Sermon – “Serve the Lord Without Distraction”

8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. 12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called. 25 Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he is: 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you. 29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away. 32 But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. 34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. 35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

The smarting of title my message serve the Lord with out distraction as we continue the work our way through 1st Corinthians were already up the chapter 7 aside while seemed like it just started this. Caribbeans you know I’ve heard many people talk about or preachers or teachers speak of the Corinthian church as the on airiest church in the New Testament and they were non-response Carinthia was the city of print was known for its sinfulness and its this you know the so many would say they were ever very honored so they was known to be honorary And so when they commend to the church I mean it we kind of was talking about this downstairs and Sabbath school God came to say that which was lost right. He came to seek and save those that were lost I mean if we were all well we’re all right says he would not have had to come if we were all well we would need to go to the doctor right right we want to go to the dark because we’re sick he came because we were sick with then a man. So he came for the Henri a stub us right he could be a member other he came for the most honorary among us. And yes that’s me I’m going in a man’s over to place this morning because we’re all Henri but praise God no matter how honoree we were his sins are his and his grace is sufficient to cleanse us from all of our own righteousness a man in. The Caribbean church had written the letter to Paul of course we know that this book is a letter back to them but they had written the letter to them. It says in 1st the 1st chapter the 1st verse rather Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me so they had questions the said they were Henri they want to know should we be doing this or should we do that what should we do so this they were asking for guidance from Paul in their Christian walk how they should live and as we read through the Scripture I broke it up into 2 different I’m going to read verses 8 through 16 I’m going to pick up 17 throughout think 30 something but as we read through this you’re going to see places where Paul says that I command you in other places and not I but the Lord one place it says I have no command from the Lord yet I give you this judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy are you picking that up he say in that the Lord has intrusted me to give good judgment you know there are those among us there’s those that we know that we can trust because we have seen the lives of the lives we’ve heard their teaching we know that we can trust that they could give us good advice children listen to your parents because they often will give you very good advice I got heads and not now but we know that we can trust many and we can trust her judgment God had given Paul the wisdom and knowledge to guide and direct the church but not everything that he gave was a direct command from God but he say and I judge you or I give you command in this or I guide you in that and we can accept that because he is a trustworthy leader let’s go ahead and begin with the Scripture. 1st Corinthians 7 verse 8 to 16 to begin with but I say to the unmarried and to the widows It is good for them if they remain even as I am but if they cannot exercise self control let them marry for it is better to marry than to burn with passion not to the married aka man yet not odd but the Lord a wife is not to depart from her husband but even if she does depart let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband and a husband is not to divorce his wife but to the rest I not the Lord say if a brother has a wife who does not believe and she is willing to live with him let him not divorce her and a woman who has a husband who does not believe if he is willing to live with her let him not let her not divorce him for the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband otherwise your children would be unclean but now they are holy but if the unbeliever departs so I mean that they are unwilling to stay not stay with us all there to get done doing is talking about Jesus God on here that So if the unwilling believer the parts then depart a brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases but God has called us to peace for how do you know a wife whether you will save your husband or how do you know husband whether you will say your wife. They got at his best and so they heard in the reading of His Word that as good will toward prayer Father God we do thank you and praise you for for your word Father we know that your word is are our blueprint our guide for living our lives and for living them in a way that is faithful one to you and father may your spirit speak to our hearts today May we live lives that are pleasing and unto you Father God in this just prayed your spirit would be in our midst open our hearts and our minds to receive what you have forced today for your glory and for your honor in Jesus’ name amen. The apostle Paul begins by advising the Christian believers that if their unmarried earth their widows that it would be good for them if they could remain that way but only if they would not burn with passion if they you know just could not handle being unmarried I mean face it a lot of people need to have someone they need someone with them someone to share their lives with the passage before the scripture. Paul says that it is perfectly proper honorable and morally benefiting for a man to live a life of strict celibacy though he is not teaching there that it is more honorable then being married one is not more honorable than the other both marriage and being unmarried are honorable So those that are unmarried don’t feel less honorable or greater than or more honorable than those that are married if you’re married don’t feel on honorable your honorable before God and Hebrews $134.00 says marriage is honorable among all and the bed undefiled but fornicators and adulterers God will judge our friends if it were not for marriage how else would we have populated areas right right. Matthew 1910 through 12 says his disciples said to him this if such is the case of the man with his wife it is better not to marry but he Jesus said TO THEM ALL cannot accept this saying but only those whom it has been given so it is not acceptable for all to live a life of celibacy only those whom it has been given he says for there are unix who were born thus from their mother’s womb and there are Unix or remade Unix by men and there are unix have made themselves Unix for the kingdom of heaven sake he was able to accept that led him excepted unique as it used here in this passage or Matthew means one who voluntarily chooses to live a life of celibacy he chooses that path as Paul says though not everyone is meant not everyone is cut out to live that kind of life I definitely was not cut out to live that kind of life. I wanted a wife I love my wife and I enjoy having a wife but so is celibacy can be a choice in life but sometimes it can be in a good condition imposed by circumstances or by others. Karen shared a little story this week to see if sane somewhere on her message thing and she shared it in Latin awoke send that to me because it works in my message while attending a marriage weekend for couples Frank and his wife Ann Listen to the preacher declare it is essential that husbands and wives know the things that are important to each other then he asked the men can you name and describe your wife’s favorite flower. Frankly over such is life and when your arm gently whispered gold medal all purpose and. Thus began Frank’s life with celibacy. Yeah. That’s probably some I would say. Kid. Gold medal Yeah yeah for over Eric. How do I compose myself will continue. God loves laughter. Yeah I mean seriously I’m the guy that my wife can get a haircut and get it colored even and it takes me we can have the motives so. If I’m lucky yeah yeah someone else someone pointed out to me hey we’re Carol a good on what to do to it. Now the most on a log see those Susie walks in the door yeah yeah sure. But it’s been fun. Where was I you know there are those that will question whether the apostle Paul was ever married I personally have always this reason or thought my mind that he was never married but the truth is the Bible does not give a definitive answer to whether he was or not it is very evident that at the time of this writing that he was not because he said if they could remain as I am meaning that at that time he was at least without a wife at that time but some suggest there was slight possibility that he may have been married at one time or another in 1st Corinthians Chapter 9 versus 3 through 6 it says. This is my answer to those who question my authority do we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals don’t we have the right to bring a Christian wife with us as the other disciples in the boards brothers do and Peter does so the other disciples obviously were married and their wives went with them when the missionary journeys went as they went out minister and he says or is it only Barnabas in AA I who have to work to support ourselves and can’t bring our wives No I didn’t actually say that way but with this passage in mind I don’t know that that bears enough evidence to say that Paul was absolutely Mary but it you know was he just offended maybe for Barnabas sake that Barnabas could take his wife alone or was it just a general question I don’t know he may have been married at some point but it’s really irrelevant we know that he was faithful we know that he served God with all of his heart like to like David serve God with all his heart love Him with all of his heart vs 12 to 14 said but to the rest I do not the Lord say if any man any brother has a wife who does not believe and she is willing to live with him let him not divorce or and a woman who has a husband who does not believe if he is willing to live with her let him not divorce or for the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband otherwise your children would be unclean you know as a share last week these are normal people the people current There are normal people struggling with many of the same issues that people struggle with today. You know oftentimes a person will become a believer after they had been married for some years so there is often the case where neither was a believer and then one became a believer so they had just question well what am I to do and not to stay with this husband that does not believe or ought to stay with this woman that does not believe you know they have this new found faith and they’re just they’re hungering to serve the Lord in a way that is faithful but they’re saying cannot continue can I serve the Lord faithfully and be married to some believe or there’s this question of cleanliness or unclean so there are even wondered in your mind if I am with this unbeliever in your unclean does that make me unclean Paul says now they are sanctified through the believer they’re saying should I divorce a spouse so that I can be more faithful to the Lord friends at some legitimate question because the 2nd Corinthians the says Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness what communion has light with darkness and what Accord has Christ with but. What part has a believer with an unbeliever and what agreement has a temple of God with idols for you are the temple of the Living God as God has said it because this is an Old Testament reference I will dwell in them and walk among them I will be their God and they shall be my people therefore come out from among them and be separate says allure do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you they knew that that was from Azea So they’ve been taught that they were concerned about their cleanness being yoked together with an unbelieving spouse some verses of scripture just hard to interpret it’s hard to understand. When Paul says that the unbelieving husband is sanctified by his wife or the unbelieving wife is sanctified by our husband that is one of those difficult versus Because the word sanctified means to make holy to separate from the world and be consecrated to God So just by being married to a believer does that mean that they were wholly consecrated to God made clean it’s what Paul said they were made clean through the believing spouse is it possible that one is saved through their believing spouse that is not what Paul said Did we have to see how this passage lines up with other scriptures Romans 1412 says so then each of us individually each of us shall give account to himself to God Each person Matthew 1624 says that Jesus said to His disciples If anyone desires to come after me let him deny himself take up his cross and follow me so anyone individually if you desire to follow Christ we must take up our cross and follow him you cannot bear that cross for someone else there are plenty of other passages that comprise the idea that one person’s faith cannot say another person is clear that individuals must place their faith in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior to be saved a couple weeks ago we learned how the entire household of pontiff or was blessed by the presence of Joseph in the house right Joseph was bought He was a slave but that entire household prospered because of Joseph be in there because of God pouring out his blessings upon Joseph. Part of her experience great lessons so would not the same principle applied to a married couple with one being a believer in one being a number leave or God’s blessings being poured out upon that believing spouse is going to be enjoyed by that husband or that wife that doesn’t believe. They may see financial blessings they might see blessings in their children they might see many types of blessings enjoyed because of their believing spouse true Paul himself verifies that when he says the I’m believing husband is sanctified by the wife that he is not meeting the unbelieving one is say he said for if he had meant earth he had meant this he wouldn’t said in verse 16 How do you know the wife whether you will save your husband right he answers the question how do you know that you want to save your husband that is the hope of saving that ungodly spouse is reason enough to stay with them that’s reason enough to stick it out if they’re willing to stay stay with them it may take many many many years there was a deal there is a dear woman of God Her name is Pat and her husband was Freddy and this was back and we want the Holy Cross that she was just a a wonderful prayer warrior no this woman knew or Bible she studied her Bible her husband was a number lever Freddy was a number lever in which she would become the home Bible study we had you know we did every year for a long time and she would just ask us again to pray for from Pray for Freddie pray for Freddie you know he just doesn’t believe and this was I think for 35 years he was willing to stay with her but for 35 years he did not believe. Birth 35 years though he saw her praying to God he saw her reading her Bible he saw her being faithful in church he so her live out the life before him saw her faithfulness to God and I can stand and say Praise be to God that He came to believe in Jesus Christ. But it was only like maybe 5 to 10 years after he became a believer that he passed 35 years how many would have given up oh it’s just too hard but he stayed with him and he stayed with her and she prayed for him and many prayed for him so it’s worth it to stay with that number lever so that’s why I say in stages you are don’t divorce that unbelieving husband what if through your walk he believes stick it out that may be why. He allowed you to marry because he knew that you were a believer and you would say that spouse Weatherby him or her let’s continue with the 2nd half of our reading 17 through 35 but as God has distributed to each one as a Lord has called each one so let him walk and so I retain in all the churches was anyone called was circumcised let him not be come uncircumcised not and how you would do that. I could see the other way around right was anyone called while uncircumcised let him not be circumcised Gondor I get that one the other one area anyway circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but keeping the commandments of God is what matters let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called were you called wise slave Do not be concerned about it but if you can be made free rather use it. For he who was called in the Lord while I slave is a lord freed man likewise he was called while free is Christ slave you were bought at a price do not become slaves of men brother and that each one remain with God in that state in which he was called now concerning virgins I have no commandment from you from the Lord yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy again we see that same thing in the 1st passage I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress that is good for a man to remain as he is are you bound to a wife do not seek to be loosed or you loose from a wife do not seek a wife but even if you do Mary you have not sinned and if a virgin Mary C. is not sin nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh but I would spare you but this I say brother and the time is short so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none women are saying. Be as though as though they had none those who we are as though they did not weep those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice those who buy as though they did not possess and those who use this world as not misusing it for the form of this world is passing away but I want you to be without care he’s saying I want you to be without the cares of this world be without care he was unmarried cares for the things of the Lord how he may please the Lord but he who is married cares about the things of this world how he may please his wife there is a difference between a wife and a virgin the unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord that she may be holy both in body and in spirit but she who is married cares about the things of the world how she may please her husband. And this I say for your own prophet not that I may put a nice show in you but for what is proper and that you may serve the Lord without distraction I know it’s a long read God has distributed to each one as the Lord has called each one of us that is the way we should walk that’s the way he has ordained it God has distributed the Greek were Greek words are distributed is a residue in a means to apportion to disunite it means big difference a difference between do you not know that we are all different you know not know that we are all uniquely made is God has designed us in the image of God with that Greek meaning distribute you could reread that burst like this but as God has designed the differences between each of us as a Lord has called each one so let him walk so as God has called each of us to be unique to be different that is the way we should walk brothers and sisters praise God we’re not all the same because if we were all the same we’d all be dressed alike where the same color clothes were driving the same color cars we would like to same thing it would be an awful boring place wouldn’t it but God has a wonderful sense of humor because look he created may. He created Harry created John create a barber created Jeff we’re all uniquely different he has a sense of humor palls call for stability and contentment among believers regardless of their station in life that’s what he’s saying Be content with where you are when you were called if you were a slave be OK with fact. Yes if you can be free that’s good but how do you not know that you will save your master right how do you not know that your witness would say that master if you were the most faithful servant the most faithful slave whatever it is you did your work he was faithful about it and he seen you praying as Freddy sings why I pray you don’t know that you won’t say that master but if you are saved why you’re free again as he said consider yourself Christ servant Christ slayed be content with where you are what you are be happy with who you are we should allow God to work in us and whatever position or place or station we find ourselves in our lives the Lord may have placed you were you are right now to accomplish his ministry his calling when your life he needs people that are single yes but he also needs people that are married he needs people that are slaves he needs people that are free he needs people that are poor that are rich he needs people in every area of life to minister to those around them in whatever station to find himself maybe your unbelieving spouse is going to believe because of your faith Paul discusses that those who are married are concerned with how they me please or spouses versus those who are unmarried can spend all their time focusing on the Lord and you know as pastors since there are no there’s a number of pastors in here can be hard on a spouse it really can you know pastors Yes sometimes you know I know they only work one hour week I mean how many times we heard it right we get up or for 2 hours we’re great you got to churches. Yeah she works 2 hours a week only I work one yeah. Yeah on longer nets are you OK. And yeah it can be hard it can be hard juggling that time it can because when you’re married yes you gotta allow time for your wife or your husband but pastors you know their lives can be so hectic that sometimes some weeks may be normal you know we just put our many hours in preparing sermons and then we come and we do our hours work but other weeks can be crazy you might have numerous hospital visits you might have many home visits you might have a funeral maybe 2 you throw that in the mix of the normal hecticness and then where do you squeeze in the time for your spouse Karen says if you have some time to get this much and that’s just the way it is but if Paul just told me to serve the Lord like I’m not even married. He did serve the Lord with all that is within us praise God for a spouse that has partnered with me in ministry. Praise God for spouses that have partner in ministry partnered in ministry that does help that does make it easier but we are to serve the Lord with all of our heart with all of our soul with all that is within us wherever we are whether we are right Pastor whether we are just a mom and dad brother no matter what our occupation we are to serve Him with all of our heart with no distractions that’s difficult isn’t it and I’m going to tell you how to do it. Get on your knees and ask him how to do it. You know on your knees and ask him how to do it because I’m quite figured out myself. How to juggle my time but I do pray for guidance you know how to how to serve Him faithfully how to make sure I can please my spouse. Keep her a little bit happy because if mama ain’t happy nobody’s happy her number right come on now we all live in homes we’ve got kids right now but we do want to you know we join be married we love our spouses and we do have the cares of this world but that doesn’t make us less holy that doesn’t make us less honorable because God Cultus God told me while I was married right. He didn’t tell me to get out of that nom Now I want you so that means he can use us for His glory wherever he called us so be faithful that’s the main thing be faithful he’ll help adjust our times he’ll help us to be able to serve him in the way that he has called us to do when we surrender to him that’s the key surrendering or time surrendering our very just surrendering whatever relationship to Him and He will help us to be faithful and serve him amen.