Be Perfect (Part One)

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Good morning.

We are looking at 1 Corinthians 3, which you’ll find at this link: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%203&version=NIV1984

In verses one to eight Paul addresses a real concern that is still very prevalent today.

During those days people seemed to be more focused on the great Paul or the great Apollos or the great Cephas, just as the church today admires the great well known preachers. Christians flock to meetings introduced by popular men or women and during conversations they quote what these preachers have said and seem to talk about them endlessly. I, however, love visiting with friends who can talk endlessly about Jesus, but have you noticed how little that happens?

Paul calls it: “You are still worldly... Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not mere men?” (V3, 4). ‘But we are mere people, aren’t we?’ you may say. Are we? With the Spirit of the Almighty God living in us and with us being in Christ, the son of God – are we mere men and women? In verse one Paul told them: “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ.” The key to his message is in the words ‘mere infants in Christ’ and with the emphasis on ‘in Christ’. What are we in Christ? How is our relationship with Christ? Say you are quite good at your job, but you portray immature behaviour all the time, doing silly things to impress people. In short you act like a child. Would your boss consider you for the position of team leader or manager? I don’t think he would.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:48: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” The Greek meaning of the word perfect in this context is ‘complete’ or ‘of full age’, i.e. mature. Those who are mature in Christ are complete in Him. To them total focus is Christ and they have nothing to do with this world – fame with people, money or power. Did you know that those seemingly great men and women, who we so often worship, could be completely immature in God’s eyes – infants in Christ? How dare I say that? Only He knows their hearts and motives, and if people flock to their charismatic influence, it doesn’t mean those people flock to Jesus Christ. The test is the depth of spiritual maturity and Christ-centeredness after receiving ministry from such vessels. Did you know that a small-group leader or an old lady with her friends or a single intercessor by the side of her bed or a teacher running a prayer and Bible study group could be much greater in the eyes of the Lord because they make a real difference in the lives of people, and usually only God knows about it?

We’re living for heaven my brother and sister and we need to be impressed by- and impress the Lord and not man. We had Dr. RT Kendal ministering to us this weekend and when he was exalted by men as people so much like to do, he simply said something like: ‘I don’t know about that. Usually when men are admired, something pops up that cause their bubble to burst. I don’t want that to happen to me. We all have feet of clay.’

Therefore in the words of Paul: “So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God,” (1 Corinthians 3:21-23).

It’s ultimately all about the Lord God and our depth in Him.

Lord, I desire to focus on you.

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