For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 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; 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: That no flesh should glory in his presence.That no flesh should glory in his presence. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

When you look at the 12 Apostles Jesus called, fishermen and tax collectors, these were not people the world considered wise and important. But God equips the people he has chosen, the people are not equipped previously. This is why I love listening to Christians personal testimonies, many peoples lives were in ashes and ruins, but Christ called them and made them Born Again. 

Notice what Paul says here “For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty , not many noble, meaning God called those who he wants by his standard and not the world’s standards. The world may consider you an outcast, a failure, a loser, however Christ can transform anyone’s life and make you great in the eyes of God. As Jesus said “The first will be last , and the last will be first” (Matthew 20:16) Don’t ever think that you are too far gone or that you are not worthy of God’s love, because the truth is, none of us are. But Christ redeems those who he has chosen and fills us with the Holy Spirit

God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. Think about this , God used a donkey to preach his message (Numbers 22) God took a shepherd boy with a sling and killed a mighty giant named Goliath (1 Samuel 17) God took a group of 12 outcasts and changed the entire world. None of this makes sense by a worldly standard, it’s doesn’t have to, because God is in complete control

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:30-31

Anything that we do that is worth any glory, all the credit belongs to The Lord. Without Christ we are nothing, we are foolish, we are weak, we are totally lost, but as Paul said “I can do all things, through Christ who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13) It’s only by the grace of God that we are anything, but in Christ we are redeemed

God chooses who he wants and not by the world’s standards. If you have been redeemed by Christ, share your testimony, give the glory to God, by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen!

Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:; 1 Corinthians 1:20-22

Recently me and Fred had a discussion on the Church, “What can we do to bring more people to the Church”? My answer was simply, preach the gospel. This seems to be too simple to be true, right? We live in a fast paced, high-tech world, and people want programs or entertainment, to entice them into the Church building. What good does this do, for us to bring people into a building and they still are not saved?

As the Apostle Paul says here “Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world” As Christians we think we need to have all the answers, we educate ourselves on science and history, so we can respond to the atheists and skeptics. However what we simply need to preach is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ died for our sins, Christ rose from the dead on the 3rd day, Christ is coming back again.

But the world scoffs at the gospel of Christ, this doesn’t make any sense to the wisdom of the world, why? Because the world needs to understand it’s depraved state. Until someone understands the are a sinner deserving of Hell, they will never understand their need for a Savior. 

Notice as Paul says “It pleases God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” The world believes the gospel is foolishness therefor rejects it, but to those who are Born Again, it’s the power of God

 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:23-25

The Bible says “We preach Christ crucified”, so how do we fix the Churches? We preach Christ crucified! How do we answer the atheist or skeptic? We preach Christ crucified! The foolishness of God is wiser than man! Those who reject the gospel, reject their salvation, it’s that simple

But we try to make this more complex than it needs to be, so we have Christians arguing with each other on social media everyday trying to be wiser than the other. What is gained for Gods Kingdom? Nothing! What would be gained if all these people preached the gospel to the unsaved? It would change the world! Amen!

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 1 Corinthians 1:18-19

Why do some people receive the gospel of Jesus Christ with repentance and become changed by the Holy Spirit, while others reject the gospel and consider it foolishness? It’s very simple, it’s all about the condition of the heart. Those whose hearts are hardened, will never receive the good news of Jesus, until the Holy Spirit opens their spiritual eyes and ears. Until someone understands and recognizes their state of depravity, they will never understand their need for a Savior

This is why preaching is considered “spiritual farming”, The word of God is the seed, and we plant the seeds to the soil, just as a farmer would do. Some soil is better than others, some the seed will take root, and the Holy Spirit will work in them to give them a new heart and a new mind. While others will reject the seed, and it will be choked out among the weeds and thorns

So how does a depraved person try to justify their lifestyle? By using the “wisdom of the world”, it’s not really wisdom at all, it’s an explanation to try and legitimize their sins. For example, the wisdom of the world will tell you , you’re a descendant of a monkey, and therefore you have animal-like instincts and desires. So when a person engages in carnal activities, they can justify it by their animal instincts.

But the reality is, we are made in the image of God, we were set apart from animals, we have a conscience, we know right from wrong, therefore God expects us to behave better because we know better. However by acknowledging this, then the person has accountability for their actions and lives. This is why the world rejects God and rejects the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

However those who are called by God, the preaching of the cross, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God, why? Because it’s the only way to salvation, it’s the only way to be reconciled back to God our Father. So the wisdom of the world will try anyway it can to persuade people to live in their sin and reject Christ. 

As it is written, God will destroy the wisdom of the wise, as the world was defeated at the cross through Jesus Christ our Lord , Amen!