Morning Devotional September 25, 2022

 

1 Corinthians 2:1-8

“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.

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:

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

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:

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.”

Have you ever noticed in the letters the Apostle Paul wrote in the New Testament how he never lords his Apostleship over the churches? Paul always comes across in a humble manner. Never bragging of his role in the Lord's work. Paul understood how wretched a man he truly was and it was only by the grace of God he was what he was.

Paul was sent out as a missionary under the authority of the Church at Antioch to preach the gospel to the lost and to organize churches where the Lord led. There was no mission board or conference or fellowship that held authority over Paul or the mission work he was entrusted with. Only his sending church. Then once those mission works were organized into churches themselves, they were totally independent, answering only to the Lord Himself. Yes, Paul was often times called upon to help settle disputes within the churches as he did in Corinth.

Remember, Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles. He had a certain authority no one before or since has had with the Lord's churches. This notion of a “modern day Paul” is false and any man who accepts such a title should be shunned as a heretic and he himself should be leery of those who would place such a title upon him.

Please understand, there is nothing wrong for a church or group of churches to seek guidance from a man/men who are wise in the Word of God and able to help with disputes or just apt to teach on certain doctrines. We often times call a man to come preach a special meeting or a revival or Bible conference. But when a man claims he has authority over organized churches, especially those who have pastors and/or elders, he needs to take a lesson from the Apostle Paul and humble himself before God and God's people.

The Lord's churches have no need of a man who is so high-minded and self-centered he thinks he has more authority than the Lord Himself.

I John 4:1:

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

Praise ye the Lord!!!