14 people gathered yesterday for the morning fellowship with Pastor Kevin Alamag (another second time speaker)learning from the Corinth's experience in dealing with TENSION, we were challenged and reminded to redefine our personal vision in life. The message's summary is as follows:
1 Corinthians 3:1-18
Corinth was one of the most tension-filled ministry of Paul. Not only where the believers in divided in leadership, their walk in Christ was characterized with much worldliness. It is interesting to note, however, in spite of these, the ministry was growing. Paul exhorts the Corinth to aspire for peace, unity and growth by cultivating the right attitudes regarding their issues and their immaturity.
I. Tensions Reveal where we are as a Community (v. 1-4)
"Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?"
a. Level of Spiritual knowledge, discernment and maturity (v.1-2)
b. The extent of the world's influence on our attitudes and concerns (v.3)
c. The lack of vision and focus on God's role (v.5-7)
"What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."
II. Tensions Redefine our Role and Work in God's Community (v.8-17)
"The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple."
a. Understanding the delineation and extent of our roles
b. Tensions Reveal the Godliness of our Methods and Means
1. Understanding the parameters of God has set (v.11)
2. Understanding the extent and length of one's role (v.12-13)
3. Understanding the quality of one's work (v14-16)
III. Tension Reveal the Qualitative Results of our Ministry Life (v.16-17)
a. Most people leave ministry after time of great tension
b. Tension should cause us to desire, not to avoid the Spirit
c. Tensions should teach us creative ways of dealing with it, instead of developing bad habits.
Paul childed the believers in Corinth for their carnality-- attributing these to the shallowness of their intake of God's Word, their wordly concerns, parochial mindset and lack of understanding of God's freater plan for them. Paul addressed these by bringing them back to focus.
APPLICATION:
How have you looked at the role of tension in the greater picture of your life?
Has the tensions you are going through cause you to focus or loose sight of your personal vision?
How's your coping abilities?
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