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1 Corinthians 1:1-10– Zack Nicholson
Apostolic Prayer Teaching
Awekening Our Hearts In Love
The Lord designed the New Testament prayers around the clear spiritual principle that we fall in love with those for whom we pray.
God is love (1 John 4:8), and Jesus ever lives to make intercession (Hebrews 7:25). As we receive His heart and Word through the apostolic prayers, His love is awakened in us for people and places. Through genuine prayer, love is awakened.
Loving the Church- When we pray for the Church, we fall in love with the Church. The tendency of some intercessors is to have an adversarial attitude towards the Church. This is overcome by praying for her. We cannot keep a wrong spirit towards the Church while continually praying for her.
Loving the harvest: We fall in love with the harvest as we pray for it, especially in the context of the Church. As we continue to pray, God will awaken love in us, as well as His heart and strategy for specific regions.
Loving our enemies: Jesus’ wisdom is to call us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). Whereas at first it is very difficult, as we pray we gain God’s perspective and heart, even towards very evil men.
Apostolic Prayer Focus: 1 Corinthians 1:5-8
Prayer to be enriched with the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit leading unto righteousness. Paul starts this letter, in which he will later rebuke the Corinthians for their abuse of the spiritual gifts, with a prayer that they would come short in no gift, clearly emphasizing His great passion for the gifts right from the start.
Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, (v.2) To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: (v.3) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (v.4) I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, (v.5) that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge (v.6) even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you (v.7) so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, (v.8) who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (v.9) God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (v.10) I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:1-10 ESV)
Historical Background: Context is the key to giving understanding of Scripture. Paul initially came to Corinth from Athens. Athens was still the gathering place of many great philosophical minds. In Acts 17:22-31 Paul preached to these philosophers at the Areopagus at Mars Hill. Many theologians view Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill as the greatest sermon ever preached. It is held up to be an example of how to preach to unchurched people groups. The problem is that few were converted. Paul comes to Corinth with his confidence shaken. Paul realized that eloquent words are no substitute for the simplicity of the Gospel message and God’s miraculous power.
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)
Corinth was the capital of a Roman province in modern day Greece.
Corinth was one of the most sensuous cities of the ancient world.
It was an economic power.
The Corinthians were famous for their loose morals, even by the loose pagan moral standards.
They were often represented in Roman theatrical productions as drunk.
“To live as do the Corinthians” was a euphemism for the vilest kind of life.
The temple of Aphrodite in Corinth once housed 1000 priestesses who were professional prostitutes.
I believe that this is a major factor in the problems that arose in the church here.
Sexual Immorality
Licentiousness disguised as freedom.
The primary message in 1 Corinthians is how to steward spiritual gifts and the manifestation of God’s power, in order to prepare a dwelling place for God’s Spirit.
This passage is rich in theological truth. Many foundational teachings are to be found in this small passage.
Notice that he is praying positive prayers:) He is emphasizing the positive virtues in the Corinthian church. This is the perfect example of “dark but lovely” in Song of Songs. He is blessing their budding virtues.
Communion of Saints: To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours (v.2)
Point B 1 from above.
He Paul links himself to “all those in every place” that call on the name of the Lord.
There is no hint of elitism in these claims. He highlights that Jesus is his Lord as well as their Lord.
This is the first step in a church unified. Having an understanding that He is my Lord, and your Lord. Understand that Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, etc. love the same Jesus that we do.
It is reminiscent of the Romans 15 prayer for unity.
Grace: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (v.3)
In every epistle that Paul authored, he includes this exact phrase. It is not just a cute benediction, the Holy Spirit chose these words for a reason. Paul has a grateful heart because of the grace of God that was given in Christ Jesus.
What is grace?
Grace is unmerited favor from God.
Total Depravity: Human nature was so corrupted by the fall of Adam that mankind was unable to come to God. Sin separates us from God. Apart from grace, we have no means to approach the Father. Both Arminian and Calvinist theology agree on the doctrine of total depravity. They both agree that man can not come to God unless God draws them, as an act of grace.
Calvinists believe that you can not resist this grace because He has predestined some to be saved.
Arminians or Wesleyans believe that you can resist this grace and you must choose it.
Salvation comes by faith and grace alone. We can not earn it. One of God’s attributes is holiness. It is not that He refuses to tolerate sin, it’s the fact that He can not tolerate sin. It is not in His nature. He is light and in Him there is no darkness. Even on our best days, our righteousness is as filthy rags. In the Lord’s mind, this is why it is so offensive for mankind to make up any way to salvation apart from Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. It is only by God’s righteousness being imputed to us, through the Blood of Jesus, that we can stand in His presence.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2 8-10)
But we are all like an unclean [thing], And all our righteousness [are] like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6) NKJV
What is peace?
You can not have true peace unless you are at peace with God. If God has a problem with you, you will have no peace. The wrath of God abides on unbelievers. Jesus’ blood satisfies the wrath of God.
Numbers 6: This passage is a perfect example of God’s peace. Check out the context and background.
Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them. (Numbers 6:23-27)
Enriched “In Him”: that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge (v.5)
When we were born again, we received God Himself. To be enriched with all knowledge is to have access to everything that He is. Let’s look at some of these spiritual realities.
“We have access to a billion $ and live on 10 cents a day.” Corey Russell
“God is not boring, we are.” Corey Russell
All things that pertain to life and godliness.
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1:4)
Seated with Christ in heavenly places.
even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved–and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 2:5&6)
Yoked to the Eternal Intercessor.
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)
The humility of Jesus is astonishing. Not only did He take on flesh for all of eternity. He was mocked by the very creation that He came to save. Since the day of His ascension, He has been interceding for the Church. We sing we want to be with Him where He is. Jesus is interceding at the right hand of the Father as we speak.
This verse convinced me of the nobility of intercession. If this is what Jesus is doing, this is what I should be doing. Imagine that! He could be doing anything for the last 2000 years, yet this is what Scripture describes Him as doing.
I have to imagine that He is praying apostolic prayers.
He must really want a Bride!
1 Corinthians 6:17
But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. (1 Corinthians 6:17)
We will never die because he will never die We have access to God.
He calls us friends.
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:15)
We can know His secrets.
these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-12)
Spiritual Gift: so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. (v.7)
Paul desires that the Corinthians lack no spiritual gift.
These are the same Corinthians who have abused the gifts. So much so, Paul has to send them this letter of correction and instruction concerning the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Rather than rebuking them for their abuse, Paul asks that they would be granted more gifts.
How different is this attitude from our current state? Now there is a great desire to shut down the gifts of the Spirit. They are messy and therefore in many instances, it is easier to avoid their use.
Many come up with Biblical formulas that would say that the gifts have ceased.
I charge you to steward the prophetic in the fear of the Lord! Be mindful that you are speaking for God. I appreciate Mike’s exhortation. You get one thus saith the Lord per year.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (I Corinthians 12:4-11)
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:4-8)
I believe that all Christians are able to operate in any of the gifts of the Holy Spirit at any given time.
Over time we will find that we are gifted in certain areas rather than others.
Not everyone is an evangelist, but we are all called to evangelize. Not all have the gift of healing, but we can all pray for the sick. We can’t just say to a sick person that we don’t operate in the gift of healing and then find them someone who does.
Everyone can operate at the level of simple prophecy.
Level 1: Simple Prophecy: A simple prophecy is given when any believer speaks an IMPRESSION that God has brought to their mind. It can include mental pictures or dreams. It is usually in the scope of encouragement, comfort, and exhortation.
Level 2: Gift of Prophecy: People with the gift of prophecy receive regular dreams, visions, or other types of revelation. They sometimes lack clarity and understanding in how to apply the revelation. These 2 levels account for most of the prophetic ministry in churches today.
Level 3: Prophetic Ministry: These are believers whose gifting have been recognized, nurtured, and commissioned for regular ministry within the local church. This level has a certain authority on their words.
Level 4 : Office of Prophet: These are people who are mature in their gifting. This office is somewhat similar to the Old Testament prophets. They give correction, direction, and bring new emphasis in the church body, government, politics, etc. Their credibility has been established with a proven track record of accurate prophetic ministry. They live Godly lifestyles and love and honor Scripture.
Many believers are awestruck when they see a person moving in the gifts. Moving in the power of the Holy Spirit is not an indication of spiritual maturity. Many operate at amazing levels of power, yet their personal lives are a mess.
I believe that one of the primary reasons for God withholding many of the promises spoken over this house is that He wants to allow us to mature and be able to steward His glory. He wants to come and dwell here. All of the great revivals in history have fizzled because the glory of the Lord brings out the best and worst of mankind.
We can see that in our own lives as we sit in the prayer room!
We have seen countless examples of legitimate moves of the Holy Spirit quenched by men’s weakness.
The New Mystics by John Crowder documents many moves of the Holy Spirit and their aftermath.
When God comes, He comes as Himself. He will not suspend one attribute to manifest another. He will not hold back His holiness in order to demonstrate His mercy. It is one glorious package.
Day of the Lord: …as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (v.7 & 
Wait for His revealing.
Are we to wait passively and look for His appearing? Or do we actually prepare ourselves and others for His imminent return.
Though there are disagreements in certain details of end time events, there is nearly universal agreement among conservative Protestants that Jesus will come back from heaven to earth, for the final judgement.
Looking for the 2nd Coming of Jesus develops in us an urgency. Urgency leads to fellowship, which leads to intercession. Urgency helps us to sober up and break free from the spirit of the age.
We are commanded to be watching and waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus.
Paul frequently prays that the church would be blameless on the day of the Lord
There is coming a great falling away. There will be great offense toward the Lord, and Luke 18 asks if there will even be faith on the earth at His return. Paul continually asks God to help us be found blameless and without offense. Why would he pray that way if falling away were not possible?
We must not deceive ourselves. We must remain sober and know the potential wickedness of our hearts.
As Craig taught last week. Without vision people perish or cast off restraint. It is easy to get caught up in the spirit of the age and be swept away in the wave of delusion.
Perfect Leadership: …our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (v.7-9)
God is faithful.
He is the author and finisher of our faith.
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
There is a tension in grace and works. There is a tension between grace and works.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Phillipians 2:12&13)
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; (1Peter 1:22&23)
Why would you want to lose your salvation? It is such an amazing deal, you would be a fool not to take it.
We are secure in Christ.
…for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (John 15:16)
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, (Ephesians 1:3-5)
Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain. (Revelation 13:7&8)
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. (John 10:27-29)
Being Like Minded: I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. (v.10)