Puffed Up. 1 Corinthians 4:6-14

Transcription

1 Puffed Up 1 Corinthians 4:6-14

2 Abraham Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. (Gen 18:27)

3 Moses Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt? (Ex 3:11)

4 Gideon Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father s house. (Jud 6:15)

5 Isaiah Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts! (Isa 6:5)

6 John the Baptist I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? (Mt 3:14)

7 Peter Depart from me, for I am a sinful man. (Lk 5:8)

8 Paul To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. (Eph 3:8)

9 Jesus Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Phil 2:5-8)

10 Jesus Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (ESV)

11 The Conceit of the Corinthians 1 Corinthians 4:6-8

12 1 Corinthians 4:6-7 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you

13 1 Corinthians 4:7-8 did not receive it? Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! (ESV)

14 Three Illustrations I have applied (metaschēmatizō) To use the form of, to illustrate by. Paul has used the examples: Of farmers (3:6-9) Of builders (3:10-15) Of servants & stewards (4:1-5)

15 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. (ESV)

16 1 Corinthians 4:6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. (ESV)

17 Puffed Up (physioō) Arrogant, proud. Literally filled with nothing but air. Paul uses this term 7x (4:6, 18, 19; 5:2; 8:1; 13:4; 2 Cor 12:20)

18 It cuts us off from God for who needs God if we are self-sufficient?

19 It cuts us off from God It cuts us off from others for who needs others if in our pride we are independent?

20 It cuts us off from God It cuts us off from others It cuts us off from ourselves it does not permit us to face accurately our selfevaluation.

21 It cuts us off from God It cuts us off from others It cuts us off from ourselves It cuts us off from service it does not allow us to humbly give of ourselves.

22 Three Questions For who sees anything different in you? Who is it that thinks you are special? What makes you better than everyone else?

23 Three Questions For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? What do you have that God has not ultimately given you?

24 Three Questions For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If you received it, why did you boast as if you did not receive it? If what you received was a gift, what do you really have to boast about?

25 1 Corinthians 4:7 Who says that you are any better than other people? What do you have that wasn t given to you? If you were given what you have, why are you bragging as if it weren t a gift? (God s Word)

26 1 Corinthians 4:8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! (ESV)

27 The Humility of the Apostles 1 Corinthians 4:9-14

28 1 Corinthians 4:9-11 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst,

29 1 Corinthians 4:11-14 we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. (ESV)

30 Spectacle (theatron) Theater, play, spectacle. From the same root as theatrizō, to put to shame, expose publicly.

31 Foolish, stupid. Fools (mōros)

32 Slandered (dysphēmeō) To slander or defame. To falsely destroy a person s character or reputation. Used only 1x in NT.

33 Scum (perikatharma). Refuse. Excrement. Used only 1x in NT.

34 Labor (kopiaō) To work manual labor or, to work to the point of exhaustion.

35 Matthew 20:26-27 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave. (ESV)

36 1 Corinthians 4:14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. (ESV)

37 Puffed Up Who are you trying to please? Yourself? Others? Or God?