Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

What do you spend all your time on? This seems like a simple question, but it’s very important. What we spend our time on will determine our future. This comes back to what kind of mindsight you have, do you have an eternal or temporary perspective? When we focus on God’s Kingdom, it keeps us focused on serving Christ and our eternal futures.

Let’s take a look at the Apostle Paul’s teaching here “Every man’s work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire” What is Paul talking about here? When your time is up and you are called to be with The Lord, Jesus wants to know what you have been working on. 

This is like when Jesus taught on the Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14-26, When the Master gave his servants “talents” and went away, eventually He came back to see what his servants did with those talents. Some used them and multiplied them for the Kingdom, while others buried their talents and did nothing. The ones who did nothing with their talent, the Master replied “You wicked and slothful servant”

Jesus was trying to teach us that God expects us to do his work for the Kingdom. All of us have been given gifts by the Holy Spirit, and we should used those gifts in union with other believers , to serve The Lord and expand his Kingdom. 

The Apostle Paul also says “It shall be revealed by fire” meaning works that are for this temporary world , will be just that temporary and not stand the test of time. However “works” that are revealed by the fire, are eternal works for God’s Kingdom that will never fade away.

It’s an exciting thing as a Born Again Christian, to know that everything you do for God, is eternal work. When you serve The Lord , you are doing work that will stand in the fire, because its results are eternal. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, don’t waste your life on works that will fade away , devote your time to building Gods Kingdom, Amen!

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11

What foundation is your life built upon? When life is going good, people don’t believe they have any need for God. When people have their health, or lots of money, or a big family, why do they need God right? But then the storms of life come crashing in, their health goes south, their finances take a crash, maybe their is a divorce or tragedy in the family, where do they turn in times of trouble?

This is why the foundation of our life needs to be built on Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Paul says “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” The Lord is our Chief Cornerstone, when you build your life upon the Rock, Christ, then when the storms of life come crashing in, you can endure till the end

Jesus taught us this parable in Matthew 7, Christ said “Therefor everyone who does hear these words of mine, and acts on them, is like the wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24) When you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, doesn’t matter what happens to you in this world, your soul belongs to Jesus!

But Jesus also said “Everyone who hears my words and doesn’t put them into practice, is like the foolish man who built on the sand” (Matthew 7:26) What happens when build your house on sand? It collapses, right? It’s the same with your life, if your life is not grounded and rooted in Jesus Christ, your life will eventually collapse!

There is only one foundation that can sustain your life through the storms, build your life upon the Rock of Ages, our Foundation Jesus Christ, Amen!

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 1 Corinthians 3:1-4

Becoming a Born Again Christian is a lifetime journey, its a daily walk with continual learning and discernment. It’s not a one time event, where you say a few magic words and you’re saved. It’s a transformation of becoming conformed in the image of Christ our Lord. (Romans 8:29)

One of the mistakes “new” Christians make is trying to digest doctrine that is more advanced or takes many years of study to fully comprehend. The Apostle Paul says this “Even as unto babes in Christ, I have fed you with milk, not with meat” For new Born Again Christians Paul fed them milk, meaning simpler doctrine, such as the gospel of Christ. Paul didn’t teach new Christians, the meat, more advanced doctrine, because they were not at a spiritual maturity to understand it

We see many new Christians make this mistake with themselves also, they are on fire for The Lord, which is good, but they haven’t taken the time to be disciplined in their study of the Bible. So they go out and preach on doctrines that are totally misunderstood or interpreted by themselves, they didn’t take the time to learn by the Holy Spirit. Even Paul when first called by Christ, spent three years learning the scriptures , until he went forth with his ministry (Galatians 1:11-20)

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:5-9

Another mistake immature babes in Christ make, is giving themselves glory instead of God. As Paul says here , “One says I am of Paul, and another says I am or Apollos” then Paul asks the question “Who is Paul” and “Who is Apollos”? We are all vessels for God, none of us are more important or greater than any other Christian, as Paul says here “I have planted, and Apollos waters, but God gave the increase”

Yes we are “Workers for Christ” we are faithful and obedient to his calling, however the glory is all Gods, we don’t accept any of the credit for the work we do. Everything we do is for the Glory of God, not for ourselves. As Paul ends it here “We are laborers or workers for God” Christ is our Lord and we are his servants, Amen!

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. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:14-16

When you tell the unregenerated person that you are Born Again, they will look at you like you have three heads. Why? Because as the Apostle Paul says here “the natural man doesn’t receive or accept the things from God. Even though Jesus said “You must be Born Again” (John 3:3) The majority of Christians have no idea what that means, why? Because they don’t have the Holy Spirit

This is why when you try to explain the Bible or share scripture with an atheist or non-believer, they believe its foolishness. Because without the Holy Spirit they can’t comprehend God or his Word.This is why the world hates the Bible so much, because it has wisdom that they can’t refute or understand, it’s wisdom that only comes from God Almighty.

As a Born Again Christian you have the ability to discern what is good and evil, what is truth and a lie. This is why the world so easily falls for the deceptions of Satan, because the world doesn’t have spiritual discernment. I remember before I became saved, I fell for all the traps of the world, just like everyone else. However now with the Holy Spirit living inside of me, I see the world through totally different eyes. 

The Apostle Paul makes another awesome statement here “But We have the mind of Christ” wow, think about that! With the Holy Spirit living inside of you,we have the mind of Christ. We are the body of Christ, the hands and feet, to do His will here on Earth and in Heaven, the unsaved person doesn’t understand this relationship we have to abide in Christ, only the Born Again can comprehend this

So when we evangelize to people , understand this concept, the unsaved can’t comprehend the wisdom of God.  Your not going to be able to logic and reason with them about spiritual things, give them the gospel, because it was supernaturally given by God. You can never go wrong quoting scripture, because scripture is the Word of God, it’s supernatural seeds that will be planted into someones heart

We understand the things of God, because we have become Born Again in Jesus Christ, Amen!

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: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 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. 1 Corinthians 2:6-9

We as Born Again Christians don’t speak the wisdom of this world, because this world is controlled by Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4) that’s why this world believes in such depravity and illogical theories, because it is deceived by the great deceiver. But we as Christians, listen to the truth, which only comes by God through the Holy Spirit. The world can’t understand the truth of God because this world doesn’t know Him and hates God

If the world understood their depravity, they wouldn’t have crucified the Son of God, Jesus Christ. But the world is so enslaved to their sin, that they make their own god in their own image. But there is only One true God, who took away the sins of the world and can give us salvation. As Paul says here “For had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory”

Most of us, before we became Born Again in Christ , were lost in this world. We were slaves to sin, and our lives might have seemed hopeless at times. However Christ can transform anyone’s life, and make them a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17) As Paul says here “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, the things God has prepared for them that love him” God will totally transform your life and bring you to things that you never thought would have been possible, I can attest to this!

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10

God reveals these things to us by the Holy Spirit, you will be sealed and baptized by the Holy Spirit, you will be sanctified and conformed to the image of Christ. God will restore your life and your soul, and take you places you never thought would have been possible

You are not too far gone for God to restore, nothing is impossible for God. Listen to the revelation of God , given to you by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, in Jesus name Amen!

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!