God uses the foolish things! – 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
God uses the foolish things! – 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
By Pastor Lee Hemen
January 26, 2020
When things change it can seem foolish to those who get used to the way things as they are. Yet we can be the “foolish” ones when we make demands like: “If they do not do it this way I will…” or “If it isn’t done the way I like, then…” We are like the petulant child who doesn’t like the way the game is going and takes his ball home. However, we learn that God often uses the foolish things of the world.
The Jews had gotten used to being the slaves of whichever power marched through their homeland. While they mouthed their allegiance to God within their hearts they had truly stopped believing. And now God had sent himself in the form of a man bringing a different message than the one they were used to. It seemed as foolishness just as it does in our day and age that have gotten used to living their lives the way they want instead of following the Lord. We learn that God uses the foolish things.
READ: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
As we decide who are future pastor will be we must never forget that first and foremost he will be our leader in presenting the message of the cross to an unsaved world and…
I. This message seems foolish to the lost world! (Vv. 18-21)
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
1. The new church was tiny in its membership compared to the population of the pagan world around it. While believers today number in the hundreds of millions, back then they numbered in the hundreds. What chance did the church have in a vast void of a world of unbelief? Simple, we should never forget the glorious truth that “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”! The power of God for eternal life is contained within is words to a foolish world. There is no greater message on earth or in heaven or hell than the gospel! It is not based on the esoteric simplistic spirituality made up wisdom of mankind. It isn’t Facebook memes of the moment. It is the very wisdom of God for foolish mankind! What sages have pondered for centuries the simplest folk can have for their own! Professors, psychologists, and potentates may not comprehend it but we can! “For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’” The notion that someone might die for a good person isn’t too farfetched but to die for those who do not care and who are in sin that seems truly foolish. This is why the rhetorical questions of “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” is answered in the fact that “since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.” And this is the message our new pastor must have on his heart and melted into his very soul to preach to the lost of this community. Even if this message seems foolish to the lost world!
EXAMPLE: Frick and Frack were two Swiss skaters who came to the United States in 1937 and joined the original Ice Follies show as comedy ice skaters. Their show consisted of them doing a series of out-of-control stunts while linked together. To the audience it seemed as if they would fall at any moment but in fact they were in perfect harmony with one another having practiced and perfected their seemingly chaotic stunts. The world sees the Christian faith much as the audience of Frick and Frack viewed them but in fact it is the eternal plan of God. The message may seem foolish to the lost world but it is the plan of God!
As look for new leadership we must never forget that the task we are calling our new pastor to is…
II. The power of God in a foolish world! (Vv. 22-25)
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
1. Spiritually ignorant people always want one more proof. They desire that everything be explained to them in a manner that only they will accept and this simply is not how God works. “Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles”. This is what the church is about. This is what GBC is to be about. This should be the driving message of the man we might consider. The message is not about social justice. The message is not about how we should feel about our faith. The message is not the means for happiness in life; although it can be found in its adherence. The message is “to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks”, the people of God and the rest of the world! Perhaps we have forgotten what we are to be about as a church? It is not for our own comfort. It is not for our own satisfaction! It is not for us to feel holy or good or just or nice! We are to be about “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God”! It is the marvelous, wonderful, and mighty work of the Lord! Living in a world of the spiritually ignorant should call each of us who have the knowledge of the gospel to a greater commitment, a greater concern, and a greater effort to reach the world around us! It can be frustrating when a congregation gets too comfortable, it can be tiresome when the world seems uncaring, and it can become difficult when we would rather do anything else than share our faith. Yet as we look for leadership and to encourage one another during this we must find comfort and strength in the fact that “the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength”! We should never forget that the power of God in a foolish world!
EXAMPLE: When we become blinded to the wonders around us we can become cynical to a lot of things including our spirituality. Our world reflects this by the cynical attitude towards the Christian faith we see in TV shows, the media, in schools, and with younger generations. What the world finds as “scientific” exposes their spiritual foolishness. History, personal testimonies, and logical proofs show otherwise. As we look for a new pastor we will need to find someone who can relate the power of God in a foolish world!
Many churches in our day and age have fallen into the selfish trap of thinking that everything should revolve around us because we have forgotten where we have come from. We are reminded that…
III. Without God we are foolish! (Vv. 26-31)
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
1. If we do not consider the selection of a new pastor a sacred and important matter then we denigrate and dismiss the holy things of God. It is not a personality contest; it is not about popularity, age, looks, or any human standard! You need to “think of what you were when you were called” to Jesus in the first place! In fact most of us were not special in any way at all; “Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.” However we were all in sin and needed rescue! As we look for the man to lead us we need to be reminded that it is often in the simple things we find the power of God: Complete love of God and our love for one another! We must remind ourselves that “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” Brothers and sisters in the Lord do not use this time to advance your agenda, do not use this time for your personal gain, and do not use this time to threaten to take your ball and go home! But instead in all humility be mindful of the fact that “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” It is during this time we as a church and as individuals remind ourselves “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord” because without God we are foolish!
EXAMPLE: We live in a world that has tried to solve its morality problem by thinking that anything is okay as long as it doesn’t make you feel bad about yourself. And when or if you might feel bad about yourself you can smoke dope or get drunk until it doesn’t matter to you any longer. We can slaughter unwanted unborn children, be any sex we want anytime we want, and never ever dare tell anyone at anytime they are wrong, evil, or ungodly. Sadly, this convoluted philosophy of personal “diversity” is supposed to be enlightened. In reality it only exposes the truth that without God we are foolish!
Conclusion:
This message seems foolish to the lost world! The power of God in a foolish world! Without God we are foolish!
---
This article is copyrighted © 2020 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
January 26, 2020
When things change it can seem foolish to those who get used to the way things as they are. Yet we can be the “foolish” ones when we make demands like: “If they do not do it this way I will…” or “If it isn’t done the way I like, then…” We are like the petulant child who doesn’t like the way the game is going and takes his ball home. However, we learn that God often uses the foolish things of the world.
The Jews had gotten used to being the slaves of whichever power marched through their homeland. While they mouthed their allegiance to God within their hearts they had truly stopped believing. And now God had sent himself in the form of a man bringing a different message than the one they were used to. It seemed as foolishness just as it does in our day and age that have gotten used to living their lives the way they want instead of following the Lord. We learn that God uses the foolish things.
READ: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
As we decide who are future pastor will be we must never forget that first and foremost he will be our leader in presenting the message of the cross to an unsaved world and…
I. This message seems foolish to the lost world! (Vv. 18-21)
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
1. The new church was tiny in its membership compared to the population of the pagan world around it. While believers today number in the hundreds of millions, back then they numbered in the hundreds. What chance did the church have in a vast void of a world of unbelief? Simple, we should never forget the glorious truth that “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”! The power of God for eternal life is contained within is words to a foolish world. There is no greater message on earth or in heaven or hell than the gospel! It is not based on the esoteric simplistic spirituality made up wisdom of mankind. It isn’t Facebook memes of the moment. It is the very wisdom of God for foolish mankind! What sages have pondered for centuries the simplest folk can have for their own! Professors, psychologists, and potentates may not comprehend it but we can! “For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’” The notion that someone might die for a good person isn’t too farfetched but to die for those who do not care and who are in sin that seems truly foolish. This is why the rhetorical questions of “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” is answered in the fact that “since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.” And this is the message our new pastor must have on his heart and melted into his very soul to preach to the lost of this community. Even if this message seems foolish to the lost world!
EXAMPLE: Frick and Frack were two Swiss skaters who came to the United States in 1937 and joined the original Ice Follies show as comedy ice skaters. Their show consisted of them doing a series of out-of-control stunts while linked together. To the audience it seemed as if they would fall at any moment but in fact they were in perfect harmony with one another having practiced and perfected their seemingly chaotic stunts. The world sees the Christian faith much as the audience of Frick and Frack viewed them but in fact it is the eternal plan of God. The message may seem foolish to the lost world but it is the plan of God!
As look for new leadership we must never forget that the task we are calling our new pastor to is…
II. The power of God in a foolish world! (Vv. 22-25)
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
1. Spiritually ignorant people always want one more proof. They desire that everything be explained to them in a manner that only they will accept and this simply is not how God works. “Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles”. This is what the church is about. This is what GBC is to be about. This should be the driving message of the man we might consider. The message is not about social justice. The message is not about how we should feel about our faith. The message is not the means for happiness in life; although it can be found in its adherence. The message is “to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks”, the people of God and the rest of the world! Perhaps we have forgotten what we are to be about as a church? It is not for our own comfort. It is not for our own satisfaction! It is not for us to feel holy or good or just or nice! We are to be about “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God”! It is the marvelous, wonderful, and mighty work of the Lord! Living in a world of the spiritually ignorant should call each of us who have the knowledge of the gospel to a greater commitment, a greater concern, and a greater effort to reach the world around us! It can be frustrating when a congregation gets too comfortable, it can be tiresome when the world seems uncaring, and it can become difficult when we would rather do anything else than share our faith. Yet as we look for leadership and to encourage one another during this we must find comfort and strength in the fact that “the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength”! We should never forget that the power of God in a foolish world!
EXAMPLE: When we become blinded to the wonders around us we can become cynical to a lot of things including our spirituality. Our world reflects this by the cynical attitude towards the Christian faith we see in TV shows, the media, in schools, and with younger generations. What the world finds as “scientific” exposes their spiritual foolishness. History, personal testimonies, and logical proofs show otherwise. As we look for a new pastor we will need to find someone who can relate the power of God in a foolish world!
Many churches in our day and age have fallen into the selfish trap of thinking that everything should revolve around us because we have forgotten where we have come from. We are reminded that…
III. Without God we are foolish! (Vv. 26-31)
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
1. If we do not consider the selection of a new pastor a sacred and important matter then we denigrate and dismiss the holy things of God. It is not a personality contest; it is not about popularity, age, looks, or any human standard! You need to “think of what you were when you were called” to Jesus in the first place! In fact most of us were not special in any way at all; “Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.” However we were all in sin and needed rescue! As we look for the man to lead us we need to be reminded that it is often in the simple things we find the power of God: Complete love of God and our love for one another! We must remind ourselves that “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” Brothers and sisters in the Lord do not use this time to advance your agenda, do not use this time for your personal gain, and do not use this time to threaten to take your ball and go home! But instead in all humility be mindful of the fact that “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” It is during this time we as a church and as individuals remind ourselves “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord” because without God we are foolish!
EXAMPLE: We live in a world that has tried to solve its morality problem by thinking that anything is okay as long as it doesn’t make you feel bad about yourself. And when or if you might feel bad about yourself you can smoke dope or get drunk until it doesn’t matter to you any longer. We can slaughter unwanted unborn children, be any sex we want anytime we want, and never ever dare tell anyone at anytime they are wrong, evil, or ungodly. Sadly, this convoluted philosophy of personal “diversity” is supposed to be enlightened. In reality it only exposes the truth that without God we are foolish!
Conclusion:
This message seems foolish to the lost world! The power of God in a foolish world! Without God we are foolish!
---
This article is copyrighted © 2020 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
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