolishness to the world it is our power to win the lost
• Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth: to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
• When Paul said he preached ‘Christ crucified’ this is what he meant
• It is not the big words or style in which we do it, it is simply the knowledge of the saving grace of God
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