Grosey's Messages

1 Corinthians 3   Maturity, Ministry and Mastery.

¹But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.

²I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,

³for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?

⁴For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human?

⁵What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.

⁶I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

⁷So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

⁸He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.

⁹For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.

¹⁰According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.

¹¹For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

¹²Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw---

¹³each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

¹⁴If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.

¹⁵If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

¹⁶Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?

¹⁷If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

¹⁸Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

¹⁹For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness,"

²⁰and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."

²¹So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,

²²whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future---all are yours,

²³and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

Author Leslie Flynn, in his book, Great Church Fights, tells the story of two porcupines in the chilling north country of Canada huddled together to keep warm. Because they pricked each other with their quills, however, they decided to part ways. It wasn't long until they were once again side by side. Their very survival depended on it. They learned they had to bear one another's burdens! Flynn's point in his little story is that the two porcupines are not too different from the church. ," "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ" (3:1). Clearly, Paul is contrasting "spiritual" with "carnal." The term "carnal" comes from a word which means "flesh." In fact, some translations literally translate this phrase as "men of flesh." By "flesh" Paul is not referring to skin and bones. Instead, he is referring to the Corinthians' "fleshly" behaviour, a behaviour rooted in their old nature and not in their new nature in Christ (cp. 2 Cor. 5:17). Furthermore, Paul equates the "fleshly" behaviour with being "babes in Christ." In other words, the behaviour of the Corinthians was more like new born Christians and not spiritually developed believers. Their actions were infantile, immature, and indicative more of childishness instead of Christian adults. Needless to say, Paul was not paying them a compliment! If the Corinthians were to be a great church in their pagan city, they must become "spiritual" and not "carnal." They must grow up into stable maturity in Christ, living off the meat of the word, not the milk. No less is true for the church today. No church can be great if its members are mainly immature, carnal, and spiritual babes in Christ. It is in immaturity and fleshly behaviour that Christians stick it to each other.  Though each of us have "sticky" points about us, we are called to remain together for the Gospel's sake. We are called to be a church. Paul dealt with some very sticky issues at Corinth. We have seen the problem of pride that devastates churches. It is pride that primarily is fleshly, worldly, carnal, that makes us irritate each other.

God Desires Your Spiritual Maturity  (1-5)

God Desires Your Sweet Harmonious Ministry  (6-9)

The characteristic Greek tendency to factions was threatening to tear up the Corinthian Church, and each faction was swearing by a favourite teacher. Paul and his companion, Apollos, had been taken as the figureheads of two of these parties, and so he sets himself in the context, first of all to show that neither of the two was of any real importance in regard to the Church's life. They were like a couple of gardeners, one of whom did the planting, and the other the watering; but neither the man that put the little plant into the ground, nor the man that came after him with a watering-pot, had anything to do with originating the mystery of the life by which the plant grew. That was God's work, and the pair that had planted and watered were nothing. So what was the use of fighting which of two nothings was the greater? Pride wants to be great! 

But then he thinks himself that that is not quite all. The man that plants and the man that waters are something after all. They are partners, workers together and workers together with God,  and so are one in purpose. So what's the sense of pitting them against each other?  That partnership of co-operation is not merely a partnership of the two, but it is a partnership of the three — God and the two of them.  There is a solemn thought: a fellow worker with God. There is a special honour.

Suppose a great painter, a Raphael or a Turner, taking a little boy that cleaned his brushes, and saying to him, 'Come into my studio, and I will let you do a bit of work upon my picture.' Or a great musician condescends to teach you a musical instrument.  But most of all this is a strong encouragement. 'Fellow-labourers with God'— then, God is a Fellow-labourer with us. The co-operation works both ways, and no one who is seeking to spread that great salvation needs to feel that he is labouring alone. If I am working with God, God is working with me. And that means if you want to make a division, you are fighting against God. 'Baby Christians',' carnal christians' people who profess to be Christians but are just like the unsaved, who go into little tantrums when they don't get their way.  The characteristics of a baby fleshly carnal Christian

1. They Are Never Ready For Meat (verse 2)

2. They Thrive On Strife And Quarrels (verse 3)

3. They Enjoy Factionalism (verse 4)

4. They Exalt Man Above God (verses 5-9)

a. Not understanding the Spirit's sovereignty

b. Not understanding the Lord's method

c. Not understanding the Body's co-operation

d. Not understanding the Labourer's reward

So what is it about a person that makes them unable to digest solid food? It's pride. Or to put it positively, the organ that properly digests solid food is humility. As long as a person is still largely influenced by a spirit of self-exaltation he is not able to digest solid food. The throat of pride is too narrow and unpliable to handle the solid food.

So what then is the solid food and what is the milk? Milk is teaching that is uniquely designed to get a proud sinner started on the path of humility and hope. There is something about the word of the cross that can get into the hard and narrow esophagus of self-reliance and bring life-giving hope and humility without choking a person to death. Not that the milk of the gospel saves everybody. "The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing" (1:18). A person's spiritual throat can be so swollen with pride and self-reliance that they even gag on milk.

 So milk is teaching that is uniquely designed to get a proud sinner started on the path of humility and hope, mainly the word of the cross, the message of Christ crucified.

What then is solid food? Notice that it is not something that takes more intellect to grasp. What it takes is less jealousy and strife, less pride and self-assertion. The solid food is not for smart people. It's for humble people -- people who have stopped pursuing the pleasures of

self-confidence and self-exaltation and self-determination – people who now want only to boast in the Lord and give him all the glory for whatever good there is in the world and in their lives.

God Desires Your Spiritual Maturity (v.1-5)

God Desires Your Sweet Ministry (v. 6-9) 

God Desires Your Soul Mastery (v.10-15)

¹⁰According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.¹¹For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw---¹³each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.¹⁴ If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

People who develop a mastery of a subject give themselves to the task of working hard at that subject. Mastery of something takes commitment. Mastery of ministry takes commitment.

Paul calls himself a Master builder of a church.  Master builders were the best of the builders.

As a wise masterbuilder  (ως σοφος αρχιτεκτων). Paul does not shirk his share in the work at Corinth with all the sad outcome there. He absolves Apollos from responsibility for the divisions. He denies that he himself is to blame. In doing so he has to praise himself because the Judaizers who fomented the trouble at Corinth had directly blamed Paul. It is not always wise for a preacher to defend himself against attack, but it is sometimes necessary. Factions in the church were now a fact and Paul went to the bottom of the matter. God gave Paul the grace to do what he did. This is the only New Testament example of the old and common word αρχιτεκτων, our architect. Τεκτων is from τικτω, to beget, and means a begetter, then a worker in wood or stone, a carpenter or mason (Matt 13:55; Mark 6:3). Αρχι- is an old inseparable prefix like αρχαγγελος (archangel), αρχεπισχοπος (archbishop), αρχιερευς (chiefpriest). Αρχιτεκτων occurs in the papyri and inscriptions in an even wider sense than our use of architect, sometimes of the chief engineers. But Paul means to claim primacy as pastor of the church in Corinth as is true of every pastor who is the architect of the whole church life and work. All the workmen (τεκτονες, carpenters) work under the direction of the architect (Plato, Statesman, 259). "As a wise architect I laid a foundation" (θεμελιον εθηκα). Much depends on the wisdom of the architect in laying the foundation. This is the technical phrase (Luke 6:48; Luke 14:29), a cognate accusative for θεμελιον. (RWP)

Paul offers a self description as a "masterbuilder" or literally, a "skillful architect." For Paul, he understood his role as one who drew up plans and laid foundations (cp. Rom. 15:20). No other work is more significant to the building of a great church than the proper foundation. Skyscrapers cannot be built on the foundation of a chicken-house. What are the particular elements for a proper church foundation?

First, the church must be founded upon the deity of Jesus Christ ( v. 11; cp. Matt. 16:18; 21:42; Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:4-6). No other foundation will suffice (Matt. 7:24-26). No church can ever approach greatness apart from the sure foundation of Christ.

A great church must further be founded upon the death of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25). The church is redeemed by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus and redeemed by no other. And, what is true of the church is also true of one's life. People cannot build their lives upon service, sacrifice, or success. One's life is built only upon Christ if it is to have eternal significance, eternal life.

Second, Paul reveals the construction for eternity. Hear well the Apostle's words, "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble" (v. 12). Elsewhere Paul says, "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord" (Eph. 2:20-21). We must take care how we build as well as upon what foundation we build. In addition, we must be cautious concerning the materials we use for building. Paul mentions two kinds of building materials for constructing a church for eternity. On the one hand, he speaks of "wood, hay, and stubble" and on the other he contrasts "gold, silver, and precious stones." Obviously, the two kinds of materials result in two very different structures. We may build either a mud hut or a mansion, a King's palace or a pauper's porch. One is permanent and the other shakes with even the slightest wind. One is spiritual, sacrificial, and steadfast while the other is careless, worthless, and, in the end, useless. Who would even consider using gold, silver, or precious stones on an inadequate foundation?

Finally, Paul reveals the examination for eternity. Whether or not we realize it, God will examine in eternity the structure we build in time. One day all building will be set ablaze by none other than God Himself! Notice Paul's words, "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire" (vv. 13-15). On "the day"—which is a reference to the Judgment Seat of Christ (cp. Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10)—while Christians will not be judged as sinners, they will be judged as servants. The work Christians perform will be tested through the fires of God's discernment—"the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." No one is exempt. Consequently, some will be rewarded while others "suffer loss." Note again this judgment is for believers not unbelievers. No believer in Jesus Christ will suffer as an unbeliever nor be banished from God's presence. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are eternally God's chosen people. Hence, no sermon a preacher proclaimed, no lesson a teacher taught, no opportunity a soul-winner ignored, nor tithe a person missed will go unnoticed at God's judgment bar. Jesus made it clear that even every single word which we speak will not go unnoticed (Matt. 12:36).

1) He will assess our lives in detail.

2) He looks at us as if we are building contractors.

3) What one of you does, reflects on all of us.

There was a young minister who sat by the bed of a friend who was dying. As they talked of his going to be with the Lord, tears filled the eyes of his dying friend. The young minister thought he was afraid to die and attempted to speak encouraging words to him. But his friend replied, "I am not afraid to die; I am ashamed to die." He went on to say that although Christ as his Savior, he had lived for himself, and he now had to meet the Lord empty-handed. His life was "wood, hay, and straw."

How to build with quality in the Christian life.

  A. Know your God.

 B. Watch your inner life.

Terrible earthquake in Haiti in January 12  at about 5 pm 2010 killed over 300,000 including nearly all the members of parliament when most buildings collapsed. The buildings looked the same as any anywhere else, except there were no building codes; substandard building practices and materials caused most buildings to collapse. 1 million were left homeless.  A further 770,000 caught cholera.

Moral impurity causes many Christians to fall.

Sin that is not checked only grows worse.

Charles Swindoll tells the story of a well-respected British pastor who lived around the turn of the century.  Each day he commuted by trolley car from his home in the suburbs to his church in downtown London.  On this particular day, he paid the driver as he got on, preoccupied with his busy schedule and the needs of his church.  It wasn't until he was seated that he realized the driver has given him too much change.

Fingering the coins, his first thought was an alien one, "My, how wonderfully God provides!"  But the longer he sat there, the less comfortable he became.  His conscience telegraphed a strong signal of conviction within him.  As he walked to the door to get off near his church, he looked at the driver and quietly said, "When I got on, you accidently gave me too much change." The driver, with a sly smile, replied, "It was no accident at all. You see, I was in your congregation yesterday and heard your sermon on honesty.  I just thought I'd put you to the test, Reverend."

But those who are faithful in their work in the Kingdom shall receive a reward. There will be a prize for the faithful in Jesus. The Bible speaks of definite rewards, or "crowns" which await us. There is the "Crown of Life" for those who love Jesus and endure temptation (James 1:12). There is the "Crown Incorruptable" for those who discipline their lives in the race (1 Cor. 9:25). There is the "Crown of Rejoicing" for those who are soul winners (1 Thess. 2:19). There is the "Crown of Righteousness" for those who love His appearing (2 Tim. 4:8). And there is the "Crown of Glory" for those who faithfully shepherd God's flock (1 Peter 5:4).

What does it mean to receive a "crown"? Does this mean we'll receive a literal crown to go on our heads? If these crowns are a symbol of something, what would that be?

Let's lay up treasure in heaven. Too often we make our lives the focus. But in Revelation 22:12 Jesus said, "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." May we so build on the foundation with the right motives, that our work will be gold, silver, and costly stones. A glorious crown awaits those who do. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Gal. 6:9)