ARE YOU GROWING (13)

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*ARE YOU GROWING (13 )*

*Scripture Treasure.*

1 Corinthians 2:1-7

v1 *And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.*

v2 *For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.*

v3 *And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.*

v4 *And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:*

v5 *That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.*

v6 *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:*

v7 *But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:*

*Insight and Highlight.*

Christian growth, public influence and service.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

Today, there is threat to Christianity and the major threat is the factor militating against messages rooted in the Holy Spirit.

As much as there are faithful preachers and teachers in the Kingdom, there are motivational/persuasive speakers.

While there are non-Christian, gospel fraudsters, there are also carnal Christians (immature Christians) who are motivational speakers.

While mature Christians focus on messages rooted in the Spirit,

carnal Christians focus on human knowledge and the strong drive for fame, money to gain followers etc. They are like the non-Christian, gospel fraudsters: immature Christians.

They persuade men to themselves, with the *".....excellency of speech...."* *.....enticing words of man's wisdom,....."*

pretending to demonstrate the power of the Spirit.

While people often speak to incite and drive to positive change through motivational speeches, Paul's motive in 1 Cor 2:1-7 is to warn us to be careful when motivational speeches that hope to increase confidence fall short of inspirational teachings/speeches.

Mature Christians are inspirational speakers.

Immature Christian are mostly motivational. They can speak with very little or no biblically inspired reference.

This motivational force is mostly persuasive human logic rooted in human cleverness, professionalism, etc.

We are in a world of human logic and persuasion against Divine power.

While there are influencers whose messages come from the revelation of Jesus Christ, there are other form of influencers some of who do this for fame, money etc. They often have considerable numbers of followers.

Some of them are clearly not Christians who influence vulnerable and gullible Christians who are often persuaded to join the bandwagon because of the huge followership.

The motive behind motivational speaking is their goal for faith to be built on a human and strong persuasive foundation rather than spiritual persuasion.

Some of them are clearly controversial uninspired figures but may not be detected.

Some may tell you its time to put the bible aside and pursue a more practical approach. They are notable for their condemnation of faithful ministers of God and often some may advocate to support the word of God but through division and heresy.

Paul states in 1 Cor 2:4-5 that his preaching relied on the power of God, not *".......enticing words of man's wisdom....."* He emphasizes that true faith rests on divine power rather than human persuasion.

Every mature Christian must come to realizing, identifying and differentating between teachings focusing on spiritual conviction rather than those focussed on human logic, , philosophy and intelligence.

There is an internal war between the mature and the immature Christian. It is the war between divine Power and human logic.

An immature Christian will hope to persuade his targets by human persuasion.

A mature Christian will rely on divine power.

Are you a mature Christian?

Are you growing?

*Remorse corner.*

Paul seriously warns us of the effective threat of manipulative and persuasive speaking.

*Call to Word action.*

Motivational/persuasive speakers do it for gains. They are in the categories of people who *"......ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.*

*These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;*

*Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.* (Jude 1:11-13).

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Paul emphasizes and urges every mature Christian to focus on his message and the early Church apostolic teachings that came from the revelation of Jesus Christ, not from human instruction.

*Prayer.*

Lord, help me. Let me not speak with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

Let me be divinely inspired when l speak, in Jesus name.

Good morning all and be blessed as you go today.

God bless you.

Shalom.