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Monthly Message
The Foolishness of God
REV. GORDON WILLIAMS, JANUARY 2010
Happy New Year! Once again, we have a fresh start to in order to demonstrate "the goodness of God” in the land of the living” (Ps.27: 13) because it is "the goodness of God” that leads people to repentance (
Rom. 2: 4). However, Paul also reminds us, "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Cor. 1: 25). And, Paul reminds us that we are the "foolishness of God” None of us were wise according to worldly standards or powerful or because of our families backgrounds.
He chose us who were "foolish”, "low and despised” so "no one can boast in the presence of God” (1 Cor. 1: 26 - 29). He reminds us, "Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord” (1 Cor. 1: 31). Boasting about (Acts 1: 8) or sharing our testimony” (Rev. 12: 11) or simply telling other people about what Jesus has done for us. Too many people do not like the "foolishness of God” or what I called "God’s Applied Grace” to undeserving people. They want to earn their salvation by following their interpretation of the Bible not by the relationship with Jesus (Jn. 5: 39).
As we start this New Year, let’s look at some of "the foolishness of God”. First, "Salvation” which has been paid for by Jesus’s death on the Cross of Calvary to pay for our sin proven by water baptism (Matt. 3: 11). Secondly, "the Baptism of the Holy Spirit which is proven by the "signs following” :casting out demons, speaking in new tongues languages, protection while serving Jesus and a healing ministry with the laying on of hands (Mk. 16: 17 - 20). There is nothing more foolish to people than the initial evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit than the Gift of speaking in languages (Acts 2: 4)we have never learned which is the only Gift of the Holy Spirit that Jesus tells us we must all have to control our uncontrollable tongues (Jas. 3: 4, 8) so we can be effective witnesses as happened on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2: 1 - 13, 41).
It is the "foolishness of God” that gives each person the ministering "Gifts of the Holy Spirit”: "prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, administration, mercy, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miracles, discerning of spirits, tongues and interpretation of tongues” (Rom. 8: 6 - 8; 1 Cor. 12: 8 - 10). It is the "foolishness of God” which makes us "good stewards of God’s grace” (2 Pet. 4: 10 - 11) when we use the charismatic Gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is the foolishness of God that allows every person who has received the authentic Baptism of the Holy Spirit to do the ministry of Jesus Christ.
But Paul also warns us that, "The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, because he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2: 14). This means that anybody who does not accept any of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit does not have the Holy Spirit indwelling in them regardless of their arguments. They are like the Samaritans, who under Philip’s ministry received salvation, healing, deliverance but who had not received the received the Holy Spirit yet (Acts 8: 16). Peter and John laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8: 17).
We are "New Creations” (2 Cor. 5: 17) who are the "foolishness of God” and our "speech and preaching is not in persuasive words of wisdom but in demonstration of the Holy Spirit and of power so that your faith might not rest on the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Cor. 2: 4 - 5). The harvest fields are waiting for us (Jn. 4: 35 - 38). So "Let’s Have A Greater Harvest Again in 2010!”
Yours in Jesus,
Rev. Gordon Williams
http://www.gordwilliams.com/
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