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THE TIE MATTERS TO GOD!
Reading 1 Corinthians Ch.1 v10-17.
Preached by Ken Humphries, Cookstown!
Introduction:
By way of explanation with respect to my title today please allow me to read two texts in the book of the Acts Ch. 2 v 42 & 44.
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common".
Fellowship and togetherness matters to God!
John Fawcett puts it like this in his great hymn.
"Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above."
So when I speak of the "Tie" I am speaking of the fellowship and togetherness of the believer. Perhaps a word we would know better is the word "Unity."
This was the amazing prayer of the Lord Jesus as he was preparing to leave this world in John 17v11.
"That they may be one, even as we are one."
This beloved has always been the heartbeat prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ for his dear people, that their hearts would be bound together by the tie of fellowship, togetherness and oneness! That unity, would be an outward mark of the Church of Jesus Christ, was the Saviour's loving desire. It's interesting, the Lord Jesus has answered so many prayers for us his people, truly we are privileged. Yet here is one prayer we could answer for Him! Do we? Surely this is a question worth asking our own hearts just now.
The Tie Matters To God, does it matter to us?
One of the reasons that the known cults of our day make such progress and impact upon people in our world is their display of unity! Disharmony will not be tolerated. And of course such a show of unity, no matter how it is enforced, has a deep attraction to many dear people who are simply tired and weary of religious uncertainty, ambiguity, confusion, and division.
We will never become a church that effectively reaches out to those who are missing out if we shoot our wounded and major on the minuses. Instead of being fishers of men, as Christ has called us, we will be keepers of an ever-shrinking aquarium. Next time you see geese heading south for the winter, flying along in V formation, you might be interested in knowing what science has discovered about why they fly that way. It has been learned that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. (Christians who share a common direction and a sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier, because they are travelling on the thrust of one another.)
Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. (If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed the same way we are going.) When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. (It pays to take turns doing hard jobs--with people at church or with geese flying south.) The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. (What do we say when we honk from behind?) Finally, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by a shot and falls out, two geese fall out of formation and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly, or until he is dead, and then they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with their original group. (If people knew we would stand by them like that in church, they would push down these walls to get in.) You see, all we have to do in order to attract those who are missing back to church is to demonstrate to the world that we have as much sense as geese here at church. That seems little enough price to pay to win the lost and minister to one another. Even geese have sense enough to know it works every time. James S. Hewett.
Quarrelling, which drives so many of the best folks we have away from our churches, is a reality in our churches because selfishness and other sins are realities in the churches. Because of quarrelling, the Father is dishonoured, the Son is disgraced, the People are demoralised, the testimony of the church is discredited, and the world is turned away and strengthened in their unbelief.
Disunity, in any fellowship, takes away our joy, leaves us totally ineffective in witness, robs God of His glory, and leaves the world at large wondering what kind of people we really are. Surely a high price to pay for an inflated ego!
So the Apostle lays it on the line for these Corinthian believers right at the beginning of his very potent letter to them. Lets then unpack these particular verses today that we in turn may draw from them that which will help us be the assembly God would have us be.
1. Listen To The Appeal Mentioned! V10.
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement."
"That you all speak the same thing"
He begins his appeal with tenderness and affection. "I beseech, or exhort, you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
By the way, that word "exhort" there comes from the Greek text like this, "Parakaleo", the verb root of "Parakletos", the "Helper" or comforter. It presents the basic meaning of coming alongside someone in order to help.
Paul wants to come alongside his beloved brothers and sisters in Corinth in order to help correct their discrepancies; they were all speaking different things. He does not want to minimise the seriousness of his rebuke, but they
are his and each other's brothers and sisters in the Lord. And that of course is the important factor here, the Lord! They have been baptised into the one body of Christ and they therefore should be speaking the very same things for the sake of their dear Lord and Saviour.
Listen to Kenneth Wuest's translation of that part of the text!
"Now, I beg of you, please, brethren, my appeal to you being enforced by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ [that name holding within its compass all that He is in His glorious Person and wonderful Salvation], I beg of you, please, that all of you be speaking the same thing."
Paul's appeal for oneness in speech amongst themselves was on the basis of their identity with Christ. That's the launch pad he uses for his call to holy living. For the name and sake of our dear Saviour, speak the same things!
B. An Appeal For Oneness In Work!
"That there be no divisions among you"
The word "divisions" comes from the Greek word " schismata", from which we draw our word "schism", in the physical sense the meaning is "to tear or rip,"
It means to differ strongly or violently in opinions, a division of judgement.
The church at Corinth was not yet at the point of church split, but the internal lack of oneness was bringing it rapidly to that point.
What was happening was like a tear in their fellowship and Paul knew if it was not soon healed it could have far reaching effects.
Several years ago, in England, Sir John Barbirolli was conducting a great symphony orchestra before a "standing room only" audience. The concert hall was unusual in that it was used for cultural events on weekdays and for religious services on Sundays. On this particular Saturday evening,
one of the patrons of the orchestra noticed that the clergyman who was to preach there the next day was in the audience. He leaned over and said to him, cynically, "When are you going to fill this hall on Sunday the way Sir John Barbirolli has tonight?" The clergyman looked his antagonist straight in the eye and said with a steady voice, "I will fill this hall on Sunday morning when you give to me, as you gave to Sir John tonight, eighty-five disciplined men and women to be with him and to work with him." James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited.
"That you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement." (Discernment)
The words "joined together" mean "made complete" which again comes from the Greek word "katartizo" which in turn means, as used in the classical Greek as well as in the New Testament, to speak of mending such things as nets, bones, dislocated joints, broken utensils, and torn garments. The basic meaning is to put back together, to make one again something that was broken or separated.
Christians are to be made complete, perfectly joined together, both internally (in the same mind) and externally (in the same judgement) individually and corporately there is to be a oneness in Word, Work, and Will.
During Vacation Bible School last week my wife had an experience with her primary class that she says she will never forget. Her class was interrupted on Wednesday about an hour before dismissal when a new student was brought in. The little boy had one arm missing, and since the class was almost over, she had no opportunity to learn any of the details about the cause or his state of adjustment. She was very nervous and afraid that one of the other children would comment on his handicap and embarrass him. There was no opportunity to caution them, so she
proceeded as carefully as possible. As the class time came to a close, she began to relax. She asked the class to join her in their usual closing ceremony. "Let's make our churches," she said. "Here's the church and here's the steeple, open the doors and there's..." The awful truth of her own actions struck her. The very thing she had feared that the children would do, she had done. As she stood there speechless, the little girl sitting next to the boy reached over with her left hand and placed it up to his right hand and said, "Davey, let's make the church together."
This story may be seen as a parable of our search for oneness in Christ: to put our inadequate, handicapped lives alongside the lives of others and to pray, "Let's make the church together." James S. Hewett.
By the way, it’s interesting the epistles have nothing to say about the role of the congregation in church government, but a great deal to say about the role of its church leadership. 1 Thess. 5v12-13.
"And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves."
Only when its leadership is right can a congregation be right. They will never be perfect, but godly men in every assembly are essential instruments for leading and feeding His people.
I press this with all the import I can muster upon our leaders, men attend to your own godliness, it is absolutely essential to blessing in this church.
I also press this thought on this congregation, pray for your leaders. They occupy an important position in the work of God, they have the God given right to lead and feed the congregation and to make decisions for them in the Lord, they are to be respected, loved, and followed in the Lord. Heb. 13v17.
"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."
God's people are to follow, not quibble and question Godly leaders who are in one mind as to God's Word, Work and Will. In God's order a congregation is to be under the rule of its leaders just as children are to be under the rule of their parents. That is now, and always has been God's way!
"For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them who are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you."
It’s interesting, Paul is prepared here to name the accusation and the accuser, openly! The accuser is the house of Chloe, the accusation is that there are "contentions among you". And again it's interesting, Paul takes both the accuser and the accusation seriously. So obviously the house of Chloe had a good and godly standing in the eyes of the Apostle.
You see, Paul had ministered in the Corinthian church for some eighteen months as Pastor-teacher, therefore getting to know the family of God in that church. Just as he had received the report of Timothy when he returned from Thessalonica about the church in that place, so he receives the report from the house of Chloe about happenings in the Corinthian church. The reason being of course was that both Timothy and the house of Chloe had a reputation of godliness amongst all the people. Such a report is easily believed.
Beloved, any such accusations about the life and people of the church should only be believed when they come from people who have a reputation of godly living themselves. Never listen to rumour and innuendo and most certainly never spread such things. If you have an accusation to make about any dear brother or sister in this church come to the leaders of the church and speak no more of it. Leave it with them and the Lord!
Isa 26:7-9
"The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just. Yea, in the way of thy judgements, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness."
3. Learn From The Attitude Maintained! V12.
"Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ."
As I have already indicated, Paul was pastor of the Corinthian church for about eighteen months. He then decided it was time for a change and sent Apollos to be the second pastor. Apparently a number of people had been at one time saved under Peter's (Cephas's) ministry. So some time after the arrival of Apollos the folks, for whatever reason, began to place labels upon themselves.
I want to declare myself loyal to the Apostle Paul, no matter who comes here as pastor, Paul will always be my man, and quite honestly I don’t think I could really accept any other pastor in his place!
Someone else, having heard this boast, would then speak up and say, well no, I could not agree with that. This new man, Apollos, is doing an excellent job and I would want the rest of you to know he's the man for me anytime!
Another would speak up and say, now listen folks, a large number of us in this church were saved under Peter's ministry and had we had our choice we would have had him for pastor. We just happen to believe he would have been the man to bring growth and extension to this place, he without doubt is our man!
This was party spirit becoming the order of the day instead of Holy Spirit.
Each group would then adopt its own slogan of identity and by it imply their own superiority. "I am of Paul," "I am of Apollos," "I am of Cephas," and then still others would say, "oh, you guys have it all wrong, we are not followers of men, we are of Christ. Now what do you think of that for spiritual correctness?"
People were clinging to a particular pastor or evangelist who had taught or evangelised them in the past and then acclaiming themselves the greater because of their particular man. The inevitable result of such a party spirit is contention, quarrels and disputes, a deeply divided church.
Yes of course it’s natural to have an affection for the one who led us to Christ or who has taught us for many years or who for some other reason has become special to us. But beloved, such affection presents an attitude of carnality if it is allowed to cause division either in the church or in your heart. That is what we call self-will, self-centred, exclusiveness that is the antithesis of unity.
Listen, such an attitude stinks, may I be so bold to say. Spirituality produces humility and unity. Spirituality produces oneness and togetherness, binds us with the cord of love. It’s like a tie that binds!
Carnality, on the other hand, produces pride and division.
Thomas Carlyle said, "Ten men banded together in love and unity can do what ten thousand separately would fail to do."
4. Lean On The Acclamation Mandated! V13-16.
"Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptised in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptised none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptised in mine own name. And I baptised also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptised any other."
Here is an acclamation to lean hard upon. The central principle of Paul's argument is that believers are united in Christ and no one should be guilty of doing anything that would disrupt or destroy togetherness. No human leader, no matter how gifted or effective, should allow himself or his congregation to claim that loyalty that belongs only to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul began his letter to the Corinthian church by establishing his authority as an Apostle. But he would have no part in, nor would he encourage in any way the kind of faction his name was linked with.
Is Christ divided? I have not been crucified for you! You have not been baptised in my name!
Any authority he had was given him of God and was not his own, and his purpose was to bring men and women to Jesus Christ, not to himself.
A Christian church that is divided is a contradiction 1 Cor. 6v17.
"But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit."
By the way, that's the acclamation we should lean on! "Is Christ divided?"
Rom. 12v5.
"So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."
Paul wants them, and us, to get our eyes firmly fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ and no other.
Feed on Christ, and then go and live your life, and it is Christ in you that lives your life, that helps the poor, that tells the truth, that fights the battle, and that wins the crown. Phillips Brooks.
Once it was the blessing, Now it is the Lord; Once it was the feeling,
Now it is his Word. Once his gifts I wanted, Now the Giver own;
Once I sought for healing, Now himself alone. Albert Benjamin Simpson.
When the people of God quarrel and divide, they reflect a wrong image entirely of our dear Saviour before this sin sick world, they weaken His church, and they shame the Christ who died for them and paid a great price for their redemption.
The Father is one, the Son is one, the Spirit is one, the church is one and we are called upon to keep it that way by making sure at all times we acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord over all!
He is Lord, He is Lord, He is risen from the dead and He is Lord!
Can I also sing with meaning and truth!
He's my Lord, He's my Lord, He is reigning in my heart and He's my Lord.
5. Let The Application Mend! V17.
"For Christ sent me not to baptise, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect."
Paul says, listen! My priority in this life for Jesus Christ and His church is to preach the gospel. Nothing else, nothing less, nothing more!
C.H. Spurgeon says,
"Where the gospel is fully preached, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, our churches do not only hold their own, but win converts; but when that which constitutes their strength is gone, we mean when the gospel is concealed, and the life of prayer is slighted, the whole thing becomes a mere form and fiction. For this thing our heart is sore grieved." End quote.
For Paul, preaching the gospel was an act of spiritual worship. He viewed his ministry like that of a priest before God rendering high and holy duty .
"If I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel." 1 Cor. 9v16. N.A.S.V.
Paul has one major fear!
"Lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect."
Lest the cross of Christ be vaporised, emptied of its significance, be frustrated as other translations put it.
Paul's eagerness to serve the Lord correctly poured out from his innermost being right from the day of his salvation. His very first question was, "What shall I do, Lord?" Acts 22v10. His heart and energies were fixed on preaching, and preach he did with his whole being.
And this man of God knows if the church is to make headway in the world for God and glorify His Holy name, then it must be a case of all wills bowing in the same direction, all affections burning with the same desire, all aims bound with the same determination.
Psalm 133v1-3.
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."
A.W.Tozer gives us this from his book 'The Pursuit of God'
"If you have one hundred concert pianos, and you tune the second piano to the first, and the third piano to the second, and the fourth piano to the third, until you have tuned all one hundred pianos accordingly, you will still have disharmony and discord. But if you tune each piano to the same tuning fork, you would have unity and harmony. So too, in the body of Christ. When we tune ourselves and our lives to Christ's, we will have unity."
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