Sermon – “Revealed by Fire”

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received for-ty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was ship-wrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleepless-ness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? 30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

“Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the LORD of hosts. 2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire And like launderers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness.

My message this morning are titled revealed by fire we’re going to continue in 1st Corinthians this morning chapter 33 jumps 13 chapter 3 verses one through 17 but let’s begin with a word of prayer this morning graces or we do thank you and praise you for your sweet spirit that we senses in this place father we know that we gather in your name we know that your spears upon us we know your spirit is innocent works through us and Father I pray that you would work great and mighty things through us for Your glory father not our own father you deserve all the credit that’s what the message is about today you deserve all the glory father not not us it all belongs to you Father we worship you we thank you for your love we thank you for Jesus or God we thank you for your presence here today and more may your presence be with us father not just in this hour but in every hour of every day father may you be with us keep us and protect us in Jesus’ name amen. First Corinthians chapter 3 and I brother and I could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal as to babes in Christ I fed you with milk and not with solid food for in 10 until now you were not able to receive it and even now you are still not able for your still carnal 4 where there envy strife divisions among you are you not carnal and behaving like mere men listen to that are you behaving like mere men are you behaving like mere women. For one says I am of Paul and another I am of Apollos are you not carnal Who then is Paul and who is Apollos but ministers through whom believed as the Lord gave to each one through whom you believed as the Lord gave each one I planted Apollos water but God gave the increase so then neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters but God who gives the increase now he plants and he waters are one and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers you are God’s field and your gods building according to the grace of God which was given to me by wise master builder I have laid the foundation and another builds on it but let each one take heed how he builds on it for no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ not anyone builds on this foundation which is Christ with gold silver precious stone wood Hey straw each one’s work will become clear for the day will declared because it will be revealed by fire and the fire will test each one’s work of what sort it is and if any one’s work which he has built on it endures he will receive a reward and if anyone’s work is burned he will suffer a loss but he himself will be saved yet so as through fire do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you if anyone defiles the temple of God God will destroy him for the temple of God is holy which temple you are Amen they got at is blessed and so the rear hearing and reading of His Holy Word you know the apostle Paul was just one of the amazing amazing authors of many books in the Bible God used him God spoke through to him through the Holy Spirit we have many books from the Apostle Paul 14 epistles that Paul wrote became part of the Bible that we have today that is triple the number written by Moses he answered the words call which sent home sent him on at least 5 missionary journeys. His journeys took him to Asia Minor Syria Greece Italy Spain Britain and elsewhere poit Angeles and countless cities proclaiming the message of Christ he is responsible for training many others to continue the Ministry of the gospel he trained many to go on and teach and become missionaries as he was also so if there was anyone that had the credentials if you will to boast about all that he had accomplished for the Lord it would be Paul he had plenty to boast about DID NOT plenty to boast about but the only thing that Paul boast about is his infirmities his infirmities boast about them he did not boast about all look at all the churches up plain did look at all the journeys I went on and 2nd Corinthians he boast about his infirmity 7 green things 112230 Paul says are they Hebrews So am I or they are Israelites So am I He’s a speaking facts here or are they the seed of Abraham so I’m I or the ministers of Christ I speak as a full I am more in Labors more abundant in stripes above measure in prison more frequently in deaths often from the Jews 5 times I received 40 stripes minus one I did the math that’s 195. 3 times I was beaten with rods once I was stoned 3 times I was shipwrecked a night in a day I’ve been in the deep end journeys often in perils of water and perils of robbers and perils of my own country men in perils of the Gentiles in perils in the city and perils in the wilderness in perils in the sea in perils among false brother and in weariness and toil in sleeplessness often in hunger and thirst in fastings often and cold and nakedness besides the other things what comes upon me daily my deep concern for all the churches who is weak I am not weak who is made to stumble I do not burn with indignation if I must boast I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity Paul understood spiritual things he understood that is he playing at these churches he understood that the devil would come in to try to destroy these churches and tear them down so that’s his deep concern his deep concern is the spiritual aspects of the church he was concerned for the fullest teachings that would come in and he was concerned about the divisions that would arise in the churches they troubled him that’s what he boasts about that he says I love each of these churches so much that I have this great concerns burden on my heart for each one poll continues to speak about the division in the church that he spoke of back in chapter one some say that I am of Apollos others say a MA of Paul some say I am of Peter and on and on and on but Paul reprimanded the church. For their immaturity he is basically telling to them speaking to you is like speaking to babies your still on baby food that’s what he’s telling them but now you should be on solid meat but I’m still having to feed matter of fact they’re not even on the Gerber’s he’s made in the milk case they know from the bottle there that in mature him because the Gerber does connoisseur. Not real good but he still have in the fetal milk that they’re that immature in the face because he’s saying when you say that what I am of this one or I am of that one a division you are thinking with the carnal mind you do not understand the spiritual things carnal means to be mere human it means to be flash it means to be unspiritual and worldly my friends the church needs to grow beyond that we need to speak or think of the spiritual things we cannot remain there were always been jealous or envious or boast for any of those same things because they are all carnal they are of the flesh we could go to the GO AWAY sions and look at the works of the flesh we need to grow and be beyond that church all of I’m talking about the church as a whole we need to get beyond that there is no place for boasting in the church about anything that we think that we may have accomplished. There is no place for competition in the church competition between the the different positions in a church no place whatsoever for competition what does he say later on in Caribbean’s the hand cannot say to the foot because I am not the foot I don’t belong there is a place for everyone and there’s no place for competition I’m not talking about sports guys over here I’m talking about spiritual things there is no place for competition there’s no place for boasting and here’s why there is no place for boasting 1st 9 Paul said and this is the new king King James version which is my favorite most of the time he said that he say back to 1st 9 a lost it we are fellow laborers but the King James Version us is go to that the King James Version says for we are laborers to gather with God Let that sink in for I’m just a moment we all of us we are fellow fellow laborers to gather with whom with a Go ought to greet meaning here means kowtow laborers or companions in labor we are companions together in labor with God to accomplish his plans his purpose his will but we are laboring with him fellow workers fellow workers I think the King James Version does a better job helping us understand of who we are doing with who are we are working together with I will say that as I read this previously when our read out thought was talking about fellow laborers with God I thought he’s talking about the the union of the church people together working together for God’s kingdom but we are actually united together with God through the partners Holy Spirit. For his work we are fellow laborers with him so in a roundabout way yes we all are together fellow laborers but remember it’s God is with him so friends that is why we have nothing to boast about because anything we accomplish is through him because we are fellow laborers with him he’s the brains of the works he’s the power of the works Amen is through him he deserves all the glory you know Paul said I might plant the seed I’m a plant the seed in another comes along waters it right so Paul say and I might plant a seed meaning I might be the one to pull that nice cultivated earth back I’m talking about that heart ready to receive I might pull that cultivated earth back and plant the sea someone else may come along and water that see someone else may have been responsible for the cultivation of that earth for that heart someone else might have been responsible to speaking to someone and helping get that heart ready to receive that seed Amen then someone else may come along and watered speak another word someone else may come along and reap the harvest right lead that person to Christ but who cares who gets real credit for what. Doesn’t really matter who gets credit as long as they saw was saved were not a look back and think of my own experience as becoming a believer I can name many many that were vital instruments that God used they were his code laborers to plant the seed in my heart I could name more and my grandmother was very vital for a year certain the front row Pastor Gary trail was vital Mike Sanam our was very. Vital in helping plant that seed in my heart a Sunday school teacher named Ronnie many I could name not just one they all played an important role and you may be able to say and think the same thing if there were many not just one but they were all coated laborers working together with God to plant that seed in your heart to Mark Amen. So we’re going to give I’m not going to give one got a credit on the very wants it all I’m not. He gets a lot of. He does get a lot of credit a lot of the glory for. If they don’t want it I’m willing to I’m only can but who cares who gets the credit as long as a soul is say the seed is planted the seed is watered and the seed is harvested Amen It doesn’t matter it doesn’t matter who gets the glory among men because all the glory must go to Jesus Christ the son for his sacrifice it must go to the Father for His Amazing Grace in a must go to the Holy Spirit for his work in and through us so why should we boast why should we boast no boasting I found a story it’s actually a Mongolian folklore but it helps us to understand why we should not boast it’s about a little boastful frog there were 2 geese about to start south of the southward Orner annual autumn migration when they were in entreated by a frog to take him along as Man I’d like to go south a lead to go to some warmer weather so when the geese express their willingness to do so if a means conveyance of conveyance could be devised so the fog frog produced a long stock of stiff grass and he got the geese to each one taken in while he clung to it in the middle by his mouth. So in this manner the 3 were make on or journey south when they were noticed from below by some men the men loudly expressed their admiration for the device and shouted to the 3 who had been clever enough to discover this idea whereupon the vang glorious frog opened his mouth and said it was all it was I Then he lost his hold in fell to the ground and dashed to pieces. What’s the moral the story folks when you have a good thing going keep your mouth shut. Don’t boast do not boast just a funny story but do not boast you know the last part of Verse 9 Pauls uses 2 different metaphors to describe the church 1st he said that you are God’s field the Church of Corinthians and the church body is the tilde ground the soil we are the the field God’s fields where he plants and you know there’s many in the church today that God’s planted in someone’s water and are grown in your maturing I mean just like poles were the current theory there’s different levels of maturity but we are God’s field and we just need to continue to grow we need to continue to be strong until the fall harvest comes but I like the 2nd metaphor your God’s building but I want to add verse 1011 according to the grace of God which was given to me as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation and another builds on it but let each one take heed how he builds on it for no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ no so many times our discussion is Sabbath school Qana points to what the message is going to be for today and we were talking about the bedrock how you have to get down the bedrock if you’re going to build a building or a structure you’ve got to go down to bedrock to lay the foundation. Our friends I like to talk about this because I know about building if you’re going to build a house you’re not going to just go out there and dig down about a foot deep in Poor little bit of concrete about that thick and build a house it may stay if you build this in the summertime it may hold up for a little while but friends what’s going to happen in wintertime when things begin to freeze and things began to fall that foundation is not going to hold it’s not going to be strong enough it’s not going to be thick enough it’s not going to does NOT going to bear the weight of the building if you build a house and went down and only put about a 3 inch border in there to build that house the foundation down here one little crack or one little dip up at the top of that house is going to open it up wide because if you put a level on something on a wall and it’s out a level if you’ve got a quarter inch in 4 feet you’re going to have 5 inches in 20 feet you know so if the foundation is not strong if we do not hold it’s going to open that thing up and it’s going to be open to the to the elements to nature it’s going to be open it’s going to let the rain commence going to let the the the sun come is going to let the snow come in then what’s going to happen to that house it will not stay in that house will come crashing down it will fall it will be destroyed when it is divided when a house is divided it will not stand you must go down to the bedrock you must go to the bedrock and you must build with a firm foundation a strong foundation you cannot. Cheapen the foundation you cannot use inferior products when you build the foundation you know these poets speak in a foundation and you build upon that thing and sometimes you do build upon the foundation of course talking about the church with hay and straw what other times with gold and silver and precious things you know if you build a house and if you did put a nice good strong foundation in there you know 10 inches thick of concrete on the foundation and 3 feet wide and it concrete foundation or block and then you went and you put nice good heavy floor joists in there but the from there up well well I’ve got to cut costs a little bit and if you lose little tuba Tuesday build the walls what’s going to happen when the storm comes it’s not going to stand up to the storm as it is going to come crashing down the foundation my friends is the most important part of the house of the building the foundation is the most important part of the church today and the foundation of the church is Jesus Christ he is the bedrock he is the firm foundation that the church is built upon my friends when you you know I’m thinking of churches churches today and there’s a lot of differences in churches you know we have Baptist churches we’ve got a fiscal church have we got a dentist churches we’ve got Assembly of God churches and on and on and on and there’s many little different little things that separates make us different but the one thing that needs to be the firm foundation is Jesus Christ. If a church say says the have Jesus Christ as their foundation they cease to be a Christian church period if Jesus Christ is not the foundation they are no longer a Christian church that is the end of the conversation I don’t know what they want to call themselves but they are no longer a Christian church if Christ is not the foundation he must be the foundation. And Paul is concerned because he knows the enemies Oh he’s going to come in and try to destroy it he’s talking about the hay in the wood and all those things that would build upon is the little things that really doesn’t matter they’re not foundational truths we might have differences on how we should baptize does it really is it that important is that a foundational truth the foundations Christ there are so many little different little things that can divide us but we need to get beyond that we need to be mature in Christ whenever that fire comes what did Paul say you may suffer a loss some of those things that were built with wood or straw were inferior things may burn away but as long as you have Christ in your heart and that firm foundation you will be saved you may suffer some loss but we need to build with superior products we need to build with all that Christ has with what God is leading us to build with Matthew 7 Jesus said that the 724327 Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them I would liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock and the rain descended in the floods came in the wind blew and beat on that house and it did not fall for it was founded on the rock but everyone who hears these sayings of mine and does not do them will be like a fully spand who built his house on the say in and the rains ascended the floods came and the winds blew and beat on that house and it fell and great was it was its fall if you build I want to live on the sand it’s going to sink sinking sand. Now I know that my wife loves the beach but as we’ve went to the beach for many many years there’s a lot of houses out rate on the ocean and as the storms come in they begin to watch the way the say in washed away the sand some of those houses are up on a 10 foot stilts and some of them are leaning like this because the disc keeps washing that sinking sand away we have to build the house on the solid rock the church has to be built on the solid rock we cannot cut corners we cannot a church can start out on the right foundation and if someone comes in with a doctrine that is not of God and it can divide at church we are kind of talking about that this morning what if someone came in and said this this is all a lie here’s what you need to be following We need to test the spirit we need to make sure it is of God we make sure that it lines up with the Word of God and make sure distribute Paul said each one’s work will become clear Malakai speaks of the day Malakai 31 through 3 says Behold I send my messengers and he will prepare the way before me and the Lord when you seek will suddenly come to his temple even the messenger of the Covenant in whom you did light behold he is coming says the LORD of hosts but who can endure the day of his coming or who can stand when he appears for he is like a refiner’s fire and laundry so he will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver he will purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold and silver that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness when you think of purifying how they purify gold and silver they put the heat under it and the heat brings the impurities to the top and they skim it off they skim all the impurities off the top don’t they and sometimes we do have some impurities in our life. But Jesus can refinance he is the refiner he can refine us we need to let that fire work in our lives we need to let that fire burn out one song at the fire burn in me or let the fire burn and refine us we need and it’s a matter of humbleness not boasting but as humble ourselves before him and allow the Spirit to refine his he says I am holy so you therefore be holy be holy as I am we are to imitate him and if we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives cleanse us create in me a pure heart to God he will cleanse us so that whenever that day comes we will stand and we will stand when we stand on Jesus Christ the firm foundation Amen.