1 Corinthians 3:3-5

For you are still [unspiritual, having the nature] of the flesh [under the control of ordinary impulses]. For as long as [there are] envying and jealousy and wrangling and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men? For when one says, I belong to Paul, and another, I belong to Apollos, are you not [proving yourselves] ordinary (unchanged) men? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Ministering servants [not heads of parties] through whom you believed, even as the Lord appointed to each his task: 1 Corinthians 3:3-5

1 Corinthians 3:2

I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough [to be ready for it]; but even yet you are not strong enough [to be ready for it], 1 Corinthians 3:2

1 Corinthians 3:1

However, brethren, I could not talk to you as to spiritual [men], but as to nonspiritual [men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates], as to mere infants [in the new life] in Christ [unable to talk yet!] 1 Corinthians 3:1

1 Corinthians 2:15-16

But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him]. For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. 1 Corinthians 2:15-16

1 Corinthians 2:13-14

And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit]. But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated. 1 Corinthians 2:13-14

For a third time now in the first two chapters of 1 Corinthians our Father tells us that the Truth is meaningless and foolish to the world. We are told that the world is incapable of knowing the bottomless and bountiful riches that are in Christ. But their ignorance doesn’t mean for one second that we are unable to bless them in spite of their lack of knowledge. 

Think of Jesus and how our Father used Him. No one truly believed Him and yet how many were healed by Him. The dead were raised, even though they and their families did not believe or understand. A family actual scoffed at Jesus right before He raised their child. Water was turned to wine for a group of people who had no idea of the Truth. Ten lepers were healed and only one thanked Him. Everyone who was responsible for killing Him were forgiven even though they never asked for forgiveness or even thought that they needed it. The Apostles constantly saw miracles and were even empowered to perform them and they still doubted and mistrusted Jesus and yet they were still served by Him. So just because the carnal man may doubt or think that the Truth is foolish doesn’t stop our Father from loving them and doing for them. 

Invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God’s blessing (favor) upon those who abuse you [who revile, reproach, disparage, and high-handedly misuse you]. Luke 6:28

Bless those who persecute you [who are cruel in their attitude toward you]; bless and do not curse them. Romans 12:14

We are now one with Jesus Who ever lives to intercede for us and He does it for us only because of Grace. So how could we not freely bestow blessings on everyone, whether they understand the Truth or not? We are not better than them, we are not loved by our Father more than them. And because we do have the Holy Spirit and because He does allow us to know the profound things of our Father, we cannot help but to be used to serve them. 

1 Corinthians 2:10-12

Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny]. For what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a man’s thoughts except the man’s own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God. 1 Corinthians 2:10-12

We will never be able to understand our Father with our own intelligence and that is a great thing. It’s great because that means that we are not limited in anyway shape or form from knowing all of the Truth. Our Father tells us that He gave us His very own Spirit so that we may know His profound and bottomless things. We have the Holy Spirit so that we may comprehend and realize all that our Father has for us. The Holy Spirit allows us to appreciate all that Jesus has secured for us. The reason that we cannot stop believing, even when the world throws all of the evil that it has towards us, is because the Holy Spirit will never allow us to. We have been sealed by Him until the Day that Jesus eliminates the worlds sin.  

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God’s own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin). Ephesians 4:30

When I was younger preachers would always use this verse to scare us. They would say that we could somehow run the Holy Spirit off. Really? Our Father Who knows the beginning and the end, Who is in control of all things, and Who will never leave us or forsake us can be run off because we screw up? Here is the Truth, we are going to mess up. Our Father plainly tells us that we are, yet He says that He will still have mercy on us all. So the Holy Spirit, Who is God, is never going to abandon us. All that our Father is telling us here is to trust in spite of what is going on and to not get all caught up in worldly things. If you read the verses before and after verse 30 our Father is basically telling us to Love, which we cannot help but to do, because Jesus and His Love now abide within us. It is up to the Holy Spirit to teach us all of the Truth and always bring it to our remembrance.   

But you have been anointed by [you hold a sacred appointment from, you have been given an unction from] the Holy One, and you all know [the Truth] or you know all things. 1 John 2:20

1 Corinthians 2:9

But, on the contrary, as the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed]. 1 Corinthians 2:9

Here is a great place to remind ourselves exactly what our Father has given us with salvation.

Understanding: But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. John 16:13

Peace: Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] John 14:27

Joy: And now I am coming to You; I say these things while I am still in the world, so that My joy may be made full and complete and perfect in them [that they may experience My delight fulfilled in them, that My enjoyment may be perfected in their own souls, that they may have My gladness within them, filling their hearts]. John 17:13

Power: Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. Romans 8:37

Hope: May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope. Romans 15:13

Health: But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. Isaiah 53:5

Protection: I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one. John 17:15

Free From Sin’s Power: But now since you have been set free from sin and have become the slaves of God, you have your present reward in holiness and its end is eternal life. Romans 6:22

Provision: And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Mercy: For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike]. Romans 11:32

Victory: But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

Glory: I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: John 17:22

Life Eternal: In order that everyone who believes in Him [who cleaves to Him, trusts Him, and relies on Him] may not perish, but have eternal life and [actually] live forever! John 3:15

Jesus was really successful and because of what He was able to secure for us we now have life and we have it abundantly. 

1 Corinthians 2:8

None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this, for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:8

The Bible tells us some very interesting things when it comes to the Rulers of this world. The first thing that we all need to know is that every last one of them has been placed in their position of authority by our Father. So many of us fret over elections, relax, our Father has already decided who He wants in office and they will knowingly or unknowingly carry out His will.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Romans 13:1

For in this city there actually met and plotted together against Your holy Child and Servant Jesus, Whom You consecrated by anointing, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and peoples of Israel, To carry out all that Your hand and Your will and purpose had predestined (predetermined) should occur. Acts 4:27-28.

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, I have raised you up for this very purpose of displaying My power in [dealing with] you, so that My name may be proclaimed the whole world over. Romans 9:17

Our Father hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that He could demonstrate to the world just how great His power was in delivering His children. Our Father also had Pilate and Herod do exactly what He wanted them to do when it came to Jesus. Just because someone is in a leadership position in no way means that they are not fully carrying out the will of our Father, whether they know that they are or not. This Truth should bring us great peace, because so often we worry over who is in control, when all of the time it is our Father Who is. This is why we have been empowered to pray for all of our leaders, even the ones that look like they are absolutely nuts. It makes no difference who the leader is, they are carrying out our Father’s plan. We have to remember that sometimes our Father will use hardship to strengthen us and the leaders that He anoints for that hour will serve His purpose. Look at Jesus’ life, our Father had Him killed by Pilate and Herod. What they allowed to happen looked really bad and then our Father rose Jesus up from the dead and it was far better for us than anyone could have ever imagined.

First of all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men, For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way. For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is] pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior, Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4

The Holy Spirit within us will allow us to come to the peace of our Father being in complete control, regardless of what it looks like. He will empower us to not condemn and He will empower us to pray regardless of who our Father places in control.

1 Corinthians 2:6-7

Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 1 Corinthians 2:6-7

You read that? We were just told that we are perfect, isn’t that great. The wisdom of this world tries to tell us that we aren’t, but the foolishness of the Truth proclaims that we are. We are perfect because of the power of what Jesus has done for us. Our perfection does not lie with our own actions or abilities, it only lies with Jesus, and as He shouted out from the Cross, it is finished. Jesus has accomplished all that is needed so that we are now perfect through His success. 

And so for their sake and on their behalf I sanctify (dedicate, consecrate) Myself, that they also may be sanctified (dedicated, consecrated, made holy) in the Truth. John 17:19

For we hold that a man is justified and made upright by faith independent of and distinctly apart from good deeds (works of the Law). [The observance of the Law has nothing to do with justification.] Romans 3:28

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]. What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] Romans 8:28-31

All of these Truths sound foolish to the world and they confound the wise, but they are the Truth that has set us free. We are able to glory in the reality that our Father has destined for us to be justified before He ever created the world. He has made us righteous in spit of all of our supposed shortcomings. Our Father has justified us by removing every last law that could ever stand against us. He has completely justified us even though we never earned it. He freely made us righteous by Authoring and Finishing our Faith to believe the Truth. We have been liberated by Jesus and we are now more than conquerors through His power that is constantly at work within us. None of it makes any worldly sense and yet our Father allows it to make perfect sense to us. 

Never allow anyone or any organization to bring you again into the bondage of trusting in yourself. Grace has overcome everything that would ever hinder us from being perfect. Christians are perfect because we have been forgiven and nothing shall ever be charged against us. There is absolutely no one to condemn us any longer and through Christ we have complete freedom.   

1 Corinthians 2:3-5

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:3-5

For a second time in His letter to the Corinthians our Father has Paul write about the dangers of preachers who are all about the show and about those who are using worldly wisdom to justify the Truth. I really believe that this is a problem for us today as well, just as it must have been for the Corinthians for our Father to again write about it. 

Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves. Matthew 7:15

Jesus said to them, Be careful and on your guard against the leaven (ferment) of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Matthew 16:16

Jesus actually tells us several times in the Gospels to beware of false preachers. Our Father even has John tell us that we are to test the spirits to see if they are truly called or not.

Beloved, do not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world. 1 John 4:1

So how exactly can we know who is truly called and not?

By this you may know (perceive and recognize) the Spirit of God: every spirit which acknowledges and confesses [the fact] that Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [actually] has become man and has come in the flesh is of God [has God for its source]; 1 John 4:2

Notice that our Father does not tell us that the confession that we are to look to is that Jesus became "a" man, but that He became man. Also notice that the confession is not that Jesus did come, but that He has come, so present tense, right now. The Truth is that Jesus is in us and we are in Him. The two of us are now one. We are eternally inseparable. Jesus is being great within us and His is the power that we are used to preach with. We are now members of His body, flesh of His flesh, and bone of His bone. We are new creatures in Him, so Jesus is us because we are Him, which means that He is man. Isn’t that awesome, our Father has grafted us into Jesus and Jesus into us. You see us, you see Jesus, and if your see Jesus, you see the Father. We are all one and it is the power of the Holy Spirit working through us that allows us to look past worldly wisdom and understanding. 

There are a lot of preachers who will talk about Jesus, but the ones who are truly called are the ones that are being used to talk about and demonstrate the Truth that Jesus and us are now one. Look for messages that triumphantly proclaim that there is no separation at all between Jesus and us. If a preacher talks about us being separate in away way shape or form, they are not called. If a preacher tells you what you must do and not what Jesus is doing through you, then they are not called. If a preacher talks about you losing salvation, they are not called. If a person is truly called and chosen to serve they will continuously share the Truth that it is our Father in us doing all of the works.  

The glory of the Truth is that our physical conditions do not and cannot limit God in using us. Our ability to understand does not limit Him. Our finances do not limit Him and our ability to accept and believe will never limit our Father from using us in His full capacity. Jesus is in us. He has come in your flesh and He has come in my flesh. He is here right now and He will never leave us or forsake us. We are many parts, but all one body, all perfectly joined together as the Body of Christ. 

1 Corinthians 2:2

For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2

Our Father had Paul keep the message of Truth really simple. Actually, the Bible really is a simple Book, it basically just keeps telling us the same things over and over and the basic message is that our Father will take care of us in spite of ourselves. The Bible really just keeps telling us that our Father causes us to be victorious through Christ. 

Think about it, the Bible tells us that we need to Love, so our Father tells us that He makes sure Jesus’ Love abides within us. The Bible tells us that we need to have Faith, so our Father tells us that Jesus will Author and Finish our Faith. Our Father tells us that He meets our needs according to His riches and glory through Christ Who loves us, that He gives us complete knowledge through the Holy Spirit, and that we are healed by Jesus’ stripes. We are told that we have full joy because Jesus’ joy remains in us. We are told that the Holy Spirit will cause us to abound in hope. We are told that we are more than conquerors through Christ Who loves us and that He is always being greater in us than anything that is in this world. We are told that none of us is righteous and that it doesn’t matter because Jesus is our righteousness. We are also told that none of us really knows how to pray but that too doesn’t matter because the Holy Spirit will intercede for us and make sure that we are victorious and that our Father’s will is accomplished through us. We are told that Jesus intercedes for us so that we are saved to the uttermost and if we sin we have an Advocate with our Father Who will make sure that it all will still work out for our good. 

So the message of Truth is simple: our Father has handled everything for us. It makes absolutely no sense to the world because they cannot believe that we are not worried about keeping a bunch of laws and we are not fretting over doing works to earn God’s favor. Our peace is that it is up to our Father to use us powerfully and beyond what anyone of us could ever imagine. We don’t have to take thought for it or plan it out. We can relax because the Truth for us is that the Holy Spirit will cause us to be used to speak words of Truth and comfort in every situation and we don’t have to even prepare for it.

So if you ever come across a message that doesn’t direct 100% of the power towards our Father, then you will know that the message is anti-christ. Rejoice because we cannot lose and we cannot and will not ever be defeated. Never let anyone bring you into the bondage of relying on yourself. 

1 Corinthians 2:1

As for myself, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony and evidence or mystery and secret of God [concerning what He has done through Christ for the salvation of men] in lofty words of eloquence or human philosophy and wisdom; 1 Corinthians 2:1

What so many of us fail to realize is that being a child of God is not an intellectual thing. Remember what we were shown in Chapter 1: that our Father will use crazy things that make absolutely no sense at all to show us just how wonderful He is. I once had a preacher tell me that the reason that he believed was because after all of his studies of the Bible he saw how the New Testament fit so seamlessly with the Old Testament. As he was making his intellectual argument for God I thought to myself, I sure hope so, the Old Testament was written first and if it didn’t fit the writers of the New Testament really dropped the ball. 

But the real issue that goes against the Word was that he was trying to be intellectual with his faith. He was making a worldly argument and that will never work in truly helping us realize the Truth that will set us free. Our Father tells us plainly that He uses foolish things that make no sense to cause us to be set free. Human philosophy and wisdom only bring us to failure and condemnation. 

[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. 1 Corinthians 1:27

For when the world with all its earthly wisdom failed to perceive and recognize and know God by means of its own philosophy, God in His wisdom was pleased through the foolishness of preaching [salvation, procured by Christ and to be had through Him], to save those who believed (who clung to and trusted in and relied on Him). 1 Corinthians 1:21

We do not believe and we are not set free through our intellect. We believe and enjoy the complete freedom of Christ because our Father empowers us with His Holy Spirit to believe. 

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking under the power and influence of the [Holy] Spirit of God can [ever] say, Jesus be cursed! And no one can [really] say, Jesus is [my] Lord, except by and under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3

We have been liberated, so we don’t have to get all caught up in human education and never let anyone condemn you about not being intellectual when it comes to your faith. I once had a preacher tell me that the Word loses its power if you can’t tell people the Chapter and verse that it came from. Are you kidding me? Our peace is that our Father will use us however we are. Our peace is that we may be used to pray or teach in a tongue that we have never spoken before and one that we have no idea what we are saying as we are used to speak it. We take comfort in the foolishness of Truth that our Father may weaken us in the worldly sense to strengthen His power within us. We rejoice in the craziness that He may ask the youngest and the smallest of us to defeat the biggest baddest Giant that any of us has ever seen. We glory in the absurdity that our Father may use the oldest and feeblest of us to be the greatest witness that we have ever seen. None of what we are shown in the Bible makes any worldly sense; it is all foolishness to the world. We can’t be intellectual about any of it, so why try? Just sit back and relax and expect our Father to bring you into crazy situations that make no sense and then watch Him glorify the whole thing in ways that you could have never imagined. Watch Him do more through you than you ever prayed for, asked for, expected, deserved, or dreamed of.   

1 Corinthians 1:30-31

But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, [revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our Righteousness [thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God], and our Consecration [making us pure and holy], and our Redemption [providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin]. So then, as it is written, Let him who boasts and proudly rejoices and glories, boast and proudly rejoice and glory in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:30-31

Because of Christ we are righteous right now and the glory of the whole thing is that we did absolutely nothing on our own to be righteous and we can never do anything to stay righteous. The peace with this Truth is incredible. We can’t pray enough, work enough, or give enough; righteousness has just freely been bestowed upon us. Our righteousness is just all a free gift from our Father and we don’t have to wait until Jesus returns to enjoy it. Our Father gave us Salvation and today is the day of it and now is our accepted time. Our salvation has made us pure and Holy. Our righteousness is completely of our Father and He Alone is responsible to insure that we are glorious and always and completely in right standing. We are never left alone to do anything on our own, especially when it comes to righteousness. We boast, but not about ourselves, we boast about how great our Father is and how great He has made us and how He will keep us.  

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]. What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] Romans 8:28-31

Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]-- [So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor, Which He lavished upon us in every kind of wisdom and understanding (practical insight and prudence), Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan, of His purpose). [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him, Ephesians 1:4-9

And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you]. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

For both He Who sanctifies [making men holy] and those who are sanctified all have one [Father]. For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren; Hebrews 2:11

Jesus’ Love has covered our multitude of sins! 

1 Corinthians 1:26-29

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. [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. 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, So that no mortal man should [have pretense for glorying and] boast in the presence of God. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

I want you to think of all of the crazy, well crazy to the world, things that our Father has done. He chose David a young kid to kill Goliath and then He made him King. He chose Abraham, a 100 year old man with no kids to be the Father of many nations. God chose an unwed woman to be the mother of our Lord. Our Father didn’t let Moses lead the the people of Israel until he was 80. God chose slaves to be the leaders of Babylon and He used Joseph, a man who was in jail and who wasn’t even an Egyptian to be the second in charge of Egypt. Paul was sick all of the time and our Father used him to lay hands on the sick and they were miraculously healed. So our Father has always taken what the world and wise call foolish and used it.

This is why we are able to rejoice in spite of ourselves, because none of our limitations will ever limit how our Father is able to use us. Our weaknesses actually empower God to be greater through us. 

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]— Ephesians 3:20

Jesus turned water into wine so that the party could continue. He fed thousands with just a few fish and couple loaves of bread. Our Father had 1 man defeat thousands with just a jaw bone of a donkey. He had a donkey prophesy. Jesus chose a hated tax collector to be an Apostle. Our Father had his army march around Jericho for 7 days blowing trumpets and its walls fell down. So look to the unlikely, the weird, the improbable and that is where you will see the hand of our Father’s deliverance. The wise will call you foolish and dumb, but that is where our table has been prepared for us and that is where we will abound in the presence of our enemies.  

1 Corinthians 1:22-25

For while Jews [demandingly] ask for signs and miracles and Greeks pursue philosophy and wisdom, We preach Christ (the Messiah) crucified, [preaching which] to the Jews is a scandal and an offensive stumbling block [that springs a snare or trap], and to the Gentiles it is absurd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense. But to those who are called, whether Jew or Greek (Gentile), Christ [is] the Power of God and the Wisdom of God. [This is] because the foolish thing [that has its source in] God is wiser than men, and the weak thing [that springs] from God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:22-25

Far too often those who struggle with and challenge the Truth of what Jesus did for us are condemned, but we have to remember that we have been chosen by God to understand the Truth. We did not choose to believe in the Truth, we were chosen and empowered to believe it. So we cannot boast about what we believe and we cannot condemn those who don’t yet believe. For whatever reason God chose us and we know that for right now, before Jesus returns, not many of us have been chosen to know and trust in the Truth of Christ.

For many are called (invited and summoned), but few are chosen. Matthew 22:14

We are assured and know that God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. Romans 8:28

And the children were yet unborn and had so far done nothing either good or evil. Even so, in order further to carry out God's purpose of selection (election, choice), which depends not on works or what men can do, but on Him Who calls [them], It was said to her that the elder [son] should serve the younger [son]. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated (held in relative disregard in comparison with My feeling for Jacob).  Romans 9:11-13

Our Hope and Peace is that one day everyone will come to know the Truth and be set free by it just as we have been. We know that day will be when Jesus raises up the dead. We know that many will have to pass through Hades first before they will come to know the Truth, but our peace is that everyone will come to know it and confess with their mouths and believe with their hearts that Jesus is Lord.

But if any person’s work is burned up [under the test], he will suffer the loss [of it all, losing his reward], though he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has passed] through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:15

For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God [acknowledge Him to His honor and to His praise]. Romans 14:11

Right now not many of us understand and that is just the way that our Father has planned for it to be. But for those of us who have been empowered to know the Truth of Christ, we also have been empowered to live to serve everyone, regardless of their knowledge of the Truth. The glory of our salvation is that one day everyone will learn from us just how great Jesus is.

Take note! I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet and learn and acknowledge that I have loved you. Revelation 3:9

1 Corinthians 1:19-20

For it is written, I will baffle and render useless and destroy the learning of the learned and the philosophy of the philosophers and the cleverness of the clever and the discernment of the discerning; I will frustrate and nullify [them] and bring [them] to nothing. Where is the wise man (the philosopher)? Where is the scribe (the scholar)? Where is the investigator (the logician, the debater) of this present time and age? Has not God shown up the nonsense and the folly of this world’s wisdom? For when the world with all its earthly wisdom failed to perceive and recognize and know God by means of its own philosophy, God in His wisdom was pleased through the foolishness of preaching [salvation, procured by Christ and to be had through Him], to save those who believed (who clung to and trusted in and relied on Him). 1 Corinthians 1:19-20

The wisdom and logic of this world teaches us that we need a job and that we need money to be able to live. Jesus tells us to consider the birds of the air and the lilies of the field and see how they neither toil or spin and yet they are wonderfully adorned and taken care of by our Father. Worldly religion tells us that we need laws to guide us to insure that we live right. Jesus says that He came and did away with the Laws. The logic of this world tells us that we need doctors, medicine, and insurance to be healthy. Jesus tells us that it is by His stripes that we are healed. The wisdom of this world tells us that we need schools and colleges to learn. Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things. The world tells us that we need lawyers and courts to protect us from being wronged. Jesus tells us that His Love within us will never allow us to even notice that we are wronged. The world tells us that we need the police to protect us. Jesus tells us that if someone hits our right cheek, then we are allow them to hit our left one as well. Jesus tells us that if our enemy is hungry we are to feed him, bless him, pray for him, and don’t just give him your coat, give him your shirt as well. 

The world tells us that we need all of these things to have an abundant life. The world has all of these things; so ask yourself, is the world living in abundance? Are we at peace with each other? Are the laws and courts bringing us together? Are the doctors, medicines, and insurances causing us to have an abundant life, or do they break us if we really need to use them in times of trouble? Who usually wins when a lawyer is used, many times it is only the lawyer. Are our kids really smarter with all of the school that we are giving to them? How effective are the police at truly stopping murders, robberies, and rapes?  

Now I would be lying to you if I said that I have the faith that we can actually live without the things that I wrote about. But that really doesn’t matter, because Jesus does have the Faith and He is responsible to Author and Finish our Faith so that we can believe what He has provided for us. It is up to the Holy Spirit to cause us to abound in Hope and Faith is the evidence of things hoped for. It is up to our Father to prune out of us anything that would hinder us living in the abundance that Jesus has provided for us. So whether we believe the Truth or not, does not stop our Father from bringing it to pass for us, even if we struggle with it. 

I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, Philippians 3:13

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the story and message of the cross is sheer absurdity and folly to those who are perishing and on their way to perdition, but to us who are being saved it is the [manifestation of] the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

Look at what our Father tells us here: those who are being saved the message of the Cross is the power of God. Now the question is who is it that is being saved? 

[Just as] You have granted Him power and authority over all flesh (all humankind), [now glorify Him] so that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. John 17:2

Well then, as one man’s trespass [one man’s false step and falling away led] to condemnation for all men, so one Man’s act of righteousness [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God and life for all men. Romans 5:18

For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike]. Romans 11:32

With a view to this we toil and strive, [yes and] suffer reproach, because we have [fixed our] hope on the living God, Who is the Savior (Preserver, Maintainer, Deliverer) of all men, especially of those who believe (trust in, rely on, and adhere to Him). 1 Timothy 4:10

If these verses are true, and they are true, then all men are being preserved, maintained, and delivered, or in other words being saved. Now it may be true that we who believe now are especially being saved, but Jesus’ sacrifice is so powerful that no one will be left out. Our Father will have mercy on all of us. Our Father would that all men be saved and our Father will get His way and all men will be saved. Some of us will be saved by being the Bride of Christ and some of us will be saved by being the Bride’s guests, but all of us will be saved. That is how spectacular Jesus’ sacrifice is!

The message of the Cross is forgiveness, grace, mercy, love, compassion, power, peace, joy, eternal life, hope, health, being taken care of, knowledge, and power. These are things that we all want, so the real message of the Cross is actually desired by all people. Some of us may get caught up and struggle with the Truth that Jesus died for us to have all of these things, but the things that all of us want, are why Jesus did it. When Jesus was on the Cross He forgave the people who were killing Him even though they did not ask for it, deserve it, or believe that they needed it. None of what they thought mattered in their being forgiven and that holds True for all of us as well. 

The glorious Truth is that Jesus is saving all of us because He has been given all of us. Whether we know it or not or whether we confess it or not does not change the fact that Jesus has been given the complete responsibility of all of us. The power of our Father is working on all of our behalf’s. Now the fallen angels who have been cast down to the earth are perishing and they are on their way to perdition and what Jesus did for us is absurdity to them, but to mankind the power of the Cross will bring life for all of us. On the last day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, because all of mankind will see the Truth and be set free by it. 

And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that I should not lose any of all that He has given Me, but that I should give new life and raise [them all] up at the last day. John 6:39

1 Corinthians 1:17

For Christ (the Messiah) sent me out not to baptize but [to evangelize by] preaching the glad tidings (the Gospel), and that not with verbal eloquence, lest the cross of Christ should be deprived of force and emptied of its power and rendered vain (fruitless, void of value, and of no effect). 1 Corinthians 1:17

I will never forget when our Father really brought the Truth of this verse to me. I was in my twenties and was asked to preach at a Baptist Church. It was a church in the inner city of Columbus and the preacher came up to me after I had finished and told me that I would never be successful because I didn’t sing my message. For those who know me I may be dramatic at times but I am definitely not a wear a robe, wipe my forehead with a white hanky, singing a message kind of preacher. The way that our Father has always used me is to teach and according to this guy no one would listen because I wasn’t be theatrical. Well, my feelings were hurt by what he said, so our Father showed me this verse and the Truth,as always, set me free. 

Our Father further strengthened the Truth of verse 17 by having me ask people after they had attended a theatrical message exactly what was preached? It was eye opening because most of the people that our Father had me ask this question to talked about the energy and enthusiasm of the preacher or crowd, but they really didn’t know what was taught. It seemed that they were there for the show, so the message of the Cross was deprived of its power and rendered vain because the attention was directed towards the preacher and not the Truth. So beware of preachers who are all theatrical, our Father tells us that verbal eloquence deprives the message of the Cross. 

This is why I think the way that most current church services are conducted are all wrong. I believe that our Father intended for us to commune. I believe that we should all be able to get together and share our feelings and fellowship in the Spirit. If it is just one person up on a stage and we all have to sit and just listen to them that is really boring. So to compensate the preachers become all theatrical to keep our attention. But if we are all able to talk and fellowship with each other that is fun and that is what Church really is. This kind of fellowship seems to be accomplished far better in homes, in kitchens, around a table, in family rooms, coffee houses, or restaurants. Huge buildings are not needed to truly fellowship and they actually add to the weakening of the message. 

[Remember me] also to the church [that meets] in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was a firstfruit (first convert) to Christ in Asia. Romans 16:5

The churches of Asia send greetings and best wishes. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church [that meets] in their house, send you their hearty greetings in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 16:19

Give my greetings to the brethren at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the assembly (the church) which meets in her house. Colossians 4:15

And to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier [in the Christian warfare], and to the church [assembly that meets] in your house: Philemon 1:2