SHOW VIDEO: Find a You-Tube video that gives a vivid picture of the Space Shuttle tragic explosion. It is with this picture the following sermon will generate it's focus from.
INTERESTING DATA
“The commission's report cited the cause of the disaster as the failure of an “O-ring” seal in the solid-fuel rocket on the Space Shuttle Challenger's right side. The faulty design of the seal coupled with the unusually cold weather, let hot gases to leak through the joint. Booster rocket flames were able to pass through the failed seal enlarging the small hole. These flames then burned through the Space Shuttle Challenger's external fuel tank and through one of the supports that attached the booster to the side of the tank. That booster broke loose and collided with the tank, piercing the tank's side. Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen fuels from the tank and booster mixed and ignited, causing the Space Shuttle Challenger to tear apart” (About.com).
“On January 28, 1986, the American shuttle orbiter Challenger broke up 73 seconds after liftoff, bringing a devastating end to the spacecraft’s 10th mission. The disaster claimed the lives of all seven astronauts aboard . . . . It was later determined that two rubber O-rings, which had been designed to separate the sections of the rocket booster, had failed due to cold temperatures on the morning of the launch” (History.com)
TODAYS TEXT:
1Corinthians 1:1-5: (1) Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, (2) Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (3) Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (4) I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; (5) That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
AND CONTINUING in 1 Corinthians 1: 26- 31: (26) For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (27) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (28) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: (29) That no flesh should glory in his presence. (30) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (31) That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
In this text Paul is addressing a local church that has division and factions within its church body. Notice in verse 5, Paul reminds these believers that in everything they are enriched [to be made full or plenteous] in all utterance and knowledge” by God. With this in mind, let’s look at verses 26-31.
We find in VERSE 26 Paul notes three types likely to NOT BE CALLED, with God’s calling: not many (1) wise after the flesh, (2) mighty or (3) noble]
It is through these terms in which Paul purposely points out that intellect, political successfulness, or social position; are not qualifications for being chosen by God.
VERSE 27
In Verse 27 Paul continues this theme by providing a logical counter-type utilized to confound the false sense of callings found in VERSE 26.
NOTICE:
Worldly wisdom in verse 26 is confounded by the foolish in verse 27.
Physical might in verse 26 is confounded by the weak things in verse 27
World nobility in verse 26 is confounded by lower esteemed things (or less honorable things by fleshly standards) in verse 27.
WHY IS PAUL DOING THIS?
1) To keep the cross of Christ from having no effect: 1 Corinthians 1:17: “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
2) That no flesh will be able to glory in his presence: 1 Corinthians 1:19: “That no flesh should glory in his presence.”
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
“The moment we glorify ourselves, since there is room for one glory only in the universe, we set ourselves up as rivals to the Most High. Shall the insect of an hour glorify itself against the sun which warmed it into life? Shall the potsherd exalt itself above the man who fashioned it upon the wheel? Shall the dust of the desert strive with the whirlwind? Or the drops of the ocean struggle with the tempest? Give unto the Lord, all ye righteous, give unto the Lord glory and strength; give unto Him the honour that is due unto His name.” Ref: Spurgeon, Charles H. spurgeon.org. Psalm 29:2.
WHY CAN WE NOT GLORY IN OUR SELF-ACHIEVEMENTS?
Because we find all we need in Christ and Christ alone:
1 Corinthians 1:30: “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”
THEREFORE: Paul concludes his argument with this PENETRATING Statement:
1 Corinthians 1:31: “That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
Galatians 6:14: “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”
We are to glory in the things we him through Christ, by grace, and unmerited mercy: reconciliation, justification, glorification, sanctification, adoption: an opportunity of life, service, value, IT IS NOT THROUGH HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT in which these spiritual things are recognized and obtained: NO, it is through: the foolishness of preaching the cross of Christ; and, the redemptive atonement (sacrificial payment) of the sinless and innocent blood of Jesus Christ!
1 Peter 1:18-21:
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (21) Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”
APPLICATION:
Do you remember the video I shared regarding the challenger disaster? What was one of the most vital parts that failed and caused a catastrophic explosion? It was the small and intricate part of O-Rings! It was not properly sealed, due to cold weather!
Ephesians 1:13-14:
(13) “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
Are you properly sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise . . . If not, it could have catastrophic consequences . . . . You might be separated from a loving God for a time-frame of eternity!
MY FRIEND:
Are you relying of self-achievement this morning as a means of pleasing the Heavenly Father (Ephesians 2 tells us, salvation is of grace, not of works)?
In Christ we are to be “created a new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17); that is properly sealed with the Holy Spirit?
Maybe, we need to concentrate on being the best possible O-Ring; uniquely designed for effectiveness within the Body of Christ . . . . SO THAT, the powerful transforming power of God’s glory and redemptive work of His dear Son Jesus Christ can be successfully lifted to the onlookers below?
IF we continue on without these spiritual mandates . . . the finality of life WILL BE catastrophic! God’s Word says . . . “ye must be born again” (John 3:3, 7; 1 Peter 1:23)
You see the O-Rings are nothing without Christ; they are just little ole bitty silicone rubber circles: So, without the transforming power of God’s Spirit (Romans 12:2), the Holy Spirit, you [the O-Ring] are nothing!
Christian believers, these O-Rings are much like you and I! We are to serve in a designed purpose of gospel propagation of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ . . . only then will the mission end with the designed glory; and will God be served appropriately!
Romans 6:3-5
(3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection”
Maybe you cannot say you are a part of this resurrection miracle and today have not yet yielded your life to God, through the transforming life?
If you still have one breath of life in your body . . . It is not too late.
THIS MORNING - - - Can you say?
Dear God, I know I have sin and am a sinner separated from you by my sin
Dear God, I thank you for send your only beloved Son, Jesus Christ to die on a cross for my sin and reconcile me back to you this morning.
Dear God, I believe Jesus died on this cross for me and accept that His death was enough to make a satisfactory payment for my sin and REST upon this through the acceptance of my mind and heart and want to be your child for-evermore giving you the proper honor, praise and glory.
IF YOU CAN SAY THESES THINGS this morning, and have never done so . . . please indicate this by the lifting of your hand so we can come speak to you about this tremendous gift of eternal consequences. MY FRIEND, God loves you this morning!
References
About.com. Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster - A NASA Tragedy: Part 2: The Space Shuttle Challenger Aftermath. http://space.about.com/cs/challenger/a/challenger_2.htm. Accessed May 1, 2014.
History.com. Challenger Disaster. http://www.history.com/topics/challenger-disaster. Accessed May 1, 2014.
