All-Wise God
Notes
Transcript
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.
Introduction: In this world, it has become a common occurence for people to believe they know better than others. One man thinks he knows better than another man. One woman thinks she knows better than another woman. Yet this attitude does not stop here with people on equal footing. It has spilled into the home children think they know better than their parents. It has spilled in the classroom students feel they know better than the teacher. (employees than bosses) It has even found its way into the church. Would you believe it some so called “Christians” believe they know better than God!
When it comes to relationships, parenting, finances, decision making, planning, and even reaching the lost.
Paul stated that
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.
I. When you Challenge the Message (Master)
I. When you Challenge the Message (Master)
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,
Jews (stumbled): Jesus did miracles (healing) before them but they insisted on a miracle from God. Somebody is here has seen parents, friends, coworkers, or neighbors changed by the Gospel, the message of the CROSS but you continue to look for something more.
Greeks (foolish): They loved wisdom but only the wisdom that can be disputed or that fitted in their thoughts on the matter. (Paul on Mars hill)
15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
Earthly- cannot go beyond what men see, feel, touch, and measure.
Sensual- natural, human desires and standards
Devilish- source is Satan
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
God’s plan and provision for man’s redemption is found in the message of the cross. The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness. The Greeks believe that God was not concern with the affairs of men. The message that God would come down in human form, die on a rugged cross, be buried, and rise from the dead. The message of the cross has no place for man’s merit, man’s attainment, man’s understanding, and man’s pride. This message is too simple. I’m not doing anything. The whosoever will. The regenerated, born again, the washed in the blood of the Lamb, the sanctified, those justified by God. No color, No race, No age.
II. God challenges the World’s wisdom
II. God challenges the World’s wisdom
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.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Paul quotes Isaiah 29:14
The Assyrian King had plans to conquer Judah. Isaiah was not to worry because verse 19. Judah was not delivered by sword, spear, or shield, but by God’s power. An angel destroyed 185,000 of the Assyrian army. You cannot out think nor overthrow the God of the Universe.
So often men misunderstand the truth of God.
When God told
Moses to lift his rod (to them foolishness but to us the power of God)
People to look up and live
Joshua to march around the wall of Jericho
Gideon to fight with 300 men, some trumpets, pitchers, and lamps
Naaman to dip 7 times in the muddy Jordan
Elisha to take a branch to fish up an axe head.
God’s wisdom
means that God always chooses the best goals and the best means to those goals
THE LORD is called “the only wise God” (Rom. 16:27). Job says that God “is wise in heart” (Job 9:4), and “With him are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding” (Job 12:13)
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God
Where are you?
The wise man- soothsayer, wizards, philosophers
The scribe- lawmakers, authors of books
The disputer or debater- new ideas, self help,
Why haven’t you solved the problem of the world? You get smarter and smarter but there is more crime, more profanity, more hatred, more prone, more lying, more stealing.
Human wisdom my tell you selfishness is the problem, hatred is the problem, jealousy is the problem. Where is the cure?
Human wisdom has its place. Science, electronics, and math have there place. When your car needs fixing you go to the best mechanic. When you need a operation you want the best surgeon.
When used properly and wisely medicine, technology, science are of great value. But if you want the answers to life: where you come from, why we are here, what is right or wrong. Human wisdom or human learning cannot help us. If you are looking for happiness, joy, fulfillment, and peace we have to go beyond Philosphers, Sociologist, Psycologist, Economists, Scientist, and Statesmen. You must look to the Wisdom Of God.
Isaiah 55:8-9
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
KJV
Paul states the reason why we can’t live without it
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
God took a symbol of death (cross) and made it a symbol of life
God took a image of bondage (grave) and made it an image of freedom.
God is able to take weak instruments and make them strong
Ex 4:2 A rod
Jud 15:15 A jaw bone
I Sam 17:40 Five smooth stones
I Kings 17:12 A handful of flour and a little oil
A cloud the size of a man’s hand
Five barley loaves and two fish
God took a filthy rag, a reech undone, a nobody,
And turn me in to a member of the
Royal priesthood
A peculiar person
A saint
A Bible believer
I can’t live without him
He is my
Peace
Joy
Love
Happiness
LifeRomans 8:28 NKJV28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
James 1:5 NKJV5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
This wisdom, or skill in living a life pleasing to God, comes primarily from reading and obeying his Word: “The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” (Ps. 19:7; cf. Deut. 4:6–8).“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Ps. 111:10; Prov. 9:10; cf.
Proverbs 1:7 KJV 19007 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction.