WITH MUCH TREMBLING

Newsletter 307 August 5 , 2012

As a young missionary recruit many years ago, I chose for the topic of my thesis, to research and write on the subject of  “The Missionary Methods of the Apostle Paul.” We all know that he had been chosen to carry the gospel to the Gentile world, yet, he often went to the synagogue before going to the city markets where the traders, shoppers, and simply those who sought to hear the latest happenings of their world. Synagogue worship took place on the seventh day only so the market first makes sense, but the Synagogue worship offered a people who had been prepared through the prophets to hear the message of Christ Jesus. Jesus said of himself that his message was that of the Father, It was of the Father that he spoke with Paul and brought about his change giving him the message of truth. Saul, whom we know better as Paul, was a very zealous young man who thought he was serving God. God saw to it that this unlikely zeal would be redirected to His purposes. While the amount of zeal, will vary with the person, that time of change, we call repentance. All Christians were once lost in sin, and all have repented and changed the direction of their lives.

 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 

 As a young man, and follower of the outstanding teacher of his day, Gammaliel, he was probably heading for membership of the committee of seventy, the Sanhedrin. God had other plans. They did not include the Sanhedrin. Instead, they included stoning, a life of sacrifice, rejection, and ultimately death by the sword. He had the capability of gaining great material rewards, but God redirected him to a life of suffering, but even greater rewards in Heaven. That is what God wants for all of us; a redirection to our live pattern and goal.

 PAUL IDENTIFIED WITH HIS LISTENERS

 Paul set the example of a complete change and used his zeal for that which really counts. He was trained to be an eloquent speaker, but he chose to teach on the level of his listeners. The people in the markets were, in the vast majority, not highly trained and educated. Those who were, were such as those Romans who years later, invited him to Mars Hill to teach them about this “new religion.” Then they rejected it.

 My first sermon in Africa certainly was like Paul, in fear and trembling. I had never spoken with an interpreter, then suddenly I had two, both strangers to me up to that moment. I knew that my power was not in the spoken word. I assumed an uneducated audience, but learned later that there were several teachers and a principal there that afternoon. Yet years later one of the teachers talked with me about that sermon. I had quite forgotten the subject and text by that time! God had used both my topic and my words. He can use us all.

 1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

LET YOUR MESSAGE BE A MESSAGE OF LOVE 

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

People become evangelists for many reasons, some of them not so good.. That is very true in a second world culture such as Africa was at that time. For some it is an easy step to take politically. Some use it as a means of gaining financially. The head of the Zion Christian Church of South Africa is such an example. Because they do not train men for ministry or even in the Bible, and permit just about what ever one wants morally and Spiritually, so long as you contribute to the coffers of the head of the church, buy your badge, and so on all is good. Numerically, it is the largest “church.” The head is richer than most Paramount Chiefs even today. But, sometimes the goal is power. Where else an a person who can neither read or write find a position of so much power? The temptation is to create “your own church.”

 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. But, all praise the Lord, there are many who serve because they love the Lord and want others to know Him as well.

Not all evangelists need a Doctorate degree, in truth, what we all need is Love for God and others, and to serve both well. If we are in fear and trembling, let it be because we fear failing to love, and use ourselves to His glory.

 6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

Wisdom and power are more likely to become stumbling blocks than a blessing. To be “hansome,” or “beautiful,” is usually transit. What is necessary is not great knowledge, but rather that we pray for wisdom from the Holy Spirit in what we speak with love for Him.

 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

AUTHORS IMAGINE AND WRITE MARVELOUS FICTION

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

But what God has in store for His own is so great that words can not describe it. Pray, for the wisdom to use His Word wisely to His glory. I try never to go into the pulpit, without first asking for the Holy Spirit to guide me in how I present the truth of the Word with love.

 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

PRAY FOR HIS LEADING ALWAYS 

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ. 


READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2012


 AUGUST 

5th Sunday - 1 Chronicles 7, 8, 1 Corinthians 4, Psalm 91:1-8
6th Monday - 1 Chronicles 9, 10, 1 Corinthians 5, Psalm 91:9-16
7th Tuesday - 1 Chronicles 11, 12, 1 Corinthians 6, Psalm 92
8th Wednesday - 1 Chronicles 13, 14, 15, 1 Corinthians 7:1-19, Proverbs 19:11-20
9th Thursday - 1 Chronicles 16, 17, 1 Corinthians 7:20-40, Psalms 93
10th Friday - 1 Chronicles 18, 19, 20, 1 Corinthians 8, Psalm 94:1-11
11th Saturday - 1 Chronicles 21, 22, 1 Corinthians 9, Psalm 94:12-23
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 THIS WEEK'S MEMORY VERSE 

 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” - 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
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 JUST THINK 

 In The Spolane, (Washington) Spokesman newspaper, columnist Paul Turner related the story about a friend ”While visiting my wife's parents in Maryland, we stopped on the Delaware shore at a small doughnut shop called Dough and Cin. Just think, if the place ever went out of business, they could call it Dough and Cin No More.”

 When Eugene Field was a newspaper reporter in Chicago, he wrote in his column” “Half the aldermen in the city are crooks.” The mayor demanded a retraction, so the next day Field wrote: “Half the aldermen in the city are not crooks.”