United Pentecostal Church Mannheim Short Messages

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The fools and the intelligent ones sit together side by side

The Scriptures tell us in 1. Corinthians 1,18-21 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, (Isaiah 29,14) I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 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 the wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

The year 2004 has just began, it is the second month. Everyday something different happens, but the pursuit of God is still the same. HE is seeking to save that which is lost, for it is still the time of grace. The duty of every Christian is to seek with Christ that which is lost. For God is able to bring and save those which are lost back to Him.

God is able to do it and will use every means possible to accomplish the task. In His case, there is no lack of wisdom, righteousness, grace, power, and capabilities. That what HE plans to do, He carries out in His own way. God does not do things as according to human wisdom and way of thinking. It is also not possible to measure the way He is, as according to human standards. That is the reason why He is God – incomparable, unique – and His way of doing things is wonderful in every degree.

He speaks through Isaiah 46,5 and says, To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? Also on the same line, HE says in Isaiah 55,9, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. Only a fool questions the Word of God - the Holy Scriptures. Psalm 53,1, The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God! Proverbs 24,7, Wisdom (divine) is too high for a fool.

Paul, the apostle of Jesus, expresses very clearly to the Corinthians about what God is going to do in this time. Paul knows where he came from, where he was at, and what he once was. He also talks from experience. God has chosen the preaching, in order to save those that believe His Word. The hearing of God’s Word comes through the preaching, but the preaching comes by the Spirit of God who gives it liberally. Romans 10,17, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Those who believe the Word of God will receive life and strength from this Word. The others who regard it as being foolishness will one day be judged by the very same Word of God.

The apostle travelled with other assistants to cities and villages, and preached a message which saves, delivers, and redeems an individual from the power of this world. Whoever believes it, will obey it, and whoever does not believe it, will mock it and does not accept salvation for his own soul. Paul also arrived at Athens during his journey; he continues to travel through, and comes to a place where the Greeks had an altar for every god which they knew about. He sees people lighting their candles in front of pictures and statues. He sees how they lay down gifts on the altars to the idols.

As Paul walks through, he is stirred up in his spirit. Why? Because the spirit of this world deliberately blinds mankind to prevent them from believing in the ONE true God, Jesus Christ. John 8,24, I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Now Paul makes his way to the leaders, who are gathered in a certain place where they go, just to hear about the latest new happenings. It is a place where you get to hear the “Top News”. The group requests that he speaks. What does Paul do? He makes a speech and preaches to them the whole gospel. They listen to him. They hear about God, having taken on human form in the womb of a virgin, so that HE could bear their sins on the cross and be buried. Everything was interesting for them, up until the point when Paul started speaking about the resurrection of the dead. Then those, who considered themselves to be clever and wise, began to mock. Paul gets ready to leave, but then all of a sudden the unexpected happens - several of the well-known men and women follow him, saying, “Tell us more about it, we want to hear what you have to say.”

This is where the separation takes place. The intelligent ones leave the place where they were, the fools merely shake their heads. The intelligent ones are converted to God, and, as a result, a church is established in Athens. Things are still the same way today; there are still many who are intelligent in this country who are sitting among the fools. The separation first takes place when they hear the Word of God and forsake the place where the mockers are at. Is your place vacant among the fools or are you still sitting among them? (rw)

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