Watering, Working, Warning - 1 Corinthians 3:4-15 (8-14-2022)
We are all called to minister to the Body - NOT CONTROL IT
Paul reminds us we have our kingdom roles but NOT up to your powers of persuasion.
GOD provides the increase.
ANCHOR SCRIPTURE
1 Corinthians 3:5-8 (NKJV)
Watering, Working, Warning
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
HOW DO I STRUGGLE WITH THIS?
You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.
He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 3:28-30 (NKJV)
HOW DO WE ALL STRUGGLE WITH THIS?
The Watering
We struggle as a Body when immaturity mistakes the pastor's fame with the gospel's truth. They are NOT the same.
The Working
We struggle as a Body when we want believers to look like us instead of Jesus. Discipleship is not telling new believers what you think - Teach them to read and understand what the Bible reveals.
The Warning
We struggle as a Body when we serve half heartedly or give God our leftovers.
Christians will not have salvation judges, but we will be assessed of our work for eternal rewards.
We don't have an eternal perspective about kingdom rewards.
HOW TO HANDLE STRUGGLES?
Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve.
Colossians 3:23-24 (Amplified Bible)
Application
1 Corinthians 3:3-4
4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
REMEMBER - Carnal is Envy, Strife and Division
NOTE: Paul returns to his correction in 1 Corinthians 1:10–13:
Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 1 Co 1:10–13 (NKJV)
Immature Christians choosing favorite people instead of serving sovereign God.
Lack of meat leads believers to human wisdom and selfish desires of envy, strife and division instead of sacrifice, love and unity.
WHAT DOES GOD SAY?
1 Corinthians 3:5-8
Watering,
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
Pitting natural men against each other in a supernatural arena causes everyone to lose - except the world - They love to watch destruction.
Only God reigns because Christ appoints ministers to His Body.
It’s important for the Body to trust their pastor hears from the Lord.
It’s important that pastors only share what they hear from God. High level of accountability.
No grabbing glory for kingdom credit. Only God gives increase.
What did the Lord give to each one of them? Their gifting to grow the Body. You also have gifts that must be exercised.
Don’t get bummed if you don’t see response from others you want. Play your role and trust God to do the rest.
Kingdom rewards aren't socialism where everyone gets equal for doing different. You may not think it's a BIG DEAL today, but you'll spend a lot longer in heaven bound to your rewards than you will to your money earned on earth.
Application
1 Corinthians 3:9-11
Working
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Paul is saying, "Don't follow the field workers; follow the owner of the field."
The Church is the FIELD where the seed of God’s Word is planted.
Each minister may have different style but fundamental agreement of gospel.
We CAN'T be all things to ALL people.
Paul is removing the minister’s role from the idea they are important. Simply laborers.
Ministers do the dirty work of establishing a crop. Ever actually harvested in a field?
Task of priest in OT was not pretty -
Then he took the fat and the fat tail, all the fat that was on the entrails, the fatty lobe attached to the liver, the two kidneys and their fat, and the right thigh; and from the basket of unleavened bread that was before the Lord he took one unleavened cake, a cake of bread anointed with oil, and one wafer, and put them on the fat and on the right thigh; and he put all these in Aaron’s hands and in his sons’ hands, and waved them as a wave offering before the Lord. Then Moses took them from their hands and burned them on the altar, on the burnt offering. They were consecration offerings for a sweet aroma. That was an offering made by fire to the Lord. And Moses took the breast and waved it as a wave offering before the Lord. It was Moses’ part of the ram of consecration, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Leviticus 8:25-29 (NKJV)
Application
1 Corinthians 3:12-15
Warning
12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
(12) - Precious stones are much harder to work with, but ENDURE. Cheap and easy materials don't last.
Building God’s Kingdom requires solid materials - God's Word.
What you use you will be judged by
Meat of the Word or Sugar Milk for congregational comfort?
(13) – The DAY is judgement of your work in building God’s kingdom
– Jesus left the blueprint – The Great Commission:
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
The Day will reveal it – in 1 Corinthians 1:8 Paul calls this, the "day of our Lord Jesus Christ" - The day of Christ's judgment that will come during the end times. Works Judged - Not Our Salvation
(14) – Were you a faithful builder of God’s kingdom? Word for faithful? MULTIPLICATION
- What will your judgement look like?
Matthew 25:14 – 30 – Parable of Talents: THREE JUDGEMENTS OF KINGDOM BUILDING
(Matthew 25:21) - FIVE TALENTS
21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.
(Matthew 25:23) TWO TALENTS
23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
(Matthew 25:28 – 30) ONE TALENT
26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant!
28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
(14 and 15) - "he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved"
- You are saved but what will your eternity look like?
Would you rather get tickets and a sideline pass to the big game or tickets in the basement bathroom?
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO ABOUT THIS?
Are You Sowing Kingdom Seeds With Expectation Of Kingdom Fruit?
For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the
Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Galatians 6:8 (NKJV)
Effort is a heart condition.
Once Body grows, the integrity of the foundation will either support it or fracture.
Be a good steward of God's kingdom.
Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].
1 Peter 4:10 (Amplified Bible)
HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT EVERYONE?
We were told to build this Church on God’s foundational stones of faith. In return Holy Spirit promised to do something supernaturally significant.
We Obeyed – He Delivered
Committing to exercise your gifts, use your talent and tools and build upon God's Word makes You, The Body and God's Kingdom Rock Solid.
Better earthly effort - Better eternal reward
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