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| The Temple without the Spirit 1/8/12
1 Corinthians 3:1-6 Killen 1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. By these scriptures we see that it is God's intention that we grow and mature spiritually. > We must grow and continue in our journey of faith. > When we stop growing in our faith, we stagnate and become carnal. (worldly – immature -un-Christlike) * Paul wasn't warning these believers to beware of becoming carnal; they already were carnal! What were the evidences of being worldly and unChristlike? What could make them stop growing in their faith? Something was wrong with the heart. (The temple without the Spirit) (v16) 1. (v1) Either couldn't see it or wouldn't accept the fact that they had problems- (not able to receive it) 2. (v2) Offended when others tried to tell them truth-- (not able to bear it) 3. (v2) Talked more about worldly things than spiritual things-- (In this case their likes and dislikes of others --their leaders) 4. (v3) Behavior was the same as worldly--- We are suppose to be different than the world. Because of the Holy Spirit in our life we are to be different. When we aren't, then something's wrong. If we only are different while we are here, something's wrong. If when we leave we are not different then something's not right. 5. (v4) Were more focused on doctrine than growing --- being Methodist, Baptist, C of C. or following the teachings of people more than the teachings of God (Concern for me is that we usually read more books than we do the Bible) 6. (v6) Last but not least---- They were not growing and maturing spiritually--- had no GOD increase in their heart and life. How could they be made to start growing again? What needed to happen? NEED TO GROW SPIRITUALLY I. Needed the Word! (v2) A turning to the Word of God, not doctrines. (1 Cor. 2: 2,5) This is where faith gains its power--- Not from enticing words of man's wisdom. 1 Cor. 2: 2,5) 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. II. Needed the Holy Spirit. (v6) God can only give the increase. (1 Cor. 2:11,12) Not to put doctrines and human teaching before God-- God only wants us to grow and become like Christ. Let the Holy Spirit dwell in our temple. (the heart) (v16) 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Cor. 2:11,12) 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. Letting the Holy Spirit dwell in us with the Word. (When we allow the Holy Spirit to use the Word to guide our footsteps, then the power of the Spirit increases in our life. But to experience this power we must choose to yield to His teachings and guidance.) It's Ok to read books and listen to mankind to help us, but it is only God that gives the increase and if we are not careful then we cross the line (often without realizing it) of listening to man more than God. What we need to grow and experience the deep things of God can only come from God. Make room for Christ in your heart. Put the Word in and remove the things that take up space. Let the Spirit rearrange the heart. |