Source For A Cure Series

SERIES: PRESCRIPTIONS FOR A HEALTHY & HOLY CHURCH:

A Study in 1 Corinthians Applied To The Church Today

II. DEALING WITH OBVIOUS DISEASES

A. CANCER

“SOURCE FOR A CURE” (1 Cor. 2:6-16)

Rev. Todd G. Leupold, Perth Bible Church, February 1, 2009 AM

INTRODUCTION:

I doubt that there are any of us who would deny that CANCER is one of the great menaces of our society – and has been for a long, long time. In fact, I recently read that cancer is expected soon to surpass heart disease as the #1 killer in the world! For decades, the world has spent billions and billions of dollars on researching a cure. For decades, the world’s best and brightest minds have been working together in an attempt to find an effective cure. Throughout this time, countless educated and creative theories and experiments have been conducted to this end. And, yet, people keep contracting, suffering and dying from various forms of cancer.

But, what if it didn’t HAVE to be this way? What if there really was a cure? Would anyone with cancer hesitate to use it? Would anyone hesitate to administer it to a loved one with cancer?

In the past few weeks we have seen how even the Church, as the spiritual Body of Christ on earth, can be subject to spiritual cancer – an out-of-control and often unnoticed multiplication of unhealthy cells. We’ve also seen how human treatments – even by the most intelligent and well-meaning people, even when creative, even when worked at relentlessly – are extremely limited in their effectiveness.

However, Scripture tells us that there is indeed a cure for killing cancer in the Church!

SCRIPTURE: 1 CORINTHIANS 2:6-16

I.) THE NATURE OF THE CURE (2:6-10a)

The cure is discoverable, but not according to the wisdom of men that the early Corinthian Christians were so pursuing and proud of. And, that so many of us today continue to pursue and take pride in.

Just previous to this, Paul – inspired by the Holy Spirit – focused on salvation through Christ crucified as the proper form for true wisdom. Now, in these verses before us, he focuses on the content and nature of true wisdom – a wisdom that provides the cure for spiritual cancer!

As such, there is nothing about it that is natural, obvious, or obtainable by any earthly means.

It is:

A.) HIDDEN WISDOM

From the beginning of time and creation, such wisdom has been hidden from all men. That is, until this time (the 1st Century), when it was revealed through Christ and Scripture. Even so, while it has now been revealed and made discoverable, it’s unexpected nature keeps it hidden from most – especially the elite who limit where they will look.

This is still so true today, when the vast majority of our leaders, scientists and teachers insist on narrowing their studies and theories ONLY to what can be explained through natural causes.

B.) MYSTERY

A mystery, by definition (and certainly in Biblical usage) is something which is not easily understood, but that will eventually be revealed to those who search and wait.

Think about it. How interesting do you think it would be if Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote his Sherlock Holmes stories such that Holmes never explains what had been a mystery? What if the books simply ended with Holmes declaring “I know what happened,” THE END?

Similarly, God has wrapped the cure to spiritual cancer within a mystery in order that those who shared His passion would continue to listen until it is revealed.

C.) PRE-DETERMINED

Not only was the existence of this cure present since the beginning of time, but God’s desire and plan to reveal it to us was as well.

D.) NOW SPECIALLY REVEALED

Most of exciting of all, He pre-determined this for OUR glory!!! The only way, however, for us to receive glory is through the grace of “the Lord of glory” – Jesus Christ.

Thus, this predetermined hidden mystery is our salvation through Jesus Christ by grace through faith! In the light and position of such salvation, THEN we may be able to understand His wisdom and, with it, the cure to our spiritual cancer.

For God to give it otherwise would be akin to what Jesus was talking about when He cautioned the disciples not to throw pearls to swine (Mt. 7:6). You certainly could give it to them, but they would never be able to understand or appreciate what it truly is and would, instead, inevitably attack and destroy it.

II.) THE TEACHER OF THE CURE (2:10b-13)

There is only ONE who possesses and can teach us this priceless cure, and that is God.

God, however, thinks, moves and communicates on the spiritual realm. Therefore, to be taught by Him and receive His care in a manner which is properly understood and thus effective, is only possible for those who can understand His mind and Words as expressed from spirit to spirit.