What Makes a Christian Spiritual Instead of Carnal?
1Corinthians 3:1-11
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
16 May, 2010
AM
I.
Introduction (Psalm 84:10)
A.
This is our month long focus on MINISTRY…
1.
“Servanthood”, and the honour of it
2.
By
nature, we love attention, and pampering, and being served
3.
But
Christ came NOT to be ministered to, but to give His life a ransom for many – it
cost Him everything
4.
And
so he calls every Christian to be like Him – a servant! Just a doorkeeper!
That’s all David wanted, even though he was KING!
B.
Different Kinds of Servants
1.
Bad
Attitude Servants
2.
Boastful Servants
3.
Backslidden/Lazy Servants
4.
But
God wants some Spiritual Servants – Faithful Servants – Spiritually Driven
Servants
C.
What Makes a Christian
Spiritual Instead of Carnal?
1.
Not his or her money, or
success, but their servitude! The depths to which they will go to serve their
Saviour
2.
People who will not suffer,
and endure, who will not work hard, and serve and love the unlovely, and
unworthy are THE most carnal people on earth
D.
Paul so wants the
Christians in the church in Corinth to grow up,
1.
And not become great masters
of theology, but servants of God
2.
Not be ponderers of problems,
but bearers of burdens
3.
Not great bosses or managers,
but worn out waiters and workers
E.
Why? because there is
something that happens to a person when they serve!
1.
There is something that
happens to a teenager when they start helping in their home
2.
There is something that
happens in a marriage when both spouses start serving each other instead of just
demanding and taking
3.
There is something that just
happens in a church when everyone starts ministering to one another, and starts
ignoring their own hurts and pasts and burdens, and starts lifting someone
elses!
F.
What happens is, they
become spiritual; mature; they become like Christ!
II.
Message
A.
Paul’s Wish (3:1)
1.
For
the Christians in
2.
Paul
wanted so much to teach and guide the Corinthian Christians ALL the
life-changing truths about God, about life, about marriage. All of this Bible is
intended to change you and me!
3.
But
instead, Paul spent 16 chapters correcting all the wrong ideas they had about
life!
4.
Paul
got to go deep and long with the Ephesians, and the Colossian Christians, but
not
5.
It’s
like a school teacher trying to prepare a room full of kids for the future, and
they won’t listen, aren’t interested, are too self focused to see where they are
headed
6.
The
whole world is lost and in need of the Gospel
7.
And
churches are full of so many “observers” and “takers,” and too few labourers and
givers (Matthew 9:37)
8.
Oh
how Paul wished, just as Christ yearned, that God’s people would be labourers,
servants in their lives! Christians will never know life until they give it!
B.
Paul’s Frustration (3:2-4; 2:14,15)
1.
Two
kinds of people:
a.
The
natural kind – unsaved, do things like everyone else
b.
The
spiritual kind – led by a different voice, following a different path
2.
But
the Corinthians had invented a new kind – the carnal kind
3.
Look
at the lifestyle of their carnality
a.
Envying - a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's
advantages, success, or possessions
b.
Strife – arguments and fightings – AMONG CHRISTIANS!
c.
Divisions – a break-up between fellow believers
d.
2Cor
12:20 “debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings,
tumults” – AND THAT WAS IN THE CHURCH!!!
e.
They
were NO different than the unsaved! And yet they were saved! They WERE
believers! But they were definitely NOT acting like it!
f.
This
list does not include murder, adultery, thievery – you would think that it
should have been much worse for Paul to have to rebuke them so sharply, but
these sins are bad enough and they are what LEADS to the other sins!
4.
This
“new” kind of attitude hindered Paul’s work with them
a.
Limited his ability to take them to greater heights as Christians – they had
settled for mediocrity – they only wanted to be average, ordinary, middle of the
road Christians – no rocking the boat, you know!
b.
These believers should have been much more mature, and much more fruitful as
Christians, but they weren’t – they were holding back, and were just like the
Israelites coming out of
5.
This
church was like
a.
Our
daughter Ruth was in Hollywood a few weeks ago and she sent us a picture of her
and some friends, and she was sitting in front of a window and the picture
showed in its reflection a bunch of people, one of which looked like a fairy,
like Tinkerbell. She said, THAT’S
b.
Some
claimed to be following Paul
c.
Some
claimed to be following Apollos
d.
Some
were following Peter
e.
Oh,
and some were claiming to be following Christ
f.
It
was FULL OF BOASTING!
6.
When
Paul asks, “Are ye not carnal?” he is asking, “Aren’t ye all just BABIES?”
a.
Boy
that frustrates a pastor, and it grieves God!
b.
It
is like building a race car that should drive at 300 kph, but it only gets up to
50kph!
c.
It’s
like having a son born, and 30 years later he is still waiting for you to get
him out of bed, and dressed, and fed, and shoved out the dorr, when he should be
working, and saving, and getting married, and building his own home, and raising
his own kids, and investing in his future
C.
Paul’s Place (3:5,6)
1.
Who
are any of us?
a.
Not
doctors, theologians, political leaders, engineers, mothers, teenagers, Irish,
Americans, Africans, Koreans…
b.
But
MINISTERS! SERVANTS (Philp 1:1)
c.
Not
even simply believers in Christ, but SERVANTS OF CHRIST!
2.
Do
you want to know what Paul boasted about?
a.
The cross - Gal 6:14
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”
b.
His own salvation –
loved to tell the story!
c.
His transfer of ownership
– from the devil to the Lord Jesus Christ (1Cor 6:19,20)
d.
The fact that he knew Jesus Christ,
personally, intimately, constantly!
e.
His opportunity to serve God,
just planting, or watering, or anything - as long as serving
3.
Paul
had a
a.
Should have been back in
b.
But
instead he was out amongst barbarian Gentiles, unlearned, and ignorant pagans
c.
And
he loved it (Rom 11:13)
d.
Didn’t have to be head man, or even honoured for what he was doing – he was just
glad to be getting the Gospel out so that people “believed” and got forgiven and
born again (3:5)!
e.
That
was God’s will for his life
4.
Every believer has been given a place to serve (1Cor 12:12-26)
a.
A
church is just like a human body (12:12)
1)
Many
different members (fingers, toes, nose, eyes, ears, hands, feet, hips, bones,
ankles, knees, mouths, tongues, teeth, and so on!)
2)
Yet
they is one body, working together AS ONE
b.
We
were placed into something called “the body of Christ” – a group of believers
that act as Christ did when He was here in His body (12:13)
c.
We
all have a function, a purpose, a design that works as part of a bigger whole
(12:14,18)
d.
We
all must learn to work together as a Team, as body works together, as a sports
team does
1)
Paul
and Apollos were planters and waterers – both a part of a team, trying to build
a church in a pagan city
2)
Paul
and Barnabas, and then Paul worked with Silas, and then Timothy
3)
Always as a TEAM, working together
4)
SAME
with us! No lone rangers here!
5)
Sunday School teachers working together with each other and with the pastor
6)
Soul-winners working together with the Office staff
7)
Creche workers working with the Sunday School teachers
8)
The
Choir working together with the Welcome Ministers
5.
And
you have all been enabled to serve – all of you (if you are saved) have been
“gifted”
a.
Maybe not with a talent for the piano, or with a singing voice
b.
But
all of you have been gifted with something that ministers, serves people
1)
Like
feet serve – they take the body places, race to someone’s rescue
2)
And
hands – they carry something, or someone
3)
And
ears – they listen and hear things that hands and feet can’t hear, and react
based on a cry or a laugh
4)
And
eyes – they see what the ears can’t see
c.
Not
to show off, or boast about abilities – all are so necessary!
d.
And
those ministries that seem feeble and useless (kind of like an appendix, or a
little toe) are actually just as important as a nose, or an eye, or an ear!
e.
Ministering first to itself (12:25,26) and then to a lost and hurting world
D.
Paul’s Power (3:7-9)
1.
Planting and Watering is hard work – and Paul worked hard at it
a.
Laboured more than any other (1Cor 15:10;
b.
Not
just fun work, but wearisome work (2Cor 11:23-28)
c.
Endurance (2Tim 2:10; Rev 2:3)
2.
But
Paul’s power was not from himself (2Cor 3:5,6) – he was insufficient,
inadequate, lacking, weak, trembling
3.
But
in God alone – God works IN and the THROUGH His people as they yield to Him
(Philp 2:13)
a.
Paul’s power was GOD the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit all
working inside and alongside Paul (Matt 28:19,20; 2Cor 6:1) – that is cool!
b.
Like
a small mouse pushing a large boulder, and his buddy, a massive elephant pushing
next to him – they both get credit, but only one had the strength to do it!
4.
Your
and my strength will come
a.
From
our moments of prayer dependency
upon God every morning & throughout each day
b.
It
will come as our faith increases as we read and believe God’s word
c.
It
will come as we yield to God’s will, never before (Ps 138:3; 2Cor 12:7-10)
E.
Paul’s Reward (3:8)
1.
God
doesn’t ask us to labour, and suffer and endure just for the fun of it! God says
there is a reward for faithfulness in service to Him
2.
Remember WHO you are serving (
a.
Others may or may not reward you, or repay you, or even notice you
b.
But
the Lord will (Heb 6:10)!
3.
Notice that every believer will have “his own reward”
a.
Our
rewards are based upon our efforts
b.
Not
to get forgiven, or born again – that’s a gift (Eph 2:8,9)
c.
But
to lay up treasures in heaven (Matt 6:19,20)
d.
So,
labour long and hard, because Jesus will make it worth your while (1Cor 15:58)
4.
What
will YOUR reward be?
a.
Who
does God’s work will get God’s pay!
b.
However long may seem the day
c.
However weary be the way
d.
Though powers and princes thunder “Nay!”
e.
Who
does God’s work will get God’s pay
f.
He
does not pay as other’s pay
g.
In
gold or land or raiment gay
h.
In
goods that vanish or decay
i.
But
God in wisdom knows a way
j.
And
that is sure, let come what may
k.
For
whoever does God’s work WILL get God’s pay!
5.
What
will YOUR reward be? It all depends upon who you are working for?
a.
For
your boss? For your banker? For your family? For your self?
b.
I
choose to serve the Lord Christ! His pay package is out of this world! Crowns,
heavenly honour, Well Done!
F.
Paul’s Worry (3:10,11)
1.
Paul
was NOT like a “cowboy” who just threw things together and built cheaply, and
sloppily
2.
Paul
was very careful, like a wise masterbuilder
a.
He
built according to plan
b.
He
carefully laid the foundation for people to build on, and for teachers to guide
the building process
3.
But
he was very concerned about two things:
a.
That
people would skip the foundation
b.
And
that Christians would ignore the quality of work required
c.
The
foundation for ANY life is Jesus Christ – the STONE, the solid ROCK
d.
All
of our efforts are to built upon HIM, not on the sand of this world
III.
Conclusion
A.
We started off this message with
David in Psalm 84:10 being satisfied just holding the door for people coming
into the house of God – just being a SERVANT of God
B.
Different Kinds of Servants
1.
Bad
Attitude Servants
2.
Boastful Servants
3.
Backslidden/Lazy Servants
4.
But
God wants some Spiritual Servants – Faithful Servants – Spiritually Driven
Servants
C.
What Makes a Christian
Spiritual Instead of Carnal?
1.
Not his or her money, or
success, but their servitude! The depths to which they will go to
serve their Saviour
2.
People who will not suffer,
and endure, who will not work hard, and serve and love the unlovely, and
unworthy are THE most carnal people on earth
D.
There is something that
happens to a person when they serve!
E.
They become spiritual;
they become mature; they become like Christ!
1.
That is Your Pastor’s Wish
a.
For
you to become Mature, to become Grown-up Christians instead of baby believers
b.
That
God’s people would be labourers, servants in their lives! Christians will never
know life until they give it away!
2.
It Causes Great Frustration
a.
Because there are so many “carnal” Christians and not spiritual ones
1)
Envying, Strife – arguments and fightings – Divisions
2)
They
were NO different than the unsaved! And yet they were saved! They WERE
believers! But they were definitely NOT acting like it!
b.
Some
claimed to be following Paul, Some claimed to be following Apollos, Some were
following Peter, Oh, and some were claiming to be following Christ
c.
It
was FULL OF BOASTING and PRIDE! That’s not what Christianity is all about
3.
Everyone who is Born Again has a
God Given Place of Service
a.
A
church is just like a human body (12:12)
1)
Many
different members (fingers, toes, nose, eyes, ears, hands, feet, hips, bones,
ankles, knees, mouths, tongues, teeth, and so on!)
2)
Yet
they is one body, working together AS ONE
b.
We
were placed into something called “the body of Christ” – a group of believers
that act as Christ did when He was here in His body (12:13)
c.
We
all have a function, a purpose, a design that works as part of a bigger whole
(12:14,18)
d.
We
all must learn to work together as a Team, as body works together, as a sports
team does
1)
Sunday School Ministry
2)
Welcome Ministry
3)
Media Ministry
4)
Bus
and Transportation Ministry
5)
Creche Ministry
6)
Evangelism Ministry
7)
Discipleship Ministry
8)
Reformer’s Unanimous Addictions Ministry
9)
Preaching Ministry
10)
The
Music Ministry
e.
And
you have all been enabled to serve – all of you (if you are saved) have been
“gifted”
4.
Our Power
a.
Planting and Watering is hard work – every ministry is hard work
b.
Work
the hardest for the Lord
c.
Find
your strength in God alone as he works along side you!
5.
Your Reward
a.
God
doesn’t ask us to labour, and suffer and endure just for the fun of it! God says
there is a reward for faithfulness in service Him
b.
Remember WHO you are serving (
1)
Others may or may not reward you, or repay you, or even notice you
2)
But
the Lord will (Heb 6:10)!
c.
What
will YOUR reward be? It all depends upon who you are working for?
1)
For
your boss? For your banker? For your family? For your self?
2)
I
choose to serve the Lord Christ! His pay package is out of this world! Crowns,
heavenly honour, Well Done!
6.
My Worry
a.
That
some in this room are trying to build their lives without the foundation
b.
And
that some of you are just “throwing together” a flimsy life on Christ when you
should be building a life that stands strong and tall
Craig Ledbetter | Pastor |