The Necessity of Humility 1 Corinthians 4:6-21 Pastor Jason Dennett s Notes INTRO: "PHILAE" space probe..nov.12, 2014 NKJV - "Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both 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 distinguished, but we are dishonored! To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?"
1 CORINTHIANS, CHAPTER 4 OUTLINE: I. MINISTRY - A Servant & Steward (4:1-5) II. HUMILITY - A Suffering Spectacle (4:6-13) By Using PICTURES (v.6) By Using QUESTIONS (v.7) By Using SARCASMS (v.8) By Using DESCRIPTIONS (v.9-13) III. PATERNITY - A Spiritual Father (4:14-21) Paul started the family (v.14 15) Paul exemplified the family (v.16 17) Paul disciplined the family (v.18 21) HUMILITY: By Using PICTURES (v.6) - "Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other." "Humility is one of the great marks of a crucified man." - Andrew Murray "Humility is taught by obedience in the face of difficulty. Humility is tested by the choices we make." - Tim Burns "Pride closes the door to spiritual growth, but humility opens the door for more of God's grace. Pause for just a moment to ponder this profound promise and let it sink in: 'God gives grace to the humble.' " - Colin Smith Perfect Example of HUMILITY: Phil 2:5-8 NKJV - "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, [and] coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to [the point of] death, even the death of the Cross." "..these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to
myself and Apollos.." Paul spoke of the apostles being servants and stewards. He used these pictures and descriptions, so the Corinthians would learn the proper way to see the apostles. "..that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up.." Paul wants the Corinthian Christians learn to keep their thinking Biblical, and to not use standards beyond the Word of God to judge him or the other apostles, or situations in their church family. ("Christ vs. Culture") People today evaluate pastors and churches using unbiblical standards. They judge him on his humor, his entertainment value, his appearance, or his skill at marketing and sales. We must take our every cue from Scripture. It used to be that something was considered Biblical if it came from the Bible; sadly today, people say things are "Biblical" if they can't find a verse which specifically condemns it. This is to "think beyond what is written." The expression"puffed up" meant there was a serious pride problem. Though the pride was evident in the cliques around the different apostles, the cliques weren't the problem as much as pride was the problem. Paul addresses their proud hearts with 3 heart-probing questions. HUMILITY: By Using QUESTIONS (v.7) - "For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" "For who makes you differ from another?" If there is a difference between us, it is because of what God has done in us, so there is no reason for pride. "It is a wild, strange thing to think that a man should her proud when he has nothing to be proud of. A living, animated lump of clay - defiled and filthy, a living hell - and still he is
proud!" - Spurgeon "And what do you have that you did not receive?" Everything we have has come from God, so there is no reason for pride. Romans 11:36 NLT - "For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen." James 1:17 NKJV - "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." "Work on your humility. Come to terms with the fact that your skills are God-given. You can only do what He equips you to do." - Stan Toler "Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" If what you have spiritually is a gift from God, why do you glory in it as if it were your own accomplishment? There is no reason for this self-glorying pride. Isaiah 42:8 NKJV - "I [am] the LORD, that [is] My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images." 1Corinthians 1:31 NKJV - "..that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD." "One can easily become too great to be used by God. One can never be too small for HIs service." - Corrie Ten Boom HUMILITY: By Using SARCASMS (v.8) - "You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!" "You are already full!" Greek "kekoresmenoi" - meaning "satiated, filled, content, having more than enough."
"You are already rich!" Greek "eploutēsate" - meaning "too make yourself to be rich; to become wealthy." "You have reigned as kings without us and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!" Greek "ebasileusate" - meaning "to reign as a sovereign; to rule as a king rules; to be in absolute and complete control." "No matter how dear you are to God, if pride be harbored in your spirit, he will whip it out of you. They that go up in their own estimation must come down again by God's strong discipline." - Spurgeon HUMILITY: By Using DESCRIPTIONS (v.9-13) - "For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both 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 distinguished, but we are dishonored! To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. "For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men." This "Spectacle" image is from the Roman Coliseum. When a conquering Roman general returned from a victorious battle, he displayed his armies first, the booty second, and at the end of the procession, the defeated captives who would be condemned to die in the arena. They would be led into the arena as the last event, the "Spectacle", and wild beasts would be released upon them, as the crowds watched in entertainment. "We are fools for Christ s sake, but you are wise in Christ!" Greek "mōroi" - meaning "to be foolish; stupid; morons;
idiots." "We are weak, but you are strong!" Greek "astheneis" - meaning " to be weak; feeble; ill; unable to perform." "You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!" Greek "atimoi" - meaning "to be unhonoured; dishonoured; lacking any honor whatsoever." "To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now." Paul and the other apostles were wonderful and godly examples of Luke 9:23 - what it truly meant BIBLICALLY to be a DISCIPLE of Christ! Today, many churches have this same attitude of the Corinthians: concerned about the external image of worldly success and power. Many of them despised Paul and the other apostles because they did not display that worldly image. Today, there are no shortage of ministers who want to display the image of worldly success and power, and no shortage of Christians who will only value that in their minister. Our problem is we often want a middle road: a little popularity, a little reputation, but still the anointing of God. We want the power without the cost. God help us to choose Paul's way, because it is really the BIBLICAL, and it was GOD'S way...as seen in CHRIST! (Phil 2:5-11) PATERNITY: Paul started the family (v.14 15) - "I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you
through the gospel." "I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you." Paul's purpose was to to warn them of a significant spiritual danger - PRIDE. "He that can humble himself earnestly before God in Christ, has already won." - Martin Luther "I believe every Christian man has a choice...between being humble...or being humbled! It's not humility to think badly about yourself. Humility is to think of yourself as God thinks of you. It is to feel that if we have talents, God has given them to us. And let it be seen that, just like is a boat on the water, our gifts and abilities should tend to sink us low. The more talents we have, the lower we ought to lie." - Spurgeon Paul had a unique place of authority among the Corinthians. He fathered the church itself in Corinth, but also possessed Apostolic authority. "For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." The instructor was a "paidagogoi," a guardian or "slaveguide," who escorted the boys to and from school and who supervised their general conduct. The instructor did have legitimate authority to correct and even discipline, but certainly not like a father. PATERNITY: Paul exemplified the family (v.16 17) "Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church." "Therefore I urge you, imitate me." Paul was a great example to the Corinthians by virtue of his
PATTERN - how he lived among them for 1.5 years. Paul followed the Great Example - Jesus Christ: Phil 2:5-8 NKJV - "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, [and] coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to [the point of] death, even the death of the Cross." "For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church." Paul was a great example to the Corinthians by virtue of his PROTEGE - young Timothy, a pastor he was training and using constantly as his proxy in many of the New Testament churches. PATERNITY: Paul disciplined the family (v.18 21) "Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?" "Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. Essentially, Paul threatens to pop the bubble of these puffedup gasbags. Some Corinthian Christians were so arrogant they thought Paul was afraid to visit them. When they thought Paul was afraid of them, it made them all the more proud in their hearts. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. The Corinthians loved their own high-sounding words, but
Paul had the true power of God's Words and God's Spirit! The final test of "wisdom" is power in a persons daily life. Christian power and spiritual maturity are ultimately demonstrated by the power of Christlike lives of humility, love, service, and submission to God's Word. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?" Paul leaves the ball in their court. Which Paul did they want to come - the Paul with the rod of correction (used by shepherds to smack disobedient sheep), or the Paul with the spirit of gentleness? There is no doubt Paul would prefer to come in gentleness, but he'll leave that decision up to the Corinthian Christians. APPLICATION & CLOSING THOUGHTS: "Pride closes the door to spiritual growth, but humility opens the door for more of God's grace. Pause for just a moment to ponder this profound promise and let it sink in: 'God gives grace to the humble.' " - Colin Smith "Humility is taught by obedience in the face of difficulty. Humility is tested by the choices we make." - Tim Burns