Sermon Central
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How To Keep From Getting Wrapped Around The Wringer
Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Jul 20, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: - We Live in a Pressure Cooker World - The world is ready to wrap us around it’s wringer - Paul helps us in this struggle
How To Keep From Getting Wrapped Around The Wringer
- Remember the wringer washer
- Guide it Through - Hit the release bar
Paul - V.1 “After these things”
Laughed out of Athens 17:32
Sought After in Berea 17:13
Chased out of Thesalonica 17:5-10
Asked to leave Philipi 16:39
After Beaten & Imprisoned
- Easy to gel wrapped around the wringer
Philipi “Little Rome”
- Roman supremacy
Thesalonica “Free City”
- Capital of Macedonia
Athens “Clouded in Idolatry”
- Culture
Corinth “Corrupted in Immorality - Politics
- Us - Pressure Cooker world
- On your own
- Bombarded with Philosophies
- Ideas - Status Quo
- The world is ready to wrap us around it’s wringer
- Turn us into a Pretzel
Paul - 1 Corinthians 2:2
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
1. Fellowship - With Believers
v.2
And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
If not a believer here by v. 26 were
2. Reasoned v.4
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
Apologetics
- The Evidence - Proof - Laws
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
- 1+1=2
- Oil & water
- Proof Can’t be Joined
- Light & Darkness
- Like poles
“Know ye not” - I Cor.
3. Persuaded v.4
And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath,
and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
- Absolutely Convinced
- Sales People - ex. Kirby
- Paul
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- No separation
- Children of Israel in the wilderness not convinced (persuaded)
4. Testified - v.5
5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
- Experience
2 Cor 4:8-9
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; KJV)
- We get wrapped around the wringer if we can not testify that the Lord is faithful
v. 8 - The reason we get wrapped around the wringer is that we stop at one of these
8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
- Hearing
- Believing -
But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
- Obeying
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
v.9 When you start getting wrapped around the wringer remember
- Hit the rlease bar
9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
-Be not afraid - Confidence
- Releases Fear
• Speak ---------- Gives us something to do
---------- Keep on being obedient
---------- Keep on trusting
- I am with thee - Gives us something to hang on too
- Sooner or latter we are going to be put through the wringer and there are going to be times when we get wrapped around it
