Faith resting in the power of God

2 Corinthians 2: 1-5

5 So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God.

Paul starts off Chapter 2 with a quite lengthy explanation to this congregation that he did not come to them with clever words of human wisdom or knowledge.  He explains that he did not bring the message in persuasive words but that he brought the message of Christ in demonstration of the Holy Spirit and in the power of God.  Then in verse 5 he gives us the reason why - it is so that our FAITH will not rest upon the wisdom of men, but that our FAITH will rest upon the power of God.  

Paul was 'n learned man and he could have brought the message to this congregation with a lot of knowledge and wisdom of his own, but he actively chose to bring the message in the words God gave him - because then the message comes through the Holy Spirit and in His power.  What a great lesson to learn from Paul.  Walk in humility and bring the message of the cross in God's wisdom, for then the message is also brought in the power of God.    

Point to ponder

Upon what rests our faith?  The wisdom of man's clever explanations, or on the power of God?  

By Faith - Keith and Kristyn Getty

Choosing the foolish to be the wise

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 AMPC

26 For [simply] consider your own call, brethren; not many [of you were considered to be] wise according to human estimates and standards, not many influential and powerful, not many of high and noble birth.  27 [No] for God selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame.  28 And God also selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is lowborn and insignificant and branded and treated with contempt, even the things that are nothing, that He might depose and bring to nothing the things that are, 29 So that no mortal man should [have pretense for glorying and] boast in the presence of God.

In many ways it is so encouraging to know that God calls the most ordinary people - people like you and me - to walk in His wisdom.  We think in our humanness that influential, powerful people and people of high and noble birth (royalty) is so important, but in God's Kingdom it's the other way round.  God deliberately selects what the world calls foolish and weak to conquer and put the strong to shame.  He selects us who are just ordinary human beings - lowborn and insignificant in the eyes of society, to be the God-selected chosen ones who bring Him glory by not taking His glory for ourselves.  He chooses the foolish things, that we so often think are such wise things, to bring His kingdom to earth.  

Point to ponder

What human wisdom do I lean on, that I need to let go and ask God to replace it with His wisdom?  

We do not have to be clever, learned, of high social status etc. to be carrying out the message of the cross.  We just need to embrace the fact that God can and wants to use us - even though you may think that is impossible, that is what His Word says.  Take him on His Word and then walk it out in faith.  

God's Own Fool - Michael Card

The Wisdom of God

 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

18 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. 19 For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

These verses are some of the most beautiful scriptures in the Word to me.  Wisdom is depicted in the Bible as the Holy Spirit and true wisdom is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Cor 12.  In this scripture we are admonished to know and understand that worldly wisdom is utterly deprived because it DOES NOT KNOW GOD.  That's the bottom line.  Any wisdom that does not know God is utter foolishness and it is such a clear measuring criterion, to discern when any type of wisdom is from God or not.  Just ask the question - does this 'wisdom' that I am encountering today - does it know God?  How will we know if that wisdom KNOWS God?  The answer is found in verse 24.  Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.  If some 'wisdom' does not know and proclaim Christ - it simply is not the Wisdom of our God the Father, Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  Period.  No questions, no reasoning, nothing gets around that one. On the contrary, anything outside of that is called foolishness.  Selah (Pause and think about that).

Point to ponder

Do you know the Holy Spirit as the Wisdom of God?  What wisdom do you have, or do you ascribe to, that does not KNOW GOD?  Ask Him to show you and to replace it with His true Wisdom.

Perfect Wisdom of our God - Keith and Kristyn Getty

Being one

1 Corinthians 1:10

10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

I really, actually do not even know what to say about this verse... all I can say is that 2000 years after Paul had written this, I think the church is even more divided and less in unity than the early church in Corinth.  We are supposed to be perfectly joined together in the SAME MIND and judgement.  Nope, not happening where I can see it... Lord forgive us for we do not know what we are doing.  

Point to ponder

How can I make a shift in mind and attitude to move closer to being more in unity and less in judgement of my fellow believers?  

Make us one - Naomi Raine

Called into fellowship with Jesus

1 Corinthians 1:9

 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

In the following weeks we will focus on the book 1 Corinthians for our Monday devotions, and right at the start of this book Paul makes a remarkable statement.  He thanks God for being graceful and faithful to:

"Call us into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."  

Let us stop for a moment and savour that thought. I am sure we would all be pretty honoured if the king of any royal household calls on us to be 'in fellowship' with the crown prince?  

In this verse we are assured by Paul that God is calling us into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  What an immense thought.  Called into fellowship with the Son, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  His Kingdom supersedes all other kingdoms because He is King over all of the kingdoms in the Universe.  In fact, the whole of the Universe and beyond IS His Kingdom.  He extends His hand of fellowship from His heavenly Kingdom into our earthly existence, and it reaches to the other side of the grave.  He calls us into fellowship with Him in the here and now, but it overcomes death, gives life and lasts for an eternity.  

What kind of fellowship can we ever imagine to be a 'better kind of fellowship'?  What can we ever dream of or want more?  

Point to ponder:

You are called into fellowship with Jesus Christ.  Often, we spend a lot of time in our lives wondering about what our calling is - do we accept and receive THIS calling?  Can we receive His hand of fellowship?  

The Chosen Scene: John 3:16