The Word that Matters Killen 1/26/2025

1 Corinthians 2: 1-10    nkjvAnd I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

❓When have you acted childish when dealing with conflict? What brings out your childish and immature behavior.❓

💥   By these verses, we see that it is what God says that matters!     A.   It’s what God speaks that builds a powerful, unbreakable faith.v5) 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.     

B.   It’s what God says that causes us to truly grow and mature spiritually. v6) 6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

C.   It’s what God says that keeps us from going astray and committing foolish sins that break our fellowship and relationship with God. v8) 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.     

D.   It’s through what God says that transforming power flows.

• Taking away the temporary fixes offered by teachers, books and preaching (that do some good) but bring forth no lasting fruit to perfection.
• What God says can permanently change the heart, mind and soul. v4) 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 

2 Corinthians 5:17) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new     

E.   It’s through what God says that we are able to discover the deep things of God! v10) 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

• The things that we cannot learn from seminaries, preachers, books, teachers, etc.

⭐   The problem:  Paul uses a very familiar word for his day. Peithos. 

The popular and good teachers of that day all had their own way of teaching what they to the Christians."peithos" means to be persuasive or convincing. It is associated with speech or arguments that are compelling and able to sway opinions or beliefs.Cultural and Historical Background: In the Roman world, oratory and the art of persuasion were highly valued skills, especially in public speaking. Philosophers and orators were trained in the use of persuasive language to influence audiences. The concept of persuasion was not only important in secular contexts but also in religious and philosophical discussions, where convincing others of one's beliefs was a key objective.

• They all had a book(s)
• They made sense and made the Scripture easy to understand!  (Bible don’t understand the Bible)
• They all had lively and interesting way of preaching. (they were enticing)

💥   It was a real problem and will be until the very last days!  

2 Timothy 4:3-4)  3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

➣      It is a big enough problem that warnings are written in God’s Word for us to see and learn about. 2 Corinthians 2)

Result: 1 Corinthians 3:3-4)  3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?

⭐ To people who considered themselves mature, growing, Christlike and very spiritual.     

1.   They still could not understand or would not receive the truth.  Believed half truths like they were whole truths and whole truths like they were half truths.

• The difference was how they acted when arguing--- childish, immature, worldly.

2.   They were divided. Condemning each other for their beliefs.     Jealousy and quarrels

• How believers resolve problems is not how the world does it. 

     3.   All the meaty teachings of the great preachers did not change their childishness.

What does this teach?I.   Paul kept focused on the Word of God. v2)     

1   The Word of God was his priority. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. ➣   Nothing but “Jesus Christ and him crucified”.  WHAT!?  

• How does that help anything? v7)

➣  It’s these things that the SPIRIT uses as a door to the hidden and deeper things of God!!!

⭐  IF WE WANT TO GROW SPIRITUALLY, WE NEED TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH THE WORD AND THE SPIRIT.

• Hebrews 5:11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
• Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
• 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;

II.   Don’t ignore the teachings of pastors and teacher, just don’t let them become your first source of truth.

• Paul  Acts 17:11) Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

     Enticing words will lead us astray if we don’t know the Word of God!  

• Even people we trust can be wrong!  (Peter was wrong to withdraw!)

III.   Learn to let the Holy Spirit teach you. v10) 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

• We can only see and be taught the deep things of God by the Holy Spirit. v9)
• John 16:12-13 12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

Read the Word! Spend time in the things you don’t understand and let God speak to you.

• Use books and listen to teachers, but never forget the Holy Spirit.